And then… his voice returned.
Calm. Mocking. Absolute.
"Don't worry," the monster said through the feed.
"I don't plan to kill you. Nor do I intend to spread mindless destruction. That was just to prove my point. Simple, isn't it?"
The figure shifted slightly on his throne, Giratina's towering shadow writhing behind him, those piercing blue eyes like twin blades through the screen.
"Now… I'm sure most of you devils won't even dare to come near me after this. Good. That's smart. But this next part is for those who might still be foolish enough to think they can throw meat shields at me."
A pause.
Then the words dripped like venom.
"You've noticed, haven't you? I didn't touch children. I didn't raze hospitals. I didn't slaughter innocents for the sake of it. Not because I'm some bleeding heart, not because I have justice on my side. No. It was to prove something else entirely."
His voice hardened, echoing through every corner of the city, as though the words themselves branded into our souls.
"I can choose. I can single out exactly who I want gone and wipe them from existence. So when I say I will eradicate devils, don't think for a moment that guilt or restraint will stop me. I can select you, your family, your lineage… and burn you out of history with precision."
And then, his aura erupted—pitch black energy surging upward into the skies, blotting out what little light remained.
The ground shook beneath us, glasses shattered, devils screamed as if their very souls recoiled.
His final words were not loud, but they were absolute.
"So listen well. No matter what, do not ever think of hurting anyone close to me. Do not dare weave your politics around me. Do not play your word games. If you try… I will slaughter you. Every. Last. One. Of. You."
And then, just like that, the feed went dark.
The crushing pressure lifted.
The tavern fell into silence save for the ragged gasps of terrified devils.
For the first time since the broadcast began, we could breathe again—though each breath felt heavy, poisoned by the memory of those eyes in the sky.
I glanced at the others.
Faces pale, eyes wide, bodies frozen in disbelief.
None of us could speak.
None of us could even move.
What had we just seen?
A human… no, something beyond human, something that laughed at devils like us.
For the first time in my life, I understood true power.
And it wasn't mercy.
It was absolute.
Unquestionable.
And terrifying.
If that was only the beginning… then what horrors awaited the rest of us?
I clenched my fists.
My blood ran cold.
Hell would never be the same again.
Only one thought remained.
While we may be devils… that monster… no, that being… was a Demon God.
...
Zevion's POV:
...
After giving my speech, Giratina swept through the battlefield, knocking out Riser and his peerage with precision.
The stream… I guessed it was over.
I couldn't confirm for sure, but most of these streams usually ended after the game.
Was this one of those that shows everything all the way to the award ceremony?
Before I could think too much, Grayfia's voice rang out clearly.
All of Lord Riser's peerage has been retired. Lord Riser himself has been knocked out. The victory goes to Lord Zevion and Lady Rias.
I let the words sink in for a moment, then gestured to Giratina to open the barrier around Rias and the others.
After lifting the barrier, Giratina shrank down to its chibi form and submerged into my shadow.
"Thanks for the good work, partner," I said as a magic circle formed, teleporting me.
I opened my eyes and… bam! Right back in the clubroom with Rias and the others.
Before I could even speak, Rias, Akeno, and Koneko descended on me like a storm.
They tripped me over the floor.
As Rias, Akeno, and Koneko started delivering swift kicks to my backside.
My arms flailed helplessly, and my dignity evaporated faster than smoke.
Kiba just shrugged and turned the other way, polishing his sword like he wasn't seeing any of it.
I knew it—he was a fake good guy!
Normally, Giratina would've jumped in and saved me if they went full supernatural, but this time… I was completely defenseless.
A few minutes later, I was on my knees.
My hair was a mess, my clothes were wrinkled, and my pride was in critical condition—beaten up from their earlier assault.
Apparently, Rias was furious at me for charging in all alone.
Koneko was annoyed that I left her behind—her expression said more than her words ever could.
And Akeno?
Oh, she just smiled sweetly the entire time while raining down playful slaps and kicks like it was some kind of festival game.
She didn't even need a reason.
She just saw an opportunity and jumped right in.
"Fuck you, Akeno!"
I muttered under my breath, still wheezing.
She only tilted her head, gave me that sadistic smile, and whispered, "Ara ara, was that a complaint?"
I swear… that woman just lives for this.
"? Why would I ever complain about you?"
I said it so innocently that even I believed I was innocent.
My tone was pure, my eyes wide, like some saint who had never committed a single sin in his entire life.
For a brief moment, even Rias and Koneko blinked in surprise—like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't the scum they thought I was.
But Akeno?
She just leaned closer, her smile widening, eyes glinting with mischief.
She patted my head like I was a dog.
"Ara ara… good boy."
Chills ran down my spine.
I might've survived the fight with Riser, but this woman?
This woman was going to be the death of me.
I have to do something about her… seriously, that sadistic smile of Akeno's is more terrifying than anything I faced in the Rating Game.
While I was silently plotting my survival strategy, Rias's voice cut through my thoughts—firm, serious, with none of her usual softness.
"So? Why did you trap us here and fight alone?"
Her eyes locked onto mine, sharp as blades.
I froze for a second.
Right… they were sealed inside the barrier.
They didn't see a single thing.
But the broadcast did.
The entire devil society saw it.
Sooner or later, the recording would reach them.
Better to tell them now, straight from my mouth, than get punished—or worse—have Rias find out second-hand and double my suffering.
I exhaled slowly, bracing myself.
"…I guess I can tell you now."
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