The air in the room felt different now—not frantic, not panicked, not grief-drenched like before…
…but heavy.
Dense.
Pressurized.
Like the atmosphere right before a storm breaks open.
Everyone sat scattered around my living room.
Sona was still recovering on my bed.
Kiba sat on the floor with a blanket over his shoulders.
Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Tsubaki, Asia, Irina, Xenovia, Ravel—all arranged in the space wherever their tired bodies could settle.
Serafall stayed closest to Sona, though she kept glancing at me like she expected trouble at any moment.
Mashiro, who'd seen more supernatural insanity in a single day than most people survive in a lifetime, sat cross-legged on the couch, hugging a pillow like a silent ghost with a most elegantly difficult to read emotionless face.
No one looked calm.
No one looked rested.
But everyone looked like they needed direction.
I took a slow breath, straightened my back, and clapped my hands once.
The sharp sound sliced through the lingering tension.
"Well then," I said with a smile that was at least 60% mischief and 40% genuine leadership.
"Let's get to work."
The room collectively held its breath.
Rias's posture stiffened.
Sona adjusted her glasses.
Akeno leaned in, intrigued.
Xenovia reached for her sword instinctively.
Irina folded her hands prayerfully.
Asia glanced nervously between us.
Koneko munched a cookie with grave seriousness.
Serafall tilted her head like a magical girl awaiting mission orders.
Mashiro just blinked blankly innocently.
I let my expression drop into something colder, more controlled.
"First order of business," I said.
"We need to show our power."
The shift was immediate.
Tension rippled through the entire room.
Kiba's knuckles tightened around the blanket.
Even the air seemed to thicken further as unease crept into everyone's expressions.
I continued before anyone could panic.
"That part is my responsibility. I'm a Summoner, and Giratina is with me. Power is…" I smirked. "…already secured."
Giratina's shadow stretched along the wall like a massive serpent uncoiling, as if agreeing with pride.
The temperature dropped a little.
Mashiro scooted closer to Giratina—progress.
Then I pointed to Serafall.
"For actual faction management? Serafall will take charge. She's a Demon Lord, one of the highest-ranking figures among devils, and has centuries of experience."
Serafall raised her hand stiffly.
"Yes?"
I asked, humoring her.
She pouted dramatically.
"I never said I'm joining your faction! And you asked them if they wanted to join, but didn't ask us! I feel discriminated against!"
Her lower lip trembled as if demanding emotional compensation.
I nodded sympathetically.
"Okay then. Serafall is out of the faction. Sona, you're in charge of management."
Serafall immediately dropped to her knees at my feet with a thud.
"WAIT—WAIT—WAIT!! I WAS JUST MAKING A POINT! I NEVER SAID 'NO'!! I'M JOINING! I'LL MANAGE EVERYTHING! PLEASE DON'T TAKE SO-TAN AWAY FROM ME AGAINNNN!"
She clutched my pants like a desperate child.
I blinked twice.
"…Then Serafall is in charge."
She jumped back up instantly, wiping imaginary dust from her dress with a proud smile, as if she hadn't just begged on the floor.
I looked at the others.
"Anyway, if someone wants out, they can leave. I only asked the church trio because believers usually have… complications. You all? You're baseline members. No need for permission."
Sona rubbed her forehead, exhausted already.
Serafall stood ramrod straight, awaiting her next task like a soldier.
I clapped again.
"Great! Serafall also handles role assignments. That concludes faction management. Any questions about responsibilities, ask Serafall."
Serafall's eye twitched violently.
"H-Hey!! Don't dump all of it on me!! I'm a Demon Lord, not an office clerk!"
I ignored her entirely.
"Next topic."
"DON'T IGNORE ME—!!!"
I turned my head slowly toward her.
"One more word… and you're out."
She froze mid-scream.
Then sat down silently, hands folded in her lap, as a student threatened with expulsion.
Good girl.
I inhaled deeply.
"Now… the important part. War against the Fallen Angels."
The atmosphere thickened like someone had added smoke to the air.
Rias straightened, eyes sharp.
Akeno's smile faded.
Koneko paused her cookie halfway to her mouth.
Xenovia subtly tightened her grip on her sword.
Asia's eyes trembled with lingering fear.
Irina's posture stiffened, angelic training kicking in.
Tsubaki stood next with a bit of fire blazing from her eyes.
Even Mashiro tilted her head, sensing something dark.
I spoke clearly:
"First of all… yes. We are going to fight them."
Shock rippled across the room.
Rias lifted a hand.
"Zevion… is this about revenge?"
I shook my head.
"No. This is about making a statement."
I let my voice drop an octave.
"A sign."
Rias blinked, uncertain.
"A sign of what?"
I stared straight into her eyes.
"A sign of what happens to those… who dare hurt anyone precious to us."
The air vibrated with the cold threat buried in my tone.
A few of them shivered.
Xenovia spoke next.
"…So what's the plan?"
I crossed my arms.
"We attack their main headquarters. Or capital. Or whatever their central seat of power is."
The room erupted:
"That's too dangerous!"
"We're not ready!"
"That's just genocide!"
"Are you crazy?!"
But I held up my hand.
"No. Because half of it? Will be fake."
That shut them up.
"What do you mean?" Rias asked.
I explained calmly:
"We teleport innocents—children, peaceful civilians, non-combatants—into an isolated dimension. A safe one. They'll live there peacefully."
Rias, Akeno, Asia, and even Koneko visibly relaxed a bit.
"But," I continued, my gaze hardening, "Everyone directly involved in Kokabiel's actions—plotters, killers, conspirators, extremists—those people?"
I raised a finger and tapped my temple.
"They don't get a second chance."
Silence.
Not fearful.
Not horrified.
Just understanding.
Serafall then asked, unusually serious:
"But Zevion… how do you plan to fight their entire stronghold? Kokabiel is in Grigori. The strongest Fallen are there. Even I wouldn't take on Azazel, Shemhaza, Baraqiel, and others at the same time."
I smiled slowly.
"This is my debut."
Everyone stared.
I raised one finger.
"And I'm going alone."
Instant panic.
"NO!"
"Zevion you idiot!!"
"You'll die!"
"That's suicide!"
"I forbid it!"
"WHAT PART OF ALONE IS GOOD?!"
My ears rang.
I cleared my throat.
"Do you all remember what I am?"
Rias immediately replied:
"A Summoner."
I nodded proudly.
"Correct. And something new just unlocked."
I reached into my inventory—
Pulled out a blue wrapper.
A faintly glowing candy.
Everyone quieted.
"This," I said, "is Rare Candy."
Sona tilted her head.
"What does it do?"
I grinned wider.
"Think RPGs. Normally, you grind to level up, right?"
Everyone nodded faintly.
"Well… this levels you up instantly."
I flipped my inventory open.
And dumped a hundred shimmering candies onto the floor.
CLATTER — CLINK — RATTLE
Glowing gems rolled everywhere like spilled treasure.
The girls stared.
Eyes wide.
Minds breaking.
Only Mashiro looked blank, because "levels" meant nothing to her.
"This means," I said confidently, "I can turn everyone here into high-level monsters."
To demonstrate, I tossed one to Giratina.
She swallowed it.
A golden radiance burst around her like a shockwave.
Her power spiked so intensely the air cracked.
Even Serafall flinched.
Sona finally spoke.
"…Side-effects?"
"Doesn't work on humans," I answered.
"That's it."
A collective WHAT?! echoed through the room.
Ravel grabbed her head.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD KILL FOR THAT?! YOU'D CAUSE A WORLD WAR!"
I shrugged casually.
"I know."
Then I pointed to Serafall.
"Your mission: eat these 99 remaining Rare Candies. You're already the strongest. They'll boost you the most."
Serafall blinked.
"…For free?"
"Yes."
She trembled.
"I-I've never felt so loved…!"
I leaned back on the couch, crossing my legs with complete villain energy.
"You heard me."
I spread my arms wide.
"It's time to pull out the big guns."
A hush fell over the room.
Serafall's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Sona's expression sharpened with resolve.
Tsubaki's eyes are shining brighter under the glasses.
Rias looked both inspired and terrified.
Akeno smiled darkly.
Koneko nodded, unusually serious.
Xenovia's grip tightened with enthusiasm.
Irina glowed with determination.
Asia prayed softly—for us.
Mashiro… blinked, but with a tiny spark of curiosity.
I declared:
"We're done being weak."
"We're done being hunted."
"We're done letting fate toy with us."
I lifted my hand like issuing a proclamation.
"We will reshape the world."
I smiled—wide, cold, and unstoppable.
"It's us versus everyone now."
And with absolute conviction, I said:
"And we will win."
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