The battle continued in a deadly, crushing balance. The four leaders of the Khaos Brigade, driven by fanaticism and fueled by the latent power of their Satanic blood, fought with a desperate, unified ferocity.
Algernon, however, was not simply fighting; he was learning. Every void-string from Shalba, every complex curse from Creuserey, and every surge of destruction from Katerea was analyzed, categorized, and countered with an economy of force that was breathtaking. He wasn't relying on brute strength; he was relying on Law.
A look of mild impatience finally crossed Algernon's face. He was done playing.
He took one, deep, deliberate breath. His six crimson-black wings unfurled, expanding instantly and filling the entire immediate vicinity with their shadow. His whole body got covered with crimson-black aura of destruction with silver hue representing his spatial law. The gravity he had imposed on the four leaders didn't just increase—it inverted.
With a silent, wrenching twist of Spatial Law, the ground beneath the four leaders was annihilated. Instead of being crushed downward, they were simultaneously ripped outward from the center of the battlefield. The change was instant and catastrophic.
Shalba Beelzebub, whose spatial magic was based on manipulation within a dimension, was the first to break. His counter-vortices collapsed as his own body was stretched and warped by Algernon's absolute control over the surrounding space. Shalba screamed, his voice dissolving into a gurgle as he was flung far beyond the established boundaries of the field, his demonic power scattering into the void. He was instantly defeated.
Creuserey Asmodeus, seeing the fate of his ally, tried to run away from the battlefield. But Algernon's will was faster. He attacked Creuserey not with a spell, but with an accelerated mana density around him. The raw, aura of his laws compressed Creuserey's life force until the Asmodeus heir imploded, his being reduced to a burst of ineffective magical particles.
Now, only Katerea Leviathan and Euclid Lucifuge remained. Katerea, fueled by rage, unleashed her strongest attack—her arms stretched endlessly trying to trap him. Algernon didn't destroy them; he simply used his Law of Destruction to reverse the polarity sending waves of repulsion centered around him. The arms, which were meant to capture him, recoiled with ten times the force of its creation, waves rushed toward Katerea and vaporizing her defenses. She was left stunned, battered, and critically injured.
Euclid, realizing the game was lost, threw up a desperate teleportation matrix, attempting to snatch Katerea and escape. But Algernon's eyes narrowed.
"No more running," Algernon declared.
He snapped his fingers. The dimensional escape route Euclid had opened instantly collapsed on itself, sealing the exit. Then, Algernon's body blurred. He appeared directly in front of Euclid, moving with a speed that defied the heavy gravity. Before Euclid could react, Algernon's hand closed around his throat, the pressure instantly crushing the will of the Lucifuge.
"Your talent was wasted on serving others," Algernon stated, his voice devoid of pity.
With a powerful thrust, Algernon slammed Euclid into the ground, Power of Destruction instantly covered him vaporizing his whole body instantly. Similar to him was Katerea's fate.
The field was cleared. In less than a minute of sustained, absolute offensive, Algernon had single-handedly eliminated the four core figures of the Khaos Brigade. The victory was swift, brutal, and utterly final.
The utter, terrifying silence that fell over Algernon's section of the battlefield was more shocking than any explosion. The powerful clash of destruction magic and void manipulation had simply ceased. Even amidst the apocalyptic war raging elsewhere, the abrupt cessation of the Super Devil's confrontation drew the immediate attention of everyone.
The Four Great Satans, locked in a desperate struggle with the legendary dragons, momentarily glanced toward the source of the quietness. They saw Algernon standing alone, his wings magnificent and untroubled, amidst the crumpled, fragmented land. His enemy was long gone.
Panic immediately rippled through the ranks of the Khaos Brigade army. Their commanders were eliminated, their mission was compromised, and they were staring at a clear, brutal defeat. The order to retreat was not given; it was an instinctive surge of self-preservation. Magicians abandoned their circles, devils dropped their swords, and the supernatural legions began a frantic, disorderly flight back toward their dimensional rifts.
The mass retreat of the infantry quickly extended to the legendary dragons. Aži Dahāka and Ladon, seeing the devils fall and their allied army flee, attempted to disengage from Ajuka's binding chains to join the retreat, leaving Crom Cruach to cover their escape.
However, Grendel, the Crime Force Dragon, true to his battle-hungry nature, refused to run. He roared, shaking the ice-prison created by Serafall, his draconic power surging in a final, defiant frenzy.
The Four Great Satans, seizing the opportunity presented by the chaos, focused their combined fury on the single, stationary target. Sirzechs unleashed a concentrated beam of Power of Destruction. Serafall layered her ice magic, freezing Grendel's movements solid. Falbium lowered his shields to send a surge of binding magic.
Grendel's mighty roar was cut short as the magics encased him, and with a final, earth-shaking shudder, the Crime Force Dragon was defeated and contained.
With the leaders defeated and one dragon incapacitated, the Demon Army, under the swift and brilliant command of Issei and Kuroka, pressed their advantage.
"Focus on containing their teleportation points! No escapes!" Kuroka's voice, amplified by Youjutsu, guided the magical brigades.
The Demon Army surged forward, turning the Khaos Brigade's retreat into a rout.
___________________________________________
Sirzechs, Serafall, Ajuka, and Falbium immediately turned their attention to the remaining three legendary dragons, Crom Cruach, Aži Dahāka and Ladon, who were desperately attempting to flee the dimension.
"Don't let them escape! We must secure those beasts," Sirzechs commanded, already gathering the immense crimson power in his hands.
But a cool, calm voice cut through their strategy, halting the Satans in their tracks.
"There's no point in a further fight," Algernon stated.
He was sitting cross-legged atop a large, shattered boulder, a picture of serene composure amidst the wreckage he had created. His six crimson-black wings rested casually behind him.
Serafall Leviathan, her usual bubbly demeanor replaced by the stern focus of a Satan, questioned him immediately. "What do you mean, 'no point,' Algernon? They are escaping! We must contain all of the threat."
Algernon looked at her, then calmly gestured toward the escaping dragons and the defeated leaders.
"They possess a failsafe," he explained, his voice even. "They possess the Sephiroth Graal—one of the Thirteen Longinus. It is an artifact of revival and immense power. All of those devils I defeated—Katerea, Creuserey, Shalba, and Euclid—they will be revived as at my current level I can't completely erase their souls. The dragons, too, will be restored by its power."
He stood, dusting a nonexistent speck of debris from his robes. "Chasing them now would only exhaust you for no gain. Our main objective of disrupting their plan—has already been achieved. Their immediate defeat here is what matters for the record."
The four Satans stared at him, their expressions ranging from shock to grim acceptance.
The revelation of the Sephiroth Graal sent a visible wave of unease through the Four Great Satans.
Lord Ajuka Beelzebub, ever the pragmatist, was the first to speak. He pushed his glasses up, his gaze intense. "If the Graal is involved, then their ability to replenish forces is near limitless. You are correct, Algernon. A chase is pointless."
Lord Sirzechs Lucifer lowered his hand, the residual Power of Destruction dissipating slowly. His fury was now mixed with cold calculation.
Soon, the immediate silence was replaced by the disciplined sounds of the Demon Army securing the field, gathering the defeated peerage members, and tending to the wreckage.
With the immediate threat neutralized and the enemy in full retreat, the Four Great Satans wasted no time. Their expressions were grave, acknowledging the severe political crisis the victory had unleashed.
"Falbium, dispatch containment units immediately to secure the ex-saints," Sirzechs commanded, his voice sharp and focused as he got the news of what happened in underworld. "Ajuka, you will accompany me back to the Underworld. We must convene the emergency council and begin the investigation into the King Pieces and the Council's finances. Serafall, begin preparation for a public address."
The Satans moved with ruthless efficiency, their shock giving way to strategic focus. They then teleported away, leaving Algernon to survey his handiwork.
He turned toward his two allies, Issei Hyoudou and Kuroka Toujou, who were now walking toward him, visibly exhausted but triumphant after commanding the legions.
"That was quite the show, Darling~," Kuroka purred, though her breath was still ragged. "I knew I was amazing, but coordinating a whole army is tiring!"
Issei, his Boosted Gear dimming, pumped a weary fist. "We did it! We actually drove them back! But man, that was close. Those mages were tough." He looked at the wreckage where the four demons had fallen. "So, what now? The Satans are handling the cleanup. Where do we go?"
Algernon gave a slow, satisfied smile. He moved deliberately toward Kuroka, his expression softening as he approached her. He reached out and gently placed a strong arm around her waist, allowing her to rest her body against him. Kuroka sighed contentedly, leaning into his strength, exhausted from the immense magical exertion.
He met Issei's gaze. "Issei, You need to return to Athelgrad or human world.
Issei gave a final, respectful nod to Algernon and a tired smile to Kuroka before activating a teleportation circle and vanishing from the desolate battlefield.
Algernon looked down at Kuroka, stroking her hair. "And we, my love, must have acquaintances waiting outside."
Kuroka gave him a mischievous, short kiss and opened up some distance while activating a small, discreet teleportation circle.
The transition took took them off from the war-torn dimension and straight into the main viewing area reserved for high-ranking noble families and key political figures.
As Algernon materialized, he was instantly hit by something far softer and more forceful than any Khaos Brigade attack. Four soft things crashed into him, the impact startling even a Super Devil. He braced himself, realizing immediately who his attackers were.
He found himself enveloped in a fierce, dual embrace. It was Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima, both of whom had been watching the broadcast before it was interrupted. Rias pressed her voluptuous body against his chest, her heart hammering against his ribs, her face buried in his shoulder. Akeno, equally relieved and exuberant, hugged him tightly from the other side, her curves pressing against him as she let out a soft, relieved sigh.
"You idiot! You absolute idiot!" Rias choked out, her voice thick with unshed tears and the residual panic of watching him confront a terrorist army. "I thought you were going to be killed!"
Akeno, realizing her impulsive act had been a very public display, tried to gently pull back and regain her composure. She was immediately met with a tightened arm of Algernon, which wrapped firmly around her waist, locking her in place against his side. He wasn't letting either of them go just yet.
"Did you doubt me?" Algernon whispered again, his gaze resting first on Rias, then on Akeno. His sheer aura was masked by the genuine warmth in his eyes. "This was merely the overture for what's about to come."
Rias finally leaned back, her hands gripping the front of his robes. Her eyes, still shining with moisture, scanned his face. "I was terrified when broadcast was interrupted, but your match against Diodora was... magnificent."
Akeno giggled, relaxing fully into his embrace once she realized he had no intention of releasing her. "And the wings, Algernon-kun. Six pairs of crimson-black wings," she purred, her eyes shining with admiration. "That information alone is going to give every fraction nightmares for weeks. Ara Ara, what a surprise you are."
Algernon smiled, glancing around the VIP box. Other devils, high-ranking nobles, and press officials were frozen in place, their shock over the rating game overshadowed by the spectacle of the reigning champion's claims and the emergence of new Super devil.
Seeing Algernon look directly toward them while holding Rias and Akeno close was the final breaking point. The onlookers, realizing the atmosphere scrambled for the nearest exit. Whispers and stunned gasps were replaced by the frantic sounds of teleportation circles activating and rushed footsteps. Within seconds, the large VIP box was completely emptied, leaving only Algernon, Rias, and Akeno in the luxurious, silent space.
Algernon finally released his tight grip, his smile genuine. "Much better," he murmured, appreciating the sudden privacy.
(END OF CHAPTER)
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Bonus chapter when power stones reach 500