The morning stillness of the shrine garden enveloped them, a perfect pocket of peace that felt fragile against the looming reality of war. They were dressed now, sitting quietly on the engawa overlooking the misty, pine-scented garden.
Algernon turned to Akeno with the intimate glow in his eyes and a confident smile on his face. "Be ready with Rias and the others for tonight. You all will be invited by the Satans for a ceremony."
Akeno's eyes widened slightly, her surprise quickly giving way to professional curiosity. The Satans were clearly moving fast to stabilize the Underworld after the war and the public exposure, they didn't have the time for anything.
"A ceremony?" Akeno confirmed, rising gracefully to her feet. "What sort of ceremony? An announcement?"
Algernon gave her the slightest playful smirk, a twist of his lips that suggested immense knowledge held in contempt. He reached out and gently took her hand, his gaze locking with hers.
"They say that a true change in reality is imperceptible at the moment it occurs," Algernon murmured, his eyes deepening to a terrifying intensity.
He paused, letting the statement hang in the tranquil air, the silence broken only by the distant chime of the shrine bells.
"I am going to shake the world, Akeno," he declared, his voice a low, absolute promise. "Not just the Underworld. The entire dimensional structure will acknowledge the power that I, Algernon Azeroth wield. And every faction—Angel, Devil, and Dragon—will know exactly where their future lies."
"I intend to deliver the verdict of history. When the dust settles, they will know that their era ended not with a whimper, but with a dimensional upheaval they will spend centuries trying to comprehend."
The sheer audacity of the declaration hung in the quiet air. Algernon finally released her hand. He didn't look back at Akeno, whose face was still alit with awe and hesitation.
Algernon vanished from the tranquil shrine room. He offered no further instruction, no goodbye, and no assurance.
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Algernon materialized within the echoing solitude of his massive, fortified castle in Athelgrad. The cold, ancient stones of the fortress were a stark contrast to the human warmth of the shrine.
He moved to a pedestal in the center of the room where his battle attire rested. It was a suit of heavy, midnight-black armor, studded with sharp, aggressive spikes. As he donned the pieces—a methodical, fluid motion of a warrior preparing for war—the armor reacted to the Super Devil energy now surging through his body. A fierce, unstable crimson hue radiated from the microscopic cracks in the metal, pulsating with the raw power of his combined holy and demonic Laws.
He was securing the final gauntlet when the door slid open. Kuroka stepped inside, her eyes wide, having followed his powerful, abrupt teleportation to this distant location. She saw the armor, the radiating power, and understood the time was upon them.
Algernon didn't look up, his voice steady and resolute as he cinched the final strap. "Inform Issei. Tell him the final stage of preparation is complete. We are on the move. After all the politicking and distractions, it is time to start the conquest."
His armor, crackling faintly with the crimson energy of his Super Devil core, was complete. Without waiting for a reply, Algernon started walking out of the command chamber in long, confident strides. His heavy boots echoed against the ancient stone floor of the castle, the sound a harbinger of the dimensional upheaval he was about to unleash.
Kuroka, momentarily stunned by the finality of his command, snapped out of her stupor. She understood the unspoken urgency. She immediately pulled out a summoning circle to contact Issei, her own sense of anticipation mingling with fear, and hurried to follow the massive armored figure of Algernon, matching his relentless pace as they headed toward the castle's highest spire.
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The journey from the martial coldness of Athelgrad to the diplomatic hub of the Lucifer territory was instantaneous, a flash of spatial magic that spanned dimensions. Algernon, Kuroka, and Issei materialized in the heart of Lilith, the capital city and residence of Sirzechs Lucifer.
The contrast with Algernon's own spartan fortress was stark. Here, the stone was polished white marble, veined with gold, reflecting the diffused magical light from massive, arched windows. Despite the opulent setting, the atmosphere in the palace was electric with strain; the air thrummed with hurried magical messengers.
Algernon wasted no time. Clad in his spiked, crimson-laced black armor, he moved into the main administrative hallway. His stride was long, unhurried, and imbued with an absolute, frightening confidence that seemed to silence the very echoes of their steps.
Flanking him, Kuroka and Issei maintained the precise, disciplined formation. They walked on either side of him, one distinct step back, a clear visual acknowledgment of Algernon's supreme authority.
Issei, still somewhat awed by the sheer grandeur of the Devil King's palace, kept his eyes forward, his jaw set, channeling his nervous energy into unwavering focus. Kuroka, ever aware of their image, walked with a sleek, practiced grace, her eyes sharp and analytical, scanning the passing walls.
The hallway was vast, lined with towering statues of previous Great Satans and ornate banners bearing the Lucifer crest—all symbols of the traditional power.
They walked past dozens of high-ranking devils who instantly bowed their heads in respectful, fearful recognition, having undoubtedly seen Algernon's devastating display in the WAR.
Finally, the long, intimidating corridor ended. Standing before them was a set of massive, ebony doors carved with the insignia of the Emergency Council—the very Meeting Hall where the fate of the Underworld was being debated. Algernon's silhouette, framed by his two unwavering allies, stopped precisely before the threshold. His hand rested lightly on the cool metal of the door.
The massive, carved ebony doors of the Meeting Hall silently swung inward, revealing the scene within. The room was circular, filled with heavy, ancient magic, centered by a large table where the Four Great Satans were gathered. Sirzechs Lucifer, Ajuka Beelzebub, Serafall Leviathan, and Falbium Asmodeus were all present, their expressions grim and deeply focused on the crisis reports spread across the table.
The sight of an armed figure intruding without announcement caused all four Satans to immediately look up.
Algernon stepped across the threshold, his crimson-laced black armor reflecting the room's soft magical lighting instantly ratcheting the atmosphere tense.
Algernon ignored the palpable surprise. He walked with slow, utterly confident strides toward the table. His eyes scanned the seats—likely those meant for Council members who were sent to heaven by him—and he chose a prominent, empty chair.
He simply pulled the heavy chair out, the scrape of metal on marble the only sound. He settled into the seat with the posture of a monarch returning to his rightful place.
A large, satisfied smile broke across Algernon's face, a contrast to the icy demeanor he had maintained.
"Sorry for the intrusion," Algernon said, his voice casual yet dominating. "Though I must say, all four of you being here makes this much easier."
He rested his elbow on the table, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. He glanced around the table, taking in their grim, weary faces before delivering the true opening statement.
"Before I declare my purpose for being here," Algernon continued, his voice dropping to a low, chilling monotone, "I would like to clarify a few outstanding debts."
His eyes were completely devoid of malice, treating the confession as a simple fact. "The Naberius Clan that was recently exterminated? That was my work. And those Old Council members who were a hinderance to the whole Underworld? They were also eliminated on my orders."
The atmosphere shattered. The polite tension snapped into immediate, visceral shock.
Sirzechs Lucifer slammed his hand flat on the table, his chair scraping back as he surged to his feet. Ajuka Beelzebub rose, his analytical gaze replaced by huge curiosity. Serafall Leviathan's posture straightened instantly, her usual playful demeanor became serious, and Falbium Asmodeus stood, his massive frame radiating immediate defensive power.
The Four Great Satans had completely lost their composure, staring at the killer who had just claimed a massive internal purge as his own doing.
Sirzechs Lucifer was the first to reclaim his voice, though it was strained, the crimson aura around him flaring dangerously. "You confess to mass murder and political assassination? You have violated every foundational law of the Underworld, Algernon. By what divine right do you claim jurisdiction over the noble clans? I will have you arrested this instant!"
Algernon met the challenge with a slight tilt of his head, his smirk unwavering. "Arrest me, Lord Lucifer? And who, precisely, will be the one doing it? You needed the Naberius Clan eradicated because you knew of their deeds, but your political constraints made it impossible to act without years of investigation. You needed the Old Council members gone to stop them from eroding the underworld, but your own history bound your hands."
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "I merely performed the surgical removal you were too ethically and politically crippled to attempt. I broke the laws to save the Law. And now, the true obstacle is removed."
He pushed his chair back and rose fully, his armored form a terrifying silhouette against the room's light. His voice dropped to a pitch that transcended mere sound, resonating with absolute, undeniable power.
"Do not mistake my presence for negotiation, Lords Satans," Algernon declared, his eyes burning with cold resolve. "I am not here to offer my services as a commander, nor am I here to stabilize the falling politics of Underworld."
He gestured around the vast, silent room, his contempt palpable. "Your systems are weak. Your rule is fractured. You allow petty politics, inherited titles, and archaic laws to hold back the destiny of the devil race. You call it governance; I call it slow, suicidal decay."
His final words were delivered with the terrifying finality of a divine decree.
"I have done the work, and I have proven my worth and power. Now, the time for the pretense is over. I am here to make you submit to my authority. I will conquer the devil race, dismantle the fragile remains of your government, and assume my rightful place as your Emperor. You will bend the knee, or you will be broken."
The words hung in the air like solidified lightning. Algernon let the threat—the ultimate demand for surrender—sink deep into the minds of the Devil Kings.
He then turned slowly, his gaze lifting to the astonished faces of the Satans.
"I challenge you now, all four of you, for the very right to rule this race! You have seen my power. You know what I am capable of. Your choice is singular and immediate: Step aside and acknowledge my superior Law or stand against me and prove yourselves as demon kings."
Sirzechs, Ajuka, Serafall, and Falbium stared back, their faces no longer showing surprise, but a unified, terrible resolve. They were Satans, and they could not, would not, surrender their legacy without a fight.
(END OF CHAPTER)
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