"So I finally get to see you go all out? Hmph. This situation must be dire indeed. I would have preferred to see that power during our rematch, though."
"Haha, still as obsessed with appearances as ever, I see." Tobio-san smirked, his eyes shifting to someone behind Vali. Vali's expression instantly stiffened.
"Wait—no. You didn't... you didn't bring her, did you?"
A woman wearing a pointed hat and flowing robes stepped out from the Blade Dog team. She was a stunning beauty with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Her attire marked her as a witch, but her presence alone seemed to have a physical effect on the room.
She stepped up to Vali and gave him a saccharine-sweet smile. "Still being selfish, I see?"
"L-Lavinia...!" Vali actually recoiled, his face twitching. I had never seen the legendary Vali Lucifer so utterly rattled.
The woman named Lavinia took Vali's hand. "Chairman Mephisto and former Governor Azazel gave me permission to come out. We can fight together again, Va-kun!"
...Va-kun?
The nickname clicked. I remembered Tobio-san mentioning once during training that there was someone who called Vali by that name. So this was her.
"Now, wait just a minute!" Vali protested.
"Va-kun... you betrayed Grigori, went off alone to find your grandfather, and caused trouble for so many people. That isn't very nice. This time, you're going to fight with everyone else. Understood?"
With that, Lavinia pulled Vali into a deep, smothering embrace against her chest.
"Ugh... gah...!"
The battle-crazed Vali Lucifer was powerless, his face flushing a bright, indignant red! I couldn't believe my eyes. Rias-senpai and I stood there in shock, while Azazel-sensei and the Blade Dog team just watched with mischievous grins.
"Classic. The only person in the world our leader can't stand up to," Bikou chuckled.
"He usually runs the moment he senses the 'Ice Princess' nearby," Arthur added. "This time, he let his guard down, and she completely masked her presence."
Vali's own team was clearly enjoying his predicament.
But my mind was stuck on the title Bikou had used. Lavinia, the Ice Princess.
The prodigy of Mephisto Pheles, Chairman of the 'Grau Zauberer' (Grey Wizards). One of the world's strongest magic users and the possessor of the Longinus: Absolute Demise. To think she was the one holding Vali in a headlock... the developments were getting more surprising by the minute.
As I pondered her reputation, Kuroka and Le Fay approached me, whispering.
"So... is Red Dragon-tan okay?" Kuroka asked.
"We heard what happened," Le Fay added, her voice soft. "We're so sorry we couldn't get here sooner."
Both of them were essentially living at the Hyoudou residence now and had grown close to Issei-kun. Their concern was genuine.
"His life isn't in danger for now," I whispered back. "But he still hasn't woken up."
"I see..." They both sighed, their faces clouding over. Even the usually playful Kuroka looked lonely without Issei-kun around.
Azazel-sensei addressed the gathered group. "We're going to need everyone's help. Between Trihexa and this God from another world, the whole planet is in jeopardy. Even factions that were holding out are starting to cooperate. Every single person counts now. Rossweisse, Gaspar—I've got new data on the Holy Grail. I need your input and cooperation to devise a countermeasure for Trihexa. Follow me."
"Understood!" they both replied firmly.
"Rias, keep the Gremory peerage on standby here until further notice. Keep an eye on Issei. I'll have Maurice and the others moving later."
"Yes, I understand," Rias-senpai said.
"Vali, Tobio. Take your teams to the Maou Castle and wait for—"
Azazel was cut off by a scream.
"W-What is that?! Look!"
The shout came from the hallway. Doctors, nurses, patients, and visitors all rushed toward the windows, a wave of panicked whispering growing into a roar of confusion.
I followed their gaze out the window, and my heart nearly stopped.
"What... is that...?"
I didn't even realize I had spoken aloud.
The sky above the Underworld, usually a deep, characteristic purple, was gone. In its place was a 'hole' so massive it defied measurement—a yawning chasm that seemed to stretch beyond the horizon. It was a pitch-black void, looking like a black hole pulled straight from a work of fiction.
As we watched, paralyzed, the blackness began to fade, and a landscape began to resolve within the void.
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