Kokabiel's POV

  We didn't have to wait too long for Kazuma and Ritsuka to show up.

  Michael and Azrael stood beside me, both radiating curiosity mixed with wariness. They didn't know the full details about the chat group, that particular secret was still mine to keep. But they trusted my judgment implicitly. Three thousand years of brotherhood had earned me that much, at least.

  So when reality suddenly rippled and tore open like fabric being cut by invisible scissors, revealing a swirling portal of kaleidoscopic colors, they didn't immediately draw weapons or go into combat stances.

  They just watched with interest as two figures tumbled through.

  Emphasis on "tumbled."

  Kazuma came through first, appearing in a completely undignified manner—face-first into the ground with all the grace of a sack of potatoes being thrown from a moving cart.

  THUD

  "Ow! Fuck!" He spat dirt and debris, his voice muffled. "Ptui, ptui, damn world-traveling portal! Couldn't you at least let me land in a dignified way?! Talk about a terrible first impression! This is bullshit!"

  He pushed himself up on his hands and knees, still spitting. "I paid good money for this tracksuit! Now it's got Underworld dirt all over it! I don't even have a washing machine!"

  Ritsuka came through right after him, but she managed significantly better. She wobbled on her feet for a moment, arms windmilling for balance, but she didn't fall. Years of Rayshifting into different Singularities had apparently given her better dimensional travel experience.

  She steadied herself, took a deep breath, then turned to face us with a bright, genuine smile.

  "Hello, Kokabiel-san! It's so nice to finally meet you in person!" She bowed politely, the gesture perfect and respectful. "These must be your brothers you've told us so much about. It's an honor to meet you guys."

  She straightened up, her eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement. "Hello! My name is Ritsuka Fujimaru. I'll be in your care during this mission. Please treat me kindly!"

  Michael's expression immediately softened. He smiled warmly, the kind of gentle smile that had earned him the title of "Heaven's Most Compassionate" among the angels.

  "Welcome to our world, Miss Ritsuka. It's wonderful to meet my brother's friends." He bowed politely in return, matching her gesture. "Kokabiel might be incredibly strong, but he's socially clueless at the best of times. Please take care of him when we're not around."

  I felt my eye twitch. "I'm standing right here, Michael."

  "I know," he replied pleasantly. "That's why I said it loud enough for you to hear."

  Azrael snickered.

  I ignored them both and focused on our guests. "Welcome, Ritsuka. It's good to finally meet you face-to-face as well. I hope you enjoy your stay in my world, despite the circumstances."

  Ritsuka beamed. "I'm sure I will! I've been looking forward to this ever since you mentioned Heaven in the chat!"

  I smiled. "I'll take you there after this. Although, for Kazuma, I'm not so sure."

  Kazuma finally managed to dust himself off and stand up properly. He looked around the Underworld with wide eyes, taking in the dark sky, the ominous atmosphere, the general sense of oppressive gloom.

  Then he looked at us. Three archangels standing there with wings and divine auras, and I saw the exact moment reality hit him.

  His mouth opened slightly. His eyes went even wider. He started to say something, stopped, then tried again.

  "Man, it still feels so weird seeing anime characters in live action..." he muttered under his breath.

  Then he seemed to remember where he was and straightened up, putting on what I assumed was supposed to be a dignified expression. It didn't really work, but points for trying.

  "Ehem!" He cleared his throat dramatically. "Hello! I'm Satou Kazuma!" He struck a heroic pose that looked like it came from some action show. "A partner of Justice and man of culture who came to help after hearing the sorrowful cries of the oppressed!"

  His voice rose with false bravado. "I, Kazuma, won't let justice be trampled by evil! I shall fight for righteousness and protect the innocent!"

  Michael looked at him with genuine respect, clearly taking the declaration at face value. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kazuma. I truly admire your resolve to lend us aid in our time of need. You are an admirable young man with a noble heart."

  Azrael, however, wasn't so easily fooled. He'd spent centuries dealing with devils, fallen angels, and various other beings who lied through their teeth. His bullshit detector was finely tuned.

  He crossed his arms and spoke skeptically, his tone carrying just a hint of challenge. "You're a champion of justice, are you? How very noble." He tilted his head. "Tell me, what exactly motivated you to become such a paragon of virtue? What drives your heroic spirit?"

  Kazuma didn't even hesitate. "OPPAI!"

  The word came out with such genuine enthusiasm and zero shame that it actually took everyone a moment to process.

  The silence that fell after that declaration was more than awkward. It was monumentally awkward. The kind of silence that makes you reconsider every life choice that led to this moment.

  Ritsuka's face turned bright red. She looked like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She actually took a few steps away from Kazuma, trying to physically distance herself from the social suicide happening before our eyes.

  "I don't know him," she muttered, looking at the sky. "We've never met. I came here alone."

  Michael had his mouth hanging open in confusion and doubt, clearly trying to process what he'd just heard. His brain was attempting to reconcile "noble hero fighting for justice" with "guy who just shouted about breasts."

  The cognitive dissonance was visible on his face.

  Azrael looked like he was about to burst into laughter. His body was actually shaking with the effort of holding it in. His shoulders trembled, and I could see his wings quivering. "This is pure gold!"

  And me? I was looking at Kazuma with an icy glare that could have frozen the sun.

  My voice came out very, very calm. Too calm. Dangerously calm.

  "Care to repeat that, Ku-zu-ma-san?"

  I deliberately enunciated each syllable of his nickname in Axel, letting him know exactly how much trouble he was in.

  Kazuma's survival instincts finally kicked in. He immediately dropped to the ground in a perfect dogeza, forehead pressed against the dirt.

  "I'M SORRY! IT'S NOT MY FAULT! IT'S THE WORLD'S WILL! THE PERVERTED WORLD WILL IS AFFECTING ME!"

  He was practically shouting into the ground. "I SWEAR! I'M A DIGNIFIED, PURE VIRGIN, DAMN IT! MY THOUGHTS ARE USUALLY MUCH MORE NOBLE!"

  His emotional outburst caused his newly purchased Sharingan to flare up involuntarily. Two tomoe slowly spiraled in his pupils, the red glow visible even though his face was pressed to the dirt.

  "Is it too late to say I don't know him?" Ritsuka asked nobody in particular.

  Kazuma's head snapped up. "OI! Don't abandon your friend in his time of need! If I'm going down, I'm dragging you with me!"

  "We're not friends right now. We're strangers. I've never seen you before in my life."

  "BETRAYAL!"

  Michael remarked dryly, his composure somewhat restored, "They... certainly are lively."

  Azrael finally let out the laugh he'd been holding. "Hahaha! Our brother always had weird taste in companions! But at least they aren't bad at heart, I can sense that much. No ulterior motives or hidden malice."

  He grinned at me. "Just supremely socially incompetent. Like you."

  I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on despite my angelic nature supposedly making me immune to such things.

  "Can we please just forget the last few minutes happened and start over?" I asked tiredly.

  Everyone nodded, though Kazuma looked relieved while Ritsuka still looked mortified.

  The reintroductions went much better the second time around. Kazuma managed to keep his mouth shut about inappropriate topics, and Ritsuka immediately hit it off with Michael.

  "So Heaven is a real place here? Like, an actual physical location?" Ritsuka asked with genuine fascination, her earlier embarrassment forgotten in the face of curiosity.

  Michael smiled warmly, clearly enjoying her sincere interest. "Indeed! It exists as a separate dimensional space, though it's anchored to this world. We can show you after this situation is resolved, if you'd like."

  "Really?!" Ritsuka's eyes lit up. "I'd love to see it! I've read about various afterlife concepts across different cultures, but actually visiting one would be incredible!"

  "You're from a world without gods and angels, aren't you?" Michael asked gently.

  "Well, we have Servants—heroic spirits from history and legend. But actual, currently active gods and angels? No, those don't exist in my world anymore." She paused thoughtfully. "Or at least, they don't interact with humanity directly."

  "How fascinating! I'd love to hear more about these Servants. Your world's magic system sounds quite different from ours."

  Meanwhile, Kazuma was attempting to strike up a conversation with Azrael, which... wasn't going as smoothly.

  It went something like this:

  "Umm... hey, Azrael-san, was it?" Kazuma tried for casual and friendly. "How is it like being the Angel of Death? Does it feel bad when you have to reap the soul of a hot girl dying untimely?"

  I wanted to slam my head into a wall. Of course that's what he'd ask about.

  Azrael's expression didn't change, but his tone cooled noticeably. "Nobody dies untimely, human. It was their fate to pass at that exact moment. Death comes when it's meant to, not a second before or after."

  He continued flatly, "And death doesn't discriminate based on gender, attractiveness, or any other superficial quality. All souls are equal in the end."

  "Oh. Cool, cool." Kazuma nodded like he understood, then immediately proved he didn't. "So you just... wait around all day and pop up when someone's about to die? What else do you do for fun?"

  Azrael's eye twitched slightly. "It is my sacred duty to harvest the souls of the deceased and guide them to their proper destination. I don't need anything else to fulfill me. It's not a job, it's a calling."

  "But like, for fun though—"

  "We spar in Heaven," Azrael interrupted, clearly trying to move past this topic. "We have family dinners. We maintain the realm. And in cases like this, we go out and eliminate threats to the world. That's sufficient."

  Kazuma nodded sagely, then opened his mouth again. I knew what was coming before he even said it.

  "Sooo... you're a fellow virgin like me then? No chicks dig you?"

  Azrael spluttered and coughed violently. The Angel of Death, who had faced countless demons and horrors with perfect composure, was rendered speechless by a tactless human.

  Michael looked oddly amused at his brothers peril. I would be lying if I said I wasn't amused as well.

  "I thought Kokabiel fixed your heavenly system to allow angels to have actual relationships?" Kazuma continued obliviously. "So why haven't you—"

  "HOW DARE YOU!" Azrael's voice rose slightly, his composure cracking. "I am a proud Archangel! I have countless beings who would be willing to be my partner if I so desired!"

  His wings flared slightly. "I'm simply busy with my responsibilities! I don't have time for such mundane things! Women would only slow down the speed at which I swing my scythe!"

  I raised an eyebrow at how easily Kazuma had gotten under Azrael's skin. My brother, who faced death and darkness daily with perfect calm, was getting flustered by relationship questions.

  But then Kazuma's next words made a vein pop on my forehead.

  "You say that, but Kokabiel's way stronger than you, right?" Kazuma gestured at me casually. "And he has a girlfriend. So that logic doesn't really apply..."

  He trailed off, then suddenly shivered. "Why do I feel a sudden chill?"

  He took a step back, his survival instincts finally kicking in.

  Michael and Azrael both turned to look at me with mechanical precision, their expressions identical masks of disbelief.

  Azrael opened and closed his mouth several times, looking like a fish out of water. Then he finally squeaked out, "Brother... what he said... is it true?"

  Michael had a forced smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes. "Congratulations, brother. I'm learning so many new things about you today. I wonder what our sister Gabriel would have to say about this development?"

  The implied threat was clear—Gabriel would either be ecstatic or devastated, and either reaction would result in me getting tackled, hugged, interrogated, and generally overwhelmed. Lets not even bring Penemue into the equation.

  I sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Firstly, she is NOT my girlfriend. Not yet. Not technically. I'm still not fully capable of romantic feelings in the way humans experience them."

  I continued before they could interrupt. "Secondly, as I already mentioned in Heaven before leaving, she is the Queen piece I chose for my peerage. And yes, she insisted on it very strongly. There were circumstances involved."

  I turned my icy glare on Kazuma. "Lastly, Kazuma, can we have a private chat? Let's go somewhere far away. Somewhere where sound doesn't exist. Shall we?"

  Kazuma immediately dove behind Michael, using him as a human shield.

  "HELL NO! I'm not leaving Michael-san's side for the entire duration I'm here! I'm not a masochist!" He clutched at Michael's robes. "Satisfy your violent tendencies on the devils! They might actually enjoy a little S&M play!"

  He looked desperately at Ritsuka. "Ritsuka! Help me out here! Friendship! Loyalty! Remember those concepts?!"

  Ritsuka shook her head and sighed. "You're on your own, Kazuma-san. You had to open your big mouth and cause problems. This is what we call natural consequences."

  "BETRAYAL! AGAIN!"

  Azrael put a heavy hand on my shoulder, his expression serious. "We have a lot to talk about later, brother. A very long talk. About many things."

  Michael nodded gravely. "I'm very interested in meeting this lady who managed to melt our brother's frozen heart. Something even Penemue failed to accomplish after thousands of years of trying."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Azrael added helpfully. "Don't forget lady Athena who still yearns for him. She would be devastated to hear this."

  I could feel the headache intensifying. "Can we just go kill the devils now? Please? I'm begging you."

  After several more minutes of back-and-forth banter, discussions about my love life and advice on relationship that I absolutely didn't want to have, and Kazuma making things progressively worse every time he opened his mouth, we finally managed to put the relationship issue aside and focus on the actual mission.

  I spoke calmly, shifting into tactical mode. "I'll personally deal with Long Aotian—the foreign parasite that invaded our world. He's the primary threat and the source of the dimensional instability."

  I turned to my brothers. "Michael, Azrael, you two handle Rizevim and the other Old Satan faction members. They're strong but manageable for you two. Let's hope peace hasn't dulled your blades, brothers."

  Then I looked at our guests. "Kazuma, for once in your life, try to be actually useful and provide support. Also protect Ritsuka if things get dangerous. Don't try to be a hero."

  Kazuma smiled smugly and cracked his knuckles. "Heh! I'm not the same weakling you met back during the One Piece mission! I've been training hard!"

  He struck a dramatic pose. "I've mastered my Tremor-Tremor Fruit abilities and my Sharingan! Behold the glory of the great Kazuma-sama! I'm basically a powerhouse now!"

  I decided not to mention that he still tripped over his own feet when he arrived.

  "Ritsuka," I continued, "you can provide ranged support with your Mystic Code and summon any Servants you think might be helpful. But don't get too close to the main battle. These are Ultimate-class devils and beyond, their casual attacks could be lethal for a human."

  She nodded seriously. "Understood, Kokabiel-san. I'll stay at range and provide support fire."

  Michael spoke solemnly, his tactical mind already analyzing the situation. "I can sense multiple powerful presences beyond just Rizevim. The power signatures of Beelzebub's heir, Asmodeus's heir, and Leviathan's heir are all present. It seems all the surviving descendants of the original Satans have gathered under Rizevim's banner."

  His expression became concerned. "Are you certain you can deal with this foreign cultivator alone, brother? Even from here, I can sense his power is formidable. Abnormal, even for this world's standards."

  Azrael nodded in agreement. "Dealing with the devil heirs won't be an issue with Michael and me working together. We've faced worse odds during the Great War. But that cultivator..." He frowned. "His energy feels wrong. Incompatible with our reality. Like oil trying to mix with water."

  Ritsuka coughed lightly, drawing their attention. "Kokabiel-san is much stronger than that person. I've seen what he's capable of." She smiled with complete confidence. "I trust him fully."

  I felt something warm in my chest at her words. I smiled and reached out, patting her head gently. "Thanks for your vote of confidence Ritsuka. You really are a well mannered young lady."

  She immediately blushed, her cheeks turning pink. "Ehehe..." She wiggled slightly under the praise, looking pleased.

  Kazuma gave me a hateful glare from where he was still half-hiding behind Michael. "You don't even stop seducing people even though you already have a girlfriend! Riajuu bastard! This is cruel! Stop flaunting your success!"

  I clenched my fist, and he visibly paled.

  "Do you want me to tie you up and send you to Zeus's bedchambers as a gift?" I asked pleasantly. "I hear he's very fond of pretty young men."

  Kazuma's face went through several shades of horror. He actually covered his butt with both hands protectively.

  "Umm... please forget I said anything! Anything at all! My mouth doesn't exist! I'm mute now!"

  I took a deep breath, centering myself. "Does anyone have any other questions before we begin?"

  Everyone shook their heads.

  I nodded curtly. "Alright then. Let's deal with this nonsense quickly and efficiently."

  I spread my twelve black wings, each one shimmering with starlight, and lifted off the ground. The others followed—Michael and Azrael with their own white wings, Ritsuka using her Mystic Code's flight function, and Kazuma... actually managing to use his Tremor-Tremor Fruit mixing with wind chakra to create a platform of vibrating air to stand on.

  Impressive. He actually had been training.

  We flew toward the Old Satan camp in formation. As we approached, I closed my eyes for a moment, reaching out with my power.

  When I opened them again, there was a bright light falling from the sky above us.

  The devils who were busy moving supplies, training, or just standing guard looked up curiously. Some squinted against the sudden brilliance.

  "What is that?"

  "Is that... the sun? But we're in the Underworld!"

  "Looks like some kind of light magic?"

  "Why's it getting bigger?"

  When the light and searing heat got closer, close enough for them to actually see what it was, that's when the panic started.

  "THAT'S A FUCKING STAR!"

  "IT'S A STAR! AN ACTUAL STAR!"

  "RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

  "WHERE DO WE RUN?! IT'S FALLING ON THE WHOLE CAMP!"

  "CAN WE EVEN OUTRUN SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!"

  Absolute panic spread through the camp like wildfire. Devils were running in every direction, trampling each other, screaming orders that nobody followed.

  BOOM!

  The explosion was absolutely deafening. The star—a small one, relatively speaking, only about the size of a small hill, impacted the center of the camp with the force of a tactical nuke. Mushroom clouds went up high in the air, followed by shockwaves.

  Kazuma muttered with reverence. "Damn! I really wanna reach this level of OP! Dropping stars from sky like nukes, it's a man's fantasy."

  Ritsuka who had the opportunity to witness my powers for the first time, shielded her eyes and spoke in disbelief. " That's like Karna san's noble phantasm. I know it's not even 1% of his powers, but it's still so shocking!"

  The attack immediately vaporized most of the camp and the weaker devils caught in the initial blast radius. They couldn't even scream before being reduced to ashes, their bodies simply ceasing to exist under the stellar heat.

  The shockwave radiated outward, flattening buildings, scattering supplies, and throwing bodies like ragdolls.

  Rizevim, who'd been in his command tent reviewing battle plans with Euclid, immediately threw up a barrier. His demonic power flared as he shielded both himself and his servant from the apocalyptic impact.

  Even so, when the dust and debris finally cleared enough to see, everyone was greeted with the sight of Rizevim coughing up blood and falling to his knees. His barrier had held, but just barely. The strain had been immense.

  Euclid was in slightly better condition, having been behind Rizevim's barrier rather than generating his own.

  But Rizevim's focus wasn't on his destroyed camp or his injuries or the fact that he'd just lost probably a third of his forces in a single attack.

  His focus was entirely on the sky, where I was floating calmly, arms crossed, looking down at the devastation with complete indifference.

  "YOU BASTARD, KOKABIEL!" Rizevim's voice was hoarse with rage and pain. "YOU FINALLY SHOWED YOUR FACE!"

  Blood dripped from his mouth as he forced himself to stand. "AFTER ALL THIS TIME! YOU DARE—"

  He was about to launch into a full rant, to charge at his mortal enemy, when another explosion went off from a different section of the camp. This one was more controlled, with a foreign energy, similar to Qi or Senjutsu of DxD world.

  Long Aotian emerged from his personal quarters, barely having had time to put on his pants. His upper body was bare and dusty, and he looked absolutely furious at being interrupted.

  Behind him, three women scrambled to cover themselves with whatever fabric they could find—Lilith trying to preserve whatever dignity she had left, Grayfia Lucifuge looking mortified, and Katerea Leviathan cursing under her breath.

  It was immediately obvious what they'd been doing when the attack hit.

  Kazuma's eyes went comically wide. "DID THIS FUCKER BUILD HIS OWN HAREM?!" He was practically screeching. "AND HE STOLE GRAYFIA FROM SIRZECHS! THAT'S SACRILEGE! WHAT KIND OF MESSED UP TIMELINE IS THIS?!"

  Grayfia, who'd managed to summon a robe to cover herself, had a confused expression. A question mark might as well have appeared above her head.

  "When did I have a relationship with that rebel leader?" she muttered. "I've never even met Sirzechs Gremory..."

  I coughed awkwardly. "Kazuma, focus. She's part of the Old Satan faction here. The civil war never happened in this timeline, remember? Different history."

  Kazuma still had trouble processing it. He pointed his finger tremblingly at me and spoke, "You... You heretic! You ruined the GODDAMN plot! Will those girls be even born after you butterfly effected the timeline? Argghhh!"

  Before I could express my annoyance, Shalba Beelzebub and Creuserey Asmodeus flashed into view beside Rizevim, both looking embarrassed at getting caught off-guard by the explosion. Their barriers had protected them, but their pride was wounded.

  Rizevim looked up at me with pure venom in his eyes. "You will pay for this, Heaven's Wrath! You think you're invincible?! You think nothing can touch you?!"

  He gestured wildly at Long Aotian. "There's someone here who can kill even YOU! We have summoned someone beyond this world's power! He defeated the Infinity dragon Ophis ! With her powers. we have grown even stronger than before!"

  I looked down at Long Aotian with complete disinterest. "That half-naked insect? The one who enslaved you all? Made you sacrifice your women to sate his perverted lust? Made you bow and scrape like servants?"

  I let contempt drip from every word. "He isn't worthy of my attention."

  "YOU'RE COURTING DEATH!"

  Long Aotian's high pitch voice rang out across the battlefield, barely restrained fury in every syllable. He was practically vibrating with rage.

  "You dare insult this Heavenly Demon?! You dare speak to me with such disrespect?!"

  He'd been enjoying a perfectly pleasant afternoon orgy when I'd dropped a literal star on him. His mood was decidedly foul.

  Kazuma pointed at him excitedly. "AH! Look! He actually said it! 'Courting death!' I thought it was just meme nonsense from bad translations, but they ACTUALLY talk like that! This is amazing!"

  Long Aotian's glare shifted to Kazuma. "SILENCE, you pathetic mortal insect! You shall pay with your life for your disrespect!"

  He performed a series of rapid hand gestures, and a massive magical formation appeared in the air above Kazuma—complex geometric patterns drawn in golden light.

  "Oh shi—" Kazuma barely managed to speak before an elegant-looking pagoda tower materialized above him, descending rapidly to crush him.

  The tower was huge, ornate, covered in inscriptions and glowing with power. It fell like a meteor.

  I snapped my fingers.

  CRACK!

  Reality fractured around the tower. The sound was like breaking glass amplified a thousand times.

  Then, in front of everyone's surprised eyes, the magnificent tower,this powerful artifact that Long Aotian had probably spent years obtaining, crumbled to dust. Just disintegrated into nothing.

  Long Aotian looked genuinely surprised for the first time. His eyes widened slightly.

  "Hmph." He forced his expression back to arrogant confidence. "It looks like there's someone semi-competent in this pitiful world after all. How unexpected."

  He made several more hand signs, and ornate armor materialized on his body—black and gold, covered in dragon motifs, radiating power. "No matter! All shall fall before the might of the Heavenly Demon! I am supreme!"

  He spoke to the empty air beside him. "Xue'er, scan this enemy. What is his cultivation realm?"

  A mechanical, girlish voice responded—his system I presume. "Master, I... I cannot see through his cultivation realm. His power readings are... immeasurable. Off all my charts. I advise extreme caution."

  Long Aotian scoffed dismissively. "Impossible! Your scans must be malfunctioning! Sit back and watch your master deal with him."

  He struck a dramatic pose, one hand behind his back, looking up at the sky with supreme confidence.

  "Throughout Heaven and Earth, I alone am the honored one! Nobody is qualified to stand before me!"

  Kazuma nodded sagely from below. "Glad to see all the stereotypes are real. He even does the poses."

  He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted up at me. "Kokabiel! Get rid of this Gojo wannabe!"

  I smirked. "This should prove to be entertaining at least."

  ****

  Rizevim shouted from below, his voice carrying desperate hope. "EVERYONE! KILL THEM ALL! If we can kill them here, our victory is assured! Heaven will fall!"

  "Are you sure about that?"

  A calm, gentle voice sounded right beside Rizevim, making him jump back in alarm.

  "MICHAEL!" he growled, recognizing the voice instantly. His power flared defensively.

  Euclid immediately stepped in front of Rizevim protectively, his own magic crackling.

  Michael stood there calmly, his flaming sword already drawn. He gave it a few experimental swings, the holy fire leaving trails in the air.

  "My brother's energy seems to have affected me." Michael's smile was serene but his eyes were cold. "After being stuck doing paperwork and managing Heaven for centuries, this should be refreshing."

  His grip on his sword tightened. "I'm looking forward to slaying you here, Rizevim Lucifer. Your family has caused enough pain."

  ****

  Shalba, Creuserey, and Katerea—who'd managed to clothe herself properly—tried to rush to Rizevim's aid.

  BOOM!

  Azrael landed between them with tremendous impact, cracking the ground. His presence radiated death itself.

  "Where do you think you're going, filthy bats?" His voice was ice-cold. He slowly drew his scythe, the blade gleaming with dark energy. "This time, I'll vent all my accumulated frustrations on you. Your parents are already dead, so you'll have to suffer in their place."

  Shalba gritted his teeth. "I'll avenge my father today, Angel of Death!" His power flared. "I heard you nearly died in the Great War! You must be weaker than your brothers now! We can beat you."

  CRACK!

  Something was broken.

  Michael and I both visibly winced.

  That was Azrael's reverse scale. The one thing you absolutely never mentioned.

  During the Great War, the Seven Deadly Sin demons had nearly killed Azrael. They'd actually succeeded in killing Metatron when Yahweh died, taking the moment of distraction, and Azrael had never forgiven himself for failing to protect our brother.

  It was his deepest wound, his greatest regret, his personal hell.

  And this devil had just prodded it with a stick.

  This was about to get very ugly.

  A dense black miasma started spreading around Azrael, forming a shadowy cloak that billowed despite the lack of wind. He looked like Death itself given physical form.

  When he spoke, his voice was a gravelly whisper that somehow carried across the entire battlefield. "What... did you just say?"

  Shalba actually took an involuntary step back. "You... what IS that power?!"

  The miasma was eating at reality itself. Where it touched, things simply stopped existing.

  Creuserey tried a sneak attack, a charm spell meant to confuse and disorient. The pink magical energy flew toward Azrael's back.

  The miasma devoured it before it got within ten feet. Just consumed it like it was nothing.

  Katerea took out her whip with trembling hands. "Don't hold back anything! He's an Archangel! We need to work together!"

  *****

  Meanwhile, Kazuma landed gracefully in front of Lilith and Grayfia. He looked them both up and down, nodded to himself, and spoke.

  "Ehem... ladies." He put on what he probably thought was a charming smile. "I am an advocate of gender equality. Usually I wouldn't mind drop-kicking a woman in the face if she deserves it, but I prefer not to fight naked ladies. Can you just surrender peacefully? Make this easy for everyone?"

  Lilith licked her lips, her expression predatory despite her disheveled state. "Oh my. What an arrogant human child. Do you even know who I am, boy?"

  Her power flared. "How DARE you trample upon the dignity of the Mother of Devils?!"

  Kazuma shrugged, his expression shifting to complete disrespect. "An old hag who climbed into the bed of some young master to sell her body for power? Don't talk to me about dignity, bitch. You don't have any."

  He pointed at Grayfia. "SHE at least looks like a victim in this situation and deserves some sympathy. But you? You chose this."

  Grayfia, who'd maintained a blank expression throughout everything, looked at him with genuine surprise.

  'This human... feels pity for me?' She thought, her mind racing. 'How low have I fallen that even humans can see my shame...'

  She clenched her fists, magic sparking around them.

  Lilith spluttered in shock. "You DISRESPECTFUL HUMAN!"

  She snarled and sent a massive blast of pure demonic energy toward Kazuma, enough power to level a city block.

  Kazuma grinned widely. "Then let me show you the glory of the great Satou Kazuma!"

  He spread his arms in the famous Whitebeard pose, as if grabbing the air itself. His hands turned black, coated in Armament Haki that he'd apparently learned since our last meeting.

  "CRUSH!"

  CRACK!

  The air itself shattered around him. Reality literally cracked like glass, the fabric of space-time breaking under the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

  The world tilted. Gravity went sideways. Everyone felt like they were suddenly upside down.

  BOOM!

  The demonic energy blast scattered harmlessly, unable to maintain cohesion through broken space. The shockwave continued, hitting Lilith directly. She barely manged to dodge the fatal hit.

  "ARRRGGHHHH!" Lilith's scream was hoarse and agonized. "YOU LOWLY HUMAN! HOW DARE YOU INJURE MY FLAWLESS BODY! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL RIP YOU APART!"

  She clutched her left shoulder—or where it used to be. Her entire left arm was gone, crushed into oblivion. Blood poured freely from the wound.

  Grayfia's eyes widened. "How could a mere human be this strong?! She's an Ultimate-class devil, almost as powerful as me!"

  She looked around, confused, then fixed her gaze on Kazuma. "Why didn't you attack me, human? Aren't you the enemy?"

  Kazuma coughed embarrassedly, scratching his cheek. "Well, you don't look like you actually want to fight. Your stance is helpless, not aggressive."

  He grinned. "And attacking the best waifu of DxD unprovoked is blasphemy! Blasphemy, I tell you! Even I wouldn't go that far! I have standards!"

  Grayfia was even more confused. "What is 'DxD'? And 'waifu'? I'm not betrothed to anyone. What are these strange terms you keep using?"

  Kazuma scratched his head sheepishly. "Ehem... I forgot anime and manga don't exist here yet. Or maybe ever if that fun police Kokabiel is calling the shots."

  He tried to think of how to explain. "Waifu is basically... a pretty and nice lady who's marriage material? But most otaku these days would define literally any hot girl as waifu, so the term's kinda lost meaning."

  He flashed a grin and thumbs up. "But you're one of the OG best girls! Top tier! S-rank waifu material! I approve!"

  Grayfia was stunned silent. "Are you... proposing marriage to me... in the middle of an active battlefield?"

  Kazuma panicked. "No! I mean, I didn't! Well, I wouldn't mind, but let's get to know each other first properly, right? Maybe have a few dates, get coffee, talk about our interests..."

  His eyes glazed over slightly as he got lost in imagination.

  Ritsuka, who'd been systematically sniping low-level devils from range with precise mana blasts, groaned audibly.

  "Kazuma-san, please control yourself. We're in the middle of an actual battle. People are trying to kill us. Focus."

  Kazuma coughed and tried to regain his bearing. "Uh, sorry Ritsuka. It's just—it's like meeting your celebrity crush in person!" His expression became somewhat sad. "After dealing with Aqua's nonsense, Megumin's explosions, and Darkness's... everything... my defenses against normal, pretty women are basically zero."

  Grayfia didn't understand half of what they were talking about, but an unknown sensation crept up in her heart. Something she'd never felt before.

  "Did he just say... he desires me as his partner? Not for my power, not for my lineage, not for political advantage... just admiring me as a person?" Her hand went to her chest. "I've never felt this before..."

  Lilith snarled, interrupting the moment. "Are you seriously IGNORING ME?! Grayfia, stop standing there like an idiot and help me kill them!"

  Grayfia sighed. She conjured proper clothing with a thought, a battle dress, and took a combat stance.

  "I apologize, human." Her voice was sad. "I'm unable to return your feelings, whatever they might be. I've already been tainted. The only freedom left for me is death. I hope you can end my misery."

  Kazuma clutched his heart like he'd been shot. "DAMN! FUCK MY LUCK! I get rejected by girls even without properly asking them out! This is a new record!"

  Ritsuka giggled despite the situation. "Serves you right, Kazuma-san!"

  ****

  On the other side of the battlefield, high in the sky, two figures floated face to face.

  Long Aotian drew his sword. An ornate blade covered in chinese inscriptions. "You might be the strongest in this weak world, angel, but I come from a higher realm. I am a cultivator who has reached the Peak of True Sovereign rank!"

  He pointed his blade at me. "You will fall before me like all the rest! Like every other arrogant fool who thought they could challenge the Heavenly Demon!"

  I shook my head slowly and drew my own sword—Caliburn, which I hadn't used in quite a while. Ever since Arthur lost it, I picked it up and kept it with me. The stars contained within its blade sang joyfully at being released.

  "You have no idea that you're just a puppet, do you?" I said with almost pity. "Dancing on strings held by an Outer God. Even now, you lack any understanding of your true situation."

  I raised Caliburn. "Well then. Perish in your ignorance."

  I swung down in a wide arc.

  BANG!

  A devastating wave of force erupted from the blade, unleashing immense stellar heat and energy. The attack was pure destruction, crushing through everything in its path.

  Long Aotian scoffed. "Mere tricks and flashy lights!"

  He pulled out a mirror-like artifact. "Yin-Yang Divine Mirror of Reflection! Show me your might!"

  A massive mirror materialized—half pure white, half absolute black. The Taiji symbol rotated at its center.

  It absorbed my attack after a brief struggle, then redirected it back at me with double the force.

  BOOM!

  A massive explosion went off in the air, clearing at least ten kilometers of space. The shockwave was visible from the ground.

  Long Aotian spoke smugly through the smoke. "Ignorant ant. Attacking blindly won't do you any good. I hope you take this lesson to the afterlife with—"

  "Oh? What lesson would that be?"

  My voice whispered directly behind him.

  Long Aotian spun around in genuine alarm, but before he could fully turn—

  CRASH!

  I swung my sword horizontally. He was thrown toward the ground like a ragdoll, crashing through layers of the Underworld's crust until he reached bedrock. His agonized scream shook the heart of the devils .

  I patted imaginary dust off my clothes and spoke calmly. "Get up. I don't have all day for this."

  Long Aotian exploded back toward the sky with a scream of pure rage. "I WILL CRUSH YOU LIKE A BU—"

  SLAP!

  Before he could finish, I slapped him across the face with my open palm. Not using my sword, not using magic. Just a pure physical slap.

  He went flying sideways, crashing into a mountain. The impact toppled the entire geological formation, burying him under millions of tons of rock.

  "Don't scream in my presence." I adjusted my coat. "It's unsightly."

  The entire battlefield came to a pause. Even the other fights stopped momentarily as everyone witnessed something impossible.

  The otherworldly being who'd captured the Infinity Dragon, who'd claimed to be invincible, who'd enslaved the Old Satan faction...

  Was being casually manhandled like a misbehaving child.