The sun was already beginning to hide behind the distant mountains, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. The city of Kuoh took on soft hues as the sound of the last hurried footsteps of students echoed through the academy's corridors. The end of another school day.
The gates of Kuoh Academy were already open, releasing most of the students, but the old building stood there, imposing and somewhat isolated from the rest of the school. The arched windows reflected the gentle glow of the twilight, and the place began to acquire that subtle, mysterious aura that only the most observant seemed to notice.
Hyoudou Issei walked alongside Yuuto Kiba, the light breeze ruffling the boy's brown hair as he tried, with little success, to hide his nervousness.
"K-Kiba…" Issei began, looking away and forcing a smile: "I'm really pumped for today. I mean… training with you… it's gonna be awesome, right?"
Kiba smiled kindly, with that calm and polite demeanor he always had, as if he were incapable of losing his composure.
"I'm glad to hear that, Issei-kun. Training together will be good for you. Especially now, with… well, with everything that's happened…" He avoided directly mentioning the recent incident or Kazuya's name, but even after a whole day, he couldn't stop thinking about it.
Issei nodded, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. His face was slightly flushed, but his smile was genuine.
"A-and I promise I'll give it my all!"
"You're doing well, Ise-kun. Try not to worry too much about it…" Kiba replied, his voice serene.
A comfortable silence settled between the two as they followed the stone path toward the old building.
The trees around them cast long, tranquil shadows.
The chirping of birds was starting to fade, and some of the academy's windows still showed lit lights, likely from clubs that extended into the evening.
Glancing at Kiba's face, Issei smiled.
"I don't think I've thanked you yet, have I? Thanks, Kiba… for… you know…" He said quickly, lacking the courage to finish.
Kiba just looked at him sideways and smiled again.
"We're on the same team, Issei. That's what matters."
The old building appeared ahead, surrounded by low vegetation and the stone wall that isolated it from the rest of the school. The double door, always a bit sticky, awaited their arrival.
"Shall we?" Kiba invited, leading the way.
Issei took a deep breath and nodded, his heart racing.
As they disappeared inside the old building, the last ray of sunlight retreated on the horizon, and night began to slowly spread over Kuoh.
The echo of Issei and Kiba's footsteps mingled with the faint creak of the old corridor's wooden floorboards when Rias's voice cut through the silence like the snap of breaking glass.
"It can't be!?"
The scream carried disbelief and raw, wounded despair, her voice faltering at the end, as if her pride had just taken a blow too painful to process.
Issei froze in place, his entire body shivering.
"K-Kiba… did you hear that?"
Kiba didn't answer immediately, only casting a quick, serious glance at the clubroom door, where the voice had come from. The blond took a deep breath and, with a discreet nod, approached.
As they pushed the door open, the scene that greeted them made time seem to slow down.
Rias Gremory was sitting on the desk, her face absurdly pale, her eyes wide, and her mouth slightly agape, unable to mask the shock. Her fingers tightly gripped the phone, which, despite being small in her delicate hand, seemed to weigh tons at that moment.
The screen's light illuminated her face in a cold, cruel tone as the video played on. Muffled sounds could be heard—dull blows, something heavy crashing against stone… and though they couldn't see the image, it wasn't hard to guess.
Akeno stood beside her friend. Unlike her usual calm smile and air of control, she wore a tense expression, her brow slightly furrowed, and a bead of sweat trickled down the side of her face. The corner of her lips was pressed, and her eyes remained fixed on the screen, as if she knew any wrong move or word could set the room ablaze.
The silence that followed the scream was heavy.
"This… this has to be a joke," Rias murmured, but her voice was hoarse and unsteady. "Sirzechs… my brother… Sirzechs Lucifer, humiliated like this…! It has to be fake! It has to be fake!!!!"
The redhead ran her hand through her hair, her fingers sliding through the strands restlessly.
"Rias…" Akeno murmured, her expression marked by concern.
She couldn't blame her for reacting this way; in fact, she felt the same. She never imagined that investigating Kazuya and those mysterious figures around him would lead to the release of a video, posted about twenty minutes ago by an account called Chaldea, on Devilnet.
Kiba and Issei exchanged a glance.
…
It didn't take long for the world to learn of the latest news circulating on Devilnet.
Sirzechs Lucifer… had lost.
In fact, saying he lost was an understatement; he'd been utterly humiliated in combat by a human who, at the end of the fight, barely seemed tired, let alone injured.
It sounded like a joke. One of the Ten Strongest Beings in the world… defeated by a human?!
Naturally, almost no one believed it at first. But when those close to the [Maou] began to notice they could no longer contact him or even Grayfia, the doubts started to vanish.
The reality was simple, as absurd as it sounded: this had actually happened.
And it wasn't just Sirzechs who was completely defeated. Grayfia didn't even get a chance to react.
She was taken out with just two strikes.
Just like that.
Simple.
Though not as shocking as Sirzechs' defeat, it was still astonishing!
After all, Grayfia was a demon nearly on par with the current Four Maous, someone capable of facing Serafall and fighting on equal footing, even if she'd inevitably lose. Still, that didn't make her any less impressive.
Though Devilnet was a network used exclusively by demons, other factions obviously had their ways of accessing it or receiving this "information." Especially since the video, which had reached hundreds of thousands of views, of Sirzechs' defeat was being discussed by countless demons in the Underworld, it didn't take long to reach the ears of spies from various factions.
Most factions, naturally, scrambled for more detailed information about the incident.
No one had ever heard of something called "Chaldea"; it was as if it had simply appeared out of nowhere, suggesting it was just a name used to create the Devilnet account. But fortunately, they managed to uncover something about the human who defeated Sirzechs: until then, he seemed entirely ordinary.
His name was Ryougi Kazuya. He was only 17 years old and already fully mastered a Longinus—not just any one, but likely one of the four holy relics.
So far, no one could identify exactly which it was, as its Balance Breaker appeared completely unlike anything previously recorded.
But it was confirmed to be one of the Holy Relics: the Holy Spear — True Longinus; the Holy Grail — Sephiroth Graal; the Holy Cross — Incinerated Anthem; or the Holy Nail — Alphecca Tyrant.
It had to be one of them…
And that was all they could uncover…
What frustrated the factions most was the simple, almost casual explanation posted on Chaldea's profile on Devilnet.
According to the statement, humans were under their protection, and anyone who dared to act extremely—such as killing a human out of fear of their potential or attempting to force them to join an organization—would be killed without mercy.
Furthermore, the faction responsible would pay the price for defying it.
The message was clear.
The leader behind it was arrogant… and showed not the slightest bit of respect for any of the world's great powers.
Many factions wanted to hunt down the Chaldea group and teach them a lesson.
But the fact that Ryougi Kazuya had crushed one of the Ten Strongest Beings in the world made one thing abundantly clear: they weren't the kind of enemy easily dealt with.
Faced with this, bravado gave way to caution, and the most sensible course of action was to call emergency meetings to decide what to proceed next.
Especially those directly involved with humans.
…
Contrary to what most of humanity imagines, the Underworld inhabited by demons is not a scorching inferno where sinners' souls are eternally tortured.
In fact, the Underworld is roughly the same size as the human world, but with significantly more landmass since there are no oceans, only large lakes scattered across its expanse.
Originally, the sky had a purple hue both day and night. However, the current Four Great Satans adjusted the flow of time to match the human world's cycle, making it easier for reincarnated demons to adapt to it. Using demonic power, Demons they created an artificial moon and tweaked the night's darkness to mirror that seen on Earth.
The Underworld is divided into two main regions: the Demon Region's Domain and the Fallen Angels' Region.
At that moment, the Underworld was in an uproar.
Demons everywhere were incredulous and confused, unable to comprehend how the strongest among them… had been defeated by a mere human.
An unimaginable feat, especially from a race most still regarded as inferior—useful only as labor, disposable soldiers, or, more commonly, to fuel the peerage system, offsetting the demons' low fertility rate.
Meanwhile, in a quiet laboratory filled with the faint hum of magical equipment and panels displaying complex symbols and readings in greenish tones, a tense atmosphere hung in the air—not from aggressive magic, but from the strain among those present.
Serafall Leviathan sat on a side table, her legs discreetly swinging slightly, but her usual cheerful smile was absent. Her serious blue-gray eyes were fixed on a frozen image on a panel, where the circulating video had paused at the exact moment Sirzechs was hurled against a mountainside.
Across the room, Falbium Asmodeus stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a wall, his usually sleepy face now marked by a rare crease of concern on his brow. He wasn't one to get alarmed easily, and the fact that he was there, without a single lazy joke, spoke volumes.
Ajuka stood by the central table, typing quick commands on an ethereal keyboard, his sharp eyes scanning the data.
"So…" Serafall began, her voice quieter than usual, lacking its playful tone: "…this isn't fake, is it?" She tilted her head slightly.
Ajuka didn't answer right away. He finished the sequence, then lifted his gaze, his greenish-blue eyes meeting hers.
"No, it's not," he replied, cold and to the point: "There's no editing or illusory distortion. The recording is real."
Falbium let out a long sigh.
"And Sirzechs?"
Ajuka closed his eyes for a second, as if weighing his words carefully.
"Missing," he said, and the weight of that word made the room feel even more oppressive.
Serafall clenched her fists in her lap.
"That's impossible… Sirzechs-chan wouldn't lose like that. Who… who even is kid is?!"
The question lingered in the air. But everyone there knew who she meant.
"Ryougi Kazuya," Ajuka filled in, his tone clinical: "The transfer student at Kuoh Academy, a Longinus wielder as shown in the video, with strength, speed, and endurance surpassing even the Strongest Exorcist, Vasco Strada… Well, if his information wasn't verified, I'd say he's not even human…"
He let out a sigh.
"He's on another level…"
"Another level?" Falbium repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You call 'another level' someone who tosses around Grayfia like she's dead weight and defeats Sirzechs in his True Form? That doesn't even seem real."
Ajuka didn't dispute that; he glanced at the projection and sighed as he continued.
"…He literally copied Sirzechs' [Power of Destruction], which is impossible without Bael lineage, but he did it… His swordsmanship is even better than Okita-san's, from what I analyzed, and he has some kind of ability that boosts his overall stats because, at some point in the fight, you could see it happen. All that, and he didn't even seem to be taking it seriously…"
"That's what I meant by 'another level.' How has someone like him stayed under the radar until now? What else is he hiding…? I've never met anyone like him…"
Serafall leaned forward, her eyes blazing with anger.
"You're telling me they let a lunatic like that roam free in my city?! Near my little sister?! And now he… he did this to Sirzechs! I wasn't aware of this!"
If she'd known about someone as dangerous as that kid, she'd never have allowed him to attend the same school as her little sister.
And if he'd done something to her? What in hell's name was Sirzechs thinking?!
She doubted he'd just let this slide… Damn it! If only she hadn't been so busy dealing with political issues among factions, she'd have paid closer attention, and something like this would never have slipped through.
"Calm down," Ajuka urged, his voice as cold and composed as ever.
"Easy for you to say. How am I supposed to stay calm knowing Sirzechs-chan might be in danger?!" Serafall shot back, though her expression betrayed her. She knew Ajuka was right; acting on impulse now wasn't be wise, but she just couldn't calm down!
Ajuka sighed.
"I understand how you feel, but the worst thing we can do now is act rashly. As I said, he seemed completely normal. He hid himself very well."
"He even concealed his Longinus until the last moment."
"According to your sister's report, which I asked her to send me earlier with all the information she had on him, my initial impression was that Kazuya possessed Dimension Lost. That would explain the unusual barriers around his property, which she mentioned, and even the location of the confrontation with Sirzechs. There was something odd about that space—it seemed to constantly rebuild itself… I thought it might be an Artificial Dimension."
"But after watching the video and confirming it's one of the Holy Relics, I concluded it could be the Holy Nail. Originally, that Sacred Gear would just be high-tier, nothing extraordinary. I'm not as knowledgeable as Azazel, but it's likely it evolved into a Longinus, and the Balance Breaker he manifested granted him that absurd combat power."
"From what I recall, that Sacred Gear once belonged to a preacher who dominated an entire city… Grigori tried negotiating with him, but it didn't end well. It's one of those rare Sacred Gears that choose their own wielder. And it seems to have found Kazuya…"
"So, he's not just powerful but also patient and brilliant… Honestly, even I was impressed by that…"
Silence fell.
Falbium broke it.
"So… what do we do?"
Ajuka crossed his arms and looked at the two.
"Nothing, for now. We monitor. If we act now, we'll only cause more damage. The priority is locating Sirzechs, alive or not, and finding out if he left any clues. Beyond that, we need to calm the population and stay vigilant for attacks from other factions. We have plenty of enemies who might seize the chance to strike the Underworld with Sirzechs out of the picture…"
Serafall clearly didn't like that. It was obvious. But beneath her childish, playful exterior was a sharp mind, and she understood the logic behind the situation.
"Fine… we'll do it," she said finally, with a restrained sigh: "But… what about the message Kazuya left? About humans being under his protection… and anyone who disrespected that would face retaliation?"
She spoke with a furrowed brow, genuinely serious for the first time in that conversation.
"Well…" Ajuka began, grimly: "From what I could tell, their motivation is to prevent our abuses against humans…"
He crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on a distant point.
"And that… is a big problem for us. Our entire society's structure was built on the Evil Pieces system, reincarnating humans to fill the ranks of the nobility. It's not something we can just abandon overnight. Even if it's technically possible to reincarnate other races… the preference has always been humans."
"For now, we'll issue a clear order for the demon population to avoid any involvement with humans in Japan," Ajuka declared, his voice calm but firm: "We don't know how far Kazuya's 'vision' on this matter extends. If he said any faction that abused power against humans would face retaliation, it's almost certain he has some way to monitor and enforce it. And we can't afford to test that threat lightly."
"Troublesome…" Falbium muttered, letting out a long sigh as he leaned back in his chair, visibly bothered by the direction of the conversation.
Serafall furrowed her brow.
The room remained silent.
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(A/N: Good evening, everyone!
Just stopping by real quick to chat with you all.
I know some of you might think this chapter felt short or maybe unnecessary, but honestly, it was important to me. It's a transition chapter, officially wrapping up the first arc and setting the stage for what's coming next. And yes — in the next chapter, we'll finally cover what really happened with Sirzechs, along with expanding the world.
Also, I just want to say a huge thank you for all the suggestions you've sent in. Seriously, you guys are amazing and gave me some awesome ideas that I'm definitely going to use in this next arc. And don't worry — the next arc won't just focus on demons. It'll bring in the Olympians, Heaven, the Egyptians, the Hindus, the Youkai, and other important factions to flesh out the world even more. I really want to make it something great.
While we're at it, I wanted to ask you: which Servants do you think should appear next? I've got a few ideas, but I always love hearing your picks — you guys have excellent taste.
Also, I'm thinking of exploring Kazuya's past more deeply in this next arc. If you're interested in that, let me know in the comments, it'll help me decide whether to dive into it now or save it for later.
Lastly… does anyone know what's going on with Webnovel? It's been two days since I've been able to post a chapter. Every time I try, it just says "something went wrong, please try again later." If anyone's heard whether it's a bug, maintenance, or something else, drop a comment and let me know — it's been a pain.
Thanks so much for the constant support — you guys are awesome!
See you in the next chapter!)