Chapter 53: The Underworld's Shock
The Underworld's Shock
This was the moment Renji had been waiting for. Without hesitation, he swung the Sword of Promised Victory.
The golden radiance of the holy blade tore through the gray space, leaving behind cracks in its wake. The sheer power of the attack overwhelmed the battlefield, threatening to collapse the entire dimension created for the match.
Seeing this, Grayfia, who had been acting as the referee, narrowed her eyes. Her expression tensed before she instantly vanished from her position, diving toward the ground at full speed.
If this continued and the artificial dimension broke apart, the damage dealt to Riser Phoenix would become real. And against a top-tier holy sword, not even the Phoenix bloodline would be enough to save him.
"AAAAHHHHH!!"
Riser's agonized screams pierced the air.
Unfortunately, even with Grayfia's rapid intervention, she was still a fraction too late.
Though she managed to manifest an enormous magic circle that blocked most of the attack, a small fraction of the light still slipped through. The moment it touched Riser's right side, his body began to disintegrate.
For devils, holy light was an absolute poison.
The entire right half of Riser's body crumbled into dust, burned away by the sacred energy.
Phoenix flames erupted from his wounds, desperately trying to regenerate, but the lingering holy energy prevented any healing. The divine radiance clung to his body like a curse, continuing to sear him inside and out.
This was both physical and mental torture—a level of suffering Riser had never known.
---
"As expected… This really is the Sword of Promised Victory from King Arthur's legend," Grayfia murmured, examining her own hands.
Even as one of the strongest devils in the Underworld, she had not escaped unscathed.
Though she had blocked the brunt of the attack, her right hand trembled slightly. Faint burn marks lingered on her skin, refusing to heal completely.
The natural law of the world had always been this:
The holy sword is the ultimate nemesis of devils.
The best way to counter it?
Don't get hit in the first place.
---
"You interfered in a ranked match?"
Renji's sharp voice cut through the silence. His golden sword still glowed in his grip as he turned to Grayfia with narrowed eyes.
"I thought the Rating Game was a sacred battle between devils. Since when do referees get involved?"
His words carried a hint of displeasure.
From the start, Renji never intended to let Riser walk away unharmed. If given the chance, he would have ended him right then and there.
But Grayfia had stepped in at the critical moment.
"As the referee, it is my duty to protect both competitors," she responded calmly, her silver eyes unfazed.
"If your attack had struck Riser directly, he would have died."
She cast a glance at the writhing, half-disintegrated Riser on the ground, his body still struggling to resist the holy energy.
"He no longer has the ability to fight," Grayfia continued. "The match is over. You are the victor."
Renji exhaled slowly before retracting Excalibur, the golden glow fading.
Though he was a bit dissatisfied, victory was still his.
---
With the match officially decided, Grayfia didn't waste time. She conjured another magic circle, wrapping Riser's broken body in a healing enchantment before teleporting him away.
If left untreated, the lingering holy light would slowly break his mind and soul, something even the Phoenix Clan's regeneration couldn't fix.
Meanwhile, Ravel Phoenix, who had been watching from a safe distance, stepped forward.
She lifted her skirt slightly, bowing like a noblewoman.
Then, without another word, she, too, vanished into a golden teleportation circle.
And just like that—
Renji was the last one left standing.
---
"A human who holds the Boosted Gear…"
"A human who wields Excalibur, the true Sword of King Arthur…"
"To think these two identities would belong to the same person."
A heavy silence filled a dimly lit conference room in the Underworld.
Zeoticus Gremory, the head of the Gremory Clan, exhaled deeply before standing up.
"This world… is about to become very interesting," he murmured.
Beside him, Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the Four Great Satans, remained seated, his expression unreadable as he stared at the screen displaying Renji's retreating back.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"Perhaps… this is fate."
---
A golden teleportation circle lit up within the Occult Research Club, and Renji reappeared in the familiar hall.
"Welcome back, hero!"
A soft, teasing voice greeted him the moment he stepped through the magic.
Akeno Himejima wore a playful smile, but her eyes gleamed with genuine warmth.
"Renji-senpai…"
Before he could respond, Asia Argento rushed forward, her blue-green eyes shimmering with relief.
Even Koneko Toujou, usually calm and quiet, had a faint smile on her lips.
Renji felt a small grin forming. He was about to say something when—
A crimson blur crashed into his chest.
"You're safe…"
Renji blinked, momentarily stunned before looking down at Rias Gremory.
She buried her face against his chest, clutching his shirt tightly as though afraid he might disappear.
"That damn turkey never had a chance against you," Renji muttered, his voice gentle as he wrapped his arms around her.
At those words, Rias trembled slightly before gripping him even tighter.
Even the strongest people have their moments of weakness.
And right now, Rias wasn't a proud high-class devil—
She was simply a girl who had almost been forced into a fate she never wanted.
For a long moment, they simply stood there in silence.
Then—
Rias pulled back slightly, her blue eyes staring up at him with a complicated expression.
"Why… didn't you tell me?"
Renji raised an eyebrow. "Tell you what?"
"That you were the Red Dragon Emperor."
"That you had the Sword of Promised Victory."
Her voice carried a mix of frustration, relief, and something else—something softer.
As if to say:
"Don't you trust me?"
Renji exhaled and scratched his cheek, already bracing for a long conversation ahead.
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