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 kinda like Karna san's noble phantasm. I know it's not even 1% of Kokabiel sans 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.