Genichi stood before the window of the Occult Research Club, gazing out at the overcast sky.
His right hand was clenched into a fist. The Boosted Gear glowed faintly around his arm, and the dark silhouette within its green gem continued to move.
He could feel the immense power inside him. It was Ddraig's dragon soul, the soul of a Heavenly Dragon, containing power on the level of a Transcender.
Most of it remained dormant within him, like a bottomless treasure trove he could see but could not reach.
Recently, he had been using that special intimate method with Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki to accelerate his absorption of the dragon soul's power.
Each time their bodies joined, a sliver of that dormant power awakened. It merged with his blood, flowed into his bones, and filled every muscle in his body.
His strength had skyrocketed as if strapped to a rocket, taking him from a Mid-class Devil to a High-class Devil, then all the way to an Ultimate-class Devil.
In only a short time, he had traveled a path that would take an ordinary Devil centuries to complete.
But now, everything had stopped.
Genichi had tried every possible method. He had done it with Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki, even all four at once.
Yet no matter what they tried, his demonic power remained locked in place, as though something had sealed it.
It was not because Ddraig's power had been exhausted. Genichi could still feel it sleeping inside him. More than ninety-nine percent of it remained unabsorbed.
It was as though reality itself had been patched. Some invisible force was preventing him from continuing to increase his strength through this method.
"Still nothing?"
Rias's voice came from behind him.
Genichi turned and shook his head.
Rias sat on the sofa with a cup of black tea in her hand. Her expression was calm, but a trace of disappointment passed through her blue-green eyes.
Akeno stood behind her, one hand resting on Rias's shoulder. Her usual smile remained, but there was a new gravity behind it.
Sona sat in the chair opposite them and adjusted her glasses, her expression serious.
Tsubaki stood behind Sona without any expression on her face, but her eyes never left Genichi. The concern in them was unmistakable.
"It's not just me," Genichi said calmly. "Your demonic power has reached a wall too."
That was the truth.
After forming their connection with Genichi, Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki had all experienced explosive growth.
Rias had reached the Ultimate-class. Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki were all High-class Devils, with only a single step separating them from the Ultimate-class.
But now, their growth had also stopped.
Their demonic power no longer increased, and they could no longer advance. It was as though an invisible wall stood in their path.
"The gap between an Ultimate-class Devil and a Satan-class Devil is greater than the gap between a Low-class Devil and an Ultimate-class Devil," Sona said calmly, though there was a hint of gravity in her voice.
"It may seem like only one rank separates them, but the difference is enormous. How many Ultimate-class Devils are there in the Underworld? Hundreds, perhaps thousands. Yet only a handful ever reach the Satan-class."
Rias nodded.
"Reaching the Satan-class may not be possible through accumulating demonic power alone. Perhaps it requires a particular opportunity, a revelation, or something else entirely."
Genichi fell silent for a moment before asking, "Could there be some special method required to reach the Satan-class?"
Rias and Sona exchanged glances before shaking their heads.
Despite coming from prestigious families, neither of them had ever heard how one advanced to the Satan-class.
"Why don't we ask someone?" Sona suggested, adjusting her glasses.
Genichi looked at her.
"Who?"
"My sister."
Sona's voice remained calm, but Genichi could sense a trace of nervousness beneath it.
Serafall Leviathan, one of the Four Great Satans, was also the ultimate siscon.
Genichi had heard stories about her. Supposedly, she called Sona every few days, and every conversation lasted at least an hour.
Her room was said to be covered in photographs of Sona, from childhood all the way to the present.
There was even a rumor that a boy had once given Sona a love letter, prompting Serafall to personally visit the Human World for a "heart-to-heart" with him. She frightened him so badly that he transferred schools.
Genichi's expression turned complicated.
"Are you sure?"
Sona nodded.
"My sister must know how to reach the Satan-class. If I ask her, she'll definitely tell me."
Genichi remained silent for a moment.
"Sona, have you considered one problem?"
"What problem?"
"How do you think your sister will react when she learns about our relationship?"
Sona's expression stiffened.
Of course she had thought about it.
She knew her sister far too well. Serafall Leviathan was one of the Four Great Satans and among the most powerful beings in the Underworld. She was also the ultimate siscon.
If Serafall discovered that her precious little sister had been thoroughly claimed by a man, she would absolutely lose her mind.
The first person to come after Genichi would not be an Angel or a Fallen Angel. It would be Sona's own sister.
"I think... perhaps we should consider other options first," Sona said dryly.
Genichi could not help laughing at her guilty expression.
"Now you're scared?"
Sona blushed slightly and turned her head away.
"I simply don't think there's any need to trouble my sister."
Akeno doubled over with laughter.
"President Sona, weren't you quite confident a moment ago? Why are you suddenly backing down as soon as your sister comes up?"
Sona gritted her teeth.
"You don't understand. My sister is..."
"She's what?" Akeno asked, tilting her head with an innocent expression.
"She's a siscon," Sona whispered, so quietly that they could barely hear her.
Akeno laughed even harder.
Rias could not suppress her laughter either, and even the corners of Tsubaki's lips curled upward.
Looking at them, Genichi smiled as well.
"Then I'll ask my brother," Rias said calmly.
Genichi looked at her.
"Sirzechs Lucifer?"
Rias nodded.
"My brother will also know how to reach the Satan-class. Besides..."
She paused, the corners of her lips rising into a smile.
"He isn't a siscon."
Genichi breathed a sigh of relief.
Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the Four Great Satans, was Rias's older brother.
From what Genichi knew, Sirzechs was gentle and rational. He probably would not try to kill him on sight like Serafall would.
"I'll leave it to you, Rias."
His voice carried complete trust.
Rias nodded and rose from the sofa.
"I'll contact my brother right now."
"There's no rush."
Genichi reached out and took her hand.
"Rest for a while first. You've been exhausted lately."
Rias blushed slightly, but she did not pull her hand away.
Akeno's smile widened as she watched them.
Sona turned her head and pretended to admire the scenery outside, though her ears had turned so red they looked ready to drip blood.
Tsubaki lowered her head, gently rubbing the fabric of her skirt between her fingers.
(End of Chapter)
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