Chapter [202]

Riser looked around, satisfied with the destruction he had caused. Silence reigned on the battlefield, and the darkness of the underworld had once again taken over the environment. He knew he needed to organize the next steps.

A soft glow appeared in his hand as Riser activated the communication magic. Merlin's hologram appeared in front of him, her expression calm and attentive.

"Merlin, come here. I have new orders for you," Riser said, his voice cold but loaded with authority.

Merlin nodded slightly, without questioning. "Yes, Riser-sama. I will arrive immediately."

The hologram disappeared, and soon after, a magic circle glowed beside Riser.

Merlin materialized next to Riser, her robes fluttering slightly in the wind that still swept through the rubble. She looked around, observing the chaos and destruction left behind by the battle.

"Riser-sama," said Merlin with a respectful bow, her voice soft. "What are your orders?"

"Merlin, prepare a communication spell that reaches the entire underworld," said Riser, his voice cold but now with a more serious and solemn tone.

Merlin nodded without question. She began tracing symbols in the air with her hands, conjuring a complex spell that would allow his voice to be heard by all the devils in the underworld.

"It will be done, Riser-sama," Merlin said, her hands moving with precision as she completed the spell.

Riser remained silent for a moment, watching Merlin work. The magical runes floated in the air around her, forming a large circle that glowed intensely until finally, the spell was ready.

"It is ready, Riser-sama. Your voice will be heard by all the devils in the underworld," said Merlin, finishing the spell with a smooth movement of her hands.

Riser nodded, taking a step forward, his golden flames glowing faintly around his body.

"Devils of the underworld," Riser said, his voice resonating through the air with power and authority. "I address all of you at a moment of great victory... but also of great loss."

Riser paused, his voice seeming heavier, as if the weight of the recent deaths deeply affected him.

"Today, the threat that could have destroyed the underworld has been eliminated. Trihexa, the monster that brought chaos and destruction, has been defeated," Riser continued, his voice filled with pride for the victory. "But this victory came at a price... a price that we must all mourn."

He paused briefly, his words carrying a tone of mourning.

"Our leaders, Sirzechs Lucifer and Ajuka Beelzebub, gave their lives to protect this world we love so much," Riser said, his voice now softer, almost melancholic. "They fought with courage, and until the last moment, they sacrificed themselves for the good of the underworld. There are no words that can express the sadness I feel for their loss."

Riser looked toward the horizon, as if feeling the weight of the responsibility he now carried.

"Today, we won the war, but we lost two great leaders," he said, his voice still grave. "We will honor their names, their deeds, and their sacrifices, always remembering what they did for us."

Riser bowed his head for a moment, letting the silence fill the space.

"May the underworld remain strong, as they wished. May the legacy of Sirzechs and Ajuka inspire us all to protect what they loved," Riser concluded, his solemn voice echoing in the minds of all the devils in the underworld. "May they rest in peace."

The spell slowly dissolved, the magic in the air disappearing while Riser remained still, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

Gremory Mansion

The atmosphere in the Gremory mansion was heavy with an almost palpable tension. The news of Sirzechs and Ajuka's sacrifice had just echoed throughout the underworld, and grief enveloped the family like a heavy cloud. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, but the warmth emanating from it seemed incapable of driving away the cold that filled the room.

Grayfia, injured and exhausted from the battle, sat on a red velvet sofa, her face marked by both physical and emotional pain. Her eyes, usually so cold and impenetrable, were now brimming with silent tears. The loss of her husband hit her with a force she had never felt before. Riser's words echoed in her mind, bringing the reality of Sirzechs' sacrifice to the forefront.

"He's gone..." murmured Grayfia, her voice barely audible as she clenched her hands, the weight of grief pressing down on her shoulders. "My... my Sirzechs..."

Rias stood nearby, close to the fireplace, her fists clenched at her sides. Her long red hair fell over her shoulders, but the usual brightness in her eyes had vanished, replaced by deep pain. The death of her brother, the man who had always protected her, seemed impossible to believe.

"This can't be real..." Rias whispered, her voice trembling as she stared into the fire. "He can't... He can't be dead!"

Tears flowed silently down her face as she hugged herself, trying to contain the despair threatening to overflow. Her legs trembled, and she felt as if the ground beneath her feet was crumbling. The thought of living without Sirzechs was unbearable.

Venelana sat in an armchair beside Grayfia, her eyes red from crying. Even as a strong and imposing woman, the pain of losing her son was crushing her. She could not hold back the tears as she clutched a silk handkerchief in her hand.

"My boy..." Venelana sobbed, covering her mouth with the handkerchief to try to silence her cries of pain. "How... how could this happen?"

Zeoticus stood near the window, looking out at the horizon with a distant gaze. Unlike the others, he maintained a firm posture, though his heart was also shattered. His fists were clenched behind his back, and his eyes, though not showing the same despair, reflected the pain of losing a son.

"He died as a hero," Zeoticus murmured, his voice low but laden with sorrow. "Sirzechs gave his life for the underworld... and that's how he will be remembered."

Though trying to maintain composure, Zeoticus felt a deep pain consuming him. He knew he needed to be strong for his family, but the void Sirzechs left was immense. He slowly turned, observing his wife and daughter, both devastated by the loss.

Millicas sat beside his mother, Grayfia. His small body trembled, and his eyes were wide with pure shock. He still couldn't fully comprehend what had happened. To him, Sirzechs was invincible, the strongest man he knew. The boy clutched Grayfia's hand, his voice weak as he whispered.

"Father... he's... he's coming back, isn't he?" Millicas asked, his voice filled with the hope of a child, still unable to accept the reality.

Grayfia looked at her son, her eyes filled with tears. She wanted to console him, wanted to say that everything would be alright, but the words wouldn't come. She just pulled Millicas closer, wrapping him in a tight embrace, her tears falling on his hair.

Venelana sobbed as she heard her grandson, and her pain increased even more at the sight of the child's suffering. "Oh, my dear Millicas..." she whispered, trying to hold back another sob.

Rias, unable to bear the pain any longer, fell to her knees near the fireplace, covering her face with her hands. "This can't be happening... It can't be true!" she cried, her voice filled with agony, the echo of her words filling the room.

Zeoticus, still trying to be the anchor for his family, walked over to Rias and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Rias," he said, his voice grave but gentle. "I know the pain is unbearable, but Sirzechs would not want to see us like this. He died to protect us, to protect the underworld. We must honor his memory, not with tears, but with strength."

Rias looked at her father, her tears flowing uncontrollably. "How can I be strong... when he's gone?" she asked, her voice choked with pain.

Zeoticus gently squeezed Rias' shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "You are a Gremory," he said, his voice firm. "And Gremorys do not give up. Sirzechs believed in you, and now you must honor that legacy."

Zeoticus' words, though filled with wisdom, did not lessen the pain Rias felt. But she knew that, somehow, she would have to move forward, even without her beloved brother.

"How do we go on without him, Venelana?" Grayfia asked, her voice barely a whisper, filled with pain and uncertainty.

Venelana, her face still wet with tears, looked at Grayfia and Millicas, trying to find strength amid the despair.

"I don't know... Grayfia. But we must go on... for them, for Sirzechs, for Millicas."

The Gremory family was shattered, enveloped in grief and suffering. Sirzechs' death was a deep blow, but somehow, they knew they would have to find the strength to carry on.

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