"Wh-What is this feeling?"
Issei felt his blood boiling when he saw the mysterious figure with the silver armor.
It was as if... it was as if... that their meeting was destiny.
"Dd-Ddraig, what's happening?"
"That's supposed to be your so-called rival. The owner of the Divine Dividing, the Longinus, hosts the White Dragon Emperor, Albion. My rival."
"The-Then..."
"Yes, the two of you are fated to fight each other."
"Wh-What?!
"Though, with your current power, you will be dead to face him, so give it up."
"...." Issei.
Nevertheless, the conversation between Issei and Ddraig didn't attract everyone's attention or even ignored as all of them stared at Riser and the mysterious figure.
Meanwhile, Kokabiel saw hope.
He knew that with the appearance of the owner of the Divine Dividing, Vali Lucifer, his life would be saved.
He will be okay.
"Vali, save me from this bastard! Kill him for me, too!"
While he hated and looked down on those Sacred Users, Vali was different as he was the owner of Longinus, the special Sacred Gear that was able to kill God.
With such a power, it should be easy for Vali to save him and kill Riser, right?
Let me show you the price of making me like this, Riser!
Still, by now, Kokabiel was glad that Azazel, his leader, had collected so many Sacred Gear users that way; they had many tools that they could use for their future war with the devil!
Nevertheless, Riser and Vali ignored Kokabiel, and neither of them talked, even if Kokabiel screamed like an idiot.
In their eyes, Kokabiel was an idiot.
Still, Vali couldn't let Kokabiel die. After all, even if Kokabiel was an idiot, he was still a friend of the figure who he had helped him so much, so—
"Did you not hear me? Let him go. If so, then I won't kill you."
Unlike Kokabiel, Vali didn't think that he would lose to Riser. Instead, he felt that he might kill Riser as he felt that this guy was just a weakling.
Kokabiel's strength might be okay, but compared to him, Kokabiel was nothing.
Even if Riser could defeat Kokabiel with ease, Vali believed that he could do better.
However, Riser ignored Vali and stomped hard on Kokabiel's body, causing several of his ribs to break and causing those broken bones to pierce his lungs.
Due to this, Kokabiel was unable to talk and could only moan painfully.
Vali frowned and said, "Let me give you three seconds to let him go, or else I won't give you mercy."
Still, Riser ignored Vali and accepted the reward he got from the system.
Trick Star.
It had the ability to switch the position of two objects with each other.
Naturally, he had only received this ability lately; he could only switch the positions of two objects that were relatively the same size. Due to this, he looked at Vali, then looked at Kokabiel, who was lying under his feet like a dead worm.
"1..."
Yet, Vali, who was being ignored, was unable to hold his temper and started to count.
He also started to grow his aura stronger and stronger.
Due to this aura, everyone became tense again as they could feel the boundless demonic power emitted from Vali.
"He-Hey, hurry up and let him go! He is dying anyway!"
Issei couldn't control his fear and quickly screamed at Riser.
In his mind, the fight was already over, so that's it.
Kokabiel was defeated, so there was no need to make the situation bigger, right?
Let's just go home and sleep!
Issei didn't want to be involved in this fight anymore!
He just wanted to become a harem king!
Yet, why did he have to be involved in this trouble?
As his scream fell, the others reacted with a different attitude, yet they also supported Issei even though they didn't say anything.
After all, no one loved to fight, and if possible, they wanted to end everything like this.
They had enough of fighting, yet due to their status, they knew they couldn't say it and only kept silent as every decision was on Riser.
Only Rias didn't think so and frowned at Vali.
After all, Vali's act was too arrogant, as if he was above all of them.
As the heir of the Gremory, how could she accept being treated like that?
Nevertheless, she was also realistic, and she could feel how powerful Vali was.
The reason why a devil could be so powerful was due to their Demonic Power.
The higher the amount of their Demonic Power was, the stronger they were.
Vali was strong, and she acknowledged that.
Moreover, everyone was exhausted from their previous battle.
Rias understood all of this, yet... yet... she still had a hard time.
"2..."
However, Riser hadn't said anything from the beginning to the end, causing Vali to continue his count.
"OI, HURRY UP AND LET HIM GO!"
Issei kept screaming, and the others also became more anxious.
Still, suddenly, Riser let out a helpless sigh.
Yet, it didn't stop Vali from counting.
"3."
Vali's words were cold when he finished counting as if he had never had any intention to stop his counting from the beginning.
Yes, Vali wanted to fight Riser!
Even if Kokabiel was weak, it was still impressive that Riser could handle Kokabiel, but more importantly, Vali felt that he needed to teach this little bird how to treat him in the future so as not to be impolite in front of him again, yet—
"Guwah!"
Vali widened his eyes as the armor on his chest was broken, and his entire body was hit by tremendous pressure. His ribs were also broken due to the impact, causing them to pierce his lungs, giving him difficulty breathing and making his situation similar to Kokabiel's.
Meanwhile, Kokabiel, whose body wasn't stomped by Riser anymore, felt his chest was free, and he felt relief, thinking that he had been saved, yet why did he suddenly appear in the sky?
Kokabiel, who had lost his wings, was unable to fly and with only remaining limps as if trying to grasp something.
Yet, it was impossible, and as he was in the sky, he could only drop to the ground due to gravity.
Similar to Kokabiel, Vali was still unable to comprehend what was happening.
What had happened?
Why did I suddenly appear here?
Why was I hurt?
Many questions appeared in his mind instantly, but it burst like a bubble when an intense heat scorched his chest.
"ARRRGGGGHHH!"
Without the protection of his armor, the heat instantly hit his skin, burning his chest and even almost melting it.
Naturally, due to his talent, he was able to react, trying to protect his chest subconsciously with a massive amount of demonic power, yet facing this heat, that protection was meaningless.
Moreover, his position was at a disadvantage as Riser's feet pressed against his chest like a mountain, so heavy, making him unable to move.
He was like a fish that was out of water.
He could only flap his body helplessly as if hoping that he could return to the water once again, yet—
"My name is Riser Phenex. My house is in the Phenex Domain in the Underworld. I live in a beautiful castle and one of the best places in that domain. Oh, right, I am married, so I also live in the Sitri domain in my wife's family house."
"...huh?"
Vali was confused as he was filled with dread, watching Riser's eyes grow darker, darker like a pitch of darkness.
"I have several businesses and always work diligently from Monday to Friday and nine to five. Each evening, I return home no later than 6 p.m. I smoke, and I drink occasionally. I go to bed quite late, but I will always get 8 hours of sleep."
"..."
Vali became even more confused as he groaned as the pain in his body grew stronger and stronger.
"Before I lie down, I drink a cup of warm milk and do 20 minutes of stretching to relax my body."
".....
"With that routine, I find that I sleep soundly all the way until morning. Like a baby, I wake up with no fatigue or stress. And at my last checkup, I was given a clean bill of health..."
"Wh-What are you talking about?!"
Even if there was an intense pain in his body, Vali responded to Riser as he felt this guy was creepy.
"I'm explaining so that you'll understand that I'm a person who wants to live his life feeling at peace. I refuse to create dilemmas—or enemies—that will disturb my thoughts and keep me up at night worrying if I'll win or lose... And by maintaining that approach toward society, I have found that I can attain happiness."
Riser made his blade grow hotter and sharper.
"Of course, if I were to fight someone, I would never lose."
Riser then smiled confidently and said, "Basically, Whatever-kun, you are a troublesome thing that would hinder my sleep and, therefore, my enemy."
"—?!"
"So, I am going to eliminate you now before you have a chance to trouble me so I can sleep soundly again tonight."
Riser swung down his blade, ready to kill the source of his trouble.