Chapter [173]

Great Hall of the Maous - Underworld

The Great Hall of the Maous, located at the heart of the underworld, was a place of majestic grandeur. Its black stone walls were adorned with ancient carvings and glowing runes, while the vaulted ceiling displayed an intricate mosaic of demonic constellations. The atmosphere was solemn, laden with tension and anticipation. In the center of the hall, a large black marble table dominated the space, surrounded by elaborately carved chairs.

Riser entered the hall alongside Sona, his presence radiating confidence and power. The Commandment of Love pulsed through his veins, granting him an even more imposing aura. Sona, at his side, wore a serious expression, aware of the importance of this meeting.

Already present in the hall were Sirzechs, Serafall, Ajuka, and Dimitri. Sirzechs, with his majestic presence and authoritative aura, observed every movement attentively. Serafall, in her characteristic mahou shoujo outfit, maintained a serious but friendly expression. Ajuka, with his penetrating gaze and imposing posture, remained indifferent, while Dimitri exuded an aura of tension and contained fury.

Riser walked up to the black marble table, his aura beginning to expand slowly. As he released his power, the air around him seemed to vibrate, and an invisible pressure filled the hall. Riser's presence became palpable, and everyone felt the intensity of his demonic energy.

Sirzechs frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the force emanating from Riser. He knew something had changed, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. Riser's aura was surprisingly powerful, rivaling that of a Maou.

Serafall, on the other hand, seemed excited. She looked at Riser with a sparkle in her eyes, impressed by the power he exuded. 'Riser-chan, you've really outdone yourself,' she thought, maintaining a satisfied smile on her face.

Ajuka, though outwardly indifferent, had a whirlwind of questions in his mind. He knew something was different about Riser, and it piqued his curiosity. 'What did he do to reach this level of power?' Ajuka wondered, keeping his expression neutral.

Dimitri, however, was visibly shaken. His skin was pale, and he seemed to be struggling to maintain his composure. Riser's overwhelming presence made him sweat cold, and he felt a pang of fear growing within him.

Riser looked around, his arrogant gaze landing on each of those present. "Good afternoon, everyone," he said, his voice echoing through the hall. "Let's get this meeting started. We have no time to waste."

Sirzechs, still uncomfortable, nodded slowly. "Very well, Riser. Let's begin."

Riser took his place at the table, Sona by his side. As everyone settled in, the tension in the air was palpable.

Serafall looked at Sirzechs and Ajuka, waiting for them to start the meeting.

Sirzechs slowly recovered from the initial shock of sensing Riser's powerful aura.

He took a deep breath, composing himself before speaking.

"Let's get straight to the point," he began, his firm voice echoing through the hall. "We are here to discuss the death of Diodora. Dimitri claimed it was unnecessary and excessive."

Riser remained silent, his expression neutral, observing everyone's reaction. He felt the tension in the air, but his confidence was unshakable.

Sona, seated next to him, squeezed Riser's hand. Though she maintained an indifferent expression, she was nervous. The weight of the meeting and the presence of such powerful figures made her uneasy. Riser's firm grip was a silent comfort, a reminder that they were in this battle together.

Sirzechs passed the floor to Dimitri, who was still struggling against the pressure of Riser's aura.

"Dimitri, please present your point of view," Sirzechs said, trying to maintain formality.

Dimitri took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

He knew he was at a disadvantage, but he needed to express his indignation. "Diodora's death was an unnecessary act," he began, his voice trembling. "Riser could have contained him in another way. My son was out of control, but that didn't justify his summary execution."

Dimitri paused, fighting against the overwhelming pressure of Riser's presence. His mind was a whirlwind of confused thoughts, and he could barely articulate his ideas correctly. "What... what I'm trying to say is that... the Astaroth family deserves justice. This was an act... an act of unjustified violence."

Riser continued to listen in silence, his gaze fixed on Dimitri. The neutral expression on his face was impenetrable, and he patiently waited to respond.

Riser's Mansion in Kuoh - Ophis' Room

In Riser's mansion in Kuoh, Merlin was in Ophis' special room, preparing for the plan to eliminate Falbium Asmodeus. The atmosphere was calm, but the tension was palpable. Merlin traced complex runes in the air, preparing the necessary spells to ensure the attack was discreet and left no traces.

Ophis, sitting on a cushion in the center of the room, watched Merlin with a serene gaze. Her ethereal presence seemed unperturbed, even in the face of the magnitude of what they were about to do.

"We are almost ready, Ophis," said Merlin, her voice calm but determined. "Riser has entrusted us to execute this plan perfectly. We cannot fail."

Ophis nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the glowing runes Merlin was tracing in the air. "Falbium will be eliminated. We will not fail."

As Merlin finished the preparations, the tension in the room increased. They knew that executing this plan would shift the balance of power in the underworld, and every detail needed to be perfect.

Great Hall of the Maous - Underworld

After Dimitri presented his point of view with a trembling voice, Sirzechs, trying to maintain formality and order in the meeting, passed the floor to Riser.

"Riser, you now have the opportunity to present your version of the facts," Sirzechs said, his voice firm.

Riser stood up slowly, his powerful and imposing presence filling the hall. He looked around the table before beginning to speak, his voice calm but laden with authority.

"Maous, colleagues, I understand Dimitri's pain and frustration," Riser began, his voice echoing through the hall. "But allow me to present the facts clearly and objectively."

Riser paused, allowing his words to be absorbed by everyone present. "Diodora was out of control. He destroyed a significant part of Tokyo, causing the death of countless humans and risking the exposure of the underworld. More than that, he killed his own mother in a fit of madness."

Riser's expression remained serious as he continued. "If I had not intervened, the consequences could have been catastrophic. The destruction in Tokyo not only attracted human attention but also that of the Japanese gods. We are talking about a potential conflict between mythologies, something we must avoid at all costs."

Riser looked directly at Dimitri, who had a look of disgust on his face. "I did not kill Diodora for pleasure or revenge. It was a necessary action to prevent a war between mythologies and preserve the balance of the underworld. If this had not been done, the repercussions would have been unimaginable."

Riser turned to Sirzechs and the other Maous. "Instead of accusing me, you should be thanking me for preventing an even greater disaster. My action, as difficult as it was, saved countless lives and avoided a conflict that could have devastated us all."

Riser's words were coherent and laden with logic. The tension in the hall was palpable, but many of those present, including Sirzechs and Serafall, could not help but recognize the validity of Riser's points.

Sirzechs, realizing that the situation needed to be resolved fairly, asked calmly. "Would any of the Maous present like to express their opinion on the matter?"

Serafall, who had been observing attentively, raised her hand and requested to speak. "I would like to speak, Sirzechs."

Sirzechs nodded, giving permission for Serafall to speak. "Please, Serafall."

Serafall looked at Dimitri with a sympathetic gaze. "Dimitri, I am very sorry for your loss, but we need to acknowledge the severity of the situation. What Riser did was to protect all of us. We must learn from this and take measures to prevent something like this from happening again."

Castle in the Underworld

Merlin and Ophis appeared at a certain distance from an imposing castle in the underworld. The castle, with its gothic towers and black stone walls, exuded an aura of power and mystery. The eternal night of the underworld cast sinister shadows over the structure, making it even more imposing and threatening.

Merlin pointed to the castle, her eyes shining with determination. "That is Falbium Asmodeus' castle," she said, her voice calm but firm. "That's where our target is."

Ophis, who was beside Merlin, looked at the castle with a serene expression, but her eyes revealed latent impatience. "Let's get this over with," she said, her voice soft but laden with power. "I want to return to the silence of my room."

Merlin nodded, understanding Ophis' impatience. "We need to be quick and discreet. Falbium is powerful, but with your help, we can ensure he has no chance to react."

Ophis began gathering her energy, preparing to unleash a devastating attack that would destroy the castle and everything within it. Her hands started to glow with an intense light, and the atmosphere around them grew heavy with the pressure of her magic.

However, Merlin quickly intervened, placing a hand on Ophis' shoulder. "Wait, Ophis," she said, her voice urgent. "If we destroy everything at once, we won't have control over the damage. We need to ensure the attack is precise and that there are no witnesses or evidence that could compromise us."

Ophis stopped, the light in her hands dimming slightly. She looked at Merlin, patience evident in her expression. "So what do you suggest?"

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