Chapter: 34

A/N :- Sorry' for the late chapter, I was late because of a new Fanfic I was writing. It was just a idea that stuck me suddenly so I went ahead with it.

Anyways enjoy the chapter.

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This day will be etched in the history of the Underworld for eternity.

Devils will whisper to their children, "Go to sleep, or else *he* will come for you." Because what they are witnessing right now… even Lucifer himself wouldn't be as much of a psychopath.

The entire arena was engulfed in a deafening silence. No one dared to make a sound, fearing that the monster in front of them might turn his attention toward them.

Sure, they were devils, but even the *high-class devils* and *Satans* felt their hearts quiver. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and the cold grip of death had firmly lodged itself in their minds. Despite their status and power, their legs unwillingly took a step back.

Every time a scream of agony echoed from inside the barrier, Riser's blood curdling cries sent shivers down their spines. No one dared to save him. In fact, they cursed Riser and the entire Phoenix family for bringing this monster into the Underworld.

*Boom!* Crack!*

Rudra stood there, gripping Riser's head with a monstrous force, repeatedly smashing it into the arena floor.  

*"Aaa-aaahhh!!"*

Riser's regeneration was out of control, spiralling into chaos. The greatest fear isn't death—it's when you lose control over your powers, over your own body. That 'helpless' terror is far worse than any other fear. And no matter how hard he tried, Riser couldn't forget it.  

*Break!* Crack!* Crush!**

"*S-sorry! Sorry!!*"  

But all that escaped Riser's lips were pitiful pleas for mercy, and yet… Rudra's hands did not stop.

Rudra gripped Riser's head and slammed it repeatedly into the ground. With each brutal impact, Riser's skull turned more and more into a pulp of crushed bones and shattered flesh. But Rudra was careful—he applied just enough force to keep the bastard alive, ensuring that Riser wouldn't die until Rudra had unleashed every last ounce of his fury.

*"Ahhhhh…!!!"* 

Rudra didn't stop. He kept breaking and healing Riser over and over again. Each time he gave Riser brief control over his body, allowing a flicker of hope to appear, only to snatch it away just as quickly, forcing him to face that gut-wrenching fear all over again. If you want to truly torture someone, one of the most tried and tested methods is to strip them of the very hope they cling to.

And that's exactly what Rudra was doing.

In one final motion, Rudra slammed Riser down so hard that the entire colosseum trembled, as if struck by an earthquake. Some devils in the audience felt their legs give out, their pants dampening with fear.

Then, Rudra grabbed Riser by the leg, and suddenly two stone pillars erupted from the ground, forming a massive cross—not just any cross, but the kind from Christian lore, ominous and imposing.

Rudra flung Riser into the air, and for a moment, Riser tried to escape using his wings, but they betrayed him. They didn't open. As if they had a mind of their own, they remained stubbornly closed, leaving him plummeting downwards.

Just as Riser passed the cross, a massive iron nail appeared from seemingly nowhere, slicing through the air and impaling his right wrist against the vertical slab.

*"Aaaaaaaaa!!!!!..."*  

A blood-curdling scream tore from Riser's throat as blood drenched the cross, staining it a deep crimson. He struggled, desperately trying to free himself. As soon as he raised his left hand to fight back, another iron nail shot out, pinning his left wrist to the slab as well. Blood rained down from his wrists, splattering onto the earth below.

The ground beneath him was soaked in red.

One by one, both of Riser's legs were nailed to the cross, rendering him completely immobile. The entire cross was now painted in his blood, rivers of crimson flowing from his hands and feet. For a brief moment, nothing happened. Riser, gasping in pain, thought that maybe, just maybe, it was over.

But fate had a poisonous bite in store for him.

With arrogance still burning in his eyes, Riser mustered what little strength he had left to sneer at Rudra. In a raspy, venomous voice, he dared to threaten him, saying he'd make Rudra's wife, Sera, his slave after killing him, enjoying her to the fullest.

That was the last straw.

Rudra's face darkened. He had no idea how Riser knew about Sera—whether it was Rias or the Gremory family's doing, or perhaps someone else from the shadows pulling the strings. But whoever was manipulating this fool clearly didn't understand the gravity of their mistake. Only the weak can be controlled by puppeteers. Not someone like Rudra.

Rudra was the kind of man who, if he wanted, could wipe the Underworld off the dimensional map. He could make even the strongest creatures in the DXD universe kneel before him, without breaking a sweat.

After a long silence, Rudra finally spoke. But there was no trace of the playful, mischievous tone he often carried. This was something else entirely.

Rudra stood before the blood-soaked cross, his expression cold, his eyes reflecting nothing but darkness. Riser's broken body hung limp, blood pouring from his wrists and ankles, his face a mask of agony. But Rudra wasn't done. No, not yet.

He stepped closer, his voice chilling and low.

Rudra: "You threatened to take Sera from me… to violate her…"

Each word landed like a curse. Riser, barely clinging to consciousness, attempted to lift his head. His mouth opened, but only blood trickled out—no words, no defiance left.

Rudra: "So let me show you what it's like to have everything taken from you."

Rudra raised his hand, and from his palm, an eerie flame flared to life. This was no ordinary fire. It was dark, unnatural, a cursed flame that burned not just flesh but soul. He pressed the flame against Riser's chest, watching as it began its merciless work.

Riser: "AaaAAAAHHHHHH!!"

Riser's scream pierced the arena, but the flames crept slowly, agonizingly, over his body. His skin blistered, charred, his muscles turned to ash. The very magic that had once healed him now became his curse. It slowed the decay, prolonging his torment, keeping him trapped in the agony. His body regenerated just enough to keep him alive—just enough to make the pain excruciating.

Rudra: "How does it feel, Riser? Knowing there's no escape? Watching your own flesh melt away, knowing no one's coming to save you?"

Riser's eyes bulged in horror. He was beyond screaming now, beyond anything but the overwhelming pain that tore at his body and mind. His mouth opened in a silent cry, blood trickling from his lips as his insides began to disintegrate. His soul was being devoured.

As Riser clung to the final thread of his miserable existence, Rudra called forth a massive black blade, rising from the very ground beneath them. It was forged in the fires of hell, its jagged edges pulsating with dark energy, a weapon meant for one purpose—destruction.

Rudra: "You took pleasure in others' suffering, Riser. Let's see how much you can endure."

Without hesitation, Rudra thrust the blade deep into Riser's gut, the force of the impact pinning him harder against the cross. Riser's body convulsed violently, his eyes wide as the blade ripped through his insides. Inch by inch, the blade cleaved him apart, grinding against his spine with a sickening crack.

The devils in the audience sat frozen in horror, unable to move, barely able to breathe. This was not just death. This was revenge—slow, brutal, and absolute.

Rudra twisted the sword, grinding it deeper, until finally, with one savage motion, he wrenched it upwards. Riser's body split from stomach to throat, blood and viscera pouring from the gaping wound like a torrent. The cross was drenched in crimson, and Riser's head lolled to the side, his eyes wide and lifeless.

But Rudra wasn't finished.

Rudra: "For my wife… for my better half…"

With one final, vicious twist, Rudra tore Riser's head clean from his body, holding it high for all to see. The once-proud Phoenix heir, now a disfigured husk, his body reduced to nothing but gore hanging from the cross.

Silence fell over the arena. The once-noisy, arrogant devils were now speechless. The heir of the Phoenix clan, a monster who had brought so much pain, now lay in pieces, his body desecrated beyond recognition.

Rudra tossed the severed head to the ground, its hollow thud echoing through the arena. His expression was unreadable as he turned his back on the corpse and began to walk away.

Rudra: "This… is what happens when you cross me."

As Rudra strode out of the arena, leaving behind the broken remains of his enemy, one thing became clear to everyone watching—this day would never be forgotten. The day when a man tore apart the devil's pride and left a legend of terror behind.

From this day forward, none would dare cross him. He hoped at least, he doesn't want Miu and his other future wives to see him like this, a killing machine, with no emotion who wouldn't feel an itch while killing someone.

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As soon as Rudra stepped out of the arena, the barrier—designed to block any outside interference—disappeared.

The devils who were trying to break through the barrier just moments ago were now frozen in their spots. The terrifying scene they had just witnessed left them paralyzed in fear. Even the sins of devils seemed childish in comparison to the cruelty they had just seen.

After all, even Satan wasn't this brutal. But today, that man with those abyss-like eyes would be remembered by all.

Among the crowd, a man with yellow hair rushed forward and grabbed Riser's severed head, shouting in fury.

Lord Phoenix: "Catch him! Don't let him get away! He killed my son in my own home! I'll wipe out his entire bloodline!"

The one shouting was none other than Lord Phoenix himself, giving orders to his soldiers. His voice was filled with grief and rage.

But none of the devil soldiers moved from their place. Seeing this, Lord Phoenix's anger only intensified.

It's often said that a person's worst enemy is their own mind, and decisions made in anger always lead to disaster. The same holds true for devils, whose actions, under the influence of their sins, often bring harm upon them.

Blinded by his wrath and pride, Lord Phoenix forgot that the man he was ordering to be captured wasn't some ordinary human. 

Looking at his soldiers' cowardice, his fury reached a boiling point. He cursed them under his breath and turned to look at Riser's head again. But his eyes met something far more terrifying—darkness itself.

It was as if death itself stood before him. His breath caught in his throat, his legs trembled uncontrollably. In front of him stood Rudra.

Rudra had been about to leave the arena, but when he sensed that these devils might become a pain in the ass later, he decided to root out the problem once and for all.

Rudra: " I am here now. Do whatever you want!"

Rudra's voice was chilling, venomous. Hearing it lord phoenix's confidence shattered like glass.

'W-when did he appear in front of me? Why didn't I sense anything?' lord phoenix thought, sweat gathering on his forehead.

Rudra: "what happened? Cat got your tongue?"

Lord Phoenix, enraged beyond reason, summoned flames in his hand, the signature fire of the Phoenix clan, known for its ability to burn anything and regenerate its user. The intense heat swirled around him, casting a bright, fiery glow across the arena.

Lord Phoenix: "I'll reduce you to ashes, you filthy mongrel!"

He thrust his hand forward, sending a massive wave of fire toward Rudra. The flames roared through the air, but as they approached Rudra, something unexpected happened. The fire flickered, sputtered, and vanished as though snuffed out by an unseen force, leaving nothing but cold air in its wake.

Rudra stood untouched, his eyes narrowing slightly, unfazed by the Phoenix Lord's attack. His lips curled into a small, dangerous smile.

Before Lord Phoenix could even process what had happened, Rudra moved. In an instant, he was in front of Lord Phoenix, his hand latching onto the devil's throat with crushing force. 

Rudra: "Was that it?"

Without a second thought, Rudra lifted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. Lord Phoenix struggled, his eyes wide with fear and disbelief as he grasped at Rudra's hand, but his strength was nothing compared to the iron grip around his neck.

The ground beneath them began to rumble once again, and from the earth, the same cross that had held Riser's broken body emerged. Its dark, blood-soaked form was ready to claim another victim. Rudra's eyes gleamed with a cold, merciless intent as he prepared to throw Lord Phoenix onto the cross.

Rudra: "You'll meet the same fate as your son..."

But just as Rudra was about to slam Lord Phoenix onto the cross, a voice echoed through the arena, halting his movements.

Sirzechs: "That's enough!"

The voice carried authority and power, instantly capturing everyone's attention. Rudra stopped and turned his head slightly, his grip on Lord Phoenix still firm. From the V.I.P room, a group of figures descended with lightning speed. At the forefront was Satan Sirzechs Lucifer himself, flanked by the other Satans.

The air grew heavy with the immense power radiating from them as they landed on the arena floor. The entire crowd fell into a hushed silence, the tension thick and palpable.

Serzechs, his long crimson hair flowing behind him, approached Rudra with calm but cautious steps. His expression was neutral, but his eyes held a seriousness that demanded respect.

Sirzechs: "Rudra, I hope you will stop this now. The Phoenix family has already paid a heavy price."

Rudra's grip tightened around Lord Phoenix's throat, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Sirzechs. He remained silent for a moment, assessing the situation. The other Satans—Ajuka, Falbium, and Serafall—stood behind Sirzechs, their eyes trained on Rudra, ready to intervene if necessary.

Rudra: "Paid a heavy price? You know they have crossed a line they shouldn't have... is it really enough?"

Serzechs met his gaze, unwavering.

Serzech: "Revenge has its limits. You've made your point, Rudra. There's no need to stain your hands further with unnecessary blood."

For a moment, there was only silence as the two men stared each other down. The arena seemed to hold its breath, waiting for Rudra's response.

Rudra slowly exhaled, loosening his grip on Lord Phoenix, who fell to the ground gasping for breath, clutching his throat. The cross that had emerged from the ground sank back into the earth, disappearing without a trace.

Rudra: "Fine, I will let him go…For now."

He turned his back on Lord Phoenix, letting him live—at least for the moment. 

Serzechs nodded, his stance relaxing slightly.

Sirzechs: "You've made the right choice, Rudra."

But Rudra's eyes flickered with a lingering darkness as he glanced at the fallen Lord Phoenix, who was still trembling on the ground. 

Rudra: "Don't think this is over... not yet."

He said to lord phoenix whose regeneration was not working and he was coughing blood clutching his neck.

Rudra then turned to the group of Satan and his eyes wandered over the four Satan.

A twin tail black haired and pink eyes girl, who was probably decade's older but looked like loli with big breasts. Serafall Leviathan.

A baldi, Falbium Asmodeois with an impressive height and dark armour adorned him.

A green haired beauty, Azuka Belezubun who may as well be mistaken for a woman if not for his non-existent chest and lack of feminine body language.

And finally the red haired Lucifer, Sirzechs or the Sis con of the DxD universe.

Rudra: " I hope you have enough sense to understand your position, otherwise I don't mind reducing the weight of earth."

Rudra said his piece as the dangerous light from his eyes vanished, his ferocious aura settled and he became like a normal weak human. Seeing him turning his back and leaving an unconscious sigh escaped the four Satans, they were tense the whole time.

Though they are counted among the strongest beings in the world, they still felt like an ant in front of a dinosaur in Rudras presence.

Sirzechs turned to the pathetic sight of lord phoenix, who was grovelling in the ground, his regeneration not working.

He thought that every tragedy that the devil's had to bear was because of the foolish mindsets of these old devil's, they couldn't just logically analyse the situation can they? Everytime it is not necessary to use force, sometimes using your brain might be more crucial than one might think.

He sighed again thinking of the shit storms that's going to hit them, there's no way a matter such as this is going to be overlooked by the spy and the High class devils.

"It's going to get busy onwards.!"