Chapter 20: A New Challenger Appears

The dust from Kokabiel's demise was still settling, his body having been obliterated by Alex's overwhelming power. The Occult Research Club, along with their allies, stood in stunned silence. Kokabiel's final revelation about God's death weighed heavily on their minds, but there was little time to process what they'd heard.

Asia, shaken but holding strong, stood close to Xenovia and Irina, her faith rattled. "God… really is gone?"

Xenovia gripped her holy sword, her expression unreadable. "It's hard to believe, but after hearing it from Kokabiel himself…"

Rias, despite the heavy blow the revelation had dealt her, stood tall and faced Alex, who seemed completely unfazed by the fallen angel's final words. She knew her cousin's strength but was still in awe of how easily he had dealt with Kokabiel.

Before the group could fully regroup, a sudden surge of energy filled the air, sharp and unfamiliar, sending a ripple of tension through everyone.

"Another one?" Issei muttered, fists tightening in preparation.

The figure descending from the sky had silver hair and two glowing white wings. His aura radiated confidence and power, but it was the focus of his gaze that set everyone on edge—he was looking directly at Alex.

"Who is that?" Kiba asked, his grip tightening on his sword.

Akeno frowned, sensing the newcomer's immense power. "This energy feels… different."

The silver-haired figure landed gracefully, his eyes never leaving Alex as he spoke. "You're exactly as I imagined, Alex Lucifer."

Issei blinked in confusion. "Wait, Lucifer? Who is this guy?"

Rias, while already knowing about Alex's heritage as a descendant of Lucifer, was still surprised. "What do you want?" she demanded, stepping forward.

The man smiled, his gaze finally shifting to Rias. "I'm not here for you, Rias Gremory. My business is with him."

He pointed directly at Alex, and the tension in the air thickened. The others looked at Alex, who was calmly observing the situation, showing no signs of concern.

Alex sighed inwardly, his memories of this world's plot becoming clearer. He knew who this was—Vali Lucifer, wielder of the Divine Dividing, and his cousin. It was their first encounter, and Vali had come to test his strength.

Rias narrowed her eyes. "You're a Lucifer…?"

Vali smirked. "That's right. And like Alex here, I'm also a descendant of the original Lucifer."

Issei's eyes widened. "Wait, wait—so you're both related to that big bad guy Lucifer? And who the hell are you anyway?"

"Vali Lucifer," he replied smoothly, his silver eyes gleaming with challenge. "And I've come to test the strength of my cousin here."

Before anyone could process this new revelation, Vali continued, turning to Issei with a brief glance. "And you, Red Dragon Emperor. Ddraig speaks highly of you."

Issei's breath hitched at the mention of Ddraig, the dragon sealed inside him. He had only recently begun to hear Ddraig's voice, and to have someone acknowledge it sent a wave of surprise through him.

"Ddraig?" Issei stammered. "You know about him?"

Vali smirked. "I do. As the White Dragon Emperor, it's only natural that I would."

Issei was floored. "White Dragon Emperor…? Wait, does that mean—"

"Yes," Vali said, cutting him off. "I am the wielder of the Divine Dividing, just as you are the host of the Boosted Gear. But right now, I'm not here for you." His eyes snapped back to Alex. "I want to see the strength of the one who's said to surpass even Lucifer himself."

The White Dragon's Challenge

Vali's wings of light flexed, and without warning, he shot forward at an incredible speed, his fist aimed straight at Alex's chest.

But Alex didn't flinch. In fact, he barely moved. With a single, almost lazy flick of his wrist, he caught Vali's punch with ease, stopping the White Dragon Emperor in his tracks.

A shockwave rippled through the air, causing the ground to crack beneath Vali's feet, but Alex remained as calm and unbothered as ever.

Vali's eyes widened in disbelief. "What…?"

Alex looked down at Vali's hand, still trapped in his grip. "You're not as strong as I thought you'd be."

With that, Alex effortlessly pushed Vali back, sending him skidding across the battlefield. Vali managed to land on his feet, but the shock on his face was clear.

"How…" Vali muttered, his frustration bubbling. "You're not even trying."

Alex sighed. "You came looking for a fight, but you're not ready for this."

Vali's expression twisted into a smirk, though it didn't hide his frustration. "I won't go down that easily."

He activated his Sacred Gear, and the Divine Dividing fully manifested, white dragon armor encasing his body. "I'll show you the full power of the White Dragon Emperor!"

Vali charged forward again, this time with far more speed and force, his strikes fueled by the power of his Balance Breaker. Each blow carried the effect of Divine Dividing, meant to halve Alex's power with each hit.

But once again, Alex didn't seem concerned. He dodged each of Vali's attacks with minimal effort, his movements smooth and controlled. Even when Vali landed a hit, the power-halving effect seemed to have no impact on Alex.

Vali's frustration grew with each failed attempt. "Why… won't you… take this seriously!?"

Alex stepped back, completely unharmed, and tilted his head. "Because you're not a threat, Vali."

With a single, casual motion, Alex reached out and lightly tapped Vali on the chest, sending him crashing into the ground with far more force than before. Vali's armor flickered, the power of the Divine Dividing struggling to hold together.

Vali groaned in pain, his pride taking an even greater hit than his body. "Damn it…"

Alex approached him, his gaze calm and unreadable. "You're strong, Vali, but you're not ready to face me."

Vali clenched his fists, barely managing to stand. "I'll come back… stronger. This isn't over."

Alex nodded. "I'll be waiting."

With that, Vali turned and took to the skies, his wings of light fading as he disappeared into the night. The tension in the air dissipated, leaving the Occult Research Club in stunned silence.

Aftermath

Rias let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Vali Lucifer… and he's your cousin?"

Alex nodded. "Yes, but don't worry. He's not someone you need to concern yourself with for now."

Issei, still reeling from the encounter, turned to Alex. "Dude, you just beat that guy like it was nothing! And what's with all this White Dragon, Red Dragon stuff?"

Ddraig's voice suddenly echoed in Issei's mind. That was Albion, the White Dragon Emperor's host.

Issei blinked. "Wait, Albion? You mean that guy has a dragon like you inside him?"

Yes. Albion and I have been rivals for centuries.

"Great…" Issei groaned. "More dragon stuff to deal with."

Alex chuckled softly. "You'll get used to it."

Asia, still clutching her hands together in nervousness, looked up at Alex with wide eyes. "You're really strong, Alex… but is it really okay? What if more people like him come?"

Alex smiled gently at Asia. "Don't worry, Asia. I'll protect you all."

Though the group had just witnessed Alex's overwhelming power, the appearance of Vali had sparked a new concern in their minds. The White Dragon Emperor had shown up, and with him came the hint of something larger—a looming threat that would eventually draw all of them into the fray.

And yet, despite the chaos, Alex remained calm. He knew what was coming, and he knew exactly how he would face it.

This was only the beginning.