Very Deep Trouble

Alessa, Winona, and Tabitha were all seating on the couch while the two other single couches were occupied by Isla and another belle. The other belle was reading a grimoire as if it was the most interesting thing in the world, just like how Isla's computer was to her.

Alessa had gathered her sisters, blood and not, for a meeting about the strange events in the county. However, it felt like her two sisters were both isolated in their own worlds. Winona only poured another cup for herself before Tabitha sighed in resignation.

"Sisters, can you listen to me for a moment?" Alessa spoke, but Isla only hummed in response. Gianna, who didn't even spare her a glance, answered with a smile, "We'll just drop in when we disagree or have something else to add."

"Whatever…" Alessa sighed as she took a long sip of her tea. "Right now, more and more high-leveled demons seemed to be deployed in the county. What's suspicious is that we're all seeing demons with no handlers or not even handlers themselves.

"It meant that they are members of the army of a demon prince. For now, we only detected the presence of wrath and gluttony demons. Lust demons occasionally showed up, and yet they would escape us as if unwilling to engage. That being said, we should be narrowing our search—"

"Eh? Alessa, you need to see this!" Isla interrupted her older sister and turned on the TV. The broadcast about the forty-seven bombs showed, and the sisters were all interested in it. It was another stunt… and an attempt to strengthen the presence of the terrorists in the people's hearts.

Tabitha frowned. "The same company? Wow, they seemed to be so hated by whoever that group is…"

The eldest would comment, but she realized that even her sisters were eyeing the TV. It was as if something about it was drawing them in. Their eagle eyes scanned the people's head, only for them to notice two figures that squeezed in the crowd along with a woman.

"Luca?" Alessa reacted the fastest while Isla held the remote to increase the TV's volume.

"This situation… feels so bad…" Gianna placed her fingers on her lips as she placed down her grimoire. "If the terrorist group Satan's coven is backing will make a move now in front of mass media… who can estimate the effects of these to the realities?"

"That's the plan." Isla glared at the screen, only to hold onto her ears as if listening to someone. She then got to her computer and quickly searched things on it.

The reporter then spoke about a message everyone seemed to receive and its scary content. The four other girls gasped while Isla continued to work on her computer. Alessa only glanced at the tech-savvy sister. "Did the Orphanim say something to you?"

Isla didn't answer, but she glanced at Alessa. She couldn't begin to explain the situation while her fingers trembled as she tried her best to punch through multiple firewalls to help out. Then, she shrieked before typing down aggressively.

"No, no, no, no…" she whispered as she typed down.

Alessa and the others would be asking her questions, but they soon heard the howling sound from the TV. It seemed that strange things happened from then. The eldest sister's brows then frowned. "That's a hellhound. Well, it should be fine if they managed to—"

Kaboom! The three sisters almost jumped from their seats. Alessa frowned deeper, her hand clutching on the couch. They continued to listen until they heard that SCC quickly took over. At that point, the four relaxed and leaned on their seats.

"I can't believe something like this is happening in broad daylight…" Winona whimpered, "Sister Alessa, I think we should head to the place to help out."

"No need, they should be able to—"

"Holy shit!" Isla jumped so violently she dropped her laptop. She ripped her headphones off of her head and scrambled out of her seat. "Alessa, I'll contact Father! You go on ahead! Level nine just appeared!"

"Level nine!�� The White Magi got off of their seats, Alessa running off with a speed she rarely used. Gianna was the slowest one to move as she picked up the laptop and placed it on the table first before turning to the building on the TV.

"Was he so much of a threat that a level nine was sent to deal with him?"

She then held her hand out and felt the screen. "What are our chances against a level nine even?"

Kaboom! The top part of the building just exploded with so much smoke again, and Gianna gasped aloud. She then held onto her chest as the broadcast was cut as if some kind of shockwave damaged all electronic devices. "Luca… hang in there…"

…

If Noah didn't manage to dissolve a level seven, he would be dead even before the level nine could send in the second blow. He had no choice but to push Luca out of the way again as Luca wouldn't survive this thing at all. What's more, the level nine was only playing.

"Ah, you're Belphegor's witch, aren't you?" The level nine only sent in its spears, and yet Noah couldn't even block it without getting cut. "How come you're so weak? I was hoping you'd be very strong.

"Hahah, you dared pick a fight with Satan's coven with such a small amount of power? What kind of death wish do you have? Maybe I can fulfill it for you so I can just kill you early…" The level nine laughed out mockingly as it threw the spears and pull them back.

It then eyed the hellhounds trying to break into its barrier. "Ah, the royal highnesses, would you like to die with him? How deep did you sink into just to match him?" Its finger stretched out, and a beam quickly shot at Caliga. The black dog managed to evade, only getting grazed as a result.

The level nine laughed out. "How funny. You might be able to evade, but… can they?"

It shot at the rest of the hellhounds simultaneously, and Noah's heart felt like it was about to break into pieces. If this thing killed seven of his hellhounds, what would he tell Lady Dione?

He didn't choose to stay this time, but he had no choice. He was already lucky that the level nine didn't kill them right off the bat. Else, the people downstairs and the people in their homes watching… they would all see a demonic existence that could wipe out a thousand lives.

However, he would be losing his hellhounds, and Noah was so scared that he wanted to redo this encounter. Maybe he should have sent everyone else with Luca; they shouldn't have followed him inside and when this level nine showed up. It's just that…

Kaboom!

Noah was thrown away by the blast and hit his back against the wall. He coughed out blood and fell to the floor. His face lifted with difficulty, only to find the eight hellhounds blocking him from further attacks. Since their bodies were covering his vision, he resorted to borrowing Caliga's eyes.

What shocked him was that a man in a black coat stood in front of them. He didn't seem to have a presence, and he didn't feel like anything as well. However, Noah was familiar with this kind of demons. This man… he's just like…

The level nine laughed, but it wasn't as confident anymore. "Another hellhound. Are you here to serve your king and protect his children?"

"You should leave. Your lord master has broken the rules of engagement. An example would be made out of you." The man in a black coat had nothing but his back to show Noah.

"And who are you to scare me?"

The level nine released his terrifying presence, and Noah almost choked up and vomit in the kind of jolt he received. Tears came out of his eyes, and his body instantly moved like it was convulsing. Even if he was a calamity-grade, he was nothing to a level nine in its full power.

Noah then closed his eyes and almost prayed.

Drip. The sound of water dripping echoed inside Noah's ears, and it was enough to actually dispel the pressure the level nine was giving him. It was crisp and clear as if taking all of Noah's attention away from the fear and dread that had eaten him.

When he lifted his head, Noah's eyes widened as he saw a blur in the wind next to him. Before he could react, a figure faded into existence and descended to kneel down as he landed. His black hair fluttered softly, and his suit remained without crease even if he stood up after.

A shadow of a smile curled Noah's lips as he used his real eyes to stare at the man who came to his side. Moreover, the newcomer winked at the witch before facing the level nine.

"Oh, my, my… a level nine is causing too much trouble." Mephisto chuckled, walking towards the man in a black coat. "Not only did Beelzebub break rules, but his general is also as willful. If no one abides by the rules, this realm wouldn't be any different from Hell, would it be?"

"Mephisto…" The level nine didn't seem to be fazed. "Are you willing to clash with me out here in the mortal realm? That would be a spectacular sight, wouldn't it be?"

"Clash with you? Ah, no, no, don't misunderstand. I'm not here to clash with a useless being like you." Mephisto chuckled, only to open his eyes differently and letting his level-ten presence flood the floor. As it was like a void with no oxygen, even the level nine was terrified.

"You…" the level nine murmured almost inaudibly.

Even a level nine felt like its entire body was dissociating from its brain from fear. The light from the windows began to disappear, and the coldness of the void began to eat on its nerves. As a level nine, it had experienced a lot of battles, and yet it still felt so little in the face of the negotiator.

Of course, the proxy-handler had already isolated Noah from feeling his terrifying aura.

Mephistopheles smiled like the top-class demon that he was. "I am here to make an example out of you. If your little army wouldn't abide by the rules and continue doing what you like, they will be in trouble. Very… deep… trouble."

His eyes then glinted as if his gaze was a giant maw that was swallowing the level nine wholly. "No one would like to experience what you will, right?"