Good night

It happened before the meeting of the three factions and right after his meeting with Riser that night. 

At that time, Vali's mind was like being hammered by a heavy, blunt weapon. His breathing was heavy, and his world was spinning, but as the holder of the White Dragon Emperor, he was never alone. 

"Vali, you shouldn't follow him." 

"What do you know?! My mother and step-siblings are on his hands!" 

If Vali didn't follow Riser's words, he knew his family would die! 

Could he forgive himself when that happened?

"I am saying that you should rely on your friends." 

"F-Friends...?" 

"Yeah, you have many reliable friends, right? Ask them to protect your family in case something happens. Moreover, you should know that your opponent is someone from the Phenex Family; his power is only related to fire, wind, and immorality. In other words, that coward doesn't have the means to attack from a distance.

"While I am not sure how he found your family, you can ask your friends to protect your family. If that coward dared to attack your family, you can ask them to protect your family." 

Albion didn't want his holder, Vali, to like him as the dog of the others. 

As the dragon, one should lift their head proudly. 

To be honest, Vali had never told anyone about the existence of his family. The only one who knew about his family was Azazel, who had helped him, so his followers (friends) didn't know anything, yet he knew he didn't have a choice except to rely on them at this moment. 

While Vali was still restless and worried when he thought how he would be living like a dog, licking Riser's shoes, he also felt unwilling, so he decided to bet, asking the person he trusted the most. He took his phone and called that person. 

"Reni, can you help me?" 

---

As Vali looked at the back of Sirzerch, he hoped nothing had happened, and he just waited anxiously. Albion might have told him that Riser's power was only related to fire, wind, and immorality, but the feeling when he was being stared at from a distance that day was impossible to erase. 

While Vali wasn't sure, he felt a certain thing had latched onto his body, monitoring him. 

'If that's the case, then he will stop you from contacting Lavinia Reni.' 

Albion couldn't help but remind Vali. 

If Riser really had the ability to watch over them, then he would do something when Vali contacted Lavinia Reni. 

Suddenly—

'You're not doing anything?' 

'—?!' 2x

Albion and Vali were startled when they heard this familiar voice, and they were about to search for him, but his voice was heard once again. 

'Don't bother. I'm not there. No matter how you search for me, it's impossible.' 

'...you can see me?' 

'Do you think you can escape from me? The moment you have decided to become my enemy, do you think you can live happily? No way. As you have decided to kill me, I will make your life so painful that you wish to die.' 

"..." 

Whether Albion or Vali could feel the chill is due to Riser's words. 

Nevertheless, unlike Vali, who was silent and trembling, Albion wasn't discouraged and provoked Riser. 

'Do it if you can! Do you think you can threaten Vali and his family again?' 

'Oh, you mean you feel everything will be okay by asking for the help of your magician's friend?' 

'Ho-How did you know...?' 

Does that mean that Riser knew everything?

'You think she can protect your family? How about I kill your step-brother now to test whether your magician's friend can protect your family since you don't believe that I don't have the ability to do so?' 

'NOOOOOOOOOO!' 

Vali screamed in his mind, and his breathing became haggard. His eyes were reddened and furious like an angry beast. 

'Then don't try to test my patience.' 

Vali grounded his teeth and asked sadly, 'Why-why did you treat me like this?' 

Why did he have to receive this treatment?

Why had his family been threatened like this?

What did he do?

'You are a demon!' Albion was also angry when Riser threatened Vali and his family. 

The two of them felt angry at Riser and thought of him as a coward who could only use such an evil method. 

'Why are you acting like a victim now? Did you forget who threatened to kill me before? Did you think that you can act as you wish just because you are the White Dragon Emperor and the descendant of Lucifer? How funny. 

'In my eyes, you're a clown who just jumps around.' 

"....." 

Vali clenched his fists in frustration, yet he couldn't refute Riser's words since he knew Riser was correct. In front of Riser, he was just a clown. 

'Still, as I've said before, I will make your life worse than death. Listen to this. Oh, don't let everyone know that you talk to me and just act naturally, or else—' 

'Wa-Wait...!' 

Vali suddenly felt his heart throbbing, frightened, but he was unable to stop it as he saw a picture of his step-sibling screaming in pain as if being burnt onto his mind. 

'NO! NO! NO! PLEASE! STOP!' 

Even if Vali screamed in his mind, he didn't dare to say a single word and just bit his lips until they bled and lowered his head, afraid for someone to see his tears. 

'You don't need to worry. It's just an illusion, but whether it will become a reality or not depends on how obedient you are.' 

Was that an illusion?

Was that reality?

Vali couldn't even tell, but for one thing, he didn't want to see such a thing anymore. 

'Don't ever think you can escape. In this life, you will become my tool. You can't fight me and can only listen to my every word. 

'But if you want to fight, you can try to hide yourselves or your family. No matter how far deep you hide, I will wind you, and I will destroy all your precious things. 

'So if you don't want all of that to happen to you, do it. 

'Kill Sirzech since you don't have any choices except to become my tool, Vali-kun.' 

'AAAAAHHHHHHH!' 

At that moment, something snapped in Vali's mind.

'Juggernaut Drive!' 

Suddenly, an enormous aura spread in every direction that startled everyone. After all, this wasn't the time for Vali to move. 

Even Azazel, who was in charge of fighting Katerea, was also startled, wondering what Vali was doing. 

Not only was he the descendant of Lucifer, but Vali was also the holder of Divine Dividing. Moreover, he was extremely talented, so after his fight with Riser, he could control the "Juggernaut Drive," the strongest state of his Divine Dividing's state, which made him able to release the power of the White Dragon Emperor that was sealed on his Sacred Gear. 

Everyone was confused since no one except Vali went all out. 

Yet, the one that shocked the most by Vali's outburst was Sirzech!

'Huh!' 

Vali, who was standing behind Sirzech, thrust his hand into Sirzech's heart!

Sirzech wanted to react, but it was too late!

Yet, as the Maou Lucifer, and the irrational existence in this world, Sirzech was only able to react in a miracle way, only—

'Stop your movement and let yourselves be killed.' 

Those words made Sirzech stop in a place and let his heart be pierced by Vali. 

"Cough!" 

Sirzech coughed a mouthful of blood as he looked at his heart and was pierced by Vali. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't as blood kept gurgling out from his mouth. 

Vali also didn't have mercy due to his mind, which was in disarray, but he could feel the weak heartbeat of Sirzech's heart in his hand. 

"..." 

At this moment, everyone stopped thinking, and they were unable to believe what they had seen. 

Nevertheless, even if his heart was pierced and taken out by Vali, Sirzech didn't give up since he didn't want to die. Moreover, even if he was about to die, he needed to inform everyone about the real enemy that was hidden in the dark! 

Yet, when he was about to talk—

'Close your eyes, stop struggling, be silent without talking until you die.' 

Sirzech was unable to fight those orders and did what was said, yet inside his mind, he was screaming in rage. 

'RISEEERRRRR! IT'S YOU, RIGHT?! YOU COWARD! HOW DARE YOU?! HOW DARE YOU?!' 

As Sirzech's body weakened and he was unable to fight back against those orders, his mind could work as he was in a rage, knowing he was about to die. 

'I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU! YOU COWARD!' 

Yet, the quieter it was, the more scared he was as he kept screaming his name. 

Then, a sound of giggle was heard. 

This voice... Sirzech was extremely familiar with this, and he recalled the words that Riser said before Riser returned to the Underworld. Yet, at the same time, it also sent him into dread as he knew he could no longer be saved, especially when Vali started to behead his head. 

'Goodbye.' 

'RISEEEERRRRR!' 

After Sirzech released an incompetent roar, he felt dreaded and despaired as he entered an eternal darkness.

---

[Congratulations, you have received "The Ruler"]

"Onii-sama, what's wrong? You seem to be in a good mood." 

Ravel asked curiously as she noticed Riser was smiling. 

Riser, who was in his villa, gazed over the beauty of nature as he sipped the wine slowly and thought that the taste of the wine was more delicious than ever. 

"Yes, the wine just tastes delicious." 

As he sipped his wine again, he knew he could have a good sleep tonight. 

---

"It's a bit plain, but that's it."