[249] The Rizevim Capture Case

Chapter 249: The Rizevim Capture Case

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The sky above the Underworld was calm and surprisingly peaceful as I flew alongside Serafall through the clouds. 

Her wings flapped in rhythmic beats, and she was practically glowing with newfound cheerfulness. Naturally, she liked the performance I gave her earlier. However, her energy was a stark contrast to the bleak atmosphere surrounding the Old Satan Faction's territory that we were flying over right now.

We were heading to Rizevim Lucifer's stronghold.

We could have opened a portal directly there, but my Leviathan insisted on taking the long way. She was in high spirits, and she wanted to spend a few more minutes with me. And honestly, I didn't mind.

"Thanks for going along with this," Serafall said, flashing me a smile. "Sometimes, just feeling the wind is calming, no?"

"Don't worry about it," I replied, keeping pace with her. "After everything, a little quiet time in the clouds doesn't sound so bad. I swear I won't waste time like this starting next time." She chuckled softly, making me shake my head. 

For a moment, we just flew in silence, cutting through the sky like twin comets. 

"Do you think they've got him already?" she broke the silence again, looking ahead. "With three Satans, I'd expect Rizevim to be tied up with a bow by now."

"Maybe," I replied, though I wasn't entirely convinced. Rizevim had some weird hax, but while that wasn't enough against Super Satans, he might have Lilith by his side. I couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of my mind. "But yes, three Satans are a lot to handle. Especially with Sirzechs and Ajuka around. Even Falbium should be considered a Super Satan now, right? Or did he not awaken any Icon?"

"You're right about that, he did." Serafall agreed. "After the Icons, they're much stronger now."

But Rizevim's no pushover, either. I let the thought linger in my head. The thought made her frown, and I could see her features contort in worry seeing my frown.

"What's wrong, Aqua?" she asked.

"It's nothing. Even if the fight hasn't ended yet, you and I can end it," I glanced over, noting her face change. She nodded, a determined look crossing over her face. 

I myself could handle a lot. This world had indeed upgraded itself, but that didn't put me on a low ladder, I was still one of the most powerful beings here.

As we approached the territory, the air grew heavy, losing that calming quality it had just minutes before. Tension buzzed through the atmosphere like static electricity, whispering like a thousand silent screams. 

"Something feels wrong…?"

The Old Satan Faction's territory sprawled beneath us. It was an endless expanse of desolation that radiated chaos and destruction.

It didn't take long before we reached our destination. Rizevim's mansion. That was where we saw it. The mansion that once stood as Rizevim's lair was nothing but ruins, its grand facade torn to shreds, walls crumbled, and smoke rising from the rubble. A serious battle had taken place. And from the looks of it…

As we neared the site, the sickening stench of burnt flesh reached us as we slowed in the skies, and my gaze drifted downward, finding the charred remains of Falbium Asmodeus.

His legs were all that remained, smoldering as if incinerated by dragonfire.

Serafall froze, staring down with an agape mouth and stunned eyes. Damn it, I cursed inwardly, the sight further confirming my suspicion. This wasn't just a skirmish.

I glanced at Serafall, who had already shifted her focus, her eyes locking on Ajuka and Grayfia. Ajuka was standing over her, his body shielded in some sort of barrier, protecting her from the fallout of Sirzechs' rampage. Sirzechs Lucifer had gone mad. Grayfia was on the ground, cradling the bleeding stump where her arm used to be.

"Oh please," I cursed out loud this time, and Serafall immediately darted off toward Ajuka and Grayfia.

I focused on Sirzechs. Satan Lucifer was entirely consumed by his true form. He was in his swirling mass of crimson energy form, pure Destruction given life. 

The uber-powerful [Destruction Icon] hovered above him, its crimson light pulsing like a heartbeat, drowning the area in a sea of red. He rampaged through the area like a living nightmare, leaving devastation in his wake.

There was no sign of Rizevim. No sign of Lilith, either.

And, more importantly still, no sign of Gasper.

The implications were obvious. The Satans' mission had gone wrong. But that was a thought for later. I stared ahead. Sirzechs' power was out of control, threatening to consume everything in its path. I knew I had to stop him before he tore apart what little remained of this battleground.

"Everyone, try to give us some space!" I shouted, rising a bit higher in the air. Then I spread my arms and called on the [Crown Icon]. 

I let its golden glow envelop me as my armor materialized, the pieces radiating a fierce, celestial light. A masterpiece armor of gleaming gold and intricate details, adorned with regal, eagle-like designs, and a majestic crown hovering just above my head. Spikes and talons extended from my gauntlets, radiating with power, while an elaborate chest plate with engravings of dragons and lions reflected the indomitable human spirit. A long red cape flowed from my shoulders, and in my hand, a sword of molten dark fire blazed with an unquenchable flame, casting a searing glow across the battlefield. The Death Sword of Xolotl.

I, as the Emperor of Mankind, strode forward, my presence slicing through the haze of destruction. The red ghost that was Sirzechs Lucifer turned away from the random targets around him and looked at me. He stayed silent for a moment and then began to approach me. I could feel the crushing weight of Sirzechs' power bearing down on me, but I didn't waver.

"Sirzechs!" I called out, letting my voice carry through the chaos. He looked at me, but there was no light of recognition in his red eyes. 

He was beyond reason, lost in his own power.

Then be it. I raised my sword, and as the golden light of the [Sword Icon] joined the fray, I knew there would be no holding back. The Destruction Icon was too dangerous to be taken lightly.

Serafall was by Grayfia's side, reassuring the poor wife amidst the carnage caused by her husband. I hoped she'd continue reassuring the maid because the battlefield was going to be further ravaged. Hopefully, this battle would end before it consumed us all.

"Kworgh!" Sirzechs leaped at me. I raised my sword. I surged forward, meeting Sirzechs' wrath with the full force of my power. 

The dimension exploded with energy and authority. The collision was cataclysmic, shaking the earth beneath us and sending shockwaves through the already ruined landscape. This wasn't just a simple fight. I had to end this fast, otherwise the Underworld might be destroyed.

And I'd be damned if I let it fall.

As the dust settled, I took in the aftermath of our clash. My armor—the embodiment of my Emperor self—stood battered. Part of it had been torn away, vaporized under the sheer force of the Power of Destruction's onslaught. But the golden aura around me pulsed, knitting the fractures with threads of radiant light, patching up the missing pieces as if it refused to accept defeat. 

"You're strong," I said as I rolled my shoulders, feeling the familiar weight return, the armor mending itself as I prepared for what came next.

Sirzechs did not humor me with a conversation. He didn't have any semblance of an intelligent creature. He rushed at me relentlessly, a storm of fury and power without direction. He swung with all the force of a madman, each blow carrying enough strength to crack mountains. 

There was no finesse here, no strategy. Just raw, unchecked aggression. His energy roared, crashing into me like a tidal wave that never seemed to end. I met his attacks head-on, exchanging blows with my fists, with my sword, with everything I had. And despite not wanting to hold back, I didn't exactly want to kill him. He was an ally, and the brother of… Rias.

Our clashes sent tremors through the ground, reality itself warping and cracking like fragile glass under the strain.

"If you can hear me, I hope you return to your senses!" I shouted, wanting to try my luck at least once before pushing further. But he didn't reply. He just roared and attacked me further. For a moment, we were locked in a stalemate. 

I wasn't pressing forward with everything I had. I could end him if I really tried. But killing him wasn't the goal here, and neither of us was tapping into our full arsenal. Sirzechs was too far gone to control himself, to remember the Icons that could give him an edge. He hadn't summoned the Demon Icon or any other powers. 

He was lost in his sole Destruction Icon, and I was glad that was the case. That'd make things easier.

Enough playing around. I reached deep inside, calling on the [Time Icon]. It surged to life, flooding me with energy so intense it exploded outward like a Tsunami. Sera in the distance was flung backward with Grayfia on her arms. It seemed as if they'd been struck by a sledgehammer. 

I had to use [Eternal Magic: Reflection of the Moonlight] but without the Eternal Magic part. I had to use the raw Icon to use that ability. My vision blurred for a moment as I tried to do so, tapping into space and time without any medium. 

My body screamed in protest as it strained against the raw force. But I steadied myself. I didn't have the luxury of spells. Just raw, undiluted power.

I closed my eyes and reopened them. And then, reality fractured. My body split, replicating until there were four of me, each an exact duplicate, moving in perfect sync. It took a toll—my willpower felt like it was being shredded. 

Yet the Time Icon held steady, and the four of us pushed through the pain, teleporting around Sirzechs in a dizzying dance. He tried to follow, but his rage made him sloppy, slow. He was a beast, swinging at shadows.

"I apologize," The four of me said at the same time and struck as one, our swords descending with the force of a god's wrath. Light exploded, a brilliant flash that painted the sky white. The shockwave tore through everything, the world itself seeming to hold its breath. The impact was intense, like a controlled nuke.

When the blinding light faded, I stood over Sirzechs' crumpled form, his demonic red aura dissipating, replaced by the familiar human features beneath. He lay on the ground, unconscious, his breathing ragged and shallow.

"My lord!" Grayfia teleported to his side in an instant, collapsing beside him. Her hands hovered over his face, and her voice came out in choked whispers, words I couldn't hear. Her tears glistened as they fell onto his cheeks, and she held him like he was the last piece of her world.

I stepped back, giving them room, as I let my Icons rest. I looked around as my armor vanished. The battlefield was a wasteland, the mansion a smoldering ruin. Scorched earth stretched as far as the eye could see, and the air was thick with the scent of ash. The plan failed. I scanned the wreckage and found Ajuka leaning against a broken wall, his face a mixture of shock and exhaustion. He looked between Sirzechs and me, his expression almost incredulous.

"What the hell happened here?" I walked over and demanded. There was more to this mess than a simple clash, and he seemed to be the only one of sane mind to answer.

Ajuka took a shaky breath, struggling to regain his composure. "Ophis," he said, his eyes dark. "Rizevim had an Ophis clone with him. With her help, he took Gasper. We thought we could keep him safe… but we underestimated their power."

I clenched my fists as my suspicions were confirmed. This wasn't just about Sirzechs losing control. Rizevim's little scheme had gone far beyond that. He'd taken Gasper, the single thing we were supposed to protect. Our plan to use Gasper as bait for Rizevim had backfired. Spectacularly.

I surveyed the destruction, the ruins that had once been the heart of this place. He had sacrificed his castle and much of his ruling land for it, too, but Rizevim had outplayed us. He'd stirred the pot, then vanished, leaving us to pick up the pieces.

Everything had gone to hell.

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