With the leaders of the three factions assembled, the conference formally began. Ren Kuroda and Yasaka, invited as observers and guarantors, were seated at a neutral position between the three sides.
The so-called "Kuoh Accord" was, in essence, an official ratification of the ceasefire agreement the three factions had already upheld. The difference now was that it would be formally signed and recognized.
More importantly, all three factions agreed on a critical clause: if any party violated the accord, the other two factions—along with the "Strongest Yokai"—would unite to suppress the offender.
Everything proceeded smoothly at first. Once the agreement was finalized, the Kyoto yokai—serving as witnesses and enforcers—would see their standing in the world rise significantly, while also receiving considerable benefits from the three factions.
And yet, as if cursed by some unwritten law of fate, any major gathering involving key players was destined to go sideways.
Just as the agreement was about to be signed, the perfectly replicated Rating Game field—modeled one-to-one after Kuoh Academy—was suddenly attacked.
The passage connecting to the human world was sealed shut. At the same time, large numbers of mid- and low-class devils, along with fallen magicians, began appearing across the campus.
And among them were not only lesser forces—leading the assault were several individuals radiating the immense power of ultimate-class devils.
This meeting had been arranged with extreme caution. The location, layered with concealment and defensive barriers, should have been impossible to infiltrate without detection.
Which meant only one thing.
Someone among them had betrayed the group.
A figure stepped forward calmly—Vali.
Without hesitation, he spread the luminous wings on his back. A blinding white light erupted as he instantly entered Balance Breaker.
"So it was you, Vali," Azazel said, his tone carrying mild disappointment rather than shock. "I always knew you were close to Kokabiel… but I didn't expect something on this scale behind you."
"I am Katerea Leviathan—descendant of the true Leviathan."
"I am Creuserey Asmodeus—descendant of the true Asmodeus."
"I am Shalba Beelzebub—heir to the true Beelzebub, the rightful successor to the title of Demon King."
The leaders of the invading force—two men and one woman—introduced themselves boldly. All of them were descendants of the original Demon Kings.
Their purpose was simple.
Their ancestors had perished at the hands of angels and fallen angels during the Great War. Now that the Underworld sought peace with those same enemies, they refused to accept it.
Of course, revenge wasn't the only motivation.
Some among them believed themselves to be the rightful heirs to the title of Demon King. In their eyes, the current rulers—like Sirzechs—were nothing more than impostors.
They had banded together under an organization known as the Khaos Brigade, drawing power from the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis.
This group gathered outlaws from across the world—humans, devils, angels, and creatures of all kinds. Their leader was Ophis, though their true objective remained unclear.
Assassinating a Demon King in the Underworld—or eliminating Michael in Heaven—would be nearly impossible under normal circumstances.
But here? With all three faction leaders gathered in one place, and their defenses spread thin?
There would never be a better opportunity.
If Azazel and Michael died here, the balance of the three factions would collapse, plunging the world into chaos.
That was precisely what Khaos Brigade wanted.
"Vali… reclaiming your rightful position as Demon King—is that your goal?" Azazel asked. "I always thought you had no interest in titles."
Vali Lucifer—descendant of the original Lucifer, a legitimate heir to the Demon King's name.
And yet, at this moment, his gaze wasn't on Sirzechs.
It was locked firmly onto someone else.
Ren Kuroda.
"You're not wrong," Vali replied calmly. "I have no interest in titles or authority. Those who cling to the glory of their ancestors without strength of their own… are no better than losers."
His blunt words instantly infuriated the other three Demon King descendants.
After all, the reason they hadn't claimed the throne was painfully simple—their strength wasn't enough.
But Vali paid them no mind.
With a burst of energy from his wings, he launched forward—his body cutting through the air like a missile, appearing before Ren in an instant.
At the same time, the other three heirs each moved to engage one of the faction leaders—Michael, Azazel, and Sirzechs—forming a series of one-on-one battles.
The battlefield itself had already been seized by Khaos Brigade. Numerous magicians had erected specialized barriers, severely suppressing the magical power of those within.
For powerhouses like Ren and Sirzechs, the effect was negligible.
But for others—like Rias and Sona—the suppression was devastating. They could barely even move, let alone fight.
Vali's elbow strike collided head-on with Ren's.
The impact detonated like a bomb.
Shockwaves tore through the air, splintering the wooden floor into fragments and blasting tables and chairs across the room.
"The fight we left unfinished… let's continue it now."
As Vali spoke, his wings flared even brighter, unleashing a surge of propulsion that overwhelmed Ren's guard. The pressure forced Ren backward, sending him crashing through multiple walls in rapid succession.
"Brother!"
Yasaka reacted instantly, moving to assist—
But before she could reach him—
BOOM!
The collapsed debris exploded outward.
Chunks of stone and shattered walls were hurled in every direction as if struck by an invisible force.
Vali, who had been pressing the attack, was suddenly blasted away—his body sent flying over a hundred meters like a projectile.
From the settling dust, a figure emerged.
Crimson hair.
A pair of oni horns rising from his head.
A mouth lined with sharp fangs—
And yet, paradoxically, his presence had become even more striking, more refined… almost eerily beautiful.
Ren Kuroda—fully in his yokai form.
His aura surged outward, heavy and overwhelming, distorting the very air around him.
"Yasaka," he said calmly, without even turning his head. "Take Nekomata and the samurai spirit. Deal with the magicians maintaining the barrier."
His gaze remained locked on Vali.
"The White Dragon Emperor… I'll handle him myself."
For the first time, Yasaka witnessed Ren's true yokai form.
And in that instant, her entire body trembled.
It wasn't fear.
It was instinct.
A primal recognition of overwhelming superiority—the absolute pressure of a higher existence.
Even as the supreme commander of Kyoto's yokai, her body responded before her mind could.
She obeyed.
...
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