Chapter 27: Second Appearance

What is she doing?

Before I could even voice my doubt, Kaguya gestured for me to follow her.

Skeptical, I walked through the gate, with Ophis floating beside me. She seemed blissfully unaware of whatever was happening.

To be honest, she seemed to lack any kind of emotional intelligence. Perhaps—even if I were to molest her—she’d just look at me with confusion. After all, who’d dare touch the Dragon God of Infinity?

Hmm, thoughts for later.

The scene inside the gate was just as I expected.

The fractured sky, the emotionless Kaguya, and the beautiful River of Time.

It almost felt like ages had passed since I left, but in hindsight, at most two weeks had gone by.

Two weeks...

Who could've imagined how much I was able to accomplish in such a small time frame?

I’ve killed off all the strong Fallen Angels, including Azazel. Nuked Japan. Manipulated the Gremory Family into accepting me as a family member. Became the famous Undying Immortal Devil of the Underworld—and Rias’ fiancé. Played Tiamat with the stupid story of Order and Chaos. And changed Issei’s fate forever.

Hooo...

I took a deep, refreshing breath and exhaled lightly.

“Trouble?” the Emotionless Kaguya questioned as Kaguya nodded and began explaining the circumstances.

Looking at them, I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes.

The Emotionless Kaguya.

The Expressive Kaguya.

Could this Emotionless Kaguya be an actual half of her—and not just a clone or avatar?

That would explain why the Kaguya that’s usually with me was so expressive and even slightly disoriented. I had noticed a slight change in her behaviour after entering DxD, but it wasn't drastic enough to question.

My thoughts passed quickly as Kaguya waved her hand toward Ophis and the golden threads began to unravel.

Ophis’ calm expression began to falter as her gaze hardened—though it quickly turned to shock. She must’ve realised we weren’t in DxD anymore.

“Do you like it?” I murmured. “The silence you crave—I can give it to you.”

Ophis did not question me or my motives. She simply stared at me and tilted her head.

“What do you want?” she asked, her innocent, child-like face erupting into confusion. She seemed unable to comprehend how I could traverse outside the void despite my meagre strength.

She was naïve, innocent even—but she wasn’t a fool.

“What can you give me?” I countered, my lack of plot knowledge becoming my downfall. I could only hope Ophis wouldn't shortchange me.

“You're weak. I’ll increase your strength to the level of a God,” Ophis spoke slowly. She extended a finger, and a black serpent-like figure shot out from her fingertip and merged into me.

My blood began boiling as the ink-like serpent began travelling around my body.

[Demonic Energy – 49,152 → 120,666]

I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief—the whole gamble of trying to bring Ophis to my side was now worth it.

“I want to feel it again.” Ophis seemed to sense my satisfaction and tugged at my sleeve. I looked at her in confusion, and Ophis seemed to hesitate.

“I want to feel true peace like before,” she whispered, and I grasped what she meant. She wanted to be enveloped in a barrier formed from Chaos Energy again.

I shook my head. “The price is too exorbitant.” Now that I had exploited her value, I could care less about her feelings. It’s not that I was heartless, but the price really was too steep. Maybe if I could use her to wreak havoc without a care—sure... but she was practically useless in DxD. The Heavenly Spirit would make sure she couldn't feel a second of peace. At that point, I’d be grateful if she didn’t turn against me.

Maybe in the future, but not now—for sure.

“Is it not possible?” Ophis looked disappointed, her cute face turning downcast. She could sense that I held control of this space. I could evict her whenever I wanted—and if she fell out with me, naturally I’d never risk returning to her world.

And obviously, if I left, Great Red would continue to disturb her—and she would also lose the chance of feeling ‘true peace’ like before.

No one could understand the feeling of true isolation more than her.

It wasn’t that Ophis was kind—rather, that using force would be futile. As a Being born with divinity, morality and ethics that humans boasted about were the least of her concerns.

Of course, I never acted without confidence.

Even if I didn’t know much about the plot, I at least knew Ophis rarely ever killed anyone, finding it beneath her. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare let myself get kidnapped.

And my gamble proved right.

“You can stay here. The next time I come here, I’ll let you enjoy true peace.” Sweet words took nothing to say.

I turned to Kaguya. “Let’s go.”

Kaguya nodded and the portal opened once again.

…

Ophis looked at Tatsuya’s disappearing figure with regret.

She shook her head and looked around, observing this void-like space. She stared at the fractured sky, her face turning thoughtful. Then she looked toward the horizon of the endless white.

“It’s nice.” She smiled lightly and took small steps toward the Emotionless Kaguya. The closer she got, the more peaceful she felt. She couldn’t see her facial features, but the River of Time churning in between her fingers caught her attention.

Ophis struggled to contain her inner turmoil. She was a dragon born since time itself—what she had seen and experienced was beyond mortals.

Like Great Red and Tiamat, Ophis too knew of the existence of Hīm. But even Hē could not control the River of Time.

“Heaven...?” she whispered, before bending down and settling into Kaguya’s lap. She curled into a small ball and nestled as deep as she could.

The Emotionless Kaguya faintly glanced at Ophis, who was snuggling in her lap.

She slowly raised a hand—graceful, pale, perfect.

Her fingers touched Ophis’ forehead.

Terror. Pure, suffocating terror.

A feeling of unending dread crept through every fiber of her being. Her small figure began trembling and sweat poured down her forehead. The forever apathetic Ophis felt weak and helpless—like a small ant being held by a giant.

The primal fear that welled up inside her caused her eyes to tear.

She could not hear.

She could not speak.

She could not see.

She could not feel.

Death.

The concept, foreign to Ophis, resurfaced—and an inexplicable calm washed over her. The Dragon of Infinity being granted infinite peace... It was a story worth hearing.

And then…

The touch softened.

The hand moved with maternal grace, stroking her hair.

“It’s okay, child,” Kaguya said softly. “Rest while we wait for their return.”

Silence enveloped the fractured Heavenly Realm.

Ophis fell into a deep sleep—and the Emotionless Kaguya continued to hold a portion of the vast River of Time between her fingertips.

…

Meanwhile, Tatsuya—unaware of the exchange between the Emotionless Kaguya and Ophis—appeared in the room where he had been held captive by the Khaos Brigade.

Without any expression on his face, he created a blood clone and let it sit in the corner of the room. He looked at the clone silently for a while, and…

A sigh escaped his lips.

After making sure the clone was flawless, Tatsuya turned around and took flight. While soaring between the clouds, his appearance began to change.

His ink-like black hair grew longer and thicker. His clothes transformed into a black robe with white sashes. A faint Japanese character was stitched near his collar, just above his chest.

Finally, specks of bone-like material appeared from the void and began coalescing on his face—forming a horrifying demonic mask.

He teleported to the Underworld.

Instantly, Tatsuya stopped suppressing himself. The space around him began to distort as his untamed Super Devil aura flared outward.

Thanks to his Hollowfication, his Demonic Energy had reached half a million. The sheer pressure emanating from him sent alarm bells ringing throughout the Underworld.

All Supernatural Factions were alerted.

But Tatsuya paid no heed to the commotion he was causing.

He was never one to hesitate in the first place. With his current strength, he truly only feared Great Red and Ophis. As for Sirzechs? At best, he was a concern.

But that was all.

Supernatural beings were but a fraction of all living things—and Super Devils along with Gods were a fraction of them.

The air around him whipped into terrifying storms. For the common folk, the most terrifying thing was a powerhouse who didn’t give a damn about consequences.

And even worse, it was Tatsuya.

The sheer speed at which he was travelling caused hundreds of thousands to burst into a bloody mist—majority being Devils and Fallen Angels.

With a face carved in frost, Tatsuya followed the red thread that was bound to Rizevim. The wrath in his heart needed to be quelled.

When endurance was needed, he could wait.

But when revenge was possible…

Hmph.

The air thinned as he accelerated.

Boom!

A thunderclap erupted as he broke the sound barrier, flattening the outer districts of the nearest city. Buildings crumpled like paper, roofs peeling away as the shockwave rolled outward. Streets split open, cobblestones exploding upward in jagged fragments that impaled fleeing devils. The very atmosphere screamed in protest, forming a visible cone of condensed vapor around his body as he accelerated.

He didn’t slow down. Arcs of bluish-silver lightning danced around his body. His pupils melted into a silvery glow.

Everything in his path simply ceased to exist as his demonic energy rolled outward in a crushing wave.

Usually most supernatural beings tend to condense their energy and prevent it from leaking to maintain their reserves. Only someone like Tatsuya could afford to simply blast all his strength outward without a concern.

Wherever he passed, a blinding flash of endless white followed—accompanied by the rumbling of thunder. The clouds collapsed under the force of his aura.

His eyes locked onto the flickering red thread.

Rizevim was moving.

Has he sensed my arrival?

Tatsuya didn’t mind.

Today, Rizevim would die.

He would die a death so gruesome, he’d wish he was never born. Even if he escaped to the ends of the world, it wouldn’t change his fate.

The moment he laid hands on Tatsuya, his end was decided.

...

Gremory Territory

Rizevim ate a bloodberry tart with relish.

The entire Underworld was in a tense atmosphere.

The Undying Immortal Devil was kidnapped! News spread like wildfire. No one knew how such information had leaked, but it quickly became common knowledge.

The fiancé of Rias Gremory—kidnapped in broad daylight!

Naturally, the greatest shock was among the Noble Devils, especially the Gremory Family.

Rizevim laughed inwardly, relishing the chaos.

He walked along the road with a merry hum, unaware of his impending doom.

...

“Rias...” Akeno muttered as she looked at the dazed girl. A pang of heartache struck her as she clenched her fists.

Grayfia had taken Tatsuya shopping for their wedding—but something as ridiculous as kidnapping had occurred.

“Onii-chan will find him, right?” Rias spoke faintly. She sounded weak. Devastated—but not broken. After all, he'd been kidnapped. Which meant his life likely wasn’t in immediate danger.

Secondly, her brother was the current Lucifer.

Sirzechs Lucifer—the strongest Satan.

“He definitely will!” Akeno spoke confidently, but the tension in the room was palpable. Ichika was unconscious. Koneko had her head lowered in a downcast expression. Kiba looked grave.

Though, there was one oddity in the room.

Akeno nervously glanced toward a particular figure.

It was a woman with icy-blue hair. Her beauty was ethereal—more captivating than even the Angels themselves. She sat cross-legged, her expression calm.

Akeno showed hesitation, but Rias had no such restraint.

“Tiamat…” Rias’s voice cracked. “Say something.”

Tiamat opened her eyes slowly.

Blank. Detached.

“Not even a sliver of concern,” Rias growled, fists trembling. “So that was all an act? All that clinging to him—fake?”

Tiamat tilted her head, observing Rias like one would observe a barking dog.

She shook her head once. No explanation. No justification.

“Shameless!” Rias spat, finally snapping as her voice began rising. “You’re Tiamat! The Chaos Karma Dragon! You could help—no, you should help! You have the power, yet you sit here doing nothing! Are you not ashamed!?”

This, apparently, piqued Tiamat’s interest. She looked at Rias with a flicker of amusement.

“If I could’ve tracked him, I wouldn’t be sitting here,” Tiamat sneered.

If Grayfia were here, she would’ve done her best to prevent Rias from engaging in a verbal spat with Tiamat... but alas.

“Instead of venting your frustrations on me, why not work on yourself? Have you not inherited the noble blood of the Bael Family? The same Power of Destruction as your brother, whose infamy is known throughout the world?” Tiamat’s voice was cold. “Perhaps if you’d taken your training seriously instead of playing human in the human world, you wouldn’t have to beg another woman to save your man.”

Rias’ face slowly changed with each word she spoke. By the end, her nails were digging into her palms.

Everyone in the room was stunned. Tiamat’s words were venomous.

Rias wanted to rage. To blow Tiamat to pieces—but...

She couldn’t bring herself to move.

Not even considering whether she could harm Tiamat—the real sting was that there was no falsehood in her words.

I really am worthless... Tatsuya... please be okay...

Rias fell back into a daze.

But suddenly, Tiamat stood up.

Rias was startled. For a second, she thought Tiamat would attack her—but instead, the dragoness shot toward the window and looked skyward with a grave expression.

Everyone followed her gaze, turning toward the massive window of the mansion.

Thunderclouds rumbled across the sky.

“How is this possible?” Rias was the first to express disbelief.

The Underworld’s weather was synthetic—controlled.

It should never produce thunderclouds.

BOOOOM!

Just as she thought that, the ground beneath her shook.

A large dome appeared in the sky. Immediately after, a massive explosion rocked the horizon. Defensive spells activated too late. The outer walls folded inward. The energy shields rippled and cracked.

Another barrier triggered mid-air—but shattered instantly.

A blinding curtain of white and blue enveloped the hazy red sky of the Underworld. Rias’ pupils dilated, and it took her several seconds to focus.

When her vision returned, the silhouette in the sky made her tremble.

She could just barely make out the figure—still forming, just outside the barrier.

Even before he was fully visible, two piercing golden eyes like the sun shimmered within the cloudy mist.

“It’s him…?” Kiba’s murmur echoed in the room—and a chill ran down the spines of the Occult Research Club members.

Those menacing eyes...

How could they not recognize them?

“Soul Reaper...” Rias whispered in disbelief.

Hadn’t her brother said the Soul Reaper should be hiding like a rat—afraid to show himself?

Her mind raced, but before she could speak, Akeno’s voice came from behind.

“Is he connected to the kidnapping?” Akeno asked, trying to rationalize. It was hard not to draw a connection.

“Is he here to negotiate for something?” Rias’ eyes glimmered with hope. Was Tatsuya kidnapped as a bargaining chip against the Devils? Then... if things go well... wouldn’t Tatsuya return?

Just as she thought this, the mist cleared and faint cracks appeared on the dome. She could see the Soul Reaper floating high above the sky, hands linked behind his back, his long black hair and robe fluttering gently.

The Gremory Territory was protected as heavily as the Capital City—if not more so, especially after the Grigori incident. Everyone knew the Soul Reaper could silently gather energy. She wasn’t surprised he hadn’t yet broken through the barrier.

But her deduction would soon prove futile.

The Soul Reaper from back then was vastly different from the Soul Reaper now.

The biggest difference?

Strength.

“Wait… what’s he doing!?” Akeno screamed, snapping Rias out of her daze. Rias narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

Faint, glowing blood-red spheres were materializing behind the Soul Reaper. They swirled inwardly, floating erratically in the air behind his back.

One… two… three… four… five… six… seven...

The spheres continued to multiply without pause.

Ten... twenty... fifty...

One hundred… two hundred… three hundred...

Rias and her friends stared in horror at the sky—now filled with ominous spheres. Even Tiamat’s eyes shone with visible fear. She quickly clasped her hands, summoning a protective formation around them. A translucent barrier enveloped the room.

But it wouldn’t stop the inevitable.

“Why hide?” A husky inhuman voice drifted across the city.

Tatsuya looked on indifferently as four figures, attempting to ambush him, slowly materialized inside the barrier—just above the city.

The Four Satans of the Underworld.

All of them stood together, frost in their eyes as they stared at the menacing figure in the sky. Outwardly composed, inwardly shaken.

Especially Serafall and Falbium.

A deep sense of dread etched across their faces. They realized something chilling—Sirzechs and Ajuka, the strongest among them, were also visibly tense.

The sky was blanketed in blood-red spheres, their centers pitch black. Like ink splattered onto white parchment.

“Stop!” Sirzechs called through gritted teeth. “We can negotiate.”

Tatsuya looked at them. “There’s a rat I need to catch. Disarm the barrier.”

“Crazy bastard!” Serafall snapped, frost forming around her clenched fists.

“Unacceptable,” Sirzechs immediately countered.

Perhaps they could block the attack using the barrier. But letting the Soul Reaper enter freely would be suicide. If he unleashed an attack like that within the barrier, it would be no different than an undefended nuclear strike.

“You’re unwilling to compromise?” Tatsuya’s voice turned glacial.

He didn’t want to waste time dealing with these Satans. Every second wasted gave Rizevim more room to escape.

Time wasn’t on his side.

After all, Great Red might arrive soon.

But that was just wishful thinking.

Every single cero behind him had the same power and intensity as the one he had unleashed on Japan. The only difference was that these ceros weren’t made from Reiki, but from Demonic Energy.

Each one of them was catastrophic.

Sirzechs and Ajuka knew this too. Maybe they could survive—but the city behind them? Everyone would die. Even Serafall and Falbium might not make it.

Tatsuya understood this.

That was why he’d hesitated to wipe the Gremory Territory off the map.

“A pity.”

Despite knowing his fiancée was down there.
Despite knowing Tiamat, his ally, was down there.
Despite knowing Makima, his summon, was down there...

Despite everything...

He raised his hand—

“STOP! DON’T! WE CAN STILL TAL—”

—and pulled his fingers together in a downward motion, expressionless.