Jeanne Alter strode leisurely toward the window, gazing down at the Kuoh Academy grounds, now transformed into a battlefield.
"Are those… the Khaos Brigade?"
"Khaos Brigade?"
Rias, Sona, and their peerages all frowned, clearly unfamiliar with the name.
"Oh? You've heard of them already?"
Azazel glanced at Jeanne Alter in surprise, then nodded solemnly. "Yes, that's the Khaos Brigade. A terrorist group obsessed with plunging the world into chaos. They despise peace and live purely for destruction and disorder. Unfortunately, the world never lacks such troublemakers. Initially, I suspected Kokabiel had joined them as well."
"But this time, it's different."
Azazel's expression turned grim. "The leader of the Khaos Brigade is a dragon even more fearsome than the Red and White Dragons—the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis."
As soon as Azazel spoke, Sirzechs, Rias, Akeno, and the others all shot Jeanne Alter strange, knowing glances.
"What are you all looking at me for? Is there something written on my face? Look at your enemies! If you've got time to stare at me, go eliminate some enemies outside! Your three factions' guards aren't holding up well—they're almost overwhelmed already!"
Jeanne Alter shouted irritably, deliberately ignoring their suspicious gazes.
Thankfully, neither Azazel nor Michael noticed the strange atmosphere.
"No way…"
Azazel hurried anxiously to the window. "Tch… This must have happened because they got hit too hard while frozen in time… Damn it, looks like I need to step in."
At that moment, a strange voice echoed throughout the room.
"Even if you step in now, it changes nothing, Azazel. Today, all of you will perish here."
Shing—
With that voice, a magic circle suddenly appeared on the conference room floor.
The leaders of the three factions recognized the symbols immediately, each reacting differently. Azazel smiled wryly, while Sirzechs and Serafall wore pained expressions.
"I see… So, you're the mastermind behind this attack, Katerea Leviathan," Sirzechs addressed the woman in a heavy voice.
A woman dressed elegantly emerged from the magic circle, her fearless gaze sweeping across the three faction leaders.
"Not just me."
As her words faded, two more powerful presences appeared outside.
One was a chestnut-haired man wearing a fur-lined coat.
The other was a black-haired man dressed like a samurai.
With the appearance of these two figures, the balance of power shifted dramatically. The guards of the three factions were slaughtered rapidly, unable to withstand even a single attack.
"Creuserey Asmodeus, Shalba Beelzebub."
Sirzechs grimly named the newly arrived enemies.
As mentioned before, the original Four Great Satans died long ago, alongside God in the Great War. Since devils required Satans to lead them, the strongest and most respected devils had been selected as successors.
But the original Satans had descendants who refused to recognize the new leaders. These rebels, known as the Old Satan Faction, were driven to a corner of the Underworld.
And now, Katerea and the others' appearance could mean only one thing…
"Almost the entire Old Satan Faction has sided with the Khaos Brigade," Katerea declared mockingly.
"The feud between the old and new Satans must be tough on you devils, huh?" Azazel shot Sirzechs and Serafall a teasing look, clearly amused by their predicament.
"Sirzechs, I never approved of you, and your actions confirm my judgment," Katerea snarled bitterly. "Look at what you're doing—sitting at a negotiation table with angels and fallen angels, planning to sign a peace treaty? They're our enemies! Do you intend to bow down before them now?"
"I'm only doing what's best for the devils' future," Sirzechs replied resolutely, his brow furrowing. "We cannot afford another war!"
"You're wrong! Only now do we have a chance to win!" Katerea scoffed contemptuously. "The Old Satan Faction has obtained Ophis's support. You can't imagine how powerful that force is. We've surpassed Azazel and Michael! Now, only we are worthy of the title Satan! You're nothing but impostors!"
At the mention of Ophis again, Sirzechs's eyes filled with deep confusion.
"It's still hard to believe that being would involve herself in something like this… Are your actions, including this attack, also guided by Ophis?"
"Ridiculous! She's merely a symbolic figure to rally our forces. We'll use her power to destroy the world first, then rebuild it anew—a world under our control!" Katerea sneered arrogantly.
Michael and Azazel's expressions darkened considerably. The stronger one was, the more clearly they understood the terrifying strength of Ophis.
The mere thought of becoming Ophis's enemy created immense pressure.
"Katerea, please, stop this madness!" Serafall pleaded earnestly, biting her lip anxiously. "There's still time! If only you—"
"Enough, Serafall!"
Katerea cut Serafall off, eyes blazing with hatred. "Today, I'll kill you here, reclaim the title of Leviathan, and then establish Ophis as the god of the new world. She'll serve only as a figurehead; we'll build the systems, laws, and ideologies ourselves. Michael, Azazel, and Sirzechs Lucifer—your era ends now!"
Katerea's words cast a shadow over Michael and Sirzechs's faces.
At that moment, Jeanne Alter, who'd been leaning idly by the window, spoke up casually.
"Hey, Sirzechs, are you done chatting yet?"
Katerea stiffened, her face contorting with rage at Jeanne's dismissive tone.
"You mere human… who gave you permission to speak here?"
"You don't plan on waiting anymore, huh?" Sirzechs looked up at Jeanne Alter knowingly.
"Tch! Now that you mention it, I'm even angrier," Jeanne Alter complained irritably. Her golden eyes flickered with annoyance. "I waited this long expecting some big-shot to show up… but what's this? A bunch of clueless fools used as cannon fodder who don't even understand their own leader's intentions. If I'd known they were all this weak, I wouldn't have bothered coming."
"Did all the suspicious presences recently entering Kuoh gather here tonight?" Sirzechs asked.
"Mostly. But some others are probably watching from afar. If I were in charge, I definitely wouldn't leave the operation entirely to these brainless idiots."
Katerea, completely ignored by their casual exchange, felt deeply insulted.
"How dare you ignore me!"
Katerea furiously launched a powerful magic projectile at Jeanne Alter.
"Light spears for fallen angels, magic blasts for devils—seriously, do none of you have any creativity? You're mythical figures—have some style at least," Jeanne Alter mocked with disdainful boredom. Raising her right hand lazily, she flicked her middle finger casually at the incoming blast as if flicking an eraser across a desk.
BOOM!
Instantly, Katerea's magic was flung back at blistering speed, smashing through the ceiling and violently shaking the barrier around the building.
Katerea froze, completely stunned.
"H-How…?!"
"'How is this possible?' 'This doesn't make sense!' 'Why…?' Do you villains just share the same recycled NPC dialogue?"
Katerea's eyes widened in horror as she desperately formed another magic blast. But Jeanne Alter moved far quicker—a pale, slender hand swiftly clamped onto Katerea's face, lifting her effortlessly off the ground.
An irresistible, crushing force enveloped Katerea's skull, as though she were caught in the grip of a colossal dragon rather than a mere human. Audible cracks of bone echoed sickeningly.
"Maybe I'd spar a few rounds with you normally, just for fun," Jeanne Alter remarked coldly. "But tonight, my patience is worn thin."
Flames erupted violently from Jeanne Alter's hand, engulfing Katerea entirely.
"Aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!"
Katerea's piercing scream—harsh and ear-splitting—caused even Rias and the others to flinch slightly, despite knowing Katerea was their enemy.
Azazel showed no sympathy; he simply laughed aloud.
"Hahaha! Looks like Witch-san's really pissed off. She doesn't hold back."
Michael smiled mildly, "Since Jeanne-san has taken action, it'd be embarrassing if we remained idle."
Exchanging brief nods, Michael and Azazel spread their wings, swiftly leaving the building to engage the two remaining Old Satan descendants outside—Creuserey and Shalba.
With Katerea defeated by Jeanne, Sirzechs now had no opponent, but he seemed content with that. Rias's group also joined the fight once the building's barrier lifted, rushing outside eagerly. Even Vali soared into action, his Balance Breaker armor shining brilliantly as he blasted multiple enemies at lightning speed.
Discarding the charred Katerea casually, Jeanne Alter turned to Asia.
"Asia, you still have that dagger I gave you?"
"Yes, I've been holding it carefully," Asia nodded, holding out the golden dagger.
"Keep it with you. With that, you'll be perfectly safe here. There's nobody on this battlefield strong enough to threaten someone carrying that weapon."
After all, the [Down Fall Dragon Spear] sealed the Dragon King Fafnir, equivalent in strength to a Satan. Though Katerea boasted her group had surpassed Michael and Sirzechs, Jeanne Alter felt their true power was nowhere near Satan-class.
The battlefield soon confirmed her thoughts. Creuserey and Shalba were struggling against Azazel and Michael, clearly outmatched.
Assured of Asia's safety, Jeanne yawned in boredom, uninterested in joining a fight so dull.
"Honestly, staying up late is unhealthy. It's fine for me, but Koneko and Asia are still kids—they need early nights to grow up properly."
"Haha, Jeanne-san really is a caring person, isn't she? You'd be great at raising children," Sirzechs joked good-naturedly.
Jeanne Alter made no comment—how could she admit to having extensive experience taking care of numerous troublesome kids already?
Suddenly, Sirzechs's expression turned serious.
"That aura is…"
Both Shalba and Creuserey had simultaneously swallowed something—a small, black snake-like creature—from tiny bottles. Their auras instantly exploded, rapidly approaching Satan-class power.
And at that exact moment, a blazing white meteor shot across the sky, aiming straight for Azazel's head—but Jeanne Alter caught it effortlessly.
Vali's eyes widened behind his helmet as Jeanne Alter smiled coldly.
"You finally decided to move, huh, Vali… or should I say, Vali Lucifer?"