The Underworld had never felt so heavy.
The chamber where Jay had shattered Rias and Sona's pride still vibrated with the remnants of his presence. Dust swirled lazily in the air, fragments of marble and obsidian walls cracked and broken, while the young Devils of two heiresses sat in stunned silence.
Kiba's hand still trembled on his sword.
Akeno's smile had thinned to a fragile curve.
Koneko sat stiff, her sharp eyes dulled in shock.
Even Sona, calculating and precise, pressed her lips tightly, unable to form a single strategy for what she had just faced.
And then it came.
The chamber grew hotter, heavier. Crimson particles flooded the space like living embers. Destruction—not raw but refined, carrying the absolute authority of a Maou.
Sirzech Lucifer had arrived.
He entered with the calm of a god descending into mortal ground, crimson aura radiating around him like a second sun. At his side, Grayfia stood tall, silver eyes sweeping the room with perfect clarity.
The young Devils bowed instinctively, their instincts screaming respect.
"Serafall." Sirzechs's voice rumbled low, measured but sharp. "Explain."
The Magical Girl Maou twirled her wand, puffing her cheeks in exaggerated innocence. "Ehh~ nothing too scary, Sirzechs-chan☆! Just a teeny-tiny training session~" Her singsong voice rang, but the weight in her tone betrayed unease.
Sirzechs's gaze moved.
It stopped on Jay.
The man in the crimson suit and full mask stood casually amidst ruin, as though untouched by the gravity of the Devil King's arrival. Hands in his pockets, posture relaxed, presence immovable.
Destruction met destruction.
Sirzechs let his aura flare. The walls shuddered, stone cracked, the very air wavered like a broken reflection. Servants choked on their breath. Even Rias staggered, whispering, "O-Onii-sama…"
Jay tilted his head. He did not flare back. He didn't need to. His presence simply was. Heavy, suffocating, endless. A quiet abyss of certainty that swallowed all else.
The Devils felt it instinctively: the Maou could not match this man.
Jay chuckled softly beneath his mask, voice smooth, playfully edged. "So this is the Crimson Satan. Destruction itself, they say." He leaned forward slightly. "Do you plan to measure yourself against me?"
Grayfia tensed, sigils flickering faintly at her fingertips.
Sirzechs, however, still. He exhaled. His crimson aura dimmed, the flames of destruction receding. "No," he said simply. "That would be unwise."
"Good choice." Jay's chuckle came soft, dismissive, like a teacher acknowledging a child's proper choice.
Rias stepped forward desperately, her pride fraying. "Onii-sama, I—"
"ok stop." Jay's voice sliced like a blade. "Take her home. She needs rest for today. Tomorrow she will train with me. No excuses." His masked gaze turned to Sona. "The same for you. Every piece. All of them."
Both heiresses froze, their faces paling as he stated it so casually.
Sirzechs gave only a single nod. "Very well. But we will speak again."
"Yes, there is something I need to talk about… but later." Jay waved a hand lazily. "For now… I'll be elsewhere."
His head tilted toward the pink-haired girl at his side.
Elysia, as always, smiled. Her tone chimed like silver bells, playful even in the midst of ruin. "Ara~? Just the two of us, Jay-kun?"
"Yes."
The word fell heavy, absolute, unhesitant.
Her cheeks warmed faintly. For once, her smile flickered genuine before she covered it with a teasing giggle. "Fufu~ how bold."
Serafall puffed her cheeks, stomping. "Ehh!? You can't just steal her away, mister mysterious mask-kun! Where are you even going to stay, huh!?"
Jay raised his hand. The air warped.
Reality folded. Power bled into the world, carving light from void.
A castle rose.
First a foundation of lotus petals spread wide across the sky, glowing violet and pink. From its center, crystalline wings unfurled, catching the light like stained glass. Towers bloomed upward, spiraling like lilies frozen mid-growth, veins of starlight running along their sides. At the highest crown, a dome of translucent petals rotated slowly, scattering soft radiance across the Underworld.
The floating palace drifted into being—an eternal blossom suspended above the skies.
Ahem... Damn, I'm a genius. I really hope she likes it. I mean, it's okay to show off a little sometimes, right? Plus, they need to see this so they don't dare mess with me, but... mostly, I just hope she likes this castle I built. Jay thought
Gasps broke through.
Rias staggered. "H-How…"
Kiba whispered hoarsely, "Creation Magic…"
Koneko's lips parted wordlessly.
Sona's sharp mind froze. "This…"
Grayfia's cold gaze flickered—an emotion rare, almost admiration.
Serafall squealed, twirling in place. "Kyaaa~! It's a Magical Girl castle in the sky☆ So cuuute!"
Sirzechs stared silently. For all his destruction, he knew this was not a fortress of power. This was beauty made manifest. A declaration.
Her lips parted. For once, she forgot to tease. "Ah… it's beautiful~"
Jay chuckled. "I thought you might like it."
The silence of awe lingered. Jay took Elysia's hand gently. "We'll take our leave."
Light consumed them both.
(Author note: Skip this part, if you dont want see cringey thing. even i the one who wrote it feels cringe well but i like it, but it cringe)
The Floating Castle.
Inside…
The grand hall opened like the heart of a flower. Floors of polished crystal reflected patterns of sakura blossoms. Overhead, an immense dome of frozen petals rotated gently, scattering starlike radiance.
Deeper within lay a secret garden. Eternal blossoms bloomed in impossible colors—roses, lilies, orchids, all crystalline and glowing. A fountain carved as a rose overflowed with crystalline water, each drop starlight itself.
Pillars shaped as harps caught passing winds, weaving melodies so delicate the air seemed alive. At the core, a throne of petals unfurled in violet glow, awaiting grace rather than conquest.
And in its garden bloomed roses of ice crystal—delicate, fragile, luminous. Echoes of Elysia's own artistry.
The moment her feet touched its crystalline floor, Elysia twirled. Laughter chimed from her lips, light and pure. "Ara~! Jay-kun, it's like walking into a dream~"
She drifted from hall to hall, fingertips grazing crystal walls, eyes wide like a child's. She lingered in the secret garden, staring at the ice roses. Her smile softened—genuine, faintly wistful.
Jay watched in silence. For once, she wasn't hiding. And yet even now, he could see it—the shadow dimming her glow.
They walked the balcony together. The Underworld stretched below, violet plains bathed in starlight.
Jay broke the silence. "Something's wrong?"
Elysia blinked, tilting her head, lips curling. "Hm~? Whatever do you mean, Jay-kun?"
"I don't know exactly, but," he said simply, "I feel that you're sad."
She giggled softly, playful. "You say that as though you know me so well. We've only just met, haven't we?~"
"Maybe." His voice softened. "But even so… Well, if you don't want to talk, that's fine. I understand. Not everything can be shared with someone you just met."
He paused, turning serious. "But, if it ever becomes too much, if you're about to break—tell me. I don't want to see you fall."
Her lips curved, but her eyes trembled. The mask cracked.
"…I fought her," she whispered.
He waited.
"The Herrscher of the Void. My kin. My own race." Her voice wavered. "I ended her. She called me a traitor with her last breath. I smiled… but inside, it hurt."
The silence was deep.
Then Jay chuckled, low and almost gentle. "So what?"
Her eyes widened.
"If you're a traitor," he said, voice smooth yet heavy, "then you're my favorite kind of traitor."
For once, her laughter broke genuine, wet with unshed tears.
Jay leaned closer, tilting her chin up lightly so she faced him. His voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't see a traitor. I see Elysia. That's enough."
Her cheeks bloomed pink, heart thumping wildly. She turned away quickly, hiding behind a giggle. "Fufu~ you're dangerous, Jay-kun… saying things like that…"
But her chest ached with something new, something unnamed.
Jay led her to a chamber. Crystal roses bloomed along the walls, their glow bathing the room in soft warmth. The bed shimmered with woven petals of light.
"Rest," Jay said firmly. "I'll be right outside. If anything happens, I'll know."
Elysia tilted her head, lips curling mischievously. "You'll stay? Just to watch me sleep~?"
"Yes."
Elysia slipped beneath the crystalline sheets, the glow of crystal roses painting her in soft light. She curled slightly on her side, staring at the shimmer on the ceiling.
His words… "I don't see a traitor. I see Elysia."
No one had ever said her name like that. So plainly. So certain.
Her chest fluttered strangely, wings beating against her ribs. She pressed a hand there, confused at the racing tempo of her heart. I've smiled for so many, for so long… but this smile he asks for—it feels different. It's mine. It's… fragile.
Heat lingered on her cheeks. She touched her lips lightly, as though trying to catch the echo of his voice. Even through that mask… why does his voice stay with me? Why does it feel so heavy… and yet so gentle?
Her gaze flicked toward the door, where she knew he sat. The image of that faceless mask filled her mind. I can't even see his eyes. Not a single expression. And still… I feel safe. Why?
A faint tremor escaped her chest. She closed her eyes, whispering to herself. "I've never… felt this before. What is this feeling…?"
For the first time since she had slain the Herrscher of the Void, the shadows did not follow her into her dreams.
Just outside, Jay sat in silence on the crystalline chair by her door. His crimson suit glowed faintly in the starlight, mask hiding every trace of his face. His arms folded, posture steady, gaze fixed on the still corridor.
She's too kind. Too kind for her own good. To mourn even an enemy... That's Elysia.
He leaned back, letting out a slow breath that fogged faintly against the mask. And what can I do about it? Nothing. This isn't something I can take away. It's not a wound to heal, not a curse to lift. It's just her nature.
His lips tugged faintly, hidden by steel. And yet… I still wish she didn't have to bear it alone.
The sigh that left him was quiet, resigned. All I can do is sit here. Wait. Stay close enough so that when the weight grows too much, she knows there's someone to share it with.
For a man who was used to bending the world to his will, that powerlessness should have stung. Instead, it only made his chest tighten.
Behind the mask, Jay closed his eyes. She's too kind… but maybe that's exactly why I can't look away.
TBC