WebNovels

Chapter 17 - Chapter 16

Underworld – City of Lilith – Headquarters.

"BOOOOMMMMMM…

"BOOOOMMM…

Multiple explosions went off, yet two devil women didn't blink nor look away from each other. They were none other than Azula and Zola Sitri, the current matriarch of the Sitri clan.

Zola seriously examined Azula's outfit. Even without armor, the young woman seemed confident, and according to Lord Phoenix's praises, she was a genius… she would need to be careful.

Azula raised her hand, and an orange flame shone before turning into a strange blue in Zola's eyes, who immediately took a defensive stance.

Azula extended her palm forward, and a great torrent of fire shot out.

Zola's eyes widened in surprise as the blaze grew at an alarming rate.

She raised her hand, a magic circle shining with the Sitri clan's emblem, and a wall of water formed.

"BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM…

A powerful tremor echoed when fire clashed with water.

Zola quickly spun, lifting her free hand to block a sudden attack that destabilized her and forced her backward.

"You're good… heheh…"

Azula mocked her and began exchanging high-speed blows. Zola barely kept up, gritting her teeth beneath her helmet.

"Well… you're not that good. Maybe… you're afraid…"

Azula sneered, sweeping her legs under Zola and knocking her down. Zola quickly rolled out of range, just as Azula stomped the ground, blue flames flashing.

Zola rose to her feet only to receive a kick straight to the stomach, spitting saliva as she was sent skidding.

Azula smirked and straightened.

Azula: "Surrender…" she said calmly, approaching—before dodging a water spear and leaping aside from several more that Zola sent at her.

Azula: "Desperate attacks. Clearly, you had to leave your territory to help and secure some kind of victory… don't you feel the despair of waiting?" she taunted, disappearing and reappearing before Zola. Zola ducked, evading Azula's kick, and quickly threw a punch.

Azula spun nimbly around Zola's strike, igniting her fists with blue fire and attacking again with force. Zola had once more fallen into her range.

"Doesn't it worry you?"

Azula asked as their fists clashed—hers blazing, Zola's cloaked in water—while explosions echoed in the distance.

Zola clicked her tongue but didn't answer.

"You're in the rebel faction, risking victory or defeat. What will become of Serafall? Your daughter, who supports you in everything, now fighting for her life?"

Azula kept speaking without slowing down.

Zola clenched her teeth, but couldn't stop herself from glancing in the direction of her daughter's battlefield, where the most powerful explosions came from.

Azula grinned at the distraction and struck a powerful blow to Lady Sitri's chest, shaking her ribcage and sending her rolling backward.

Zola pushed herself up, breathing heavily, her gaze fixed on Azula. She had seen the young woman only a few times, never expecting her to be this relentless and exasperating. Her mouth did nothing but spew vile, malicious remarks. She hadn't realized Azula was manipulating her fear. She didn't even know how Azula figured it out, but one thing was certain—she needed calm and serenity against this enemy, or she would surely die.

Azula clicked her tongue at Zola's resolved gaze behind the helmet. It didn't matter.

Zola analyzed the young woman Marianne despised. If she survived, Azula would become a true threat, but Marianne didn't listen or see. It wasn't surprising—the Phoenix had once defeated both her and Venelana together, though they hadn't yet awakened their star powers. Still… the Phoenix line always excelled at something, inheriting the Lucifer curse of being the greatest nuisances.

Azula: "I'm interested in testing myself against a Lady… seems you've recovered. Come… show me." She shifted into her fighting stance, motioning mockingly with her hand.

Zola clenched her fists, teeth grinding. Damn girl.

"EXCALIBURRRRRR—"

"BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM…"

Center of Lilith.

A massive battle raged, favoring the rebels supported by none other than Sirzechs Gremory and Ajuka Astaroth. But both froze as they watched a mushroom cloud rise not far away… what worried them more was the overwhelming holy power they felt. If angels intervened… this would be bad. Very bad.

Sirzechs: "Ajuka, you'll go support Serafall, that's her position, and—" He stopped as a sudden chill gripped them both.

"Hmhmhm… to think our deaths would spark rebellion…"

A soft, exotic, unmistakably feminine voice echoed, drawing everyone's gaze. Their stomachs dropped, nausea and dread taking over, the instinct to kneel and surrender overwhelming them. They couldn't win. They simply couldn't. For their eyes weren't lying—they were looking at the Maou Leviathan, the original.

Leviathan smiled softly, her beautiful green eyes flashing.

Sirzechs and Ajuka immediately braced themselves, demonic power rising alarmingly, the ground caving beneath the pressure.

Leviathan: "Surrender. It's impossible for you to defeat me unless you are Elohim." Her tone was calm, but Sirzechs and Ajuka didn't retreat. The demons accompanying them, however, weren't so brave. Rebelling against the Maou's children was one thing—but against the original Maous, the gods of the Underworld? That was something else entirely.

Ajuka clenched his teeth, fear flickering. He was a Super Devil, someone who had transcended demons into a higher status. But against an original… he wasn't so confident.

Sirzechs, unlike Ajuka, saw only an obstacle to his ambition. Maou or not, she stood in the way of his new world.

Sirzechs charged first, Ajuka following, knowing he had no choice—retreat meant death. They had to win.

A green aura surrounded Leviathan as she effortlessly stopped Sirzechs' fist.

A blast of wind shook the battlefield.

Sirzechs' eyes widened in shock—that was destruction in its purest, most powerful state.

"Formula—"

Ajuka didn't finish his spell as Sirzechs was thrown into him, both skidding backward.

Leviathan walked calmly forward.

Leviathan: "I've fought since before your ancestors were even born. Facing me? A crazy dream. Let me remind you of your level: 'Super Devil'… hmhmhm…" She laughed, then lunged.

"Come onnnn… we cannnnn…"

The Gremory and Astaroth forces shouted with some courage, charging the original Maou.

Ajuka: "Noooo… retreat and—"

"BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM…"

Leviathan tore through the first line, slaughtering demons with her bare hands.

Head severed.

Body split in half.

Neck snapped at an unnatural angle.

Soul ripped from body and cleaved in two.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH…"

"M-m-monsterrrr…"

A Bael demon screamed in horror as his closest friend had his soul ripped out, visible to all, its scream echoing before it was cut in half.

The demon blinked—and Leviathan stood before him. Then everything went dark.

Leviathan smiled, hands dripping with blood.

Leviathan: "How ungrateful… showing courage against your goddess, but not against the pigeons. Hahahahaha… you will suffer." She charged again, demons falling like insects.

Two brutal torrents of power erupted, one red, one green, rising to the sky.

Sirzechs and Ajuka were entering their true forms.

Some demons looked on with a glimmer of hope, but Leviathan hadn't stopped. A hand pierced through one's back, heart displayed before darkness claimed him.

Sirzechs, not yet transformed, leapt at Leviathan—his forces were being annihilated, he couldn't allow it.

"BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM…"

Leviathan stopped his attack with a feral grin, kicking him through several houses.

"BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM…"

Ajuka aimed from the sky—only to feel her presence behind him. He turned, receiving a brutal kick to the face.

"BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM…"

"Let's goooo… hahahahaha…"

Not far away.

Watching from a distance, Rizevim stood with Euclid, who held two severed heads—those of influential elders who had tried to remain neutral, waiting for the outcome. Fools.

Euclid: "Shalba and Creuserey have fled the Underworld… Katerea remains low-profile in her castle…"

Rizevim: "All cowards. Talk a lot, do little." He dismissed his so-called Maou "companions."

Rizevim smiled. He understood—the Maou were Maou for being the strongest. Originals for a reason. Facing them? Even he would think twice. And Leviathan was considered the weakest of the Underworld only because Elohim had exiled her from the human world—she and her "companion" had nearly defeated Elohim there. That spoke of her true monstrosity.

Super Devils were evolution for some—but for the originals, it was just a title.

Rizevim looked at his hand, dark energy pulsing. He was the third Super Devil. He hadn't expected a limit, but when he heard the whispers about Sirzechs and the other, he broke it.

Rizevim: "Let's go." He told his servant, and both vanished—though he was quite curious where Naruto was. He was missing the fun.

Human World – Phoenix Island – Phoenix Castle – Hallways.

Walking through them, unaware of the chaos in the Underworld, were Naruto and his mother, who hadn't left his side for a single second.

The duo headed for the hall.

Naruto: "She didn't let me make progress with that wild beauty…" he thought with a drop of sweat. Minutes earlier, his mother had been distracted, giving him the chance to talk to a savage woman who knew what she wanted. But before he could advance, his mother noticed and dismissed everyone—including the indomitable brunette.

Gaia smiled happily, arm linked with her beloved son, as they entered the hall where Lilith stood, gazing at a glowing sphere.

Lilith blinked at their arrival, smiling and winking suggestively at Naruto.

Naruto: "What are you doing?" he asked curiously, approaching her.

Lilith: "Exploring the human world. I need some distraction. Olga is trying to contact you, but there's interference…" she explained softly.

Naruto hummed and nodded. Interference had been constant since the war ended.

He sat down in a chair, Gaia settling into his lap, shifting her generous backside comfortably.

Naruto wrapped his arms around his mother's waist, sighing as he too observed Lilith's sphere. She smiled, and the three of them watched the tiny motes of dust that were humans.

Gaia: "They're advancing fast…" she couldn't help but comment, seeing the buildings in some places.

Lilith and Naruto nodded in agreement.

Naruto: "Try the Underworld, show Gaia how it looks…" he asked Lilith, who hummed in thought.

Underworld – City of Lilith.

Ruined buildings crumbled as explosions raged.

Serafall knelt on one knee, blood running from her head and broken lip.

She breathed heavily but didn't take her eyes off the front, where a sword was embedded in an ice pillar—a newly awakened ability.

Serafall's eyes narrowed at the blonde approaching calmly, her arm hanging broken until she grabbed it and snapped it back into place.

"Not bad, demon. I might've died if not for a contract and this…"

Artoria revealed a familiar vial, making Serafall clench her fists and rise with difficulty, determination flashing in her eyes.

The ground beneath Serafall began to freeze as Artoria lifted her sword effortlessly.

Artoria: "Let's go for round two…" she said with a smile as Excalibur gleamed with golden aura.

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TO BE CONTINUED.

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