Lucifer was barely clinging to life.
Hearing his words, Izumi couldn't help but laugh.
Of course it would be interesting—just imagining it was enough to make him grin.
A holy maiden of the Church, taken away and then returned—
Not only wielding overwhelming power,
but having become a Godslayer,
and with Lucifer's Authority no less.
If that happened, the three great races of the Biblical system wouldn't lose their minds, then nothing would.
In Izumi's own world, Lucifer's legend wasn't much different from other versions.
He betrayed God, fell from Heaven, became a fallen angel, and ultimately a Demon King.
Which meant—
Lucifer was tied to all three factions.
Even the current Underworld still bore his name.
Wasn't Rias' brother, Sirzechs Lucifer, proof of that?
When Kanon—now carrying Lucifer's Authority—returned to their world…
Izumi was already looking forward to the chaos.
Without hesitation, he brought the dying Lucifer before Kanase Kanon.
Kanon froze when she saw the fallen angel, his body covered in wounds, barely breathing.
Erica was equally shaken.
Who… is this man?
He reduced a Heretic God to this state…
Izumi set Lucifer down in front of Kanon, then produced the Spear of Longinus and held it out to her.
"Kanon."
"You do it."
"He is a fallen angel cast out of Heaven."
"Dying by the hand of a Church saint—that is his fate."
Izumi delivered the words with utter seriousness—
Complete nonsense, spoken flawlessly.
Kanon hesitated.
Her gentle nature made her waver.
"But—"
Before she could finish, Izumi interrupted.
"No 'but'."
"This is the path you must walk."
"And killing him doesn't mean erasing him completely."
"It only returns him to myth."
That only made her struggle more.
At that moment, Lucifer laughed.
"HAHAHA—
a saint of the Church!"
"Do it.
To die by your hand is my destiny!"
A strange glint flickered in his eyes.
This saint was far too pure.
So pure that even Lucifer was curious—
what kind of expression would she wear once she became a Godslayer?
Unfortunately…
He would never see it.
Kanon was at a loss.
Something felt wrong—
but she couldn't put it into words.
Izumi gently rubbed her head.
"To become strong is never easy."
"If you can't even take the first step, then all you'll ever be is a flower protected inside Heaven's greenhouse."
"Is that the life you want, Kanon?"
Hearing this, Kanon finally made her decision.
She tightened her grip on the godslaying spear and looked at Lucifer.
Then she bowed deeply.
"Please forgive me, Lord Lucifer."
Izumi was right.
If she wished to become strong, she had to cross this threshold.
Even if she hadn't defeated him herself—
She would be the one to end him.
If she lacked even this courage, how could she ever move forward?
With that resolve—
Kanon thrust the spear forward.
—SCHLK.
It pierced through Lucifer's chest as easily as tofu.
Lucifer laughed as he looked down at the wound.
His gaze toward Kanon was strangely gentle—and unsettling.
"Holy maiden…
accept my power."
The moment he spoke—
Kanon frowned, and before she could respond, her vision blurred.
Her body went limp.
Izumi reacted instantly, catching her in his arms.
"Don't blame me later."
"This is the fastest way for you to grow stronger, Kanon-chan."
The wicked smile on Izumi's face was impossible to hide.
Kanon felt herself drifting into a strange space.
A small girl with purple hair, no taller than a child, was staring at her with curious eyes.
When Kanon opened her eyes and saw the girl, she was utterly confused.
"…Where am I?"
"Mmm, my child—
you're finally awake."
"You know, that method you used was technically cheating."
"But since Lord Lucifer acknowledged it…"
"I suppose I have no choice but to accept you as my daughter."
"And honestly—
you're much cuter than the other children."
The girl was Pandora.
The administrator of the ritual that gives birth to Godslayers.
Anyone who slays a Heretic God is brought before her,
where she performs the reincarnation rite—
Granting the victor the Authority of the defeated god,
along with a body capable of opposing divinity.
That is how a Campione is born.
Strictly speaking, Kanon had only slain Lucifer with Izumi's help.
By the rules, it should have been invalid.
But Lucifer himself had acknowledged the result.
Pandora had no choice.
Especially when the one who helped Kanon was standing outside, watching with frightening intent.
Pandora had felt it—
Even from the Netherworld,
Izumi's terrifying presence was unmistakable.
If she refused, he would absolutely tear open the realm and come knocking.
Pandora never doubted that.
So, though inwardly resigned, she accepted Kanon as her daughter.
And besides—
Kanon was adorable.
Her presence, her aura, her purity—
All of it pleased Pandora greatly.
She gently patted Kanon's head and giggled.
"Don't forget me, Kanon-chan."
"Now then—
have a nice, quiet sleep."
Before Kanon could ask anything, her eyelids grew heavy.
And she drifted into deep slumber.
Pandora immediately activated the reincarnation ritual.
In the next instant—
Lucifer's Authorities poured into Kanon one after another.
Pandora's eyes widened.
"Lord Lucifer… are you serious?"
"You're giving her everything?"
Lucifer chuckled.
"That doesn't matter."
"Aren't you curious?"
"She's a Church saint."
"What do you think will happen when she returns wielding my power?"
"According to that man…"
"That should be very entertaining."
"So give her all of it."
"And besides—
she's someone acknowledged by Gabriel."
"Even if it's not the same Gabriel."
Pandora fell silent.
After a moment, she sighed.
"You people…
are truly cruel."
"You're planning to turn her against the angels themselves, aren't you?"
She didn't even know what to say anymore.