Rias stayed silent, the weight of Sona's words settling into her heart alongside the Emperor's cold decree.
She adjusted her uniform, wiping the last trace of moisture from her eyes, and began to walk toward the exit where Algernon had just left. Her steps were heavy, but they were moving forward.
She reached for the handle, but halted as Sona called out.
"One more thing."
Rias paused, her hand hovering over the brass latch. She didn't look back, waiting.
Sona adjusted her glasses, her voice dropping to a whisper that carried the weight of absolute certainty.
"The moment the Red and White Dragon Emperors shattered the barrier maintained by us... and before Duke Falbium arrived... there was a gap."
Sona looked at her own hands, recalling the sheer apocalyptic pressure that had erased the school grounds.
"The shockwave from two Super Devils clashing should have vaporized us instantly. But we weren't even hurt in that gap."
Sona looked up at Rias's back.
"It wasn't because we were lucky."
Algernon had claimed he used them as bait, that he watched them struggle. But in the split second where death was certain—before his official reinforcements arrived—he had silently intervened. He had been keeping an eye on them without saying a word.
He was a tyrant who played with their lives, yes. But he was also a guardian who refused to let anyone under him die.
Rias lowered her head slightly. A complicated mix of frustration and warmth swirled in her chest. He really was an arrogant, impossible man.
She gripped the door handle, her resolve hardening. If he was going to protect them with such arrogant silence, then she would become strong enough to force him to acknowledge her loud and clear.
Rias's voice rang out, steady and commanding, returning to the tone of a king.
"Koneko. We need to get Gasper out."
Koneko, who had been mourning her snacks on the sofa, jumped up, her expression sharpening. "Understood, Buchou."
Rias pushed the door open, leading her peerage out into the hallway to retrieve her forbidden Bishop and prepare for the Academy.
A slight smile appeared on Sona's face as she watched Rias's peerage leave.
"She understood," Sona murmured. "Good."
The door clicked shut, leaving the Student Council alone in the room. Sona's smile faded, replaced by a look of intense concentration. She let out a long sigh, her expression half-amused, half-stressed as she held her head.
She looked at the chessboard where she had been checkmated, remembering the conditions of their game. Then her gaze shifted to Saji, who was still trembling at the back of the room.
"If Rias is going to unseal a forbidden Time manipulator and train in the Underworld..." Sona whispered to herself, her mind already racing through strategic calculations.
"I need to keep up with her."
She stood up, walking to the window and pulling out her communication circle. She hesitated for a moment, but then Algernon's words echoed in her mind: While you play student council here, your peers are influencing the world.
If she wanted to remain relevant in this new era, if she wanted to avoid being left behind by the tidal wave of change sweeping through the Underworld, she needed more pieces. Stronger pieces.
"And for that... I need to contact Onee-sama."
She activated the communication circle, inputting the signature for Serafall Leviathan. The magical construct flared to life, shimmering with power as it connected across the dimensional barriers between the human world and the Underworld.
For a moment, there was nothing but static. Then, the holographic projection of Serafall materialized above the circle.
But this wasn't the bubbly, cheerful Magical Girl Levi-tan that the public adored. This was Serafall in her Duke regalia—a woman whose power had earned her a place among the four strongest beings in the Underworld. Her expression was serious, focused, and there was something in her eyes that Sona had rarely seen: concern.
"So-tan," Serafall greeted, her voice lacking its usual playful lilt. "Your timing is... interesting."
Sona frowned slightly. "Onee-sama? Is something wrong?"
Serafall was silent for a moment, seeming to debate something internally. Then she sighed, and the holographic projection shifted to show not just her face, but her surroundings.
Sona's breath caught.
Her sister was standing in what appeared to be a massive military command center. Behind her, dozens of officers moved with urgent efficiency, coordinating troop movements on holographic displays. The sheer scale of the operation visible in the background was staggering.
"Onee-sama... what is that?"
"That," Serafall replied, her voice heavy with the weight of historical inevitability, "is the final preparation for the invasion of the Grigori headquarters. The Emperor has given the order. In approximately one hour, the entire Azeroth Empire marches to war."
The words hit Sona like a physical blow. She had known, intellectually, that the declaration of war was serious. But seeing the actual mobilization, witnessing the machinery of total war grinding into motion—it made the abstract concept terrifyingly real.
"One hour?" Sona repeated, her analytical mind immediately grasping the implications. "But that means... there was never going to be negotiation. The declaration of war wasn't a political statement—it was a countdown."
"Exactly," Serafall confirmed. "The Emperor played the Grigori perfectly. While Azazel scrambled to draft apology letters and prepare diplomatic responses, we were positioning our forces. By the time they realize this isn't a negotiation, it will be far too late."
Sona moved closer to the projection, her expression intense. "Casualties? Expected duration? Strategic objectives?"
Serafall's expression softened slightly—despite everything, her little sister's tactical mind was still sharp as ever. "Expected casualties on our side: minimal, thanks to overwhelming force superiority. Expected duration: the Emperor has demanded total victory within six hours. Strategic objective: complete conquest of the Grigori headquarters and capture of their leadership."
"Six hours," Sona breathed. "To conquer a faction that has existed for millennia..."
Serafall said, a grim smile touching her lips. "This is what happens when an Emperor who understands true warfare decides to rewrite the rules. The old ways—the careful balance, the political maneuvering, the eternal stalemate—they're all about to burn."
Sona absorbed this information, her mind racing. Then she remembered why she had called in the first place.
"Onee-sama, I... I called because I need to ask for something."
Serafall raised an eyebrow. "In the middle of preparation for the largest military operation in Underworld history? This must be important."
"I want Mutation Pieces. I heard that Duke Beelzebub was able to make it possible," Sona stated directly, her voice firm despite her nervousness. "I want the ability to recruit stronger individuals to my peerage. After watching what happened in Kuoh, after seeing the gap between our strength and the Emperor's forces... I can't stay at this level. I need to become stronger, and I need stronger pieces to do it."
Serafall studied her younger sister for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, surprisingly, she smiled.
"You know what, So-tan? Your timing might actually be perfect."
Sona blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"The Emperor has been looking for talented individuals to elevate," Serafall explained. "After tonight, the supernatural world will be in chaos. The Three-Way Deadlock will be shattered. In that chaos, there will be opportunities for those smart enough and strong enough to seize them."
She leaned closer to the projection, her expression becoming serious.
"But Mutation Pieces aren't given freely, even to Satan-Class nobility. You'll need to prove yourself worthy of them. Are you prepared to do what it takes?"
"Yes," Sona replied without hesitation. "What do I need to do?"
Serafall's smile became predatory. "Win ten consecutive matches in the Ranking Games without losing a single piece. Do that, and I'll personally recommend you to the Emperor for Mutation Piece allocation."
Sona felt her stomach drop. Ten consecutive victories without losses was an insane challenge. Most Devils considered winning five matches undefeated to be a remarkable achievement. But ten? In the increasingly competitive Ranking Games that Algernon had militarized?
But she didn't hesitate. "I accept."
"Good," Serafall nodded approvingly. "But So-tan, you need to understand something. The world is about to change in ways that most people can't even imagine. After tonight, there will be no going back to the old order. The question isn't whether you can survive the change—it's whether you can thrive in it."
She gestured to the command center behind her, where preparations for war continued with mechanical efficiency.
"This is what the new era looks like. Overwhelming force. Absolute efficiency. Victory through such dominance that resistance becomes meaningless. If you want to be relevant in this world, you need to embrace that reality."
Sona straightened her posture, her expression hardening with determination. "I understand, Onee-sama. I won't be left behind."
"I know you won't," Serafall replied, her voice softening with sisterly affection. "You're too stubborn for that. Just... be careful, So-tan. The Emperor rewards competence and punishes mediocrity. Make sure you always fall into the former category."
"I will," Sona promised.
"Good. Now, I need to go. The Emperor is about to address the troops, and all Dukes are required to be present. I'll contact you after the operation is complete. Stay safe."
The projection flickered and died, leaving Sona alone in the darkening clubroom.
She stood there for a moment, processing everything she had just learned. Then she turned to face her peerage, who had been watching the exchange with varying degrees of shock and concern.
"Everyone," Sona announced, her voice carrying the authority of a King addressing her subjects. "We're going to the Underworld. Tonight, we begin training in earnest."
Tsubaki stepped forward, her expression serious. "Kaichou, what you're attempting... ten consecutive victories without losses... it's nearly impossible."
"Nearly impossible isn't the same as impossible," Sona countered. "And I refuse to be content with 'nearly.' We're going to train harder than we ever have before. We're going to study every potential opponent. We're going to perfect our strategies until they're flawless."
She looked at each member of her peerage in turn.
"I know some of you might be frightened by what's coming. War, change, uncertainty—these are scary things. But they're also opportunities. We can either cling to the past and die with it, or we can embrace the future and rise with it."
Saji, still pale from his earlier encounter with the Emperor, found his voice. "President... about what His Majesty said. About wasting my potential..."
"He was right," Sona interrupted, her tone gentle but firm. "You have a piece of a Dragon King inside you, Saji. That's power that could shake the world. But right now, you're using it like a toy. That changes starting now."
She walked over to him, meeting his eyes directly.
"I know you're scared. I know you feel inadequate compared to the Red and White Dragon Emperors. But fear and inadequacy are just feelings, Saji. They don't have to define you. You can be more. You will be more. I'll make sure of it."
"I won't let you down, President," he said, his voice steady for the first time since the Emperor had left.
"I know," Sona replied with a slight smile. "Because I don't accept anything less than excellence from my peerage. Now, everyone prepare yourselves. We leave for the Underworld in one hour."
As her peerage dispersed to gather their belongings and prepare for the journey, Sona returned to the window, looking out over the peaceful town of Kuoh.
In a few hours, this facade of peace would be shattered forever. The supernatural world would learn that the age of careful balance and diplomatic maneuvering was over.
The Age of Algernon Azeroth had begun, and it would be written in conquest and domination.
Sona Sitri intended to make sure her name was written in that history as well.
(END OF CHAPTER)
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