"So, how can you be so arrogant when you rely on power given by others?"
The force from Shalba's fist could split mountains, but Arthas just stood there, watching him calmly.
"Impossible! I've mastered the 'snake' given by Lord Ophis! My power should surpass a Devil King's!"
It was the same thing Diodora had said, making Arthas want to laugh.
"Power given by others isn't your own. The weak are foolish because they don't know how weak they are."
Arthas clenched his fist and swung it at Shalba.
Like Shalba's punch, Arthas's fist didn't stir the air.
It looked like an ordinary person's attack, pale and laughable, but Shalba's eyes widened.
Death filled his mind. The plain fist came at him and struck his face.
It was a simple punch, but he couldn't dodge it. Facing Arthas's fist, Shalba was helpless.
He was facing his natural enemy. Before Nehelenia's power, any dragon power was a joke.
His face twisted, his body flew back, and the world became strange.
He felt like his skull was crushed, and couldn't tell if he was alive.
Soon, he couldn't think. His body became a shadow and slammed into the temple wall.
Boom!
It was another explosion. With the sound of rock being corroded, the wall shattered and buried Shalba.
Arthas looked away from Shalba and stared at the empty sky.
"I'm asking, won't you come out, Ophis? I'm very interested in you. You are in me too, right? So, how about showing yourself?"
There was no reply. Arthas looked disappointed. Was he wrong? Was Ophis not watching him?
Then, what was this feeling of being watched?
As Arthas pondered this, a sense of danger arose in his heart.
His face turned serious. He quickly moved aside, and an artistic diamond-shaped ice shield appeared before him.
At that moment, a white bone claw tore through space where Arthas had been.
The claw was unstoppable. It easily shattered the ice shield and struck Arthas.
"Ugh…"
This was the strongest enemy Arthas had faced. The sudden attack had hurt him.
"Interesting... Power of death?"
Arthas swallowed the blood in his throat and glared at the bone claw coming from the rift.
Sensing Arthas's escape, a sinister chuckle came from the rift. It didn't chase Arthas. After pushing him back, the claw grabbed at the rubble where Shalba was buried.
In a flash, a black object was pulled into the space and vanished. No one else saw this.
"Crack, crack crack…"
After the claw left, the illusory arena shattered. A group of people appeared before Arthas.
"Are you okay?"
The red-haired Rias ran over, looking worried at the blood on Arthas's mouth.
"I'm fine. Just a sneak attack."
Arthas waved, saying he was alright. Sirzechs and Azazel came over. Arthas was surprised to see Odin.
Odin might be a jerk, but people liked him. He was kind.
"Soul wound, what did you encounter?!"
Odin looked surprised at Arthas's condition.
"I don't know. A bone claw that tore through space."
Arthas said. Not just Odin, but the other two Devil Kings were shocked.
"...…A bone claw that tore through space?!"
Hearing Arthas's story, Odin's face showed caution and shock.
"It was Hades, that skeleton! Is he teaming up with terrorists?! This is bad."
Arthas wondered who Hades was, to make the Norse god look like that.
"Hades…? Lord Odin, do you mean Hades of the Underworld…?"
Rias asked hesitantly.
"I don't want to say it, but yes, that skeleton. The ruler of the Underworld, god of death and souls—Hades!"
Everyone gasped. Only Arthas's eyes gleamed.
"Wh-Why would the Underworld's god attack Issei and save Shalba Beelzebub…?"
"Hmph! That skeleton hates other mythologies, especially you devils. If not for Sirzechs, he'd wage war on the Underworld."
Odin didn't like Hades. Stroking his beard, Odin looked puzzled.
"But abducting the Old Satan Faction… Hades is too proud to accept them. What's that gloomy skeleton planning? Is he really planning a world war?!" Odin was angry.
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