Chapter 180: The Crimson Princess Awakens — Rise of the First Magic Pillar
Even though Cadileya's power had surged violently, she could not overcome Azazel's relentless assault. Augmented by his own artifact—a divine weapon of light crafted to counter high-tier demonic energies—Azazel struck true. The holy spear tore through her chest, dissolving her body in a flare of divine brilliance.
Her subordinates fared no better.
Where Cadileya fell in defiance, her followers were simply swept aside. Their deaths came swiftly—cleanly—a wave of righteous force vaporizing shadow after shadow. It was over in moments.
But while peace had temporarily returned to Kuoh Academy, Rias Gremory had no time to breathe.
She had a new dilemma.
Her ancestor, the revered Lunias Gremory, had demanded a student identity be prepared for the school—she planned to attend class here. Yes, class. The woman who had once shaped infernal diplomacy now wanted to mingle among mortal students.
Rias was still reeling from that request when Lunias delivered another surprise.
She had learned—somehow—that Sona, Tsubaki, and Akeno had each become one of the Seventy-Two Magic Pillars.
Of course, the only way she could have known... was through spiritual resonance.
That was the revelation: Lunias herself had ascended to become one of the seventy-two. Not told—no external clues—she had felt it. Because now, she resided in that transcendent realm of power, far beyond even the ancestral demons.
And yet, Rias hadn't witnessed her ancestor's initiation.
It had taken place the day after the battle with Kokabiel. Lunias had emerged from the shadows—and was invited immediately.
Rias had wanted to stay and observe. But one of her own retainers had been captured, and Grayfia had locked onto their location. Duty overruled curiosity. She had rushed with Sona to resolve the crisis elsewhere.
By the time she returned... Lunias was already a pillar. Welcomed. Crowned.
It made Rias wonder—how had her ancestor agreed so easily?
Then again, Lunias's presence was a shield. With her joining the Magic Pillars, Sirzechs wouldn't dare question Rias too much. Having Lunias involved meant the chessboard had shifted—more pieces were in motion than before.
"Lady Lunias has joined," murmured Sona inside the student council room, still sounding half-dazed. "And... she's already at god-tier level..."
Was that awe?
Was it fear?
Sona wasn't sure herself.
Now she was considering whether her older sister should join as well.
The threat from the other world—the Three Divine Pillars and their retinues—was overwhelming. If her sister were caught off guard and lacked the power to resist... she might not survive.
"How's Gasper doing?" Sona asked.
"No major problems," Rias replied, though she sighed right after.
Gasper Vladi, her other retainer—timid, reclusive, traumatized—had lived in confinement for far too long. His sacred gear was unstable, capable of freezing time involuntarily. One accidental activation could paralyze half the campus. That was why he had been sequestered in the abandoned school building.
At night, the restrictions eased. He could roam. But he never did.
He feared the outside world. He feared people. And so, he stayed locked away in his room, a lonely ghost.
Rias was done letting him hide.
This time, she had forced him out—had instructed Kiba Yuuto to train him personally.
She needed every retainer ready.
Knock knock.
A voice at the door.
"Come in," said Sona.
The door opened. A girl stepped inside. Her presence drew faint frowns from both Rias and Sona.
Xenovia Quarta—Holy Sword bearer of the Church. She had stayed behind, embedded as a student, while Irina Shidou returned to the Church with the mysterious priestess.
"She still hasn't woken?" Sona asked.
"No," Xenovia answered flatly.
When Azazel had battled Cadileya, the priestess had suddenly collapsed. A magical coma—or something stranger. Whatever knowledge she carried regarding the war between gods and humans on the other side... remained buried with her silence.
Then Xenovia turned to Rias.
"Who is he?"
She slammed a photo onto the desk.
Rias blinked. "Him? Our new P.E. teacher."
"Don't play dumb."
Xenovia's tone grew sharp.
She had remained at Kuoh under direct orders from Michael. Her true mission was to investigate this man—this enigmatic figure who bore striking resemblance to someone legendary.
Someone impossible.
Solomon.
Michael had sensed something uncanny. Though the man's physical form differed slightly—as though disguised—his aura, presence, and spiritual resonance... felt dangerously familiar.
Could it be him? The King reborn?
God had died.
Was His chosen son walking the world again?
And more than that—was he building a new foundation? Seventy-Two Magic Pillars. No longer demons, but gods. Constructs of divine hierarchy, far surpassing their original forms.
Solomon, if it truly was him, had transcended Michael's understanding.
He might have inherited part of God's power.
He might have returned as a last contingency—a divine reckoning foreseen by prophecy.
And now... Solomon could become the new God of the Bible.
Yet he had refused contact with the Church. Had refused to seek Heaven's embrace.
Michael believed it was because of disappointment. He thought Solomon now viewed the angels as failures—for their inability to protect their Lord.
And worse...
Solomon had chosen to work with demons.
To collaborate with infernal forces.
Xenovia couldn't accept it.
She left without responding to Rias's smile.
Was she going to confront him directly?
"I'll follow," Rias whispered, departing the council room behind her.
But she quickly realized Xenovia wasn't seeking him. The girl was wandering—seemingly aimless—looping around the school grounds like someone chasing whispers.
Until she spun sharply, as though sensing pursuit.
Rias ducked behind the wall, heart skipping, hoping she hadn't been spotted.
But she backed into someone.
Turning around—too late—she saw the face. That familiar, gentle smile.
Close. Too close.
Her cheeks flared.
"What are you doing, Rias?" he asked, amused.
"Nothing important... White Moon-sensei."
"I was looking for you. It's time. Everything's ready."
"Time?"
She froze.
And then understood.
Her turn had come.
Chapter 181: The Crimson Flame Ascends — The First Magic Pillar Reforged
White Moon had warned her.
This world was dangerous.
More dangerous than he'd anticipated.
Before arriving, he had feared the original god's invasion. Feared that this world would be so powerful, it would overwhelm his own.
Now... it looked like the opposite was true.
The two strongest beings here were dragons.
Ophis, the Infinite Dragon God.
And the Great Red, keeper of the dimensional gap.
According to Rias, during last weekend's summit, the priestess of the other world had revealed terrifying information—the retinue of the Three Divine Pillars could match the Great Red.
Which meant—this world had no true defense.
Solomon—the local one—had claimed the dragons were the apex. But what if there were secrets even he hadn't reached?
Unlikely, given that his intelligence came directly from the biblical God.
And if even God couldn't surpass dragons...
Then the power tiers here were brittle. Fractured.
If the other world figured this out—if EvisEtourute discovered the truth—they'd invade instantly.
White Moon hoped to complete the seventy-two before that happened.
Why hadn't he reached out to the Church?
He couldn't trust it.
Not yet.
He couldn't even verify whether their God was truly dead.
What if this world's biblical God was like the one from his own timeline—a schemer cloaked in silence?
He would remain cautious.
After all—the priestess's arrival had been too coincidental.
Meeting Church agents just so conveniently?
It smelled of infiltration.
Perhaps she hadn't defected at all—but had arrived to measure enemy strength.
Rias had apologized.
White Moon had explained the possibility to her—and she regretted not informing him earlier.
He also told her what the biblical God in his reality had truly been.
She hadn't asked how he knew so much.
Her trust came from many sources.
Her ancestor believed in him.
Her friends had joined him.
And most critically—he stood against EvisEtourute.
If that world invaded, only Solomon's new divine structure could push back.
"It's time," he said softly.
She nodded.
She would enter the ritual circle now.
The transformation into a Magic Pillar could be done two ways—either he lent power, or she produced it herself.
Those with insufficient reserves—Sona, for instance—had needed his support.
Lunias, on the other hand, had more than enough. Her solo transformation gave her deeper harmony with her card. No delay. No friction.
Like a car—new parts needed to align through usage. Self-forging ensured smoother command.
Rias wanted to try.
She would push herself to do it alone.
If she failed—pain would come.
Terrible pain.
She closed her eyes.