"Ding! Mission complete. Congratulations, host—you've received a Black Gift Package!"
Shuo barely reacted to the system's chime. His gaze swept over the barrier, where swarms of Khaos Brigade mages buzzed about, wrecking havoc like a plague of flies.
Impatience flickered in his eyes. Without a word, and under a dozen confused stares, Shuo shot into the sky.
The heavens, already dim, plunged into deeper shadow. The air grew heavy, thick with a suffocating pressure.
Shuo raised his right hand, and the force around him surged—wind howled, whipping into a cyclone that sucked every last mage into its raging heart.
Thunderheads rolled overhead. Blue-violet lightning crackled through the storm, twisting around the vortex.
In seconds, the mages were shredded by the wind or vaporized by the lightning—screams that pierced the night, then silence.
Not a single enemy survived. Shuo had wiped them out with a gesture.
"So… strong…" Vali's voice was barely a whisper, awe mixing with envy.
He could have crushed those mages too, but not with such casual brutality.
The others stared, stunned—not just at Shuo's power, but at the ease with which he bent the sky itself to his will.
Shuo caught their looks and couldn't help a smirk.
"Gotta admit, Zeus's 'Sky' authority is pretty damn good for showing off."
He basked in their shock for a moment before gliding back into the conference room.
Everyone's eyes locked onto him, but he didn't bother to acknowledge them.
Then he noticed Serafall, mouth agape. With a mischievous grin, Shuo strolled over.
"Serafall, you saw me take care of Katerea—the one trying to steal your throne. Not bad, right? Admit it, you're falling for me."
Serafall's cheeks flared red. She whipped her twin tails, trying to sound haughty.
"Hmph! Like I'd ever fall for a jerk like you. And I'm not yours, so stop saying that! Or else… hmph!"
Shuo leaned in, voice teasing.
"Forget already? When we filmed that video, you let me see—and touch—everything. You're stuck with me now. No one else would want you."
He gave her a wicked smile and pinched her blushing cheek.
"Look at you, all red. Let me get a closer look."
Serafall sputtered, but couldn't quite pull away.
The rest of the room watched in stunned silence.
Seriously? The attack wasn't even over, and these two were flirting like nothing happened.
And that video…? Everyone's minds raced, glancing at Shuo with a mix of shock and disbelief.
Sona finally couldn't take it. She stepped in, voice strained.
"That's enough, Shuo-kun! Stop teasing my sister. We still have unresolved issues!"
Shuo straightened instantly, face shifting from playful to serious in a heartbeat.
His ability to flip moods left everyone speechless.
He turned to Vali, who was leaning quietly in the corner.
"Vali, since you joined Khaos Brigade as an inside man, anything you want to say?"
The question sent a ripple of shock through the room.
All eyes snapped to Vali, suspicion and disbelief written on every face.
Vali didn't flinch.
"You're sharper than I thought, Shuo. Figured out I was the mole right away."
He admitted it without a hint of shame.
Azazel sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Vali, mind telling me why you joined Khaos Brigade? Trying to take over the world?"
Vali scoffed.
"World domination? Not interested. I just want to fight strong opponents. That's why Khaos Brigade suits me."
Azazel relaxed a little.
"Good. I was worried you'd team up with Katerea—since you both lost the Devil King position."
"Devil King position?" Sirzechs, Serafall, and Rias echoed, eyes wide.
Vali's gaze was steady, voice even.
"My real name is Vali Lucifer. I'm the descendant of the former Devil King Lucifer—a half-blood, born of his grandson and a human mother."
Even Michael looked stunned, struggling to process the revelation.
Azazel explained for the room.
"Yeah, not only does he have the Devil King bloodline, but because he's a half-blood, he got Divine Dividing. This guy's probably the strongest White Dragon Emperor in history. The world's got a twisted sense of humor."
Vali barely seemed to care. His attention was locked on Shuo, eyes blazing.
"I don't care about the throne. Shuo Nangong—fight me. I've waited long enough for this."
Silver-white armor wrapped around him, sky-blue wings flared—Balance Breaker, fully unleashed.
The tension spiked. Devils and Angels alike braced themselves, wary of Vali's power.
Shuo raised a hand, cutting through the anxiety.
"Don't interfere. This is between me and the White Dragon Emperor. We settle it ourselves."
"Shuo-kun!"
"Don't be reckless, Shuo!"
The girls' voices trembled with worry.
Vali was known as the strongest White Dragon Emperor ever. Shuo's last public fight had been with Azazel—no one was sure how much he'd grown since.
Shuo didn't answer. Instead, he released a sliver of his pure-blood dragon aura.
The room was instantly flooded with crushing pressure—everyone's magic flared defensively, desperate to resist.
Shuo watched their struggle, then withdrew the aura, his voice calm.
"Still think I'll lose?"
Shock rippled through the crowd.
How had Shuo become this powerful? He hadn't been this monstrous before.
Vali, though clearly impressed, was undaunted.
"Amazing, Shuo Nangong. Let's take this outside!"
With a crash, Vali shattered a window and soared into the sky.
Shuo glanced at the stunned room, then wordlessly followed.
The battle was on.
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