Riser looked around, observing the devastated battlefield that was now shrouded in silence and darkness. The golden flames still emanating from his body softly illuminated the desolate surroundings. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the destruction he had caused but also the power that now dominated the underworld.
"This place... deserves a greater purpose."
"Here, where the war ravaged everything, will be the site of a new beginning. This place will become a memorial for those who died... and the birthplace of the strongest Devil the underworld has ever known."
Merlin, who stood by his side, observed him intently.
"What do you wish for me to do, Riser-sama?" she asked.
"You will take care of building this memorial, Merlin," Riser responded.
"Make it grand. Let every Devil in the underworld look at this place and remember what happened here. Let them know that it was here I, Riser Asmodeus, conquered everything."
Merlin nodded, already beginning to trace magical symbols in the air, preparing to start the spell that would raise the memorial.
"It will be done, Riser-sama," Merlin said, her voice soft as she channeled her magic.
Riser took one last look at the battlefield before turning away.
"I trust you will do a good job, Merlin," he said calmly. "Now, I will take my leave."
A golden magic circle began to glow beneath his feet, illuminating the devastated ground around him.
FWOOOSH!
Riser disappeared from the site, leaving Merlin alone to complete her task.
Riser's Mansion in the Underworld
Riser materialized in the living room of his mansion in the underworld, the golden glow of the magic circle slowly fading as he appeared. The luxurious and familiar environment surrounded him, but the weight of the battle and the newly acquired power still hung over him.
As soon as Riser appeared, he was immediately greeted by his mother, Romina, his sister, Ravel, and his wife, Sona. The three rushed over quickly, their faces marked by worry and relief.
"Riser!" said Romina, her voice soft but full of emotion as she hugged him tightly.
Ravel, tears in her eyes, ran to her brother's side, wrapping him in a tight embrace. "Onii-sama! You're back... We were so worried!"
Sona, more composed but with evident relief in her eyes, also approached, wrapping her arms around Riser. "You did it... I knew you would," she said, her voice calm but full of affection.
Riser smiled lightly, returning the embrace of the three. He felt the warmth and affection of his family, something that, despite all the power he had gained, was still important to him.
"I'm fine," Riser said, his voice calm as he looked at each of them. "The battle was intense, but everything went as planned."
Romina let go of him, her eyes still filled with tears but smiling. "We are so proud of you, my son."
Ravel, still clinging to him, looked up, smiling through her tears. "You were incredible, Onii-sama. Everyone in the underworld is talking about what you did."
Sona, now with a calmer expression, nodded. "You fulfilled your role as a leader, Riser... and more than that."
Riser took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his family's words. He knew that victory had come at a cost and that the underworld was about to enter a new era. His eyes gleamed for a brief moment as he stepped away from the three women.
"I need to make an important call," Riser said, stepping aside as a soft magic circle glowed around his hand. He activated the communication spell, and within seconds, a hologram began to form in his palm. The figure of Zekram Bael appeared, his usually stern expression now marked by evident fatigue.
Zekram answered, and the sound of crying echoed in the background. Riser narrowed his eyes, immediately realizing where that sound was coming from.
"Riser," said Zekram, his voice grave, muffled by the weight of the situation. "I imagine you know what happened. The loss of Sirzechs and Ajuka... will deeply shake the underworld."
"Yes, Zekram. The underworld is in mourning, but we cannot allow ourselves to fall. The future of the Devils depends on how we handle this now," Riser replied.
"The leadership of the underworld will be rebuilt, Riser. And you will be at the center of it. With Sirzechs and Ajuka's deaths, the burden falls on those who remain... like you," Zekram said.
"I understand," Riser responded.
"I know the responsibility that now lies on me, Zekram. I will be ready to lead the underworld down the right path, but we will do it our way."
Zekram nodded slightly, the sound of sobbing still present in the background. "Be careful with your plans, Riser. The underworld is vulnerable now, and any wrong decision could cost us dearly."
Riser kept a serious expression. "Don't worry, Zekram. I know exactly what I'm doing."
Before he could end the communication, a scream of pain and anger pierced the air like a sharp blade.
"RISER!"
Rias Gremory appeared in the hologram, her expression marked by tears and hatred. She advanced, pushing away anyone who tried to hold her back, her words loaded with anguish.
"Why did you let my brother die?" Rias shouted, her voice trembling with despair. "Why didn't you do anything to save him? He was my brother... Sirzechs shouldn't have died!"
Rias was visibly unhinged, her face stained with tears, and the pain in her eyes was palpable. "You could have saved him, Riser! But you didn't care... You only cared about your own power!"
"People die in wars, Rias," Riser said, his voice icy, without any trace of compassion. "Your brother chose his path, and he didn't want my help. By the time I arrived, it was too late."
Rias, consumed by grief, stood still for a moment, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"You... you speak as if he were nothing!" she screamed, her body trembling with rage and sorrow. "He was your ally! He was my brother! How can you be so cold?"
Riser, however, remained firm.
"Sirzechs chose to sacrifice himself. He knew the risks and did what he thought was necessary. If you want to blame someone, blame the war... not me."
Rias, hearing those words, stepped back, shocked by Riser's indifference.
"I can't believe it..." she whispered, her voice full of disbelief. "You really don't care about anyone but yourself, do you?"
Without wasting any more time, Riser ended the communication with a brusque gesture, cutting off the hologram of Zekram and Rias. He could not afford to be distracted by feelings and lamentations.
He could not afford to be distracted by feelings and lamentations. His eyes turned to Sona.
"Sona, I need to know about Serafall."
"Serafall is probably occupied with the war issues, Riser," Sona said.
"But I'm sure she's deeply shaken... Sirzechs and Ajuka were longtime friends. This must be painful for her."
Riser nodded, his gaze distant as he processed the information. "Yes, she was always close to the two of them. This could affect her stance on her responsibilities."
Before Sona could respond, a soft glow illuminated the room. Merlin materialized beside Riser, her robes still slightly billowing, bringing with her a firm and serene presence.
"Riser-sama," Merlin said with a slight bow, her voice soft and respectful. "I have completed the construction of the memorial, as requested. The site is now prepared to be a symbol of rebirth for the underworld."
Riser looked at Merlin, satisfied with her efficiency. "Great work, Merlin. This memorial will serve as a reminder to all Devils of what was lost... and of the future I will build."
Merlin nodded, awaiting further instructions.
"Sona, you must give up Kuoh."
Sona raised her eyebrows slightly, but her expression soon returned to its usual state as she listened attentively to what Riser was saying.
"The underworld is going through a difficult time," Riser continued, his voice firm. "Having the wife of a Maou alone in the human world is dangerous now. You must stay in the Phoenix family territory. Here, you'll be safe and able to contribute more effectively to our next steps."
Sona, keeping her serene gaze, calmly nodded.
"I agree, Riser. I had already decided this even before the war began. I knew a change was coming, and the situation in Kuoh was no longer sustainable with everything that has happened."
'I had already accepted that leaving Kuoh would be the best for everyone's safety. My work as a student council leader and guardian there had already been fulfilled. Now, I need to be by Riser's side to ensure the future of the underworld and our family.'
Riser, satisfied with his wife's response, smiled slightly, feeling the pieces beginning to fall into place according to his plans.
"Merlin, choose one of the rooms in the mansion and create an alternate dimension within it."
Merlin, always efficient and ready to act, gave a slight bow in response. "As you wish, Riser-sama. I will immediately prepare the space."
As Merlin withdrew to carry out her task, Ravel, who had been watching everything with curiosity, couldn't help but ask a question.
"Onii-sama, an alternate dimension? What exactly are you planning with that?" Ravel approached Riser, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Riser looked at his sister and smiled lightly, the look of someone who had already anticipated the question.
"It's something to prevent any mythology from trying anything against us, at least for now," Riser said with an almost casual calm, without going into much detail.
Ravel furrowed her brow slightly, still intrigued, but realized her brother didn't intend to explain more than that for the moment.
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