"...WHAT?!"
Sirzechs widened his eyes at Issei's words.
'What is he...?!'
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT WON'T SAVE ME?!" Riser roared in disbelief
"...I'm going to kill you. Nothing will save you." Issei said coldly.
Riser could only stare in shock, his mouth agape. Issei narrowed his eyes, as the black flame-like ribbons increased in size. His black hair started to wave to the side from the colossal energy flow from his sphere.
"Riser. This whole thing could have been avoided. IF YOU HAD JUST LEFT ME ALONE!"
The young man's scream echoed throughout the arena, immediately silencing the chattering of the Devils. Issei's eyes twitched as he glared darkly at Riser, and his expression morphed into what appeared to be a look of twisted melancholy.
"All of this! It didn't have to happen! But you screwed up! I warned you! I begged you! But now you screwed yourself over!"
Riser struggled to breathe as he felt his fear overcome him.
"I-"
"It's too late...to beg for your life."
Both Issei's and Riser's body began to emit small flecks of black light, resembling dust blowing off of their skin.
"THIS CAN'T BE!"
Sirzechs widened his eyes once more, and he shouted out to all of the Devils.
"EVERYONE! CLEAR THE ARENA! WE ALL MUST LEAVE!"
Issei narrowed his eyes as he looked up to see the people sitting down, now running out of the arena. He looked over to the side to see fourteen young women. One of the women present, was the very same one who had tricked him into believing that Leiko was killed.
Yubelluna stared wide-eyed in horror as she caught Issei's gaze on her.
'HE...HE WOULDN'T DARE!'
"Watch me." Issei said quietly, as though he had read Yubelluna's mind.
The energy sphere surrounding him increased greatly in size, causing Yubelluna to take a step back. Seeing the other thirteen Devils leave the battlefield, Yubelluna looked back reluctantly, and went to follow them, leaving only Issei and Riser.
Riser's eyes twitched as he realized that this was the end for him. He had bet everything on his fight with Issei. His servants, his mansion, wealth. Especially, his wealth.
"SOMEONE LIKE Y-YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!"
Narrowing his eyes and gritting his teeth, Issei let out a scream full of raw fury, as he released all of his energy, his body imploding into an enormous, black explosion.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"GUUAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Riser screamed in absolute torment, as he felt his entire body disintegrating from the great potency of Issei's attack. The Phenex male let out a great bellow in pure agony, as his body dissolved and disappeared into the bright light.
Moments later, the light faded, revealing Issei. The young man remained in his Hell-Fire transformation, feeling his energy regenerate seconds later. Next to him on the ground, were the remains of Riser Phenex. A pile of ashes.
In the Student Council
The entire group in the Student Council and the Occult Research Club widened their eyes in absolute horror, and shock. They had just witnessed the death of Riser Phenex. They still couldn't believe it, and they had just seen it with their own eyes.
Issei Hyoudou, the shy yet kind-hearted young man that had arrived at Kuoh Academy, had just killed off a member of the Phenex Clan.
Azazel's Headquarters
Raynare stood shell-shocked, unable to believe what she had just seen.
"N-no. It can't be!"
Azazel remained quiet, his hand on his chin in thought.
'The Phenex Clan is known for their superior regenerative abilities. But Issei was able to kill off Riser almost effortlessly. But it shouldn't be too hard to grasp. After all, the energy explosion was composed entirely of Hell-Fire. Hmm. Such a powerful boy.'
Outside of the Arena of the Underworld
With the crowd of Devils behind him, Sirzechs regained his balance after the vast explosion that had occurred in the arena.
"Such power!"
The entrance and door to the arena suddenly opened, revealing a calm Issei. The Devils behind Sirzechs noticeably paled, taking note of the great energy surge from Issei. As Issei walked closer, Sirzechs walked up to him, ready to speak.
"Issei Hyoudou, I-"
The Crimson Satan was cut off when Issei suddenly sent a sharp punch to his face, causing him to soar backwards past the crowd of Devils. However, moments later, Sirzechs was able to catch his balance, and composed himself, placing his hand on his sore cheek.
"D-Did he just PUNCH the freaking MAOU RED?!"
"Unbelievable!"
"Lucifer-sama!"
"Such a despicable brat! To kill a Devil of noble blood, and then have the nerve to hit the Crimson Satan!"
Issei flared his Hell-Fire aura, completely silencing the astounded Devils. He glared darkly at Sirzechs, who sighed and rubbed his cheek.
'Well, can't say I didn't exactly predict that he was going to do something.'
His pain fading away, Sirzechs sent his blue-green eyes to Issei's brown and black colored orbs of sight.
"Issei Hyoudou. I know that this will mean nothing to you, considering the state you are in. However, please allow me to say this."
Issei stayed silent, keeping his glare on Sirzechs. The aura around him intensified, but he remained still.
Sirzechs took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
"Issei Hyoudou...I deeply apologize. For everything that had occurred here today. When Riser Phenex came to ask me if he could battle you. I should have considered the consequences, and alternatives."
The young man in front of him still remained quiet.
"I was so curious that I didn't even think to consider how you would have felt about the whole situation. I allowed Riser to forcibly take you here to battle him, and allowed his plan to commence. A plan I was not even aware of."
This time Issei looked up in response. But his expression didn't change. Sirzechs opened his eyes and looked into Issei's own eyes.
"I did not know how Riser would go about getting you to fight him. But please listen. The trickery Riser himself had conjured up...it was despicable. And it would never have happened if I had prevented Riser from going through with his plan in the first place."
Issei remained at his spot, his eyes boring into Sirzechs's own. Looking at Issei in great seriousness, Sirzechs walked closer yet cautiously, to the young man.
"I am not asking you to forgive me, Issei Hyoudou. I just want you to understand."
The Devils behind Sirzechs remained quiet, waiting to see how Issei would react. It was pretty much a well-known fact that when someone was deathly quiet, something bad was bound to happen. But much to the Devils' surprise, Issei only narrowed his eyes.
"Issei Hyoudou."