Occult Research Club – After the One-Sided Beatdown
The room was dead silent.
Riser lay unconscious on the ground, his once-pristine white suit now covered in dirt and cracks from where Kuroyami had slammed him into the floor.
His peerage—his so-called "harem"—stood frozen, their eyes darting between their fallen master and the man who had humiliated him.
Kuroyami rested his black sword on his shoulder, his midnight-purple eyes filled with boredom. "Is that all?"
Rias sighed, rubbing her temples. "Well, that escalated quickly."
Akeno giggled. "Ara~ Rias, you should have Kuroyami-kun around more often. He makes things much more… exciting~"
Kiba shook his head. "I expected Riser to put up more of a fight… but this?"
Koneko simply muttered, "Scary."
Issei, meanwhile, was completely broken.
"HUH?! THAT'S IT?! JUST LIKE THAT?! HE BEAT A HIGH-CLASS DEVIL LIKE IT WAS NOTHING?!"
Kuroyami glanced at him. "Yeah? You expected something else?"
Issei pointed aggressively. "DO YOU KNOW HOW STRONG RISER IS SUPPOSED TO BE?!"
Kuroyami smirked. "Not really. Didn't seem that strong to me."
"ARE YOU EVEN HUMAN?!"
Kuroyami simply shrugged.
And then—
A magic circle flared to life in the center of the room.
Rias immediately tensed. "Oh no…"
Akeno's smile widened. "Ara~ It seems we have an important guest~"
Kuroyami raised an eyebrow as two figures emerged from the glowing portal.
One was an elegant woman with golden hair, her fiery presence unmistakable. She was Riser's older sister, Ravel Phenex.
The other?
A towering man with crimson-red hair and an aura that felt like it could crush the entire room.
Sirzechs Lucifer.
The Devil King Arrives
Rias immediately stepped forward. "Onii-sama!"
Sirzechs gave her a soft smile. "Rias. I came as soon as I heard." His gaze then shifted to Riser, still unconscious on the ground.
Ravel gasped, rushing to her brother's side. "R-Riser?! What happened?!"
Issei was still losing his mind.
"HOLY—THE DEVIL KING IS HERE?!"
Kuroyami simply observed, his expression unreadable.
Sirzechs turned to Rias. "Would you mind explaining?"
Rias crossed her arms. "Riser came here, boasting about our forced engagement again. Kuroyami didn't like his attitude and… well, you can see the result."
Ravel looked at Kuroyami, her blue eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "You… did this?!"
Kuroyami nodded lazily. "Yup."
Ravel clenched her fists. "Impossible! Riser has the immortality of a Phoenix! There's no way you could have beaten him so easily!"
Kuroyami smirked. "Immortal? Cute. He still got dropped like a sack of potatoes."
Ravel's face twitched in anger. "H-How dare you—"
Sirzechs raised a hand, silencing the argument. His deep blue eyes locked onto Kuroyami.
For the first time, Kuroyami actually felt something.
This guy was strong.
Sirzechs smiled warmly. "Kuroyami Saisei, was it?"
Kuroyami nodded. "That's me."
Sirzechs studied him carefully. "You're… interesting."
Kuroyami smirked. "I get that a lot."
Sirzechs chuckled. "I believe we need to talk."
Sirzechs' Curiosity
A few moments later, the room was cleared of everyone except Sirzechs, Rias, and Kuroyami.
Riser had been taken away, still unconscious.
Sirzechs sipped from a teacup, his gaze never leaving Kuroyami.
"I must say, Kuroyami-kun… I haven't seen someone overpower Riser so easily before."
Kuroyami shrugged. "Not my fault he was weak."
Rias shot him a look. "He's not weak, Kuroyami. You're just absurdly strong."
Sirzechs smiled. "Indeed. Which is why I must ask—who are you, really?"
Kuroyami met his gaze, completely calm. "Just a guy with a sword."
Sirzechs chuckled. "That sword of yours… it doesn't seem ordinary."
Kuroyami simply smirked. "Maybe."
Sirzechs tapped his fingers against the table. "You're powerful. More powerful than most High-Class Devils I know."
Rias narrowed her eyes. "Onii-sama… are you saying that Kuroyami could fight Ultimate-Class Devils?"
Sirzechs smiled. "Possibly. Maybe even… stronger."
Rias felt a chill.
She had suspected that Kuroyami was strong. But hearing Sirzechs Lucifer himself say that he might be stronger than Ultimate-Class Devils?
That was on a completely different level.
Kuroyami finally sighed. "Look, if you're trying to figure out if I'm a threat, don't bother. I'm not interested in world domination or any of that cliché villain crap."
Sirzechs tilted his head. "Then what are you interested in?"
Kuroyami smirked. "Drinking, training, and fighting strong people."
Rias rolled her eyes. "So basically, you're just a battle maniac."
Kuroyami chuckled. "Pretty much."
Sirzechs took another sip of his tea before standing up. "I see. In that case, Kuroyami-kun, I have a request."
Kuroyami raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Sirzechs smiled.
"Fight me."
To Be Continued…
Author's Note:
Sirzechs appears!
Riser gets carried out like trash.
Sirzechs takes an interest in Kuroyami.
A fight against the Devil King?!
Next up—Kuroyami vs. Sirzechs! Can the MC handle the full power of the Strongest Devil?