Those few calm words from Ryuichi nearly pushed Raiser to mental collapse.
And that was precisely because the one who said them — that smug "checkmate" — was a mere Low-Class Reincarnated Devil.
While he, Raiser Phoenix, was a proud High-Class Devil — and not just that, but a pure-blood Phoenix born with overwhelming advantage.
To lose to a nobody like this… he would become a living joke.
"Are you kidding me!? You dare say 'checkmate' to me!?"
Raiser's魔力 trembled on the verge of explosion.
"Brother — stop!" Reyvell frowned. She could tell: Raiser was ready to throw his life into it.
For all his arrogance, Raiser valued his family's honor above anything. Losing to Rias, another pure-blood Devil, he could endure.
But losing because of Ryuichi alone — because all of today's downfall had been caused not by Rias, but by one boy —
— that was something he could not accept.
It was the same as declaring that a mere Reincarnated Devil surpassed a pure-blood heir.
He would rather die than let that stain exist.
BOOM.
His魔力 erupted. Blazing crimson-gold flame surged around him like molten sunlight — Raiser had chosen to go all-in, even if it meant madness.
Even Rias's brows drew together slightly — she could feel his pressure now, and for the first time she worried for Ryuichi.
Ryuichi lowered his eyes slightly as Raiser charged.
He could feel Raiser's resolve — his fury, his humiliation, his unwillingness.
But… someone still had to get punched.
Ryuichi raised both hands.
The God-Weeping Shield and King's Sword floated before him, blazing with light, orbiting him like celestial rings—
GONG.
A bell tolled.
The shockwave of that one note silenced the entire barrier-space. The world stopped breathing.
Ripples spread across empty sky.
Then — as if from ancient memory itself — a great horn sounded through time:
"Doouuuuuu—— Doouuuuuu——"
Then the thunder of war drums crushed the air.
Those who heard it felt their blood and heartbeat surge violently against their ribs—
And then came the roar — countless voices layering into one long united battle-cry, like a storm of steel and murder crashing through the heavens.
"What… is this…?"
In the stands outside the barrier, Shinra Tsubaki clutched her chest, face pale — it felt like her heart would rupture.
Sona Sitri's glasses caught light as her expression hardened.
"…Forbidden Hand."
"What!? He actually— he reached Forbidden Hand!?"
A Sacred Gear grows as it feeds upon the wielder's intent. And if that will is strong enough to bend the world itself — it crosses a threshold.
That realm… is Forbidden Hand.
But had Ryuichi ever shown that kind of mental shift?
Only Rias's face bore a knowing complexity.
She remembered the boy Ryuichi used to be — distant, aloof, self-contained, never letting anyone near. She had once worried about him because of that.
And yet somewhere along the way, he had changed.
Some of it because of her and Akeno.
Some of it because of the bonds he had formed with others.
He had changed — deeper than even he realized.
Was that why he could reach Forbidden Hand now, without understanding it himself?
—
Ryuichi's golden irises flared — his once black pupils dissolved into piercing gold.
He lifted his gaze toward the rippling sky.
"…Descend."
Endless Twilight Citadel.
He spoke it like a prayer behind his teeth.
GONG.
A second distant bell.
Then the world darkened.
A colossal black citadel — so vast its edges could not be seen — materialized overhead and swallowed the entire dimension.
Even so, they could only see a corner of the fortress. The entire barrier field was filled — and still it was only a fragment.
"What… level is this Forbidden Hand…" someone whispered, half-mad with awe.
From the spectator stand, Sirzechs Lucifer narrowed his eyes, a faint smile ghosting his lips.
"Interesting. That's already within Ultimate-Class range…"
Ryuichi could feel魔力 drain from him like a broken dam. He estimated: ten minutes at most.
This was his first true activation of Endless Twilight Citadel.
Only with the shared stats of his duplicate and a double Promotion could he sustain ten minutes. Normally, it would be even shorter.
The cost was outrageous.
But the gain… was beyond expectation.
He realized that besides the God-Weeping Shield's[Stasis] — the King's Sword provided a second effect: Amplification.
For as long as the Citadel held, all his attributes were multiplied, up to whatever his body could endure. Right now — tenfold.
He had thought[Stasis]would freeze his state including power level — but it didn't apply to the Sword's effect.
Which made sense — they were one set.
The Raging King Sword & God-Weeping Shield were meant to be used together.
Even Ryuichi had to admit — this combination was pure unashamed cheating.
—
Raiser stood frozen beneath the Citadel's shadow.
Forbidden Hand.
He had seen such techniques before — but never expected to face one here, now, against this opponent.
"Damn… you…"
For the first time, Raiser Phoenix's voice trembled.
Ryuichi didn't give him time to recover.
Enhanced, amplified, overflowing with new strength, Ryuichi vanished — appearing before Raiser like teleportation — and drove his fist into his face with brutal finality.