"Call someone over to heal him, Velrissa," I called up casually as I turned away from Sirzechs' limp body. Velrissa nodded quickly, flying down from within the crowd of thousands of succubi who had been buffing Katerea overhead.
I could've used [Light Heal] myself, but part of being a King was pushing your work onto your subordinates, right?
"I got him, Your Highness!" Katerea shouted from above, and the woman, along with the form of Shalba Beelzebub, came floating down into the crater that was once an arena.
Slumped over her shoulder was the unconscious, and possibly dead, form of Zekram Bael. Even if the man was ancient and a masterful fighter with his Power of Destruction, he couldn't hold up against a giga-buffed Katerea and Shalba. He couldn't escape either with Tiamat's powered-up watchful eye overhead.
"Good work," I nodded simply as the duo landed next to me, and Katerea unceremoniously tossed the body of Zekram on the floor in front of me.
I resisted chuckling as she blushed at my words, practically preening as she glanced away shyly. All I said was 'good work!'
I glanced down at Zekram's body, which was bloodied and bruised, as he was definitely at least unconscious. Whether he was alive or not didn't matter, as I just needed the body to use [Devour] and reap the benefits.
I didn't know how many skills the ancient devil had acquired over his numerous years of life, but I just wanted his Power of Destruction. Whatever other skills I got from him were just icing on the cake.
Sirzechs had shown me firsthand just how powerful that ability was, and while it would take me a lot of grinding to get that skill anywhere near Sirzechs' level, I was eager to have it for myself.
So, I didn't waste any time as I crouched down. I grabbed Zekram's arm, raising it to my mouth, and used [Devour].
[Devour] has been used on [Zekram Bael] - Level 725
You have gained:
+27,000 HP!
+2,700 MAXHP!
+7,520 STR
+5,255 AGI
+7,570 END
+11,257 LUK
+14,180 INT
+15,275 MP!
+ 100 [Devour] Skill XP!
+[Power of Destrucion] Skill!
+[Desire Read] Skill!
[Power of Destruction] - Channel Demonic Energy into [Annihilation]. Anything [Annihilation] touches will turn into nothingness.
[Desire Read] - Understand the desires of someone with a glance.
The first skill was exactly what I wanted, and the second one wasn't bad either. It wasn't what I expected, but it fit with Zekram's image well. It was a lot easier to manipulate someone when you knew exactly what they wanted.
It would also help with weeding out traitors in my Kingdom, so I wasn't complaining even if it was more underwhelming than a combat skill.
I raised my hand, testing out the [Power of Destruction] of destruction as a black-red aura formed around my hand. As I did, I heard numerous gasps from the stands above, and I resisted smirking.
I wasn't sure if the shock came from me using the Bael Clan's ability, or from me literally eating Zekram Bael and confirming the rumors that I really did eat my enemies, but it didn't matter. The remaining uncharmed devils in the stadium were shaken.
"I'm glad you share our goals, Beast King," Shalba nodded, pulling me out of my thoughts and smiling stiffly as he glanced over at Sirzechs' body. "I was doubtful when I heard about Creuserey, but we can put that behind us. Together, no one will be able to stop us from taking over the Underworld, and then the rest of the universe after!"
My lips twitched upward slightly at my words, and I chuckled lightly.
He definitely had an ambition similar to mine, but-
"Who said anything about 'us?'"
Those were some of the last words Shalba ever heard, and I doubt his brain even registered the ending of the sentence as my jagged blade stabbed into his chest.
Unfortunately for Shalba, I was more than warmed up from my fight with Sirzechs, and as such had no need to play around with him. I simply took a step forward, my hand rocketing forward with [Momentum Boost] before the man could even hope to react.
[Devouring Stab] has claimed stats from [Shalba]!
+3,700 HP!
+370 MAXHP!
+950 STR
+775 AGI
+580 END
+875 LUK
+1,078 INT
+1,250 MP!
A notification to my side confirmed that I stole a good amount of stats from the attack, but I didn't even glance over at it. In this instance, I didn't care.
Katerea didn't seem the least bit concerned as her fellow descendant was stabbed in front of her, just bowing her head lightly at me.
"W-Why-" Shalba started, his eyes wide with pain and confusion.
"This isn't your stage," I cut him off bluntly, yanking back my jagged half-sword as the next slash cut straight through his neck.
[Devouring Stab] has claimed stats from [Shalba]!
+5,900 HP!
+590 MAXHP!
+1,250 STR
+1,595 AGI
+1,280 END
+1,175 LUK
+2,770 INT
+3,180 MP!
The blade wasn't sharp anymore, but it didn't need to be. Even if I were using a blunt butterknife, if I swung it hard enough, it would tear through bone and flesh.
Shalba's head was separated from his body in an instant, and the man's corpse fell over into the crater in a bloody display. His head fell down, rolling a few feet behind him as he died with wide and shocked eyes. A pool of blood formed around him, leaking from his neck as he lay lifeless.
While we shared the same goals, I had no intention of sharing with anyone. The Underworld, and then every other world as well, would be mine and mine alone.
And, to put it bluntly, Shalba wasn't worth the effort. Someone like him wouldn't submit easily, and he was neither all that powerful nor someone with ties to anyone I cared about. He wasn't a hot girl either, which I could've overlooked the other two facts if he were.
He would've been a decent subordinate once I forced him under contract, but his stats and skills were more appealing than taking the effort to domesticate him. I had a ton of powerful subordinates at this point, and I'd be able to gain a giga-powerful one when Sirzechs awoke and was forced into servitude.
And, I said this wasn't his stage for a reason. Right now, the battle had ended, and I was putting on a show.
To my side, a flurry of notifications were sitting, and I knew my quest log was full of completed quests right now. Not just for defeating the pillars, but also for now fully taking down the leaders of the Old Satan Faction.
I was almost complete with the New Satan Faction quest as well, as Falbium was now lying unconscious on Tiamat's back - as the Dragon King had decided to speed up Serafall's forced fight with him partway through my duel with Sirzechs. I hadn't heard exactly what she said, but it was something along the lines of calling them 'annoying insects' as they battled in the air and blocked her view of my duel.
That left just Ajuka, who was sealed but definitely not defeated yet. He would break out soon, and I still wasn't entirely certain what to do with him. He would be a good subordinate to have if I could force him to bend the knee, but also a risky one.
But that was a problem for another time. For now, it was time for the closing act.
"Devils," I called out casually, [Voice Manipulation] making my voice boom across the stadium as I started to float into the air. I turned the remaining devils in the stands as the barrier was now gone, leaving nothing between us as they looked at me wearily.
I couldn't blame them for their stares, as their seemingly invincible leader was lying in a pool of blood while I just ruthlessly and effortlessly murdered a descendant of one of the original Maou - and, not to mention, I just literally ate the Bael Elder and used the Power of Destruction.
"You've lost," I continued bluntly, looking down my nose at the stands of devils as I floated a bit above the stands, "Sirzechs Lucifer has been defeated. Falbium Asmodeus has been defeated. Ajuka Beelzebub has been defeated, and Serafall Leviathan is mine."
Ajuka technically wasn't defeated yet, but all they knew was that he had never shown up to the arena to watch the duel. For all they knew, he could've been dead right now.
"S-So bold…"
I ignored Serafall's mutter, continuing to speak down to the devils, "Zekram Bael is dead. Your leaders have lost, and society as you knew it is over. Half of your fellow pillars have been sent to extinction, and you could just as easily follow."
That made them tense, causing the angry and weary stars to turn a bit fearful as I floated above them like a god. A thick tension filled the air, and some of the uncharmed heads looked like they were ready to fight.
"But, you're lucky," I said bluntly, smirking lightly down at them, "Whether because of your clan head's stupidity, your own merit, or because I simply like you, you've been spared. Instead of meeting death, you will be given a much grander purpose."
[King's Aura] flared up, and if they thought Tiamat's casual aura was oppressive earlier, mine was much worse. It slammed down on them as if the gravity in the Underworld had increased a hundred times over, and no one - not even Rias, Sona, Ravel, or any of the other women who had been around me often - were safe.
In an instant, the hundreds of devils filling the stands fell to their knees. Those who had been standing angrily were now kneeling, their gazes on the floor as they couldn't help but submit. Those who had been sitting still fell from their chairs, falling onto all fours and bowing down as the weight of my presence was too much to handle.
"You are all mine now," I explained easily, my smirk growing larger as I watched the crowd of kneeling devils, "Whatever power, prestige, or relationships you had before mean nothing now. The Maou are gone, and I am here. Your King is here!"
The weaker devils flinched as my voice boomed around the arena, and even the stronger ones still couldn't raise their heads. Even Zeoticus Gremory was kneeling, his head bowed as his body tensed and tried to fight against the oppressive aura.
"Now…" I raised my sword, pointing the broken blade at the crowd as [King's Command] activated, "The price for your life is your loyalty. Swear your loyalty to your new king, or die."
For a second, there was no reaction. I didn't know if it was because they were too afraid to be the first one to speak, or if they were trying to resist me even after the display of power, but I quickly found out.
"A-All hail the Beast King!" The first voice to squeak out was Ravel's, as the woman gained the confidence to speak before even Lord Phenex.
Considering she'd spent numerous weeks with me, I couldn't blame the other devils for not having the same confidence. But, as she spoke, it started a wildfire of reactions.
"All hail the Beast King!"
"I-I swear loyalty to the new King!"
"All hail His Highness!"
"T-The new King!"
For most of the devils, they cared for their lives far more than they cared about avenging their fallen leaders or fellow pillars. Kind and caring devils such as the Gremory's were outliers - devils at their core were greedy, ruthless, and selfish creatures.
If bending the knee was what it took to survive, then that's what they would do.
"T-The Gremory's will accept the Beast King's rule!" That one was Zeoticus, who was being poked in his side by Rias as she hushedly whispered to him.
"All hail the Beast King!"
"The Phenex Clan will swear loyalty to the Beast King!" Lord Phenex seemed encouraged by Lord Gremory's words.
An arena of shouts followed, a mixture of devils swearing loyalty desperately to save their own lives and devils who accepted their fate as their leaders were defeated.
As I stared down at the crowd of kneeling, loyalty-swearing devils, my lips twitched up into a large grin.
A new era in the Underworld was about to begin.
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AN: Thank you for reading! The next chapter will be posted tomorrow!
You can also read the next 7 chapters right now on Patreon.com/Koyon !