The one who intruded by making a hole in the dimension is a man with light armor and cape. The ORC only saw him once but they instantly recognized the man
He landed between the 2 groups and glared specifically at Issei and Vali
"It has been a while. Red Dragon Emperor." He shifted his glare to Vali who was on the 13th floor. "And to you, Vali."
"Shalba Beelzebub." Issei said with narrowed eyes. He couldn't forget the man who once took away Asia's life
"The leader of the Old-Maou faction. What is he doing here?"
"And I thought he was obliterated the last time?" spoke Erin after Azazel. "He must have found a way to escape."
Siegfried took a step forward and spoke to Shalba
"Shalba. I did receive a report but I never thought you survived and were acting by yourself."
"Hey Siegfried. I certainly did get lots of assistance from you people. You have my gratitude. Thanks to that, my wounds have healed... though I did lose Ophis' snake and my powers are lower than before."
"And the reason for you to come here is?"
"Nothing much. I just thought that I would declare war on you." Shalba puts on an evil smile and revealed what was under his cape. A boy appeared underneath and looking at his eyes, it seems like he was being controlled
"Leonardo!" Siegfried and Georg grew shocked
"Shalba, why did you bring that boy here? No. Why is he with you? Leonardo is supposed to be on a different mission!"
"I thought I would have him assist me for a bit." A glint ran through Shalba's eyes. "Just like this!"
*(CHING!)*
Shalba activated an ominous magic circle within his hand and placed it closer to Leonardo. The devil letters within the magic circle moved fast and Leonardo screamed in pain
"ARGGHHH!"
A shadow expanded and covered the whole field. Shalba flew up from where he was and then laughed out loudly
"Annihilation Maker is a very splendid and idealistic ability! And people say that he specializes in creating anti-monsters! That's why, I kidnapped him who was doing a mission with another group from the Hero-faction!"
Shalba's evil grin grew wider
"Now then. I will have him create it! A monster than can eliminate the current devils of the world!"
"ZUOOOOOOON!"
Something was created from the shadow. A huge head was appearing out of it and it started to shift into a creature.
It has a large torso, thick arms, and overwhelming legs to support its body. The creature that was created from the shadow covers the whole field. Suddenly, the creature roared and the 2 groups felt like their eardrums would break.
"A gigantic monster! It is two heads bigger than Great Red!" Rias said in shock. The monster was about 200 meters tall and other smaller monsters started to appear from its shadow
*(FLASH!)*
A large magic circle was created below the monsters' feet. It was a transportation magic circle and Shalba laughed maniacally once again
"I'm planning to transport these monsters to the Underworld to wreck havoc! It's a humongous anti-monster! It will certainly eliminate a lot of devils in the Underworld!"
"Stop them!"
Under Azazel's order, the ORC started attacking the monsters but their attacks only scraped the surfaces of the monsters. The monsters disappeared into the magic-circle and the field started to make a weird noise
There was a scar in the sky due to Shalba's forced entry and the buildings around the artificial space started to collapse.
"This field is starting to become unstable because of the forceful birth of the monsters and their transportation!" Azazel remarked
"The device won't last long! Damn Shalba. Did he use the ability that surpasses the capacity of the possessor by force?!" Georg said to Siegfried.
"We can't help it. Looks like it's time for us to leave. Let's retreat at once after retrieving Leonardo. Pluto, how about -
Siegfried halted and realized the disappearance of the Grim Reaper. Seeing that, he understood the reaper's motive.
"I see.... so the one who was helping Shalba from the shadows was.. It's something that Skull-God would think of. Was he also the one who revealed the method of forcefully using the Balance Breaker of Annihilation Maker? We were trying to increase Leonardo's power slowly. We don't know what kind of price or side-effect it would have on his body."
After saying that, Siegfried and Georg retrieved Leonardo and disappeared along with a mist.
*(KABOOOOM!)*
There were sounds of explosions coming from the hotel. Shalba was attacking the rearguards but aimed his attacks mostly to Vali
"What's wrong, Vali? What happened to your proud demonic-powers? Your power of being the White Emperor? What happened to it? HAHAHAHA!"
He fired another shot which was blocked by the rearguards
"You are just a mixed breed with a human so there was no way for you to win against me who is the real Maou!"
"I don't want to hear it from you who names himself a Maou while borrowing powers from others." retorted Vali as he activated a defense magic-circle
"HAHAHA! It only matters if you win in the end!"
*(KABOOOM!)*
"I must help Asia over there." Issei declared as he flew towards the hotel. He started throwing blasts at Shalba who instantly laughed evilly at his arrival
" Who do we have here? It's that stupid Red Emperor who blasted me last time. I'll make sure to return the favor you insolent fool!"
*(BOOGSH!)*
"I won't let you spread your stupidity again!" Issei countered as he fired at Shalba. The latter easily avoided it and said
"You think these puny attacks would kill me? Think again!"
Shalba punched Issei with force and threw him by the window.
"Now, there is one more thing I want!" He pointed his hand towards Ophis and a spiral demonic-power appeared. It wrapped around Ophis and captured her
"Hoo! Just like the information I gathered! The current Ophis has an unstable power and even my current self can capture her! I will have her give me a snake again since my powers are down. I will be taking her now!"
"Like hell I would!"
Erin expanded the wings from her armor and closed the distance between him and Shalba
"This is a curse! I shall become the poison who will devour the Underworld! I don't care about the authority and possession of the Underworld any more! This Shalba Beelzebub will use his last bit of power to destroy the Underworld together with the monsters!"
Shalba's expression was covered with madness and he pointed at the Goddess
"The children, people, and citizens you care deeply about will be terminated by my curse! Including the inferior low-class devils and mid-class children of devils. Even the offspring of the elites will die in the same way! Isn't this the world you are hoping for? A world without discrimination? So they will all die equally without discrimination! HAHAHA!"
"What a scumbag! So you only have revenge in mind to the Underworld who rejected you!" Erin gritted as she glared at the man
The field started to collapse and holes appeared which sucked the remnants of the artificial dimension.
"This field is at its limit-nyan! If we act now, we should be able to transfer so I will activate the magic circle! Then all of us will leave this place!"
Rias, Akeno, Kiba, and Azazel flew towards the hotel. They gathered around Kuroka while Asia was healing Vali and Issei who were wounded from Shalba's attack.
The crazed man was still laughing and near him was Ophis who was captured. The Goddess suddenly felt a familiar feeling resurface and Voltaire's voice flashed on her mind
"{My child... it seems that this scenario, is the path which would lead to that.}"
Erin smiled bitterly and spoke in a low voice
"I see... then I assume there is no way out unless we continue to rush forward?"
"{Yes.... even if there is a slight chance.. but still, we cannot avoid this outcome.}"
"Then that leaves us with completing the objective at the very least." Erin declared as she stared firmly at Shalba. "We will rescue Ophis, and defeat that man."
"Erin! We will transfer now! Come over here quickly!" Rias said who was confused on why the Goddess was still hovering in mid-air
Erin flashed her a smile which made Rias more puzzled along with the other ORC members
"This is my fate. I will go and rescue Ophis. I will also beat up Shalba along with it."
Everyone became shocked at the words and some of the members quickly retorted
"Then I will also fight!"
"I will go with you, Erin!"
"There is no point to show off by yourself! I can't just leave you alone!"
Kiba, Issei, and Akeno said but the Goddess shook her head in response
"No. It will be enough with just me. You guys have to go to the Underworld to report this threat, right? If it's me, I can still move around in the Dimensional Gap for a while after the field collapses. I can't let Shalba get away and I also can't have Ophis be handed to my Uncle."
"This is something only I can do. Azazel and Issei's Balance Breaker armor was at its limits. Besides, this chaos is created by a relative of mine so it is only right if I take care of this mess." Erin mused
"It's at the limit-nyan! We won't be able to transfer unless we do it now!"
Vali placed his hand on Azazel's shoulder for support. He lifted himself up and spoke to the Goddess
"Erin Vermillion."
"Ah, Vali. Don't fret. I will beat up Shalba on your behalf." Vali smiled at this and the Goddess shifted her gaze to Issei.
"And I'll do it for you as well, Issei!"
"Hai! I'm counting on you, Erin!" spoke Issei who was close to tears on leaving the Goddess.
"Erin-chi! I will open the dragon-gate afterwards to summon you and Ophis! You are okay with that, right?"
The Goddess nodded at Azazel's words and expanded the wings on her back
"Hai! I will leave it to you, Azazel!" she waved goodbye to the group but before she can go, Rias called out to her
"Erin. Come back to me no matter what!"
The Goddess composed herself to voice a reply to Rias
"I.... I will. I may be a little late but yes! I will definitely come back! Until then, please wait for me."
The red head smiled at this and Erin called out Akeno's attention as well
"Please continue to stay strong. I love you, Rias.. Akeno."
The oneesamas gasped faintly. They felt an unfamiliar dread but before they can reply, the Goddess went towards Shalba and at the same time, they were teleported away from the place
"Please continue to stay strong.. because until then, I will rely on the faint hope that I can change the outcome and return to your side."
- End of Chapter -