The world of Zerathis trembled—
but this time…
it wasn't just from pressure.
It was from return.
Satan's aura surged again.
Against Zero Sum.
Against the law John had imposed.
"…Heh."
A cocoon of demonic essence wrapped around Satan once more.
Thicker than before.
Denser.
More refined.
It pulsed—
slowly—
like a heartbeat.
Then—
CRACK.
The shell began to split.
Piece by piece—
it broke apart.
And what emerged…
Was something deeper.
Black wings stretched wide.
A thin, blade-like tail swayed behind him.
Black and red horns curved upward.
Crimson slit eyes burned with ancient malice.
His aura—
Oppressive.
Not just pressure—
Death.
The surrounding lifeforms…
didn't collapse.
They simply—
stopped existing.
In his hand—
A weapon formed.
A black trident.
Condensed demonic authority.
Satan exhaled slowly.
And John—
walked forward.
"…To bypass Zero Sum…"
He smiled.
Then—
his hand lifted.
The black slime gathered—
Forming once more—
His blade.
He raised it to the sky.
"…Perfect Release."
Silence.
Then—
Reality broke.
Day turned to night.
Night turned to day.
The stars above—
glitched.
Like they were no longer fixed.
Like they were being rewritten.
Cut — Planet Kael'Ar (Arkion)
Inside Hoshigawa.
Arata sat quietly by the window.
A cup of tea in hand.
Outside—
Mitsuki, Rei, Nax, and Asar stood near the door.
"We're going out to practice!" Mitsuki said.
Arata nodded slightly.
"…Alright."
"Be careful."
They left.
The door slid shut.
Arata took another sip.
Then—
he looked up.
Through the window.
At the sky.
"…Though it's less powerful than mine…"
A small smile formed.
"…it does have a massive effect."
He leaned back slightly.
"…You can finally go all out, John."
Back to Zerathis —
Satan's eyes narrowed.
"…Now I get it."
"It's the Soul Circuit."
A faint click of his tongue.
"Tch."
"That's why you're so troublesome."
He vanished.
No sound.
No trace.
Appeared behind John instantly—
Trident raised—
Striking down.
CLANG.
Blocked.
John didn't even turn.
Satan attacked again—
faster—
relentless—
Strike after strike—
John blocked every single one.
They moved—
Through the sky.
Invisible.
Only the impacts remained.
Echoes.
Mountains collapsing.
Shockwaves tearing through the land.
Satan's voice cut through the chaos.
"Demonic Authority—"
The space around John twisted.
"Cube Lock."
A cube formed.
Pure demonic essence.
Sealed.
Absolute.
John was trapped inside.
Satan pointed his trident forward.
"…May you never survive."
A pause—
Then—
"Morning Star Beam."
A massive blast erupted.
Hellfire condensed—
focused—
Then released.
Everything in its path—
Erased.
The beam tore through Zerathis—
Shot into space—
And—
Destroyed a moon.
Silence followed.
A massive crater burned into existence.
Smoke.
Ash.
Nothing.
Satan stood there.
Waiting.
Feeling.
Sensing.
Nothing.
No aura.
No presence.
No resistance.
"…Is that it?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…I guess he wasn't legit."
Then—
Killing intent.
Pure.
Immediate.
Overwhelming.
Satan's body reacted instantly—
He turned—
CLANG.
John's blade was already there.
Descending.
Satan blocked—
but—
BOOM.
The force drove him down—
His feet sank into the surface of Zerathis.
The ground shattered beneath him.
He looked up.
And saw—
John.
Suit intact.
But from the neck up—
There was no calm.
No restraint.
Only—
Intent.
His blue eyes glowed through the cracked edges of his white mask.
Cold.
Focused.
Absolute.
Without a word—
John moved.
A kick—
BOOM.
Satan was launched—
Straight into a massive tree.
The impact shattered it.
He barely recovered—
And then—
His eyes widened.
Because in front of him—
A mountain—
Was coming at him.