Chapter [68]

Riser let the sword slip from his hands as he watched Vali's lifeless body. His hand was burning; using a sacred sword like Ascalon without the necessary protection, like Issei, who had the Boosted Gear on his arm. Before the effect of the explosion faded and people at the school could see what had happened, Riser issued a command to the system.

"System, steal Albion's abilities," ordered Riser, his voice filled with determination.

The system responded promptly, like an obedient entity to his command. "Are you sure you want to deduct -2500 luck points?" it asked in a neutral tone.

"Yes," confirmed Riser, even knowing the consequences.

"Albion's mind will be destroyed forever. Still, do you wish to proceed?" the system warned.

Riser took a deep breath, preparing for what was to come. "Yes," he replied firmly.

And so, the system executed the operation, deducting 2500 luck points from Riser. The young man felt a shiver run down his spine as a new power began to sprout within him. Now, Riser was the new bearer of the Divine Division.

Meanwhile, Issei felt a strange sensation coursing through his body. A sudden chill made him shudder, and he tightened the gauntlet on his arm, where Ddraig resided. A voice echoed in his mind, the voice of his dragon partner.

"Issei, something terrible has happened. Vali is dead, and Albion... Albion has been destroyed forever," said Ddraig, his voice filled with anger and frustration.

Ddraig felt enraged and powerless. Within the Boosted Gear, he seethed with frustration. Albion's fate should have been decided by him, not by Riser. It was an affront to his dragon honor, a usurpation of his rightful claim to face his old rival.

"Issei, this cannot be tolerated," roared Ddraig in his mind, his voice resonating with a mix of indignation and desperation. "Riser has no right to appropriate what does not belong to him. Albion was my rival, my prey, and now he has been destroyed without my consent."

Issei secretly felt a pang of satisfaction knowing that his dragon partner shared his determination to defeat Riser.

"You can count on me, Ddraig," said Issei in his mind, his voice resonating with confidence. "We'll take him down together."

Ddraig emitted a silent roar of approval, his energy pulsing through the gauntlet on Issei's arm. Despite the bleak situation, there was a fierce determination burning within both of them.

As the effect of the explosion began to dissipate, the sky returned to its usual darkness, tinged only by the faint twinkling of stars. Sona, inside the cube, watched with concern as Riser's figure emerged from the wreckage. She felt a tightness in her chest at the sight of her husband's calm expression, contrasting with the lingering tension in the air.

"Sona, my love, are you alright?" Riser asked, his voice calm but laden with genuine concern.

"Y-yes, I'm fine..." replied Sona, her voice trembling, reflecting the turbulence of her emotions.

Meanwhile, Merlin, sensing the need to undo the cube to free Sona, mentally sought permission from Riser. With a nod of his head, Riser granted permission, allowing Merlin to perform his magic to undo the cube.

Azazel, upon spotting Vali's body, flew towards him with an expression of horror. Meanwhile, Sirzechs, Michael, and Serafall, accompanied by Irina, headed towards the location where the cube had been before Merlin dispelled the magic, concerned about what they might find.

Riser approached Sona amidst the wreckage, his eyes meeting hers in a gesture of comfort and support. Sona, feeling relieved by Riser's reassuring presence, rushed into his arms, embracing him tightly.

Issei approached Rias, staying close to her as a form of protection. He watched the surroundings closely, his eyes gleaming with distrust towards Riser.

Sona, feeling the need to step away for a moment, released herself from Riser's embrace, her mind swirling with thoughts about what had just happened. She noticed Serafall approaching and turned to meet her.

Serafall approached Sona with a worried expression. "Sona, are you alright?" she asked, her tone laden with anxiety and fraternal care.

Sona nodded, trying to calm her nerves. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you, Serafall," she replied, forcing a smile to reassure her sister.

Serafall glanced at Riser with a critical look before turning to him. "Riser-chan, are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle but filled with genuine concern.

Riser nodded, trying to convey confidence. "Yes, I'm fine. It was just a scare," he replied, maintaining his composure even in the face of the curious looks around.

Sirzechs approached the group, his expression serious denoting concern. "What happened here?" he asked, his voice firm but tinged with anxiety.

Riser shook his head, his mind still trying to process the recent events. "I'm not sure. Vali just tried to attack me."

Meanwhile, Sirzechs, in his thoughts, was worried about the peace agreement that had recently been established. The incident between Riser and Vali could shake the fragile relations between the factions, jeopardizing the stability achieved with so much effort.

Rias stepped away from Issei, feeling the need to process everything that had happened. Her eyes sparkled with irritation at the thought of how Riser had acted. She approached Riser with determined steps, her gaze demanding explanations.

Akeno, sensing the tension in Rias, followed closely, ready to offer support and comfort. Issei, remaining vigilant, also followed Rias.

Sona, noticing Rias's approach, positioned herself next to Riser, as if protecting him from any potential confrontation. Riser sighed, preparing for the inevitable conversation that was about to unfold.

Rias looked directly into Riser's eyes, her voice filled with indignation. "Why did you trap me inside that cube?" she questioned, her voice vibrating with the intensity of her emotions.

Riser sighed, feeling the weight of the words that were about to come out of his mouth. He looked into Rias's eyes, seeing the indignation stamped on her face.

"I know you must be wondering why I trapped you inside that cube. But it wasn't a prison; it was protection for Sona. It was lucky you ended up in there."

Rias raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical of Riser's explanation. "Lucky?" she questioned, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

Riser nodded, remaining calm in the face of Rias's growing irritation. "Yes, lucky. You saw the fight between me and Vali. Do you really think you would have survived if you were out there?"

Rias was left speechless, her mind replaying the chaotic events that had led her to that situation. Akeno, sensing the tension in her friend, approached and began massaging her shoulders, offering silent comfort.

"B-but I needed to find Gasper..." murmured Rias, her voice weakened by confusion and frustration.

Riser looked at Rias, his calm expression contrasting with her intense emotions. "You can still find him," he replied, his voice serene.

Rias frowned, her mind struggling to process Riser's words. "How? There's no one left to gather information," she retorted, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Riser gestured towards the crater where Azazel was, next to Vali's body. "Actually, someone is left," he pointed out, his voice calm as he observed Azazel's figure amidst the wreckage.

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