Riser is still kind

"If you touch me, then they are going to die." 

When those words fell, Vali, who was about to beat Riser, stopped his movement and didn't dare to touch him, but his eyes under the armor were full of hatred and fury. 

"Don't involve them! If you want a fight, I will welcome you anytime! I won't run away! Don't act like a coward, bast—

Vali couldn't continue his words as his cheek was slapped. Even if his face was covered in armor, Riser's slap wasn't something that could be blocked by mere armor. 

A black flash-like lightning spark flashed from his slap. 

The moment Vali was hit, he felt his head was dizzy and his ear was ringing. 

"Undone your "Balance Breaker." 

As Riser had robbed all the research done by Grigori, he knew many things about the Sacred Gear, including the most common strongest state of the Sacred Gear, "Balance Breaker."

"...." 

Vali fell in silence and didn't say anything, nor did he do anything. 

But—

"Don't make me repeat myself."

"Vali..." 

Albion spoke with Vali through his mind as he learned of Vali's decision. 

No one could tell what this madman could do. 

No, this guy could do anything as Riser could even go to Italy, pretending to be someone who cared about the peace in the supernatural world, yet the truth was he was just coming to get the weakness of the White Dragon Emperor. 

This was what made Riser a fearsome opponent. 

When no one knew about this weakness, Riser knew about it. Even if this weakness was just a civilian who wasn't involved in the supernatural world, he didn't care and ruthlessly involved them without their knowing, as they thought of him as just a kind older brother. 

Facing such an opponent, Vali felt his entire body trembling due to coldness, and his entire body was constricted by powerful chains that squeezed him tightly. He wished to escape, but he couldn't. He was trapped there, and everything was under Riser's control. 

Still, because of this, Vali followed his words and released his "Balance Breaker," but a powerful kick struck his chest!

"Guwah!" 

"VALI!" 

Like before, his ribs were broken, which made Vali remember the terror of that day. 

"YOU BASTARD!" Albion's anger couldn't be hidden from his loud voice. Even though he was sealed on the "Divine Dividing," he still had his consciousness, showing how big his hatred toward Riser was. 

"Are you sure to talk to me like that? His family might die if you talk to me in that tone." 

"ALBION!" 

Even if Vali was in extreme pain, he scolded Albion harshly. 

"Vali..." For the first time, Albion realized the feeling of helplessness. 

Nevertheless, even if his body was in pain, Vali's eyes never died as he stared at Riser. 

However, Riser hated this type of eye the most! 

Did Vali think that he was righteous? 

Even though Vali was the one who provoked him?

Did Vali think that as long as he was the descendant of Lucifer and the holder of the "Divine Dividing," he was going to be forgiven?

So, as long as Vali had all of those, was it alright to mess with his life? 

Still, Vali was stupid, so Riser understood that this guy was an idiot and there was no meaning in talking with such a guy. 

As the smart one, Riser felt that he needed to teach him what kind of a mistake that Vali had made. 

Still, Riser didn't bother to beat Vali again since he knew physical harm was useless. 

For this type of guy, physical harm was meaningless. 

Riser also felt that his clothes would become dirty by beating up this guy, so that kick was enough. 

"It's funny that you can think that you are the victim even though you were the cause of everything." 

Watching Riser smile and hearing his eased tone, Vali frowned as he clutched into his painful chest. 

"To be honest, I don't hate you, or rather, I have never known you until we met at Kuoh Academy." Riser sighed as he thought about his past. "If possible, I don't want us to be enemies." 

"Then, why did you do all of this...?!" Vali suppressed his anger as he asked that question. 

Why did Riser need to threaten him with his mother and step-siblings?

Why did this guy plan to kill him?

Why did he have to face this injustice?

"Isn't it your fault?" 

"...my-my fault?" 

Hearing such a natural answer from Riser's mouth, Vali was confused and also in doubt as he had never thought that he had done anything wrong. 

"Are you so stupid that you forgot everything? Was your brain so tiny that all you could think was only a fight and fight?" 

Riser stared at Vali, causing him to flinch and unable to look at him straight, but he grasped his hair hard, forcing Vali to stare into his eyes. 

"Use your tiny brain and try to remember who talked to me condescendingly, arrogantly like I was trash? Try to remember who wished to beat me up before. Try to remember who wished to kill me. Try to remember who announced in front of everyone, swore, making a vow that he was going to kill me. Hey, look at me!" 

Riser's voice was calm, cold, and without any emotions, yet it made Vali's chest become so stuffy, and his neck was strangled that he couldn't breathe. Moreover, due to Riser's hand, he couldn't look away from him and was forced to stare into Riser's abyss-like eyes, giving him an eerie, creepy, and terror-like feeling. 

"So, do you think it is okay for you to kill me and threaten me, yet it isn't okay for me to threaten you? That's unfair, right? How unreasonable! Now, you should understand that if your mother and step-siblings are dead, then it is all your fault. 

"Not only the step-siblings and mother, but Azazel, the Grigori, and many others. 

"If all of them are dead, it is all your goddamn fault!" 

Riser whispered those words slowly so Vali would understand the consequences of his actions. 

"M-My fault..." 

"Yes, that's why I won't kill you, but I will cut your limbs so you won't be able to fight and seal your "Divine Dividing" and power, then force you to watch me killing all the people you care about one by one as you regret your decision." 

"No... no. please don't! Don't kill them! Just kill me! I am the one, right? I am the one who has caused so much trouble for you! I just ended my life! Don't get them involved! I beg you!" 

Vali didn't care how ugly he was at that moment. 

Vali groveled on the ground as he kept beginning him, realizing what kind of opponent he had made. 

Vali regretted it! 

If it was only his life, Vali didn't care, but what about the others?

As Vali thought he could only watch all of the people he cared about die one by one as he was unable to do anything, it might be better for him to die! 

"Please... I beg you." 

"Geez, why do you make me like a bad guy? Aren't you the one who provokes me and the one who starts everything?" 

Riser was full of helplessness as he watched Vali on his feet, hugging his leg tightly, begging him, almost kissing his calfskin leather shoes. He also didn't want to become a demon or a monster, but weren't you the one who forced him to become one?

"Tell me what Azazel wishes you to do?" 

Riser asked as he kicked Vali away as he didn't want Vali to dirty his shoes. 

Vali didn't care about the pain in his body and narrated the plan that Azazel wished him to do. Riser didn't kill him immediately, so he knew that Riser had a plan for him. Nevertheless, this also brought him wariness, thinking that Riser might force him to kill Azazel. Still, if Riser wished to kill Azazel, even if he knew that he might kill the others, he was going to bet to go do-or-die, killing Riser and bringing him with him to hell. 

Yet, Vali suddenly remembered Azazel's words. 

---

'He's immortal. Even if you kill him, he can't die. If you can't kill him, then he is going to kill the others.' 

---

With those words, Vali didn't dare to do anything and truthfully told everything as he had given up, only hoping Riser wouldn't ask him a cruel request. After all, the life of his mother and his step-siblings was in Riser's hands. 

Watching Vali, Riser sighed as he saw Vali's eyes, thinking that everyone in this world was stupid as they thought they had a chance against him, ignoring the consequences. 

Did they ever think that he would give them mercy?

Did they ever think that he was going to let them go?

Riser didn't like to kill, but since they forced him, there was nothing he could do since their happiness would mean his misery. 

"Okay, I understand." 

Still, he had to say Vali was a good boy as Vali told everything truthfully. 

"I can let go of your mother and stepsiblings." 

"Really?" Vali was surprised. 

"Yes, I won't do anything to them. I won't kill them, but I want you to do something for me." 

"Wh-What is it?" Vali grew anxious, but Riser ignored that and said his request like he asked Vali to buy him ice cream at the convenience store, "Kill Sirzech for me."