There weren't many left. Most of the students had either fainted or died. The explosions caused by the golem, followed by the massive death sink, had cut their numbers in half. Even so, most of the teachers were still alive and conscious.

And those few witnessed everything as clearly as they had seen the children die.

The same being that had effortlessly defeated their last hope, Kevin, was now bowing its head.

No, it wasn't that another entity from the underworld had appeared. But what stood there now was nothing less than a devil.

His blond hair shone as if it absorbed sunlight and returned it in a brilliant glow. His eyes were blood-red, detached to the point of feeling inhuman. And the most striking detail, the one that made many question whether they were truly looking at William, was the raven wing extending from his back.

"H-How can this be… is he really William?" one of the teachers asked.

"Has he been corrupted in the forest? But why isn't student Emma resisting him? Has he put her under a spell?"

"F-Forget about her… even if William has been corrupted… why is that being kneeling before him?"

A newly corrupted devil-human being shown respect by a General-ranked entity? It made no sense. Yet the proof stood right before their eyes.

Inside the gymnasium, Emma stood frozen, her eyes searching his.

She didn't stiffen when he wrapped an arm around her waist. She didn't react when she felt nothing but Nyx radiating from him. She didn't grow wary at the sight of those black feathers on his back.

But what unsettled her was his gaze.

Why… wasn't he looking at her?

"Because I look ugly," he muttered, easily reading her thoughts, and finally turned his head to look down at his beloved.

Emma frowned. "That's not a good reason for you to behave so differently. I was about to get mad."

William gave a faint smile. He wanted to speak more, to ask about her condition, but then—

"We awaited your arrival, Lord Lucifer," the devil said, its voice no longer carrying the earlier screech or mirth.

All Emma could hear now was respect… and a trace of hesitation.

Lucifer… she had heard that name before, but not in this world.

William coldly stared at the being before him. "Do you know me?"

"Who doesn't? The First Fallen. The Broken Halo. The Dawnbringer. The end of every debate and the rise of a new hope. You are Lord Lucifer Morningstar."

William tilted his head… so many titles.

He changed the question. "Why are you here? What's your purpose?"

Since Lamb and the others couldn't give him a clear answer, he chose to ask someone who might stand at the core of it all.

"Our purpose is simply to maintain balance at the Nexus."

William frowned. "Nexus?"

"This planet, Lord Lucifer. This place serves as the prime energy source of the All-Knower."

It only grew more confusing, but he continued.

"What balance? The count of death and birth?"

The devil kept its head bowed, showing no amusement at his lack of understanding. After all, the Final Judge had only just awakened.

It replied calmly, "Balance, so that the rulers of Heaven do not purify this land and create an imbalance."

William nearly raised a hand to his head.

Just then, he heard a voice, one only he could perceive.

"He is telling the truth… but only partially," Lamb said.

When William turned, he froze for a moment.

Something about Lamb had changed.

'What's with that hole?' William asked inwardly, staring at the massive gap in the middle of his body, as if chunks of flesh had been carved out by force.

Lamb shook his head. "Don't worry… it was bound to happen. Now, about the matter at hand, it wasn't the angels who sought dominance, but these devils. They want absolute rule over the Nexus."

William hummed softly… exactly what one would expect from such beings.

Shaking his head, he said, "Since you've come here, let me test my powers a bit… and kill you." William stepped forward.

The devil panicked. "M-My Lord… but I thought we were fighting for the same cause?"

William raised his hand. Rubble and broken fragments began to rise, lifting into the air around him. "I fight for no cause other than myself."

The devil moved instantly, creating distance to avoid falling under his control.

Unfortunately for it, William had no range limit at the moment.

"Khiuk!" the devil choked as something invisible clamped around its entire body, locking it in place.

William took another step, then rose, floating above the death sink.

The devil suddenly released a massive surge of Nyx, trying to resist, or even strike at Emma if it could break free from his grasp.

But every trace of Nyx it unleashed was absorbed by Lucifer without effort.

It was as if the energy itself had become his servant, returning to its master without being called.

The blond death angel advanced slowly, without a hint of urgency.

The devil gritted its teeth. Its wide mouth split open, and a long tongue lashed toward William, aiming to coil around his neck.

"Hnnng!"

As if an invisible barrier surrounded him at all times, the tongue couldn't even reach him.

William tilted his head. "You really are a disgusting creature." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The extended tongue snapped and folded in on itself, splitting from the middle. A shrill cry tore out of the Devil.

Then came its arms. First the left, then the right. They bent unnaturally, joints collapsing as they twisted into brittle, broken shapes.

William stepped forward, his voice low. "The last time I met a general-ranked, it made me feel helpless. Blame your comrade for making me this angry at you."

"You…! Ghuaaak!" The Devil choked as its left leg began to turn. Slowly. Mercilessly. It twisted backward until its own claws dug deep into its spine.

The Devil thrashed, desperate, trying to gather Nyx and escape. But every time it tried to form a spell, the energy was devoured. Swallowed whole by Lucifer before it could take shape.

William raised his hand slightly. "I heard you were about to harm Emma."

The Devil's eyes widened, not at the question, but at the force gripping its chest from within.

William's fingers curled.

SQUELCH

In the next instant, something rested in his grasp.

A pulsing black heart.

The Devil's body went slack, all strength drained in a breath. Yet before the last flicker of its life faded, it forced out a final whisper,

"You will… be at the crossfire… once again."

William rolled his eyes, "What a fresh news." Like he already didn't know that both sides were targeting him already.

William raised his hand and exhaled a sigh...well, now he knows the exact reason why even Gods were after him.

He was ...something akin to a devil. And yet not.

He was fully operational on Nyx at the moment however he knew he could channel aether as well.

So yes, they were wary of him for a reason.

Shaking his head, William turned towards his behind....and froze for a moment.

Every single teacher had gathered there, raising their weapons and ready to fight.

But what shocked him the most was Emma.

She was holding a weapon too. It appeared to be a broken shard of a blade.

But...she wasn't facing him.

The silly girl, standing on her wobbly legs, exhausted beyond belief was ready to fight those who saw William as evil.

'Seriously...just how far can you go for me, Emma?'

°°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.