Chapter 5: Ordainer of Inexorable Judgment
The battle began with a bang, as both teams engaged in a ferocious fight, and the cheers of the crowd echoed like an unstoppable tempest within the confines of the Erebus Coliseum. Both sides were battling with relentless determination, neither yielding an inch as their pride was on the line.
Kaelena lead the charge for her peerage, her sharp spear clashed with the twin blades of a member of Alistair's peerage, a graceful yet lethal devil whose movements resembled a deadly dance, an assassin style combatant.
As this battle was occurring, the molten pools of the battlefield hissed and bubbled as stray sparks from the intense combat grazed their surfaces, sending bursts of steam into the air.
The steam was infused with corrosive energy, and coming into contact with it for too long could lead to noticeable injuries, leading everyone to constantly shift their positions across the battlefield.
Kaelena's voice rang out above the echoes of battle, commanding her peerage with precision, "Hold the line! Do not give them an opening!" Her words were punctuated by the brutal swing of her spear, which forced her opponent back with sheer strength.
On the other side of the battlefield, Alistair's peerage moved with fluid coordination. The women wove spells of charm and misdirection, trying to force their opponents into unfavorable positions. "Push them toward the molten pools," he called out, his voice laced with cunning. "Let the terrain work in our favor."
His strategy was clear, and his peerage responded instantly, forcing Kaelena's team into a defensive stance. But Kaelena, true to her reputation, refused to be outmaneuvered.
"Don't falter!" she roared, spinning her spear in a wide arc that sent a blast of energy crashing into one of Alistair's spellcasters. The devil staggered, her concentration broken, and the tide of the battle shifted momentarily in Kaelena's favor.
From the private box above, Sona and Rias watched the battle with rapt attention.
"Impressive," Rias remarked, leaning forward slightly as she curiously gazed at the battle, "Both sides are playing to their strengths, but Kaelena's sheer presence is hard to ignore."
Sona adjusted her glasses, her analytical gaze fixed on the battlefield, "It's evenly matched for now, but that could change at any moment. Alistair's peerage is relying heavily on their coordination. If Kaelena can disrupt that,"
Before she could finish her sentence, a low rumble reverberated through the Coliseum, cutting through the cacophony of cheers and combat and sending strange shivers down her spine.
At first, it seemed like nothing more than a distant sound, but it quickly grew louder, more ominous. The artificial moonlight began to dim, and a strange chill swept through the air. The crowd murmured in confusion, their cheers faltering as they looked to the sky.
"What's happening?" Rias asked, her crimson eyes narrowing as she looked at the sky, the atmosphere quickly shifting around the arena.
Sona glanced upward, her expression unreadable, "The weather… it's changing."
Indeed, the clear, starlit sky above the Erebus Coliseum was now darkened by ominous storm clouds that churned and roiled as if summoned by some unseen force.
Lightning flickered within the depths of the clouds, and the first drops of rain began to fall, quickly escalating into a torrential downpour.
The rain was unlike anything the Devils had ever seen. It was unnaturally cold, each drop sharp and piercing as if made of liquid needles. What was strange was the rain seemed unrecognizably uncomfortable compared to normal rain, like it had ominous aspects.
Meanwhile, in the Rating Game Dimension, the overbearing torrential downpour also appeared there as well, the molten pools within the battlefield hissed violently as the rain struck them, sending up plumes of steam that obscured the combatants and quickly corroded some of them.
In the private box, Ajuka Beelzebub's sharp eyes widened as he quickly tapped at the tablet in his hands, analyzing the situation.
"This wasn't forecasted," he said, his voice calm but tinged with concern. To him, such an unforeseen event was cause for immediate concern and investigation, "The weather in the Underworld is controlled. There were no scheduled storms for tonight."
Serafall, who had been bouncing with excitement moments before, now sat frozen, her cheerful demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness, "Ajuka, what's going on? This isn't normal."
Ajuka didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stood, his gaze fixed on the battlefield below as he saw what was happening, "Something's wrong," he muttered. "The rain… it's piercing through the dimensional barrier of the Rating Game. That shouldn't be possible."
The crowd, oblivious to the full implications of Ajuka's words, continued to watch the match, though their excitement was now tinged with a feeling of unease due to the barrage of rain.
In the arena, the rain was wreaking havoc on the combatants. The jagged rocks had become slick and treacherous, forcing both teams to fight with even greater caution, not wanting to slip and fall into a pool of corrosive molten lava.
Their Spells fizzled and sputtered in the downpour, almost as if the rain was interrupting their ability to cast magic on a fundamental level, restricting their abilities massively.
Alistair Dantalion, his hair plastered to his face by the rain, glanced upward, his sharp features betraying a flicker of unease. "This… isn't natural," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the roar of the storm.
Kaelena, ever the warrior, gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on her spear. "Focus!" she barked at her peerage. "This is just another obstacle. We don't stop until we win!"
But her words were soon drowned out by a deafening crack of thunder that shook the very foundations of the Coliseum.
~BOOM~
"Ajuka," Sirzechs said, his voice low and commanding, "we need to stop the match and investigate this. Whatever's happening, it's beyond,"
Before he could finish, a blinding flash of light illuminated the arena, and a massive eye formed in the storm clouds above. It was unlike anything anyone had ever seen,a swirling vortex of energy that radiated an overwhelming sense of power and dread.
"The Eye of Stormy Judgment," Ajuka whispered, his voice barely audible but a barrage of concern, confusion, and fear quickly filled his body, "But… that means...."
The eye pulsed with a malevolent energy, and suddenly, bolts of lightning rained down with terrifying precision, striking the battlefield below.
~BOOM~BOOM~BOOM~BOOM~
The first bolt shattered the dimensional barrier entirely, an act that should have been impossible under the strict enchantments of the Rating Game system. All participants in the Rating Game were teleported back to the middle of the Coliseum.
The Coliseum erupted into chaos as the tyrannical lightning strikes obliterated the barrier and rained down in violent succession. The crowd, moments ago filled with excitement and cheers, now trembled in fear and confusion.
A noble devil's crimson eyes widened with terror as he leaned closer to his companion, "What in the name of Lucifer is this? This isn't part of the game!" His voice trembled, betraying his carefully cultivated composure.
Nearby, a mother devil pulled her two children close, shielding them with her wings. "Stay down! Don't look!" she hissed, her eyes darting between the sky and the arena below. Her children whimpered, burying their faces against her, their small bodies shaking with fear.
Above it all, the Eye of Stormy Judgment seemed to glare down at the panicked masses, its oppressive presence silencing even the loudest screams.
The storm's power wasn't just physical; it radiated a malevolent energy that pierced through their very souls, filling them with an unfamiliar, paralyzing fear.
"Why aren't the Satans doing anything?!" someone yelled desperately, their voice cracking under the weight of panic, "Where's Sirzechs? Where's Serafall?"
In the private box, the Four Satans remained frozen, their expressions a mix of shock and grim determination as they understood the implications of what was happening, their gaze looking towards the sky as they sensed an overwhelming aura.
During all of this, another bolt had struck Alistair directly, sending him flying across the battlefield. He crashed into the jagged rocks with a sickening thud, his elegant robes scorched and torn.
"Alistair!" one of his peerage members screamed, rushing to his side, but she was forced back as another bolt of lightning struck mere inches away, the force of the blast sending her sprawling.
Kaelena barely managed to raise her spear in time to deflect a bolt aimed at her, but the sheer force of the impact drove her to her knees. Her peerage scrambled to regroup, but the relentless barrage of lightning left them disoriented and vulnerable.
Sirzechs was the first to snap out of his impending fear, "We can't let this rampage continue further. We need to protect the audience and evacuate,"
Another bolt of lightning struck, this time hitting one of the Coliseum's towers. The structure groaned and shuddered before collapsing in a cascade of black obsidian and crimson quartz.
"AAAAAAHHHHH" Screeches echoed across the arena in reaction as chaos descended.
Screams erupted from the crowd as debris rained down, and the once-celebratory atmosphere descended into chaos.
Amid the destruction, the Eye of Stormy Judgment pulsed again, its malevolent gaze sweeping over the arena. It unleashed a final, devastating surge of energy that obliterated the battlefield entirely, leaving nothing but a smoking crater in its wake as it stopped attacking.
As the thunder faded into silence, the dim light of the artificial moon began to filter through the gloom, illuminating a lone figure descending from the heavens.
He walked upon the air itself, his steps deliberate and unhurried, his form radiant and imposing. His long, silvery-blue hair cascaded down his back, shimmering faintly with an ethereal glow.
His piercing eyes surveyed the devastation below with an unreadable expression. His presence alone exuded an aura of authority and unshakable power, one that demanded the attention of every being present.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the figure came into full view. The once-chaotic Coliseum fell silent, the devils frozen in awe and dread.
In the private box, Sona's breath hitched as she adjusted her glasses with a trembling hand. Her usually composed demeanor cracked, her voice a whisper laced with disbelief. "Neuvillette... The Chief Ludex of the Fatui."
Rias's crimson eyes widened in shock, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the edge of her seat, "What is he doing here?!" she whispered, her voice tinged with fear.
The mere mention of his name sent shivers down her spine. She had heard tales of his power, of his unwavering sense of justice that knew no compromise or leniency from the day she was born.
Growing up as a Noble Devil, it was well established that once the Pursuer of Justice had his eyes on you, your life was over. Neuvillette was like a folk tale, told to many Devils to warn them of the dangers of certain actions.
During all of those thoughts, Neuvillette descended into the center of the devastated battlefield, his polished boots landing softly on the scorched ground. His gaze swept over the remnants of the arena, the shattered stones, the terrified crowd, and the battered combatants.
He exuded an air of calm that was more terrifying than any rage, a silence that demanded answers yet left no room for defiance.
Neuvillette's eyes, cold and unyielding, finally settled on the Satans in their private box. Sirzechs, Serafall, Ajuka, and Falbium stood frozen, their immense power seeming insignificant under the weight of his gaze.
When he spoke, his voice carried like rolling thunder, each word a judgment that echoed across the Coliseum.
"You Devils act so mighty," Neuvillette said, his tone devoid of anger but filled with an unassailable authority that made the strongest hearts quake, "Yet now, you act so humbled under the power of Justice."