"Wait—Shuo Nangong! You wanted a soul, didn't you? Fine. Take it. I'll give you whatever you want."
Hades—the god who ruled the Underworld—was unraveling. With Loki and Fenrir already fallen to Shuo's claws, he knew he was hopelessly outmatched. Survival was all he could think about now.
But Shuo's expression was cold, his eyes narrowing with icy contempt.
"Giving up just because you're losing? You wish. Die."
He raised his arm. The Heaven-Rending Claws surged, purple-black energy crackling and swirling, wrapping his entire forearm in lethal power.
"Damn you! Do you really have to drag both of us down with you?!"
Hades roared in fury, desperation sharpening every word.
Shuo's gaze was pure disdain.
"With you? You're not even in my league."
The words hit Hades like a slap. He gritted his teeth, voice trembling with venom.
"Fine! If you want death so badly, I'll oblige!"
He pulled out his last trump cards—the Helm of Darkness and the Reaper's Scythe. The moment the helm settled on his skull, Hades vanished from sight.
Shuo just smirked.
"Invisible? You think that'll save you? Pathetic."
He lifted his hand, and a wave of annihilating magic flooded the Underworld. Space itself warped and buckled under the pressure; the air was thick, suffocating, almost solid. Even cloaked in invisibility, Hades was forced back into view, his form flickering in the haze.
Every reaper in the realm was trembling. Even Hades himself could barely stand.
Cornered, Hades lunged—one last, desperate attack. He knew if he waited any longer, Shuo's power would finish him for good.
Shuo's cold smile never wavered.
He swung the Heaven-Rending Claws, unleashing a barrage of purple-black slashes. They tore through Hades' scythe like paper, shattering it in a shower of sparks.
Hades barely dodged the worst of it, but the claws still caught him—a single blow reducing his arm to fragments.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Though Hades was all bone and shadow, the god-slaying energy seared his very essence, forcing a scream from his soul.
The reapers watched in horror, eyes wide as their master was torn apart.
With Hades crippled and his strength fading, Shuo pressed in, using his mental mastery to rip secrets from the god's mind—details about the Hell Alliance and the Khaos Brigade. Once he had what he needed, Shuo finished it.
No mercy. Hades had always been a threat, a pawn for otherworldly evil. Better to end it now than let him become someone else's experiment.
Ding! Congratulations, host—Hades eliminated. Purple-tier reward granted!
To keep order, Shuo installed Bennia's father, Orcus, as the new god of the Underworld. Stability returned—no chaos, no backlash.
With business finished, Shuo retrieved Akeno Himejima's mother's soul and returned to the Devil territory. This time, he left Bennia and Ingvild Leviathan behind—no need to stir up jealousy at home.
When Baiqiu finally saw his wife's soul, the man broke down in tears, sobbing like a child.
Azazel, Sirzechs, Odin—all were speechless.
Didn't we agree to spare Hades as a warning?
The ink on that deal was barely dry before Shuo flipped the script, found evidence, and sent Hades packing.
Smooth operator, this guy.
Still, order in the Underworld held. More importantly, Shuo had uncovered a trove of intel on the Hell Alliance and Khaos Brigade. The four faction leaders—Sirzechs, Azazel, Michael, and Odin—prepared to meet and discuss their next move.
Shuo left the conference room, checking his new rewards as he walked.
Ding! Purple-tier reward opened—Gift acquired: [Solar Golden Wing Flames].
He raised an eyebrow.
"A Little Garden Gift, huh?"
This power came from the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven—the Peng Demon King. In the Little Garden, she was four-digit apex; in the DxD world, she'd rival even Great Red.
The Solar Golden-Winged Bird's flames were legendary—capable of annihilating gods and dragons alike. Touch them, and not even your soul would remain. The god-slaying and dragon-slaying properties made this Gift even more terrifying than the Heaven-Rending Claws.
Shuo was genuinely pleased. He was so lost in thought, he didn't notice someone approaching—until he walked straight into them.
"Lord Shuo Nangong! Please watch where you're going."
The voice snapped him back to reality. He looked up, pupils contracting.
Standing before him was a young woman—elegant, poised, with long silver hair that shimmered like moonlight. Her skin was porcelain-pale, her eyes deep red and luminous, her bearing regal.
"Grayfia!"
He blurted out her name, unable to hide his shock.
He'd been in the Underworld for ages, but only now did he stumble upon the legendary Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation.
Ding! Check-in target detected: Grayfia. Black-tier mission: Make her your head maid!
Shuo hesitated. This was... awkward.
Grayfia broke the silence.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Shuo Nangong. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Shuo took a deep breath. Screw it—might as well be direct.
"Grayfia, would you like to be my exclusive head maid?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief. For a moment, she just stared.
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"Lord Shuo Nangong, may I ask why you want me as your head maid?"
Shuo thought for a moment, then grinned.
"Why? Well, you're perfect for the role. But honestly, I just like you—silver-haired maid queens are the best!"
Grayfia's lips twitched—just a hint of amusement breaking through her usual cool.
"I see. Since it's your request, Lord Shuo Nangong, I accept."
She nodded, face serious.
Ding! Mission complete—Black-tier reward granted!
Shuo was surprised by how quickly she agreed, but he wasn't about to complain.
"From now on, Grayfia is my exclusive queen and head maid!"
A faint blush colored Grayfia's pale cheeks, barely visible but unmistakable.
They made their arrangements and parted ways—each with a new understanding.
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