A heavy pressure spread through the entire space at that moment, making it hard to breathe. Nothing remained but an indescribable silence.
As they watched Reiji Maigo fall into Black Catty's hands, everyone fell silent.
Jeanne gazed at the scene, her incomparably pure eyes flickering.
Shana gripped her Ōdachi tightly, her expression somewhat grave.
Wilhelmina bit down on her lip, barely able to contain her emotions.
Even Fang Li had not expected these three Demon Lords to descend just as Pheles attacked, and his brow furrowed deeply.
Under such circumstances, Shana and Wilhelmina unconsciously moved closer to Fang Li, coming to his side and forming a standoff against Black Catty, Fekir, and Sabrac, the three Demon Lords.
Jeanne watched from the ground, planting the Holy Banner in the earth and allowing its flag to flutter in the wind as she chose to observe.
No one knew how long that silence lasted.
Until, at a certain moment, Alastor's voice came from the pendant before Shana.
"What exactly is your objective?"
With a thunderous, weighty voice, Alastor questioned the Demon Lords of Bal Masqué.
"Are you so obsessed with Reiji Maigo because of the Serpent of the Festival's seal?"
As one of the Gods of the Crimson World on the same level, the God of Heavenly Punishment's question immediately drew a reaction from Bal Masqué's Demon Lords.
"Great Miko...!?"
Fekir looked shocked. He glanced at Black Catty while cold sweat streamed down his face, his flustered appearance making one wonder how he had become Belphegor's deputy and taken charge of Bal Masqué's defense and administration.
"...This is another unforeseen development."
Sabrac held a sharp blade in each hand, and his pair of crimson eyes gleamed faintly.
"..."
In the end, even Black Catty raised her eyes and looked toward the group.
This