Only two figures stood amid the ruins: Belial and Grete.
Just after Belial destroyed the entire wealthy district with a single blow, the same Light Screen appeared before Grete, displaying the same debuff warning.
Perhaps because Grete had not personally killed the Disciple of the Divine Emperor, Single Brain, the outcome differed from Belial's near-total weakening.
Grete's debuff was much milder.
As a result, Grete now possessed the strength to kill Belial, but Belial's composure gave Grete pause.
Demon Emperors had done this sort of thing before, and often at that: feigning weakness to tempt other demons into challenging them. Naturally, the demons who took the bait ended up devoured, hide, hair, and all, without so much as a scrap left.
In the end, Grete suppressed the urge to attack. Though he had long since left the Abyss, his years of wariness toward Demon Emperors still overpowered that urge.
Belial watched Grete with interest and teased,
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Aren't you tempted, Grete?"
Grete said expressionlessly,
"As a demon, I know perfectly well that the higher a demon's rank, the more repulsive their twisted amusements become."
Belial clicked his tongue.
"Quite the double standard you've got there. Where was that insight when you were goading other demons into challenging Mephitican?"
Grete grinned.
"It was there. But the pleasure of controlling others at will takes absolute precedence in my mind. I merely followed my desires."
Belial smiled as well.
"Hahahaha! I like that answer. It's just a shame you're still so cunning. You wouldn't take the bait even under these circumstances. What a pity."
Grete said nothing. He did not dare gamble on which of Belial's words were true and which were false, nor could he afford to. Powerful though an Epic was, the gulf between a Holy Spirit