ɴᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ ʙᴀᴇʟ:- ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴏɴɢᴇꜱᴛ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟ!

Chapter 26

The grand halls of Bael Castle shimmered with restrained tension. Servants moved with urgency, final preparations echoing through the corridors. Today marked the defining moment—Naruto Bael's long-awaited battle against Sirzechs Lucifer for the mantle of Lucifer. Three months of silence, whispers, and preparation had led to this hour. The Underworld watched.

In his private chamber, Naruto stood tall before a full-length mirror, clad in a sleek, obsidian-black battle coat trimmed with silver and crimson. The Bael crest burned brightly on his chest, his crimson eyes sharp, focused, and resolute.

Behind him, his family gathered—each one a pillar of strength.

Lilith, calm and composed, adjusted his cloak with steady fingers. "Win or lose, your truth reshapes the future."

Aisha Necron, quiet but unwavering, placed a hand on his arm. "We believe in you. As a warrior. As our love."

Yasaka pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Our light, our heart."

Artoria stood with her sword at her side, eyes firm. "Show them the strength that made gods fear you."

Naruto gave them all a rare, solemn smile. "This is for all of us."

As he stepped from the room, his presence radiated with power. Every heartbeat brought him closer to the battlefield—and the legacy he was about to reclaim.

Lucifer Castle

Abyssus Crucible – The Devil King's Arena

In the grand arena of the Underworld, known across all Devil society as the Abyssus Crucible, the air was thick with anticipation. Surrounded by towering obsidian spires and adorned with shimmering banners representing the Four Satans, the crucible pulsed with raw energy. Every seat, from the highest noble box to the outer tiers of commoners, was filled with devils from every House, faction, and corner of the realm.

Today was no ordinary day.

This was the day Naruto Bael would face Sirzechs Gremory in an unprecedented clash—a battle that would determine the next Lucifer.

Bael Family VIP Box

Celis Bael, head of the Bael family and Naruto's father, sat composedly, arms folded across his chest. His crimson eyes tracked the centre of the arena with a sharpened intensity that only a battle-hardened leader could possess.

Beside him, Luna Bael, regal and poised, stared out over the Crucible, her expression unreadable. Yet the subtle tightening of her fingers around the hem of her gown betrayed the storm of maternal worry swirling beneath her calm exterior.

Opposite them sat Ivis Bael and Misha Bael—Naruto's uncle and aunt—draped in noble finery, their expressions solemn as they bore witness to the culmination of a legacy generations in the making.

Sairaorg Bael, the Strongest Youth and Naruto's cousin, stood behind them, a living monument of resolve. His peerage, seated respectfully beside him, reflected his unwavering confidence. Sairaorg's lion-like presence radiated pride as his eyes scanned the Crucible, the corner of his lips twitching upward with anticipation.

Leaning slightly over the blackstone railing, Isabella Bael, Naruto's younger sister with her black hair tied in a battle braid, whispered with a spark in her eyes, "He's going to win. Oniisan never backs down. Not even against Lucifer himself."

Further down the row, Yasaka, bathed in divine serenity, sat with quiet grace. Her golden eyes watched the field below, but her heart was on the one who bore her love and her blood. Her presence was like a calming flame—subtle, powerful, enduring.