Zeke couldn't help but harbor reasonable suspicions about Beelzebub's moderate and seemingly reasonable conditions.
"Is that really all there is to it?"
The beings gathered here were the grand lords, demons among demons.
From Zeke's perspective, he had no choice but to suspect some hidden agenda.
At that moment, Beelzebub's voice echoed in his mind.
[You're doubting my words, Zeke Draker.] Zeke nodded as he looked at Beelzebub.
"Yes, honestly, it's hard to believe so readily. I vividly remember how Narak joined hands with them to send an immortal undead legion into the Phenomenal World."
Even now, remnants of the immortal undead legion summoned from Abaddon still lingered before the Thermo Fortress.
In response to Zeke's words, Beelzebub clacked his skeletal jaws together and continued.
[I won't deny that. In the Phenomenal World, from some point onward, dark magic was belittled and necromancers were persecuted. I lamented that fact. That's why I cooperated with Narak to correct it through force, but I realized it only brought even greater harm.]
Through Richmond, Zeke knew that five hundred years ago, due to the Holy Empire's persecution, necromancers had no choice but to retreat into the shadows.
Before that, dark magic had been recognized as a legitimate branch of magic, with active research conducted in the Magic Tower and even by the Nirvana Family.
Because of this, Zeke slowly nodded upon hearing Beelzebub's words.
'Indeed, dark magic is a field worth researching.'
Zeke was already pouring astronomical sums into establishing an academy in the
Southern Archipelago to gather talented individuals and revive forgotten disciplines.
Fostering necromancers openly in the light rather than the shadows, just as the Nirvana Family had done in the past, held significant meaning.
After pondering, Zeke looked up and said to Beelzebub,
"If I accept the conditions, will you reverse summon your vassals who have been brought into the Phenomenal World?"
In response, Beelzebub clacked his jaws again and said,
[There's no need for a reverse summon. I'll simply order them to cease their attacks. Additionally, I'll appoint Nebilos as an envoy for the alliance alongside them. You may use them with force if needed.]
Zeke thought that Beelzebub's sincere rhetoric, uncharacteristic of a demon, was in some ways more skillful than Mephistopheles'.
'They say he was once a constellation overflowing with love... He's unexpectedly tricky to deal with from this angle.'
Zeke glanced at Mephistopheles, who was furrowing his brow from behind, then nodded.
"Very well, Beelzebub. I accept your conditions."
At his words, Beelzebub, evidently pleased, clacked his jawbones repeatedly, and the flames enveloping his skull burned brighter, flaring upward.
Mephistopheles watched the alliance between Zeke and Beelzebub with a displeased expression before turning to the other grand lords and saying,
"Well, anyway, it seems everything's settled. We'll recognize Zeke Draker as a grand lord."
The other grand lords also looked somewhat reluctant but nodded without much objection to Mephistopheles' words.
As Mephistopheles extended his hand forward, Baal and Beelzebub followed suit without a word.
Agares grimaced deeply, while Asmodeus, his face still full of suspicion, extended his hand.
Sigils symbolizing each of the five grand lords rose on the backs of their hands.
Woooong!
Light flowed from the sigils and merged into one atop the table.
The combined light gradually took shape, transforming into ancient Demon Realm script.
Zeke read the ancient characters floating above the table and interpreted their content.
'Ancient Babelic. It's an agreement formed from the common script of the early Demon Realm.'
It detailed how the five grand lords would manage their domains after the Arrogant Savior vanished and Babel collapsed.
And at the very bottom of that agreement, a new clause was added.
It stated that Zeke Draker was recognized as the successor to the Arrogant Savior, elevated as a new grand lord of the Demon Realm, and that the Phenomenal World was acknowledged as his domain.
Once the clause was complete, the script shimmered with light.
Woooong!
The characters reverted to light and returned to the grand lords' hands.
Then, a new beam of light emerged and approached Zeke.
Mephistopheles said to Zeke,
"Zeke Draker, extend your hand." Zeke complied, holding out his hand.
Tssst...
The light seeped into the back of Zeke's hand, accompanied by a burning pain as if it were searing into him. 'Urgh.'
As an undying one, Zeke's body healed instantly before he could even fully feel the pain.
But the agony rising from the back of his hand now was on a different level from physical pain.
It felt like a branding iron was etching a pattern directly into his soul.
Zeke endured the pain, but then he sensed the five grand lords watching him impassively.
'This is another test, isn't it.'
As that thought crossed his mind, the pain soon subsided, and a new sigil rose on the back of Zeke's hand.
Woooooong!
The sigil symbolizing a grand lord of the Demon Realm was complete.
At the same moment, a message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[You have been recognized as a grand lord by the five grand lords of the Demon Realm.]
[Your divinity rises due to this astonishing achievement.]
[You have acquired the title 'Grand Lord.']
[A new constellation title is bestowed as a grand lord of the Demon Realm.]
[You have acquired the constellation title .]
[The Akashic Code has been updated with the new constellation title .]
[Your divinity rises with the acquisition of a second constellation title.]
With the title of Grand Lord and the second constellation title , Zeke could distinctly feel his divinity increasing.
Zeke tilted his head as he looked at the newly acquired constellation title.
'Why this title?'
His first constellation title, , embodied the meaning of him being a being who transcended the wall of time to resist a predetermined fate.
But he couldn't grasp what meaning was contained within .
At that moment, the expressions of the other grand lords watching Zeke subtly changed.
"Hmm, for a human to acquire such a title. Quite impressive."
It seemed the other grand lords had also confirmed what constellation title Zeke had obtained.
Zeke asked Mephistopheles,
"Is there something wrong with my title?"
Mephistopheles shook his head with a smile.
"No, not at all! In fact, it's a magnificent title that suits a grand lord of the Demon Realm perfectly!"
Zeke felt even more uneasy at Mephistopheles' response.
As if sensing Zeke's anxiety and offering comfort, Baal rose from his seat, patted Zeke on the shoulder, and said,
". What a fine constellation title."
"...May I ask why you think so?"
Baal grinned and replied,
"It means imparting suffering fairly without discrimination, no matter who the opponent is.
It suits a lord of the Demon Realm perfectly."
Hearing Baal's words, Zeke finally understood why he had received this title.
'...Because I've been torturing demons and demonkind on sight.'
Zeke had inflicted fair suffering on demons and demonkind, as well as on angels and constellations alike, whenever they threatened the Phenomenal World—extracting the information he desired.
His actions, more demonic than the demons themselves, had even manifested as a constellation title.
Zeke realized why the grand lords had looked impressed upon seeing his title.
'...Well, good is good.'
Having been recognized as a grand lord, he walked over to the table where the others sat and took a seat.
Mephistopheles watched Zeke with sparkling eyes and an intrigued expression.
"Come on, now that you're recognized as a new grand lord, how about a word?"
At Mephistopheles' prompting, Zeke scanned the grand lords and slowly opened his mouth.
"I know why you all accepted me as a grand lord."
At his words, a flicker of interest appeared in the grand lords' eyes.
Zeke continued, looking at them.
"By recognizing a human like me as a grand lord and declaring the Phenomenal World as my domain, you're calculating that the consumption of causality for ascending to the surface will decrease. And if you seize the opportunity to strike from behind and devour my soul, you can claim the Phenomenal World more easily."
Baal and Agares didn't hide their expressions at Zeke's words, smirking as they tugged at the corners of their mouths.
The Demon Realm was a world of the strong devouring the weak, so such matters were entirely natural.
Zeke looked at each grand lord one by one and said,
"But keep one thing in mind. You're not the only ones who can strike from behind." At his words, the grand lords' expressions subtly shifted.
Though he had been recognized as a grand lord, Zeke was essentially their prey.
The succulent prey, bearing the soul of the Arrogant Savior, had bared its fangs at them first.
Then, Agares, spewing azure flames from his body, said to Zeke,
"Insolent human. Do you think that just because you have the sigil, you're truly a lord of the Demon Realm? Don't delude yourself."
Looking at Agares, Zeke replied,
"I have no desire to become some ugly demon. I've merely used you all as well."
The silent Asmodeus looked at Zeke and said,
", what is the intent behind bringing up such words now?"
Unlike the easily agitated Agares, Asmodeus calmly tried to discern Zeke's intentions.
Zeke scanned the grand lords and slowly opened his mouth.
"I will eternally annihilate the soul of the Demon King sealed on the surface." At his words, Asmodeus's eyes widened.
At the same time, Agares and Baal shot up from their seats.
"You mad human!"
"Complete annihilation of the Demon King? That's impossible!"
Asmodeus extended his hand toward the agitated Agares and Baal to calm them, then spoke again.
"Annihilate the Demon King's soul, you say. That's an inappropriate statement for a grand lord of the Demon Realm." Zeke shook his head.
"No, quite the opposite. If you're grand lords who wish to protect the Demon Realm, you must follow my will."
Asmodeus wore an expression that showed he didn't fully understand Zeke's words.
Zeke continued,
"There is one seeking to descend the Demon King's soul into the Phenomenal World. His name is Arthur Draker. That man is scheming something using the Demon King's soul." Asmodeus narrowed his eyes and said,
"Arthur Draker, your father, I presume."
Then, Mephistopheles beside him shook his head.
"Ah, to be precise, not your biological father."
Ignoring Mephistopheles' words, Zeke continued,
"I don't know Arthur Draker's exact purpose, but there's a high likelihood he's connected to the constellations of the Celestial Realm."
At the mention of the Celestial Realm's constellations, the other grand lords' expressions hardened.
After all, the enemies the lords of the Demon Realm were most wary of were none other than the constellations of the Celestial Realm, who held the Wheel of Fate.
Zeke spoke again.
"Whenever the Celestial Realm's constellations wanted to intervene en masse in the Phenomenal World, they broke the seal on the Demon King and disrupted the balance of causality. After all, they cannot defy the absolute law of karma established by the Primordial Light."
Even the great demons, once constellations of the Celestial Realm, were well aware of this.
They sought to descend the Demon King precisely to shatter that absolute law.
But conversely, the Celestial Realm's constellations would use it as justification to intervene in the Phenomenal World.
Asmodeus looked at Zeke and said,
", so your goal is to annihilate the Demon King's soul and block the Celestial Realm's constellations from intervening in the Phenomenal World at the source."
"Yes. It means I will no longer tolerate the Phenomenal World becoming a playground for the constellations."
At those words, Asmodeus furrowed his brow and said,
", there is a clear problem with your words. This choice is only for the sake of the Phenomenal World. If that happens, the Demon Realm will also be unable to intervene in the Phenomenal World, and we won't be able to maintain our already unstable domain." Karma was a sensitive issue directly tied to the Demon Realm's survival.
Zeke slowly opened his mouth.
"You're right, Asmodeus. The unstable Demon Realm will likely vanish." At his words, murderous intent rose from Asmodeus's body.
"Are you toying with me right now...?"
Then, Zeke's eyes flashed as he said,
"Not the Demon Realm—the Celestial Realm. I'll send you back there."