"Lord Tenra…"
Gaspar stood behind Tenra, awe written all over his face. He'd been with Tenra long enough to recognize the signs—when Tenra got angry, it wasn't something you wanted to witness up close.
Tenra didn't lose his temper often. But when he did, it was terrifying.
Diodora, on the other hand, just burst out laughing. The sound was sharp, mocking—like he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"A waste is a waste. Why should I take it back?" Diodora sneered, chin lifted in arrogant pride.
He had every reason to be proud—a pureblood demon, the Astaroth family's prodigy. And Tenra? Just a failure who couldn't even awaken his bloodline, a stain on the Phoenix name.
Anyone else would have been furious at such blatant contempt. Tenra, though, was utterly calm. He turned to Gaspar. "Take Tosca and get far away."
The quieter Tenra became, the heavier the pressure in the air. Gaspar didn't dare argue. He hurried off, half-carrying the unconscious Tosca, putting as much distance as possible between them and the brewing storm.
Diodora snorted, flicking his hand to send the bound silver-haired saint tumbling aside. His gaze locked onto Tenra, cold and deadly.
So the "waste" wanted to challenge him? Fine. He'd show Tenra exactly what separated genius from trash. He wouldn't kill him—just break him, body and soul. Then, right in front of Tenra, he'd kill Gaspar, and take Tosca for himself.
Not just pain—humiliation.
The air crackled with tension, their eyes meeting in a silent clash of wills. Then, in perfect synchrony, both moved—blurring toward each other in a flash.
Steel sang. Blood spattered the air. In a heartbeat, they'd crossed and separated.
Diodora stared at the long, crimson gash across his chest—his face a mask of disbelief.
He'd lost. In a single exchange, he'd lost to Tenra.
Tenra held his sword low, lips curled in a slight smile. He hadn't even used his Sacred Gear—just pure swordsmanship. Diodora hadn't stood a chance.
"Impossible! Impossible!" Diodora's eyes went wild, his voice cracking with hysteria. How could the Astaroth prodigy lose to a bloodline-less failure? He couldn't accept it.
Rage and desperation took over. Diodora sprang back, pouring magic into the air—bolts of lightning and fireballs tore toward Tenra.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Flames roared, explosions shook the ground, and Tenra's form flickered through the barrage, dodging and deflecting with inhuman speed.
"Die! Die! DIE!" Diodora screamed, summoning massive magic circles that spat out attack after attack.
He couldn't bear this humiliation. He had to kill Tenra, no matter the cost.
But Tenra was already moving. With a blur, he appeared beside Diodora—his leg swept out, catching Diodora in the gut. The air rushed from Diodora's lungs; he doubled over, nearly vomiting.
Desperate, Diodora threw up layers of defensive magic, but Tenra was relentless—appearing behind him in a flash, sword slicing across his back.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"AAAAAHHHHH!" Diodora howled, unable to understand how Tenra moved so fast, how his defenses kept failing, why nothing worked—
He was losing his mind.
Gaspar watched, breathless, as the duel devolved into a one-sided beatdown. Diodora was no match for Tenra—not even close.
"Just die already!" Diodora shrieked, leaping into the air, attacking blindly.
Tenra's lips twisted in a mocking smile. He was done playing.
His eyes flashed—black, cold, and utterly merciless. The world shuddered as Tenra unleashed his Sacred Gear.
Time stopped.
An invisible domain radiated outward. Every magic missile, every spark of lightning froze in midair. Diodora hung there, locked in a mask of rage.
Tenra didn't hesitate. He shot forward, sword driving straight through Diodora's chest.
The Evil Eye's grip faded. Diodora stared down at the blade, at Tenra standing over him, still unable to process what had happened.
He was the pride of the Astaroth family—a middle-class demon, nearly at high-class level. Among his generation, only the so-called Four Heavenly Kings could rival him.
And yet—
He'd been crushed. Utterly outclassed by someone he'd always considered beneath him.
"So this is the genius of House Astaroth?" Tenra murmured, voice tinged with disappointment. He pulled his sword free.
Blood bubbled from Diodora's lips. He collapsed, overwhelmed by shame and fury.
"Lord Tenra, that was amazing!" Gaspar cheered, dragging Tosca over, eyes shining with admiration.
Tenra ignored the praise, turning toward the silver-haired saint. She was still bound, unable to speak, her eyes squeezed shut in despair.
But Tenra didn't kill her. Instead, he slashed twice, shattering the magical restraints.
"Miss Saint, try not to get caught by evil demons next time. Go home."
The girl stared at him, stunned. Weren't all demons supposed to be evil? That's what she'd always been taught. The one who'd captured her had certainly seemed evil enough. So why was this one letting her go?
Tenra didn't bother explaining. He turned away, heading back to Gaspar and Tosca.
The saint, still confused, watched him go. She'd been rescued—by a demon. She burned Tenra's face into her memory, then fled into the night.
"Lord Tenra, we should leave. The church must've noticed that fight," Gaspar urged.
"Let's go. But first…"
Tenra slung Tosca over his back, then glanced at Diodora, a wicked smile curling his lips.
Pureblood demons were tough; even a sword through the chest couldn't kill Diodora outright. Tenra had no intention of finishing him off—not yet. He wasn't about to make an enemy of the whole Underworld just for revenge.
But he could do something else.
Diodora's obsession with nuns was infamous. He'd ruined countless saints in the original story. Tenra already knew how he'd pay Diodora back for the insult.
Under Gaspar's horrified gaze, Tenra drove his sword into Diodora's groin. Power exploded from the blade, pulverizing everything in its path.
No amount of magic would fix that. Not even Phoenix Tears.
"Let's go, Gaspar."
Tenra dismissed his sword and strode off.
"Y-yes, Lord Tenra!" Gaspar stammered, shivering as he hurried to catch up. He'd never realized Tenra could be this ruthless.
He cast a sympathetic glance at the unconscious Diodora, then hurried after Tenra.
Moments after they disappeared into the night, a scream of pure, venomous hatred echoed through the forest.
"AAAAAAHHHHH—TENRA KAMIYO!!!"
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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