"Everyone, this place is about to become dangerous. Please leave at once."
The Undine Queen's voice, soothing yet firm, rippled across the lake and through the surrounding woods. Within moments, the entire forest came alive with panic—birds burst from the trees in frantic flocks, magical beasts scrambled from their dens, each one desperate to escape whatever was coming.
Rias and the girls had already taken to the sky, devil wings unfurled. Gasper huddled inside Tosca's barrier, floating beside them. Now, aside from Tenra and the Undine Queen, the ground was utterly deserted.
"Princess Rias, you think that kid's gonna be okay?" Zatouji wiped the sweat from his brow, anxiety written all over his face.
Greedy little devil, he thought. Catching a powerful Undine would've been impressive enough, but Tenra had to go and challenge the Queen herself. If he died, Zatouji wasn't taking responsibility.
Rias just smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just watch, Zatouji. If it's him…"
She didn't look worried in the slightest. Even though the Undine Queen's aura was overwhelming—enough to give Rias herself pause—she was confident in Tenra.
Akeno watched Rias, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. Maybe Rias hadn't realized it yet, but somewhere along the line, she'd started believing in Tenra—completely.
"Are you ready, young devil?" The Undine Queen's eyes, clear as spring water, met Tenra's across the battlefield.
"Anytime," Tenra replied, a demonic sword materializing in his grip, his smile never wavering.
"Then let us begin. By the ancient contract, I will fight with all my strength. Be warned."
With those words, her aura shifted—gentleness replaced by icy intensity.
No more conversation. The Queen raised a slender hand, and orbs of water shot toward Tenra in rapid succession.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The forest erupted into chaos as countless water spheres hurtled toward Tenra. He darted and weaved, his sword a blur of afterimages as he blocked and deflected the relentless assault.
Water is gentle, they say. But when angered, it's a force of pure terror.
The barrage was endless; even Tenra's arms began to ache, his brow furrowing. This couldn't go on.
"Hermes' Boots!"
Golden wings unfurled beneath his feet, launching Tenra skyward and out of the watery onslaught.
But the Undine Queen only watched calmly, her gaze as placid as ever. "The sky won't save you, young devil."
She swept her hand, and streams of water shot upward, twisting through the air in pursuit.
Tenra became a streak of golden light, darting across the sky, but the water followed—more and more, until he was again surrounded by a storm of orbs.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A colossal explosion filled the sky with heavy mist.
"How is he…?" Rias murmured, conjuring a gust of wind to clear the haze. Tenra's silhouette reappeared, but he'd changed—crimson armor gleaming, majestic wings unfurled.
The Red Dragon Emperor.
"Boost! Boost!! Boost!!!"
Ddraig's voice thundered from the jewel as Tenra thrust his palm toward the Undine Queen below. Energy gathered, swelling larger and larger until, with a crack, it shot downward.
BOOM!
Blinding light. Shockwaves tore through the forest. The Undine Queen vanished beneath the torrent of raw power.
"Did… did he do it?"
"Go, Tenra-sama! Go!"
"Wait—Red Dragon Emperor?! That's the Red Dragon Emperor?!"
Rias and the girls watched with bated breath. Irina and Xenovia cheered wildly, while Zatouji stood frozen, jaw slack, eyes wide.
So that was the Red Dragon Emperor—the same kid who'd spent all night chasing familiars.
Tenra, oblivious to Zatouji's shock, scanned the forest below, his brow knit in concern.
Where the lake had been, there was now a massive crater. Not a trace of the Undines remained. The Queen's form was nowhere in sight—but Tenra could feel it.
She wasn't beaten yet.
Sure enough, moments later, water orbs rose into the air, swirling and merging until the Undine Queen's figure reformed.
"So you're the current Red Dragon Emperor. Forgive my earlier discourtesy." She bowed gracefully—a gesture of respect between warriors.
"Since you know who I am, you must realize you can't win. Why not end this and become my familiar?" Tenra's voice was teasing beneath the armor.
"To serve the Red Dragon Emperor would be our greatest honor. But I cannot accept without fulfilling the ancient contract. If you wish for me to be your familiar, you must defeat me."
Her tone was serious, unwavering.
Tenra laughed. "So the gentle, beautiful Queen is stubborn too, huh? In that case…"
"I'll defeat you!"
In a flash, Tenra was upon her—his armored fist slammed into her elegant form.
No surprise—the Queen's body exploded into a shower of water, scattering with a thunderous roar.
"What a pain," Tenra muttered. "Where are you hiding now?"
He reached out, searching for her aura—when Gasper's terrified voice rang out:
"T-Tenra-sama! B-behind you! Hurry!"
Tenra spun around, eyes widening.
A giant—no, a colossus of water—had appeared in the sky, towering over the battlefield.
ROAAAAAR!
The roar shook the air, vibrating through bone and eardrum alike. The water giant opened its maw, compressing a massive water blast, then unleashed it straight at Tenra.
CRASH!
No time to dodge. The blast hit Tenra square on, slamming him into the forest below.
The world became a flood—trees uprooted, earth torn apart, Tenra swept away in the raging torrent.
"Hahaha… partner, looks like you're in trouble!" Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind.
"Ddraig, if you've got time to joke, you've got time to help!" Tenra snapped.
"She's truly worthy of her title. Ordinary attacks won't work. My flames could do it, but that power's still sealed. You're not strong enough yet."
So much for help. Even Ddraig wasn't always reliable.
Tenra grimaced. The Queen couldn't beat him like this, but he couldn't win either—not with brute force.
No choice. Looks like it's time to bring out the real trump cards.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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