There was no escape. None. Yubelluna, Semilia, and every girl left on the battlefield knew it—faces drained of all color as a thousand magic arrows blotted out the sky.
"Teleport!"
At the very last instant, Minami pressed her palms together, magic crackling at her fingertips. She thrust her hands toward Yubelluna and Tosca—divine light flared, wrapping the two girls. In a heartbeat, they vanished.
Minami watched the rain of arrows descend, a peaceful smile blooming on her bloodied lips.
As long as my sisters are safe… that's enough.
"Ah—"
BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM!
The deluge of magical arrows swallowed Minami, Semilia, and the two bishop girls in a blinding storm.
"Hahahahaha—!"
Outside the dimensional arena, Diodora's twisted laughter echoed from the projection, sending the entire hall into uproar.
"He—he even attacked his own servants…?"
"Minami-san…!"
"That bastard Diodora!"
Gasper stared in shock, Asia covered her mouth as tears welled in her eyes, and Rias rose to her feet, fury burning in her gaze.
Disgust swept through the crowd. For a king to ambush enemy servants was low enough—but to strike down his own as well? Diodora hadn't broken any rules, but he'd shattered every code of honor.
Seekvaira, Sona, and Shinra Tsubaki watched with open contempt. Even Sairaorg's fists clenched, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
That this man could become the next head of House Astaroth—a noble meant to be revered by the Underworld—was a tragedy in itself.
Sairaorg's lips curled into a knowing smile. He doubted he'd need to step in.
Back in the arena, the dust settled. The battlefield cleared.
Semilia and her two bishops were gone—transferred out, their injuries too severe. In the spot where Minami had stood, another figure now knelt.
Tenra.
He cradled Minami in his arms, gently brushing blood-matted hair from her face.
"Lord Tenra, I… I…"
Guilt clouded Minami's eyes. She tried to speak, but Tenra silenced her with a gentle touch.
"You did perfectly, Minami."
"Rest now. I'll make him pay for you—a hundred, a thousand times over."
He whispered in her ear. Relief softened her features, and she dissolved into shimmering light, teleported away.
One by one, Kalamaina, Sheila, and the others appeared. Yubelluna and Tosca—saved by Minami's last-ditch spell—rushed back to Tenra's side. The entire team gathered behind him, every gaze fixed on Diodora, burning with righteous fury.
"Yubelluna, you all should leave too. What happens next is mine alone."
Tenra stood, voice calm as still water.
His servants had followed him long enough to know: this was his anger. He didn't shout, didn't rage—he simply radiated a pressure that made every girl shiver.
"Yes, Lord Tenra."
Without hesitation, Yubelluna tapped her staff. Magic circles blossomed, and in a flash, the girls vanished—leaving vengeance to their king.
A breeze swept through the ruins, swirling dust around Tenra's feet. He looked up, eyes like twin blades, locked on Diodora above.
"TENRA KAMIYO!!!"
Diodora's scream tore through the air, his eyes bloodshot with hate.
The wager. The loss of his servants. Tenra had humiliated him, ignored him, treated him as nothing.
And that, Tenra thought, was exactly what he deserved.
"You know, Diodora—you're guilty."
"This time, I won't let you walk away."
Tenra's voice was soft, but it carried the weight of judgment.
"Won't let me walk away?"
"Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Diodora's laughter was wild, desperate, echoing with years of festering hatred. He glared down at Tenra, face twisted in a rictus of rage.
"Tenra Kamiyo! Every day, I've cursed you. I've hated you. I've waited for this day so long!"
"Today, it's not you who won't let me go—it's me who won't let you escape!"
All the humiliation, all the loss—Diodora's hatred was a living thing, clawing at his insides.
Revenge. That was all he wanted. Revenge, revenge, revenge!
"A defeated dog still dares to bark."
Tenra's lips curled in contempt. His eyes flashed—evil light blooming as he unleashed his Sacred Gear.
[Forbidden Balor View]—the Evil Eye that stops the world.
But in the next instant—
"Hahahahaha…"
Diodora hovered in the air, sneering. Tenra's brow furrowed.
The Evil Eye activated as always—Diodora's time froze. But Tenra's own body locked up as well. Time stopped for both.
"Did you really think the same trick would work twice, Tenra Kamiyo?!"
"You're nothing but a failure who can't even awaken his bloodline, yet you wield such powerful Sacred Gears. You hid it well, you bastard. The gods are so unfair!"
"I know every Sacred Gear you've stolen. Every power you possess. And to defeat you, I've prepared countermeasures for every single one!"
Your greatest enemy always knows you best. Since his first defeat, Diodora had obsessed over Tenra—gathering secrets, uncovering every ability, every weakness.
As he spoke, a warped screen flickered before Diodora—mirror magic. It shimmered, then vanished.
Tenra understood at once. Diodora had used a rare form of mirror magic—useless in most fights, but the perfect answer to [Forbidden Balor View].
The moment the Evil Eye trapped him, Diodora's time froze. But the mirror spell reflected the effect, freezing Tenra as well. Simple, but devastatingly effective—against Diodora, the Evil Eye was useless.
Tenra almost smiled. Diodora had gone to incredible lengths for revenge. No doubt he'd prepared counters for every one of Tenra's powers.
But—
Against overwhelming strength, all schemes were nothing but parlor tricks.
"Diodora, you don't actually think this will be enough to beat me, do you?"
Tenra's voice was cold as steel.
"I'm not so foolish as to believe that, Tenra Kamiyo. In fact, I should thank you. Because of my hatred for you, I've trained every single day—pushed myself to the brink."
"I was weak once. That's why I lost. But do you have any idea how strong I am now? My power—my magic—is…"
"One hundred times what it was!"
"Hahahahahaha—!"
Mad laughter echoed as Diodora's aura exploded outward—vast, oppressive, and terrifying—drawing every eye in the Underworld.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters? 🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world? ✍ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?✨patreon.com/GoldenLong