The golden halls of El Dorado had rarely felt so crowded.
Moments earlier, Luminous Valentine had stormed into the palace demanding answers.
Now the room held a tense gathering of some of the most dangerous beings in the world.
At the center sat Guy Crimson, still lounging casually in a chair that clearly belonged to someone else.
Across from him stood the owner of the palace.
Leon Cromwell.
Behind Leon stood his attendants, Claude and Arlos, both maintaining perfect posture despite the chaos unfolding around them.
To Guy's side stood his maids. Rain and Misery.
And quietly observing it all was the Ice Dragon herself.
Velzard.
Standing across the room, fury burning in her crimson eyes, was Luminous.
Her two loyal guardians stood behind her.
Roy Valentine.
And Louis Valentine.
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut.
Luminous pointed directly at Guy.
"You."
Her voice dripped with anger.
"You are going to tell me what that Angel was."
Guy tilted his head.
"…Angel?"
Rain immediately covered her mouth to hide a grin.
Misery sighed.
Velzard remained silent.
Luminous's eye twitched.
"Do not play games with me."
Guy leaned back further into his chair.
"I'm not playing games."
He shrugged.
"Maybe Lubelius just has bad weather."
Roy coughed into his fist.
Louis lowered his head slightly, trying not to react.
Luminous stepped forward.
"Guy."
Her voice dropped dangerously low.
"My nation was nearly destroyed."
Guy nodded lazily.
"Yeah."
"And?"
Luminous clenched her fist.
Rain muttered quietly.
"Oh this is getting good."
Misery elbowed her.
"Rain."
Rain shrugged.
"What?"
Leon finally spoke.
"…Enough."
His voice cut cleanly through the tension.
Everyone turned toward him.
Leon's golden eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Luminous.
"You arrived in my palace unannounced."
His tone was cold.
"Stormed through my halls."
"And now you are shouting in my throne room."
His gaze hardened.
"…What exactly are my guards doing?"
Luminous turned toward him.
"Your guards?"
She scoffed.
"Please."
Her voice sharpened.
"They tried."
Roy scratched his cheek.
"Technically they did."
Louis added quietly,
"They were… enthusiastic."
Leon closed his eyes.
"…Unbelievable."
He looked toward Claude and Arlos.
"Are my soldiers incapable of stopping anyone?"
Claude bowed slightly.
"My lord, stopping Demon Lords is somewhat… complicated."
Arlos nodded in agreement.
"That is correct."
Leon sighed deeply.
"Of course it is."
Luminous folded her arms.
"If you want better security, perhaps you should train them better."
Leon glared at her.
"You destroyed my doors."
"They were in my way."
The room fell silent.
Rain whispered,
"She has a point."
Misery pinched the bridge of her nose.
Guy laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"This is why I like you, Luminous."
She turned on him immediately.
"I did not come here for your amusement."
Guy stretched his arms.
"Relax."
"You asked about the Angel, right?"
Luminous leaned forward.
"Yes."
Her eyes burned.
"You will explain it."
Roy and Louis exchanged glances behind her.
Across the room, Claude and Arlos were doing the same.
The four attendants looked at each other quietly as their masters argued.
Roy whispered,
"Do they always talk like this?"
Claude answered calmly.
"Frequently."
Louis nodded.
"Yes."
Arlos added,
"It is surprisingly normal."
Meanwhile—
Guy sighed.
"Fine."
He raised a hand.
"I'll tell you."
Luminous leaned forward slightly.
Finally.
Answers.
Guy opened his mouth—
BOOOOOOOOM.
The wall of the palace exploded inward.
Stone shattered.
Dust filled the air.
Everyone turned instantly.
Standing in the massive hole in the wall was a towering figure with golden hair and a lion-like mane.
Carrion.
Behind him stood his three generals.
Albis.
Suphia.
And Phobio.
Carrion stepped inside confidently.
"I'm looking for Guy Crimson!"
The room was silent.
Leon slowly turned his head.
"…My guards."
His voice was dangerously quiet.
"…What exactly are my guards doing today?"
Rain burst out laughing.
Guy grinned.
Carrion finally noticed everyone in the room.
"…Oh."
Leon rubbed his temple.
"You know…"
His voice was calm.
"…doors exist for a reason."
Carrion blinked.
Then shrugged.
"I didn't think of using it. Besides. It doesn't look like there is a door here."
Suphia covered her face.
Phobio laughed loudly.
Albis sighed.
Luminous's eye twitched violently.
"You."
She pointed at Carrion.
"You just interrupted when Guy was about to answer my question."
Carrion blinked.
"…Luminous?"
He stared at her for a moment.
"…Wow."
"I haven't seen you in ages."
He smiled slightly.
"How have—"
"Not now."
Her voice cut him off instantly.
"I am not in the mood for nostalgia."
Carrion scratched the back of his head.
"…Right."
Guy chuckled.
"This is turning into a party."
Rain nodded.
"Yeah."
"Pretty much every Demon Lord in the West is here."
Leon glared at them.
"This is not a party."
Velzard spoke calmly.
"It appears the matter is attracting attention."
Guy looked at Carrion.
"So."
"What do you want?"
Carrion crossed his arms.
"I came to ask you something."
Guy raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Carrion's expression grew serious.
"The tremors from three days ago."
The room quieted again.
"I want to know what caused them."
Luminous blinked.
"…Wait."
She looked at Carrion.
"You felt them too?"
Carrion nodded.
"The whole continent did."
Suphia crossed her arms.
"And our king wants answers."
Phobio cracked his knuckles.
"Someone strong enough to shake the world?"
"Sounds interesting."
Albis stepped forward slightly.
"We suspected Lord Guy might know something."
Guy leaned back again.
Then laughed softly.
"Well."
He looked at Luminous.
Then at Carrion.
"Looks like you two came here for the same thing."
Luminous frowned.
Carrion nodded.
Guy rested his chin on his hand.
"Alright."
His crimson eyes gleamed slightly.
"I'll tell you."
Everyone in the room leaned forward slightly.
Guy smiled.
"But this story…"
His grin widened.
"…is going to take a while."
The room fell silent.
The broken wall of El Dorado still let sunlight pour into the hall.
Dust floated lazily in the air where Carrion had crashed through moments ago.
Guy spoke.
"You all want to know what shook the continent three days ago."
His tone was casual.
Almost bored.
Carrion nodded.
"That's right."
Luminous leaned forward slightly.
"And the Angel that attacked my nation."
Guy raised an eyebrow.
"Angel."
He chuckled.
"That's one way to describe him."
Rain muttered quietly.
"Here we go."
Misery sighed.
Guy rested his chin on his hand.
"The one responsible for all of that…"
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"…is named Loki."
Carrion blinked.
"…Loki?"
Phobio grinned.
"That's a cool name."
Suphia elbowed him.
"Focus."
Luminous narrowed her eyes.
"I assume that isn't his full story."
Guy smirked.
"You're right."
He leaned forward slightly.
"That idiot…"
"…is a Primordial Demon."
The room froze.
Carrion's eyes widened.
Phobio grinned even wider.
Suphia blinked.
Albis inhaled quietly.
Even Leon's gaze sharpened.
Luminous spoke slowly.
"…A Primordial."
Guy nodded.
"Yep."
Rain shrugged.
"Brand new one too."
Misery added calmly,
"A named Primordial."
Carrion let out a low whistle.
"So the rumors were true."
Phobio laughed.
"That's insane."
Suphia frowned.
"Wait."
"A Primordial Demon was the one who shook the continent?"
Guy shrugged.
"Partially."
Luminous's eyes narrowed further.
"What do you mean partially?"
Guy smirked.
"Because Loki isn't just a Primordial Demon."
The room grew quiet again.
Then Guy continued.
"He's also an Angel."
Silence.
Phobio blinked.
"…What?"
Suphia stared.
"…You're joking."
Carrion crossed his arms.
"That's impossible."
Guy grinned.
"I know."
"That's what makes him interesting."
Luminous stared at him.
"A Demon…"
"…and an Angel?"
Guy nodded.
"Hybrid."
Velzard finally spoke.
"It appears his soul contains both demonic and angelic aspects."
Leon added quietly,
"An extremely unstable existence."
Rain shrugged.
"Yeah."
"But somehow it works."
Misery nodded.
"Though it nearly killed him."
Carrion leaned forward slightly.
"So that battle three days ago…"
Guy chuckled.
"That was him losing control."
Luminous's eyes sharpened.
"…Explain."
Guy waved his hand lazily.
"Simple."
"Loki has an absurdly powerful ability."
"When it activated…"
"…it took control."
Rain nodded.
"His Manas."
Misery added,
"His skill temporarily overtook his will."
Velzard continued calmly,
"And began acting independently to protect him."
Phobio laughed.
"So the guy was fighting himself?"
Guy shrugged.
"More or less."
Carrion rubbed his chin.
"And during that time…"
"You said he fought two True Dragons."
Guy pointed at Velzard.
"One of them is standing right there."
Velzard didn't react.
Carrion stared at her.
"…Seriously?"
Phobio looked thrilled.
"That's incredible."
Suphia shook her head.
"That's insane."
Albis spoke calmly.
"And he survived?"
Guy smirked.
"Barely."
Rain laughed.
"He was out cold immediately after."
Misery nodded.
"He's still unconscious now."
Carrion's grin slowly spread.
"That's amazing."
Phobio pumped his fist.
"A guy strong enough to fight two True Dragons?"
"Now that's someone worth fighting!"
Suphia smacked him again.
"You idiot."
Luminous remained silent.
But her mind was racing.
A Primordial Demon.
An Angel.
A man named Loki.
Suddenly—
A memory surfaced.
Hinata.
A meeting in Lubelius.
Hinata explaining a demon threat.
A dangerous demon she intended to eliminate.
Luminous's eyes narrowed slowly.
"…I see."
Roy glanced at her.
"My lady?"
Luminous ignored him.
That girl.
Hinata.
She mobilized the Ten Great Saints.
And yet—
She described the enemy as a mere demon.
Luminous clenched her fist.
"…That woman lied to me."
Louis blinked.
"My lady?"
Luminous's voice was quiet.
Cold.
"The demon Hinata mentioned."
Her eyes sharpened.
"…was Loki."
Roy frowned.
"The Primordial?"
Luminous nodded slowly.
"That girl knew."
Her gaze darkened.
"She knew exactly what she was dealing with."
Roy looked uneasy.
"So she hid it?"
Luminous exhaled slowly.
"Yes."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"…We will deal with that later."
Guy watched her with amusement.
"Oh?"
"You figured it out?"
Luminous opened her eyes again.
Her expression had returned to its usual composed arrogance.
"For now…"
She looked back at Guy.
"…continue."
Carrion crossed his arms again.
"So where is this Loki now?"
Rain answered casually.
"Sleeping."
Phobio laughed.
"After fighting two True Dragons?"
"Yeah, I'd sleep too."
Suphia rolled her eyes.
Carrion chuckled.
"That's impressive."
Guy leaned back again.
His grin returning.
"Like I said."
"That idiot is terrifying."
His crimson eyes glowed faintly.
---
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