BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Above the clouds, Ddraig and Crom Cruach were locked in a battle fit to end worlds. The pitch-black Evil Dragon and the crimson Heavenly Dragon tore through the sky, their massive forms stirring the winds and clouds, flashes of scales and claws appearing and vanishing in the mist.
Thunderous detonations split the heavens. Even without looking, it was clear how fierce their clash had become. Fireballs—mere aftershocks from their fight—rained down on the city below, turning the Tepes capital into a scene of chaos.
"Ahhh…"
Vampires stampeded through the streets, panic written on every face. Tenra led Yubelluna and the others, heading back toward the embassy building—until he suddenly stopped dead.
The girls halted behind him, confused, following his gaze. There, standing in their path, was a silver-haired man in a cloak—appearing as if conjured from thin air.
"Rizevim?"
It was their first meeting, but the man's silver hair and features—so reminiscent of Vali—made Tenra instantly recognize him.
"Oh-ho! As expected of Red Emperor-chan! Yes, it's me—Rizevim Livan Lucifer!"
"Red Emperor-chan actually knows me? I'm delighted!"
Rizevim bounced up to them, his voice bubbling with laughter—a grown man speaking in the tone of a giddy schoolgirl. Tenra's mouth twitched; Yubelluna and the others looked vaguely ill.
But at the mention of his name, everyone's expression changed.
Rizevim Livan Lucifer. The infamous devil whose reputation rivaled Sirzechs Lucifer and Ajuka Beelzebub.
"Rizevim, you're the one pulling the strings behind the vampire coup, aren't you? And now you're the new leader of Khaos Brigade?"
Tenra met his gaze, unflinching.
"Red Emperor-chan really does know everything! But I only gave Marius-kun some power and a few helpful hints. The rest was all his own doing!"
"As for leading Khaos Brigade… what choice did I have? Cao Cao and the others got punted into the Underworld by the Heavenly Emperor. With things in such a mess, this old devil had to step up and take charge."
"Oh, and by the way—I've renamed our little group. No more 'Hero Faction.' Now we're 'Qliphoth.' I mean, come on, I'm a devil—a villain! How could I call myself a hero? 'Evil' suits me much better, don't you think?"
"Right? Right?"
He was clearly a little unhinged, but Tenra sifted through the nonsense and gleaned plenty of intel.
Cao Cao had been banished to the Underworld by Indra, and now Rizevim led the newly renamed 'Qliphoth.'
"So, what's your reason for showing up here?"
Tenra didn't let Rizevim's clowning make him careless.
"My reason? No real purpose today! Some ridiculously strong dragons are duking it out outside—I just came to watch the fireworks. Didn't expect to bump into Red Emperor-chan, so I thought I'd stop by and say hi!"
Rizevim grinned, utterly unconcerned.
"Just here to say hello, huh…"
Tenra nodded, but then a cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Truth is, you're a headache for me. And with our positions, we can only ever be enemies."
"Rizevim, maybe I should just erase you right now."
A dangerous aura flickered around Tenra. If he could, he'd wipe out Rizevim on the spot.
"Oh my, Red Emperor-chan wants to hurt me? How scary, how scary!"
Rizevim clutched his chest in mock terror, hopping back with exaggerated fright.
"But—"
"You think I'm alone? Big mistake!"
"Come on out, my bodyguards!"
He threw his arms wide, shouting theatrically.
Tenra and the girls cringed in secondhand embarrassment. Legendary devil or not, could he act any less dignified?
Still, two figures stepped out from behind him: a silver-haired young man and a petite girl.
The youth was impressive enough, but it was the girl who made Yubelluna and the others gasp in shock.
"O-Ophis!"
Tenra's eyes narrowed. The girl didn't just resemble Ophis—she was a perfect copy.
"Geh-heh-heh… Surprised?"
"She's not Ophis, though. We made her using power stolen from Ophis—our lucky little girl, Lilith. Pleased to meet you!"
"Oops, guess I borrowed mama's name. Oh well!"
Rizevim patted the girl's head as he introduced her. Lilith stared back, expressionless, her eyes as empty as air.
"She may be tiny, but compared to the corrupted Ophis, she's seriously strong. My personal bodyguard—I'm super grateful! Small package, huge presence."
An oppressive aura radiated from Lilith, making Yubelluna and the others pale. Even Tenra grew solemn.
Lilith only had half of Ophis's original power, but even Tenra—now a Transcendent—knew he'd stand no chance against her.
"And this is Euclid Lucifuge. Ring a bell?"
"That's right, he's the silver-haired Queen of Annihilation's little brother!"
"Euclid-kun's no slouch either. The Lucifuge family served my old man for generations. After father died, his sister chose to follow the new Lucifer, but Euclid here stuck with me."
Rizevim gestured to the silver-haired youth, who wore a cold, proud expression—strikingly similar to Grayfia. The magical pressure rolling off him marked him as at least Maou-class.
"How about it? Pretty impressive bodyguards, right?"
"Red Emperor-chan, still want to take a shot at me?"
Hands on his hips, Rizevim looked smug.
"I'll pass. I'm not in the mood for suicide."
Tenra shrugged, answering without hesitation.
Rizevim alone was one thing, but with Lilith and Euclid backing him, picking a fight would be pure idiocy.
"Geh-heh-heh… Red Emperor-chan, I like how honest you are! Young people these days, I swear."
"Well, now that we've exchanged pleasantries, time to be on our way. Grendel and the rest seem to be having a blast—I should go check out the fun."
Rizevim gave Lilith's head a playful pat, and the emotionless girl followed him as he turned to leave.
Before departing, Euclid spoke up:
"Red Emperor, please pass a message to my sister Grayfia—"
"If you can abandon the Lucifuge mission and live as you please, then I have that right too."
With that, Euclid turned and walked away without looking back.
Tenra couldn't help but chuckle. The guy was a bit of a rebel.
But, glancing at his own shadow, Tenra figured Grayfia probably didn't need the message relayed.
"Lord Tenra, what now?"
"We head back to the embassy."
"Yes, sir."
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