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"Rizevim, I was ready to ignore whatever chaos you wanted to stir up. But if you actually manage to turn the world upside down, that becomes my problem too."
"An anti-human, anti-devil, anti-everything terrorist like you—maybe it's time someone wiped you out."
Tenra didn't waste another word. Power crackled around him as his Dual Heavenly Armor materialized, and with a sharp, metallic screech, he launched himself straight at Rizevim.
The impact thundered through the night. The skyscraper beneath Rizevim crumbled, collapsing into a heap of shattered concrete and steel.
But Tenra's armor shattered as well, fragments scattering in the air.
Rizevim hovered above the ruins, laughter ringing out. "Hahaha! I can nullify Sacred Gears, Red Emperor. Your powers can't touch me!"
He didn't care why Tenra seemed to know every detail of his plans—boredom was all that mattered. He wanted destruction, and nothing would stop him.
Tenra narrowed his eyes. "Figures. Then how about this?"
A longsword flashed into his grip, spiritual energy swirling around the blade. Tenra lunged, slashing down with all his might.
Rizevim didn't bother to dodge, ready to mock Tenra's efforts. "I told you, it's useless! No Sacred Gear, no trick will ever—"
His words died as blood erupted from his chest, spraying across the rubble.
"AAAAAAHH!" Rizevim shrieked, clutching at a deep, bone-exposing wound. Only his reflexes had saved him from being split in two.
"Why? How can your Sacred Gear hurt me?!"
Desperate, Rizevim called on the Holy Grail's power to heal himself, glaring at Tenra in disbelief.
Tenra's lips curled into a wicked grin. "Idiot. That's just a plain iron sword. I infused it with both spiritual energy and the aura of a Sacred Gear."
He'd anticipated Rizevim's countermeasures. The sword was ordinary, but with Tenra's power behind it, it packed all the punch of a genuine Sacred Gear. Rizevim's arrogance had cost him dearly.
Rizevim howled, voice cracking with rage. "You tricked me?! With a cheap trick like that?!"
Tenra shrugged, cold amusement in his eyes. "So what if I did? I'm not done yet—I'll stab you to death."
He drove the sword toward Rizevim's heart. Rizevim yelped, throwing up a defensive spell. With a snap, the blade broke in two.
"Red Emperor, you think that'll work again?!" Rizevim sneered, most of his wounds already healed by the Grail.
Tenra felt a pang of regret. That trick only worked once. Shame he hadn't finished Rizevim with the first blow.
But he wasn't out of options.
"Who needs a sword? I can still kill you."
Tenra raised both hands to the sky. Above him, a sphere of energy began to coalesce, swelling larger and larger until it hung over the city, a hundred meters across.
He wasn't like Issei Hyoudou in the original story—a weakling without his Sacred Gear. Even stripped of all artifacts, Tenra was a true Transcendent.
"Die!"
With a cold smile, Tenra hurled the massive energy sphere at Rizevim.
This was pure spiritual force, no Sacred Gear involved. If it hit, Rizevim would be lucky to survive.
Rizevim's face finally twisted with fear. He darted backward, shouting, "Lilith! Protect me!"
The sphere roared downward, closing in—until Lilith appeared, serene and unhurried. She raised a delicate hand, and with a casual gesture, the energy sphere vanished.
No drama. No explosion. Just gone.
Tenra's eyes widened. He knew exactly how much power he'd poured into that attack. For Lilith to erase it so easily—despite possessing only half of Ophis's strength—was a sobering reminder of the gap between them.
Even as a Transcendent, he was still small. He had to become stronger.
Rizevim's confidence returned in an instant. "See? As long as Lilith's here, you'll never hurt me!"
He turned to Lilith, voice gleeful. "Lilith, kill him for me!"
Tenra tensed, but Lilith barely glanced at him.
"He gave me treats," she said simply. "No kill."
The air went still. Tenra's lips twitched in a smile; Rizevim looked utterly baffled.
Treats? What treats? I told you to kill him, not worry about snacks!
"Lilith, hurry up and kill him! When we get home, I'll give you all the cookies you want—a whole room full!"
Rizevim was practically foaming at the mouth. Tenra, meanwhile, smiled and produced a lollipop, holding it out to Lilith.
"Lilith, help me kill Rizevim and I'll give you this candy. Deal?"
He ruffled her hair, voice playful.
Lilith's eyes lit up with longing. She glanced at Rizevim, her gaze suddenly sharp.
Rizevim recoiled, panic flickering across his face. "Lilith, you—you want to betray me?!"
He'd built her to obey and protect him. Betrayal should have been impossible.
Lilith turned back to Tenra, her voice flat. "Rizevim. Protect. Can't kill."
Rizevim sagged with relief. She hadn't malfunctioned after all.
Tenra sighed. "Fine. How about you just watch and don't interfere?"
Lilith hesitated.
Tenra tried again. "I'll just beat him up, not kill him. When he's about to die, you can step in. That way, you're not breaking your orders."
Lilith nodded. "Okay."
A grin broke across Tenra's face. He unwrapped the lollipop and handed it to her. Lilith licked it once, then drifted off to the side.
"Lilith, where are you going? Get back here!" Rizevim shouted, veins bulging.
Lilith looked at him, expressionless. "No danger. No protection."
She floated away, content with her candy.
Rizevim's lips twitched. For a long moment, he was too stunned to speak.
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