The massive throne room of the frozen castle was unusually quiet.
No footsteps echoed through the halls. No chatter. No annoying voices. No pointless reports.
Only the faint hum of magic woven into the ice walls, and the slow, constant chill that seeped into everything like a reminder that this place belonged to monsters.
The heavy doors creaked open.
Loki stepped inside.
His shoes tapped against the smooth icy floor as he casually walked forward, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the room.
And sitting there, alone on the throne like a king.
Guy Crimson.
Loki raised an eyebrow.
"Guy," Loki said. "It's rare to see you alone. Where are the others?"
Guy didn't move.
He simply rested his cheek against his hand, red eyes half-lidded with his usual lazy arrogance.
"Dino is somewhere… most likely lazing off," Guy replied calmly. "Velzard left, but I have no idea where she went."
He paused, then added with a faint smirk.
"And I sent Misery and Rain to go shut down some country that's getting too excited."
Loki then walked forward without hesitation, approaching the throne like he owned the place.
He stopped directly in front of Guy, staring up at him with cold eyes.
"Is that so."
Guy's smile widened slightly, amused by Loki's audacity.
"Loki," Guy said. "Do you have something you want to say to me?"
Loki's gaze sharpened.
"Yes," he said simply. "I want my ten thousand souls that I was promised."
The air in the room subtly shifted.
Guy was entertained.
He let out a small chuckle.
"Loki," Guy replied, "we had a deal. And you broke that deal. Of course I'd retract my end of it."
Loki's brow twitched.
"All I did was go out to have a fight with someone I had some history with," Loki snapped. "Do you have to be such a dickhead about it?"
Guy blinked slowly, as if the insult had bounced right off his skin.
"Oh my," Guy said, feigning offense. "Such harsh words."
Loki stepped forward half a pace, eyes burning.
"Alright then," Loki said. "It's quite simple."
He pointed at Guy.
"If you don't give me what I was promised… then I swear to you, I'll go around the world and raise some countries to the ground."
For a moment, the threat hung in the air like a blade.
Then
Guy laughed.
A calm, mocking laugh.
"Such pointless threats," Guy said.
His red eyes narrowed slightly, like he was looking at a child throwing a tantrum.
"Me and you both know you wouldn't do that."
Guy leaned back on his throne, relaxed.
"For a demon," he continued, "you are quite empathetic. You wouldn't just kill thousands, if not millions of civilians just because of a tantrum."
His smile became sharper.
Almost fond.
"Because you," Guy said, "the youngest… are quite a kind little brother."
Loki's mouth twitched.
He clicked his tongue hard.
"Tch."
'Damn it.'
'I really shouldn't be obvious.'
Indeed… the idea of slaughtering innocent people still didn't sit right with him.
If it did, he would have been a Demon Lord long ago.
Loki scoffed.
"Such a stupid observation," Loki muttered. "I just couldn't be bothered to deal with weaklings."
Guy laughed again, louder this time.
"You are terrible at lying."
Guy rose from his throne.
His footsteps were slow, casual, almost lazy, yet every step carried the presence of an ancient predator.
As he walked, his voice echoed through the room.
"Loki," Guy said. "How old do you think I've been alive?"
Loki didn't respond.
Guy continued anyway.
"How many people do you think I've interacted with?" he asked. "Hatred. Love. Pain. Happiness."
"I've witnessed all forms of these emotions."
He reached a corner of the room where a polished counter sat, stacked with expensive bottles and crystal glasses.
Guy picked up two whisky glasses.
He poured whisky into both of them with slow precision, the amber liquid shimmering under the pale light.
Then he turned and began walking back toward Loki.
As he walked, he spoke again.
"You, Loki…" Guy said, his tone unusually thoughtful. "If we are speaking in literal terms…"
He stopped right in front of Loki.
"You are the worst demon to ever exist."
Loki's eyes narrowed.
Guy smirked.
"If anything," Guy continued, "you would have been better suited to being an Angel. I don't know what that guy Veldanava was thinking when he created you."
Then, as if they were old friends sharing a drink after a long day…
Guy slung his arm around Loki's shoulders.
Loki stiffened instantly.
Guy held out one of the whisky glasses.
"Here," Guy said. "Drink."
Loki's eye twitched in irritation.
"Why are you touching me?" Loki asked flatly.
Guy chuckled like Loki had just said something adorable.
"How cold," Guy replied. "Why don't I get the same treatment Rain and Misery get?"
His grin widened.
"I'm your older brother, you know."
Loki leaned away slightly, visibly annoyed.
"Because Rain and Misery don't weird me out," Loki snapped. "You and Noir do."
His eyes sharpened dangerously.
"So let go of me. Now."
Guy chuckled softly.
"Fine."
Reluctantly, he let go of Loki's shoulders.
Then he casually extended the whisky glass again.
Loki stared at it for a moment, irritation still written across his face, before snatching it out of Guy's hand.
Guy's smile deepened.
He turned around and walked back toward his throne with slow, confident steps, the sound of his boots echoing in the frozen silence.
He sat down like a king returning to his rightful seat.
Then, resting his elbow on the armrest, Guy looked down at Loki as if studying him.
"Loki," Guy said calmly. "Your moral compass makes no sense to me."
Loki didn't respond. He only took a sip of whisky, the taste sharp and burning.
Guy continued, his voice smooth but carrying weight.
"There is definitely something Veldanava didn't tell me," he said. "I'm going to figure it out."
Loki scoffed.
"I don't care about all that," Loki said flatly. "I just want my souls."
Guy's eyes narrowed slightly.
For a brief moment, the room became colder.
Then Guy spoke again, this time with a tone that carried a quiet edge.
"Say that again."
Loki's gaze hardened.
"I said I want my souls."
Guy smiled.
But it wasn't warm.
"Loki," Guy said, "it seems you misunderstand something."
And then
He casually released his Demon Lord Haki.
The air exploded.
Invisible pressure flooded the throne room like an ocean crashing down. The icy walls trembled. The temperature dropped even further, and the atmosphere itself seemed to distort under the sheer density of power.
Loki's eyes widened.
His skin prickled instantly.
Sweat formed on his forehead and ran down his face, despite the freezing cold.
'What… is this…?'
His instincts screamed.
His body screamed.
His soul screamed.
Guy's presence was overwhelming, like standing before a natural disaster wearing the shape of a man.
Guy continued speaking casually, as if he hadn't just turned the entire room into a killing field.
"Sure," Guy said. "You are quite strong. You can take a few of the Ten Demon Lords, sure."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand.
"But make no mistake."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"The gap between me and you is unfathomable."
Loki's grip tightened on the whisky glass.
Guy's voice remained calm.
"The only reason I haven't completely erased you… is because I'm quite interested in your potential."
He paused.
"And you as a whole."
The pressure intensified for a split second, like Guy was testing Loki's spine.
"So don't take my kindness for granted."
Loki's jaw clenched.
"Tch…"
He clicked his tongue, refusing to show weakness… but his body betrayed him.
He couldn't stop sweating.
Then, just as suddenly as it began
Guy retracted his Haki.
The crushing pressure vanished instantly.
The room returned to silence.
Loki inhaled sharply, his lungs finally able to breathe properly again.
His heartbeat slowed, but his pride didn't recover.
Guy's expression returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
"Even then," Guy said, "you say you just went for a little fight…"
He leaned back lazily.
"But that little fight has led to The Council of the West being arranged by Falmuth."
Guy's words hit Loki like a blade.
Loki froze.
His eyes widened.
"…What did you say?"
Guy looked at him with faint amusement.
"You didn't know?" Guy asked. "The Western Nations are going to have a meeting with all nations involved."
Loki's pupils contracted.
Guy continued, voice calm, almost bored.
"The reason being… a Primordial has appeared and threatened to flatten the entirety of Falmuth."
For a moment, Loki was silent.
Then his lips slowly curled upward.
His eyes gleamed.
His entire mood shifted.
"Seriously…?" Loki whispered.
His shoulders trembled slightly.
Then he laughed.
A slow laugh.
A delighted laugh.
"That's so cool."
Guy's gaze sharpened instantly.
His voice turned cold.
"No," Guy said firmly. "It's not cool."
The atmosphere turned heavy again, not from Haki this time, but from sheer seriousness.
"Because depending on the outcome of the meeting," Guy continued, "I'll have to clean up your mess."
Loki's smile widened, almost boyish in excitement.
"Don't worry, Guy," Loki said. "I'll fix this myself."
Guy narrowed his eyes.
"Loki."
His voice carried warning.
"What are you planning to do? Don't make this worse than it already is."
Loki lifted his whisky glass slightly, as if toasting.
"Don't worry," Loki said casually.
Then his grin sharpened.
"I'm just going to have a bit of fun."
Guy stared at him for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
A deep sigh.
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