Velgrynd stood straight, her sharp eyes fixed on Rudra. "From my spying into the nations outside the Empire… I found out that a Primordial Demon, outside of Guy and his subordinates, has manifested in the Cardinal World."
Rudra's brow arched with sudden interest. "Oh… which one is it? Could Noir have finally made his move?"
Velgrynd shook her head slowly, a small frown forming. "No… and that's what causes a sense of unease in me. This Primordial is not one of the original seven."
Rudra's expression flickered between surprise and disbelief. "Huh… what do you mean?"
"The original Primordials," Velgrynd explained, voice calm but tense, "consist of Red, White, Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, and Blue. But the one that has manifested now… is Maroon."
Rudra blinked, processing. "Then… it cannot be a Primordial, right?"
Velgrynd's gaze was unwavering. "Without a doubt… it is a Primordial. I'm just as confused as you are, but that doesn't change the facts."
Rudra exhaled slowly, nodding. 'So this being… entirely outside the known hierarchy… a true anomaly.' "You are right. So… this demon. Is he on Guy's side? If that's the case, then Guy has gained a huge upper hand."
Velgrynd shook her head. "From what I know, he hasn't allied with Guy yet. It seems he plans on fighting Guy in the future. For now… he's been staying in the North with him."
Rudra leaned back slightly, fingers steepled. "I see. Do you think he would be interested in joining my Eastern Empire?"
Velgrynd's lips curved slightly, a calculating glint in her eyes. "Highly unlikely. Or at least… it wouldn't be easy. He seems… very free-spirited. I don't think he would ever willingly become the subordinate of anyone."
Rudra's smirk returned, eyes gleaming. "I see. Then we should send someone to at least try."
Velgrynd's expression hardened. "Rudra… I will go myself. And if I'm forced to, I'll take him by force. If he won't help us… then he should at least be removed from the board completely."
Rudra chuckled softly, a genuine warmth in his tone. "That's why I love you, Velgrynd."
Velgrynd's cheeks flushed faintly. 'Don't make this awkward…' "It's nothing."
---
3 Days Later — Western Holy Knights Conference Room
The massive conference room buzzed with subdued murmurs. Every member of the Ten Great Saints was present, including the Crusaders: Leonard Jester, Arnuad Bauman, Bacchus, Litus, Garde, Fritz… and the Battle Sages: Saare, Grigori, and Glenda Attley.
Garde clicked his tongue in irritation, eyes darting around. "She's late. How do you call a meeting and be late?"
Leonard raised a calming hand. "Relax, Garde. She's sure to come… maybe she's held up somewhere."
The room fell into a tense silence as deliberate footsteps echoed through the hall. Hinata's black boots clicked across the polished floor. She moved with her usual grace, her sword resting at her waist, and took her seat at the back.
"Sorry I'm late," she said, her tone clipped and professional. "I got held up."
Garde huffed, muttering, "Typical… always an excuse."
Glenda's voice was sharp, but not hostile. "We all have things to do, Captain. You're not the only busy one."
Hinata ignored both, her piercing gaze sweeping across the room.
"What I've called you here for," she continued, her voice firm, commanding attention, "is for… most likely the most important and dangerous task the Holy Knights have ever undertaken."
The Holy Knights leaned in, anticipation and tension hanging thickly in the air.
Hinata's eyes swept the room, sharp and unyielding. "As I mentioned, the task before us is unlike anything the Holy Knights have faced. A Primordial Demon has manifested within the Cardinal World."
A few murmurs rippled through the room. Leonard Jester leaned forward. "Captain… a Primordial Demon? Are we certain of this?"
Hinata's gaze didn't waver. "Yes. A Primordial Demon is a being of ancient origin. Existences that have persisted since the beginning of time. Their power is incomprehensible. For context: a single one can level cities effortlessly, and the effects of their presence can destabilize entire regions. Their strength is… unlike anything we've encountered in conventional combat."
Grigori furrowed his brow. "So… we're not just talking about a particularly strong demon. This is… existential."
Hinata responded. "Correct. And this Primordial has already displayed destructive capabilities in Falmuth. From what intelligence we have… its combat skill is vast, versatile, and… adaptive. Conventional strategies will not suffice."
Bacchus, ever blunt, piped up. "So, Captain… how do we even hope to confront something that could wipe out a town in moments?"
Hinata tilted her head slightly, calm but piercing. "We do not confront it recklessly. Any engagement must be planned meticulously. This is not a battle of brute force, it is a battle of strategy, coordination, and exploitation of the Primordial's behavior patterns. The first step is intelligence: knowing its abilities, movement patterns, and weaknesses. We must treat every encounter as a reconnaissance mission as much as a combat engagement."
Fritz muttered, almost to himself, 'She's not even breaking a sweat… as if she's already ten steps ahead.'
Hinata caught his glance and gave a faint, confident nod. "Furthermore," she continued, "our priority is containment. We do not allow this Primordial to interact freely with civilians or unprotected military forces. Disruption of the environment can be deadly, not just to us, but to the Church and neighboring nations. Collateral damage cannot be an option. Our goal is neutralization, not a war of attrition."
Glenda raised a hand. "Captain Hinata… can you explain exactly what makes a Primordial different from other high-level demons? For clarity in our planning."
Hinata's expression sharpened. "A standard high-level demon has limits. Power thresholds that are quantifiable, and abilities that, with enough preparation, can be countered. A Primordial Demon is different. Their strength is inherently linked to their very essence. Even if you bypass their offensive capabilities, their resilience and regenerative capacity make them nearly impossible to defeat without extreme coordination. Moreover, many possess passive abilities that warp the battlefield, influence minds, or manipulate matter."
Saare nodded slowly. "So… it's not just raw power. It's the battlefield itself that becomes their weapon."
"Correct. And from what reports indicate," Hinata said, pulling a detailed map from her satchel, "this Primordial, referred to in intelligence as Loki is currently in the North, near Demon Lord Guy's stronghold."
Leonard leaned forward, voice cautious. "And the surrounding nations? Any diplomatic leverage we can use?"
Hinata responded. "Falmuth has already raised concern among the Western Nations. While they seek to engage militarily, the goal is… containment and observation. We may use this political pressure to coordinate forces across borders, ensuring the Primordial cannot exploit isolated weaknesses."
Garde clicked her tongue. "So… are we expected to simply track it, then strike at the optimal moment?"
Hinata's gaze hardened. "Yes, but with nuance. A misstep could escalate into catastrophe. This is why we will not deploy all forces at once. We will designate reconnaissance teams, reserve tactical strike squads, and use layered engagement protocols. Redundancy and adaptability are key. Any unit that encounters Loki must report instantly, retreat if engagement exceeds their capacity, and preserve civilian and Church integrity at all costs."
Bacchus frowned. "And… we're really supposed to kill something like that? Just strike it down?"
Hinata said. "Elimination is the ideal, but pragmatism dictates containment first. Observe, assess, and strike with overwhelming precision when an opening is presented. We must treat its combat patterns as a puzzle, not as a simple duel. This is a situation where every decision matters."
Arnuad, always the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "Captain… if it's that powerful, why hasn't it just destroyed the Church's forces already?"
Hinata's lips curved slightly, almost imperceptibly. "It acts with purpose. Primordials, especially Loki, are strategic. They do not waste energy on unnecessary destruction. Its restraint… paradoxically, is an advantage. It allows us to predict its movements if we observe carefully. But it also means any misstep from us could be immediately exploited."
Leonard muttered under his breath, 'She's terrifyingly calm.'
Hinata continued, turning the map toward the table. "We will operate in three phases: Phase One. Observation. Establish monitoring stations in key territories, track movement, and analyze behavior. Phase Two. Engagement. Only after sufficient intelligence do we coordinate localized strikes. Phase Three. Neutralization or Capture. Strike decisively using combined forces once its weaknesses are clearly identified. Every phase requires reporting, adaptation, and strict command hierarchy. Any deviation could be fatal."
Glenda spoke, voice measured. "And if it engages directly with us before Phase Two?"
Hinata's eyes gleamed. "Then we adapt. Prioritize survival and intelligence collection. Use barriers, containment magic, and coordinated retreats. We do not underestimate. Every action must buy time and information, never pride."
Saare leaned forward, intrigued. "Your strategy… it's almost like you're treating this as a chess match rather than a battle."
Hinata's gaze swept across the room, calm yet intimidating. "Precisely. A Primordial does not play by conventional rules. Neither will we. This is a fight of intellect, coordination, and timing. Strength alone will not suffice."
Bacchus finally nodded. "Understood… Captain Hinata. We'll follow your lead."
Hinata's eyes softened just slightly as she surveyed the room. 'They need to trust my plan… fully. One miscalculation and everyone dies.' "Good. I expect full cooperation. No improvisation without consultation, no solo actions, and no underestimating our target. This is the most dangerous assignment we've ever had, and only through precision and discipline can we survive and prevail."
The room fell into a heavy, respectful silence. Every Holy Knight present now fully understood: the Maroon Primordial was no ordinary demon, and the task before them would require every ounce of skill, strategy, and courage they possessed.
________________________________________
Support me on Patreon for early chapters [Patreon.com/tenten100?]