A suffocating stillness settled over the battlefield.
Dust floated through the air like pale mist, illuminated by fading magic particles. The ground was carved apart by sword trails. Entire sections of terrain were missing. And at the center of it all, Guy stood between Loki and Leon, gripping their blades with his bare hands.
The pressure in the air was still thick enough to crush a lesser being.
Loki and Leon simultaneously shouted, "Don't involve yourself, Guy!"
Their voices overlapped perfectly. Sharp, irritated, and filled with pride. Both still strained forward slightly, as if ready to continue the fight the second Guy released them.
Guy's crimson eye twitched.
"Huh? You two destroyed my castle and you tell me not to involve myself."
Loki frowned faintly, confusion flashing across his face.
"Destroyed, what are you talking—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Because both he and Leon instinctively turned their heads.
Slowly.
Behind Guy.
What greeted them was silence… and devastation.
The once grand Ice castle, towering spires of stone, elegant balconies, massive gates was now nothing but collapsed walls and broken pillars. The main hall had caved in entirely. Smoke rose from scattered craters. A distant tower, split cleanly in half, chose that exact moment to crumble with a thunderous crash.
Both men froze.
Leon's grip on Flame Pillar loosened slightly.
"We… did that?"
His voice carried disbelief, almost boyish confusion.
Loki's eyes widened a fraction.
"Impossible."
For a brief second, neither looked like Demon Lord class fighters.
They looked like children who had broken something expensive.
Guy's expression darkened.
"Will someone care to explain."
He finally released their swords. The weapons hummed as they were freed, both Loki and Leon stepping back instinctively.
Leon straightened his posture, regaining composure. His golden eyes sharpened, though there was a hint of tension in them.
"I might have angered Loki, which led to the fight. But I didn't anticipate this much damage."
He spoke calmly, but his gaze flickered briefly across the ruins.
Guy slowly turned his head toward Loki.
"He angered you?"
Loki's jaw tightened.
"He might or might not have put my friend in a lot of suffering."
Guy blinked once.
"Friend."
The pause that followed was almost comical.
"You have a friend!?"
A vein visibly popped on Loki's forehead.
"Her name is Shizue."
His voice dropped an octave.
Then he snapped.
"Or what Guy, do you think I'm incapable of making friends or something."
The air around him warped slightly as his irritation spiked.
Guy casually waved a hand stepping back as if bored.
"Well normally yes, I keep forgetting you are not a normal Demon like us."
His tone was dry. Matter-of-fact.
Leon looked sharply at Guy, brows narrowing.
"Wait Guy. Do you know this demon."
Guy didn't hesitate.
"Yes. This Demon is a Primordial, just like me."
The words hit like a silent explosion.
Leon failed to hide the shock in his eyes.
"A Primordial. Impossible!"
His fingers tightened slightly around his sword.
His thoughts spiraled.
'There's only seven Primordials. Red, White, Black, Yellow, Green, Purple and Blue. This demon does not fit the description of any of these.'
His gaze shifted toward Loki again, studying him carefully now.
'But wait. It kind of makes sense. There's no way a normal Archdemon would fight equal to me. But this demon was doing so with ease. And it also seemed like he was holding back.'
A subtle chill ran through him.
Guy crossed his arms, surveying the destroyed landscape with visible irritation.
"Yes. There's a lot to explain, but first."
His eyes narrowed.
"Let's talk about my damaged castle. What are you prepared to do about this."
The tone shifted.
Leon swallowed.
Loki swallowed.
In the distance, a remaining wall finally collapsed with a heavy boom, as if emphasizing Guy's point.
The Red Primordial's temple vein twitched.
"Velzard. How long are you prepared to hide."
The air shimmered like heat over ice.
A gentle ripple spread outward.
Velzard stepped out from thin air, hands clasped lightly behind her back. Her expression was serene, almost playful.
"I thought I was hiding myself pretty well there."
Guy slowly turned toward her.
"Why did you just sit back and do nothing while the castle was being destroyed."
Velzard tilted her head slightly, genuinely curious.
"But I mean Guy. I couldn't dare think of going in-between a fight between two Demon Lord class fighters. It's scary."
She said it so innocently it almost sounded believable.
A thick vein popped on Guy's forehead.
"What did you say. Are you joking with me."
His aura flared for a brief second before settling again.
His thoughts darkened.
'Ever since that Loki got here. Velzard has been changing. He's a bad influence on her.'
Velzard raised her hands defensively, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"I mean. These are two beings that can annihilate a country in mere seconds."
She gestured lightly toward Loki and Leon as if presenting evidence.
Guy stared at her.
Blank.
"…Never mind Velzard."
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Velzard chuckled softly.
Behind them, wind swept through the ruins of the castle, carrying dust into the sky.
The fight between two near-equal monsters had ended.
But the consequences stood tall around them.
Guy slowly turned his gaze toward Leon, as if the destruction around them was nothing more than an inconvenience.
"Well. Nothing we can do about it now."
He casually brushed dust off his shoulder.
"Rebuilding the castle would take about a month or so."
Then he smiled.
It was the kind of smile that meant trouble.
"Leon, since you are a co-conspirator in this. We will have no choice but to go live with you in El Dorado."
Leon stiffened immediately.
He waved both hands in front of him in protest.
"Wait. Why my castle. Impossible."
His golden eyes widened slightly in disbelief.
Guy shrugged lightly.
"Well we can't possibly live here now. It's destroyed."
He gestured lazily at the surrounding ruins.
Velzard raised a delicate hand.
"No, actually it would be quite easy for me to rebuild—"
Before she could finish, Guy slowly turned his head toward her.
The air temperature dropped.
His expression was calm.
"The castle will take a month to rebuild. Right Velzard."
There was weight behind those words.
Velzard paused.
Then she smiled sweetly.
"Yes."
Leon's eye twitched.
He pointed accusingly at Guy.
"You just forced her to accept."
Guy placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"I'm just a mere Demon Lord. I can't force a true dragon to do anything."
His voice was filled with mock innocence.
Then, without warning, he walked over to Leon.
Closing the distance.
Leaning close.
He whispered directly into Leon's ear.
"By the way Leon. I'm scared of the dark. So I'll have to sleep with you in your room."
Leon's entire body stiffened.
"But I haven't agreed to anything yet Guy."
His voice rose half an octave.
Velzard lightly covered her mouth, amused.
"Guy, you are ignoring one fact. Loki and Leon currently don't see eye to eye. Putting them under the same roof is sure to cause more quarrels."
Leon crossed his arms defensively.
"I have no issues with Loki. It's actually the other way around."
He shot Loki a brief glance.
"And again. Why are you planning around my castle. I haven't agreed to anything."
Loki casually stretched his arms over his head, as if they were discussing afternoon tea rather than relocation.
"Don't worry about me. I have released my pent up anger now."
He rolled his shoulders slightly.
"After exchanging blows with Leon I've figured out that he's actually a good guy."
Leon blinked faintly.
Loki smirked.
"Besides, killing him would be quite a waste. He'd do extremely well as a sparring partner."
Leon's eyebrow twitched.
Guy clapped his hands together once.
"Alright. It's decided then. We shall all move to Leon's for the month."
Loki raised a hand immediately.
"I call dibs on the top floor."
Guy shot him a flat look.
"Only I get to sleep with Leon."
Leon's composure finally cracked.
"Wait. I haven't agreed to anything. Don't go deciding for me."
Guy waved dismissively.
"Don't worry Leon. If you'd like I can turn into a woman for you."
Leon's face hardened.
"That's not the point."
The atmosphere, once heavy with killing intent, had devolved completely.
And then—
A spatial ripple tore open nearby.
A lazy figure stepped out mid-yawn.
Dino stretched his arms high above his head, eyes half-lidded.
He blinked once.
Twice.
His gaze slowly scanned the surroundings.
Broken towers.
Collapsed halls.
Cracked earth.
He lowered his arms.
The first word that came out of his mouth were.
"Huh?"
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