A few hours later—
Saare and Garde had fully awakened.
The sterile scent of medicine lingered in the air as both men lay on separate beds within one of the Holy Empire's private medical chambers. Their bodies were heavily bandaged, holy seals layered across their wounds to stabilize their life force.
The door opened quietly.
Hinata Sakaguchi stepped inside.
She did not waste time with pleasantries.
Taking a seat beside their beds, she folded her hands and spoke calmly.
"Saare. Garde. I know this is not a good time to ask this."
Her eyes were steady.
"But it's important, so I'll ask anyway."
A pause.
"What happened?"
The room grew still.
Saare and Garde exchanged a glance.
Garde answered first.
"We made contact with the Primordial Demon who happens to be our target."
Hinata's pupils contracted.
"…A Primordial?"
Saare exhaled slowly.
"That demon was far too powerful."
His voice lacked its usual lightness.
"Overwhelmingly so. We couldn't even land a hit."
Hinata's fingers tightened slightly against her sleeve.
"And how did you return?"
Her tone sharpened.
"Did someone save you and teleport you here?"
Saare let out a weak chuckle.
"No."
His eyes darkened at the memory.
"To that demon… the whole world seems to be his playground."
He swallowed.
"He's the one who spared us. And teleported us here."
Silence fell.
Hinata's brows furrowed.
"What?"
"Why would he do that?"
Garde's gaze shifted to the ceiling.
"Because everything is a game to him."
His jaw clenched.
"Before he teleported us out, he told us he would be waiting for the Holy Knights at the Barren Lands."
Saare continued.
"He said he would come alone."
A faint bitterness crept into his voice.
"Because he wanted a spectacular battle."
Hinata blinked.
"…Huh?"
Saare gave a dry smile.
"That was exactly our reaction."
"It doesn't make sense at all."
Hinata leaned back slightly.
"So he wants to fight all the Holy Knights at once?"
"It seems so," Garde answered.
For a long moment, Hinata said nothing.
Then—
She stood.
Resolve filled her eyes.
"Well, that's fine."
Her voice was steady. Cold.
"If that's what he wishes, then we shall give him just that."
A faint glint passed through her gaze.
"He will regret underestimating us."
She turned toward the door.
"I will call an emergency meeting with the Holy Knights."
Pausing, she looked back at the two injured men.
"Saare. Garde. I apologize for asking this of you in your current states."
"But can you attend the meeting so you can share what information you have?"
Saare nodded immediately.
"I have no problem with that."
Garde followed.
"I have no problem as well."
Hinata inclined her head.
"Thank you."
And without another word, she exited swiftly.
The door shut behind her.
---
El Dorado — Balcony of the Golden Palace
The wind swept gently across the high balcony of El Dorado.
Below, the golden city shimmered under the fading light.
Two figures stood overlooking it.
Guy Crimson leaned casually against the railing, red hair swaying slightly in the breeze.
Beside him stood Velzard, her icy aura subtle yet ever-present.
Guy's crimson eyes narrowed faintly.
"Velzard."
"I'm pretty sure by now Rudra has heard of Loki."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"And he's sure to be interested."
Velzard's expression remained calm.
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised."
Guy clicked his tongue lightly.
"But that means Loki will become a target for Rudra."
His gaze sharpened.
"We cannot let him get his hands on him."
Velzard tilted her head slightly.
"So. What do you think will happen?"
Guy's smile widened knowingly.
"I think he'll most likely send Velgrynd to recruit him."
His eyes gleamed.
"Knowing Loki, he will surely refuse."
A brief pause.
"Which will lead to Velgrynd attempting to take him by force."
He then turned his full attention to Velzard.
"Velzard."
"You're quite entranced by Loki, aren't you?"
Velzard's lips curved faintly.
"I wouldn't call it that."
Guy chuckled softly.
"That doesn't matter to me."
He straightened slightly.
"What matters is that Loki interests you."
"And that means you most likely wouldn't enjoy seeing the Empire get its hands on him."
His gaze sharpened with purpose.
"So I'll put the guarding of Loki against Velgrynd in your hands."
A brief silence passed.
"Is that okay with you?"
Velzard's smile deepened just slightly.
"Understood."
---
The Ten Great Saints' meeting chamber was heavy with restrained irritation.
Stone pillars lined the circular hall, each etched with holy scripture. At the center stood a long crescent-shaped table. All ten seats were occupied.
Murmurs spread through the room.
"This is the second emergency summons in a short time…"
"We have territories to oversee."
"Training to supervise."
Glenda leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.
"Hinata. Don't go around abusing your authority now."
Her gaze sharpened.
"We have things to do."
Several others nodded in agreement.
The atmosphere was tense—but not hostile.
Just fatigued.
Hinata stood at the head of the chamber.
She bowed her head slightly.
"I apologize for suddenly calling everyone here."
Her voice was steady.
"But what we have to discuss is important."
A brief pause.
"It involves the Primordial Demon, Loki."
The murmurs died instantly.
Silence fell like a curtain.
Even Glenda straightened.
Hinata gave a small nod.
Good.
She began.
The Report
"Yesterday," Hinata said, "Saare and Garde made contact with our target."
The doors at the side of the chamber opened.
Saare and Garde entered slowly, both still visibly injured though stabilized.
A ripple of concern moved through the Saints.
"They were defeated," Hinata continued plainly.
"Without landing a single decisive hit."
The weight of those words settled heavily.
Hinata turned slightly.
"Saare. Garde. Report."
Garde stepped forward first.
"We confirmed that Loki is a Primordial Demon."
A few Saints inhaled sharply.
Saare continued.
"His combat ability far exceeds Special Rank A classification."
"He demonstrated extreme speed—beyond perception."
"Material Creation of high-grade weapons."
"Advanced barrier manipulation."
"Precise slash-type techniques capable of bypassing reinforced holy defenses."
Hinata's gaze sharpened.
"Explain the slash technique."
Saare nodded.
"He calls it 'Cleave.'"
"He does not swing a weapon. He places his hand on the target."
"Then countless calibrated slashes erupt simultaneously."
"Each strike is measured. Not excessive. Not random."
Garde added quietly,
"It felt like he was deciding exactly how much to cut."
The Saints exchanged glances.
Intent-based output?
Troubling.
Hinata folded her arms.
"Continue."
Saare's expression darkened.
"He also possesses a technique called Hakai."
A murmur.
"What does it do?" Glenda asked.
Saare swallowed.
"It erases whatever it touches."
"Not burns. Not disintegrates."
"Erases."
Silence returned.
Even the most composed among them felt it.
Erasure-type abilities were rare.
And dangerous.
Garde continued.
"He spared us."
That drew more attention than anything else.
Hinata nodded slightly.
"He teleported them back himself."
A Saint frowned.
"Why?"
Saare answered.
"He wants a battle."
He met their eyes.
"In ten days' time."
"At the Barren Lands—the Land of Giants."
"He said he will come alone."
The chamber erupted briefly.
"He's inviting all of us?"
"That's arrogance."
"Or confidence."
Hinata raised a hand.
The room quieted.
"Yes," she said.
"He intends to fight all Holy Knights at once."
Strategy
Glenda leaned forward.
"Is this a trap?"
Hinata shook her head slightly.
"Possibly. But his personality suggests otherwise."
Saare nodded.
"To him, this is entertainment."
Garde added,
"He wants the world watching."
One of the Saints tapped the table thoughtfully.
"If he comes alone, we overwhelm him with coordinated formations."
"Layered holy barriers to restrict movement."
"Long-range bombardment first."
"Close-quarters suppression once he commits."
Another added,
"We need anti-teleportation seals across the battlefield."
"Anchor arrays."
"Limit spatial manipulation."
Hinata nodded.
"Agreed. Prepare containment grids across a ten-kilometer radius."
A different Saint spoke carefully.
"Should we involve the Seven Luminaries?"
The room stilled again.
Hinata's expression did not change.
"I already approached them."
"And?"
"They declined."
A faint crease formed between her brows.
"They said this is something we should be able to handle ourselves."
A low murmur passed through the room.
Glenda exhaled sharply.
"So we prove them right."
Another Saint spoke,
"If he is a Primordial, conventional holy suppression may not be enough."
Hinata nodded.
"Which is why this will not be a simple clash of power."
Her gaze sharpened.
"He enjoys explaining his techniques."
Several Saints looked up.
Saare gave a small nod.
"He does."
"Then we exploit that," Hinata said.
"If he views this as a stage, we let him perform."
"Draw information from him."
"Force him to reveal more."
"Analyze in real time."
Her eyes moved across each of them.
"We do not rush."
"We do not let pride dictate pace."
"We fight intelligently."
A Saint asked quietly,
"And if things go wrong?"
Hinata answered without hesitation.
"Then I will engage personally."
The room fell silent.
No theatrics.
No grand declaration.
Just certainty.
Glenda finally leaned back.
"…Ten days."
Hinata nodded.
"Use them well."
She looked at Saare and Garde.
"You two rest. Observe. Reconstruct every detail."
Then she addressed the room.
"We will not underestimate him."
Her voice was calm—but firm.
"And we will not lose."
The meeting adjourned with heavy determination.
The Next Day Jura Forest — 9 Days Before the Battle
Deep within the Jura Forest—
A familiar cave entrance stood quiet.
The air hummed faintly with residual dragon aura.
Loki stepped out casually, brushing dust from his coat.
His daily visit concluded.
Behind him, the presence of Veldora receded back into the cave's depths.
Loki stretched lazily.
"Ah, that was refreshing."
He took a step forward—
And stopped.
His pupils contracted sharply.
A towering figure stood not far from the cave entrance.
Blue hair.
Golden eyes.
An aura that scorched the very air around her.
The ground beneath her feet seemed to shimmer from heat.
Loki blinked once.
Then twice.
"…Wait."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Wait, wait, wait."
His gaze sharpened.
"That's the Scorch Dragon…"
Recognition settled fully.
"…Velgrynd, isn't it?"
Indeed—
Before him stood Velgrynd.
Her presence alone distorted the atmosphere.
Loki tilted his head.
"What exactly," he murmured, a faint smile forming,
"…is she doing here?"
________________________________________
Support me on Patreon for early chapters [Patreon.com/tenten100?]