Reinhardt stood at the edge of the frozen wasteland, his eyes locking onto Grayfia's trembling form. He could see Euclid Lucifuge hiding behind her, using his own sister as a shield like the coward he was.
"Girls, step back," Reinhardt commanded.
Without hesitation, his legion—from the Goddess Kaguya to the Battle Maids—retreated several paces. The Bael and Phenex troops followed suit, sensing the sudden, violent shift in the atmosphere. Euclid, seeing the retreat, let out a shaky laugh, thinking Reinhardt was backing down. But the laughter died in his throat when Reinhardt reached for a katana at his waist.
As the blade left its scabbard, the temperature didn't just rise—it screamed. The ice that had covered the battlefield for miles sublimated instantly into steam. The moisture in the very air vanished.
"Bankai."
The world went silent for a heartbeat.
"Zanka no Tachi: East – Kyokujitsujin."
Reinhardt vanished. He wasn't just fast; he was a flicker of solar heat. In the same breath, his voice echoed directly in Grayfia's mind via telepathy: "Jump, Grayfia. Now!"
Trusting him blindly, Grayfia propelled herself backward with a burst of ice magic. A millisecond later, the tip of Reinhardt's blade—concentrating the thermal energy of the sun into a single point—touched the ground where the Lucifuge guard stood.
There was no explosion. There was only erasure.
The ground shattered, and the army of the Old Satan Faction caught in the radius didn't even have time to scream before they were reduced to ash. The sound of a Phoenix's cry tore through the sky, a piercing, majestic note of absolute destruction.
Euclid Lucifuge, who had barely managed to scramble onto a high-tier magic circle at the last second, watched his entire elite guard vanish into nothingness. He looked down to see his legs shaking uncontrollably, his pants soaked in a pathetic display of terror. Forgetting his pride, forgetting his "duty," and completely abandoning his sister to save his own skin, he turned and fled like a beaten dog.
Reinhardt didn't chase him. He had a more important prize.
He moved through the steam and caught Grayfia mid-air, pulling her into a secure, protective princess carry. The heat of the Bankai vanished instantly, replaced by the soothing warmth of his natural aura.
"Welcome back, Princess," Reinhardt whispered, looking down at her.
Grayfia, the "Strongest Queen," was speechless. She had witnessed the most powerful display of fire magic in the history of the Underworld, a move that made the fires of the Phenex clan look like flickering candles. Wrapped in his arms, her heart hammered against her ribs—not from fear, but from the overwhelming realization of his love and power.
She hid her face against his chest, her cheeks burning a deep, beautiful crimson at being called his "Princess" in front of the entire warring world.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Battle Progress: The Lucifuge Rout]
Casualties: 15,000 Elite Lucifuge Guard (Erased).
Traitor Status: Euclid Lucifuge has fled (Mental State: Broken).
Acquisition: Grayfia Lucifuge has been "liberated" and officially joined the Ashborn Ranks.
The battlefield falls into a stunned silence. The Anti-Maou Faction and the remaining Old Satans are watching from afar, terrified by the "Sun" that just descended upon the earth.
Venelana and the others approach, smiles on their faces as they see Grayfia safe.
The battlefield remained eerily silent as the steam from the evaporated ice cleared. Thousands of soldiers from the Bael and Phenex clans stood frozen, not by magic, but by pure, unadulterated awe.
They had just watched a single man erase an elite army of 15,000 as if he were blowing out a candle. In that moment, the name "Phoenix Monarch" was etched into the history of the Underworld. To the allies, he was a god-like savior; to the enemies, he was a walking suicide note.
The Old Satan Faction leaders, watching through surveillance circles, felt a cold dread sink into their bones. They realized too late that by killing Astarion Bael, they hadn't just removed a rival—they had birthed a monster that would devour their entire world.
The Family's Pride
In the command center, the air was filled with triumphant laughter.
Zeckram and Darius Bael shared a look of grim satisfaction. "That's my grandson," Zeckram rumbled, his voice thick with pride. "The power of Destruction and the heat of the Sun... he truly is the pinnacle of our blood."
Cassius, Rhaziel, and Jessica were cheering. "A Super Devil? No," Cassius laughed, wiping away a tear of joy. "He's something far beyond that. He's the Greater Phoenix!"
Reyna Phenex watched the screen with starry eyes, her heart swelling for her lover.
Serafall Leviathan, watching from the Anti-Maou camp, was practically beaming, her eyes shimmering with "Magical Girl" sparkles as she squealed, "That's my Rein-tan! He's so cool!"
The "Treasure" of Ashborn
Back on the scorched earth, Reinhardt didn't let go of Grayfia. He stood tall, the "Phoenix Monarch" holding his prize for all to see.
He looked toward his legion of girls—Artoria, Morgan, Scáthach, Albedo, Feixiao, and the rest—who were all looking at him with expressions ranging from deep respect to intense lust.
"Girls!" Reinhardt called out, his voice carrying across the silent field. "Did you see? I just got myself a beautiful treasure that fell right from the sky!"
The girls broke their battle-hardened masks and chuckled, moving in to surround the pair.
"A 'treasure', huh?" Mordred teased, poking at Grayfia's arm. "She looks more like a frozen popsicle that finally melted!"
Albedo giggled behind her hand. "Indeed, a very high-quality treasure. Welcome to the collection, Grayfia."
Yuri Alpha nodded approvingly. "Her uniform is slightly singed, but her posture is excellent for a maid of your household, Rein."
Grayfia, the legendary "Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation," was utterly defeated by the teasing. She turned a shade of red that rivaled Reinhardt's flames, hiding her face in the crook of his neck to escape the eyes of her new "sisters."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Title Earned: The Phoenix Monarch]
Effect: 50% increase in Intimidation against Devil-type enemies.
Global Reputation: You are now considered a "Global Power" (Tier: Disaster).
[Current Status: The Final Siege]
The Old Satan Faction has retreated to their final bastion, the Lucifer Sky-Fortress. They are activating an ancient forbidden ritual to sacrifice their remaining 100,000 troops to summon a "Great Beast" as a last-ditch effort.