The battlefield fell silent.
A violent wind ripped through the cracked stone as Yuuki, Footman, Laplace, Tear, Misery, and Rain—all froze at once. Not by chains. Not by magic. Not by Guy's intimidation.
They were frozen by presence alone.
Atem's aura pressed down on the world like an ancient god's hand, crushing sky, earth, and breath alike.
The air warped. Space strained.
Every creature's instincts screamed "DO NOT MOVE."
Yuuki felt his lungs seize.
Laplace's manic grin vanished instantly.
Tear trembled violently, though her body couldn't shake.
Footman's knees threatened to buckle, but even that motion was denied.
Misery and Rain—proud Guy Crimson's personal maids—were locked in place like dolls, unable to twitch a finger.
Atem stood there, one hand casually raised, holding all of them—even Guy's elites—between life and annihilation.
His crimson cape barely fluttered, yet the ground cracked beneath him.
He slowly turned his head toward Guy.
His voice carried no anger… only judgment.
"Crimson. We meet again."
Guy Crimson—the strongest Demon Lord, the Primordial Red, the monster feared even among monsters—felt his stomach drop.
Even he couldn't beat back the instinctive fear rising inside his core.
A bead of sweat traced down his temple.
Atem continued, gaze sharp as an ancient blade:
"I heard you sent your maid to disrupt the council meeting."
Every word hit the air like a verdict.
Guy swallowed. The atmosphere felt like the moment before an executioner swings the blade.
"W-Wait," Guy said quickly, hands ever so slightly raised. "I didn't know you were taking part in that meeting. I only sent them to cause a little chaos—not to interfere with you or Eterna."
His voice remained steady, but inside?
He was shaking.
Because the last time he had stood before Atem, Atem's warning had been clear:
"Do not interfere with me or my kingdom."
A rule even Guy Crimson did not dare test.
As Atem and Guy conversed, Yuuki and his team watched with widening eyes.
They could not believe what they saw:
Guy Crimson, the terrifying Demon Lord who mocked True Dragons, was sweating—SWEATING—in front of this man.
Laplace's heart hammered in his chest.
Footman's fear was so wild he nearly cried.
Tear felt her throat constrict, unable to scream even internally.
Even Misery and Rain, Guy's most elite maids, the two demons who knew no fear…
looked horrified.
Yuuki's mind shattered in slow motion.
If Guy speaks respectfully…
If Guy is scared…
If Guy is explaining himself like a subordinate…
Then Atem was—
something far above Demon Lords.
Above monsters.
Above concepts.
Above existence.
There was nowhere Yuuki could run.
Atem listened to Guy's explanation, expression unreadable.
Then he nodded once.
"Very well, Guy. Let us call it an honest mistake."
Guy exhaled slowly—like a man who just dodged divine judgment by a hair.
But the reprieve lasted only a moment.
Atem turned his gaze—slowly, heavily—toward Yuuki and his companions.
The air froze again.
"Yuuki."
The name alone echoed like a final sentence.
"I had high hopes for you."
Yuuki wanted to speak.
Wanted to explain.
Wanted to beg.
His lips didn't move.
Not even a twitch.
Atem's words dropped like stones into a void:
"But you crossed a bridge you cannot return from."
Atem took a step closer.
The stone under his foot shattered with the weight of concepts pressing down.
His voice dropped lower.
"And one thing you should know about me…"
His eyes glowed—ancient, gold, merciless.
"…I do not tolerate traitors."
Yuuki's heart clawed against his ribs.
He tried to summon Anti-Skill—nothing activated.
He tried to breathe—air refused to enter his lungs.
He tried to think—Solarys suppressed his thoughts like a dying candle.
He realized then…
Anti-Skill meant nothing against Atem.
Guy alone made him panic.
This man made Guy panic.
This was the end.
Yuuki wanted—desperately—to turn to Laplace, Footman, and Tear.
To say sorry.
To say something.
He couldn't even move his eyes.
He thought of Kagali.
Waiting for them.
Trusting them.
He would never see her again.
He had poked the wrong beast.
No… the wrong god.
Atem lifted one hand.
Reality bent.
"Yuuki. You and your friends will pay the ultimate price."
The ground rumbled.
The sky blackened.
The world held its breath.
"Do not think death will save you."
Guy's eyes widened.
Rain and Misery felt cold sweat drip between their shoulder blades.
Atem's shadow grew larger—larger—until it swallowed their vision.
"Allow me to educate you."
His voice reverberated like a cosmic bell:
"I am the Sovereign of Eternity."
"I am the Sovereign of Souls."
"Life and death kneel before me."
"And you…"
His eyes narrowed, glowing like twin suns collapsing.
"…will be ERASED."
Not killed.
Not defeated.
Erased.
Gone forever.
Guy Crimson's blood chilled.
Even demons could resurrect after death.
That was their nature.
But Atem had the power to undo that.
A power even Primordials feared.
Atem flicked his fingers lightly.
That was all it took.
Yuuki, Laplace, Tear, and Footman convulsed violently—
Because their souls were burning.
Not their bodies.
Not their minds.
Their concepts.
Their identities.
Their existence.
Every memory.
Every emotion.
Every possible future.
All engulfed in an absolute flame that defied logic.
A soundless scream rippled through the air.
Guy, Misery, and Rain watched in horror as wisps of existence peeled away from Yuuki's group like ashes drifting from a fire.
The four enemies stared into Atem's unblinking gaze…
…and collapsed inward—
folding into nothing—
erased from the tapestry of reality.
In mere seconds,
they were gone.
Not dead.
Not defeated.
Gone.
Atem slowly retracted his aura.
The world sighed in relief.
Birds cried out again.
Wind returned.
The oppressive weight vanished.
He turned to leave.
Guy, still collecting himself, called out:
"Atem… I would like to visit Eterna."
Atem paused.
He did not turn around, but the air quivered with his reply.
"As long as it is a friendly visit, I do not mind."
The temperature dropped.
Even Guy felt a shiver.
"But hear me well, Crimson…"
Atem's voice grew darker—colder—than death itself.
"…I will not tolerate any destruction in my kingdom."
The warning carved itself into the air like a divine law.
And then—
Atem vanished.
No sound.
No light.
No magic.
Just gone.
Leaving behind the fear he carved into the hearts of all who witnessed him.