Once Guy finished speaking, Ramiris and Veldora rose in near-perfect synchronization.
"Well, seems we're just in the way, so we'll leave the rest to you," Ramiris said smoothly.
"Right. I also have something pressing to do. Vesta is waiting, so I'll see you later, Guy," Veldora added, bowing lightly.
"Then I'll return to guard the labyrinth. Always something to attend to," Ramiris finished with her signature laugh, though it sounded forced now.
Their retreat was too precise to be accidental. Guy noticed immediately.
"Huh?" he said, frowning. Then, trying to mask his irritation, added: "You two working? That's… surprising."
"No joke," Ramiris replied. "Veldora is helping, too."
Guy's astonished look shifted to me. I stayed silent, though internally I understood perfectly. In Eterna, the rules were simple: do your part, or face consequences. No magic needed—just the authority and judgment of the one in charge.
The two had finished their exit almost before I could process their choreographed retreat, even polishing off all the tea and snacks Shuna had set out. Impressive. Almost galling.
I shifted topics smoothly, keeping my voice calm, measured.
"So, you came all this way just to ask about Testarossa and the others?"
Guy shrugged, his composure steady. "That was part of it. But my reason is different," he said, settling back. His eyes swept the room, pausing on Leon.
"I stopped by after the meeting with that group calling themselves the 'Moderate Clown Troupe.'"
"Yes?" I prompted.
"Weren't they in league with you?" Guy asked plainly.
"Yes," Leon confirmed.
I had to intervene before the moment passed. "They don't exist anymore."
Guy nodded calmly. "That's correct."
Shock rippled through the room.
Yuuki's schemes, all of them, were now irrelevant. He had manipulated Leon and the Rosso family from the shadows, orchestrating clandestine deals and brokering authority over multiple factions. He had crushed Echidna, the Mother of Darkness, commanding the Eastern underworld, and set up the organization Cerberus. By day, he led the Freedom Association; by night, a shadowy cabal.
All of it—gone. Not by chance, not by clever counter-scheme, but by my arrival. Yuuki, Laplace, Footman, and Tear had been completely erased. Nothing remained. They could not return, reincarnate, or be resurrected. Their ambitions, their schemes, their threats, dissolved entirely in the span of a heartbeat.
I glanced at Guy. He had been there. He saw it. Yuuki's overconfidence and misjudgment of my strength had led to his total obliteration. And that mistake? Fatal.
"Yuuki's gone," I said quietly, with no hint of emotion. "All of it ends now. Nothing remains."
Guy's gaze didn't waver. He said nothing—he didn't need to. Fear held his voice, but not arrogance. He understood perfectly that I was above him.
I continued. "He pretended to be kind while secretly steering Leon and the Rosso family as he wished. He used the Moderate Clown Troupe to bait Hinata into a trap. All for a childish dream of world domination. It's meaningless now."
Guy tilted his head, thoughtful. "So you want the Western Nations to remain… intact?"
"Yes," I replied. My tone left no room for argument. "It serves my objective. Those who act foolishly must be corrected. Those who act wisely may be preserved. That is the law of Eterna now."
He inclined his head slightly, as if accepting a truth he could not change. "Understood. I have no desire to interfere—as long as I remember who holds authority."
A relief, though I did not smile. This was expected. I did not require agreement, only acknowledgment. The game was mine to play.
I turned my attention to the strategic situation. "Then I will manage the Western Nations. Diablo, leave the defense and governance in Testarossa's hands."
"Of course," Diablo responded with his usual confident grin.
Guy spoke over me without hesitation. "Those who need respite will find it. Let them be."
Even he deferred to my judgment. Perfect. The balance of authority was now clear.
"Very well," I said, my voice firm. "The West is secured under our hand. Now, about the Eastern Empire…"
Hinata's gaze met mine. "They've conducted military exercises recently. The council has noticed unusual activity."
I analyzed the possibilities. Invasion routes were treacherous, costs prohibitive. A prosperous land would only be worth seizing if the spoils exceeded the losses. Foolish ambition was no match for precise calculation.
Yet there was confidence behind their maneuvers—confidence that they could succeed.
"Hinata, the Dwarven Kingdom. Could a large force move through it?"
"Yes. It is neutral. Though Gazel's consent is uncertain, the route is feasible," she replied.
I nodded. My mind already calculated the contingencies, the countermeasures, the potential for control.
Guy shrugged again. "If you weren't here, Granbell and Luminas would have managed the Empire themselves."
"Understood," I said. Their competence mattered less than the certainty of my authority.
Turning to strategy, I clarified with the commanders. "We will defend efficiently, but only as necessary. Offensive overreach is unnecessary. Preserve resources. Secure the West. Ensure the Empire's actions serve our calculations."
Diablo smiled knowingly. "Leave it to Testarossa. All will fall in line."
I allowed the moment to settle. Authority was established. Plans were clear. Yuuki's shadow was erased. The Western Nations were under control. And no one—not Guy, not Leon, not anyone—could challenge the order I imposed.
"Then the matter of the Eastern Empire will fall to us," I stated, voice as calm as it was final.
No hesitation. No discussion. The game had begun—and in this game, all moves were mine.
Guy's business with us wasn't over. He had one more matter to discuss—something far more significant than casual updates. His real reason for visiting was the Hero: Chloe.
"I've been keeping an eye on what Granbell intended to release, the thing Luminas worked so hard to seal. I was prepared to step in if it went out of control. But then Diablo said to let Atem handle it," Guy explained quietly, his words measured and calm. Not a hint of yelling—he knew better. Atem could erase him without a second thought.
I recalled the moment Diablo had stepped out briefly during the chaos of battle. That must have been when he brokered the unwanted negotiation. Even so, it was a blessing in disguise. If Guy had joined the battle then, things could have become more interesting.
"We were just discussing that earlier. It's perfect timing—I'll explain everything myself," Atem said, his voice firm, calm, and utterly indifferent to whether Guy agreed or not. He didn't owe Guy an explanation; it was merely courtesy. Atem's authority filled the room like an unshakable force.
I stepped forward to clarify what had happened, leaving out any sensitive details: Chloe's temporal jumps, the loops she had endured, everything that might reveal too much. "—And for that reason, we neutralized Chronoa and resolved the crisis," I said, keeping Chloe's identity safe.
Guy's gaze lingered on Chloe. "I see… a lot has happened. But can I ask one thing?"
"Ask," Atem replied, commanding the room with quiet authority. His tone brooked no argument.
"That girl—Chloe—is clearly a Hero. How do you justify that?"
Atem's eyes met Guy's, unwavering, sharp as a blade. "Yes. She is a Hero, and she is under my protection. That is enough," he stated simply, as if the answer were obvious.
Even now, Guy's unease was visible. He swallowed, knowing Atem could annihilate him instantly. He dared not speak with any defiance.
Leon took the lead to maintain the story. "The person I've been searching for through specific summoning was this Chloe. She was in the right place at the right time, and thanks to that, we survived."
"That is correct," Atem added, his voice a calm thunder. "She became the perfect vessel to seal Chronoa."
Luminas followed smoothly, reinforcing the explanation. The three of us moved in perfect unison, weaving a believable narrative without ever betraying Chloe's true nature.
Guy muttered, "A sealing vessel…" His eyes flicked to me, wary. I kept silent, knowing any hesitation could be dangerous. Atem's presence alone demanded obedience.
"According to Leon, she can steal and seal the power of any opponent," I continued, forcing consistency. "I was skeptical, but I witnessed it firsthand."
Atem didn't comment further. His mere aura reminded Guy that his own strength—and life—was insignificant in comparison.
"Honestly, I lost my trump card," Leon said, "but it's better than allowing it to run rampant."
Luminas added a sharp nod, her expression bitter but convincing. Atem's composure never wavered. He didn't need to act—his authority sufficed.
"…That's what happened," Leon concluded. "Many are strong in this world, including you, Guy. I sought to protect Chloe, but I didn't expect her power to manifest so quickly."
Guy's face betrayed uncertainty, but he remained silent. Atem's presence made it clear: this wasn't a negotiation. Atem didn't care about Guy's opinions.
"You're not trying to deceive me, are you?" Guy asked, cautious.
"No," Atem's reply was final, absolute. "Doubt serves no purpose here."
"Very well…" Guy's voice was low, respectful. He knew pressing further could cost him everything.
Atem's piercing gaze swept the room, and suddenly, Guy's hands twitched. He cleared his throat, then slowly, cautiously, asked, "May I… test her?"
Atem's expression remained unreadable. "i will allow it. But remember: no destruction of Eterna," he said, activating his Pharaoh Authority. Instantly, the air shifted. Guy and Chloe found themselves enclosed within a **separate, controlled dimension**, a space entirely governed by Atem's will. Time and reality bent to his command.
Guy swallowed hard. He drew a longsword, trembling ever so slightly under Atem's unyielding gaze. "Understood…"
Then, with breathtaking speed, he swung.
Chloe reacted instantly. The small figure before him shifted, her form growing as if rising to a higher purpose. Her clothes transformed into the radiant garb of a Hero, the **Holy Spirit Armor** manifesting seamlessly. Her sword intercepted his with a clang that reverberated through the Pharaoh's dimension.
The clash froze the air. Atem observed, detached, authoritative, letting the test proceed without interference, yet controlling every nuance of the environment. Guy's godlike swordsmanship met Chloe's awakened abilities—