"We'll deal with that later. First, let me handle the little ambush we just had."
Without hesitation, Shuo flicked his wrist and unleashed a spear of lightning into the shadows. The impact was thunderous—a blonde man in pristine white was blasted out, muttering as he tumbled across the floor.
"My, so decisive. Not even a hint of mercy, huh?"
Natsuki's eyes narrowed, her voice cold as ice. "Snake charmer. What brings you to Itogami Island?"
Yukina and the four Lion King girls were instantly on guard, weapons drawn, eyes locked on the intruder.
Dimitrie Vatler, ever the aristocrat, tried to salvage his dignity with a bow and apology—but then his gaze landed on Avrora, alive and radiant. His composure shattered.
Obsession flashed in his eyes. He lunged for her, voice trembling with fanatic need. "Avrora… my sweet Avrora! I've waited so long. This time, I'll—"
He never got the chance. Shuo's hand shot out, catching Vatler with a slap that sent him flying across the deck.
"A bug like you dares covet my Avrora? Pathetic. Hope you've thought about your last words."
Avrora's cheeks flushed, her heart fluttering at Shuo's fierce protectiveness.
Vatler staggered upright, blood trickling from his lips, a vivid handprint blooming across his face. He stared at Shuo—just a teenager, impossibly calm.
Impossible. That attack was so fast, so brutal, he hadn't even seen it coming. Just how strong was this boy?
Vatler had always scoffed at the Forgotten War King's orders to investigate Shuo—the boy who'd shaken the world with his mysterious power. In Vatler's mind, only a True Ancestor could wield such force.
He'd assumed the Fourth True Ancestor was awakening, and had schemed to invite Shuo and Nagisa, hoping to steal Nagisa's True Ancestor blood. But now, faced with Shuo's overwhelming strength, all his arrogance crumbled.
"Lord Nangong, please forgive my rudeness!" Vatler stammered, bowing low. He'd have to regroup—there was still time to plot for the Fourth True Ancestor.
But Shuo's eyes glinted with cruel amusement. He could read Vatler's mind as easily as a book.
"You think I don't know what you're plotting? You still haven't given up on Nagisa or Avrora. Pathetic. You deserve nothing but death."
Vatler froze, horror dawning as he realized Shuo could see right through him.
Enough pretense. With a snarl, Vatler summoned his familiars—a two-headed dragon fused from his strongest beasts, and a massive emerald serpent, Naga.
"Kill him!" Vatler screamed.
The monsters roared, spewing fire and lightning. The air crackled with chaos.
Shuo didn't flinch. He drew Excalibur, its blade gleaming with lethal promise. One casual swing—space rippled, and the familiars, Vatler, and all his arrogance vanished, erased from existence.
For a heartbeat, silence hung heavy. The girls stared, stunned. Even the demons who'd rushed in, drawn by the commotion, recoiled in terror.
Vatler wasn't just any noble—he was the Duke of the Ordiaru Domain, ambassador of the War King's realm, and the Forgotten War King's right hand. And Shuo had erased him with a flick of the wrist.
The demons gaped, paralyzed. Did this boy not fear the wrath of the First True Ancestor?
Only the Lion King girls looked unfazed; the rest knew Shuo's strength all too well.
Natsuki broke the silence, concern threading her voice. "You just killed him outright. The Forgotten War King won't let this go."
Shuo shrugged, his tone dismissive. "Let him come. Anyone who dares covet my women deserves worse. If the First True Ancestor wants trouble, I'll wipe out his entire domain."
Natsuki just stared. World-ending threats—so casual, so typical of Shuo. She couldn't help but sigh, resigned.
Yuri, meanwhile, gazed at Shuo with starry-eyed admiration. Years at a girls' boarding school had filled her head with shoujo manga fantasies, and Shuo's fierce loyalty—his willingness to destroy kingdoms for his lovers—hit her right in the heart.
"Now that's settled, let's go home." Shuo tapped his foot; a teleportation circle shimmered beneath them, whisking everyone back to the castle.
—
News of Vatler's annihilation spread like wildfire. The First True Ancestor erupted in fury, vowing public vengeance—Shuo would pay, no matter the cost.
The other two True Ancestors watched with amusement, content to spectate.
Meanwhile, Japan's Taishi Bureau condemned Shuo for killing the island's ambassador, though their true aim was more sinister: to use the chaos to unleash Leviathan and destroy Itogami Island, erasing Asagi from the map.
The Lion King Organization's Three Saints kept their distance, eyes on Shuo. If he survived the First True Ancestor's wrath, their plans would remain unchanged. If not, their focus would shift to monitoring Nagisa.
—
Back at the castle, Shuo prepared rooms for Sayaka, Shio, Yuri, and Fuyuka. As he unpacked, his mind drifted to Vatler's arrival—ostensibly to investigate the Black Death Emperor faction.
The faction's current leader, Christopher Gardos, was a white-haired, uniformed relic of past wars. He'd infiltrated Itogami Island, seeking Asagi's skills to decode an ancient tablet. Their plan: unleash Nalakuvera and obliterate the island. But Asagi had outsmarted them, destroying the entire program.
"Looks like the Black Death Emperor faction will be targeting Asagi soon," Shuo murmured.
"Hm? Who's after me?" Asagi's voice piped up from the doorway, eyes wide with curiosity.
Shuo filled everyone in on the threat. Natsuki flicked open her fan, her expression calm. "So they want to destroy Itogami Island? Let them try. I'll handle whatever comes."
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