The great hall of Guy Crimson's castle was unusually tense.
The towering pillars of black stone seemed to loom closer than usual, the cold air of the Freezing North pressing in as if it, too, was listening. Magic lingered thickly in the atmosphere, ancient, heavy, and sharp enough to prickle the skin. At the center of it all stood Guy, arms crossed, crimson eyes fixed on Loki with a knowing smirk.
"You heard me," Guy said calmly. "You need thirty thousand souls for Demon Lord evolution. I'm willing to give you ten thousand for such a simple mission. I think I'm being pretty fair here."
He paused for half a second, then added casually, "And here's another. I'll throw in a naked backrub in there as well."
Loki blinked.
"What about the backrub?" he asked instinctively, before immediately shaking his head. "Never mind that. About the souls, so you just have them lying around? Why don't you just let me have them so I can evolve and we can get to fighting."
Guy's smile thinned just a little.
"Well, I don't have thirty thousand souls lying around for you," he replied evenly. "Besides, even if I did, I'm under no obligation to hand them to you."
He tilted his head. "So it's a no for the backrub. I can turn into a women you know."
Loki clicked his tongue softly. Completely ignoring Guy's latter comment.
Thirty thousand souls… ten thousand now…
The thought lingered only for a moment.
"Fine," Loki said at last. "I'll do it for the ten thousand souls."
Rain, who had been standing off to the side with her arms folded, immediately looked up.
"Guy-sama," she asked, "does this mean I no longer get to go?"
"No," Guy replied. "You're still going, but only to guard Loki. Make sure he doesn't go overboard."
Rain straightened. "Understood, Guy-sama."
Loki scowled. "I don't need a babysitter."
Guy chuckled. "Come on, Loki. We both know if I let you go alone, you'd go on a rampage."
Loki clicked his tongue again, irritation obvious. "Rain. Let's go."
Rain shot him a glare. "Don't boss me. I'm the leader here, so you follow my commands."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go."
Bat-like wings materialized from their backs. In the next instant, both demons shot forward, bursting out of the castle and into the frozen skies beyond.
The wind howled as Loki and Rain flew at the front, four hundred demons of the Red Lineage following behind them in a vast, ominous formation.
Among the four hundred, two demons flew close together, whispering nervously.
"Hey… what's up with the new guy acting like the boss?" one muttered. "Isn't Rain-sama the one leading?"
The other demon nearly choked. "Idiot! That demon is Loki-sama!"
"Loki-sama?"
"He beat both Rain-sama and Misery-sama by himself. And he even challenged Guy-sama."
The first demon swallowed hard. "That… that can't be true."
"That's because you weren't there," the other hissed. "If there's anyone I don't want to get on the bad side of, it's Loki-sama."
The first demon glanced ahead, eyes locking onto Loki's relaxed silhouette at the front.
Is he really that strong…?
---
At the borders of the Western Nations, an army thirteen hundred strong stood in formation.
Steel armor gleamed beneath the sun, banners fluttering in the wind. This was the season when Guy's forces often sent small-scale incursions to test the defenses. Yet morale was high.
Because Commander Razul was present.
The Insect General stood at the front, his tall, chitin-covered body unmoving, compound eyes scanning the horizon with cold precision.
"With Commander Razul here, no demon shall pass," one soldier said confidently.
"Of course," another agreed. "Commander Razul is the strongest."
Razul raised one clawed hand slightly.
"They are here," he said calmly.
High above, Loki, Rain, and their forces hovered in the sky, looking down upon the army below.
Loki laughed, the sound carrying effortlessly across the battlefield.
"My name is Loki," he called out. "And I'm here looking for a guy named Razul."
"I've heard he's pretty strong."
Rain immediately turned on him. "Loki. I'm the leader and should announce our arrival."
"I'm sorry," Loki said flatly, an apology he obviously didn't mean.
Rain clicked her tongue. "No, you're not."
Below them, Razul stepped forward, his voice amplified by magic.
"I am the Razul you are looking for."
Loki's grin widened. "Oh? Then Razul, I've come here to challenge you to a duel. What do you say?"
Razul tilted his head slightly. "A duel, huh?"
His gaze shifted to Rain beside Loki. "By duel, do you mean a one versus one? Or will it be you with that demon?"
Rain bristled. "Razul, I've told you multiple times that my name is Rain, and you refuse to call me by it."
"It doesn't matter, does it?" Razul replied coolly. "Name or no name, you're still weak."
Rain's teeth clenched. "Okay. I've had it with this insect. I'll crush him myself—"
But Loki stepped in front of her, one arm outstretched, a massive grin on his face.
"Rain. This one is mine."
Rain huffed. "Fine. But if you lose, I get next."
"Don't hold your breath," Loki said. "I won't lose."
Razul nodded slowly. "I see. So you do intend for a one-on-one."
A faint smile crossed his face. "I don't know how smart that is. I'm pretty strong, I'll have you know."
"I'm tired of people announcing themselves to be strong," Loki replied lazily. "Most of the time, they end up being weak. Don't disappoint me, Razul."
Razul chuckled. "I apologize. I suppose I should show you just how strong I am in battle."
Loki's grin sharpened. "Now that's what I'm talking about. Let's have a real battle between men."
Razul glanced once more at Rain. "It would be difficult to have a proper one-on-one. That demon is a Primordial. None of my subordinates could handle her. My focus would be split between the two of you."
"Don't worry," Loki said. "Rain won't participate. She's just here to babysit."
"Don't say it like that," Rain snapped. "It's embarrassing."
Razul smiled fully now. "If that's the case, then I won't have to hold back."
Loki's eyes gleamed. "I'd want nothing more."
Slowly, deliberately, both men lowered into their stances.
The battlefield fell silent.
And then—
the fight was about to begin.
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