Aẕ Dahāka's destination was indeed the South District—Ren Kuroda and the others' territory.
As a Human Final Trial, he could sense it.
Somewhere in this region… was a human capable of defeating him.
That was the meaning of a "Human Final Trial."It was a trial that humanity itself was meant to overcome. A final wall placed before them—not merely as a calamity, but as a crucible.
And it was also Aẕ Dahāka's own wish.
News of "Absolute Evil" escaping his seal spread through Little Garden with astonishing speed. Before Shiroyasha could even request reinforcements from the upper tiers, the upper tiers delivered their decision first.
They would abandon the entire middle and lower layers of Little Garden.
Officially, they framed it as a "containment strategy." In reality, they intended to sever the middle and lower layers from the current structure of Little Garden entirely—sacrificing them as the price to seal Aẕ Dahāka below, ensuring he would never reach the Third Layer or above.
It was called a "seal."
But in truth, it was a burial.
They were preparing to let the middle and lower layers die alongside him.
Such a resolution made one thing painfully clear—
The upper pantheons feared Aẕ Dahāka beyond measure.
They had once considered exterminating him outright. But as long as Avesta — Another Cosmology existed, any race other than humanity stood no chance.
When word spread that Aẕ Dahāka might be heading toward the South District, panic overtook the communities there. Many began discussing evacuation to other regions.
Sara and the members of Dragon Horn Gryphon tried desperately to rally morale.
But their efforts barely made a dent.
Facing "Absolute Evil" wasn't something everyone could muster the courage to do.
Yet just as the majority of South District communities prepared to flee—
Shiroyasha revealed the upper tiers' decision to abandon the middle and lower layers.
The effect was immediate.
True chaos.
Until now, they had endured under the belief that reinforcements from above would arrive.
No one had expected to be discarded.
To be written off as expendable.
Shiroyasha understood that revealing such explosive information would throw the already fragile situation into deeper turmoil.
But she also knew something else.
Some people needed a shock.
The upper echelon had already abandoned them.
If they still clung to thoughts of escape, all that awaited them was slaughter at Aẕ Dahāka's hands.
The North and West had already fallen. Those districts couldn't even withstand his Divine Spirit–class split bodies—much less his true form.
Now, the South District held the majority of the middle and lower layers' remaining strength.
If this front collapsed—
Then everything below the Third Layer would truly be finished.
Shiroyasha's proposal was clear:
Ren Kuroda.Sara.All of them.
They would form a grand alliance to oppose "Absolute Evil," uniting every remaining force in the middle and lower layers.
Just like No Name had done years ago.
To buy time for this alliance to take shape, Shiroyasha took action alone.
She confronted Aẕ Dahāka personally.
Returning the "Yaksha" Spirit Rank to the Buddhist faction, she reclaimed her full power. Then, using her Host Authority and the Sovereignty of the Sun, she forcibly imprisoned Aẕ Dahāka for one month.
Even so, though she regained her strength as a Star Spirit—one of the strongest species—she still had no true means of defeating him.
Worse, by reclaiming her power and violating her prior agreements with the gods and Buddhas, she would be forcibly recalled to the upper layers once the month expired.
That month was all they had.
During those thirty days, Ren and the others not only had to eliminate the remnants of Aẕ Dahāka's split bodies left behind before his sealing—but also gather every ounce of strength the middle and lower layers could muster.
The West's Floor Master had fallen in battle.
The North's Floor Master, Sandora, was missing.
The East's Floor Master, Shiroyasha, would soon be recalled.
Which meant the only viable candidate to command this anti–Aẕ Dahāka alliance—
Was Sara, the South District's Floor Master candidate.
But as the alliance consolidated its forces, unexpected visitors arrived at headquarters.
And their appearance instantly put everyone on guard.
It was the same trio from the Demon King Alliance Ren had encountered in the North District:
His Highness.Ayasato Rin.Gloria.
With Aẕ Dahāka's resurgence already pushing every community to its limits, the sudden arrival of three Demon Kings made the tension snap tight as wire.
Weapons were drawn. Gifts flared.
However—
Just as Sara and the others prepared to strike, His Highness calmly declared:
"We're here to defeat 'Absolute Evil' as well."
Silence.
Then Sara's eyes ignited with fury.
"Don't joke with me. Do you think we don't know what you did in the North District?
"'Absolute Evil' was released because of you. And now you claim you're here to help us defeat him? Do you honestly expect anyone to believe that?"
Her voice trembled—not from fear, but rage.
Sandora was her sister.
The fact that she hadn't already attacked was only because she understood the weight of her position.
Ayasato Rin smiled faintly, utterly unbothered.
"Releasing 'Absolute Evil' wasn't entirely our decision. We were… persuaded.
"Though to be honest, we weren't opposed to it.
"As long as he remained sealed, he was an unstable factor for Little Garden. Didn't any of you ever consider defeating him completely?"
The sheer audacity of her words made several people laugh in disbelief.
So that was it.
After all the scheming, all the blood—
This was their justification?
"So to defeat 'Absolute Evil,' you released him?" Sara shot back. "Do you have any idea how many people will die because of that decision?!"
Rin's smile didn't waver.
"The path of a hero has always been lined with thorns and sacrifice, hasn't it?
"Without catastrophe. Without despair.
"How could a true hero ever emerge from the masses?"
That was the final straw.
Sara's killing intent surged—but before she could act, a hand caught her arm.
Ren Kuroda stepped forward.
"Is that so," he said calmly. "So your goal in releasing 'Absolute Evil'… is to forge a hero?"
His eyes flicked toward His Highness.
"But who's to say that hero will be the one standing behind you?"
Rin blinked, momentarily surprised.
Then she laughed softly.
"I'll admit, Ren Kuroda—you're strong. Very strong.
"But even you cannot defeat 'Absolute Evil.'"
Ren nodded slightly.
"I'm well aware. After all, only a pure human can defeat him."
He tilted his head.
"But why assume that human has to be His Highness?"
The air grew heavy.
And for the first time since they arrived—
The smiles on the Demon King Alliance's faces faltered.