The Storm Kingdom sat in an eerie silence after the final projections faded. The battles of Luminous, Draguel, Dino, Carrion, and Frey had ended, each leaving scars on pride and dignity, though the lands remained untouched.
Yet despite the spectacle, one truth loomed over them all:
This was only the beginning.
Veldora leaned back in his seat, his golden eyes glowing faintly with both mirth and seriousness. Unlike his usual boisterous demeanor, his aura now carried the weight of a king who understood the storm that was coming.
Floating silently behind him, half-hidden in the distortion of space, was Saiki. His arms were crossed, a spoon dangling lazily from his fingers as he dipped it into his coffee jelly, his trademark uninterested gaze fixed on nothing in particular.
To anyone else, he was invisible—just a ripple in the air. But to Veldora, he was as clear as day.
Veldora's voice echoed inside Saiki's mind, calm and measured.
Veldora (telepathically): So, Saiki… what do you think?
Saiki's eyes didn't shift. He scooped another spoonful of coffee jelly, chewing in silence before replying in his usual monotone.
Saiki: Yare yare… I think it's obvious. Vorathis was just playing. All of that was him warming up his pawns. None of your friends really impressed him.
Veldora chuckled softly, though there was no humor in his eyes.
Veldora: "Indeed. Luminous, Draguel, Dino, Carrion, Frey… strong, yes. Proud, yes. But in the grand tapestry of this world, they are not the pillars that hold the sky."
He stood slowly, his long cloak flowing behind him like waves of night. His generals and the Transcendent Demons turned toward him, their attention caught by the shift in his aura.
Veldora: "Vorathis now understands… only the apex beings matter. The True Dragons. The transcendent forces that shape fate itself."
He turned his gaze upward, beyond the ceiling, as if looking at the heavens where Vorathis waited.
Veldora (to Saiki, telepathically): Which means… it is time we stop letting him pick us apart one by one. If Vorathis wants to test us, then let him face the storm in full.
Saiki sighed, licking the spoon clean before answering.
Saiki: So, you're planning to gather them? Your sister Velgrynd… Guy Crimson… and Milim Nava. Bringing all the big names onto one stage.
Veldora (smiling faintly): Yes. Velzard is already here. My transcendent demons—Diablo, Testarossa, Ultima, Carrera—are here. You as well, though you hide it behind that bored face of yours. If we summon Velgrynd, Guy, and Milim, we will have all the titans in one place. A united front.
Saiki raised an eyebrow ever so slightly, though his tone remained flat.
Saiki: Sounds flashy. But doesn't that mean you'll be inviting the apocalypse right to your doorstep?
Veldora's golden eyes gleamed, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Veldora: "Perhaps. But would you rather face the apocalypse piece by piece? No. If a storm is coming, you gather every mountain, every lightning bolt, every roaring wave—and you crush it with overwhelming might."
The Transcendent Demons exchanged glances at Veldora's words.
Diablo stepped forward first, bowing slightly, his smile sharp. "My Lord Veldora… how utterly magnificent. To call forth Velgrynd, Guy, and Milim to stand beside us… truly, this will be a symphony of destruction worthy of history itself."
Testarossa smirked, her crimson eyes glowing. "And if Vorathis still dares to look down on us after that… then we will drag his pride through the mud."
Ultima giggled, her eyes wild with excitement. "Ooooh, I can't wait! Let's see how loud he screams when all of us hit him at once!"
Carrera stretched lazily, cracking her neck. "Tch. Finally, something worth blowing up for."
Benimaru crossed his arms, his expression firm but serious. "It's risky. To bring so many great powers together in one place… the world itself may tremble."
Hakuro stroked his beard, nodding. "A gamble, indeed. But if it succeeds… no force will ever dare to test us again."
Shion, fists clenched, grinned with reckless fire. "I say bring it on! The bigger the fight, the more fun it'll be!"
Veldora listened to them all, then raised a hand for silence.
Veldora: "This is not just about glory or fun. This is about survival. Vorathis seeks to measure us… and when he finds us wanting, he will strike. If he is to descend… then let him descend upon the full wrath of this world's titans. That way…"
His voice grew deep, reverberating through the chamber.
Veldora: "…if we fall, we fall together. And if we rise… then no one in existence will ever challenge us again."
The room pulsed with energy, their hearts ignited by the conviction in his voice.
Through it all, Saiki floated quietly, expression unchanged. But then his thoughts brushed against Veldora's mind once more.
Saiki: You're making this sound like a noble speech… but you're forgetting something, dragon.
Veldora (raising a brow): Oh? And what is that, Saiki?
Saiki finished his coffee jelly, tossing the empty cup aside with a flick of psychic power. His eyes narrowed slightly, for the first time showing a spark of seriousness.
Saiki: What if even all of you together… still isn't enough?
For a moment, silence filled the chamber.
But Veldora only laughed—a booming, fearless laugh.
Veldora: "BAHAHAHAHA! Then at least… we will have given him a battle that echoes for eternity!"
His laughter shook the chamber, but beneath it, an unspoken truth lingered in the hearts of all present.
Vorathis was coming.
The ultimate trial was near.
And even united… survival was not guaranteed.
Vorathis stood tall above the chaos, his dark aura swirling like a storm that blotted out even the faintest trace of hope. His eyes gleamed with a wicked glow, and his voice rumbled like thunder as he finally spoke.
"So… they believe that together, their strength can measure against mine? How utterly foolish. Do they not understand? Unity does not make ants any less fragile beneath the heel of a god. Their courage is a lie they tell themselves before the slaughter. Their resistance… is nothing more than the last sparks of a fire already fading."
The air grew heavier as he spread his arms, shadows twisting and clawing around him like living serpents.
"I am Vorathis, the abyss that devours eternity itself. Every punch, every swing of their blades, every spell they muster—it all crumbles against me. Their wills will shatter. Their spirits will wither. And one by one, I will drag them screaming into despair until their hope becomes my feast."
His smirk widened into something monstrous, almost inhuman.
"Let them come united. Let them roar and rage together. The more they cling to each other, the sweeter it will be when I tear them apart. They will know the weight of my might. They will feel the truth of my existence—that I am not their enemy…" He leaned forward, his voice dropping into a chilling growl.
"I am their end."