Loki stood amid the ruined interior of Guy's castle, fragments of stone and ice scattered around him like confetti. Cold air rushed in through the gaping hole he had created, yet he didn't seem to notice it at all. Instead, he slowly clenched his hand, then relaxed it, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"…This feeling," Loki muttered. "I've ascended to a new plane of power."
The magic flowing through his body felt different. It was not just stronger, but it was sharper. More refined. Like his existence itself had been polished.
"I have to test it out," he continued, a grin spreading across his face. "I just have to. ROUGE!"
"YOOOOOU!!"
The shout rang through the hall like a gunshot.
Before Loki could even turn his head, Rain launched herself toward him, rage blazing across her face. Her fist cut through the air with terrifying speed, aimed straight at his face, killing intent mixed with pure, personal fury.
To Rain, the world narrowed to that single strike.
But to Loki—
It was too slow.
He stepped to the side almost lazily.
Rain's punch tore through empty air.
Her eyes widened in shock. He dodged my punch…?
Gritting her teeth, Rain twisted her body mid-motion, boots scraping against the floor as she spun sharply and threw another punch, this one faster, heavier, fueled by humiliation.
Loki sidestepped again.
Effortlessly.
Rain's confusion deepened into disbelief. Am I… slow?
As her body passed by him, Loki glanced at her sideways, a casual smile on his face.
"You're not Rouge," he said lightly. "So that means you're Bleu, right?"
Before Rain could even process the words—
BAM.
Loki's foot slammed into her abdomen.
The impact crushed the air from her lungs in an instant. Rain's eyes went wide as her body folded inward, soundless, her breath violently expelled as she was launched backward.
"Is Rouge hiding behind his subordinates now?" Loki continued calmly.
Rain hadn't even finished falling when Loki appeared beside her again.
BAM.
Another kick to the abdomen. Even harder this time.
Her body slammed into the floor, the shock rippling through the castle. Rain gasped silently, limbs trembling as pain radiated through her core.
"How disappointing," Loki said.
He raised his leg a third time—
"MOVE."
Misery appeared in a blur, scooping Rain out of the way just as Loki's kick descended.
BOOOOM.
Loki's foot struck nothing, but the force behind it exploded outward, shattering what remained of the ceiling above them. Stone and ice rained down as cracks spread across the structure.
Loki straightened, turning his head toward Misery, who held Rain protectively in her arms. Her expression was cold, sharp and furious.
"Oh?" Loki said, amused. "You're quite fast, Vert, aren't you?"
Misery's eyes burned.
Across the room, Dino watched the scene unfold, his hand drifting toward the hilt of his sword. His expression twisted with uncertainty.
Should I do something? he wondered. But it just seems like too much trouble.
Then he glanced at Velzard.
She sat calmly on her stool, legs crossed, hands folded in her lap, completely unmoved.
Dino froze.
Velzard-sama isn't doing anything…
He slowly let his hand drop.
Then I should probably do nothing too. This isn't laziness. This is… the most reasonable choice.
Misery stepped forward, her voice steady but dangerous.
"First of all," she said, "my name is not Vert. It's Misery."
She shifted Rain slightly, making sure she was steady.
"Rain is not Bleu."
Her eyes sharpened.
"And Guy-sama is not Rouge."
Then, with deliberate emphasis, she said the name.
"Bordeaux."
Dino stiffened. "Bordeaux? You mean that new Primordial?" He stared at Loki in disbelief. "This is him?"
Loki chuckled. "Oh? Seems I'm quite popular." He tilted his head. "Sorry, but I don't know who you are."
Dino blinked. "Oh. I'm Dino. A Demon Lord."
"A Demon Lord, huh?" Loki said, interest flickering across his face. "Now that's something."
Rain finally managed to push herself upright, coughing. She glared at Loki.
"Bordeaux… this is him?."
Misery nodded. "Yes." She fixed Loki with a sharp stare. "What is it do you want Bordeaux?"
Loki shook his head lightly. "First things first, you're mistaken about something." He smiled. "I'm not Bordeaux."
The room stilled.
"My name is Loki," he continued. "Loki Arashi."
Silence crashed down.
Misery, Rain and Dino went wide-eyed with shock.
Misery's pupils shrank. A name…
Her thoughts turned grim. He has a name. Who in the world could name a monster like this? Is there even someone capable of that?
Dino swallowed. "Wait, if he has a name… doesn't that mean he's way stronger than when we learned about him?"
Rain and Misery shot him identical looks.
Isn't that obvious, you idiot? The looks said.
Misery turned back to Loki. "Who named you?"
"My best friend," Loki answered casually. "But that doesn't matter now does it." His smile widened. "I asked a question."
His aura swelled subtly, pressure creeping into the room.
"Where the hell is Rouge?"
He paused. "Ah—sorry. Guy."
Strength surged within him, eager, restless.
"I feel it rising. I have to test it."
Rain snapped. "Don't be ridiculous! You barge in here, destroy Guy-sama's castle, ruin my painting of Velzard-sama, and now you want to fight my Lord?!"
She pointed at him. "You must be insane if you think we'll let that slide!"
Misery glanced at Rain, concern flickering across her face.
Unlike Rain, Misery understood deeply the gap between them and Loki.
We can't win, she thought grimly.
But then—
If we do nothing… then we don't deserve to stand at Guy-sama's side. We have to defend Guy-sama's honor.
Her resolve hardened.
Rain and Misery stepped forward together, shifting into battle stances. Magic flared around them.
Loki blinked. "Wait… really?" He scratched his head. "You two actually want to fight me?"
Their expressions didn't change.
Determination burned in their eyes.
Loki sighed. "This is bad." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Fighting my sisters isn't what I came here for."
But then he smiled.
"But it's fine. I'll just treat it as a warm-up for Guy."
He placed one hand behind his back.
"To make it fair," he said lightly, "I'll fight with one hand."
Misery's teeth clenched. He's looking down on us.
Rain snarled. "You'll regret underestimating us, Loki!"
Throughout it all, Velzard watched silently.
Her lips curled into a faint smile.
He's definitely sensed me, she thought. He knows I'm a True Dragon… and yet he hasn't shown an ounce of respect. He didn't even greet me.
Her smile deepened.
Only two demons have ever done that before.
Guy… and that detestable Noir.
Her eyes gleamed with interest as she looked at Loki.
"Loki Arashi…" she mused silently.
"Do you truly believe yourself to be on their level?"
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