Moon-Light slowly shook his head while staring up at the towering demons above the ruined city. Smoke drifted past his face while burning debris crackled across the shattered streets around them.
"Seriously," he muttered, "why do creatures like you even exist?"
His expression hardened as dark energy pulsed harder around his arms.
"And why the fuck are you trying so badly to come here?"
Tempestia finally turned toward him.
Only for a moment before her attention snapped back toward Megalodon immediately.
"They exist," she said calmly. "And they are far from a joke. Especially demons with that many horns."
She slowly raised one arm and pointed directly toward the Demon King towering above the city skyline.
"Do not underestimate them. Do not lower your guard around them for even a second."
Her silver-blue eyes stayed fixed on Megalodon.
"This situation is beyond anything humanity has dealt with before."
Her finger lowered slightly toward the six massive horns rising from the Demon King's skull.
"That creature is a high-ranking noble demon. The number of horns matters among their kind."
The wind shifted violently around the ruined street while fires continued burning behind them.
"And those demonic eyes of his…"
Her voice became quieter.
"It is not just Earth in danger while that thing exists here."
Dust rolled across the cracked pavement around her boots.
"The entire universe is at risk."
Moon-Light turned toward her fully this time.
"How the hell do you know so much about these freaks?" he asked. "Have you fought demons before?"
Dark energy flared harder around his hands while he flexed his fingers. The broken concrete beneath his boots cracked from the pressure leaking off his body.
Tempestia exhaled slowly through her nose.
"Unfortunately yes," she answered. "More times than I wanted to."
Her cape shifted behind her in the hot wind pouring from the burning city.
"These demons are extremely dangerous. Experience helps, but it does not guarantee anything against creatures on this level."
Moon-Light stared at her for another second.
"You are taking this way too calmly for someone saying the universe might end."
"I am calm because panicking changes nothing," she replied immediately.
He looked back toward Megalodon towering above the city.
"So tell me honestly."
His voice lowered.
"Can we actually have a chance to beat that seven-foot oversized bastard?"
Tempestia remained silent for a few seconds.
Nearby, part of a collapsed building gave way and crashed into the street below. Sparks burst upward from severed power lines while smoke rolled through the avenue.
"Let us deal with his servants first," she finally said.
Her eyes never left the Demon King.
"If we survive this, then I will answer you honestly."
She paused briefly.
"However without Black Mentis here…"
The sentence lingered unfinished before she quietly continued.
"Our chances are not good."
Moon-Light let out a dry laugh before dragging one hand across the back of his head.
"Well shit," he muttered, "that sounds encouraging."
He rolled his shoulders once while dark shadows thickened around his body.
"Fine then. Let's send these fuckers back to whatever hell spat them out."
The city around them continued falling apart.
Smoke drifted thick enough to sting the eyes. Fires burned through nearby buildings while shattered vehicles continued crackling across the streets. Above them, a damaged monorail track sagged dangerously between broken support pillars. Loose sparks rained downward while twisted metal groaned under its own weight.
Nearby, a ruptured fire hydrant blasted boiling water across the pavement. The spray instantly evaporated into steam whenever it touched molten debris scattered around the avenue.
And through all of it… Megalodon still had not moved.
Not once.
The Demon King slowly tilted his head while staring down at the two heroes below. Amusement flickered faintly across his massive face.
"Are you two finally done with your strategy?"
His voice rolled across the city heavily enough to vibrate through the street beneath them.
Several damaged cars nearby shifted slightly from the pressure alone.
Megalodon lazily lifted one clawed finger.
Then pointed toward them.
"Molvok."
The molten demon immediately straightened.
"Nyzzor."
The skeletal creature snapped upright beside him while its tendrils slowly unfurled through the air.
"Now you may kill these two foolish fodder insects," Megalodon said calmly.
The demons visibly stiffened at his words.
"If you succeed, I shall reward you with greater power and new abilities."
His burning gaze drifted away from the battlefield afterward.
Toward the distant capital city beyond the horizon.
"Afterward…" he continued slowly, "we need to locate Omnithon's vessel."
For the first time since arriving, genuine interest appeared in his expression.
"I will absorb his essence."
The air around him distorted faintly.
"This time it will be different."
His massive fingers slowly relaxed before all four arms crossed over his chest again.
"I can already feel traces of divinity somewhere within this omniverse."
A low rumble echoed from deep within him.
"This time…"
His six glowing eyes stared toward the horizon.
"I will win."
The two demons immediately dropped to one knee.
"As you command, my lord."
"Yes, sire."
Tempestia's composure finally cracked for a split second.
Her eyes widened before she caught herself.
"What…?"
The words escaped quietly under her breath.
"His vessel is here?"
A cold feeling settled in her chest instantly.
"On Earth…?"
The demons rose slowly back to their feet.
Black pressure began pouring from both of them in suffocating waves. The cracked street groaned underneath the weight flooding the area. Loose debris dragged itself across the pavement toward them while nearby wrecked vehicles creaked under the increasing gravity.
Breathing suddenly became harder.
Moon-Light adjusted his footing instinctively while broken concrete ground underneath his boots.
Dark energy curled tighter around his arms.
"…Yeah," he muttered quietly.
His eyes stayed locked on the advancing demons.
"That is definitely not good."
The molten demon lowered itself into a crouch while lava dripped from its claws onto the street below.
The skeletal creature's tendrils spread wider behind it, twitching violently like starving predators preparing to strike.
The tension across the ruined avenue tightened.
Everything went silent for one brief moment.
Then the street exploded into motion.