Azrael's judgment proved correct. When he and Wendy ventured out to harass the demon army again that day, a squadron of Emerald-level demons flew straight toward their position.
Fortunately, Ulquiorra had attacked from sufficient range, giving Wendy ample time to relocate to safety.
Back at Shunagakure, Wendy wiped the nonexistent sweat from her forehead. "Thank goodness for your foresight, Azrael. Otherwise, we would have been caught red-handed."
"But now..." A mischievous grin spread across her features. "We can keep playing with the demon army indefinitely."
However, Azrael's expression remained grim. "If this pattern continues much longer, it's only a matter of time before they escalate. Who knows? Maybe a Diamond-level demon will personally intervene."
This had always been their ultimate goal. Without luring out the Diamond-level demons, how could the Lore Cardians in Sardinia City mount an effective counterattack? Still, the risk was becoming increasingly significant.
Wendy hesitated when she heard this assessment. "That... shouldn't happen, right?"
Uncertainty crept into her voice. She wasn't entirely convinced by Azrael's prediction, but preparation was always wise.
After a moment of contemplative silence, Wendy suggested, "Perhaps we should request support from the masters at Shunagakure?"
Her voice trailed off, confidence clearly wavering. After all, she and Azrael were merely two Emerald-level Lore Cardians. How could they possibly expect a Diamond-level master to follow their tactical recommendations?
Azrael's next words, however, startled Wendy considerably. "While I suspect the masters from Shunagakure might already be positioning themselves near the demon army, waiting for the perfect opportunity..."
"Still, for absolute certainty, let's go ask them directly."
Bewildered, Wendy followed Azrael to the Shunagakure encampment, where the gatekeeper informed them that the three Diamond-level Lore Cardians were currently unavailable for meetings.
She looked at Azrael with surprise. "You were absolutely right."
Wendy had served with the Northern Defense Army for considerable time, and her tactical instincts remained sharp. While two Emerald-level Lore Cardians couldn't simply demand an audience with Diamond-level masters, arranging a brief meeting should have been entirely feasible.
Furthermore, the young man beside her was a direct disciple of Master-level Lore Cardian Lucian. Neither of them should have been dismissed so casually.
Yet now, rather than being granted even a brief audience, the guard hadn't bothered with explanations.
Azrael wasn't surprised by this outcome. He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's likely a diversionary tactic. I just don't know which Diamond-level Lore Cardian went to provide support."
He doubted all three Diamond-level masters had departed to assist Sardinia City. Shunagakure would dispatch at most one Diamond-level Lore Cardian. After all, compared to Sardinia and Shibuya, Shunagakure held far greater strategic importance.
Therefore, if the demon army discovered this deployment and assumed Shunagakure's defenses were weakened, preparing a surprise assault, the remaining Diamond-level masters would deliver a devastating counter-surprise.
"If that's our situation, then we need to intensify our efforts," Azrael concluded.
With renewed determination, Azrael and Wendy immediately departed Shunagakure.
Inside the demon army besieging Sardinia City, an Emerald-level demon addressed the alluring woman before him with humble deference. "My lady, if this harassment continues, our forces will be unable to maintain operational effectiveness."
"Those persistent bastards never require rest, but our soldiers do."
"If this pattern continues, our troops won't possess sufficient strength to assault the city."
Upon hearing this report, the alluring woman slowly exhaled a ring of smoke. Her pale, tender toes, adorned with crimson nail polish, gently lifted the Emerald-level demon's chin. As she moved, the fur covering from an unknown creature that had been draped across her legs slid to the ground.
"Don't worry. I'll take personal action tonight."
"Those little mice won't be able to escape then."
At this moment, the Emerald-level demon gazed down at the foot before him and swallowed involuntarily. In his eyes, the pale skin reflected an alluring luster under the candlelight.
Soon, however, cold sweat broke out across his back, and he lowered his head respectfully. "Yes, I'll notify the troops immediately."
Despite the seductive atmosphere, the Emerald demon dared not harbor any inappropriate thoughts. He had witnessed the mummified corpses carried from his lord's tent before.
Watching the Emerald demon flee her tent in obvious panic, the alluring woman sighed with theatrical regret.
She immediately licked her purple lips with her long, bright red tongue. "I hope these little mice will satisfy me this time."
She preferred Lore Cardians to demons, after all, she could extract so much more from them.
That night, after having Ulquiorra fire three more Thunder Spears at the demon army from maximum range, Azrael immediately ordered Wendy to retreat.
However, a slightly seductive voice suddenly rang out from behind them.
"Where are you trying to go, little mice?"
Wendy's pupils constricted, and she immediately grabbed Azrael's arm, attempting to escape.
"Swish!"
A split second later, amid the sound of flesh tearing apart, an arm flew high into the air.
"Ding, ding, ding, ding!"
Ulquiorra and Wendy's cards instantly engaged in numerous rapid exchanges with the unknown enemy.
"Brave Dragon! Draw the blazing blade! When the second volume intersects, a mighty force will reside within this holy sword! Wonder Rider! Dragon! Saber! The dual attributes will sharpen the blade!"
Without hesitation, Azrael drew the Kaenken Rekka from his belt and transformed into Kamen Rider Saber.
"Bang!"
A tremendous force slammed both Azrael and Wendy into the distant rock face.
The sudden assault put them immediately on the defensive. Fortunately, thanks to his armor, Azrael sustained minimal damage, only slight chest tightness and shortness of breath.
"Emerald-level? Diamond-level?"
Azrael, emerging from the rock face, felt momentarily bewildered. Logically, if their opponent were Diamond-level, he and Wendy would be completely defenseless.
With this thought, he first glanced discreetly at the one-armed, short-haired woman who had fallen unconscious nearby. Then, he tightened his grip on the flaming sword and looked toward the source of the attack.
Only then did he clearly see their assailant.
She was a barefoot, alluring woman wearing only minimal clothing. Under the moonlight, the seductive figure seemed draped in an ethereal veil.
She sucked on her blood-stained index finger, a perverse blush forming across her face. Then, looking at Azrael with obvious interest, she asked, "Hmm? Little mouse, you didn't faint?"
Azrael remained frozen, maintaining silence.
In his field of vision, Ulquiorra and Wendy's cards hung motionless in mid-air, as if under some mystical influence.
Meanwhile, Azrael sensed three Emerald-level limb-splitting demons approaching from nearby.
"My lady, do you need us to capture them?"
As the limb-splitting demons spoke, Azrael's heart sank. The alluring woman was undoubtedly Diamond-level, otherwise, those three Emerald-level demons wouldn't show such respectful deference.
However, he couldn't help wondering why they didn't simply kill him and Wendy outright.
More pressingly, he debated whether to release Shiraori and test his luck under the spider deity's gaze.
The alluring woman simply waved dismissively at the Emerald-level demon's question.
Then, she vanished completely from Azrael's sight.
Just as Azrael puzzled over her disappearance, he felt sudden weight on his shoulder. A voice whispered directly beside his left ear, "I sense..."
"You smell absolutely divine."
"Perhaps you're not a little mouse after all..."
"But a little sweetheart."
The alluring woman now rested her chin on Azrael's shoulder.
"Swish!"
A blazing blade, engulfed in roaring flames, slashed behind him, only to be met with a seductive smile.
"Don't be so aggressive, little sweetheart."
At this moment, the three Emerald-level limb-splitting demons fell silent, not daring to speak and potentially interrupt their lord's amusement.
"My name is Ruth."
"What about you?"
Facing the Diamond-level demon's playful advances, Azrael remained silent, swinging his holy sword with focused intent while considering escape strategies.
Clearly, his only viable option was summoning Shiraori and engaging in combat. As for the issue of his identity being exposed... he'd worry about that after surviving.
However, just as he prepared to act, Ruth appeared and gently stroked his armored face.
"How cold."
"But that doesn't matter. We'll have plenty of time to spend together."
Azrael froze in place, motionless, staring at the alluring female demon before him.
It wasn't that he didn't want to resist, he simply couldn't.
At this moment, he felt like stone, petrified by Medusa in ancient mythology, unable to perform any action.
He couldn't move. He couldn't fight back. He couldn't even summon his cards.
Seeing this, Ruth nodded with obvious satisfaction.
She casually retrieved Wendy from the distance and tossed her to the three demons behind her. "Don't let her die."
Then, she caressed Azrael's body affectionately before speaking with sudden coldness, "And if anything happens to my little sweetheart..."
"Ha ha, you understand the consequences."
The three limb-splitting demons caught Wendy. At Ruth's words, their bodies trembled like leaves in a storm. "Yes, yes!"
"Lady Ruth!"
Ignoring the three demons behind her, Ruth whispered, "Sweetheart, wait until I deal with the other little mice, then we can have some quality time together."
With that, she vanished, humming an unknown melody.
Azrael remained motionless, left staring at the three demons in oppressive silence.
After a moment, as Azrael watched helplessly, two of the limb-splitting demons respectfully lifted him and began swaying toward the demon army's position.
As for why there weren't three demons carrying him, one was responsible for transporting Wendy.
However, Wendy wasn't treated with nearly the same care as Azrael.
"How did things turn out like this?"
Azrael thought morosely, gazing up at the brilliant stars in the night sky.
He had never imagined that one day he would be abducted by a demon and taken back as some sort of... companion.
At least, that was his assumption.
However, when he considered that Wendy had also been captured, Azrael became puzzled.
"It can't be that she swings both ways, right?"
Although he had once fantasized about scenarios involving attractive older women before his transmigration, if this involved being kept by an ageless succubus of unknown intentions, he'd rather pass.
After a brief moment of wandering thoughts to steady his nerves, Azrael began considering escape strategies.
"Fortunately, my life doesn't seem to be in immediate danger."
Since Ruth hadn't killed him, he must serve some purpose for her. Whether he'd be kept as a strategic asset or maintained as livestock, he couldn't determine.
Although he'd prepared for encounters with Diamond-level demons before setting out, Azrael hadn't expected him and Wendy to be the first targets.
Of course, it could also be that the commotion Ulquiorra had created was simply too irritating.
As he drew closer to the demon army, Azrael's anxiety intensified.
However, until he was carried into the demon encampment, no miracle occurred.
Naturally, some demons questioned him and Wendy along the way, but upon hearing that Lady Ruth had specifically requested their return, they immediately fell silent.
Thus, Azrael and Wendy were carried into a large tent, clearly designed as luxurious quarters.
The limb-splitting demon carrying Wendy unceremoniously threw her to the ground.
Azrael was carefully placed on an elaborate bed.
The two Emerald-level demons who had carried him even covered him with a blanket.
Azrael stared expressionlessly at the gauze curtains above the bed, breathing in the rich fragrance emanating from the blanket.
As the three limb-splitting demons departed, the tent fell into dead silence.
A considerable time passed, and Azrael blinked with boredom.
Blinked?
He was stunned.
He realized he could... move?
Though still as if affected by some slowing effect, moving slower than a snail.
Furthermore, Ulquiorra, whom he had been unable to recall, had now returned to his consciousness.
"What's happening?"
Azrael puzzled over this development for a moment, then cast his attention to the belt around his waist.
If anything could interfere with Ruth's influence over him, it could only be the Kamen Rider armor, which remained untransformed.
Of course, there was also the possibility that she was dead. But this seemed highly unlikely.
With this thought, a book materialized in his hand, the Straw Hat Luffy Wonder Ride Book.
If the Brave Dragon Wonder Ride Book could help him slightly resist negative influences, then Luffy's Wonder Ride Book would be even more effective in this regard.
He had no other options now, so he might as well attempt this.
"But now isn't the right time," Azrael thought grimly. "We need to wait."
The demon army hadn't yet descended into chaos, and changing the Wonder Ride Book would only attract attention from other possible Diamond-level demons.
It would be better to wait and observe whether anything developed.
He still believed his previous assessment was correct. There was no way Shunagakure and Sardinia City would remain completely inactive.
In the Sardinia City camp, Commander Xiong asked Jacob with a sullen expression, "What's the situation?"
Jacob breathed with relief. "Ruth has departed, and Master Shi from Shunagakure has already engaged her."
"Now is our optimal opportunity."
"Without a Diamond-level demon, the effectiveness of their Binding Barrier will be significantly reduced."
Hearing this, Xiong displayed a grim smile. "These past few days have been incredibly frustrating."
"Those bastards still think they can trap us to death?"
"Keep dreaming."
The demon army had developed Binding Barrier technology countless ages ago.
Usually, when besieging a city, they would deploy the Binding Barrier to trap the Northern Defense Army's settlement, preventing direct relocation.
Then, they would proceed with conventional siege tactics.
This way, the Northern Defense Army's city could only endure attacks passively, and even attempts at pursuit would be blocked by the Binding Barrier.
However, maintaining the Binding Barrier required several demons of equivalent level to provide continuous energy, in addition to the Immortal Seed demons from the army.
This applied more strictly to higher ranks, though Gold-level and below weren't required to participate.
Now that the demon army besieging Sardinia City had dared to dispatch a Diamond-level demon to hunt the roaming Lore Cardian teams, only to be intercepted by Shunagakure's Diamond-level masters, Xiong and his forces were no longer prepared to wait.
"Pass my orders!"
"All-out assault!"
Decisiveness was crucial. Sardinia City's Commander-in-Chief chose immediate action.
In Ruth's tent, Azrael silently placed his right hand on the hilt of the Kaenken Rekka, now tucked back into his belt.
The Brave Dragon Wonder Ride Book had been replaced with Luffy's.
Glancing at Wendy, who lay motionless on the ground nearby, Azrael tightened his grip on the sword hilt.
Just then, the ground began shaking violently.
Azrael's heart raced, "Here they come!"
As expected, the Lore Cardians of Sardinia City and Shunagakure would never miss such a golden opportunity.
Whether they were engaging Ruth or assaulting the demon army's positions, it would create massive disruption.
"Not yet. Wait a moment."
Azrael took a deep breath to steady himself, sensing the sudden clamor erupting throughout the demon army's encampment.
"Boom!"
The next moment, a resounding crash, like a falling meteorite, echoed across the battlefield.
This was followed by an enraged roar, "Give me..."
"Death!"
Azrael, momentarily deafened, was violently flung into the air by the massive shockwave.
However, mid-flight, he remained focused, abruptly drawing his flaming sword.
"Gum-Gum Man!"
Accompanied by stirring music, a flash of light shone, and the left half of Azrael's armor transformed into yellow.
"As I suspected."
Seeing his theory confirmed, Azrael felt relief wash over him.
At that moment, the oppressive weight lifted from his body.
Without hesitation, he used the rubble in mid-air as a stepping stone, charging toward Wendy, who was free-falling nearby.
After a breath, Azrael, holding Wendy in his arms, forced himself to land steadily on the ground. Only then did he have time to assess his surroundings.
He saw that the once precisely arranged demon army formation had been plowed by some tremendous force, creating a terrifying canyon that split the entire camp in two.
Meanwhile, from the distance, explosive sounds and powerful winds could be heard intermittently.
Just as Azrael prepared to leave, a sudden threat from behind made him pause. He turned and blocked the incoming attack with his Kaenken Rekka.
"Lady Ruth said you're not allowed to go anywhere."
The attackers were the three Emerald-level limb-splitting demons who had carried Azrael and Wendy back to camp.
Clearly, as Ruth's subordinates, their tents weren't far from hers. Therefore, the moment the incident occurred, the three demons had rushed over to ensure the safety of the Lore Cardian Lady Ruth had specifically assigned them to protect.
To their surprise, the Lore Cardian had actually regained mobility.
Seeing the three Emerald-level limb-splitting demons glaring at him with hostile eyes, Azrael sighed softly. "Since you're so desperate to die, I'll grant your wish."
Even though he now had to hold Wendy with one hand while trapped in the demon army's heart, Azrael remained confident!
That was, assuming a certain power-drunk demon wasn't in the vicinity.
As blazing flames gradually enveloped the holy sword in Azrael's hand, the expressionless figure of Ulquiorra appeared beside him.
In the blink of an eye, Ulquiorra, wielding an emerald Thunder Spear, materialized before the three demons.
However, the three demons had no time to focus on Ulquiorra. The sweetheart Lady Ruth had specifically ordered them to protect had escaped.
As Azrael ran, he couldn't help thinking, "Do they really think I'm an idiot?"
He wasn't some action hero who could fight effectively while carrying someone. At a time like this, running was the optimal strategy.
But gradually, Azrael stopped.
Just as the three limb-splitting demons felt bewildered, the young man placed the short-haired woman in his arms on the ground.
The lead demon was stunned momentarily, then asked coldly, "What? Aren't you going to flee?"
Azrael didn't reply, simply turning and raising his sword.
The Emerald-level demon's pupils narrowed as he saw the blazing blade now directly before him.
Because of Ruth's presence, the three demons had no comprehension of what kind of monster they were facing.
Barely blocking Azrael's first attack with their weapons, the lead demon roared with exertion, "Go capture that woman."
But before he could finish speaking, his face turned to despair.
At the edge of his vision, countless cards were rushing toward the demon army's position.
Clearly, the Lore Cardians in Sardinia City had launched their assault.
This was precisely why Azrael hadn't continued fleeing.
Before the demon could say anything more, the lead demon's voice was silenced forever.
Ignoring the decapitated limb-splitting demon, Azrael leaned slightly to one side and whispered, "The first one."
Seeing their leader killed instantly by a single sword strike, the remaining two demons trembled with terror.
Faced with such an excellent opportunity, Ulquiorra naturally seized it, immediately using his emerald Thunder Spear to eliminate one of the remaining demons.
"Swish!"
Understanding the situation perfectly, Azrael and Ulquiorra had refrained from action earlier only because they feared attracting attention. It would have been catastrophic if they'd been targeted by the demon army's commanding officers.
Even if Azrael himself faced no personal danger, Wendy, still unconscious, would likely not have escaped death.
However, just as Azrael quickly dispatched the final member of the trio and prepared to leave this perilous location, a somewhat surprised voice sounded near his ear.
"Junior brother?"
"Why are you here?"