Prologue
Outer Gate Number: 2015
Within one of the strongest and most respected communities in all of Little Garden, the name Arcadia resonated as a banner of hope.
At that moment, its leader, Kasukabe Kōmei, was enjoying a moment of tranquility, playing with some of his comrades. However, that calm was shattered by a roar that shook the hearts of all Little Garden's inhabitants.
Far away, on the silver surface of the Moon, the Moon Rabbit Community was mercilessly annihilated.
A roar shook the heavens.
A three-headed humanoid dragon, with six crimson eyes shining with a thirst for destruction, descended upon them. Its fangs exhaled death, and its claws tore apart the defenseless Moon Rabbits who tried to resist.
Little Garden's alert system blared with force.
"Emergency! Emergency!" cried the ethereal bells that resounded throughout the territory.
Arcadia's members rushed toward their leader, faces tense, voices trembling:
"Lord Kōmei! The Moon Rabbit community is being annihilated!"
In an instant, the peaceful atmosphere of the base transformed into a hive of preparations. Troops and squads mobilized; banners were unfurled; messengers were sent in all directions to warn allied communities.
The moment everyone feared had arrived.
The enemy lurking in the shadows had revealed its face.
The Community of Absolute Evil was on the move once more.
And Arcadia, with all its power and pride, had to respond.
[•••]
Little Garden's Moon shone eternally like an ethereal sanctuary, home to a noble and sacred race: the Moon Rabbits. Descendants of the legendary sacrifice of a rabbit who, to save an old man, was invoked by Indra, the god of war and rain.
These beings held an intimate connection with the core of Little Garden; when channeling its power, even their hair, ears, and tails changed color, manifesting the pure energy that emanated from their world.
Among them, a ten-year-old girl stood out the most: heiress of the lunar lineage, she possessed four of the ten Divine Weapons (among them the Vajra, the Brahmastra, and the Lunar Authority of Chandra Mahal).
But that night, everything changed.
A roar resounded, freezing the souls of the Moon Rabbits. Out of the darkness, a terrifying presence emerged: Azi Dahaka. The three-headed humanoid dragon appeared, with six blazing crimson eyes that reflected the abyss of Absolute Evil.
He was no longer just an ancient being: he was the catalyst of destruction.
His aura —a twisted, poisonous Khvarenah— radiated with such power that the hearts of all present shrank in despair. The Guardians leapt to defend the village, but their Gifts withered against the immense power emanating from every maw of the dragon.
Crystal jewels and structures were shattered by the scorching blasts.
Crimson flames erupted in a devastating roar, consuming everything that stood in their way.
"You didn't leave anything to amuse us," Suddenly, another voice echoed near Azi Dahaka. Someone was walking calmly behind him.
Observing this person's appearance: short white hair with loose strands falling, and on his forehead rose two horns—the lower half dyed black and the upper half burning red, like solidified flames. His right eye was crimson, while the left was hidden beneath a large black eyepatch.
He wore a complete black outfit, a large red rope as a belt with several cords tied above a wide leather cloth resembling a skirt edged with fire. His sandals were strapped into armored greaves, and his toned body was visible beneath a sleeveless black shirt that clung to his form. Over it, a wide black haori fluttered, with a single white embroidery on the back: [恶] —"Evil."
"When it comes to sowing chaos, Azi Dahaka is always the first…" a clear, playful female voice joined the scene.
At the dragon's side appeared a girl with a strange and fascinating appearance. Her black hair was tied into two long twin tails, one shorter than the other, resembling the hands of a clock. She wore a gothic dress in shades of crimson and black, full of frills that fluttered with each step. On her head, a large mesh red ribbon held her hair.
Her pale, almost pearly skin glowed under the moonlight. One eye was a bright red, mischievous and gleaming, while the other was an inorganic golden clock, its hand pointing exactly at three o'clock.
"Our leader, always playing hide-and-seek without telling us about the fun he plans…" another female voice interrupted.
The newcomer looked strikingly similar to the twin-tailed girl, though her bearing was radically different. She wore a spotless white military uniform that gleamed under the moon's shine. Atop her head was an admiral's cap, adorned with the emblem of the rising sun, at whose center shone the sphere of a clock.
Her white hair was tied into perfectly symmetrical twin tails, in contrast with her companion's uneven style. She smiled with amusement, her eyes gleaming: the right one an intense crimson, the left another inorganic clock—this one icy blue—also pointing exactly at three o'clock.
They had arrived:
[Demon Lord] King Oni.
[Demon Lord] Nightmare.
[Demon Lord] White Queen.
Each of them had existed for over a millennium. They were the comrades of Azi Dahaka, leader of the Community of Absolute Evil.
"Sorry, sorry…" a twisted smile spread across all three of Azi Dahaka's heads. "My body craved destruction, so I came alone to sate that desire. It's been a while, Sengo, Kurumi, Shiro."
"Hahaha…" a faint chuckle escaped Sengo's lips. "The last time we spoke was more than a hundred years ago, wasn't it?"
"During that time, I was sleeping," added the dragon, with a voice that echoed from his multiple jaws. "But I see nothing has changed too much since my rest."
"Something did happen," the King Oni replied, crossing his arms with heavy calm. "A community called Arcadia has become the most renowned in Little Garden. It's led by a man named Kasukabe Kōmei, and at his side stands a strategist, a [Poet] called Canaria."
While Sengo and Azi Dahaka exchanged words, the sisters Kurumi and Shiro remained silent, watching. Both were monitoring the strongest presences moving across the land of Little Garden… even perceiving them all the way from the Moon itself.
Azi Dahaka's six crimson eyes gleamed with sickly light at the mention of Arcadia. His three heads exhaled harsh laughter, a demonic chorus that made the lunar ground tremble.
"Arcadia…?" he murmured, savoring each syllable like poison. "A community that dares to rise as the beacon of Little Garden…"
His laughter turned into a bone-shaking roar.
"Perfect. Humanity must be tested again and again. That is my existence. To sow ruin, shatter hope, and force men to surpass their limits… until the destined hero is born to kill me."
The King Oni watched him without flinching, as if these words had already been spoken countless times before.
"So you'll go after them?" Sengo asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Of course." The dragon's three mouths opened in a chorus of death. "If Arcadia is as grand as they say, it will be their duty to face me. And if they fail… it will prove this world still has no savior."
Crimson flames surged around his body, tainted with a poisonous aura that twisted even the moon's light.
Behind him, Kurumi and Shiro exchanged a silent glance. They had sensed the movement of several individuals gathering on Little Garden's soil, and understood that tragedy was about to begin.
[•••]
Suddenly, portals opened in the distance, like tears in the fabric of space. Imposing figures emerged from them—Gifts that crossed Little Garden's boundaries to respond to the alliance's call.
Sengo's single visible crimson eye focused on one of the portals. A familiar presence. An interesting existence had arrived.
From the rift stepped a man with golden hair cascading down his back, blue eyes like a cloudless sky… and a body carved to perfection by a thousand battles. It was Heracles.
He did not speak at first. He simply took a step onto the lunar surface, fixing his gaze on Sengo.
The contained hatred manifested only in his eyes, making the exchange of tension silent but intense.
"Tsk… how ironic," Sengo muttered, letting out a dry line.
Heracles clenched his jaw, and with a deep voice that echoed across the moon, said:
"Do not think I've forgotten, Sengo."
The flames of Azi Dahaka roared behind them, as if celebrating the silent conflict between allies forced to share the same battlefield.
Sengo furrowed his brow slightly, a faint, mocking smile curling on his lips.
"My, my…" he said, letting his words linger in the air. "You still can't forget the time I stole the Solar Authority from you, can you, Heracles?"
Heracles' shoulders tensed, but he said nothing. His cold blue eyes remained fixed, heavy with that wordless hatred.
Sengo stepped forward, his single visible crimson eye glinting with mischief as it locked onto Heracles.
"A nearly indestructible body… and yet, you couldn't protect what was yours. Truly fascinating."
The silence grew heavier. Even Azi Dahaka turned slightly, curious about Sengo's audacity.
Heracles clenched his jaw, breathing hard, as if holding back his rage was an act in itself.
"Don't forget this, Sengo," he growled in a deep voice. "This isn't over."
Sengo tilted his head, amused, his confidence unwavering.
"Oh, I know… And that's what makes this all the more entertaining."
He stepped back, resting an arm on his knee as he watched Heracles with a mocking air.
"My, my…" he whispered, dragging out his words. "Why are the others taking so long? After all, we're giving them the perfect stage to come kill us. Is there really any plan capable of stopping us?"
Heracles remained motionless, his blue eyes vacant yet serene, saying nothing. His silence spoke louder than any reply.
Sengo smirked, tilting his head like someone studying a board game.
"Ah… I see. To let yourself be carried away by my words would be a grave mistake, right?" he muttered, almost to himself.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Sengo crossed his arms, lips curving into a half-mocking smile.
"Let me guess…" he began, tone playful yet calculated. "All of this… must be the work of Arcadia's strategist, right? The [Poet] Canaria. A meticulously designed plan to stop us."
Heracles did not move a muscle. His gaze remained empty, like a wall that no words could break.
"Tell me, Heracles…" Sengo continued, leaning slightly forward. "Is it really effective for you? Or is this just another of those plans that seem perfect… until someone like me ruins them?"
A tense silence filled the Moon. His single visible crimson eye reflected curiosity and self-confidence, a defiant beacon against Heracles' lethal calm.
Sengo's lips curved into a faint smile, letting his words hang in the air like a chess piece moved deliberately. He knew any reaction from Heracles could give him clues about Canaria's plan—and he was a master at reading between the lines.
"Mmm… interesting," he mused to himself, watching how Heracles' silence spoke louder than words.
Turning his head toward Azi Dahaka, Sengo's crimson eye locked onto the dragon's three heads.
"Well, Azi… what do you think? Is it time to move?" he asked in a casual tone, though his words carried calculation and challenge.
Azi Dahaka tilted his heads, six crimson eyes blazing with intensity. A twisted grin spread across each of them.
"Patience, Sengo," he replied, a chorus of voices rumbling across the Moon. "I don't want to ruin the game Arcadia has set. The fun is only beginning, and it would be a waste to rush."
Sengo nodded slowly, acknowledging the dragon's logic, though tinged with impatience. He turned toward Kurumi and Shiro, who until now had remained silent, watching movements from afar.
"And what about you two?" he asked, tone mixing curiosity and calculation. "What do you plan to do?"
Kurumi, with her usual analytical look, crossed her arms and tilted her head.
"For now, I'll keep monitoring presences. No need to rush. Information is always our best weapon."
Shiro, more serious, her eyes scanning the lunar horizon, replied:
"I agree with Kurumi. Every move Arcadia and their allies make will be key. We should wait for the right moment to intervene."
Sengo smiled faintly, satisfied. He knew he could trust his daughters' judgment, and that together they could adapt to any scenario Canaria might have prepared.
"Good… then patience," he murmured. "This will be far more entertaining once the true action begins."
[•••]
Meanwhile, Arcadia's members mobilized, traversing Little Garden's surface and coordinating with allied communities. Kōmei walked alongside Canaria, their steps firm and measured across the uneven terrain.
"Kōmei," said Canaria, her voice clear even amid the clamor of preparations, "the plan is ready. We only need to create a distraction to draw Azi Dahaka and his comrades into the area we've prepared. There, the seals will do their work."
Kōmei nodded, watching as messengers ran in all directions and allies fortified strategic points.
"I know, Canaria. We cannot face them directly, not with their full strength gathered. The key is to let them believe they hold the advantage, that they move with confidence… and then we spring the trap."
Canaria pointed toward a group heading for a nearby portal.
"I've calculated every possible escape route, every move they might attempt. The portals will open only when we need them, and our allies will block any deviation. Everything is accounted for—so long as no one acts recklessly."
"Then all that remains is to wait for the exact moment," Kōmei said, his voice steady with the confidence granted by a clear strategy. "Azi Dahaka and his comrades won't suspect this has all been prearranged. We will be the ones setting the rhythm of the game."
Canaria nodded, her eyes glowing with serenity and resolve.
"Every move they make will fall within the lines we've drawn. All we need is for them to focus on the chaos they believe they're creating."
The two continued walking amidst the mobilization of their allies, fully aware that patience and precision would be the keys to ensnaring the Community of Absolute Evil.
"Everything is under control," Canaria whispered as she gazed into the distance. "Nothing will be left to chance, Kōmei."
"Perfect," he replied. "Let the game begin."
[•••]
Suddenly, another portal opened, and from it emerged a woman who immediately caught Sengo's attention. Her short hair was a chestnut-orange shade. She wore a Chinese-style dress of vibrant red that accentuated her slender figure, with a rhomboid opening that revealed her navel. Her white boots, combined with black stockings that reached her thighs, gave her an elegant yet lethal air. Silk sleeves covered her arms from elbow to hand, flowing with each gesture, while a golden tiara crowned her head, and two buns tied her hair into perfectly aligned twin tails.
Sun Wukong had arrived, followed by several of her sworn brothers, all wearing tense expressions and carrying bodies prepared for battle. Sun Wukong's gaze was charged with a palpable killing intent.
Sengo immediately understood the reason for her hostility. He had killed some of her sworn brothers in the past, and now her arrival was driven by vengeance—or justice.
"My, my…" Sengo muttered, adjusting his stance, prepared for any move. "I didn't expect you to come with them…"
Sun Wukong did not reply, but the tension in the air was enough for everyone to grasp the gravity of the situation. Her steps were firm, each movement radiating restrained aggression, ready to explode at any moment.
A second portal opened, and from it emerged Scáthach, with her elegant and serene bearing. Unlike Sun Wukong, there was no grudge in her green eyes; only concentration and professionalism. Her presence conveyed calm, but also absolute authority.
Sengo fixed his single crimson eye on her, feeling a silent respect.
"I didn't expect the Halloween Queen to be so… considerate," he said softly, "as to lend her butler to aid Arcadia."
Scáthach advanced without hurry, evaluating the situation, every step measured and steady. There was no hostility, but neither could her power be underestimated. Her mere presence seemed to balance the tension unleashed by Sun Wukong and her sworn brothers.
The lunar battlefield grew even heavier: scattered portals continued to deliver powerful allies, while Azi Dahaka and his comrades waited, eager to see how this game of strategies, clashes, and alliances would unfold.
[•••]
They were patient. Finally, Azi Dahaka, his voice resonating from all three throats, gave the command.
"The time we granted them is enough." His jaws parted in a sinister grin. "It's time to begin the game."
Sengo was the first to move. His figure shot forward like lightning, lunging directly at Heracles. The impact of his strike made the lunar ground tremble, but before he could press the attack, a red shadow intercepted him.
The Rú Yì Bàng came crashing down with brutal force upon his back, sending him flying several meters.
"Today I will kill you, Sengo!" roared Sun Wukong, her eyes blazing with fury, her staff aimed at him.
Sengo slowly stood up, chuckling through his teeth, brushing off the lunar dust. His single visible crimson eye gleamed with mocking malice.
"Hahahaha… kill me?" His laughter rang out, devoid of fear. "Then don't disappoint me, Wukong."
At that instant, Heracles advanced, stepping to the side of the celestial monkey. His tense muscles and empty gaze conveyed a single intent: to face Sengo without hesitation.
"Hmph…" Sengo raised his black haori, letting the embroidered [恶] flutter arrogantly. "Two against one. Much better."
At the other end, Scáthach had already taken her position before Azi Dahaka. The crimson spear in her hands quivered with destructive energy, ready to pierce even the dragon's immortal flesh. Azi laughed, delighted that such a worthy opponent had been placed before him.
Meanwhile, the sisters Kurumi and Shiro unleashed their Gifts. Their presences became oceans of magical pressure, drawing the attention of several warriors from Arcadia and the allied communities. In moments, the Moon transformed into a battlefield with multiple fronts, each roaring with violence.
[•••]
The intensity of the battle overflowed into the skies. The lunar ground shattered under the weight of each clash, and the accumulated violence finally erupted. A tide of divine strength and energy hurled the combatants beyond the confines of the Moon, crashing them down upon the vast land of Little Garden.
The descent was catastrophic. From afar, entire communities could witness the apocalyptic radiance on the horizon: the devastation sown by Azi Dahaka. Every roar of his three heads was followed by storms of energy that razed mountains, cities, and seas. His presence was so overwhelming that even the greatest titans trembled.
Amid the chaos, Kurumi and Shiro carved their way through enemy ranks. Their twisted laughter cut through the air as they reveled in the bloodshed. Every movement was elegant and cruel, their Gifts turning slaughter into a game. There was no compassion in their faces—only delight painted in their distorted smiles.
Elsewhere, Sengo found himself surrounded by new foes. The skies split open once more, and a detachment of Valkyries, sent directly by Odin, descended wrapped in light. Their wings blazed like divine fire, and in their hands they carried spears bathed in the glory of Valhalla.
Sengo grinned, twirling his black haori as the embroidered [恶] gleamed with defiance.
"Hahaha… just when I thought I was starting to get bored."
The Valkyries advanced in formation, war chants resounding with sacred echo, ready to bring him down. But the one-eyed crimson man did not retreat a single step; instead, he raised his gaze with that eternal mockery, preparing to meet them head-on.
On another front of the battlefield, the sisters moved with terrifying synchronicity.
Kurumi, always playful, had turned the enemies' retreat into her favorite pastime. In her hands she held a spark pistol, antique in appearance but fueled by a Gift of lethal precision.
"Ufufu… run, run faster…" she whispered with delight.
Each shot lit the gloom with a brief flash, and immediately an enemy fell pierced through. She did not seek to strike them in direct combat; she preferred the chase, as if it were a hunting game. To see them flee and then collapse one by one under her marksmanship was her greatest amusement.
Meanwhile, Shiro was the perfect counterpart. Her cold face contrasted with the blood splattering at every movement. She wielded a lightly curved katana, built for speed rather than elegance.
She slipped through enemy lines like a shadow, each strike precise: arms, legs, throats. Her style bore no flourish, only the brutal efficiency of someone intent on dismembering rather than merely defeating.
The screams of the enemies echoed, mingled with Kurumi's laughter and Shiro's implacable silence. Together, they painted the land in grotesque crimson, relishing in a spectacle that, for them, was nothing more than amusement.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Azi Dahaka's roar shook the heavens. His three heads moved in unison, spewing black flames and scorching winds that annihilated everything in their path.
Facing him was Scáthach, the warrior queen of shadows, wielding her crimson spear. Her movements were precise, deadly, each strike seeking an opening in the dragon's armored flesh. Yet, though her speed and technique were impeccable, the result was always the same: the spear clashed against flesh too resilient, an impossible defense to pierce.
"Heh… is that all, 'teacher of heroes'?" one of Azi Dahaka's heads sneered, baring rows of fangs dripping with fresh blood.
Scáthach did not answer. Her green eyes remained calm, though her breathing grew heavier, while the dragon merely toyed with her, enduring her attacks unscathed.
Meanwhile, his true spectacle was his brutality against the others. With every swipe of his claws, he dismembered enemies who dared approach: wings torn from angels, warriors split in half as they tried to ambush him, blood raining down around him in a crimson storm.
The field was stained with death beneath the dragon's shadow. To Azi Dahaka, Scáthach was not an enemy… she was merely entertainment, while his claws reminded the allied army why he was the most feared Demon Lord of Little Garden.
[•••]
Sengo barely found amusement in sweeping the ground with the Valkyries.
"I'm surprised the Twelve Devas haven't descended to protect Little Garden… are they running away? How boring it would be if they decided to escape. I was hoping all the gods would unite to kill us…" a twisted smile crossed his face. "Such a shame things never go as one wishes."
"☆No need to worry about that, your wish has been granted☆."
A pleasant, melodic voice—like that of a singer—echoed behind Sengo.
He turned and saw a beautiful blonde woman with short hair, dressed in a white ensemble and leaning on a golden staff.
"My, my, what do we have here? The glorious [Poet] Canaria of Arcadia. It's been a while since we last met."
"☆A long time indeed, Sengo. Even your daughter is following in your footsteps, something Leticia never imagined, truly☆."
"I have no idea what she was thinking, honestly. She knows well that both my daughters ended up following my path. So then, Canaria, you've got a plan capable of stopping us."
"☆Isn't it obvious? The planning is perfect. Only a few… details remain to be adjusted☆."
At that instant, several deities descended from the heavens, their divine presences illuminating the battlefield as they fell toward Azi Dahaka.
Sengo raised his eyebrows, both entertained and expectant.
"Oh…" a soft laugh slipped from his lips. "I'm all ears to hear about those details still missing."
"☆In the future, a human will be born with the strength to erase, once and for all, Absolute Evil☆."
Sengo narrowed his single crimson eye, scrutinizing every word.
"I'm surprised at your confidence, Canaria. But I can't help thinking you've lost a screw…" he tilted his head with a thoughtful gesture. "Although of course… [Poets] can alter reality." A cold smile crept across his face. "So you created someone. Someone capable of ending us. That explains your confidence… more or less I can decipher your plan."
Canaria did not flinch, not even as he laid bare aloud the logic behind her strategy.
"You can see the future too, can't you?" Sengo continued, almost amused. "I'd forgotten… after all, there aren't many [Poets] left. I killed them all in the past. And now, seeing your faith in that 'someone' you birthed in your verses…" he laughed low, like recalling a casual anecdote, "I'll help you bring that plan of yours to fruition. After all, I want to see with my own eye the person capable of killing us."
"☆Even if you say that… you won't stop causing trouble, right, Sengo?☆"
"That's right." His smile twisted into a savage grin. "At the very least, I want to have a little fun."
In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished, leaving only an echo in the air. In the distance, battle cries rose as he began slaughtering members of several allied communities, sabotaging the plan to seal Absolute Evil.
Canaria followed him with her eyes but her expression remained unchanged.
"☆Even if I can see the future, as long as I move slower than them, I can't prevent it…" she murmured. "It's time to raise the seal. Go, tell the others, La Croix☆."
"Understood, Canaria."
[•••]
Sengo was having the time of his life, massacring without restraint. Every enemy was an excuse for a new grotesque act: he pierced hearts with his fists, dismembered bodies with hollow laughter, reduced foes to ashes with the flames of [Kagutsuchi], gouged out eyes, and even turned their own weapons against them. Tonight was his final dance of blood, and he relished it. At his side, Azi Dahaka reaped lives with the same ease others breathe.
"I thought this would never happen!" Sengo laughed, drenched in blood. "I thought you were running away to create another Little Garden!"
Azi answered without ceasing his slaughter.
"I thought the same when I saw the Twelve Devas didn't appear…"
The raw sound of flesh and bone being torn by the dragon's claws shook those still resisting. Bodies fell heavy against the earth, echoes of horror rising from the survivors of the alliance.
Fear was natural, but conviction kept them standing. They had to fight. If not, Little Garden would never know peace. Even with thirty percent already dead, none retreated.
"Everyone together! Use your [Gifts] to wound them, even if it's just once!"
"A joint attack, huh?" Sengo laughed, baring his teeth. "Doesn't sound too bad."
Lights began to rise from all directions. A swarm of divine powers, heroic techniques, and ancestral Gifts descended upon him like a comet.
"Hahahaha, I love it! Come, come with everything you've got!"
Explosions lit up the sky with devastating force. When the smoke cleared, Sengo still stood. Untouched. Not even a scratch, not a wrinkle in his clothing.
"Oi, Azi. What do you say we return the favor now?"
The dragon grinned, baring his fangs.
"I think that's fair."
"I'll show you a new [Gift] I got!" Sengo announced with cruel excitement.
A chill ran through everyone present. They knew the stories all too well: the man who stole powers from gods and heroes, accumulating evil and strength alike. Azi Dahaka and Sengo were the very embodiment of Absolute Evil.
The dragon roared.
"Avesta!"
Sengo raised his hand, laughing with madness.
"Cosmology of Zoroastrianism!"
For a moment, even Azi Dahaka widened his eyes in surprise.
That Gift was his weakness. And now, his closest comrade wielded it brazenly.
The clash of both forces unleashed a cataclysm. Heroes and gods were swept away, their bodies disintegrating under the combined power. Eighty percent of the alliance's warriors fell in that instant, leaving behind only ruins and muffled screams.
Then, the light of the seal arose. A gigantic dome of energy descended upon them, enclosing the two monsters. The air grew heavy. Spectral shackles burst from all directions, piercing arms, legs, and skulls. The spiritual force of both began to wane under that prison.
"Tch…!" Sengo fell to his knees, yet still smiled. "Not a bad plan, eh, Canaria…"
Azi Dahaka growled, feeling the same crushing pressure as the dome descended, sinking into the land of [Salamandra]. The seal began to bury them forever.
The alliance, shattered, could barely breathe. They had lost almost everything, but the sacrifice had been worth it. Absolute Evil was sealed.
Far away, a little blue-haired girl with rabbit ears sobbed on her knees. Her hands clasped together trembled as she prayed fervently. She had lost her family and her people, yet she still implored the gods.
"Please… let her come back alive… the woman who saved me…"
[•••]
The sky trembled with the roar of the seal descending upon Sengo and Azi Dahaka. Spiritual stakes pierced their bodies as the dome closed like a coffin of light.
In the distance, among the shadows, Kurumi and Shiro watched the scene with different expressions: a crooked smile on Kurumi's lips, and Shiro's calculating gaze, analyzing every detail of the process.
A single instant was enough. Sengo slightly raised his free hand, barely a gesture, almost imperceptible to anyone who didn't know him. For his daughters, however, it was clear.
Kurumi let out an amused giggle.
"Hehe~ looks like Dad just gave us the signal. Time to go, sister."
Shiro nodded coldly, her eyes fixed on the seal consuming their father.
"Hmph. How long do you think they'll last sealed?"
Kurumi shrugged carelessly, still chuckling softly.
"Mmm~ I don't know. But does it really matter? Dad always finds a way to come back… and when he does, it'll be far more fun than now."
Shiro looked away from the seal, crossing her arms with calculated calm.
"All they've done is buy time… and sacrificed most of their forces for a hollow victory."
Kurumi tilted her head, her fangs peeking in a mischievous smile.
"Then let's enjoy the waiting game. The hunt is always tastier when the prey thinks they're safe."
Kurumi and Shiro turned swiftly. From the shadows emerged a figure radiating a noble and solemn aura. She was a beautiful albino teenage girl with blood-red eyes, elegantly dressed in a loose white blouse and a black lace skirt reaching her knees. A small black cape draped over her shoulders, held by a thin clasp, and around her neck hung a black ribbon tie adorned with a golden bat-shaped chain, its lower wing tips decorated with tiny crosses. A cross earring glimmered on her left ear.
Despite her youthful appearance, she had already surpassed two centuries of existence. Alicia Draculea, the youngest of the three sisters, regarded them seriously.
Kurumi clicked her tongue, her crooked smile reappearing.
"Well, well… if it isn't our little sister. What brings you here, Alicia~? Come to lecture us?"
Shiro, in contrast, watched her calmly, weighing every word.
"You shouldn't be here. You're on the wrong side if you intend to follow in your mother's footsteps."
Alicia's red eyes shone with determination.
"I'm not here for her… I'm here for our father."
Kurumi tilted her head with a playful grin.
"Well, well… if it isn't our dear little sister. Are you here to say goodbye to Dad or to play with the remains of the heroes~?"
Alicia smiled, a mischievous grin that didn't hide the chaotic glint in her eyes.
"Why choose? It's always fun to watch the heroes despair before dying… though this time, I didn't come to 'play' directly. I just wanted to see the moment those fools thought they could defeat Dad."
Shiro narrowed her eyes, expressionless.
"Your mother was among those fools."
Alicia's smile twisted further, now tinged with irony.
"Mother? Hmph… she didn't dare face Dad for real. She just sent her shadows from afar as if that would do anything against Azi Dahaka. Pathetic. The heroes she so adores aren't any better: soft, fragile, always convinced that 'justice' will save them."
Kurumi laughed delightedly, almost clapping.
"Hehe~ I like it when you talk like that, little sister. It suits you better than pretending to be noble."
Alicia took a step forward, her cape fluttering gently in the wind.
"Nobility is overrated. The only interesting thing is to see what humans and heroes do when faced with the impossible. Some cry, some betray, some consume themselves… and sometimes, one in a million surprises. That's why I don't eliminate them all. I like to test them."
Shiro, cold as ever, replied:
"Then you will end up disappointed. The heroes of this era are not up to the task."
"Maybe…" Alicia responded, a playful sparkle in her eyes, "or maybe someone unexpected will appear. After all, Dad said it: it's always worth betting on the improbable."
The seal over Sengo and Azi Dahaka finished sinking into the earth, marking the end of the battle.
Kurumi stretched as if nothing had happened, still smiling.
"Well, little sister, it seems the fun here is over. What do you say? Shall we have some tea or coffee to end the evening~?"
Alicia let out a soft, almost melodic laugh, though charged with chaos.
"Sure. Nothing better than a quiet drink after watching a world collapse."
Shiro nodded calmly as the three walked away from that field of death, leaving behind the ruins stained with chaos and corpses.
[•••]
Inside the seal, trapped in that spiritual prison that slowly devoured their strength, Sengo and Azi Dahaka conversed as if nothing had happened. The sepulchral silence surrounding them seemed not to affect them.
Azi was the first to break it.
"Don't tell me how you did it, but… why did you use that [Gift]? You know the 'Cosmology of Zoroastrianism' affects me too."
His tone was not one of reproach or betrayal, but of genuine curiosity.
Sengo, lying down as if seeking the most comfortable position, replied lazily.
"…Out of interest."
Azi narrowed his eyes.
"Interest? Now I really want to hear it."
Sengo smiled faintly, producing a pillow from nowhere to lean on.
"Remember I told you about Arcadia's strategist?"
Azi nodded.
"I spoke with her. I deciphered her plan to seal us, but what interested me most from the conversation… is that she sacrificed much of her life to alter reality and create a human, with the strength to destroy us in the future."
Azi Dahaka leaned back, letting his multiple crimson eyes soften slightly, and grinned.
"Ha, ha. Poets, as always, altering reality with their words. So a human will be born capable of eliminating us. Well, well. The future looks bright."
Sengo closed his single eye for a moment, letting the stillness of the seal envelop them.
"Then, even though we're trapped here, I can at least enjoy watching their plans unfold, and eventually, that person destined to face us."
Azi Dahaka let out a low roar, mixing amusement with respect.
"Ha… interesting… it seems this game isn't over yet."
Beginning to settle down to sleep, Sengo let his mind drift to the past, diving into memories that had shaped his existence. Before being feared as a Demon Lord, he had been a wandering soul, lost, unable to find eternal rest. He arrived in this world thirteen hundred years ago, his soul finally chained by the claws of someone:
Gaia.
Thus, Senji Muramasa was condemned to fulfill the goal of this goddess: the eradication of humanity.
Where the only way to change that fate was for his soul to be freed from Gaia's chains, awaiting the human Canaria mentioned, created to eliminate them.