College Hall: same time
The hall still vibrated with applause from the awards, but the announcement of a surprise fireworks show had set off a fresh wave of euphoria. Students bounced on their toes, phones already lifted to capture the promised spectacle.
Through it all Arsh—still wearing the face of Azura—sat utterly motionless.
Inside his mind, equations whirred:
Trajectories. Blast radius. Demon advance speed. Civilian density.
Each probability tree ended with the same red branch: mass casualties unless he diverted the enemy fast.
A knuckle rapped the armrest—tap... tap...—the only outward sign of his storming thoughts.
"Azura?" A soft voice floated to him. Luna had edged closer, cheeks tinged pink, almost red by excitement—and by something more. "You look exhausted. Fireworks aren't really your thing, are they?"
He blinked, forcing a gentle smile. "Crowds drain me a bit. I'll survive, don't worry."
Luna bit her lip, summoning courage. "I… I know somewhere quieter. Perfect view. Hardly anyone goes there." Her gaze flicked away, shy. "If you'd like some space… we could watch from there together."
In Arsh's mental map, a lonely green dot flared—an empty field well beyond main buildings, a containment zone if things collapsed. Providence, he thought. Or My mind giving me one last hope.
"That would be wonderful," he said, genuine relief coloring his tone. "Give me five minutes to wash my face. I'll meet you by the west door."
Luna nodded, brushing hair behind her ear to hide a grin. As she turned, Arsh's smile dropped like a mask.
"OSAI: rooftop. Five minutes. Ainz, Noar, Sora—full briefing."
The OSAI responded in his ear, crisp and cold. "Acknowledged, Your Majesty."
After some time: College Rooftop
Moonlight silvered the college rooftop, outlining three figures who waited in varying degrees of agitation.
Ainz paced back and forth, he clicking. "Fireworks? Seriously? It's like putting a 'Bite Me' sign on the campus, who planned this "Death march", did he even realize how big problem it is?"
Noar leaned against the parapet, arms folded, calm but eyes alert. Sora perched on the ledge, grin feral—excitement vibrating through his demon-blood veins.
Arsh appeared, wind slapping his jacket.
Before Ainz could erupt, Arsh raised a hand to answer Ainz "They don't that's why they planned this, Now listen carefully. The festival schedule changed—our plan adapts."
He drew a chalk-white shape on the concrete with his fingertip, OSAI projecting a translucent overlay: campus, city blocks, evacuation routes.
"Our priority: keep the commanders away from civilians. I'll lure them to an isolated zone—Luna's 'secret spot'—and fight there. You three guard the front and mop up the army."
Ainz frowned. "And if they ignore you and attack on the Civilians himself?"
"Then we initiate Red Sky." At that code phrase the overlay flared crimson around the college perimeter. "I jums in, we form a four-point kill box. Risky, but better than letting them butcher students."
Sora's grin widened. "Sounds fun."
Noar inclined his head. "As you command."
Arsh met each pair of eyes. "This is our festival. We end it our way. Minimal casualties. Maximum message."
Three hands snapped to their chests in salute. "Yes, Sir!"
College Hall: same time
Back in the hall, Luna debated turning around—she had rehearsed her confession ten times, and now butterflies felt like demon wasps in her stomach. Her best friend—eyes sparkling with mischief—nudged her phone screen, which still displayed "Romantic Firework Proposal Ideas."
"You've got this," she whispered. "Operation Starlight is go!"
Luna rolled her eyes but couldn't stop a grin from blooming. Tonight, she vowed. No more unspoken feelings.
At that moment Arsh strode in, face freshly rinsed, strands of black hair still damp. "Ready?"
She hoped he couldn't hear her heart slam against her ribs. "Mh-mhm!"
After Some time: A ground behind the college
They walked beyond dorm blocks, past storage sheds, into an overgrown expanse where wildflowers met cracked asphalt. Crickets replaced city noise; a single lamppost cast a lonely amber halo.
Arsh inhaled—night-damp grass, faint honeysuckle, distant smoke from festival grills. Remember this scent, he told himself. In case tonight is my last earthly summer.
Luna stopped in the middle of the field. "This is it. Not much, but—, Do you like this place?"
"It's perfect," he said, studying the terrain: open line of sight, clear vertical for drone drops, earthen berm behind to catch stray blasts.
They settled on the grass. Luna's fingers plucked blades nervously. Arsh gazed upward, mapping constellations against the math of incoming demon vectors.
Silence stretched—not awkward, but laden. Fireflies blinked.
Finally Luna rose, smoothing her skirt. Her voice trembled but held resolve, giving a hand to Arsh. "Azura… I want to talk, will you please?"
He stood, dusting off his trousers. Moonlight silvered his profile.
"I've only known you fifty-nine days," she began, hands knotted. "But those days…" Her laugh was small, self-deprecating. "When you're near, I feel like I could touch the sky. When you're gone, every minute drags like a year in chains."
Arsh's heartbeat thundered—war drums drowned by this one trembling confession.
"I thought I was silly, but I don't care anymore." Luna's eyes glistened. "I like you. No—I'm falling for you. And I just… needed you to know."
She braced for rejection. Instead Arsh exhaled, shoulders sagging with palpable relief.
"I owe you an apology," he said, voice raw. "For forcing a brave girl to speak first when this fool felt the same."
Luna's breath hitched, tears of shock and joy gathering.
"I planned to tell you after tonight," he whispered. "But—"
KR-KROOM!
A sonic boom shattered stars. The earth convulsed.
Arsh's battle instincts snapped. He spun, scooping Luna against his chest. A boulder—two meters across—hurtled from the darkness. It struck his back, detonating into shards.
Adrenaline blotted pain; he felt ribs creak but held firm. Luna shook in his arms, face buried, muffled scream torn away by wind.
OSAI: "Disguise module critical. Initiate replacement?"
"No," Arsh growled. "No more masks."
Dust swirled. Luna peeked up—and froze.
Gone was Azura's raven hair. Snow-white strands shimmered with emerald undertones, glowing faintly as if catching hidden dawn. His eyes—no longer brown—burned an electric blue, deep as storm seas.
She lifted trembling fingers to his cheek, smearing blood into light.
"Azura…?" she whispered, instinctively speaking the name echoing in legends.
He nodded once—and turned as twin shadows emerged.
Arsh stands up, and gave a smile to Luna and said: I don't want to hide this from you, but this is my real face and my name is "Arsh".
Greed's slim frame radiated lethal composure; Gluttony's hulking silhouette split moonlight like a statue of wrath.
Greed's voice slithered. "The human king reveals himself at last, are you surprised human, or should I say "Arsh"."
Arsh's stance shifted—weight balanced, aura rippling like heat above stone. "I'm sorry you had to see this, Luna." He guided her back. "Stay behind that berm. Whatever happens, don't step forward."
Tears glimmered but she obeyed, heart swelling not with fear but fierce trust.
OSAI: "Demon army breaching outer perimeter. Drone wings will come ninety seconds. Broadcasting live feed worldwide per your order."
"Good. Send Zeno-87 to Ainz."
At the Gate of College: at the same time
In front of the college, streetlamps flickered as thousands of demon silhouettes flooded shattered avenues. Lesser fiends howled, claws scrabbling on pavement.
Ainz swallowed hard, armored gauntlets trembling. Sora cracked his neck, grin feral. "Remember, the little ones are yours. I will save room for Those bigger ones."
Suddenly turbines roared overhead. A twelve-foot titan descended—chrome, obsidian, thrumming with power. Zeno-87.
The chest plate irised open. Ainz's personal armor detached, magnetizing inside the larger frame. HUD expanded, data streaming.
Arsh's voice rang through comms. "She's yours. Show me what a future pillar can do."
Fear melted into exhilaration. "I won't disappoint, my king."
Drones streaked by—sleek, winged, blades flashing. The first wave of lesser demons erupted in gouts of green ichors.
Ainz lifted Zeno's arm; a kinetic cannon whirred. "Come, monsters… let's dance."
At the same time: ground behind the college (Main battleground)
Back in the field, Greed advanced, eyes calculating.
"Hand over the Vessel," he hissed. "Spare yourself anguish."
Arsh rolled his shoulder, feeling blood slip down his spine, he folded his sleeves. "You chased a phantom, Commander. Rose is continents away."
Greed's face twisted. He lunged—speed distorting air. But Arsh had already moved, boots carving furrows as he blurred.
Luna saw that attack and muttered "What is this happening, are they really teleporting, Is he really Arsh, our King, the most powerful man of the Earth, and are these really the Demon commanders, Those who is Country level Threat."
Greed struck empty space. Rage flared; he pivoted toward Luna. But before clawed fingers reached her, a slash of obsidian steel flashed—Arsh's hidden blade. Greed reeled, sliced across the chest.
Gluttony bellowed and swung a great sword. Arsh parried, sparks spraying. The impact hurled him meters back; he flipped, landing in a crouch.
Luna's gasp carried like a prayer on wind.
Greed and Gluttony touched foreheads, chanting guttural syllables. Flesh warped—muscles bulging, skin ossifying into dark armor. Their Commander Forms flooded the field with oppressive malice.
Arsh cracked his neck, expression tranquil. He unclasped an osmium watch from his wrist and tossed it aside. It sank into soil, gouging a crater.
High above, drones descended bearing Ragnarok—an axe taller than Arsh's Arm, edges whispering with contained storms.
He caught the haft; the ground trembled.
Moonlight gleamed on steel. "Night belongs to demons, you say?" He swung once, splitting the air with a thunderclap. "This Night….. belongs to me."
Greed and Gluttony roared, charging together—twin storms of cunning and brute force.
Arsh advanced, axe whirling, white hair streaming like a comet tail.