The floating island—Agreas, the tournament venue.
After stepping off the cable car, the group was taken by private carriage straight to the largest arena in Agreas. Upon entering, they were led to the luxurious hotel right next to the venue.
The moment they stepped inside, the girls couldn't help but marvel again at the opulence. No hotel in the human world could compare; so far, the only place they'd seen that rivaled this in grandeur was the Gremory family's own castle.
Guided by the staff, the group made their way toward the waiting rooms. For an event of such importance, the private boxes normally reserved for Maou and high nobles were being used as preparation rooms.
But as they passed through the hallway, a wave of deathly chill—like needles of ice—swept over them, sending goosebumps crawling across everyone's skin.
"Tch! This presence…"
Yoru knew it all too well. He'd encountered it twice before. The persistent shadow—Hades, ruler of the Underworld.
From the opposite corridor, a group of figures wrapped in gray robes approached. In the middle of them walked a skeleton dressed in priestly robes. It stopped in front of them, empty eye sockets glowing with a ghostly light.
"Well, well… if it isn't the Gremory family. And here we have the Governor of the Fallen Angels, and a Seraph from Heaven."
The eerie voice came from somewhere within the skeleton, making it all the more unsettling.
Azazel smirked in mockery. "Isn't this His Excellency Hades, ruler of the realm beneath the Underworld? You've even brought death gods to the surface. I'm surprised—the one who hates devils and fallen angels the most actually came here in person."
"Hahaha… sharp tongue as always, you crow. Things have been rather noisy up above lately, so I came to see what's going on."
"Skeleton old man, rumor has it you're the only one in Greece who's against the idea of the factions working together."
"And what if I am? Are you going to kill an old man like me the way you did 'Loki'?"
At that, the servants around Hades let their killing intent seep out.
"I'd be as 'tolerant' toward you as I was to that lecher Odin. But there are plenty of bad rumors going around about you."
Azazel glanced at Yoru, making his implication clear.
"Hahaha… crows and bats making noise overhead—I need to take measures to drown it out."
His gaze, deep and hollow, turned toward Yoru, radiating a bone-chilling malice.
"Young ones these days… so eager to stir up trouble. Admirable, in a way. But don't get too arrogant, or you won't even know how you died."
"Heh… Lord Hades certainly has a sense of humor. Some old men have a habit of reaching their hands too far. That's fine—but if one were to get broken, who knows how long it would take to grow back."
"You…!"
Though no expression could be seen on the skeletal face, it was clear how enraged he was. The killing intent from his servants surged in response.
Like their master, the aura they gave off was a cold darkness reeking of death. But to flaunt ice before Yoru was laughable—utterly beneath him. Compared to the chilling pressure Yoru casually exuded, theirs was weak and unimpressive, leaving the girls merely slightly uncomfortable.
With a casual wave of Yoru's hand, the Underworld servants suddenly froze in place, as if their throats were being gripped, unable to release any aura at all.
"Stand down. It was just a young man's joke—did you really take it seriously? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at? Let's go."
Hades waved his own hand, leading his subordinates away in a hasty retreat.
Only once he was gone did the girls exhale in relief. Facing someone far beyond Maou-class in strength was nerve-wracking.
"I'd heard about Lord Hades from the Norse veterans… but it really felt like he grabbed hold of my soul just now."
"Yeah… that skeleton gave off an incredible pressure."
While the girls exchanged impressions, Azazel rolled his neck to ease the tension.
"Of course. Among the core members of all the factions, he's at the very top."
"…Even stronger than you, Sensei?"
"Far stronger. That skeleton geezer hides his true power well—nobody knows how strong he really is. But even what he shows openly is beyond anything I could beat. And those servants of his are dangerous in their own right."
For the Governor of the Fallen Angels to show such wariness spoke volumes about the terrifying gap in power.
"But Yoru, you've got guts, provoking that skeleton like that. I thought you two were about to start fighting."
Azazel laughed heartily, clearly pleased to have seen Hades forced to back down.
But then, from the corridor came a loud, boisterous laugh.
"Hahaha! Azazel, you're here! What's so funny?"
Two tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged men with clean-cut appearances strode over. At the sight of them, Azazel's grin vanished, replaced with a weary sigh.
"…So you two came. Zeus and Poseidon. If only Hades were as easy to deal with as you two."
The King of the Greek Gods, Zeus, and the Sea God, Poseidon. They carried themselves with an air of dignity, yet for some reason, seeing them made Yoru think of a certain old man.
"So, Azashan, got yourself a wife yet? Always being alone must get lonely."
"We could introduce you to someone, you know! Plenty of fine women out there! Hahahaha!"
"I told you already—mind your own business…"
Azazel wore an expression of pure exasperation.
And Yoru finally realized why they felt so familiar—these two were exactly like Odin. Were all faction leaders like this…?
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