The Silent Deity: Saiki Kusuo in Tensura

The sun rose red over the Eastern Empire.

A heavy fog hung in the halls of the imperial palace—thick not from weather, but from the tension that clung to the air like damp smoke. Rudra sat on his obsidian throne, his eyes dim, unfocused, locked on the flame of a small torch flickering at the far end of the room.

He hadn't slept in two days.

Behind his golden armor and commanding gaze was a mind unraveling—whispers snaking through his thoughts like shadows. Words that were not his. Thoughts he hadn't formed. Yet they felt like truth.

Apollyon's voice.

"Your generals… they're plotting."

"Velgrynd smiles at you but schemes behind your back."

"The Storm Kingdom… their walls rise because they know what you are planning. Or do they?"

"Strike first, Rudra. Show no mercy."

Every word dug deeper into his brain, like a splinter he couldn't reach.

Across the hall, Velgrynd stormed in, her fiery red hair trailing behind her like a comet. Her eyes locked on Rudra, narrowed with worry and a hint of fury.

"Rudra," she said sharply, her boots clacking across the marble floor, "we need to talk. Now."

Rudra barely moved. "If it's about the Storm Kingdom… save your breath."

Velgrynd frowned. "Exactly. That's why I'm here." She folded her arms. "You're moving troops without council approval. You've isolated your advisors. What are you thinking?"

Rudra stood slowly, almost robotically. "They're compromised."

Velgrynd blinked. "What?"

Rudra's voice was cold, distant. "There's a traitor. Maybe more. Someone fed the Storm Kingdom information. Their defenses rose right after our last council meeting. Someone told them."

"You see?" Apollyon's whisper coiled in his ear again. "Even she questions your decisions. Her loyalty is a façade."

Velgrynd stepped closer. "Rudra, listen to me. You've always been sharp, but lately… you're seeing enemies in every shadow. You're not being yourself."

Rudra turned to her sharply. "What does that mean?"

"It means," she said carefully, "you're letting fear control you. You're not thinking clearly."

He narrowed his eyes, stepping down from the throne. "You think I'm afraid?"

Velgrynd took a deep breath, keeping her voice steady. "No. I think you're being manipulated."

"She knows."

"You have to silence her before she turns the others against you."

Rudra's fingers twitched. A small flare of energy danced at his palm.

Velgrynd noticed. She didn't flinch, but her tone changed—more gentle now. "Look… I'm not your enemy. I've fought beside you for centuries. If I had plans to betray you, you'd be gone already."

Rudra looked into her eyes, searching for a lie… but all he saw was sincerity.

"It's a trap."

"Don't believe her."

"They all want to dethrone you. To take what's yours."

Rudra grabbed his head.

"Shut up," he growled.

Velgrynd tilted her head. "What did you say?"

"I SAID SHUT UP!" he roared.

A shockwave of energy erupted from his body, flinging back chairs and rattling the chandelier above them. Velgrynd shielded her face with one arm but held her ground.

She watched him—eyes wide with horror—not just at his power, but at what she now understood.

Someone else is in his mind.

"Rudra… who's doing this to you?" she asked softly.

He staggered backward, chest heaving. "No one. I'm in control."

"No you're not," Apollyon whispered with a smile no one could see.

Elsewhere…

In the shadows of the Empire, Testarossa—still wearing the guise of one of the Generals —watched everything unfold from a magical illusion orb. Her red eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Tsk, tsk. The great Rudra cracking under pressure," she muttered. She sipped from a wine glass—blood red. "Lord Veldora will be very interested in this…"

A small magical rune flickered in the air beside her.

"Souei," she said coolly.

The ninja's voice came from the shadows. "Yes?"

Granbell has executed one of his entourage. Seems he was 'compromised,'" she chuckled.

Souei replied with his usual icy tone. "Everything is moving as planned. We are in position. We will keep adapting."

Testarossa grinned. "Perfect. Let the little demon play king. We'll just tip over the board when the time is right."

Velgrynd was feeling uneasy—more than uneasy, really. She was scared. Rudra wasn't himself anymore. He wasn't listening to her, brushing her off like she was just some background noise. His eyes… they didn't shine with that confident fire anymore. Instead, they were dark, wild, full of something she couldn't explain. And the way he kept muttering about the Storm Kingdom, about Veldora… it was like a switch had flipped inside him.

"He's not like this… Rudra doesn't obsess," Velgrynd muttered to herself as she soared through the sky, the wind screaming past her like it was trying to catch up to her thoughts. "He plans, he thinks… he never obsesses."

She clenched her fists as she flew faster, the icy winds of the northern continent whipping around her. There was only one person she could think of who might understand what was going on—someone just as ancient, just as calculating, just as powerful.

Guy Crimson.

The Ice Continent came into view—bleak, beautiful, and shimmering with a cold majesty that sent shivers through even the strongest beings. At the heart of it stood the towering black palace, etched with glowing crimson lines and humming with chaotic energy.

Velgrynd landed hard on the frozen steps of the palace, sending a shockwave that cracked the ice underfoot.

Rain and Misery, Guy's ever-loyal attendants, were already waiting by the entrance, dressed in elegant, dark attire that matched the cold air and their expressions.

"Velgrynd," Rain said with a raised brow, clearly surprised. "You're—"

"Where's Guy?" Velgrynd cut in, her voice sharp, eyes wild with urgency.

Misery blinked. "He's in the throne room, my lady. Drinking, as always."

Without another word, Velgrynd pushed past them, leaving a streak of heat on the icy floor.

Inside the palace, the air shifted. It was heavy with power, every hallway lined with glowing crystals and paintings of battles from a time long forgotten. Velgrynd walked quickly, her heels clicking with each step until she reached the towering doors of the throne room.

She threw them open.

There he was.

Guy Crimson, the King of the Ice Continent, sat lazily on his obsidian throne, a half-full glass of red wine in one hand. His long crimson hair flowed like molten lava down his back, and his eyes glowed faintly as he stared off into the distance, clearly deep in thought.

"Velgrynd," he said smoothly, not even startled by her entrance. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Velgrynd didn't waste time. She marched up the steps to his throne, stopping only when she was right in front of him.

"It's Rudra," she said, her voice unsteady. "Something's… wrong with him."

Guy's eyebrow twitched. He swirled his wine casually and took a sip before leaning forward, interested now. "Go on."

"He's changed," Velgrynd continued. "He's paranoid. Obsessed. He keeps talking about the Storm Kingdom, about Veldora, like they're some sort of… threat. He says they're hiding something—plotting behind everyone's back. He's convinced they're going to bring ruin to the world."

Guy narrowed his eyes.

"He's acting like someone else," Velgrynd said quietly. "Like someone's gotten into his head. He won't listen to me. He shut me out completely. He… he's becoming dangerous, Guy."

Guy leaned back, tapping a finger against his wine glass. "Hmm."

"You've seen him, haven't you?" she asked. "He's been here."

Guy nodded slowly. "Yes. He came to me not long ago. Said nearly the same things. Talked about Veldora, about how the Storm Kingdom was hiding a threat greater than any of us could imagine." His gaze darkened. "I told him to be careful. That Veldora wasn't someone to poke unless you wanted to get burned. But he didn't care."

Velgrynd paced, frustrated. "It's not like him. Rudra always played the long game. Always kept a level head. But now—he's reckless. He's making plans to attack, and I don't think he even realizes what he's doing anymore."

Guy looked thoughtful, his crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light of the throne room. "If what you're saying is true… then this isn't just Rudra being Rudra. Something is pushing him."

"But who?" Velgrynd asked, nearly desperate now. "There's no one powerful enough to influence Rudra's mind like this—not without being noticed."

Guy didn't answer right away. He stood up, placing his wine down on a crystal table beside the throne. His aura flared subtly, a reminder of just how dangerous he truly was.

"Then maybe we're not noticing the right things," he said cryptically. "Maybe whoever is behind this… doesn't want to be noticed at all."

Velgrynd felt a chill run down her spine—not from the cold of the palace, but from the weight in Guy's voice.

"Rudra might already be compromised," Guy continued. "And if he's truly lost to this… influence, then stopping him might not be as simple as talking him down."

Velgrynd looked up at Guy, eyes wide. "Then what do we do?"

Guy glanced out the window, where the sky above the Ice Continent was growing darker, storm clouds slowly swirling over the horizon.

"We watch. We prepare. And we don't let Rudra drag the rest of the world into his madness."

He turned back to her, eyes sharp.

"And if he tries… we stop him. No matter what."