The Silent Deity: Saiki Kusuo in Tensura

They finished their dinner.

Rudra and Velgrynd, content and emotionally lighter than they'd been in centuries, returned to the Eastern Empire under the stars of a peaceful night sky. The journey back was silent, but not awkward—more like a calm after the storm. The kind of silence where nothing more needed to be said. Rudra stared out the window of their flying transport, the silver moonlight painting a soft sheen across his armor. He wasn't just breathing better; he was breathing again.

"That dragon is something else," Rudra muttered, not looking at Velgrynd.

Velgrynd, arms crossed, smirked. "You mean our dragon."

Rudra chuckled softly. "Yeah... Veldora. Who would've thought."

When they returned, the empire noticed immediately. The usual cold stiffness in their Emperor's face was gone. The furrow in his brow had relaxed. His shoulders weren't carrying the weight of the world anymore—only responsibility, and hope.

Every soldier, every general that crossed his path felt it: something had changed. Rumors started spreading like wildfire.

"Did you see His Majesty today? He smiled... I swear, he smiled!"

"Is it true the Dragon King himself forgave him?"

"No way. I thought Veldora would've blasted him into cosmic dust."

"Whatever happened… our Emperor is back. The real Emperor Rudra."

Rudra immediately got to work—restructuring divisions, reviewing old policies, bringing back the empire's scholars and strategists. He spoke with kindness, but firm command. It felt like the Eastern Empire had been asleep… and now, under its Emperor's fiery will, it was waking up again.

Meanwhile…

Far away, in the Ice Continent—where eternal winter never lifted—something entirely different was brewing.

Guy Crimson, the Lord of the Ice Continent, Demon Lord of Pride, was pissed.

Not angry at someone. Just… annoyed. Irritated at the world. Irritated at himself.

Inside a brutal blizzard-forged chamber of his ice palace, Guy stood alone—his coat discarded, his chest bare, steaming from exertion. His fists slammed into enchanted stone columns again and again, each punch echoing like a thunderclap.

BOOM!

BOOM!!

CRACK!

Ice shattered in spikes along the floor. Magic residue sparked in the air like red lightning. Sweat dripped from his chin, evaporating before it hit the floor.

Rain and Misery, his two ever-faithful (and very stressed) demon maids, stood a safe distance away.

Rain crossed her arms, frowning. "He's been at it for three days. No sleep. Barely eats. Is he trying to break himself?"

Misery adjusted her glasses, biting her lower lip. "He's trying to evolve. He doesn't want to fall behind."

Rain scoffed. "Fall behind who? He's Guy Crimson. He's already stupidly powerful."

Misery tilted her head. "Have you seen Diablo lately? Or Testarossa? Or Ultima? They don't just fight. They bend realities when they swing a hand."

Rain's expression darkened. "True. Veldora's rise changed everything."

Back in the center of the training hall, Guy finally stopped. Breathing heavily, his eyes gleamed with fiery intent. His pride was burning a hole in his chest.

He clenched his fist, looking at it. "Damn it. I can't ignore it anymore."

Then, to no one in particular, he muttered, "…I need to fight Diablo."

He stepped back and sat on a broken piece of the stone pillar, hands clasped together. "Just watching them isn't enough anymore. I need to feel it. Their power. Their growth. I have to know."

But then… he scowled.

"…Tch. I can't just waltz into the Storm Kingdom uninvited now, can I? That place isn't what it used to be. Not with him on the throne."

He meant Veldora.

Guy Crimson respected strength. That much was always true. But now, with Veldora sitting as a king among monsters—and surrounded by transcendents and evolved entities—Guy knew the rules had changed. Power didn't mean what it used to mean. It was deeper. Wiser.

And even though he hated admitting it…

He felt small compared to Veldora now.

Guy rubbed his temples. "I guess I'll have to go there myself. Ask Veldora if I can spar Diablo. Properly."

He stood up again.

"Ugh. So annoying. Just thinking about asking someone for permission gives me a headache..."

Watching From the Shadows

Unseen. Untouched. Undisturbed.

Saiki K sat atop the ceiling of the ice palace, invisible, eating his coffee jelly. His face looked bored as usual, but his eyes glinted with quiet irritation.

"Yare yare. Prideful moron," he muttered.

He'd been observing Guy for a while now. Not because he disliked him—Saiki didn't exactly "dislike" anything—but because Guy's obsession with power was like a never-ending drama. Always loud. Always dramatic. Always extra.

Saiki rolled his eyes.

"He's not my enemy. But honestly... this whole 'must surpass everyone' complex is exhausting to watch."

He hovered up silently, still invisible.

"I guess I'll tag along. If he does go to the Storm Kingdom, things might get interesting."

And with a flick of his pink-glowing aura, he vanished from the ice palace, unnoticed as ever.

Back in the Eastern Empire, Rudra was personally inspecting a rebuilt barracks when he paused and looked up at the sky.

Velgrynd, who had just landed nearby, raised a brow. "Something wrong?"

"…Not sure," Rudra replied. "But I feel like something loud and dramatic is heading toward the Storm Kingdom."

Velgrynd blinked. "…Guy?"

Rudra nodded.

Both of them shared a laugh.

And so the next chapter begins—with pride, power, and an invitation that no one saw coming.