"Tenra, you… You're really here…"
Rias's voice was thick with relief and disbelief. But the moment she tried to sit up, pain lanced through her, and she fell into a fit of coughing.
"Don't talk," Tenra said softly, pulling her into his arms. He activated [Saint's Smile], letting healing light wash over her battered body.
A familiar voice echoed from the jewel embedded in his armor—Ddraig.
"Little princess, I tipped off my partner that you were in danger. Are you alright?"
Ddraig's power resided in Rias, so the moment she was threatened, he'd sensed it and alerted Tenra. The forest's barrier had cut off all outside contact, making it a challenge to find her—but Tenra had made it, just in time.
"I'm fine…" Rias managed, shaking her head. "Tenra, go—save Koneko! They're trying to take her!"
Tenra smiled, brushing her forehead with his thumb. "Don't worry. No one's taking Koneko-chan away. Rest here. Leave the rest to me."
Rias's wounds were healing fast; with a little more time, she'd recover. Tenra rose, turning to face Kuroka and Bikou. His expression hardened to steel.
"Tenra-senpai!"
Koneko's voice trembled with hope.
"Tch. So the real Red Dragon Emperor shows up," Kuroka muttered, face darkening.
Bikou, grinning atop his cloud, gave a lazy wave. "Yo, Red Dragon Emperor. Heard you've picked up a new nickname—'Oppai Dragon,' right?"
Any other day, Tenra might have traded banter. Not today.
He was furious.
His voice was ice. "Who hurt Rias?"
Bikou shrugged, honest as ever. "Kuroka did most of it, but I landed the final blow."
"Then you can die now."
Tenra flashed forward, fist cocked. No mercy, no restraint—the air itself shuddered as his punch rocketed toward Bikou. The monkey's fur bristled, pupils narrowing to pinpricks.
If that hit landed, he was dead. No question.
"HAAAH!"
Survival instinct flared—Bikou roared, swinging his Ruyi Jingu Bang up just in time.
CLANG!
The shockwave sent Bikou hurtling through the forest, snapping ancient trees like twigs. He vanished from sight in a blur.
Koneko and Kuroka stared, stunned. Kuroka recovered first, clutching Koneko as she leapt back.
"Die!"
She unleashed a barrage of light wheels—magic, youjutsu, senjutsu—each one a killing blow.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The attacks slammed into Tenra, engulfing him in a maelstrom of energy. But—
"Divide! Divide! Divide!"
Albion's voice echoed, and the raging magic halved and halved again, dispersing within seconds.
Kuroka's face was stone. "You stole that power from Vali? Monster…"
Bikou was gone, her attacks were useless—now things were dire. Kuroka's eyes darted, searching for any way out.
Tenra fixed her with a cold gaze. "You're Koneko-chan's sister, Kuroka?"
"I am. And you—Red Dragon Emperor, White Dragon Emperor—are you going to stop me from taking Shirone?"
Tenra shook his head. "Koneko-chan is free. Sister or not, you have no right to force her to do anything she doesn't want."
He knelt, looking Koneko in the eye. "Koneko-chan, do you want to leave with your sister?"
Koneko's tears spilled down her cheeks. "No! I want to stay! I want to be with Rias-buchou, Tenra-senpai, and everyone!"
Kuroka's face twisted in frustration, but Tenra smiled behind his armor.
"I understand, Koneko-chan."
In a blur, he appeared before Koneko and Kuroka.
He reached out, gently touching her forehead. "Welcome back, Koneko-chan."
Kuroka stared at the fist pressed against her abdomen, her face blanching. She crumpled, unconscious, to the ground.
"I'm back, Tenra-senpai."
Koneko's tears shimmered, but her smile was pure joy.
Tenra brushed her hair back. "Koneko-chan, you are free. No one can force you to do what you don't want—not even you. This is my curse and my gift to you. For your whole life, never forget it."
He dismissed his helmet, letting her see his eyes—brilliant and unyielding.
Koneko's voice trembled. "Tenra-senpai… you're cunning and bossy, but…"
She nodded, fiercely. "I'll remember. Always."
Tenra's smile was gentle, pride and affection shining through.
This was the Koneko-chan he loved most.
He was about to say more when his expression shifted.
"Extend—Ruyi Jingu Bang!"
Bikou's voice thundered from above. A golden staff crashed down toward Tenra and Koneko.
"Koneko! Tenra!"
Rias shouted, desperate to help.
BOOM!
Dust exploded, swallowing Tenra and Koneko. Rias herself was flung back by the shockwave.
Coughing, Rias struggled up, heart pounding. As the dust cleared, she saw Tenra—one arm shielding Koneko, the other holding back the golden staff. Relief flooded her.
Bikou grinned from his cloud, battered but exhilarated. "Tsk, tsk… Kuroka got wiped out while I was gone? Scary stuff, scary stuff. No wonder you're the guy who beat Vali—the master of both dragons."
Blood trickled from his brow, his clothes torn, but his eyes burned with excitement.
"You took that hit and didn't run. Bikou, do you have a death wish?"
Tenra's gaze sharpened, sizing up the monkey. He'd hit him hard—yet here he was, itching for more.
Bikou laughed. "My life's tougher than stone—I won't die so easy. I've wanted to fight someone like you for ages! Last time, the Angel boss, Fallen Angel governor, and Maous were all watching, so I had to hold back. But today—let's go all out!"
A true descendant of Sun Wukong, Tenra thought. Born to fight.
"Koneko-chan, go to Rias. Once I deal with this monkey, we'll head back."
Koneko nodded, trust shining in her eyes. She scooped up the unconscious Kuroka and retreated to Rias's side.
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