"What. A. Ruckus."
The words cut through the chaos like a blade through still air.
The voice was deep, resonant, and distinctly inhuman—each syllable struck with deliberate rhythm, as though it were being forged rather than spoken. The temperature in the Colosseum plummeted almost instantly, and a thin mist coiled at my feet as I turned toward the sound.
Out of the shadows emerged a being that could only belong to one name.
A massive, insectoid warrior stepped into the light. His dull-blue carapace shimmered faintly like frozen glass, each segment glinting under the arena's continual-light enchantments. He stood well over two meters tall, a towering blend of ant and mantis, and from his back jutted jagged crystalline protrusions like miniature glaciers. A frigid aura radiated from him, frosting the stone beneath his clawed feet.
Four arms carried weapons that screamed of mastery—a platinum halberd gleaming with divine runes, a black-aura mace pulsing with necrotic energy, and a broadsword that looked like it was carved from pure ice.
Cocytus—the Guardian of the Fifth Floor. The Ruler of Glaciers.
He advanced toward us, his tail swaying behind him, the tip sharp enough to pierce steel. When he reached the center of the Colosseum, he slammed his halberd into the ground. A wave of frost rippled outward, freezing a ring around him.
"You. Stand. Before. A. Supreme. Being. Contain. Yourself."
The command echoed through the chamber, chilling the air and silencing both Shalltear and Aura in an instant. Even Mare flinched, clutching his staff tighter.
"This brat started it!" Shalltear snapped.
"Actually—" Aura began, but her voice faltered when Cocytus turned his head toward her, his icy eyes narrowing.
"Awawawa…" Mare whimpered, clearly wishing he could melt into the floor.
I rubbed my temple and sighed. Enough was enough. "Shalltear. Aura. Playtime's over."
Their eyes widened. Both froze like statues before quickly dropping to one knee in unison.
"Our sincerest apologies!" they said together, voices trembling.
I waved a hand, accepting their apology with what I hoped looked like magnanimity—though inwardly, I was relieved they hadn't started hurling spells at each other. "It's fine. Just… don't let it happen again."
They both bowed deeply, the tension slowly ebbing from the room. Cocytus stepped back, halberd resting against his shoulder as he gave a respectful nod.
"I. Came. Immediately. Upon. Receiving. Your. Summons," he said, his tone steady and proud.
Before I could reply, another voice drifted from the entrance—smooth, polite, and dripping with intelligence.
"Forgive me for keeping everyone waiting."
I turned.
I turned in the direction of the voice at the entrance of the Colosseum, where I saw two figures enter. The one in front was Albedo, followed by a man who followed behind her like a lackey. Once they got close enough, Albedo smiled at me and bowed deeply.
Behind her strode the ever-calm demon in a Western suit—Demiurge.
He looked immaculate, as always. His dark, sun-kissed skin contrasted sharply with his neatly tailored black suit and crimson tie. His pince-nez glasses caught the light, hiding eyes that always seemed half-lidded—or perhaps, perpetually amused. Behind him trailed his spiked tail, encased in silvery metal, glowing faintly with a hellish black flame.
He bowed deeply once Albedo stopped before me. "My apologies, Alastor-sama. I was finalizing patrol rotations before joining the assembly."
His tone was polite, but behind it simmered that unnerving sense of control—like a man who saw the world as a chessboard and everyone else as pieces to move at will.
I gave a small nod. "You're just in time, Demiurge."
He smiled faintly—a gesture that somehow looked both courteous and predatory.
With that, Albedo turned toward the gathered Guardians and raised her voice. "It seems everyone is present."
"Then," she continued, her voice clear and commanding, "let us pledge our loyalty to the Supreme One."
~~~
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