Back in the castle, Shuo finally sat down with Natsuki to discuss what to do about Chitose Aya and Yuma.
To shake Aya's convictions, Shuo didn't bother with arguments—he simply cast an illusion, showing her an unfiltered glimpse of a world stripped of magic. War. Slaughter. Prejudice. The same old cycle, just without the supernatural window dressing. In the end, nothing really changed.
Faced with that reality, both Aya and Yuma made their choice: they let Shuo erase their witch powers, transforming them into mages instead.
Of course, Shuo wasn't about to leave them powerless. As compensation, he granted them both the Dragon's Blessing. The result? Mother and daughter found themselves stronger than ever—their talent and stamina soaring to heights they'd never dreamed possible. Their delight was obvious.
Then, with a twinkle of mischief, Shuo produced the maid outfits he'd bought on a whim ages ago and handed them over. "Why don't you two try these on?"
Aya's mouth twitched at the sight. The mortification only deepened under Natsuki's sly, knowing gaze. Still, cheeks burning, she changed into the outfit—her resentment clear as she bit her lip, eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Alright, we're in the maid uniforms. Happy now?" Aya muttered, her voice thick with reluctant misery.
Even the usually brash Yuma turned bashful, fidgeting with her skirt.
Natsuki, for her part, couldn't help but snicker at her former best friend's predicament. Watching Aya in a frilly apron was a treat she never expected, and she made a mental note to savor every awkward moment in the days ahead.
That night, Shuo finally got to enjoy a long-awaited feast—on every level.
But while he was basking in post-battle bliss, the outside world was in utter chaos.
It had only been a few days since Shuo killed Vatler, and now, word was spreading like wildfire: Shuo had broken the infamous Gap Witch's devil contract, destroyed the entire Prison Barrier, and massacred hundreds of dangerous magical criminals in one fell swoop.
The world's balance was shattered. Reports named not only Shuo, but the Fourth Primogenitor herself—Nagisa—as participants. With the involvement of a Primogenitor, the fragile peace of the Sanctuary Treaty crumbled.
The dominoes began to fall.
The ruler of the Eastern European Night Empire—the so-called Forgotten War King, First Primogenitor Gii Zolanbrada—mobilized his fleet, setting course for Itogami Island.
And he wasn't alone. Global powers scrambled into action. The Japanese Taishi Bureau dispatched covert agents to infiltrate the island, planning to seize control of Leviathan and wipe out Asagi during the chaos of the coming battle. The witches of Library LCO schemed to steal the Dark Oath grimoire from Aya.
What they didn't realize was that, thanks to Shuo's Dragon's Blessing, Natsuki's power now rivaled a Primogenitor's. Any would-be thieves were walking into a slaughter.
Meanwhile, the Lion King Organization's leadership was thrown into heated debate. Old reports from Yukina had left them half-convinced, half-doubtful of Shuo's true power. But with the world teetering on the edge of war, even the highest circles were in turmoil.
Tension thickened. The scent of gunpowder hung in the air. Panic spread like wildfire.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the girls hurried to wake Shuo from his well-earned slumber.
He stumbled into the living room, blinking at the anxious faces that greeted him. Notably, Natsuki was nowhere to be seen.
"What's with the long faces? And where's Natsuki-chan?" he asked, eyebrow raised.
Yukina snapped to attention, her voice urgent as she filled him in. Natsuki was negotiating with the island's leaders, trying to contain the fallout from Shuo's destruction of the Prison Barrier. Many in power were livid—those magical criminals had been valuable pawns, and now they were all dead.
Demands for Shuo's confession were mounting. Meanwhile, the Forgotten War King was amassing his army, ready to strike at Itogami Island and take Shuo down.
Shuo's eyes grew colder with every word. His fists clenched tight.
"They want me to confess? Dream on."
"As for the Forgotten War King… I wasn't even looking for trouble, but he's come begging for it. Fine. If he wants to die, I'll oblige."
He gave a few curt orders to Yukina, Kanon, and the others, then vanished without another word.
The next instant, Shuo materialized above the War King Domain, staring down at the assembled armies below. His gaze was icy, merciless.
Without hesitation, he unleashed the Authority of Zeus's Sky. Thunderstorms, hurricanes, tsunamis—nature itself bent to his will, tearing through vampires and familiars alike. The battlefield became a slaughterhouse.
"Shuo Nangong! You dare court death?!"
A voice, thick with killing intent, boomed through the clouds. A colossal three-headed serpent familiar burst forth, the First Primogenitor himself standing atop its skull.
Shuo met his glare with chilling indifference. "I wasn't even planning to settle the score over that trash Vatler, but you just had to make yourself a target."
The Forgotten War King sneered. "You? Alone? In my domain? What arrogance! Since you're so eager to die, prepare to—"
SLAP!
Before he could finish, Shuo lashed out with a casual flick of his wrist. The blow crossed the distance instantly, sending the War King flying like a rag doll.
CRASH!
The sound of shattering stone echoed as the First Primogenitor smashed through his own palace, finally coming to a halt in a heap of rubble.
For a heartbeat, the entire army below froze. Elders, nobles, every vampire present—all stared in stunned silence.
The First Primogenitor had been slapped out of the sky. With one hit. By a human.
Absurd didn't even begin to cover it.
"Cough… cough…" The Forgotten War King spat blood, staggering to his feet.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll—tear you apart!" he roared, face twisted with rage and humiliation.
Never before had anyone dared to humiliate him so thoroughly. He'd have his revenge—no matter the cost.
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