The room settled.
No more interruptions.
No more sudden battles.
No more theatrics.
Just Demon Lords—
Seated once again.
Watching.
Waiting.
Guy stood at the head, gaze sweeping across the gathered figures.
"…Alright."
His voice was calm.
Measured.
"Let's wrap this up properly."
A pause.
Then—
"Any objections… to Loki joining the council?"
Silence.
Leon didn't speak.
Didn't need to.
His lack of objection said enough.
Luminous folded her arms.
Eyes half-lidded.
"…As much as I dislike it. No."
The words came out flat.
But it was acceptance.
Dagruel gave a low grunt.
"…No complaints here."
Dino yawned.
"…Whatever."
Ramiris shot her hand up.
"I support it!"
Then pointed at Loki.
"Because he said I'm the strongest!"
No one acknowledged that.
Milim grinned.
"Of course not! He's my best friend!"
Carrion and Frey—
Now no longer Demon Lords—
Remained silent observers.
Their stance already changed.
Their roles already decided.
Guy nodded once.
"…Good."
No resistance.
No debate.
No vote needed.
Because after what they had all just witnessed—
There was nothing left to argue.
Guy's lips curved slightly.
"Then it's settled."
He turned his gaze to Loki.
"…Welcome."
A pause.
"Demon Lord Loki."
—
For a brief moment—
Nothing changed.
And yet—
Everything had.
—
Guy exhaled lightly.
"…Now comes the annoying part."
He rolled his shoulders.
"Since we're no longer ten…"
A glance around the room.
"…we need a new name."
Ramiris tilted her head.
"Huh? Why?"
Guy looked at her.
"…Because 'Ten Great Demon Lords' doesn't exactly work when there are eight."
Ramiris blinked.
"…Oh."
That was as far as her thinking went.
—
Dagruel crossed his arms.
"…Then just call it something else."
"Like what?" Frey asked from the side.
Dagruel shrugged.
"…Don't know."
Helpful.
—
Leon spoke next.
"…Names carry meaning."
His voice was calm.
"If we change it, it should reflect the structure."
Dino groaned.
"…Why does it even matter…"
Luminous glanced at him.
"It matters."
A pause.
"…Symbolism has power."
Milim raised her hand again.
"Ooh! What about something cool!?"
Guy sighed.
"…Such as?"
Milim thought.
Really hard.
"…Super Demon Squad."
Silence.
Guy pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…No."
—
Suggestions came.
Slowly.
Badly.
Randomly.
None of them stuck.
Because nothing quite fit.
Nothing carried the weight it needed.
—
And in the middle of all that—
Loki sat back.
Quiet.
Watching.
Listening.
'This again…'
A faint smirk formed.
Because he had seen this before.
He knew how this went.
How it ended.
'Might as well save them the trouble.'
The name was already there.
'Though…'
His eyes flickered slightly.
'It'll change again when Rimuru joins.'
A small, private thought.
Then gone.
He raised his hand.
Casually.
Guy glanced at him.
"…You've got something?"
Loki nodded once.
"Yeah."
The room quieted slightly.
Attention shifting.
Because when he spoke—
People listened now.
Not out of curiosity.
Out of understanding.
He leaned forward just a bit.
"…The Octagram."
---
"The Octagram."
The word lingered.
Simple.
Clean.
But unfamiliar.
Ramiris tilted her head immediately.
"Octa… what?"
Milim blinked.
"Is that food?"
Dino didn't even open his eyes.
"…Sounds like a headache."
Guy, however, narrowed his gaze slightly.
"…Explain."
Loki shrugged lightly.
"It's not that deep."
He leaned back in his chair, casual as ever.
"Eight points."
He lifted a finger.
"Eight Demon Lords."
Another.
"Balanced. Equal. Each one holding a position that connects to the others."
A small pause.
Then—
"Like a star."
Silence.
Not confused.
Not dismissive.
Just—
Thinking.
Leon was the first to nod.
"…An eight-pointed structure."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Symbolic equilibrium."
Luminous tapped her arm once.
"…A formation with no central dominance."
Dagruel grunted.
"…Simple."
Frey, from behind Milim, spoke softly.
"…Elegant."
Carrion nodded once.
"…It fits."
Ramiris gasped.
"Oh! So it's like a cool shape name!?"
Milim grinned.
"I like it! It sounds strong!"
Dino sighed.
"…Whatever. It works."
Guy watched all of it.
Quiet.
Calculating.
Then—
A slow smile spread across his face.
"…Not bad."
He turned slightly.
Addressing everyone.
"…Any objections?"
None.
Not a single voice rose.
Because there was nothing to argue.
The name fit too well.
Guy nodded.
"Then it's decided."
A pause.
Final.
"…From this day forward—"
His voice carried.
Clear.
Absolute.
"…we are the Octagram."
The title settled over them.
Naturally.
As if it had always been there.
—
Guy exhaled lightly.
"…That wraps things up—"
"I've got something to say."
The interruption was casual.
But it cut through everything.
All eyes shifted.
Loki stood.
Unbothered.
Guy's smile widened slightly.
"…Oh?"
Loki didn't answer immediately.
He just walked.
Step by step.
Across the room.
Until—
He stopped.
Right in front of Guy.
Face to face.
Close enough to feel the pressure between them.
The air shifted.
Subtly.
Dangerously.
"…Our fight."
Loki spoke simply.
"…It's long overdue."
Heavy silence followed.
Then—
"I'm challenging you."
The words dropped.
And the room froze.
—
Frey's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Carrion stiffened.
"…He's serious?"
Suphia took a step forward instinctively.
"…Is he insane—"
Roy Valentine's gaze sharpened.
"…Challenging Guy-sama… here?"
Even Leon's expression shifted slightly.
Not surprise.
But interest.
Luminous narrowed her eyes.
"…Bold."
Dino actually opened one eye.
"…Oh?"
—
And then—
Ramiris shot up.
"YES! A fight! A real fight!"
Milim jumped to her feet.
"Finally! This is gonna be fun!"
They were the only ones excited.
—
Behind Loki—
Testarossa smiled.
Elegant and proud.
"As expected of Loki-sama."
Ultima grinned, eyes gleaming.
"He really doesn't disappoint."
—
Guy chuckled.
Low.
Amused.
Then—
He stood.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Until he was face to face with Loki.
No space between them now.
Only pressure.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
"…Indeed."
A pause.
Then Guy tilted his head slightly.
"But a random fight…"
His eyes gleamed.
"…is boring."
Loki smirked.
"What are you thinking?"
Guy's smile sharpened.
"Simple."
A step forward.
"…We add stakes."
The air grew heavier.
"…If I win—"
His voice dropped.
"…you become my subordinate."
A beat.
"…And everything under you…"
A faint grin.
"…becomes mine as well."
Thick and oppressive silence followed.
But Loki—
Didn't hesitate.
"Fine. I accept."
No pause.
No doubt.
Just acceptance.
Then—
His smile widened.
"…My turn."
A step closer.
Matching Guy's presence.
"If I win—"
A beat.
"…I become the leader of the Demon Lords."
And for the first time—
The entire room truly went silent.
---
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