As the Anti-Maou Faction—led by the future Satans Sirzechs, Ajuka, Falbium, and Serafall—saw the Old Satan forces retreating in a panic, they smelled blood in the water. Thinking the final victory was at hand, they pushed their weary troops forward toward the massive Lucifer Sky Fortress, hoping to end the era of the old blood once and for all.
Reinhardt, however, had a different perspective. He saw the fortress glowing with a desperate, sickly green mana—the ritual was already beginning.
He raised a single hand, his fingers glowing with the golden light of the Phoenix.
"Bael and Phenex troops, halt!" his voice boomed across the plains, reinforced by his Haki. "Retreat to the primary camp and fortify the perimeters. Let the others rush into the trap if they wish, but our blood will not be spilled for a fortress made of pride."
The soldiers, who now viewed Reinhardt with a religious fervor after seeing his Bankai, didn't hesitate for a second. They turned as one, abandoning the charge and marching back toward the safety of the Ashborn-protected camp.
The Princess and her Monarch
In the middle of the retreating army, Reinhardt continued to walk with steady, rhythmic strides. He still held Grayfia in his arms, her silver hair draped over his forearm like silk.
As they moved further away from the heat of the front lines, Grayfia looked up at him, her face still slightly pink from the teasing of the other girls.
"Rein..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the clanking of armor around them. "Can you... can you put me down now? I can walk."
Reinhardt looked down at her, his eyes softening but his grip remaining firm. "Wait until we've reached the command tent in the army camp, Fia. You've fought enough for ten lifetimes today."
Grayfia opened her mouth to protest, but seeing the stubborn, protective look in his eyes, she simply sighed and leaned her head back against his shoulder. She closed her eyes, letting the rhythmic thud of his heart and the warmth of his Phoenix blood soothe the icy trauma of the Lucifuge betrayal. For the first time in centuries, she wasn't the "Strongest Queen"—she was just a woman who felt safe.
The Camp Reunion
When they arrived at the camp, the atmosphere was a mix of a victory celebration and a war council. Venelana and Misla had already set up a high-tier healing ward, while the Pleiades were bustling about, preparing "Victory Tea" and checking the gear of the vanguards.
Zeckram Bael and Cassius Phenex were waiting at the entrance of the command tent. They looked at Reinhardt, then at the "captured" Lucifuge in his arms, and then toward the Sky Fortress where the Gremory and Sitri forces were currently engaging.
"You're letting them take the lead, Rein?" Cassius asked, his eyes narrowing at the fortress.
"The Sky Fortress is a death trap," Reinhardt replied, finally setting Grayfia down on a soft, cushioned chair inside the tent. "The Old Satans are sacrificing their own to summon something ancient. If Sirzechs and the others want the 'glory' of being the first through the door, they can have the casualties that come with it."
Albedo stepped forward, handing Reinhardt a report. "My Lord, the Anti-Maou Faction is already taking heavy losses at the gates. Sirzechs Gremory has unleashed his True Form, but even he is struggling against the ritual's feedback."
Reinhardt stood in the center of the command tent, the air cool and calm compared to the hellscape outside. He looked at the holographic map showing the Anti-Maou forces being battered by the Sky Fortress's defenses.
"See, Grandpa? Didn't I tell you?" Reinhardt said, glancing at Cassius.
Cassius Phenex just stood there, mouth slightly agape, watching the "allies" get shredded while his own Phenex troops were safe, hydrated, and resting. Zeckram Bael simply nodded, a stoic look of satisfaction on his face. He had bet on his grandson, and that bet was paying off in mountains of saved lives and resources.
"I don't have to worry about Serafall," Reinhardt continued casually, pouring himself a drink. "I gave her a bracelet similar to Fia's. It'll pull her out if things get too ugly. But Grandpa, what about the Sitri army?"
"Most of them are dead or wounded," Zeckram replied grimly. "The remnants are scattered. They didn't have your foresight, Rein."
"And the Agares?"
"They stayed within the Bael and Phenex ranks as you suggested," Zeckram confirmed. "They are perfectly fine."
Reinhardt leaned back, a mocking smirk on his face. "I have to say, the 'New Maous' are quite brainless. They charge into a ritual trap like it's a buffet." He then looked Zeckram in the eye. "Grandpa, I removed those specific clans who were involved in my father's death during the fight. Is there anyone left?"
"No one," Zeckram replied with a dark, cold finality. "As I promised, their lands and wealth are being liquidated and transferred to Ashborn Enterprises as we speak."
Reinhardt nodded, then gestured toward the silver-haired woman resting in the corner. "Can I take Grayfia as mine?"
Zeckram gave a rare, genuine smile. "Valerius Lucifuge spoke to me before he went to the front. He knew the Old Satan faction was a sinking ship. He practically begged me to ensure you took her. She's yours, Rein."
The Arrival of the Magical Girl
Suddenly, a bright pink light flashed in the middle of the tent. A very confused, very disheveled Serafall Leviathan appeared, stumbling as she looked around the calm camp.
"Eh? Why am I here?" she blinked, her twin-tails messy. "I should be at the castle! Sirzechs and the others are still—"
*Flick!*
Reinhardt's finger connected sharply with her forehead.
"Ow, ow, ow! That hurts, Rein-chan!" she cried out, rubbing her forehead and pouting with teary eyes.
"You stupid woman," Reinhardt sighed, crossing his arms. "Do you even know why you were teleported?"
Serafall shook her head rapidly, looking like a confused puppy.
"You almost got yourself killed," Reinhardt said, his voice dropping to a stern, protective tone. "The ritual feedback was about to erase your soul. The bracelet I gave you activated its emergency protocol and pulled you to the safest place it could find—which is right here, next to me."
Serafall's face went from pale to a brilliant, radiating crimson. The realization that she had been "saved" by her man while she was trying to act like a big-shot Maou made her want to curl into a ball. She looked at the floor, twiddling her fingers, completely speechless and embarrassed.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Event: The Rescue of the Leviathan]
Serafall Status: Safe, embarrassed, and 100% more clingy. Political Shift: House Sitri's military is decimated; they are now completely dependent on Ashborn/Bael for protection. Wealth Acquired: The lands of the "Traitor Clans" have been seized. (Current Balance: 25.43 Billion Devil Coins).