The Greatest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Tensura

In the grand war chamber of the Eastern Empire, Rudra sat on his throne, swirling a glass of wine between his fingers. The scent of burning incense filled the air, a contrast to the tension settling over the room. Velgrynd stood beside him, her arms crossed, her fiery gaze fixed on the trembling soldier kneeling before them.

The soldier had arrived out of breath, his uniform still stained with soot and blood.

"Repeat that," Rudra commanded, his voice steady, yet laced with barely concealed irritation.

The soldier swallowed hard. "The angels… they're gone, my lord. They were annihilated."

Velgrynd's eyes narrowed. "Impossible. By whom?"

"That is… unknown, my lady."

Rudra's fingers froze mid-tap. "What do you mean unknown? Guy Crimson?"

"No, sir. Guy's forces revel in chaos and destruction. This was… something else."

The room fell silent.

Velgrynd's frown deepened. "Explain."

The soldier took a shaky breath. "The enemy was… disciplined. Coordinated. Unlike anything we've seen from demon forces before. They struck with precision, overwhelming our angels before they could even regroup. There was no reckless destruction—every move they made was calculated, strategic. They wiped out our forces in mere hours."

One of the generals stepped forward hesitantly. "If it wasn't Guy… then who the hell was it?"

"We don't know." The soldier's voice was barely above a whisper. "The survivors only spoke of shadows… shadows that moved like soldiers."

Rudra's eyes flickered with something unreadable—annoyance? Amusement? Or perhaps… unease?

Velgrynd, for the first time, looked genuinely troubled. "Disciplined demons… shadows that fight like an army…" She turned toward Rudra. "This wasn't a simple skirmish. Someone out there has an organized force capable of taking on divine entities."

Rudra exhaled slowly, then smirked. "Interesting… very interesting. Whoever they are, they've just made their presence known."

The once radiant sky, once torn open by celestial light, was now an expanse of eerie silence. The bodies of fallen angels littered the ground, their once-majestic wings torn and bloodied. The golden glow of their armor had faded, replaced by the dark, creeping remnants of an unknown force.

Among the wreckage, figures moved through the battlefield like phantoms—silent, efficient, undisturbed by the carnage.

Diablo stood at the center, his gaze sweeping over the destruction with mild amusement.

"Tch. I expected more from 'divine warriors.'" He flicked a drop of angelic blood from his fingers. "But I suppose even gods can be hunted."

Testarossa adjusted her gloves, her crimson eyes gleaming. "They were fragile little things, weren't they? I barely had to put in any effort."

Ultima, still stepping on the throat of a barely-breathing Seraph, giggled. "Oh well! I guess it's their fault for being weak!"

Carrera cracked her knuckles, her expression disappointed. "Damn. I was hoping for something bigger. Maybe next time they can send something actually worth killing."

From the shadows, the leaders of the unknown force observed in silence. Their mission was complete.

The war that was supposed to shake the world had been snuffed out before it could even begin.

And yet, no one knew who had done it.

No name. No banners. No warnings.

Just shadows… and silence.

---____---

City of Eternal Nights – The Watchtower

The moonlight bathed the towering black spires of the Watchtower, casting long shadows over the city below. At the highest point, where the wind howled like a whispering specter, Arion, Velzard, and Veldora stood, awaiting the return of the Primordials.

The air was tense yet expectant.

A black rift tore open before them, and out stepped Diablo, Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera. Their elegant yet battle-worn figures exuded power, their auras still tainted with the lingering essence of their slaughtered foes.

Diablo, ever composed, bowed slightly. "Lord Arion, the mission was completed without complication. The angels were eradicated. Not a single one survived."

Testarossa smirked, adjusting her bloodstained gloves. "If you ask me, it was almost disappointing. They broke far too easily."

Ultima, with a mischievous grin, twirled a strand of her violet hair. "Hehehe, I almost feel bad for them! Almost."

Carrera sighed, stretching. "So, what's next? Do we get to crush Rudra now?"

Arion, standing with his arms crossed, exhaled. "No. It is time for his judgment."

Velzard, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke. "Are you going to eliminate him?"

Before Arion could answer, Veldora burst out laughing. His thunderous voice echoed across the tower as he folded his arms proudly.

"Hah! No need for that, dear sister! This time, it's MY turn for some action! I will personally deal with that arrogant emperor. I'll make sure he understands that this world doesn't belong to him!"

Velzard sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Veldora… You're still as reckless as ever."

Arion smirked slightly. "Perhaps… but this time, he's not wrong." His golden eyes locked onto Veldora's. "You will handle Rudra. Teach him a lesson."

Veldora grinned like a predator, cracking his knuckles. "Oh, this is going to be fun. I've been waiting for something like this!"

Velzard, however, remained unconvinced. Her blue eyes darkened. "If you kill him, Velgrynd will grieve forever…"

A rare silence followed her words.

Even Veldora paused.

Arion, looking down at the city, finally spoke. His tone was calm but absolute.

"He will not die. But he will learn that he is no god. The age of unchecked rulers is over."

A cold wind swept across the Watchtower.

Rudra's fate was sealed.

Days later

----____-----

Rudra sat comfortably on his golden throne, surrounded by his most trusted generals and Velgrynd, his beloved dragon companion. They were deep in discussion, when—

A powerful force gripped the space itself.

Before anyone could react, Rudra's body was enveloped in a vortex of shadows and light. His vision blurred, his body lifted off the throne, and in an instant—

He was gone.

Velgrynd's eyes widened in horror. "Rudra!" she shouted, reaching out, but there was nothing to grab.

The generals stood frozen in shock. Who…? What just happened?!

Unknown Dimension – The Stage of Judgment

Rudra blinked. One moment, he was in his throne room; the next, he stood in a vast void, an empty space of swirling stars and endless skies. A realm that was nowhere and everywhere.

A voice boomed from the abyss.

"You have been arrogant for too long, Rudra. You have crossed the line."

The air around him rippled with authority. It was suffocating. It was absolute.

"This world does not belong to you. You do not make the rules. Today is your judgment."

A cold chill ran down Rudra's spine.

For the first time in centuries, he felt uncertainty.

But he was still the emperor. He could not let himself falter.

His golden eyes sharpened as he shouted into the void, "Who dares speak to me like this?! Show yourself! I am Emperor Rudra! I—"

Suddenly, a figure materialized before him.

Rudra's breath hitched.

It was… a hero?

The man before him stood tall and imposing, wearing a long flowing cape, a skintight suit, and an intricate mask covering his face. His aura was overwhelmingly powerful, even more than Velgrynd's.

Rudra's mind raced. The style of the suit…

Then it hit him.

"Wait… isn't that…?!"

The figure crossed his arms and struck a dramatic pose.

"Hahaha! Behold, evildoer! Your reign of terror ends today!" he declared in an exaggerated, heroic tone.

Rudra squinted.

There was something off about this.

The voice, the stance…

His eyebrows twitched.

"Veldora…? Is that YOU?!"

The masked hero stiffened for a split second.

Then, recovering swiftly, he placed his hands on his hips and proclaimed:

"Veldora?! I know not of whom you speak! I am the great Storm Crusader! Defender of balance! The bringer of JUSTICE!"

Rudra stared, completely dumbfounded.

"...Are you serious right now?"

Veldora—or rather, "Storm Crusader"—pointed at him dramatically. "Silence! No more deception, tyrant! Today, I, the protector of the world, will be your opponent!"

Rudra rubbed his temples. "I cannot believe this is happening…"

And just like that, his trial by combat had begun.