The Silent Deity: Saiki Kusuo in Tensura

The sky above the Storm Kingdom shimmered with calm, streaked with occasional bolts of ethereal light—a reminder that this land was not ordinary. It was ruled by none other than the majestic Veldora, now King of Storms and self-styled Supreme Sorcerous Lord, who had recently embraced a far more regal and commanding persona. With his elaborate black and gold robes, long majestic hair, and confident yet theatrical speech patterns, Veldora's presence was a blend of overwhelming charisma and just a dash of theatrical flair—very reminiscent of a certain Overlord sorcerer, though his body remained flesh and not bone.

In the royal throne room, the atmosphere was calm but alert. The polished obsidian floor reflected a ceiling adorned with arcane constellations—mystical symbols and star-like formations that shifted gently in the air. Around Veldora stood his elite—the Transcendent Demons—Diablo, Testarossa, Ultima and Carrera. Velzard, serene and composed, was also present, standing beside her brother like a watchful winter goddess.

They were in the midst of receiving reports from across the world.

Carrera floated lazily in the air, arms behind her head, while Ultima presented the latest updates on the movements in the Eastern Empire.

"—Rudra appears to be stabilizing the political unrest in the empire," Ultima said, holding a floating scroll. "His aura is much more balanced lately. I believe his interaction with Your Majesty was… therapeutic."

Veldora sat elegantly on his throne, hands steepled before his mouth.

"Hmph… indeed. Such was my intent, naturally. What is a king, if not the calming gale that guides even raging tempests back to harmony?" he said with a small smirk, his voice deep and dramatic, echoing slightly through the throne room.

Testarossa bowed slightly. "As expected of Your Majesty. Your foresight is as endless as your power."

Before Veldora could respond with another grandiose speech, a ripple in space appeared behind the throne. None reacted at first—except Testarossa, whose crimson eyes flickered—but she maintained a blank expression. A moment later, Veldora's own gaze narrowed, though his expression remained composed.

Appearing behind him like a ghost with no presence, no weight, and no sound, Saiki Kusuo emerged.

No one except Testarossa and Veldora noticed.

His eyes half-lidded, face as emotionless as ever, Saiki hovered slightly above the floor, legs crossed. He didn't say a word aloud, only projected his thoughts directly into Veldora's mind.

"You're about to have a guest. Guy Crimson is flying straight here. His aura is screaming for a challenge. He wants to fight Diablo or one of your new 'Transcendent toys.'"

Veldora blinked once.

"His obsession is getting annoying, too prideful. I don't hate him. But he's gonna knock soon. Just a heads-up."

Veldora couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

"Hoh? So, the Crimson Demon seeks validation? Very well… it is time we entertained our guest."

With a dramatic flair, Veldora rose from his throne and clapped his hands once.

"Diablo," he said with a regal tone, "we are to receive a visitor—one who bears fire in his eyes and pride in his heart. Go forth and bring him in with the dignity that befits the Storm Kingdom."

Diablo's grin widened.

"As you command, my king," he said with a bow so deep it almost touched the floor. Then with a swirl of black mist, he vanished.

Above the Storm Kingdom…

The sky darkened for a moment. Pressure blanketed the clouds. A crimson comet streaked across the horizon.

It was Guy Crimson.

His cloak billowed wildly, and his eyes narrowed with focus. His aura, brilliant and hot, pulsed like a living flame. He wasn't here for drama, he wasn't here to fight a war—he had a goal: to see how far behind he had fallen.

As he approached, Diablo materialized in the air before him, standing calmly in midair as if he belonged to the void.

"Guy Crimson," Diablo said, his voice smooth and rich like silk dipped in venom. "My Lord has anticipated your visit. Please follow me. The King awaits."

Guy narrowed his eyes, his arms folded, cloak fluttering slightly in the breeze from his aura. "Tch… so he already knew I was coming. That damn lizard got cocky lately."

He didn't even flinch when he said it. Or at least, he tried not to. He barely finished his sentence when something changed—drastically.

The moment the word "lizard" left his mouth, Diablo stopped.

The air shifted—like the world itself held its breath.

A thick, heavy pressure weighed down on everything around them.

Darkness oozed out of Diablo like a leaking black sun. The very shadows twisted, stretching toward him like they worshipped his fury. People in the area gasped and backed away, some even fell to their knees in fear, unable to bear the sudden, choking dread.

Diablo slowly turned around, his eyes glowing crimson with a malice that went deeper than mere hate. He stared right at Guy—not at his face, but through him, like he was dissecting his very soul.

And then, he spoke.

"Rouge," Diablo said, his voice eerily calm but filled with such raw danger that it felt like being spoken to by Death itself.

"If you ever refer to My Lord Veldora with anything less than the respect his divinity demands again… I will destroy your soul in a way that you will never, ever return. Not even as a whisper."

The world was still.

Even the wind dared not move.

For a moment—just a flicker—Guy Crimson's heart skipped. He had faced gods, demons, and all manner of horrors in his life. But the murderous precision behind Diablo's words and the sheer weight of his aura rattled him in a way he hadn't felt in centuries.

He let out a sharp exhale, trying to shake it off.

"Fine, fine…" he said, holding his hands up slightly, forcing a small laugh that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Your Lord Veldora, then. Happy?"

Diablo smirked, aura vanishing as if it had never existed. He bowed once.

"Ecstatic. Now, shall we?"

They continued walking. The town of the Storm Kingdom was lively, but their presence bent reality around them. Civilians and guards froze as they passed. Whispers buzzed.

"Is that… the Demon Lord Guy Crimson?"

"What's he doing here?"

"Is the Storm Kingdom going to war?"

"Wait… is he walking with Diablo?"

Children peered from windows. Merchants stood motionless behind stalls. Even beastmen warriors glanced up in concern.

But Diablo paid them no mind. Neither did Guy—though he felt the weight of all those eyes. It annoyed him.

Finally, they reached the grand gates of the Storm Kingdom's central castle—a towering obsidian structure, carved from stone that shimmered like night under starlight.

Diablo pushed the massive doors open, and they entered the Throne Room.

It was immense—ceiling stretching into shadow, golden runes glowing faintly across the black marble floor. Pillars lined with crystal and energy flickered with power. At the end sat Veldora, lounging lazily on a black and gold throne, his posture royal, and aura calm but deep—like a sleeping sea dragon.

He wasn't alone.

Sitting elegantly beside him was Velzard, his sister, silent and radiant in her ice-blue gown. Her gaze was sharp, watching Guy like a hawk.

Flanking the throne were the Transcendent Demons—Testarossa, Ultima, Carrera, and of course, Diablo, who had just returned to stand among them once again.

Each of them… radiated something more than just power. They radiated perfection. Evolution. An abyss of potential no one else had touched.

Guy tried not to show it, but he felt like a lion who had wandered into a room of apex predators.

Still, he scoffed, placing his hands in his pockets and raising a brow.

"So, Velzard… you're not going back to the Ice Continent, huh? Decided to stick around here permanently?"

Velzard smirked slightly, her voice cool and elegant.

"Why would I leave? My brother's throne suits me just fine. Besides…"

She glanced toward Veldora with a sly look.

"…someone has to keep him from nuking kingdoms with a sneeze."

Veldora let out a low, theatrical chuckle—perfectly in his "Ainz-mode."

"Fufufu… You wound me, dear sister. I am the very definition of restraint."

The room chuckled softly—except Guy, who rolled his eyes.

Then Veldora leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand, his voice echoing with subtle dominance.

"Now then, Crimson… to what do we owe this sudden visit?"

Guy cleared his throat. He could feel all their eyes on him—each one studying, measuring, judging.

"I have a request."

Veldora raised a brow. "Oh?"

Guy nodded and pointed casually toward the four demons at Veldora's side.

"I want to spar. With one of them. Any one."

A small hush fell.

Veldora blinked once… then let out a rich laugh.

"Fufufu… And why, may I ask?"

Guy crossed his arms. His expression was serious now.

"Ever since Diablo told me about their evolution—how they've become something far beyond what they were—I couldn't stop thinking about it. I want to see… no. I need to know how far the gap is. Between us. Between me and the future."

He paused, then added:

"If I want to evolve, I need to fight someone stronger. And from what I've heard… these four are monsters now."

The Transcendent Demons grinned—almost in sync. The air rippled around them.

Veldora stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Very well, Crimson. I shall allow it."

At that very moment, Saiki, still sitting casually near the back of the throne room—only visible to Veldora and Testarossa—ate another scoop of coffee jelly. With a small, mischievous smirk, he waved his fingers, and reality bent slightly.

But to everyone else… it was Veldora who snapped his fingers.

FLASH.

The world twisted.

In an instant, everyone was teleported to a vast empty white dimension—infinite, glowing, and silent.

A void built for battle.

Some gasped. Others instinctively prepared for combat.

"Where… are we?" Guy muttered, glancing around.

Veldora stood above the rest on a floating platform, his arms crossed behind his back.

"A private dimension. Built for battle. Here, you may go all out without fear of collateral damage."

He turned to Diablo and said, with a smile:

"Diablo… entertain our guest."

Diablo stepped forward, smiling wide.

"Gladly."

He removed his gloves with slow precision, each motion theatrical. A red magic circle bloomed beneath his feet.

Guy Crimson grinned back, cracking his knuckles.

"Heh. Been a while since I had to go full power. Let's see if you live up to the hype, Diablo."

And as the energy began to swell, and sparks of power lit the sky, the battle between legend and evolution was about to begin.