Aurus slammed his hand on the table, making the crystal surface tremble.
The King and his two sons looked up in surprise.
"Sir Aurus?" Adrian asked, brows furrowing. "What happened? Did he fail?"
Aurus didn’t answer at first. His face was tense, his eyes blazing.
"I’m going," he growled, already turning on his heel.
Edward quickly stood up.
"Wait! Sir Lloyd asked you to observe. He said he wanted to confirm something first, to understand—"
"There’s nothing to understand!" Aurus roared, spinning around.
The force of his voice echoed in the chamber.
"This isn’t just any demon. That thing is a Demon Lord."
The room fell into a stunned silence. Then, all three royals shouted at once:
"WHAT?!"
On the battlefield, Midas calmly patted the dust from his arms, his expression cool and unbothered.
Lloyd watched him carefully. His eyes narrowed.
"A Demon Lord?" he muttered. "From this era?"
His frown deepened. The idea didn’t sit right. Demon Lords were supposed to be the peak of demon kind. They only revealed themselves when the Demon King rose.
And yet here one stood, not just exposed, but walking straight into the capital.
"No... it’s even worse than that."
Far away, in the royal strategy room, the tension exploded.
The king was petrified, his eyes wide.
"A Demon Lord? In the castle? How did he get that far unnoticed?!"
Aurus clenched his fists.
"We were careless. We thought infiltration was a risk, yes. But not this. If he had made his move earlier... if he had aimed at the summit..."
He didn’t finish the thought. The consequences were too obvious. Too terrifying for the world of light.
He took a step forward.
"I’m going now. If our enemy was willing to take this kind of risk, then we can’t afford to hold back."
But then, a calm voice echoed in his head.
"Calm down, Aurus."
He stopped.
His eyes widened.
"Lloyd...?"
Both were connected since the beginning, communicating by telepathy.
"I didn’t expect that, I admit it, but it’s not a reason to abandon our plan. I know what you’re thinking, but stay put for now."
Aurus clenched his fists.
"The goal of this fight isn’t to kill him. Not yet. If he came here so boldly, it means he has a plan to counter you too. So stick to our plan. Let me figure out everything you’ll need."
Aurus’s jaw tightened. He lowered his head slightly.
"...Lloyd."
Lloyd sighed, brushing some of the ash and light dust off his shoulders, then stared down at the demon in the suit.
"Midas, huh?" he said, his tone calm. "Your kind can’t keep your pretty human faces when someone says your real names. So I guess that one’s fake too. What’s the point, really? Especially for someone whose whole trick is stealing appearances."
Midas smiled, brushing his sleeve as if Lloyd’s words were dirt.
"I’m not the artist, just a borrower... But why not guess, Sage?"
Lloyd narrowed his eyes, studying him.
"You said you’re one of the Eight. But the Demon Lords are the Seven. They were always the Seven. So... does that mean your ranks are evolving?"
Midas’s smile stretched wider.
"Oh, now you’re so curious. I guess my name’s doesn’t worth something for you after all. But as for your question... let’s just say the odds might be interesting this time."
Lloyd frowned.
He shifted his weight slightly, cane tapping the air.
"You took the full brunt of the Vault. You stood in sacred light. You didn’t even flinch. That’s not resilience. That’s abnormality. So, what are you hiding under that suit, Midas? How did you survive?"
Midas sighed dramatically and spread his arms.
"Now, now. We’re at an impasse, old man. And like every fine piece of merchandise... each secret has its price."
He stepped forward.
"You want one answer? My name? The eighth? How I endured your lovely constellation tantrum? I’ll give you one."
His eyes gleamed.
"But only if you sell me something in return."
Lloyd raised an eyebrow.
"Sell you something?"
"Your knowledge," Midas said, spreading his arms. "The wisdom you’ve gathered, the spells you’ve refined. I want the work of a Sage. The world you’ve built in your head. Sell them to me, and I’ll give you the secret to win this war."
Lloyd’s eyes gleamed coldly. For seconds, he didn’t move.
Then, finally, he said.
"Then I guess you’re out of business."
His stance shifted.
The stars above him pulsed with fresh light, forming new alignments.
Midas raised his shoulders and let out a long, exaggerated sigh.
"Such a pity. I’ve been so cooperative, civilian. Even polite. And what do I get? Fireworks and insults."
Lloyd raised his hand again.
"Celestial Dance: Starfall - Judgement of the Zodiac!"
New beams fell from the heavens. The constellations responded like obedient soldiers. Stars glowed, then rained light down on Midas’ location.
A new bed of light bloomed on the battlefield, swallowing everything beneath.
The blasts continued, each one burying the earth deeper.
Then, Lloyd flinched.
Midas was standing beside him, smiling.
He watched the destruction below as if admiring fireworks.
"Really going all out, aren’t you?"
Lloyd clicked his tongue and moved instantly, jumping back and slashing his hand through the air.
"Celestial Dance: Mercury Wrath!"
A wave of silver light struck forward, fast and sharp. It sliced through Midas, splitting him apart.
Lloyd exhaled... until he heard a breath beside him.
"You’re not even giving me time to explain. That’s rude."
Midas was whole again, calm and smiling.
Lloyd’s face tightened.
"Celestial Dance: Mars Collapse!"
A red flame erupted from above, falling like a meteor and smashing Midas into the ground.
"Celestial Dance: Neptune Flood!"
A tidal wave of blue poured from the stars, burying Midas entirely.
"Celestial Dance: Uranus Break!"
An arc of lightning surged through the battlefield.
"Celestial Dance: Pluto Cage!"
Chains of darkness erupted from above, crashing down and wrapping Midas before tightening with a roar.
Lloyd’s heart pounded. His mind raced.
He’s not dodging. He’s not teleporting. I’m touching him... So why?
Every time, he came back. Not from a safe place, but right there, beside him, like to mock him.
He’s regenerating? No... That isn’t it. It doesn’t feel like healing. It feels like... replacement.
Lloyd landed on the ground and backed off with a leap.
He needed time. Needed to think. He raised his staff to cast again.
"Stubborn," Midas sighed. "So stubborn."
He looked at Lloyd, bored.
"Refusing to listen... So proud of those fangs, old man. Let’s see what makes them so enjoyable."
His eyes gleamed yellow.
"Authority of Avarice"
Lloyd raised his staff, fingers shifting as he prepared his next spell. The energy rose for a second, sparks forming in the air—
And then it vanished.
Snuffed out. Gone.
Lloyd froze. His arms trembled, still half-lifted in casting. He blinked, confused.
His feet touched the ground. The wind passed over him. There was nothing, absolutely nothing.
"What...?!"
He looked forward and saw Midas, standing calmly with one fist clenched.
Both remained in the same position for seconds, like perfect statues.
Then Midas slowly opened his fist.
A golden coin was on his palm.
The moment Lloyd saw it, he felt something snap in his brain.
Midas smiled, amused.
"You look surprised, old man. I thought you were used to being the smartest guy in the room. Guess that room just got a new owner."
He smiled gently.
Lloyd stared, frowning.
"How...?"
Midas chuckled.
"That’s the face. That’s the one. The face people make when they realize the leash isn’t in their hand anymore."
He spun the coin between his fingers.
"You walk around showing your teeth, bark like you’re untouchable, flash your meat like it’s some badge... So don’t be surprised... When someone takes one bite from it."
He clenched his hand. His body glowed.
Golden light rippled from him like a second sun rising.
Lloyd’s eyes widened.
Then Midas spoke.
"Celestial Dance: Mars Collapse."
From above, the stars obeyed. A red meteor beam fell from the sky.
This time, toward Lloyd.