The chirping of birds blended with the rising sun outside the Kurokami household. In the room closest to the stairs, Medaka lay on the bed, slowly opening her eyes. She wore a simple black pajama set, made of high-quality fabric that was thin yet flexible.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, Medaka let out a small grunt. But when she tried to sit up, she felt something soft pressing against her arm. It was warm, pliable, and undeniably pleasant to the touch. Opening her eyes fully, she realized that Kalawarna was now holding her in a tight embrace, keeping her pinned in place.
Medaka's body still felt heavy, the exhaustion from the previous night lingering. She had climaxed so many times in such a short span that it was no wonder she was still drained. Bit by bit, the memories of the night before returned to her—most vividly the image of her releasing all her "nectar" into the fallen angel's womb.
Her internal interface, the buffs and debuffs of her "Addition" system, opened at her mental command. She was curious to revisit the details of her abilities. The interface split into two panels: one blue for buffs and the other red for debuffs.
[Buffs — Aphrodisiac Saliva — Rank C(Passive): Your saliva possesses strong aphrodisiac properties, capable of affecting even beings that normally wouldn't be susceptible.
Mind Control Immunity — Rank EX(Passive): Completely immune to any and all forms of mind control. Not even the most powerful form of mental manipulation will have any effect.
Parasitic Immunity — Rank EX(Passive): Grants absolute immunity to any kind of parasite in all of creation.
Body Control — Rank E(Passive):Grants considerable control over your genital area (except when being touched directly). You can consciously control erections, becoming hard or soft at will.]
[Debuffs — Pleasure Amplified x100: Whenever someone else touches you with sexual intent, the pleasure you feel is multiplied by 100 compared to normal.
Semen Storage: Your testicles gradually swell the longer you go without releasing, causing mild pain, heaviness, and discomfort over time.
Extreme Libido: The longer you go without orgasming, the more your libido builds, eventually escalating to a point of complete loss of control.]
Reading through the text displayed before her eyes, she could only let out a long, defeated sigh. After all, this… this was exactly what had made her climax multiple times just last night. It was also the very reason why she had to relieve herself at least twice a week, always doing so in secret, hidden away from her parents. Thankfully, thanks to her absurdly high magical talent, she was able to create perfectly isolated barriers around her room—barriers that suppressed both magic signatures and any sound from leaking outside. Without them, the risk of being caught moaning, panting, or screaming her own name in pleasure would've been catastrophically high.
"Hey…" The soft, silky voice of the young woman echoed through the room as her slender left index finger gently poked Kalawarna's cheek. Her touch was delicate—just enough pressure to push into the fallen angel's smooth, flawless skin. The sensation stirred Kalawarna from her slumber, causing her to let out a quiet, almost cute groan as her hazel-brown eyes fluttered open, gradually adjusting to the morning sunlight filtering through the half-open curtains of the balcony.
"M-Mistress!" Kalawarna instantly jolted awake, practically springing off the bed like a startled cat. Her arms—which had been lazily draped over Medaka's—snapped back as she hastily dropped to one knee in a formal kneel. Her entire body trembled as a cold sweat broke out across her porcelain skin. Her thoughts were spinning in chaos, painfully aware of everything she'd done with—and to—Medaka the night before… and even more painfully aware of the things she'd dared to say. Her face visibly drained of color as pure dread overtook her expression.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Medaka gracefully brushed her long, flowing purple hair behind her ear with her right hand. Her luscious strands, silky and weightless, danced slightly in the air as she moved. Slowly parting her lips, she let out a breathy sigh before speaking, her voice unhurried, each word like a drop of honey flowing through the air.
"You don't need to look so terrified," she began softly, her crimson eyes gazing at the fallen angel with a subtle mixture of amusement and pity. "I simply… needed to blow off some steam. That's all."
Her words carried no malice, no judgment. Just a plain, simple truth. She understood that reaction far too well—after all, memories of her past life were still vividly engraved in her mind. That constant anxiety, the fear of offending someone stronger, the trembling uncertainty of not knowing whether you'd be forgiven… Yes, she knew it all too well.
Upon hearing Medaka's gentle, unexpected response, Kalawarna hesitantly lifted her head, her eyes reflecting a whirlpool of emotions—gratitude, confusion, and something else… something far deeper and harder to name.
From her kneeling position, Kalawarna noticed that Medaka's bare feet were now dangling just slightly above her head. Her eyes flickered downward involuntarily, her heart thudding in her chest. And yet, driven by a strange cocktail of guilt and devotion, her head subconsciously lowered even more, inching dangerously close to Medaka's foot—
"Wait… Were you seriously about to lick my foot?" Medaka blinked in disbelief, her voice filled with genuine surprise as she instinctively pulled her foot back.
"To apologize… M-Mistress…" Kalawarna stammered, her cheeks flushing with a deep crimson hue. Her eyes wavered as she spoke, filled with an overwhelming sense of guilt, as though she truly believed that even something as humiliating as licking her Mistress's foot wasn't nearly enough to atone.
"…You really don't need to go that far." Medaka chuckled softly, the corner of her lips curling upward in amusement. Reaching for the folded fan resting on her headboard, she elegantly snapped it open with a sharp clack, then gently slid the tip of the fan beneath Kalawarna's chin. With a slow, graceful motion, she lifted the fallen angel's face until their eyes met.
"You're not my servant," Medaka declared, her voice calm but firm, radiating an overwhelming charisma that felt both motherly and regal. "You're part of my family now. Do you understand?"
For a moment, Kalawarna's breath hitched. Her heart raced uncontrollably, pounding so hard it almost hurt. Her face flushed even deeper as an inexplicable warmth spread through her chest. It was… strange. Foreign. Something she had never felt before—not even during her time among her fellow fallen angels.
All her life, she'd only sought power, prestige, status—seeking a higher rank and more influence within the hierarchy of the fallen. But after a single night with this impossibly radiant girl, all of that… suddenly felt meaningless. Completely and utterly meaningless.
"…I understand… but, Mistress… what is your name?" Kalawarna's voice trembled, almost shyly, as if asking was itself an act of intimacy.
'Hah… So the system only registers me as her new Mistress but not my name, huh? That's fine… Good, even. This way, I can test her limits and understand more about her current state. Judging from the behavior shift, it's likely a realignment in allegiance… but that's just my theory for now.' These were the musings quietly running through Medaka's head as she brought the open fan in front of her mouth, concealing the playful smile that tugged at her lips.
In a voice as refined and elegant as any noblewoman from a manhwa or a webtoon, she finally responded with theatrical grace, "I am Medaka Kurokami. And what would your name be, my dear?"
"K-Kalawarna… Kurok—"
"There's no need for formalities," Medaka interrupted smoothly, raising her left hand in a gentle but firm gesture signaling her to stop.
"B-But… if that's what you wish, Medaka…" Kalawarna finally rose to her feet, taking a small, hesitant step closer. Her hands fidgeted awkwardly at her sides, her wings trembling faintly behind her back. She was still unsure—unsure of what this strange, foreign warmth in her chest truly meant… but she wanted to understand it. She needed to.
And then—
◇ ◇ ◇
Medaka sat in the very front row at Kuoh Academy, a first-year high school student, lost in thought even as her hand flowed effortlessly across her notebook, copying row upon row of kanji and hiragana detailing the Industrial Revolution. The lesson felt dull—she'd already memorized and understood it all, both from her body's innate abilities and the memories of a past life.
At the academy, she had earned the honorific "Oneesama," joining Rias and Akeno to form the legendary trio known as the "Three Oneesama." Among the male students—who'd only recently been admitted since Kuoh became co-ed—there was constant debate over which of the three was the most beautiful. Medaka thought it amusing how they never reached consensus. Silly boys, she mused.
But her mind wasn't on that idle chatter. She recalled what Kalawarna had told her about Raynare's plans. It didn't surprise Medaka that Raynare had an accomplice from the highest ranks of fallen angel… "Originally it was just Kokabiel," she thought, pensively gazing at her neat handwriting. "But now it's someone else—likely from the Old Satan clan." The lesson's content blurred around her; she only half-registered the teacher's voice.
Medaka recognized something else: every change in this world—the tiny shifts and ripples—seemed tied to her own presence. As if she were an added variable plunged into a complex equation, her mere existence altered the outcome. A butterfly effect in human form.
When the bell rang to signal break time, her senses snapped back. The classroom buzzed as students rose and tidied their desks for the next lesson. Medaka moved with graceful swiftness, everything on her desk perfectly arranged, ready for what came next. After all, she was the epitome of a model student—many admired her, and some even whispered she overshadowed Souna Shitori in excellence.
Striding toward the rooftop terrace, she felt the gentle sway of her chest under her Kuoh uniform—a white button-up with vertical trim, black ribbon at the collar, a black shoulder cape and corset, and a magenta skirt layered over white. The skirt was short, but Medaka hardly cared—it was simply the reality of this world.
Reaching the terrace, she leaned against the railing, her back resting lightly on it, and looked skyward. Then she began to hum softly, her voice clear and melodic:
"A firefly glowing in the darkness, armored to face the world—my protection."
It was the refrain from Firefly's song in Honkai: Star Rail—a soothing anthem she turned to whenever she felt down. Though she sang quietly, her voice carried across the empty terrace if anyone stood within six meters.
Just then, applause echoed from near the doorway. Medaka turned to see Souna Shitori: slender, wearing her elegant Kuoh uniform, black-framed glasses perched lightly on her nose, short black hair framing her calm, violet eyes. Souna matched Medaka's height exactly.
"You have a lovely voice, Kurokami‑san," she said gently, stepping forward and smiling. Medaka looked puzzled but pleased.
"S‑Shitori‑san…" Medaka replied, raising a piece of rice with her chopsticks mid‑bite—she was enjoying her bento: sausage, rice, and eggs. "Aren't you busy with your student council duties?"
Souna returned the smile. "I found a little time to walk around. After all, even council members are students too." She stopped beside Medaka, gazing down in contemplation.
Medaka narrowed her eyelids slightly, still holding her chopsticks. "True—but why the rooftop?"
Souna sighed softly. "I like coming here to relax. The view… the quiet… it's a moment to breathe." She glanced at the clouds drifting by, indifferent to their shapes but comforted by their movement. "And you? Why have you come up here for lunch?"
Medaka set her bento aside and replied evenly, "Same reason. I had a restless night." Standing, she smoothed the back of her skirt before eyeing Souna, whose gaze was still distant. "Something's on your mind, Shitori‑san?" she offered, stepping closer and placing her hands on Souna's shoulders, gently massaging.
"S‑Kurokami‑san!" Souna blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she spun around, more serious now. "It's nothing… just some personal matters."
Souna stepped away toward the terrace door. Medaka watched her patiently. "Well, if you'd like, we can play a game of chess after class."
Souna paused in the doorway, thoughtful. A faint spark of excitement lit her expression at the invitation—maybe a small moment of reprieve from her inner thoughts.
"Yes," Souna whispered quietly, stepping off the terrace as Medaka watched, a small, knowing smile on her lips.
◇ ◇ ◇
Souna Shitori—or by her true name, Sona Sitri—was the heir to the Sitri clan, one of the few remaining families of the original 72 Pillars. Of those ancient noble houses, not even half endured. Her footsteps echoed softly through the empty hallway as she walked slowly, burdened by thoughts that refused to leave her alone. Pressure weighed not just on her shoulders, but on her entire family.
"Sona… you're still thinking about it, aren't you?"
The voice was familiar, unmistakably so. Looking ahead, Sona saw the door to the Occult Research Club open. There, standing inside, was her childhood friend—and her lifelong rival. Crimson hair, long enough to brush her thighs, with a distinctive ahoge curling above her head. Her pale skin contrasted strikingly with the vivid blue of her eyes. This was Rias Gremory, the devil known as the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess, and heiress to another of the 72 Pillars.
Rias was seated near the window, a calm breeze lifting strands of her crimson hair.
"Ara~ ara~, Sona, would you like some tea?"
The question came from another beauty standing beside a small tray, her tone playful and gentle. It was Akeno, Rias's [Queen]. Her voluptuous figure, long jet-black hair tied in a flowing ponytail that brushed the floor, and violet eyes gave her a quiet elegance. Two strands of her hair framed her face, kept in place by an orange ribbon. Like the others, she wore Kuoh Academy's uniform.
"Yes, thank you, Akeno." Sona accepted the warm cup and took her seat across from Rias, settling into the velvet-backed chair reserved for their private talks—and their many chess matches. She pulled out the familiar portable chessboard, placing the black pieces on her side and sliding the white ones toward Rias.
"We're in the same boat," Rias muttered, exhaling deeply. The breeze caught her hair again, like a sigh in motion.
Silence followed. Not a peaceful one, but a quiet laden with things unspoken. Only the soft clink of chess pieces filled the air as the game began. Akeno stood beside her King, watching without a word as her [Queen] engaged in another match against the student council president.
"My family keeps pushing for the engagement…" Sona finally spoke, her words falling after several turns. Her hand moved almost mechanically—Rias had just castled, and Sona answered by placing her king on g7.
"Onii-sama and Otou-sama are trying to force me into a marriage with Raiser…" Rias said, frustration creeping into her voice as she moved her knight to e2. Sona countered with a pawn to h3.
"You know as well as I do," Sona replied softly, "that Sirzechs-sama and my sister are powerless to stop this. At most, they can delay it." She stared down at the board, her expression unreadable. Even with her wit, even as she searched for legal or political loopholes, it felt like pushing against a stone wall. "I said I'd never marry someone less intelligent than me, but… they're tightening the net."
Rias exhaled sharply and moved her rook to take Sona's pawn on h3. Sona responded immediately, her own rook capturing a white pawn on h2+.
"I know. I know! But still…" Rias looked away, her voice trembling slightly. She knew she was impulsive—too impulsive, sometimes—but how could she not be?
"I understand, Rias. I feel the same every time I remember that he's supposed to visit me in just a month. Just like Raiser…" Sona's voice trailed off as she delicately picked up her rook. With a clean motion, she captured Rias's knight on e2. "Checkmate."
The game ended. Forty-six moves.
"Already? Ugh… my mind's not in the right place for this." Rias rubbed her temples, frustration swirling inside her. The mere thought of Raiser was exhausting. But… she had a plan.
"Someone caught your eye?" Sona asked, sipping the green tea Akeno had served. "I plan to invite Genshirou Saji into my [Peerage]."
"I've been watching Hyoudou Issei. There's… something about him. Something different." Rias's voice calmed, her expression sharpening. A spark glinted in her eyes—determined, calculating, hopeful.
Sona's gaze narrowed slightly. She could think of a few reasons Rias would want to bring Issei into her [Peerage], and not all of them were wise. Still, she knew her friend wouldn't back down once she had made up her mind.
Finishing her tea, Sona rose from her chair. She looked at Rias with a faint, rare smile that softened her otherwise stern features.
"I hope you manage to solve this mess with the engagement."
Rias lifted her teacup and offered a small nod. "You too, Sona."
With a final glance at the two girls, Sona stepped away from the Occult Research Club and returned to her duties—her mind still heavy, but her resolve no less strong.
◇ ◇ ◇
It was already late when Medaka Kurokami, a 16-year-old girl with a striking presence, walked calmly through the streets toward her home. Her elegant body and confident posture drew attention wherever she passed, but she barely noticed the glances—her focus was on deeper thoughts. Around her, ordinary people followed their routines, each immersed in their own lives. Medaka often reflected on that: everyone has their own story, their own battles. No one is a side character in their own world.
That kind of thought was hammering in her mind when she remembered the conversation with her parents, about two weeks ago. They had mentioned something important about the Phoenix, specifically about Lin Ming, Raiser's older brother. The name wasn't unfamiliar to her, and soon she understood why: Lin Ming was a reincarnated person, one of those typical Chinese fanfic types she so despised. He had probably been reborn with absurd powers or gained strength with little effort, following that old, irritating cliché. What worried her wasn't just his origin, but how long he had already existed in this world. If he had been alive for that long, it was logical to assume he had reached Ultimate Class level. But her parents, who were well-informed about the supernatural world's backstage, made it clear that his power went beyond what was officially stated.
Medaka always trusted her parents. Not only because of the information they shared, but because of who they were. Both had been raised to perfection, the result of a carefully planned union. Her birth was the pinnacle of that combination. She vividly remembered the day her parents told her the truth. For a moment, she thought she was just a tool, the result of an emotionless experiment. But they soon made her understand, through gestures, words, and affection, that their love was real. And that love extended deeply to her.
Only two blocks separated her from home when she noticed a familiar presence. In a discreet alley, almost hidden by the shadows, stood Kalawarna, her closest companion and ally.
"So, what's the news?" Medaka asked in a serene voice. Meanwhile, she stretched with a slight yawn, feeling the day's fatigue weigh on her shoulders.
Kalawarna knelt, her left knee gently touching the ground, an expression of respect marked on her face.
"Raynare is planning to kill Issei tonight…" Kalawarna knelt, her left knee to the ground, speaking calmly and with reverence to her current mistress.
"She'll probably talk about how it happened, so just keep in contact with me through our mental link. Remember not to draw attention." Medaka flipped her silky hair back, letting it flutter as the 16-year-old resumed her path home.
Kalawarna, for her part, sank into the darkness, moving into the deepest part of the alley and forming a teleportation symbol so as not to take too long. She knew that if she delayed, suspicions would arise.
A few minutes passed. She was already a block from her house when she was interrupted—this time, by her system. A translucent screen appeared about 30 centimeters from her face, the red capital letters at the top drawing her attention.
[ANOMALY DETECTED!
Emergency Mission
C+ Rank Mission!]
The screen shimmered, and a scarlet compass manifested just below it, paired with a miniature holographic map. The compass needle spun briefly before locking onto a direction—southeast of Kuoh, toward one of the more remote sectors of the city.
Medaka exhaled slowly, the sound more resigned than surprised. Of course. She had long since accepted that her presence in this world—an anomaly in itself—would eventually draw others. But a direct mission to eliminate one?
From the system's parameters, she understood the nature of these anomalies. Some were benign, background noise in the fabric of reality. Others, malignant—disruptions too dangerous to be ignored. Like tumors, the world could tolerate a few. But too many, or one too aggressive, and things began to fall apart.
Without warning, her body vanished from the street.
To any onlookers—if there had been any—it would have seemed unnatural, even grotesque. One moment she was there, and in the next, she simply wasn't. No light, no sound, no special effects. Just… gone. As if reality itself had decided to forget her.
She was now moving—fast. Far beyond what the human eye could track, or the laws of physics could justify. Buildings, lights, and roads blurred into indistinct lines, and yet her body moved with total control. Somewhere during that breakneck sprint, she reopened her system profile. She already knew it by heart, but the act of checking grounded her. Every number, every stat, every line of data—it was still the same. Still hers.
[Name: Medaka
Sex: Female
Race: Human
Age: 16
Height: 1 Meter and 66 Centimeters
Weight: 56 Kg
Addition: Futanari
Measurements: 98 Waist Bust; 58 Waist; 87 Hip
Lvl: 50
Penis: 21 Centimeters in length
Strength: C (Without limiter)
Agility: C+ (Without limiter)
Constitution: C- (Without limiter)
Sense: C+ (Without limiter)
Mana: C+
Powers & Abilities given by the system
The End — Rank EX: Different from the original Medaka's The End, which required her to be physically superior to copy someone's ability and was limited to Anomalies. The End now allows the user to learn and perfect any ability or power without restrictions.
Injury Erasure — Rank D: Can erase severe injuries, such as having your heart exploded/destroyed. However, if your head is cut off or the damage is greater than decapitation, you will die. Anything from heart-level damage downward can be erased.
Presence Concealment — Rank EX: Completely erases your entire existence and merges you with the world.
Instant Understanding — Rank A: Grants instant comprehension of anything, as long as it is seen at least once.
Cleaning — Rank D: Cleans any impurities (stains, dust, odors, etc.), making anything perfectly clean. Even the tiniest impurity will vanish.
Aphrodisiac Saliva — Rank C (Passive): Your saliva possesses strong aphrodisiac properties, capable of affecting even beings that normally wouldn't be susceptible.
Mind Control Immunity — Rank EX (Passive): Completely immune to any and all forms of mind control. Not even the most powerful form of mental manipulation will have any effect.
Parasitic Immunity — Rank EX (Passive): Grants absolute immunity to any kind of parasite in all of creation.
Body Control — Rank E (Passive): Grants considerable control over your genital area (except when being touched directly). You can consciously control erections, becoming hard or soft at will.
Mana Burst [Void] — Rank B: The ability to instantly infuse mana into muscles, weapons, or attacks, amplifying physical and offensive power to superhuman levels for short periods. Rank B represents a level of mastery that, while not reaching the absurdity of Rank A, increases physical strength by two grades and ignores any kind of defense.
Instinctive Guard — Rank D- (Passive): A primitive bodily reflex that reacts before consciousness. When in imminent danger (such as being shot, stabbed, or hit by a spell), your body makes automatic micro-adjustments to minimize damage, whether by slightly tilting the head, tensing the right muscles, or stepping back half a pace.
Slowed Aging — Rank D+ (Passive): Can live up to 1000 years and will maintain the same youthful appearance, where your body has already matured.]
In mere moments, Medaka had crossed the breadth of Kuoh and entered the depths of the forest. The wind whipped through her midnight hair, tugging at the strands as if reluctant to let her go. Her eyes, sharp and focused, flicked briefly to the glowing compass still floating beside the translucent mission screen—it hadn't wavered once. The anomaly was close.
She could've ended this before it began.
A quick strike from the shadows, a clean kill from behind, no struggle. Her speed, her precision—none of them would've stopped her. But that wasn't who she was. Not now. Medaka Kurokami, for all her power and pragmatism, carried a pride too deep to permit cheap tricks. Call it arrogance, stubbornness, or something nobler—she didn't care. She believed in fighting face to face, no masks, no cowardice.
The trees parted.
Her feet touched down in a clearing—circular, almost unnaturally symmetrical, at least fifty meters in radius. Towering trees stood like silent sentinels around the perimeter, enclosing the space in a dense, wall-like barrier of bark and leaves. It felt like an arena sculpted not by time, but by intent. Nature herself, perhaps, had shaped this ground for battle.
And there, at its heart, stood the anomaly.
A woman—or what barely passed for one. Her beauty was uncanny, too sharp, too twisted to be human. She stood tall, nearly 1.85 meters, her slender frame shrouded in a tattered garment that clung like shadows liquified. Her skin was the sickly pallor of old ivory, tainted with the hue of dried blood, and beneath the surface danced black veins, pulsing and shifting like sentient ink. Her eyes glowed an unnatural red, a seething crimson with no pupil to anchor them, just twin embers of pure hunger.
Her hair, black as pitch, fell like a curtain to her waist. At the ends, the strands bled into a searing red—as if dipped in boiling blood. Arcane runes, warped and broken, slithered across her exposed skin like brands of something long forgotten, long sealed, and long since corrupted.
She hissed—a low, serpentine sound that dragged across the nerves like steel on bone. It was not just a sound. It was a presence.
Medaka didn't need long to assess the situation. The woman wasn't just an anomaly—she was a calamity. The energy radiating from her was thick and oppressive, easily within the realm of Ultimate-Class Devils. No, stronger. There was restraint in her power. She hadn't even begun.
Then, without warning, Medaka dropped her stealth.
A ripple tore through the clearing.
Instantly, a massive shadow loomed behind her. Her instincts screamed.
She twisted, arms raising just in time to meet a strike. A colossal fist crashed into her guard—raw, heavy power behind it. Though she blocked, the force hurled her backward, skidding across the forest floor and carving a trail of earth and torn roots. She came to a stop five meters away, feet planted, dust rising around her.
Her attacker stepped forward.
It was a brute—an abomination. Nearly 2.7 meters tall, wrapped in cracked black stone. Not armor. Basalt. Living, breathing rock, pulsing like muscle. Where flesh should've been, there was only shifting volcanic matter. A heavy hood cloaked its head, and beneath it, a rusted iron mask bore shattered runes. Through its slits, two blazing eyes of molten magma stared out, seething with blind destruction.
Before she could recover, another threat closed in.
The air shrieked.
A lance, wreathed in darkness, sliced past her cheek—close enough to shear strands of hair. The sharp boom of displaced air echoed like thunder.
Medaka spun, her body flowing with instinct.
The new assailant stood tall, clad in armor that had fused into his skin. His limbs were charred, twisted with exposed muscle and seared nerves, yet he moved with a deadly grace. Half of his skull was visible, flesh melted away, yet the eyes that burned from his sockets weren't hollow. They were alive—burning with ancient rage.
"Well, well… Seems we have a little obstacle," purred the woman at the center.
Her voice dripped with venomous charm. Silken and slow, every syllable was a trap. She raised a single hand, and with it, a translucent dome surged upward—a barrier of magic that sealed them all within.
The pressure changed immediately. Denser. Hotter.
Medaka could tell from the shift in atmosphere: this wasn't a bluff. This woman—this creature—was far beyond average. An Ultimate-Class Devil, yes, but her energy pulsed with the intensity of something worse. Something that brushed the realm of Celestial Dragons.
"I am Velzara," the woman announced, her lips curling into a grin that made even silence flinch. "Might I have your name, little human?"
The smile was beautiful in a way that made your soul recoil. Like a flower growing from a corpse. Medaka stared at her in silence, eyes hard. She owed this thing nothing. No name. No courtesy. No delay.
Instead, she let her energy surge.
With a low breath, she unlocked her internal seals—those carefully placed suppressions that kept her aura manageable. A storm erupted around her. A violet tempest, thick with raw magical pressure, spiraled into existence. The wind howled with it, pushing against the barrier, trees outside bending under the force.
Her power—at least on par with a mid-tier Maou—unleashed in full.
No more words.
With flawless precision, Medaka vanished and reappeared before the armored lancer. She drove a punch straight at his chest.
He reacted instantly, teleporting behind her, his lance already sweeping in. But she was ready. She twisted midair, her left hand snapping out to catch the weapon's shaft. Sparks flared as her fingers gripped it tight. In one swift movement, she closed the distance, entering his guard—and landed a brutal punch to his torso.
The impact cracked his fused armor, jagged fissures spreading as bits of the metal-flesh hybrid peeled back, revealing charred muscle beneath.
"Ara~ You're stronger than you look," Velzara murmured, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and twisted delight. She didn't move, merely watching—her monstrous bodyguard now beside her, unmoving but coiled like a predator.
◇ ◇ ◇
〔Author dropping by to let you know that we'll probably have a new chapter next week. I apologize for the delay, I've been dealing with writer's block and, honestly, a bit of laziness. I hope you understand… 🙏〕