Tap, tap. The sound of footsteps echoed through the vast palace halls.
Milim and her two companions swaggered through the grand corridors, not with the tension of assassins on a mission, but more like tourists taking in the sights.
"Where are those guys hiding, huh?" Milim bounced along ahead of the group, carefree and chipper, as if she hadn't just broken into the world's most heavily guarded place.
"But seriously, this palace is huge." She looked up in awe. The ceiling was easily two hundred meters above their heads—it was hard to imagine the amount of blood, sweat, and treasure poured into building this monstrosity.
"This is no time for sightseeing," Veldora grumbled behind her. "I was right in the middle of a great gaming session back home, and now I'm stuck here. My rank's totally going to drop." His face was full of despair, as if liberation warfare was the end of the world. "I finally made it to Silver, and now I'm probably gonna fall back to Bronze."
Guy gave him a sidelong glance full of disbelief. "You were just Silver? Honestly, what difference does it make even if you drop a few ranks?"
That did it. Veldora froze mid-step and wheeled on her in a rage. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to reach Silver?! I trained my lane mechanics for three months! I bled for that rank! And you? What's your rank, huh? Unless it's really good, don't even say it. You'll just embarrass the title of Demon Lord."
"Oh no," Guy replied with a not-so-innocent smile, "just a lowly little King, 999 stars. Nothing fancy. But probably a smidge better than someone stuck in Silver, no?"
She gave him a long, sideways glance that clearly said: we're not on the same level.
"Impossible!" Veldora was petrified on the spot, his face a mixture of disbelief and soul-crushing despair.
While they were having their spirited debate (or rather, Guy was happily roasting Veldora), an unwelcome voice echoed through the hall.
"Ahem. You people seem a little too relaxed, don't you think?"
Ahead of them, the Five Elders had taken their positions in a wide arc, seated with composed menace. Their killing intent was tangible, saturating the surrounding air with suffocating pressure.
"I'll leave those guys to you." Guy didn't even glance their way, speaking casually to Milim and Veldora as if the Gorosei were some minor inconvenience.
"Got it!" Milim thumped her chest with pride. "I won't let anyone interfere with you."
"Hmph, don't underestimate us," one particularly tsundere dragon among the Gorosei spat. "We're not just some random humans!"
"Though frankly," Guy continued, completely ignoring them, "even if you let these ants pass, it wouldn't change much. But they are kind of annoying, so… guess I'll let you two handle it."
"Stop right there! You're not going anywhere." One of the Gorosei stood, sword in hand, glaring at Guy. The others also rose, battle-ready.
Guy kept walking, unfazed, like they didn't even exist.
"Then die here," the sword-bearing Gorosei growled, vanishing in a flash of speed as he lunged at Guy.
But before the blade could come close, a massive fist appeared before him—then bam!—he went flying back even faster than he'd charged.
"Where do you think you're going without acknowledging me?" Veldora lowered his fist, grinning at the rest. "Don't tell me you're all that fragile?"
The remaining Gorosei tensed. This guy was no joke.
"Super Iron Body!" another Gorosei roared, muscles bulging as Armament Haki enveloped his form like armor. He charged head-on like a demon from hell.
But when they clashed, crack!—he was the one spitting blood and flying dozens of meters back.
The rest were stunned. That guy was known as the "Battle Star," nearly invincible in both Haki and hand-to-hand combat. Yet he went down in a single blow? Was this monster even human?
"How fun," Veldora chuckled. "Someone actually tried to go toe-to-toe with me? Must've skipped their meds today."
The sword-wielding Gorosei recovered using Moonwalk, blood trailing from his lips. The rest helped the fallen "Battle Star" back to his feet. But their expressions had gone grim. They were facing a threat unlike anything they'd ever known.
"Attack!" one shouted, and the rest surged forward in sync. But none of them tried to stop Guy anymore. They had all silently agreed—keeping these two busy was hard enough. Sending one more after Guy would be suicide. And let's be real—anyone facing him alone wasn't coming back.
The battle exploded, and immediately tipped into a one-sided massacre. Milim and Veldora smashed through the elite like bowling pins. A punch here, a kick there—each blow sent a Gorosei flying. No matter how many times they got up, they were just punched down again.
Blood was everywhere, and yet Milim and Veldora remained untouched.
Well, almost. The "Sword Star" managed to slice off a strand of Milim's hair.
Big mistake.
She grabbed him by the collar, smiled sweetly—and proceeded to pummel him into the marble floor until blood puddled around his limp form.
Meanwhile, Guy had reached the end of the palace corridor. At the top of a grand platform, a lone figure stood silently—waiting. Watching.
...