Part one hundred seventy nine— What Nao Learned

　Mirella's attention drifted toward Vados, something calculating entering her assessment.

　"That one's not an ordinary demon."

　"I noticed as much myself," Skorne said quietly.

　"There seem to be two more like him elsewhere," Vorath added.

　Jiro, entirely casual, offered the confirmation nobody had actually asked for.

　"Nero. That's his name."

　Kai's attention sharpened instantly.

He said the name without dying.

Without so much as flinching.

　Mirella's composure tightened at that.

That changes the calculation considerably.

　Her resolve to protect Nao hardened further.

　"Does Divo know what you're doing here?" Nyxara asked pointedly.

　"I don't particularly care what Divo thinks," Mirella said flatly. "This is my contract. My choice."

　Kai cut through the rest of it entirely, completely unbothered by whatever politics existed between them.

　"I don't care about any of you, or your relationships, or your contracts."

　He pointed directly toward Vorath and Skorne.

　"Don't interfere between me and those two."

　Demigra's expression shifted into something genuinely interested.

　Mirella studied him for another moment before finally seeming to properly register his presence.

　"Wait."

　Her voice slowed.

　"Aren't you supposed to be dead too?"

　Demigra only smiled.

　Nao moved first.

　There was no warning.

　No hesitation.

　No dramatic declaration.

　"Disintegration."

　Her voice was simple.

　"Level Ten."

　The spell erupted.

　A massive wave of destructive energy engulfed Kai, Nyxara, and Vados entirely.

　The ground beneath them vanished beneath the explosion as dust and debris were hurled outward in a tremendous wave—powerful enough to have leveled an entire city.

　Nao waited patiently.

　She simply watched the cloud settle.

　Then—

　The dust cleared.

　All three still stood.

　Completely unharmed.

　Nao's expression shifted.

　Something behind her composed features was already recalculating.

　"So," she said quietly.

　"They won't be easy to defeat after all."

　Before anything else could happen, the sky itself changed color.

　A massive cosmic beam descended from somewhere far above.

　Its target was the entire group.

　Kai's eyes widened.

Astro Nova.

　His chest tightened with sudden, fierce hope.

That's Enzo's signature.

Which means—

　The beam descended.

　It struck directly toward Nao, Jiro, Vorath, Skorne, Demigra, and Mirella all at once.

　It was terrible.

　Absolute.

　The exact same annihilating force that had once erased an entire kingdom from existence.

　Yet nobody moved.

　Demigra simply raised one hand.

　"Mephisto's Drain."

　The entire attack disappeared.

　Not deflected.

　Not resisted.

　Not destroyed.

　Absorbed.

　Every ounce of Astro Nova's world-ending force vanished into Demigra without so much as a ripple disturbing the air around him.

　Kai stared.

He just ate an attack that erased a kingdom.

Like it was nothing.

　Demigra turned toward the direction from which the beam had originated.

　Three figures were already approaching.

　Nero.

　Ivy.

　Enzo.

　The three arrived together at last.

　Demigra's eyes settled directly on Enzo.

　"I knew it was you."

　A faint smile appeared.

　"Ignivar."

　Something flickered across Enzo's expression.

　Old history.

　Something significant.

　Something he had clearly never explained to the others.

　Kai, however, barely noticed.

　His attention was fixed on Ivy and Enzo.

　Both alive.

　Both standing.

You're here.

You're actually here.

　The two sides finally reformed.

　Kai, Nyxara, Vados, Nero, Ivy, and Enzo stood together on one side.

　Nao, Jiro, Vorath, Skorne, Demigra, and Mirella stood opposite them.

　Six against six.

　The true weight of the confrontation had finally assembled.

　Then—

"Evolution requirements have been fulfilled."

　Null-Subconsciousness's voice sounded quietly within Kai's mind.

What requirements?

"Evolution of the host known as Kai into a Primordial Draconic Demon was successful."

　Kai felt the change settle through him.

　Vast.

　Immediate.

　Something fundamental had shifted.

"Additionally," it continued, "an Evolution Seed can now be distributed to your trusted subordinates. Chloe. Nero. Ivy. Enzo. Vados. Senna. Ace."

Do it.

　Kai didn't hesitate.

　"Yes."

"Confirmed. Evolution progress: one percent."

　Nao's expression changed.

　She could sense something building.

　"What's happening?"

　Vorath's composure sharpened immediately.

　"Something's wrong."

　His gaze hardened.

　"We can't let this continue."

　He raised his hand.

　A massive surge of Void Energy erupted forward, tearing across the battlefield toward the group.

　Nyxara didn't even bother turning.

　She simply raised one hand and swatted the attack aside.

　The Void Energy dispersed harmlessly.

　The gesture carried more contempt than any words could have.

"Evolution progress: ninety-nine percent."

　The battlefield fell silent.

　Every combatant watched.

　Waited.

　Then—

"One hundred percent."

　A brief pause.

"Evolution complete."

　Seven minds went numb simultaneously.

　Auras erupted outward.

　The entire battlefield shuddered beneath the weight of the transformations.

"Evolution results," Null-Subconsciousness announced.

"Enzo: True Dragon."

"Ivy: True Demon Lord."

"Nero: True Devil King."

"Vados: Devil King."

"Chloe: Supreme Vampire."

"Senna: Devil King."

"Ace: Chaos Wolf."

　The enemy side went completely still.

　The change in power was impossible to ignore.

　It settled over the battlefield with immediate weight.

　"I'm lucky to serve Lord Kai," Enzo said quietly, genuine gratitude in his voice.

　"Agreed," Ivy said.

　"The blessings just keep coming," Nero added with a grin.

　Vados studied his transformed aura for a long moment.

　Then he turned toward Kai and bowed slightly.

　"So this is the true nature of your power, Lord Kai."

　His voice carried absolute conviction.

　"You have my unwavering loyalty."

　Kai's own blade materialized in his hand.

　His wings unfolded from his back.

　His aura expanded, settling into something vastly greater than it had been only minutes before.

　He looked toward his allies.

　"I think it's time we begin."

　His eyes settled on Vorath and Skorne.

　"We came here for one reason."

　His grip tightened around his blade.

　"Don't let any of them leave alive."

　"With pleasure," Nero said.

　"I had no intention of doing otherwise," Vados added.

　Across the field, Nao smiled.

　Completely unbothered.

　And then—

　Everyone moved.