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The deep ocean around Alba's estate had always been quiet.
Soft currents moved through the coral structures, and faint blue lights from the magical barrier illuminated the surrounding waters. Inside the estate, everything felt calm.
But outside the barrier… something had changed.
Far in the darkness of the ocean, two figures slowly approached.
The water around them felt heavy, almost distorted by their presence.
One of them stood tall, his long white hair drifting like threads in the current. Dark lightning flickered faintly around his body, illuminating his sharp eyes.
Raijin Amanojaku, one of the Seven Generals of the Architect, a powerful fallen demon.Beside him floated a tall figure clad in dark armor.
His single crimson eye glowed through the helmet's shadow.
This was Kuroth Veyl, the Shadow Executioner.
Raijin stopped a short distance away from the glowing barrier surrounding Alba's estate.
The barrier shimmered with ancient magic.
He observed it silently.
Then he smirked.
"So the rumors were true… Alba still hides behind that old barrier."
Inside the estate, Alba suddenly opened his eyes.
He had been meditating.
But now he could feel it clearly.
A dark and powerful presence outside the estate.
"...The Architect."
Elsewhere in the estate, Izumi also felt something strange.
The water outside the windows had grown darker, and a strange pressure filled the area.
He walked toward the window and looked outside.
His body froze.
Two silhouettes floated in the distance beyond the barrier.
A sudden pulse of dark lightning flashed around one of them.
The entire barrier trembled slightly.
Izumi's heart began to race.
"What… is that…?"
Outside the barrier, Raijin slowly raised one hand.
Dark electricity spread across the water like crawling veins.
The ocean trembled.
Inside the estate, objects rattled slightly from the pressure.
Izumi staggered back.
The power radiating from that figure was overwhelming.
But then Raijin lowered his hand again.
He chuckled softly.
"So you're watching, Alba."
His voice echoed through the water, carried by magic.
Inside the estate, Alba stepped forward and faced the barrier.
"I should have expected the Architect to come eventually."
Raijin smiled.
"You guard that fragment very carefully."
Alba remained calm.
"And you will never take it."
Raijin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Before he could reply—
A sudden blur cut through the water from above.
A figure descended rapidly, stopping between Raijin and the barrier.
Two cat-like ears twitched slightly as the newcomer floated calmly in the water.
A long tail swayed behind her.
Golden eyes stared directly at the Architect.
Mira Nyra.
A Paladin Sentinel.
She had arrived.
Raijin tilted his head slightly, amused.
"Oh?"
"One of the Paladin dogs finally shows up."
Mira remained silent, her hand resting on the hilts of her twin daggers.
Her sharp eyes never left Raijin.
Behind her, inside the estate, Izumi stared in shock.
"A… cat demi-human…?"
Raijin sighed lightly and turned his head toward the armored figure beside him.
"Kuroth."
The crimson eye of the armored warrior glowed brighter.
Raijin spoke calmly.
"Deal with her."
Kuroth Veyl slowly stepped forward.
Dark energy leaked from his armor as two chained blades slid into his hands.
The chains moved through the water like living serpents.
Mira lowered her stance slightly.
The ocean suddenly felt tense.
The battle was about to begin.
For a moment, the ocean was completely silent.
Then Kuroth moved.
His body vanished in a burst of dark energy.
Izumi barely saw the movement.
In the next instant, two chained blades shot forward like striking snakes.
Mira's eyes sharpened.
She twisted her body sideways, narrowly dodging the first attack as the blade sliced through the water where she had been.
The second blade followed immediately.
CLANG.
Mira blocked it with one of her daggers.
The impact sent ripples through the surrounding water.
Kuroth's crimson eye glowed.
"Fast."
His chains retracted instantly before striking again.
This time the attacks came faster.
The chained blades spun around Mira from multiple directions, attempting to trap her.
Mira's tail flicked as she moved gracefully through the water, dodging each strike with precise movements.
She suddenly disappeared.
Shadowstep.
In an instant she reappeared behind Kuroth.
Her dagger flashed.
A sharp metallic sound echoed as the blade scraped across his armor.
Kuroth barely turned his head.
"Impressive."
But his chain suddenly shot backward.
Mira's leg was caught.
The chain wrapped tightly around her ankle.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Kuroth pulled the chain hard.
At the same time, dark energy gathered along his blade.
"Abyss Slash."
A wave of dark energy shot toward her.
Inside the barrier, Izumi's eyes widened in shock.
"Look out!"
But at the last moment, Mira twisted her body and sliced the chain with her second dagger.
She pushed herself backward, barely escaping the dark slash as it tore through the water behind her.
The ocean shook slightly from the impact.
Mira steadied herself again, breathing calmly.
Her golden eyes narrowed.
"Not bad."
Kuroth smirked faintly behind his helmet.
But suddenly—
The water around them crackled with electricity.
Dark lightning spread across the ocean like a web.
The pressure instantly became overwhelming.
Both fighters froze.
Raijin had raised his hand.
"That's enough."
His voice was calm, but filled with authority.
The lightning faded slightly, but the heavy pressure remained.
Raijin looked directly toward the glowing barrier.
Toward Alba.
"Keep guarding that fragment, Alba."
His voice echoed through the ocean.
"But understand this…"
His eyes glowed faintly.
"The Architect has already gathered several others."
Inside the estate, Izumi felt a chill run down his spine.
Fragments?
How many were there?
Raijin slowly turned away.
"Kuroth."
The armored warrior immediately withdrew his chains.
Without another word, the two figures began drifting back into the darkness of the ocean.
Before disappearing completely, Raijin spoke one final time.
"We will return."
Then the darkness swallowed them.
The pressure vanished.
The ocean became calm again.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Mira slowly turned and approached the barrier.
It opened slightly to allow her inside.
Izumi stood there, still stunned.
The cat demi-human girl floated toward him, studying him carefully.
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"So…"
Her tail swayed slowly.
"You're the one Alba is training?"
Izumi blinked.