Explosions resounded from outside, signaling that Vali and Rizevim had already begun their fight. The sky was filled with the sound of their fierce battle.
"Master, where are we headed now?" Walburga asked while trailing behind Tenraku.
"With no worthy opponents around, we'll just wander for a bit. This is Rizevim's stronghold, after all. We might find something interesting here," Tenraku replied.
Although he said this, aimlessly wandering didn't hold much appeal. So, Tenraku activated the ability of his Sacred Gear, [Shield of the Dark Night - Night Reflection]. Instantly, the shadow at his feet twisted and shot out, connecting with the shadows throughout the entire building.
[Shield of the Dark Night - Night Reflection] was a Sacred Gear Tenraku had taken from one of Cao Cao's subordinates in the Hero Faction. It allowed the user to manipulate shadows, a rather useful ability.
While Tenraku possessed many stronger Sacred Gears and didn't often use this one, he occasionally developed its abilities. Currently, it has reached the Forbidden Move state.
Connecting his shadow to the shadows in the building, Tenraku quickly grasped the layout and the occupants within. The building was filled with numerous enemies, but they were mostly insignificant. On the top floor, Sairaorg and his Peerage had found Emperor Diehauser Belial, and they were in a tense standoff, yet to engage in battle.
What really caught Tenraku's interest was a large underground base beneath the building, resembling a secret laboratory. This piqued his curiosity.
"Follow me," Tenraku said while leading the way.
Seeing that their master had discovered something intriguing, Walburga and Raynare followed closely. Tenraku led them to the entrance of the underground laboratory, blocked by a massive iron door fortified with strong barriers, clearly protecting something important.
Raynare and Walburga were about to break the barriers, but Tenraku stopped them.
"No need for that," He said.
Summoning a Holy Demonic Sword in his hand, Tenraku slashed the door with a few swift strikes, shattering it instantly. Walburga and Raynare exchanged glances, smirking at their master's typical direct approach.
With the door destroyed, Tenraku and the two women entered, triggering blaring alarms. Immediately, groups of magicians and guards rushed out to confront them.
"Damn Red Dragon Emperor!"
"Kill him! Kill him!"
The magicians and guards shouted fiercely, their auras menacing. Some among them even matched the strength of high-class Devils. While these might have been formidable opponents elsewhere, to Tenraku, they were no more than minor annoyances, not worth his effort.
"Walburga, let's have another competition," Raynare suggested with a dangerous gleam in her eye.
"Sure, I'm already getting excited!" Walburga replied, her smile equally bloodthirsty.
Raynare hurled a giant spear of light, skewering several guards and causing a massive explosion, leaving nothing but fragments. The remaining magicians and guards barely had time to react before being engulfed by Walburga's purple cross-shaped flames.
Explosions, screams, and the twisted laughter of the two women echoed through the underground base, creating a symphony of chaos.
Tenraku showed no mercy to his enemies, allowing Raynare and Walburga to rampage as they pleased. He moved through the base, his presence causing the very structure to tremble and collapse. Debris rained down, but an invisible force field deflected it from Tenraku.
In the rooms lining the corridor, Tenraku saw numerous monsters preserved in glass tanks. These creatures were like nothing he had ever seen, grotesque and terrifying, likely Rizevim's twisted experiments.
Rizevim was more of a mad scientist than a warrior, always tinkering with strange and sinister creations. As the base shook, some tanks shattered, releasing the monsters within. Roaring, they lunged at Tenraku.
With a scoff, Tenraku sliced through them effortlessly, reducing them to pieces. After exploring for a while, Tenraku stopped before a particular laboratory. There was something familiar about the aura emanating from inside, prompting him to investigate.
With a powerful strike, Tenraku shattered the iron door. As he stepped inside, two men in lab coats attacked him, weapons in hand.
"Die!" They shouted, attempting to ambush him. But before they could reach him, their bodies froze, their shadows betraying them.
Not interested in wasting time on these minor threats, Tenraku snapped his fingers. The men's shadows twisted, forming dark vortices that swallowed them whole.
"What... what is this?!"
"We're sinking!"
"No... No...!"
Their screams of terror were short-lived as they vanished into the darkness. The vortices disappeared as if they had never existed.
With the nuisances dealt with, Tenraku surveyed the room. In the center, he saw a familiar figure chained to an operating table. Sunken eyes, a pale face, and a body so emaciated it resembled a skeleton. To Tenraku's shock, it was someone he knew well— Hyoudou Issei, who had been missing for a long time.
Issei, seemingly hearing the commotion, slowly opened his eyes. They were lifeless, filled with despair. But upon seeing Tenraku, a spark of recognition and hope ignited in his black eyes.
To be continued...
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