"What are you doing on my territory?"
[Is this the question you are supposed to be asked?]
Raydja coldly asked, following Reha's question.
But instead of answering her question, she looked at her servants one by one, starting with Fraydja and the two monarchs, The Librarians, and finally, the three descendants of the ancient beasts still present.
"General head, come here." She then ordered, always keeping the same tone that came almost out of the unreal.
-??
Regarding Fraydja, Even if everyone could perceive the confusion in her pupils through her mask, she did not lose a second before approaching her after getting up from her knees.
"My Lordess, what can I do to--
Her words suddenly stuck in her throat after seeing Reha holding her in both hands with a tender and mysterious smile.
But her enigmatic actions did not remain a mystery any longer, neither for Fraydja nor for the others, for that matter.
-Wshhhh!!!
A wave of magical energy burst from her body, instantly engulfing Fraydja's silhouette!
Then to become normal again, with one exception up close...the smile on Reha's lips recently seemed to be an illusion. Her expression of incomparable sweetness was undoubtedly present, but her look had something different from the one before.
"... I see that weak people have contented themselves with doing what they please here in my absence." She then whispered, nonchalantly petting Fraydja's head while she focused in turn on the three great demons.
'Kukuku, contrary to this appearance and way of being, this girl has nothing holy or pure. Finally, it's just one factor that makes her interesting.'
-?!
When Shadow finished thoughtfully uttering these words, the giant tree measuring several thousand kilometers vanished, leaving only a gigantic crater under it!
But the most incredulous for others was to see such a colossal mass disappear almost instantly and without making the slightest noise above all.
At the same time, a sword almost made of white wood appeared in her right hand while her dark gaze was fixed on Raydja.
[-?! If I were in your place, I would think twice before acting.]
Guessing Reha's intentions, the great demon who faced Shadow retorted these words loudly in the face of Reha's hostility towards them.
"I know. - I didn't stop thinking when I saw you on my territory. I originally wanted to erase a black spot that's in the darkness. But by noticing you here and your involvement in something that does not concern you, I have--
[Stop telling nonsense... Without the intervention of Lord Bartos, you'll not be with us at the moment. You must be grateful instead of--
Lindra, whom Reha interrupted, was also interrupted by their leader with a shake of his head.
[In this case, what do you plan to do? You have just woken up; one of the reasons that make you weaker and more vulnerable than before!]
Raydja and Lindra's leader, who bears the name of Bartos, suddenly asked with a devilish smile, guessing Reha's intentions.
'If she had not turned out to be a little more powerful than expected, I would have been able to kill her at that moment and absorbed her domain to perfect mine that is in the making. But not everything has been lost yet; after all, she seems hostile to this mysterious guy. If we join forces, I am sure we will succeed in putting her out of harm's way.' He continued in his thoughts by looking at Shadow with contracted eyebrows.
'Even if we are in opposing camps, I am sure he is also here to take over her territory. As the saying goes, my enemy's enemy is my friend. It is just enough that I find a good agreement to benefit both of us. It's not a complicated thing.' The next moment, his smile grew as he ventured into his thoughts.
Seeing his look, Reha frowns slightly, guessing Bartos' blatant intentions just by seeing his gaze, and nods toward Shadow.
But she doesn't say anything, patiently waiting for Shadow's answer.
"Kuku, it seems this dear friend has things to tell me." Suddenly, Shadow's silhouette appeared in front of everyone.
But the strangest thing was to see him sitting on the floor in the middle of the wild herbs that surrounded them.
-?!!
His sudden appearance, of course, alerted others who had not, until now, noticed his presence.
[Since we have the same goals, I offer you cooperation that will benefit us all.] Bartos proposed with his friendliest smile, which seemed more mocking than his intentions.
"Hm? A proposal that would be advantageous to all of us, right? You say that believing that I'm here to kill the owner of this domain?" While asking this question, he gets up on the floor while keeping his usual expression.
[Keheheh! Isn't that the case? I suggest you help me take care of this transcendent with me while the two subordinates will take care of cleaning her minions. And exchange, I would offer you fifty percent of the gains we will collect.]
"Fifty percent, you say? It's an offer a little too enticing to refuse, don't you think?"
[Khehehe! Our species is known to keep its promises at all costs.]
He joyfully exclaimed when he saw Shadow's interested look.
"I know, I know. But what about the other reward? Don't you find it unfair that I only get fifty percent of her domain without getting any share about the other reward? Are you trying to scam me?" He asked with dark eyes.
'What exactly are they talking about?!' Wondered the monarch of light, not understanding anything in the current situation; he was not the only one; the others were as confused as he was.
But one thing was clear for them, Shadow and Bartos were not friends of their goddesses. And the most worrying thing was to realize that both were probably powerful enough to achieve their goals if they ever reached an agreement!
Bartos, for his part, stopped smiling following Shadow's words.
[You are also informed about this seed, huh? I guess you also got the information from this mysterious bastard?] He asked coldly.
"Hmm, who knows? By the way, I can't know if we're talking about the same bastard until you tell me what he looked like?" He also retorted by crossing his hands behind his back.
[... Sigh, I can't. I didn't meet him in person; we just exchanged by transmission. Wasn't that the case for you?]
"By transmission, huh?" He murmured with dark and dissatisfied eyes.
[What about my proposal?
"Get by yourself."
[Perfec-- w-what? We can still discuss it for the seed.]
"Sigh, idiots are everywhere, like microbes. First, I have no interest in cooperating with you. You lost your only value when you said you didn't meet the bastard who revealed information about my lord. In short, act as if I didn't exist."
While retorting these words with a mocking smile, Shadow walked away before stopping fifty meters from them.
[You, fucker! Whether I fail or win, you always lose!]
"Kukuku, no, this revelation is not true. Nothing will change for me, regardless of the result of your confrontation. And one last thing, don't speak to me anymore if you don't want me to take care of your case personally." He replied casually.
The distance was not a problem for others to hear his threats.
'Tsk, I'll care of this bastard later!'
While filming these words with intensity, he focused on Reha, who still had no blatant expression, which made it difficult for others to know what she thought.
[... I--
"If you want to take so much care of having the seed, it's up to you to go get it; after that, it's up to you to do what you want." Suddenly, she said calming these words before Bartos finished his sentence.
-?!
'Huh? What is this fucking situation again? I have the impression that these two fucker are playing with me.' Bartos became more confused as the situation became unpredictable.
'First, I was sure that this bastard would agree to cooperate with me, and now, just as I try to withdraw, this bitch makes me this proposal? What do they have these two?!' He continued by staring at Shadow, who had a smile a little different from that of the previous one.
'Does the seed have a connection with this bastard? If so, this slut tries to send me to fight this guy before finishing the last one standing and taking away the seed of supremacy for herself. She's more vicious than I expected.' He continued with his hypotheses.
Contrary to what the others thought, these three were in another form of a strategic battle that did not necessarily need the intervention of weapons.
Bartos was also not an idiot who would let himself be manipulated so easily by them. But what he did not understand was the role that these two attributed to him despite his power.
[It's not me, the sacrificial pawn here, but one of you two! Do you think I don't see your game clearly?]
He fulminates with indignation.
'A battle between three opposing camps with approximate powers can only have two plausible strategies; either two camps cooperate in caring for the strongest, or the strongest uses two weaker ones by promising to spare the survivor. But in the end, the first two who face each other will only be pawns.
-No matter who wins, he will be too exhausted to care for himself, the third opponent. And if this bastard hadn't guessed my plans in advance, I could have taken care of his case after killing this bitch!' Bartos continued in his thoughts, not knowing how to solve this dilemma in front of him.
If he faces Shadow, Reha will have no trouble caring for him and his subordinates later. But conversely, if he decides to face Reha don't he was not sure whether to defeat the latter; even if a miracle happens, his triumph will only be momentary before Shadow takes care of him before collecting all his winnings.
'I force this bastard to cooperate with me at all costs!' He concludes by looking at Shadow in the distance.
[I have one last proposal!] He coldly shouted these words while looking at Shadow.
"..."
[If you help me take care of this whore; I swear on my vital essence that I will give you a choice between the seed and the domain!]
He retorted between his clenched teeth.
'I could always track and kill him after completing my part of the deal. But he mustn't stand by this bitch!' He continued in his thoughts with frustrated eyes.
"... Tsk, tsk, tsk! However, I didn't want to get involved in this story. But now, I guess I have no choice." These were Shadow's only words before he manifested a long dark Scythe in his left hand.
[Keheheh! You made the right decision, my friend!] Bartos retorted when he saw Shadow approaching them.
-Swhhhh!!!
[Huh--?
But the next moment, Shadow's silhouette suddenly vanished at the same time as his right hand was dismembered on his shoulder!
-Keuught!
[What is--?! What are you playing, Bastard?!]
"However, I warned you never to try to ally myself with your cause again. Am I wrong?" He replied with bland air.
[Lord Bartugghh!!
-Puff!!!
Just when Raydja tried to take action, dozens of black spears came out in his shadow before stabbing her from all sides before he could act in time.
-Swoshhhhh
And at the utmost time, Shadow's shadow appeared above Lindra, always dazed by unforeseen events, with his five-meter-long scythe.
-ClanG!!
"Ho?" He frowned when he noticed the sudden appearance of Bartos, who opposed his murderous attack with his halberd, just as he was going to finish with Lindra.
But instead of being frustrated, his smile grew when he noticed Bartos with him.
[-?! Shit!] He swore by guessing Shadow's evil intentions.
-Vopp! Vopp! Vopp!!! ...
At the same time, dozens of halberds appeared around Shadow before he landed on the ground.
-Puff!!
And simultaneously, the dozens of barleys of Bartos stabbed him with the speed of light!
-?!
But at that moment, Bartos became even more agitated when he noticed the silhouette of Shadow becoming a mirage!
And almost simultaneously, he noticed Raydja's shadow wavered, followed by the sudden appearance of Shadow behind him, as if he were one with him!
-!!
[[Scythe of Soul Collectors!]] He murmured like a reaper, instantly freezing Raydja, who was still struggling to free himself from his spears!
[Fuck! Sto--
-Slash!!
Bartos' words stuck in his throat when he saw his subordinate's head flying in the air with a bluish liquid that watered the earth.
At the same time, Dalvine's weapon began to shine with a dark aura that sucked not only Raydja's aura but also his vital energy the next moment!
"Kuku, I had missed it, this excitement," Dalvine replied, followed by a massive explosion of his energy at the same time as his pupils changed to abysmal dark colors.
-BOMMMM!!
And simultaneously, Bartos' stifling energy was superior to Shadows because of its current weakness.
[Star Falls!]
He cried out by pointing his hand to the sky!
...
"Tell me, are you pretending, or are you an idiot?" Shadow murmured as he saw the time needed to summon such a significant spell.
[...] Hearing Shadow's words, who made fun of him when he saw his spell take only two seconds to cast, his face turned green with rage.
But despite his rage, he focused on his spell-crafting, which soon appeared!
-RUMBLE! RUMBLE!!!
After this rumble that made every corner of the island tremble, a giant sphere the size of a half-moon erased the cloud on its way, and thanks to the unbearable heat emanating from it, Dalvine and the others froze, feeling like they were in the depths of hell!

"...Sigh, nobody cares; when they can reach their goals !" Reha casually whispered.
But whether it was her, Shadow, or the others, no one was in the mood to take Bartos' spell lightly.
Then, Seeing the giant mass floating above them, Shadow's and Reha's smiles stiffened!
[Be reduced to ashes!]
He laughed with eyes carried by pure madness!
-Gruuuuuuudgh!! BOOOMMM!!!!!
Almost instantly, the island turned into a supernova burst following the bombing of Thera ton of the artificial star of Bartos!