Chapter 6: The Third Front

A month had passed since the roar of engines and the flash of particles filled Tendou's personal workshop. There, behind soundproof, secure doors, the Exo Suit Mark 3 'Nexus' was born, a masterpiece of technology from two worlds merged by Amamiya Tendou's genius. Yet, the looming threat hadn't fully dissipated; it merely hid behind a deceptive veil of calm.

That morning, before the sun had fully warmed Tokyo's skyline, Amamiya Tendou was already drenching his private gym in sweat. His muscles tensed and relaxed with every controlled movement, his breath steady, as if his entire body were a tireless, precision machine. Dumbbells and weights felt light in his hands, yet the focus in his eyes was intensely sharp. Each repetition, every bead of sweat, was a reminder of his unspoken mission. He pushed heavy weights on the bench press, observing how every muscle fiber responded, studying the limits of his ability. The blur of his fists against the air punching bag was too fast for the eye to follow.

"To protect her..." That internal murmur accompanied every lift, every strike. A fleeting image of Ayano, his sister, crossed his mind—her cheerful smile, her clear laugh. In his old world, he was a war commander burdened by the weight of the world. In this world, the burden felt more personal, closer. He had to remain the strongest, not for titles or praise, but so that smile would never fade.

After an exhausting training session, Tendou headed to the kitchen, the scent of sweat replaced by the warm aroma of home cooking. This morning's menu was fried rice with a perfect sunny-side-up egg and marinated chicken pieces. His nimble hands moved the spatula with a familiar rhythm, as if performing a complex military formation, ensuring every grain of rice was separate and every spice evenly distributed.

"Morning, big brother!" Ayano's cheerful voice broke the kitchen's silence as she appeared, her short black hair a little messy, typical of just waking up. Her smile immediately broadened at the sight of the food on the table. "Wow, served divine cooking first thing in the morning!"

Tendou just gave a faint smile, placing a plate in front of his sister. "Eat while it's warm."

Ayano quickly took her first bite, her eyes sparkling. "It's so good, Big Bro! Seriously, if you were a chef, you'd be a huge success." She nodded enthusiastically. "By the way, Big Bro..."

Tendou looked at her, knowing something was coming from her tone. "What?"

"When are you going to get a girlfriend, anyway?" Ayano asked, her gaze full of hope. "I really want a sister-in-law. It would be fun to go shopping together, gossip together, and you wouldn't be alone all the time." Her eyes flashed with anger, or more precisely, deep exasperation. "Maybe it's time you had a sweetheart, so your life can be more colorful!"

Tendou scoffed softly, reverting to his old habits. "That's just a hindrance, Ayano. Not an obligation."

"What do you mean, hindrance?!" Ayano immediately protested, putting down her spoon. Her face pouted, cheeks puffed. "You've been alone too long! Even the legendary Oscar Heinberg had dates, you know! Besides, I want someone to accompany you besides me." Their morning debates always ended like this, with Ayano pushing and Tendou holding his defensive wall.

"My grandmother said," Tendou began, his voice low, "the highest priority must always be the foundation of every action."

"But Grandma must have also said that happiness is a priority too, Big Bro!" Ayano retorted, unwilling to back down.

After the intense morning debate with his sister, Tendou dropped Ayano off at her campus. The atmosphere in the car was a little calmer, though Ayano occasionally still glanced at Tendou with demanding eyes.

"Study hard," Tendou reminded her as they arrived at the campus gates.

"Of course! You too, don't forget lunch!" Ayano replied, smiling widely. "Don't just drink protein shakes, you know!"

Tendou just nodded slightly, watching Ayano wave before disappearing into the crowd of students. Her campus was on break today, giving her a bit of respite from her demanding academic routine. However, Oscar Heinberg's instinct always told him that a calm like this was often just a storm delayed.

Shaking off those thoughts, Tendou drove to the nearest supermarket. The bustling aisles, the aroma of fresh vegetables, and the sound of rattling trolleys felt a stark contrast to the life-or-death battles he usually faced. With practiced ease, he selected ingredients for dinner – fresh cuts of meat, several green vegetables, and spices that he would transform into a delicious meal. For him, preparing food for Ayano was one of the most fundamental forms of protection.

Upon returning home, after putting away all the groceries into the refrigerator, Tendou reached for his phone. A message notification popped up on the screen, stopping him mid-motion. The message was from Hikari Kurushima, the first strongest sorceress.

"Emergency meeting. Come to the main HQ immediately. Sorceresses 1, 2, and 3 are waiting. And your student."

Tendou's brow furrowed slightly. "Sorceresses 1, 2, and 3" clearly referred to Hikari herself, Emmy Kurushima (the 2nd Strongest Sorceress), and Haruno Himari (the 3rd Strongest Sorceress). And "your student" must refer to Otoya. This was no ordinary invitation. The serious aura of the message couldn't be ignored.

The next morning, before Tendou could even finish his breakfast, a knock sounded at the door. Tendou, already dressed, opened it to find Emmy Kurushima standing there with a slightly impatient look, beside her the calm and elegant Aura Hoshimi, and the cheerfully smiling Otoya Asakura.

"Good morning, Teacher!" Otoya greeted enthusiastically. "We were assigned to pick you up for an emergency meeting!"

Emmy scoffed. "Don't make us wait long. Hikari-neechan doesn't like wasting time." Her tone was a little domineering, but there was a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.

Aura just nodded politely at Tendou, her expression as serene as ever. "Everyone is ready at headquarters."

Tendou sighed. "Just an ordinary passing person," he muttered, though he knew the situation was anything but ordinary. He nodded to them. "Alright, let's go."

The four of them immediately hurried to the Japanese defense forces' main headquarters. Upon entering the main meeting room, Tendou was surprised. Not only were Japanese military staff present, but also representatives from three other major nations. A large oval table stretched in the middle of the room, with clear nameplates at each position.

Bao Liu from China, with a sturdy posture, neatly tied white hair, and dark sunglasses covering his true deep blue eyes, was already seated, exuding an undeniable aura of authority. Beside him, Junwoo from Korea, a man with brown hair and dark eyes full of calculation, appeared calm but vigilant. And of course, Hikari Kurushima had taken her place as Japan's representative, with an increasingly evident serious expression.

Aura Hoshimi calmly took a seat to Hikari's right, indicating her position as Valkyrie Deputy Commander and Hikari's right hand. To Hikari's left, Emmy Kurushima sat arrogantly, while Haruno Himari occupied the seat next to her.

Tendou and Otoya then took the remaining seats at the other prepared chairs around the oval table. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension. This was not just an internal meeting, but a high-level gathering involving international powers.

This is where the emergency meeting began.

Aura Hoshimi took control. With a calm yet authoritative voice, she began, "Thank you all for your presence at this emergency meeting. As we all know, the threat to our world is becoming more real, and this time, we face something unprecedented. For that, we need global coordination." Aura glanced at Bao Liu. "Chinese representative, Mr. Bao Liu, please give your report."

Bao Liu nodded, his deep blue eyes behind his sunglasses remaining sharp. "Thank you, Deputy Commander Hoshimi. Over the past few weeks, the Chinese government has discovered a strange portal within ancient ruins dating back to our ancient dynasties. This portal emits unknown energy, but after deep analysis, we have confirmed that this portal is directly connected to the demon world."

Small gasps were heard among the attendees. Emmy clenched the armrest of her chair.

"The Chinese government is very concerned," Bao Liu continued, his voice heavy, "that the Demon King and his forces could appear directly in our territory. To counter this potential threat, we have set up solid defensive barricades around the ruins and are continuously increasing our military armada significantly."

He paused, then continued in a more serious tone. "Furthermore, we also have reports of a mysterious individual appearing around the portal area. His characteristics are very peculiar: long silver hair tied back, appearing to be a man around 25 years old. Whenever our forces tried to approach or capture him, he vanished without a trace."

Bao Liu finished his report, ending with a nod to Aura.

Aura turned to the Korean representative. "Thank you, Mr. Bao Liu. Next, Mr. Junwoo from Korea, please."

Junwoo nodded, his face grim. "Our report is not much different from Mr. Bao Liu's. We have also found a similar portal in one of our abandoned gold mines in our territory. As per Mr. Bao Liu's report, this portal also appears to be connected to the demon world."

Emmy hissed softly, while Tendou merely observed with an emotionless expression, though his attention was focused on every detail.

"The Korean government has also taken emergency measures," Junwoo added. "We have set up a perimeter barricade around the mine and are continuously increasing our troop numbers because we fear the Demon King could also rise in our country." Junwoo sighed. "And yes, we also received reports regarding the mysterious person Mr. Bao Liu mentioned. He only observed the situation from a distance. When we tried to approach him, he also vanished without a trace."

The atmosphere in the room grew even more tense. Two portals connected to the demon world, and the same mysterious figure, appeared in two different countries. This was clearly no coincidence.

Hikari Kurushima then took over the discussion, her serious aura growing denser. "Thank you, Mr. Bao Liu, Mr. Junwoo. Unfortunately, Japan also has a similar report." Her voice was calm, yet carried undeniable weight. "A strange portal has also appeared in the Kyoto Gardens area. Our sorcerers report that they are continuously receiving very high energy frequencies from this portal. This indicates a high probability of the emergence of giant races from the demon world, as per historical records and past reports."

She paused for a moment, looking at each face in the room. "Furthermore, we found ancient ruins near the portal, containing a very disturbing ancient prophecy. The prophecy states that soon, Demon King Paradox will launch an all-out attack on Earth."

Immediately, the entire room became tense. Whispers of fear spread, filling the air that was previously only filled with the cold sound of reports. The military staff looked pale, while even Emmy and Haruno showed clearly tense expressions.

Amidst the anxiety, Bao Liu, with his heavy voice, broke the silence. "Without heroes, what can we do? Humanity might just have to surrender without a hero's guidance." His tone was full of despair, a reflection of the helplessness that gripped them all.

Those words hit Tendou like a hammer. He realized, this was no longer just his business. The call to help had come, but he had resisted it. A major war like this was something he desperately wanted to avoid, after all he had experienced in his old world.

However, Haruno Himari suddenly interjected, her voice soft yet full of conviction, "Mr. Bao Liu is gravely mistaken. A hero is ready for battle, even if he is still young." She looked around the room, her lips forming a faint, optimistic smile. "We have Mr. Caine, a descendant of a legendary hero, who is ready to face this. He will soon be officially recognized as the world's hero."

Tendou felt a slight relief. At least there was another hero who could bear this burden. He wanted to avoid trouble, especially a war like this, although in the deepest part of his heart, a great doubt nagged him. He asked himself, "Should I help, or remain hidden?"

"Alright," Hikari nodded, resuming her leadership of the meeting. "Given the scale of this threat and the reports from all three nations, I propose the formation of a special joint task force consisting of the best personnel from each country."

Bao Liu and Junwoo exchanged glances for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "We agree," said Bao Liu. "We will prepare our best people."

"Good," Hikari replied. "For the representatives from Japan, I announce that they are Tendou, Emmy, and Otoya."

Immediately, representatives from China and Korea showed surprised expressions and objections. "With all due respect, Commander Kurushima," Bao Liu began, "we need proven strength, not children or..." His eyes glanced at Tendou with a condescending look.

"I understand your doubts," Hikari interrupted, raising her hand. "However, I ask you to see this."

A large screen in the room lit up, displaying a clear video replay. There, Tendou's extraordinary skill was shown as he ruthlessly annihilated thousands of demon forces coming from the portal created by Raymond. Then, Tendou was seen sacrificing himself to protect Emmy, taking a fatal blow that left him dying on the spot. However, just as Raymond's monster thought victory was in hand, Otoya stepped forward. With a determined expression, he activated his Railgun Blaster mode, unleashing a devastating attack that killed Raymond instantly.

Hikari then pointed to the screen, her voice loud, "And keep in mind, it was the three of them—Tendou, Emmy, and Otoya—who fought tooth and nail to protect Tokyo from the threat of Raymond's monster and his demon forces."

After the video ended and Hikari's affirmation, silence fell over the room. Surprised and amazed expressions appeared on Bao Liu's and Junwoo's faces. They now saw Tendou, Emmy, and Otoya not just as ordinary individuals, but as proven forces.

Without further hesitation, Bao Liu nodded. "Alright, we agree. Their capabilities are highly impressive."

"We also agree," Junwoo chimed in, his eyes showing new respect. "However, we need a name for this special joint task force."

Tendou, who had been observing silently until now, felt an irresistible urge. This moment, these words, stirred something within him. This was a responsibility, a destiny he could not escape. He took a deep breath.

"Wolf Pack," he uttered, his voice steady and clear, breaking the silence. "The name is Wolf Pack."

The name, "Wolf Pack", was a name he constantly remembered in his heart, a name full of memories. It was the name of his team when Oscar Heinberg was still alive, along with his best comrades. A team that fought together, never gave up, like a pack of wolves. That name, now, would be reborn in this world.

A week after that emergency meeting, news of the threat of Demon King Paradox had spread like wildfire. All nations in the world declared a national state of emergency and mandatory military service. Civilians were evacuated, major cities transformed into defensive strongholds, and waves of volunteers flooded training centers. Total war preparations began, with all of humanity on high alert to face the inevitable demon invasion. Test sirens blared every hour, reminding everyone of the grim new reality.

That morning, in Japan, Tendou's phone vibrated violently. A call came in from Emmy.

"Tendou! Get to headquarters immediately! The portals in all three countries—China, Korea, and Japan—are fully active! That means the attack is about to begin!" Emmy's voice sounded urgent, filled with a mix of adrenaline and tension.

Tendou immediately confirmed. His heart pounded, realizing that the time for hiding was over. His main mission, which he had tried to avoid, was now before his eyes.

Soon after, at Valkyrie's secret headquarters, all members of the Wolf Pack team had gathered. The room was shrouded in a tense but determined atmosphere. From China, Li Wei, a martial arts master with an athletic build and sharp eyes capable of controlling ki, stood tall. Beside him was Mei Lin, a skilled sniper with long black hair tied in a ponytail and the calm of a hunter, her focused eyes never leaving the hologram screen.

From Korea, two formidable figures also arrived: Jae-Hoon, a special forces veteran with faint scars on his face, showing his expertise in guerrilla tactics, and Min-Ji, a genius hacker with thick glasses and nimble fingers that kept moving, as if already accustomed to manipulating data in the air. They, along with Tendou, Emmy, and Otoya, stood around the hologram table.

A world map was projected in the center of the table, showing portal points that now glowed fiery red, emanating a terrifying aura of threat. Each glow was a gateway to hell.

"Alright, we know the invasion has begun worldwide," Hikari started, her voice calm but authoritative. Her eyes shifted to each team member of the Wolf Pack. "Our main mission, for the Wolf Pack, is to hold our ground here for now. We will not move until we receive a secure code from our intelligence. We must wait until the mastermind behind this attack reveals himself. Only then can we strike at the root of the problem."

Outside the headquarters, the war sirens that were previously just tests now wailed deafeningly, no longer a warning, but a reality. On the front lines, the Japanese branch of the Valkyrie forces had already begun their operations. Aura Hoshimi led the ground forces with strict military discipline. Rows of the latest Type 10 tanks and armored units rumbled forward, their cannon muzzles aimed at the portals spewing out monstrous creatures. Fully armed soldiers spread out, forming solid defensive lines.

Meanwhile, in the air, Haruno Himari controlled the aerial combat units. AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets launched continuous attacks on the hordes of demons flooding the streets of major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Explosions and automatic gunfire echoed non-stop, followed by monstrous howls. The first wave of demon monsters, mostly medium-sized creatures with sharp claws and fangs, swarmed the city. They were fast, but lacked tactical intelligence.

The seamless coordination of the Valkyrie forces with the regular army proved highly effective. The Valkyries unleashed devastating magic attacks, releasing exploding balls of pure energy, searing fire streams, and freezing ice waves, sweeping clean areas dense with demons. At the same time, a hail of bullets and rockets from the military pounded the enemy relentlessly.

Hours later, inside the Wolf Pack headquarters, the tension eased slightly. A report came in: the first wave of demon attacks had been successfully repelled. A miracle happened; there were no significant casualties on the human side in this initial wave, thanks to Valkyrie's coordination and thorough preparation. Minor injuries were handled on the field.

On the other side of the city, at a heavily guarded evacuation post, Ayano's phone vibrated. She quickly typed a message to Tendou.

"Big Bro, I'm fine! Don't worry about me! The officers here are very efficient."

Ayano smiled faintly, trying to ease her brother's anxiety. However, when she peered out of the tent, her smile faded. In the distance, she saw long lines of new, advanced tanks, heavy artillery, and armored units moving forward, taking up new positions. Large searchlights swept the sky, revealing more troops neatly lined up. The sight hinted at one thing: this was just the beginning. A much larger and more terrifying second wave was about to commence.

Sure enough, moments later, the sky above Tokyo and Kyoto tore open, not by small portals, but by massive spatial distortions. From them emerged a terrifying flying dragon. The creature, with its black, scaly hide and glowing red eyes, was the size of a skyscraper, roaring in the air, its shadow covering the buildings below.

"Air target! Heavy-class dragon!" a commander on the ground shouted, his voice hoarse.

Without command, the ground forces immediately opened fire. Thousands of high-caliber bullets from heavy machine guns slammed into the dragon's thick scales, creating sparks like falling meteors. Special forces on standby fired Javelin rockets and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, hurtling towards the giant creature. Meanwhile, Valkyrie units launched their magic attacks. Beams of blue plasma energy were shot from their palms, lances of light pierced from above, and sonic blasts incapacitated the creature, all with deadly precision.

Deafening explosions filled the air, followed by the dragon's piercing shriek of agony.

At headquarters, Jae-Hoon studied the attack patterns. "These dragons... they're just standard units, Commander Hikari," he analyzed quickly, his eyes fixed on the holographic data. "Not the Demon King's core strength. Perhaps a diversion, or they're purposely sent to gauge our air defense capabilities."

Indeed, similar phenomena occurred worldwide. Reports poured in, confirming the appearance of similar dragons over major cities on various continents. However, these giant creatures, though seemingly threatening, were easily defeated. They were bait. With the help of precision fire from attack helicopters showering them with barrages of bullets and rockets, as well as heavy cannons from tanks and artillery launching deadly projectiles, the dragons fell one by one, plummeting from the sky like colossal stone ruins, leaving craters and destruction in their wake.

While the world faced the second wave of attacks, far away in the vast and barren desert, a tall figure stood alone. It was the 3rd Demon General, Lugiel, with a dark aura engulfing him, turning the sand around him black and making the air feel cold. He was preparing a strange portal that emitted terrifying energy, a ritual clearly intended to bring much greater power, perhaps even part of Demon King Paradox's elite forces. The magic formation beneath his feet began to glow with a sickly purple light, and strange hissing sounds began to emanate from within the swirling energy.

"Almost done," Lugiel growled, his fangs bared, "This world will fall into true darkness! Paradox will reign!"

However, before Lugiel could complete his ritual, a shadow darted swiftly, faster than the desert wind. The mysterious person with long, tied silver hair, who had previously been reported to appear near portals in China and Korea, suddenly appeared before Lugiel. The figure, without a word, charged forward. A fist enveloped in bright energy slammed into the magic formation on the ground, shattering its glow before the portal could fully form. The purple energy dispersed, fading into smoke, leaving a pungent smell of sulfur.

Lugiel roared in rage, his eyes glowing deep red. "How dare you, wretched human?! Obstructing the Demon King's command!" He swung his sharp, dark claws, imbued with demonic mana, striking like lightning towards the silver figure.

But the mysterious person dodged with impossible speed, movements too fast for the naked eye, as if they could see the future. Not only did they evade, but they retaliated with a powerful spinning kick, sending a shockwave that pushed Lugiel back slightly, eroding layers of his dark aura. A brief but intense battle immediately erupted. The mysterious person moved with deadly efficiency, every attack precise, demonstrating extraordinary combat skill, as if they were a perfect dancer of death. They appeared to use neither magic nor technology, only pure physical strength and speed beyond human limits.

This action clearly hinted that they were not part of the Demon King's forces, as if they were also on humanity's side, or at least, had their own agenda that conflicted with the Demon King. The two blurred as they moved, clashing in the midst of a sudden sandstorm, a result of their colliding powers, leaving trails of energy that scorched the air.

Back on the front lines, after a fierce battle that consumed much ammunition and energy, the second wave of demon attacks finally subsided. Monster debris littered the streets, smoke billowed from shattered buildings, and the smell of gunpowder filled the air. Sirens died down, replaced by groans and sharp orders from exhausted commanders.

Throughout the city, weary ground forces began to pull back from their combat positions. Their faces were blackened with soot and sweat, their breaths ragged. They set up makeshift tents amidst the ruins, while sweeping for any lingering monster remnants. Valkyrie units also reorganized their formations, some Valkyries seen healing their lightly wounded comrades with touches of light-emitting hands. The faces of the soldiers and Valkyries showed immense exhaustion, but also a palpable relief at having survived two waves of attacks.

At headquarters, Hikari looked at the incoming reports, confirming the completion of the second wave worldwide. "The second wave has been repelled," she said, her voice carrying a faint relief.

"No significant casualties. Some are wounded, but stable," Aura confirmed, pointing to a graph on the screen showing minimal losses.

"Good," Hikari said, letting out a long sigh, a slight weight lifted from her shoulders. "Instruct all forces to rest. They deserve it. We will gather data from this wave and prepare for tomorrow."

That night, beneath a sky shrouded in smoke haze and faint moonlight, sometimes obscured by heavy clouds, many troops rested in makeshift tents or within defensive barricades. Technicians were busy repairing damaged combat vehicles, tank treads were fixed, and weapon systems were reloaded. Medics tended to the exhausted, providing warm drinks and blankets. The air was filled with heavy breaths and quiet conversations, trying to find solace amidst the dire situation. Some soldiers were seen sleeping soundly beside their rifles.

They knew this was just a lull. The sun would rise again tomorrow, and with it, a larger, unforeseen battle would begin again.

Deep within another dimension, in a palace forged from shadows and the screams of souls, before the magnificent throne of Demon King Paradox, two Demon Generals knelt. One was Memphisto, with an eternal sinister smirk and a black cloak that billowed as if made of darkness itself. Beside him, Lucifer, the horned Demon General, exuded an aura of pride and power, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

"Look, My Lord," Memphisto's voice echoed mockingly through the silent hall. "Lugiel is utterly useless. Even one human can thwart his plans." He glanced at Lucifer with a faint smile, then returned his gaze to the Demon King. "Give us the order, My Lord. We two will launch an even more devastating and larger attack! We shall crush them with true power!"

A deep, rumbling voice, like an earthquake, emanated from behind the shadowy throne. Demon King Paradox merely grinned, his eyes glowing fiery red. "Very well, my Generals. Your request is granted." His voice was filled with terrifying murderous intent. "Go forth to Earth. Crush their resistance. Show them true despair. I want to see blood flow in every street!"

Memphisto and Lucifer smiled broadly, nodding respectfully, their dark auras expanding. "As you command, My Lord!"

And After that Tendou Sister Ayano Bring his Arrow to Prove it She is not a burden anymore

With that, they rose, their shadows stretching and disappearing, preparing to unleash unimaginable horrors upon Earth.