Chapter 8: Days Of Future Past

A Pact with Darkness

The air around them felt hollow, solidifying into an invisible wall that ensnared everything. Time, the master of all, seemed eternally frozen in an unspoken embrace, immortalizing every floating dust particle, every shifting strand of hair. Emmy's kiss, which should have been the culmination of a confession, a sweet beginning, was now merely a silent tableau of regret. Her cold lips still pressed against Tendou's, but his consciousness was far away, trapped in a prison of time. Only Amamiya Tendou could still move, his soul aching amidst the suffocating silence, watching the world around him halted, a mute tragedy. The chill from Emmy's lips spread to his chest, piercing directly into the gaping wound within him.

Amidst the fog of grief and the frozen silence, a shadow glided, its form slowly taking shape before him. Long silver hair was neatly tied, contrasting with his pale skin. His face, which should have been unfamiliar, instead displayed an expression of profound regret, as if he too felt every pain Tendou endured. It was Miyamura Iguchi, or who now introduced himself as Belial.

"Tendou, I am sorry for your loss," Dewi Algeist's voice suddenly echoed, breaking the suffocating silence, laden with sincere sympathy. Her voice came from another dimension, yet its resonance pierced directly into the depths of Tendou's heart. "But before that, there's something you must know."

Tendou looked up, his golden eyes, still blazing, stared intently at the figure before him. Fire burned in the emptiness of his soul. "You… haven't changed at all, Tendou-kun... or rather, Oscar."

Tendou's heart pounded violently. Oscar. That name. His true name. The name he had kept so carefully hidden, even from himself in this new life. How could it be? How could this stranger before him know the identity buried so deep? A mix of shock, a piercing longing, and fear of his old identity being exposed suddenly flooded his mind. A secret door in his memory had just been forced open.

"Who are you? And why do you know my true name?" he asked, his voice choked, caught between anger and confusion. His jaw tightened, restraining the swirling emotions.

Belial sighed deeply, a small laugh escaping, whether cynical or wistful, like an autumn breeze carrying dry leaves. "You're just like you used to be, when you protected me from bullies in junior high and high school." A brief pause, as if to let the memory sink into Tendou's mind, letting forgotten pieces of the past slowly come together. "I'm Miyamura Iguchi."

Tendou's world spun, not from magic, but from pure shock. Iguchi? His old friend? How could it be? His mind raced, trying to connect impossible dots. Questions hung in his mind, unanswered, like dark clouds obscuring the sunlight. Then, Iguchi's voice changed, deepening, darkening, filled with terrifying primordial power, stripping away the "old friend" facade, replacing it with an aura of cold grandeur.

"The name Miyamura Iguchi is merely a disguise in this world," he continued, his gaze now serious, almost cold. "My true name is... Belial."

Belial.

Tendou gasped, his body freezing. Belial. The Demon of Lies. A name that should exist only in ancient legends, in terrifying whispers among mages. One of the primordial entities known as the ultimate deceiver and soul tempter, the most cunning among all demons. How could his old friend be such a powerful and dangerous figure? Everything Tendou thought he understood crumbled, replaced by new, menacing shadows, tearing down the fragile foundations of his world. His throat felt dry.

"I know you won't fully believe me," Belial said, as if reading every doubt on Tendou's face, every turmoil in his mind. "This is my truth, the reason I am here, and why I chose peace."

Belial's Tale: The Deposed Demon King-to-Be

Belial took a deep breath, as if gathering the strength to recount his heavy story, a tale etched into the very essence of his being, from an unhealing wound of the past. "Long before the defeat of the first Demon King, many of his desperate followers tried to summon demons from other dimensions. They thirsted for power, eager to turn the tide. However, most of them met their demise at the hands of the first hero, the ancestor of the Caine you now know. Generation after generation, destruction always followed."

His face darkened as the bitter memory emerged, like a storm cloud covering the sky. "Until one day, they instead summoned a weak demon, who called himself Paradox, from another parallel Earth. This Paradox... suddenly gained immense power. A mysterious, dark light came from him. It was the negative energy from all of Earth and the demon world, making him even stronger, turning him into an anomaly among us, a monster born from despair."

Tendou listened, his eyes unblinking, trying to digest every word that came from Belial's lips. His Oscar-like logic tried to organize these conflicting pieces of information, searching for patterns in the chaos.

"After the defeat of the first Demon King, I felt resentful towards my biological father," Belial continued, his voice filled with suppressed anger, an old wound that never healed. "Too weak. Moreover, I was annoyed to hear my own father decide to make peace. He wanted to end this eternal war, to end the cycle of hatred that had lasted for thousands of years."

The light in Belial's eyes dimmed, replaced by the dark shadow of sadness and regret. "Paradox, with his slick tongue, incited me. He whispered sweet promises of the throne, promises of infinite strength and power, claiming that I was destined to be king, a legitimate, stronger heir." There was a hint of self-disgust in his voice, an acknowledgment of his youthful folly. "I, who was young and easily swayed by ambition at the time, was incited. Together with Lucifer, Mephisto, and Lugiel, we planned a coup."

Belial's face now looked pained, a suffering that transcended time. "And we succeeded. We killed my father in front of all the demon populace, who were fed up with my father's rule. There were those who sided with Belial and those who didn't, creating a deep division among them, an unhealable wound."

A heavy sigh escaped Belial, like the weight of millennia suddenly lifted. "After that, Paradox, with his unparalleled cunning, cast me out onto this Earth. Alone, powerless. I arrived here, helpless, until I met an old couple. They raised me until adulthood, in this human form, a lie." Belial looked at his hands, as if disbelieving the form he inhabited, at the human skin that felt alien yet saved him.

"Eventually, I was honest with them," he said, his voice softening, filled with an unexpected warmth from a demon. "And again, they didn't mind me. They considered me part of their family, their own child. It was from there that I began to understand the importance of the peace my father once dreamed of. I began to see another side of existence, a human side I had never known."

A flash of realization appeared in Belial's eyes, like the dawn breaking after a long night. "I began to learn to be human, like it or not, I had to hide my true power. Until finally, I met you, Tendou. When you protected me from bullies, from junior high to high school... My interest in you grew even stronger. Especially after I sensed the unknown energy you possessed, energy from another world, so familiar yet alien."

Belial looked at Tendou, his gaze full of respect, an appreciation from one ancient soul to another. "Since then, I have continued to train myself once again, to fight Paradox and his generals. But, thanks to you, you have already dealt with both of them."

The Promise with Darkness

Belial stepped closer, his aura now more pressing, more intense, emanating an undeniable urgency. "There is magic. Magic that can reverse time."

Tendou frowned, a sense of shock creeping into his mind. Reversing time? It sounded too good to be true, too many fantasies he knew could backfire. "What are the conditions?"

"The condition is that I must send your soul back to the past," Belial answered, his eyes gazing deeply into Tendou's, piercing into his very soul. "You can, Tendou. You can save your sister again."

Tendou's heart sank, an indescribable pain hitting him again. Ayano. A chance to change her fate? His whole body tensed. Doubt still clouded his mind. Bitter experience made him wary of sweet promises. This could be another trap. "What's in it for you?"

"I would be greatly helped if you succeeded in defeating those two Generals," Belial explained, his voice calm but with calculation. "Afterward, there would be no significant obstacles to defeating Paradox."

Tendou fell silent. Saving Ayano? The thought was incredibly tempting, a light at the end of a dark tunnel. Yet, he hesitated. Could this truly be trusted? Too many things he didn't understand, too many variables that seemed illogical. This was the biggest risk he had ever faced, even exceeding the most brutal battlefield.

"No," Tendou said, his voice low, though his heart ached. The pain tore at him, but his instincts screamed caution. "I cannot trust this. All of this is too sudden."

With that, the frozen time around him suddenly melted, shattering like a broken mirror. The distant sounds of weeping, swirling smoke, and panicked screams once again filled the air. Tendou returned to Earth, to the chaos after the battle against Lucifer. The scent of blood and dust assailed his nostrils. The feeling of losing Ayano hit him again like a giant wave, sweeping him into the depths of despair, heavier than anything he had ever felt.

However, not long after, Belial reappeared before Tendou, this time amidst the ruined city, smoke still billowing, leaving behind the acrid smell of destruction. His face was serious, no longer any cynical or wistful smile, only absolute urgency.

"Tendou, I know you hesitate," Belial said, his voice calm but laden with urgency, every word a piercing warning. "But you must see this. This is the future that awaits you if you kill Paradox... if you refuse this offer and continue on your current path."

A dark light emanated from Belial's hand, flowing like black ink in the air, forming a vortex. A horrifying vision appeared in Tendou's mind, like a horror film forced upon his eyes, unable to close them. The vision showed himself, transformed into something alien and terrifying. Familiar cities became ruins beneath his feet, but this time it wasn't demons who destroyed them, but himself.

"You will be happy... for a while," Belial's voice echoed in his mind, an empty promise that felt suffocating, full of deceit.

A terrifying shadow crossed Belial's face in the vision, a distortion of his true self. "But you will slowly become a part of the darkness. You will become cruel to everyone, including your wife, Emmy. And your children."

Tendou froze, seeing himself in that vision. A terrifying figure with empty eyes, his hands stained with blood, an aura of hatred surrounding him. He saw Emmy, whom he had just kissed, now lying helpless, her eyes filled with fear and betrayal. He saw children, innocent faces who should have been his hope, now destroyed by his own hands. This was true horror. It wasn't demons who would destroy him, but himself.

"You, Tendou," Belial continued, his voice trembling with emotion, a sincere warning from a soul that had known regret. "You will destroy all three of them. Your own family. And you will annihilate humanity, even the demons, until nothing remains. A total void that you created."

Tendou gasped, imagining the horror. Images of Emmy, Ayano, and the faces of children he had never seen, flashed through his mind, enveloped in the shadow of destruction he caused. He looked at his hands, as if blood flowed there, the blood of those he loved. His stomach churned.

"Think carefully, Tendou," Belial urged, his tone full of warning, a final, piercing push. "Remember, the fate of humanity rests in your hands. The future rests on your shoulders."

Tendou turned, his gaze falling on Emmy, who was still frozen in his last memory, her face peaceful. Emmy's words echoed in his mind, clear and determined: "I may not have a dream, Tendou, but I will try to protect everyone's dreams!" Then, he remembered the cheerful voice of little Ayano, who once said, "I want Big Brother to be the light of humanity!"

A light began to shine in Tendou's golden eyes, slowly dispelling the darkness that enveloped him, like a sunrise breaking through the clouds. That resolve and determination returned, stronger than ever, forged by the terrifying vision of the future. He could not let that future come to pass. He had to protect them, even if it meant becoming a monster in the eyes of others for a while.

"Fine," Tendou nodded, his voice steady, though he knew immense consequences awaited him, and perhaps an unimaginable price. This was no longer about him, but about them. "I agree."

At that very moment, Dewi Algeist reappeared, tears streaming down her face, but her lips curved into a sincere smile, a smile full of hope. "What about you, Belial... or Miyamura? What should I do with you later?"

Belial smiled calmly, a peaceful smile rarely seen from a demon, as if all burdens had been lifted from his shoulders. "I will send this memory to my past self." He looked at Tendou with a gaze full of conviction, a hope placed on the man before him. "I cannot send myself back to the past. Only you, Tendou, the hero from another world, can do this. You are the key."

Without further delay, Algeist raised her hands. With her gentle yet powerful magic, she made Tendou fall asleep, immersing him in darkness full of hope, a journey back in time.

Tendou woke up.

His eyes slowly fluttered open, greeted by the warm morning sunlight filtering through the gaps in his curtains. The light caressed his skin, feeling so real, so comforting. The scent of toast and coffee wafted from the kitchen, an aroma so familiar it pierced his heart, bringing with it waves of nostalgia and deep longing. This was not ruins, not debris, not destruction. This was... home.

He felt the familiar warmth of his bed, the softness of the blanket covering his body. A faint cheerful hum could be heard from the kitchen, a familiar tune from a children's song. It was a sound he hadn't heard in a long time, a sound he always longed for in his nightmares, a sound he thought he would never hear again.

Tendou quickly got up, his heart pounding, drumming against his ribs. He half-ran to the kitchen, his feet almost stumbling in his urgency. And there, standing in front of the stove, in an apron with a rabbit drawing that was a little too big, was the figure he never thought he would see alive and cheerful again.

"Oh, Big Brother is awake?" Ayano turned, her wide smile blossoming, as if no bad day had ever happened, as if the world was still whole and perfect. "Breakfast is ready!"

Tendou could only stand frozen in the kitchen doorway, staring at Ayano. Tears that had long been dry now streamed down his cheeks, wetting the traces of trauma he had just experienced, mingling with bitter tears of happiness. He reached out, trembling, touching his sister's warm cheek. Real. All of this was real. A reality so fragile yet precious.

"Ayano..." he whispered, his voice choked, filled with immense relief. An overwhelming sense of relief flooded him, lifting the burden that had weighed him down for so long. This was the past. A week before the major attack, a week before a terrible fate befell his sister.

Although the memory of the terrifying future was still fresh in his mind, an unerasable memory of destruction, seeing Ayano happy and alive was his greatest motivation. He would not stand idly by. Plans began to form in his head, strategies to defeat the two Demon Generals, and most importantly, he had to meet Belial, with the coordinates already given to him in his mind.

This time, everything would be different. This time, he would write his own destiny.

Preparation and Secret Meeting at the River Bridge

In the following days, the Amamiya house became Tendou's private training ground. Every night, after Ayano had fallen asleep with a peaceful smile on her face, Tendou would sneak into the basement. The air there was damp, smelling of metal and ozone, where he began to upgrade his Exo Suit Mark III Nexus. His "otherworldly" magic flowed, merging with advanced Japanese technology, creating an unthinkable fusion in this world. He modified the energy system, reinforced the material, and installed complex magic runes that only Oscar could understand, glowing faintly in the darkness, emitting a mysterious blue-green light. Blue-green sparks filled the dark room, the hum of machinery blending with the whispers of ancient incantations he muttered to himself. This was more than just an upgrade; it was a metamorphosis, preparing the ultimate weapon for the battle to come, a gamble for the future.

"Nexus, increase magic reactor power to safe limits," Tendou whispered, sweat beading on his forehead as he recalibrated circuits, his eyes focused on the data flowing across the screen.

"Warning: System failure risk increased by 25%. Risk of permanent damage to core structure reaches 18%," the synthetic voice of his AI replied, devoid of emotion but full of warning, an alarm he ignored.

"A risk I'm willing to take," Tendou countered, his resolve hardened. The future he had witnessed was far more dangerous than any damage to this suit. It was a gamble he had to win.

With firm steps and a determined gaze, Tendou headed directly to the rendezvous point Belial had given him in his memory. Tokyo, on a morning still veiled in thin mist, felt incredibly peaceful, a heartbreaking contrast to the destruction he had witnessed in the future. Birds chirped melodiously, schoolchildren walked cheerfully towards their dreams—a sight he had to protect.

He arrived at a park, on a bridge spanning a calm river. The water shimmered, reflecting the morning sunlight, like a mirror reflecting newly found hope. There, a figure with short gray hair, who appeared older than his last memory, was already waiting. Miyamura Iguchi, or Belial, stood with his back to the river, his silhouette calm against the cityscape. The air felt cold, yet there was a hidden urgency.

"I've been waiting for you, Tendou," Belial greeted, his voice calm, yet there was an underlying urgency, an undeniable push. "Let's get straight to the point."

There was no preamble, no more questions about his trust. Belial understood the urgency of time, understood the burden Tendou carried. He began to explain.

"Lucifer's weakness lies in his magic core located in his chest, hidden behind his strongest armor. Pure physical attacks will be ineffective. It requires concentrated, penetrating magic power," Belial explained in detail, his hands moving as if tracing that vital point in the air. Every word was part of a critical strategy.

"As for Mephisto, although his strength lies in long-range attacks and illusion magic, his weakness is his fragile physical defense if attacked directly at close range. Don't let him create distance," Belial continued, his eyes sharp, as if he could already see every movement of the coming enemy.

Tendou listened, his mind processing every piece of information with Oscar's speed, absorbing every tactical detail and analyzing its implications. This was vital information he didn't know in the previous timeline, information that could change everything.

"And to defeat Paradox," Belial continued, his eyes narrowing, "you need power that transcends dimensions. The power you showed earlier... that 'Oscar,' Tendou. Only he can break through Paradox's reality shield."

Tendou nodded. He understood. Only his true power, the power from that other world, could end this cycle. "Then, about Caine?"

Belial sighed. "We must recruit Caine, the hero. His physical strength, combined with your magic, will be a devastating blow they cannot avoid."

"But Caine won't possibly believe us," Tendou countered, remembering Caine's stubborn nature, his distrust of demons. "Especially coming from a demon like you."

"Precisely," Belial agreed, a faint smile on his lips. "Like it or not, we'll have to force him. Plan Caine's abduction. Take him to a safe place and explain everything."

Suddenly, Belial moved his hand, and a woman emerged from the shadows beneath the bridge, as if she had always been there, waiting. Her hair was jet black, her eyes sharp yet held a hidden warmth, an intriguing contradiction. She wore practical yet elegant clothing, suitable for quick and silent movement. Tendou looked at her with curiosity mixed with wariness. This figure was not in his memories from the future.

"Tendou, allow me to introduce my confidant," Belial said, glancing at the woman. "This is Angela. She is a human-demon hybrid, and her expertise in infiltration and information gathering is invaluable. She will be an invaluable asset."

Angela smiled faintly, a smile that felt mysterious yet confident. "Pleasure to meet you, Tendou-sama," she said, her voice soft yet full of conviction. "I have heard much about you."

Before Tendou could reply or ask more about Angela, his phone vibrated in his jacket pocket. Ayano. An incoming call. He answered it, a bad feeling crawling up his spine.

"Big Brother! There are strange people in black suits like in movies looking for you!" Ayano's panicked voice echoed from the other end of the line, shattering the morning's calm. "They say they're from 'Valkyrie Force' or something. What should I do?"

Tendou let out a small sigh. Hiori's people. Of course. They must have noticed his absence and were worried after the last incident. An emergency meeting call for the formation of the Wolfpack Team must have been sent, and Tendou ignored it. This meant that the crucial team in the previous timeline would never form due to his absence. Emmy and the Valkyrie Force were now taking matters into their own hands, sending their agents to Tendou's house.

"It's okay, Ayano," Tendou said, trying to sound as calm as possible, though he knew this was a consequence of his actions. "Just ignore them. I have important business. You stay home, okay?"

"Okay, Big Brother," Ayano replied, her voice still a little hesitant, but she obeyed. Tendou could imagine Ayano nodding obediently.

Tendou ended the call. He glanced at Belial and Angela. The path ahead was full of risks. In this timeline, there was no 'Wolfpack' left, only Valkyrie and other special forces fighting alone. Tendou knew he had to take the initiative. He couldn't wait for the same coincidences to happen as in the past. He had to be the chess player, not just a pawn.

The Savior's Plan

"We need to speed everything up," Tendou said, his gaze burning with renewed determination. The light in his eyes was no longer despair, but a blazing strategic fire. "We must provoke those two Demon Generals to come out sooner. We don't have time to wait."

Belial raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's your plan?"

"Media," Tendou replied succinctly, a faint smirk appearing on his lips, the smirk of a commander who had seen everything and feared no challenge. "We're going to put on a 'show'. We'll draw massive public attention, forcing the demons out of their hiding and making them face us in public."

Angela smirked, a cunning glint in her sharp eyes. "A bold idea. Or foolish. But I like it." There was an underlying tone of admiration in her voice, an acknowledgment from one strategist to another.

Tendou then explained the details of their plan, his voice low yet full of authority, reflecting his thinking as Oscar, a master strategist:

Arrange a Global Live Broadcast: "Angela, with your perfect infiltration skills, we will infiltrate one of the largest television stations. We will hijack the global broadcast, and display footage of Caine whom we have abducted. This footage must be dramatic, yet controlled enough not to cause mass hysteria. Just enough to make them wonder and seek answers. In the footage, the three of us will appear wearing identical masks and introduce ourselves as a new terrorist group called 'Uroboros' – the symbol of an endless cycle."

Provocative Message to Demons and the World: "Belial, you will send a direct message to the demon world through ancient rituals or their communication channels that you know. We will openly challenge Lucifer and Mephisto, claiming that the Hero of Andromeda, Caine, is in our hands. We will state that a 'new power' has emerged to stop them, and we will specify the location and time for the battle. Use the most provocative rhetoric, playing on their pride as demon generals. Make them feel disrespected if they don't show up. The same message will be conveyed in the hijacked broadcast."

Choose a Strategic Battle Location: "We'll choose a strategic location. A densely populated metropolitan area, but one that can be evacuated quickly, or at least, has clear evacuation routes. Perhaps the Tokyo Dome or a similar area with plenty of infrastructure that we can utilize as a battlefield. Make sure this location also has enough space for media coverage from a safe distance, so the whole world can witness our 'show' and see the destruction of the demon generals."

Luring Caine: "Our target is Caine. He lives in Andromeda, the nation where the first heroes were born, a fortress that always relies on the absolute protection of their heroes. Once Caine regains consciousness, we must convince him about Paradox's threat and our goals. This will be difficult; he is very stubborn. If he still refuses, we will use him as the ultimate bait. We will announce that the Hero of Andromeda is in our hands, and only if Lucifer and Mephisto appear, Caine will be released. This will provoke both of them and even the Valkyrie Force to move, forcing them to participate in our plan, whether they like it or not." Tendou knew this was a very dangerous step, but he had to take the gamble. For Ayano, for the future.

Individual Roles: "Angela, you will be the field strategist for manipulating the situation, monitoring the movements of Valkyrie and special forces, and ensuring our broadcast runs smoothly. You are also responsible for keeping Caine controlled and ready for his 'debut'. Belial, you will be the main liaison with the demon world, provoking them, and also being a primary force in the battle. I..." Tendou clenched his fists, his resolve iron-hard. "I will be the main bait. I will appear in public, show off the Nexus's power, and directly draw the attention of those two Generals. We will all wear Uroboros masks."

This plan was a huge gamble. He had to manipulate events, move the pieces on this chessboard, before the horror of the future became a reality again. The three of them—a human from the future carrying dark memories, a demon seeking redemption behind a human facade, and a cunning hybrid with newly found loyalty—now formed an unexpected alliance that would change the course of history. Their destinies were intertwined in complex threads, woven by unseen hands.

The Hero Abduction Mission: Andromeda

Their target was Caine. He lived in Andromeda, the nation where the first heroes were born. A nation that always relied on the absolute protection of their heroes, a symbol of security that was about to be shaken.

In Andromeda, that morning began as usual. The sun shone brightly over the hero's headquarters. Caine, the hero with an undefeated reputation, was performing his routine training in the headquarters' courtyard, the swing of his sword creating a thin whirring sound in the air, accompanied by his loyal right-hand woman, Vanessa. However, the "Vanessa" standing beside Caine was not the real one. Angela had infiltrated, blending in perfectly. Her aura and movements were so convincing, without the slightest suspicion. Even the faint smile on her lips seemed natural, deceiving anyone who saw it.

Angela, in Vanessa's form, moved closer to Caine, as if giving a routine report. "Caine-sama, there's a new report regarding demon movements in the eastern sector. It seems to be a minor general, but their movements are quite suspicious."

Caine, who was focused on honing his sword technique, nodded, sweat dripping from his temples. "Is that so? Good, that means we can secure that area before they reach the border. Prepare the troops, we'll move in an hour." His mind was already set on the next mission, vigilant but confident.

As Caine focused on his sword training, his mind already on the next mission, "Vanessa" suddenly moved swiftly, launching an unexpected surprise attack. A precise blow landed on a vital point on Caine's neck, a perfect precision only achievable by someone skilled in demon martial arts and infiltration. The blow was not to kill, but to incapacitate, to shut down the hero's consciousness.

BLUGH!

Caine staggered, his eyes widening in shock. His body lost control, his consciousness vanishing in an instant, like a light suddenly going out. His body collapsed unconscious, his sword falling with a loud clang on the ground, bouncing on the pavement, marking the end of the morning's tranquility.

"Mission accomplished," Angela whispered into her comms device, a faint, cunning smirk on her lips. A sly smile of victory.

From the sky, a sleek, black transport aircraft, specially designed for speed and secrecy, descended almost silently. It was Tendou's personal aircraft, modified with obscuring magic and cloaking technology, making it virtually invisible to regular radar. Angela expertly lifted Caine's unconscious body, and together with Tendou and Belial who were already waiting inside the aircraft, they sped away. In an instant, the aircraft soared, piercing through the cloud layers, disappearing without a trace, leaving emptiness and confusion behind.

Minutes later, chaos erupted in Andromeda. Soldiers on guard duty rushed to the scene of the attack after hearing the loud clang and realizing Caine had vanished. However, their horror didn't stop there.

Soon after, an urgent report arrived from a secluded storage warehouse in a corner of the headquarters. There, they found the real Vanessa tightly bound to a pillar, her mouth gagged with thick cloth, and her eyes wide with fear and confusion. She had been attacked and tied up just before Angela took over her role. This proved that there was an impostor among them, an enemy capable of breaching their defenses, disturbing the sense of security they had long held.

Reports of Caine's abduction and Vanessa's hostage situation, as well as the sighting of a fleeing alien aircraft, quickly spread, triggering high alerts throughout the nation. The Kingdom of Andromeda immediately declared a high-level state of emergency, all forces put on standby, searching for the invisible enemy.

"Our hero has been kidnapped!" Cries of panic filled every street corner, echoing throughout the palace and city. The sense of security they had known for so long crumbled.

"And Vanessa is also held hostage! This must be the work of demons! They finally dared to attack with such a vile trick!" Rumors spread like wildfire, fueling uncontrolled public fear and anger. Andromeda's spies and agents were immediately deployed to find the perpetrators, convinced that this was a planned attack by demon forces.

No one knew that behind the scenes, the masterminds of this "crime" were Tendou, Belial, and Angela, who had now fled far away, carrying the abducted hero towards a new, unwritten destiny. They were unexpected adversaries, doing the wrong thing for the right reason, to save the world from an inevitable destruction.

The Uroboros Broadcast and Emmy's Suspicion

The next day, the panic in Andromeda had spread across the globe. Hiori, who was chairing a meeting at Valkyrie headquarters, received a call from the UN. The large screen behind her displayed a world map filled with red dots.

"Yes, Hiori here?" Hiori's voice sounded firm, yet there was an undeniable wariness. "What is that... impossible. Alright, I'll inform my troops." She put down the phone, her expression troubled, her gaze shifting to Aura.

Aura Hoshimi, standing beside her with her usual calm and attentive demeanor, glanced at Hiori; Aura's calm expression showed she already suspected something serious. "What happened, Lady Hiori?"

Hiori sighed, looking at the projection screen displaying news of Caine's abduction. "The Hero has been kidnapped by unknown individuals. The UN and the priests believe the perpetrators are demons, but... using an aircraft. Does that seem odd to you, Aura?"

Aura frowned, tapping her chin with a finger. "Perhaps, Lady Hiori. Perhaps this is the work of an insider there, or an enemy far more advanced than we imagine. The use of high-level technology is unusual for pure demons."

At that very moment, as planned, Angela directly hacked and rerouted media channels worldwide. Television screens everywhere, from giant displays at Tokyo intersections to living room TVs, flickered, displayed static, then cut to a dark scene. In the center of the darkness, two identical masked figures appeared, plain dark gray masks with the symbol of the Uroboros snake circling their foreheads, emanating a mysterious, threatening aura.

The first figure, larger with blonde hair (Belial), spoke with a voice deliberately distorted, deep and echoing, as if from the depths of hell. B: "Hello everyone, how are you? Are you doing well? Of course not! We have captured your hero!" Behind them, a short clip of Caine, bound and bewildered, was played. No torture, just confinement, enough to spark anger and public fear.

Then, the second figure, slenderer with black hair (Tendou), spoke, his voice also altered but still retaining a familiar resonance to some. T: "Don't worry, we won't harm him. We just want to lure someone out of the demon world. You'll find out who our target is later. This is a show for the world!" At the end of his sentence, a faint, almost inaudible laugh, yet very distinctive, escaped him.

At Valkyrie headquarters, Hiori and Aura were silent, tense. Suddenly, Otoya contacted Hiori, his voice filled with urgency. "Hiori-senpai! I've successfully traced the broadcast location! It's in Tokyo, near the harbor area! The signal is very strong!"

"All special forces and Valkyrie, immediately deploy to the coordinates Otoya provided!" Hiori commanded, her voice sharp and authoritative, her eyes focused on the map that appeared on the screen.

Emmy, who was also watching the broadcast on the large screen next to Hiori, felt her heart pound strangely. That black-masked man... that faint laugh at the end of his message. It was a laugh she knew too well. Tendou's laugh. Emmy gasped, her eyes widening, a flash of anger and confusion crossing them. She knew Tendou wasn't good at keeping secrets, especially his little laugh. But what did all this mean? What was Tendou's plan to kidnap the Hero? Why was he involved in something so dangerous? Her mind raced, searching for answers.

Just then, her sister called Emmy. "Emmy! Quickly put on your Exo Suit Mark II! We have to get to the location immediately!"

However, instead of heading to the given coordinates, Emmy veered off, following her strong instinct, heading towards Tendou's location. She could feel a strange energy from the broadcast, an energy she suspected belonged to Tendou, emanating strongly from a different direction. In an instant, she was on a tall rooftop, seeing Tendou, still wearing the Uroboros mask, standing beside Angela and Belial.

Her comms device crackled in her ear. "Emmy, did you find our target? Are you at the coordinates?" Hiori's voice sounded urgent.

Immediately, Emmy threw her comms device, letting it shatter at her feet. Her purple eyes stared intently at Tendou, filled with a mix of anger and worry. "Tendou! What are you doing?! Explain everything to me! Why did you kidnap Caine?! And who are they?!"

Tendou looked at Emmy, his expression serious behind the mask. He removed his mask, revealing his resolute face. "Emmy... this will sound crazy, but you have to believe me." He then told her about his grim future, about the coming destruction, about Ayano's death that he couldn't prevent, and about himself turning into a monster. He told her about Belial, the demon who had changed his heart, and about his offer to return to the past. His voice was low, yet every word carried the weight of a terrifying truth.

After hearing the story, Emmy began to understand, her eyes wide with shock, but slowly replaced by comprehension and determination. Her anger and confusion faded, replaced by seriousness. She looked at Tendou, then at Belial and Angela. "So... that's what happened..." She sighed, as if digesting the entire heavy story. "Okay, I'll follow your plan." A determined fire burned in her eyes.

It was then that Belial and Angela appeared, removing their masks. Emmy, who did not know they were both demons, gasped. However, Belial and Angela immediately explained their true identities, about Belial's coup, and their goal to defeat Paradox. Emmy listened, her shock giving way to calm acceptance. This was a big gamble, but if it was for a better future, she had to take it. Her trust in Tendou outweighed all doubt.

Just as they had expected, the sky over Tokyo suddenly darkened. Thick black clouds churned, and lightning flashed, splitting the darkness, as if the arrival of two immense powers had come. The figures of Lucifer and Mephisto, two Demon Generals, appeared in the storm, their terrifying aura emanating, filling the air with overwhelming fear and pressure. The plan had worked.

Tendou looked at Emmy, his gaze full of a plea, a heavy burden in his eyes. "Emmy, I have one request. Please take Ayano out of the city. To a very safe place. Don't let her get involved in any of this." His voice carried an undeniable urgency.

Emmy nodded without asking. After hearing Tendou's story, she knew how important it was to keep Ayano safe. This was a promise. "I will do it. Be careful, Tendou." She sped away, heading towards Tendou's house, as swift as the wind.

Outside, the Special Forces and Valkyrie had arrived, forming defensive formations around the Tokyo Dome. Their faces were tense. They stared at the dark clouds they had never seen before, a bad premonition shrouding them, chilling them to the bone. And to their shock, they saw two demon generals had appeared in the Tokyo sky, their malevolent aura so palpable, emanating between flashes of lightning. Down below, Tendou and Belial stood in the arena, ready to face them, their silhouettes small yet determined beneath the giant threat.

This was where the great battle would begin, a battle that would determine the fate of the future, under the darkened Tokyo sky.