Arion’s Watchful Eye – The Demon’s Gambit

The Heavenly Palace, once a realm of unparalleled serenity, was now a battlefield of frozen devastation. The air crackled with absolute cold, the very concept of warmth erased from existence.

And yet—she had lost.

Velzard stood in the center of the ruined landscape, her hands clenched into tight fists, her icy-blue eyes burning with silent rage. The memory of her battle replayed in her mind like a cruel jest.

She had always believed that, aside from Veldanava, no one in the Cardinal World could stand against her. She was a True Dragon, an entity beyond mortal comprehension. She ruled over cold itself, capable of freezing even time and space.

And yet—she had lost.

To Veldora.

Her younger brother.

That reckless, battle-hungry, impulsive brat had overpowered her.

It was unthinkable. Unacceptable.

The battlefield bore witness to her humiliation—cracks in the frozen plains, melted ice, remnants of a battle where flawless control had failed against raw, untamed power.

She exhaled sharply, her breath materializing into a dense mist. The wound to her pride was far greater than any physical injury.

"Veldora… You dare surpass me?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of her indignation.

Veldora had always been the youngest, the most reckless. While she and Velgrynd had carried themselves with the dignity befitting True Dragons, Veldora had always been a battle-maniac, seeking fights wherever he could find them.

And now—he had surpassed her.

A surge of fury and determination flared within her.

She had always been proud of her absolute control, her ability to freeze anything, to erase weakness and imperfection. Yet against Veldora's chaotic storm, her control had shattered.

It wasn't just raw strength.

He had evolved.

And if she did not do the same—she would be left behind.

As the storm of her emotions raged, a sudden wave of heat interrupted her thoughts.

A fiery presence descended from the sky, a golden-red brilliance piercing through the icy atmosphere. Velzard didn't need to turn—she already knew who it was.

Velgrynd, the Flame Dragon.

Her sister landed gracefully, surveying the frozen battlefield with an amused smirk.

"Well, well… I thought I'd find you brooding, but I didn't expect the whole palace to turn into an ice graveyard."

Velzard remained silent, her expression cold and unreadable.

Velgrynd stepped forward, folding her arms. "Come on, Velzard. Even for you, this is a bit much. What happened?"

Velzard's grip tightened, but she refused to answer immediately.

Velgrynd, of course, noticed.

Her smirk widened. "Oh? So you actually lost a fight?"

Velzard's aura flared for a moment, an instinctive reaction to the taunt—but Velgrynd wasn't intimidated. If anything, she was more amused.

"Don't tell me… Veldora?"

Velzard finally turned to her, her expression unreadable.

"Yes."

Velgrynd's amusement vanished.

For a moment, silence hung between them.

Then, Velgrynd sighed. "That idiot actually managed to beat you?"

Velzard's gaze darkened. "Do you think I'd joke about something like this?"

Velgrynd studied her sister for a long moment before chuckling. "Well… that explains why you're going so hard."

Velzard scoffed. "You wouldn't understand, Velgrynd."

Velgrynd raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't I? Do you think I'd be any less furious if our youngest brother suddenly surpassed me?"

Velzard looked away, her expression cold. "He didn't surpass me. I let my guard down."

Velgrynd smirked. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."

Velzard glared at her, but Velgrynd only chuckled.

"Listen, Velzard. I get it. We're True Dragons. We stand at the top. To lose, especially to one of our own that we consider the weakest. But are you just going to sit here and sulk?"

Velzard's aura flared again. "Sulk? I am training."

Velgrynd's eyes gleamed. "Then let me join you."

Velzard frowned. "What?"

Velgrynd's expression turned serious. "Veldora evolved. That means we're falling behind. If you think I'm going to let that happen, you're mistaken."

She cracked her knuckles, a wave of heat radiating from her body. "Let's push each other. If Veldora is rising, then we'll rise even higher."

Velzard stared at her sister for a long moment.

Then, slowly, a smirk formed on her lips.

"Fine. But don't complain when you get burned."

Velgrynd smirked back. "I was about to say the same to you."

The air exploded as their combined auras clashed—fire and ice, chaos and order, two absolute forces colliding.

-------

The air in the grand chamber of Arion's palace was thick with an oppressive aura, as if the very space bent under the weight of the two beings within it. The dim torches flickered along the dark obsidian walls, casting twisting shadows that seemed almost alive.

Seated upon an ornate throne, Arion, the ever-calm Demon King, observed the report before him with a measured gaze. His golden eyes gleamed in the darkness, their glow betraying the storm of calculations brewing in his mind.

Standing before him was Diablo, his most cunning and loyal agent, a smirk playing on his lips as he delivered the latest report from the Black Legion's spies.

But tonight, they were not alone.

Lounging casually on a chair beside Arion, sipping from a golden goblet, was none other than Veldora, the Storm Dragon, in his human form. His golden hair was slightly tousled, his draconic aura barely contained, making the air feel charged with energy, like the calm before a raging storm.

Diablo, with his usual sly confidence, chuckled lightly, finally breaking the silence.

"My lord Arion, I bring you most intriguing news."

Arion gave him a slow nod, a silent order to continue.

Diablo's smirk deepened. "It appears that Misery and Rain have been… searching. Asking around, inquiring about who is the strongest being in this world."

At this, Veldora, who had been absentmindedly swirling his drink, perked up. His golden eyes narrowed with sudden interest.

Arion, however, remained calm, though his fingers, resting on the armrest of his throne, tapped lightly in thought.

"That demon fool…" Arion murmured, his voice a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "That arrogance of his knows no limits."

Diablo, with a knowing chuckle, bowed slightly. "Shall we assume that Guy is, once again, looking for a fight? A very particular fight?"

A smirk tugged at Arion's lips. "There's only one logical conclusion."

Then, with an almost amused scoff, he leaned back. "He's aiming for Veldanava."

The moment those words left his mouth, Veldora burst into laughter.

A deep, roaring laughter.

It echoed throughout the chamber, shaking the very walls. Veldora clutched his stomach, struggling to contain himself.

"Hahahaha! That demon fool actually thinks he can challenge my brother?! The Creator of this world?! The strongest being to ever exist?!"

He wiped away a tear of mirth, still grinning. "Oh, I wish I could be there to watch him get utterly humiliated! That would be priceless!"

Diablo, ever composed, simply chuckled at Veldora's reaction, but Arion's expression shifted.

An idea had just formed.

The golden-eyed Demon King tilted his head slightly, fingers once again tapping against his throne. An eerie silence fell over the room as his mind calculated the perfect move.

Then, with a slow, wicked grin, he turned to Diablo.

"Diablo, I have a new order for your spies."

Diablo straightened, his crimson eyes gleaming in anticipation.

"Give them a crystal ball." Arion's voice was smooth, yet laced with amusement. "One that will project Guy's entire interaction with Veldanava… directly to us."

A slow, delighted grin spread across Diablo's face. "Ah… Now that is truly a magnificent idea."

Veldora's eyes widened slightly, then his grin returned, even wilder than before.

"Ohoho! So, I'll get to witness that prideful demon make a fool of himself in real-time?" He leaned forward eagerly. "Oh, this is going to be good."

Arion simply smirked, his golden eyes glowing faintly. "We'll see whether this is mere foolishness… or the beginning of something far more dangerous."

Diablo, his amusement never fading, bowed once more. "Consider it done, my lord."

And with that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the flickering torches… and the barely-contained laughter of Veldora, who was already anticipating the show of a lifetime.