The Silent Deity: Saiki Kusuo in Tensura

The wind was still.

The sky above the Storm Kingdom was bright, calm, and gentle—as if the world itself didn't realize that a war was about to start.

Far from that peace, hidden behind trees, hills, and mountains, the Paladins of Ruberios had split into three specialized squads. Each group was composed of 20 elite warriors, handpicked by Hinata Sakaguchi herself. They crouched low in the tall grass just outside the massive walls of the kingdom.

Paladin #1 (whispering): "Can't believe we're doing this... Against a True Dragon?"

Paladin #2: "We have the barrier orbs. That monster won't even stand."

Paladin #3: "Still… feels like we're walking into something."

Up on a nearby cliff, Hinata stood silently, her white armor gleaming under the sunlight. Her sword rested at her side, but her eyes were sharp like daggers, focused directly on the kingdom. Her long silver hair flowed in the breeze.

Hinata (to herself): "This ends today. No more monsters claiming to be kings…"

Behind her, the Falmuth army—20,000 soldiers—lined up in waves, all waiting for her signal.

Inside his large black-and-gold command tent, King Edmaris sat smugly, drinking wine with his mind already fantasizing about claiming the riches of the Storm Kingdom.

Edmaris (smirking): "Weaken the monsters. Take the land. Split the wealth. We become legends."

Advisor #1 (under Clayman's control): "Yes, Your Majesty. With the Church and Paladins at our side, who can stop us?"

Edmaris (raising his goblet): "To victory."

There was no one.

The bustling streets? Illusions.

The soldiers patrolling the walls? Fake.

The taverns, inns, children playing in the markets? All illusions.

Saiki Kusuo, floating silently in the sky, sipping a cup of coffee jelly, had woven a master illusion so real that even trained mages would be fooled.

He blinked.

Saiki (thinking): "Yare yare… they're walking into a magic theater."

Below him, Veldora, dressed in full armor made from divine dragon scales and wearing a flowing cloak that screamed "Regal Final Boss," was drinking tea casually in a hidden observation chamber beneath the city.

Veldora (grinning): "Ooooh! They're falling for it! This is better than theater!"

Testarossa (arms crossed, smirking): "When shall we strike, my King?"

Veldora: "Let them taste the illusion first… then we give them reality."

From the cliff, Hinata raised her hand.

Hinata: "Now."

The Paladins activated the three magicule-suppressing orbs. In an instant, massive towers of light burst into the sky, forming a huge shimmering barrier that wrapped around the Storm Kingdom like a dome of divine power.

To the world watching—spies from every corner, Demon Lords from afar, kings and queens holding magical mirrors—what they saw was monsters inside the kingdom collapsing, screaming, staggering in pain.

Spy from Sarion: "They're weakening…! The barrier is working!"

Guy Crimson (watching through a portal, sipping wine): "Hmm. Looks convincing… but I know Veldora better."

Milim (excited): "Heehee! This is gonna get good!"

Velzard (arms folded): "Just wait. Im sure he's planning something insane."

Hinata gave the second signal.

Falmuth's army charged with thunderous roars, blades raised, spells prepped.

Edmaris (shouting): "Into glory! For Falmuth!"

The soldiers stormed into the kingdom—right through the giant front gates that were strangely wide open.

Soldier #1: "Huh… why is no one defending the entrance?"

Soldier #2: "They're probably all weak! Go! Take the center!"

The Paladins leapt down from the cliffs, racing through the walls.

As they entered… chaos.

But not the kind they expected.

Illusions of goblins screamed. Ogres ran. Orcs cried for help. Even some dragons dropped from the sky.

Everything looked chaotic. But something felt… off.

Hinata (suspicious): "Why aren't we being attacked? These monsters… they're running."

Paladin Captain: "We're winning! Press forward!"

The army stormed deeper, stabbing fake soldiers, slashing illusions, breaking "buildings" that simply crumbled into mist. The sounds of battle echoed around them. And yet… no resistance. Only chaos.

Paladin #7 (confused): "I stabbed that goblin and it vanished."

Paladin #10: "Same with the ogre I attacked. Wait—was that even real?"

Hinata (yelling): "Something's wrong! REGROUP!"

But it was too late.

Suddenly—

BOOM!

A wall of blue energy shattered the illusion. And from the smoke rose the real Veldora, floating in the sky, surrounded by Testarossa, Benimaru, Shion, and the entire elite command squad.

Veldora (arms wide): "You have trespassed into my domain. I hope you enjoyed my little play."

Silence. All soldiers froze.

Edmaris (terrified): "W-What is this?"

Veldora (now glowing with draconic aura): "This land is under my protection. You came here with lies. With bloodlust. And now…"

He raised his hand.

Veldora: "…you shall pay the price."

Suddenly—an earthquake.

From the ground rose giant magicule turrets, created by Saiki's powers and demon-tech enhancements. They aimed directly at the army.

Testarossa (smiling): "Shall we begin, my Lord?"

Veldora (grinning): "Yes. Fire."

The air trembled with tension.

High above the battlefield, Veldora floated like a god of judgment, his presence casting a deep shadow over the ruins of war. His golden eyes scanned the field below, where Testarossa and her crimson-dressed demon army surged forward like a tide of wrath. Beside them, Shion charged with wild elegance, her blade singing through the air. Benimaru led the flame division, his soldiers wrapped in blazing magicules. Hakuro danced between enemy blades with deadly grace. Geld smashed through formations like a wrecking ball, Gobta shouted orders to the patrol units, and Rigurd, always noble, led the vanguard.

The army of the Storm Kingdom was a force unlike any seen before — organized, precise, and terrifyingly powerful.

The Paladins and Falmuth soldiers, confident in their barrier spells and battle strategy, met them with swords drawn. But within moments, the truth dawned—

"W-why aren't they weakened!?"

"I thought the orbs…!"

"Retreat! RETREAT!"

But there was no escape.

The Storm Kingdom forces, enhanced by Saiki's illusions, Testarossa's tactics, and Veldora's preparation, swept through the enemy ranks like a storm through a field of paper. Screams echoed, steel clashed, but one thing was clear—

This wasn't a battle. It was a performance.

And it was flawless.

Above the carnage, Veldora's voice cut through the noise like thunder:

"Leave Hinata to me."

His army obeyed, stepping back as Veldora slowly descended from the sky, his aura crackling with untamed divinity. Lightning danced around him like he was nature itself taking human form.

Standing amid fallen soldiers, Hinata Sakaguchi, commander of the Paladins, gritted her teeth. Her silver hair was windswept, her armor battered, but her spirit blazed like fire.

She drew her Moonlight Sword, a blade forged from ancient divine crystal that shimmered with celestial energy.

Veldora (coldly): "Hinata... You thought you could march into my kingdom, slay my people, and leave unscathed?"

Hinata (furious): "You killed one of my knights. I don't care if you're a dragon—I'll make you bleed!"

Without another word, she dashed forward—lightning-quick.

Their blades collided with an explosion of light.

Hinata moved like a goddess of war. Her strikes were clean, sharp, unpredictable. She fought with centuries of refined technique, each movement trained to perfection.

But Veldora… he wasn't the same reckless dragon anymore.

Thanks to Saiki, his mind was sharpened, his form honed, and his swordsmanship enhanced to the level of a master duelist. He deflected Hinata's blade as though he were correcting a child's posture.

Hinata (gritting her teeth): "Tch…!"

She activated her skill Mathematician—her vision changed, her brain calculated Veldora's every motion with precision... but—

Hinata: "What?! I can't read him!"

She tried Usurper, attempting to copy his techniques. Her body began mimicking his form—but again, something was missing. Veldora's swordplay had depth, style, divine precision. Her copy was only a shadow.

He smiled calmly, casually blocking her next blow with two fingers wrapped around his blade.

Veldora: "Try again."

Hinata (furious): "I said, don't mock me!"

She jumped back and launched Melt Slash, a searing magicule-infused horizontal cut, enough to melt through enchanted steel.

But Veldora didn't even flinch.

The slash hit him like a breeze hitting a mountain. The aftershock melted the dirt around him—but he stood unharmed.

Hinata (shocked): "No way…"

In the shadows, Luminous Valentine watched in silence, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Luminous (thinking): "So this is the new Veldora…"

Hinata roared, charging with her True Slash, a condensed energy strike meant to pierce anything in its path.

Veldora parried with a bored expression.

Veldora: "That was slightly better."

Hinata: "You MONSTER!"

Hinata clenched her teeth. Her body bled. She gathered all of her power and combined two of her deadliest techniques:

—Dead End Rainbow, a multi-layered slash of seven elemental types.

—Dimension Fault, a spatial cutting skill meant to bypass all defenses.

Her sword ignited in color and distortion. The sky cracked. Even the watching Demon Lords felt the pressure.

Guy Crimson (watching from afar): "That will not work, not with this new Veldora."

Hinata lunged, screaming, her sword slicing through dimensions—only for Veldora to counter, spinning his blade in a divine arc.

SLASH!

Her scream echoed as her arm—the one holding the sword—was severed cleanly.

She crashed to the ground, eyes wide in agony, blood splattering across the dirt.

Hinata (crying out): "Aaaaaahhhh!"

Veldora stood over her, sword raised, his expression unreadable.

Veldora (coldly): "I gave you a chance."

Just as he swung down—

Luminous: "That's enough."