A thunderous roar echoed through a corner of the Western Demon Realm as colossal flames erupted toward the sky. The heat was intense enough to melt rock and soil alike, yet the resulting tornado of fire was sliced clean in two in a single instant.
Agni, the Head of the Five War Generals, grinned even as she watched her own technique neutralized. Her smile deepened as she kicked off the ground, lunging forward at an extraordinary speed to unleash a flaming fist.
Six blades rose to meet her strike. The ensuing collision of massive magic power sent another shockwave through the air, the sound of their clash reverberating across the wasteland.
After a period of relentless combat, Agni wiped the sweat from her brow with a refreshed expression and called out to her opponent.
"That was a magnificent bout. You have my thanks."
"No... it was excellent training for me as well," her opponent replied. "Though you seemed particularly motivated today."
"I recently had the chance to encounter a new powerhouse. Apparently, she has become a subordinate of the Death King, so I find myself looking forward to our next rematch."
"I see."
The woman answering Agni was tall, with an iridescent short bob and antennae protruding from her head. Beetle-like wings rested upon her back. As she spoke, she retracted her six arms until only two remained.
"Even so, Sirius-dono, your swordsmanship is as formidable as ever. I believe your skills have sharpened even further since we last met."
"I accept your praise with gratitude."
"I know what your answer will be since I have asked a dozen times before, but I suppose I shall try once more... Sirius-dono, have you no interest in joining the War King Faction? With your caliber, you would be named an Executive immediately."
"I appreciate the high regard you hold me in... but unfortunately, I must decline. I have my hands full simply training myself. I have no intention of joining any faction."
"Is that so? It is a pity, but I cannot force you. Please, accompany me in another mock battle sometime."
"Certainly. I would be happy to. Testing myself against you is always meaningful."
The Insectoid woman known as Sirius turned down the invitation, repeating an exchange that had occurred many times before.
Even in the Demon Realm, Sirius was a rare existence—a high-ranking Count-class powerhouse who refused to swear fealty to any of the Six Kings. Renowned as the Six-armed Sword Demon, she was widely considered the greatest swordsman in the Demon Realm.
Despite her fame, she spent her days in solitary devotion to her craft, accepting challenges from anyone who sought them but never lingering in any camp.
Agni, having known her for a long time, expected the rejection. She offered a quick greeting and departed without a hint of offense.
Once she was alone, Sirius began to maintain her blades, her mind wandering. While others lauded her as the greatest swordsman in the Demon Realm, she personally rejected the title with every fiber of her being.
She had a reason for her persistence, a reason why she continued to train with such single-minded intensity. It all traced back to a single swordsman she had encountered long ago.
More than ten thousand years had passed since that dual-wielding swordsman appeared before her. At the time, Sirius had been arrogant, convinced that no one in the Demon Realm could match her steel. The memory of the stranger’s face had faded with the millennia, but she still recalled the long beetle-like horn and the black, diamond-hard shell.
Most of all, she remembered the battle. Sirius, who had believed her techniques were the pinnacle of the realm, was defeated without ever managing to trade a proper blow.
—Transcendent Soaring Snake Style, First Sword: Enemy Felling!
It had been a sword of transcendent beauty, moving like a dance. Yet it possessed a raw, savage power like a dragon claiming the sky. It was utterly sublime.
Even as she fell in a single strike, she felt no bitterness. The gap between them had been so vast that defeat felt like the only natural conclusion. In that moment, she realized she had finally seen the peak she was meant to climb.
—Become strong.
The Mysterious Swordsman had left those few words behind before vanishing. From that day forward, Sirius’s true journey began.
She felt no shame in her loss, but the fact that she hadn't even been able to make that swordsman take her seriously was a humiliation that burned like fire. Fueled by a profound sense of admiration, Sirius began to polish her soul.
To one day surpass that stranger, she tore down her style and rebuilt it from nothing. Even now, having reached the absolute zenith of the Count-class, she did not stop.
Curiously, she never found another trace of that Mysterious Swordsman. Despite their overwhelming strength, not a single rumor existed of their whereabouts. At times, she wondered if it had all been a fever dream—but the scar on the back of her right hand remained. She had deliberately chosen not to heal it, letting it serve as proof that the encounter had been real.
She didn't know why the stranger had vanished, but for now, she didn't mind. She suspected that even if they met today, the result would likely be the same as it was ten thousand years ago.
(I can feel myself growing stronger. And yet, I don't feel any closer to that swordsman... The summit is still so very far away.)
As she cleaned her swords, she reflected on her duel with Agni. Fighting a master of Agni's caliber—one of the finest warriors even among the high-ranking Count-class—was always fruitul.
She had identified several flaws in her form today, which gave her fresh motivation for her training. However, Sirius couldn't ignore the slight sense of stagnation creeping in.
(Sparring with those of equal caliber is useful, but I feel I have hit a ceiling. If I am to grow, I need to face someone stronger. I have focused so much on close-quarters combat; perhaps I should face someone with overwhelming power at mid-to-long range. If I do, I might find the breakthrough I need.)
To surpass her current self, she craved a challenge against a superior opponent. But there were very few beings who surpassed a high-ranking Count-class warrior.
If so, the opponents Sirius sought were inevitable.
(I want to test myself... against one of the Kings. If I asked Agni, she might be able to arrange a meeting with the War King, but too many people seek to fight him. It would take forever to get my turn. Besides, I would prefer someone who specializes in magic, which is my greatest weakness. That leaves the Underworld King, the Death King, or the World King. The Underworld King and World King are difficult to meet in person, but the Death King is said to be more accessible. I wonder... would she accept my challenge?)
Sirius looked up, noticing the beautiful full Moon hanging in the night sky. As she gazed at it, a vague, inexplicable premonition crossed her mind—a feeling that visiting Death King Isis would become a major turning point in her life.
Serious-senpai: "...Hmm, based on the flow of things, it looks like Sirius will be the first one to actually meet Isis. What do you think, Mysterious Swordsman?"
???: "...I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. I have absolutely no connection to that Transcendent Beautiful Girl Swordsman."