1991 There is no need
"Elder Tapir, do you mind if I show the recordings of one of your Watching Soul Eyes?" Fagund felt that he at least owed Titia, Doohan, and Salahi that much. After all, they had been training for this moment for far too long.
Tapir simply took one of the Watching Soul Eyes and threw it at Fagund as he prepared to leave. "Be quick."
Naturally, that eye was one of those that followed the twins on the first day. It perfectly reproduced the moment Roan used his Soul Guiding Power for the first time. Not long after, it also showed the huge stream of souls that was formed behind Rean when he tried the same thing.
"Y-Young Master... is this true?" Titia was the first one to recover after seeing the twins' abilities.
Fagund nodded, saying, "Fleus and I were there. Naturally, Elder Tapir saw it through the eyes. Gean and Doan's natural abilities aren't just related to their strength. There's no doubt they were born in the Realm of Gods, but that wasn't a hindrance to them at all."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtDoohan and Salahi went silent after that. Salahi, especially, felt embarrassed in front of the twins. A moment ago, he was making fun of the twins' results. Yet, the truth was that he was making fun of himself instead. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Roan glanced at Salahi for a moment, telling him in response, "Would you have believed me if I told you?"
Sure enough, Titia, Doonha, and Salahi would have never believed that without seeing the Watching Soul Eye's recording. The best thing was for the twins to simply stay silent.
Eventually, Tapir got everything ready and immediately took everyone with him from the mansion. He had to go back to the Light Devil Clan to pass over the results. At the same time, he was worried about something else. Following that, he flew at full speed. As mentioned before, he had to get further away from the Path of Reincarnation to be able to open a spatial fissure to travel.
Unfortunately, someone else didn't let him go that easily. The moment he stepped out of the area near the Path of Reincarnation, Tapir immediately felt that someone was waiting for him ahead. Not only him, but the twins also felt that extra Divine Sense heading in their group's direction.
"What do you want?" Tapir could only stop there as he knew the Devil ahead wasn't just some weakling.
Sure enough, space broke apart before a devil stepped out. "You're that Tapir from the Light Devil Clan, right?"
"So what?" Tapir asked in response. "Wait, I know you. You're Malado from the Mephisto Clan. I've seen you during the last Underworld Relic Competition."
Malado faintly smiled in response. "I usually keep a low profile, so I'm surprised you even know my name. That's correct. I'm Malado from the Mephisto Clan."
"So be it. What do you want?" Tapir kept his guard high.
Malado then pointed at the twins on Tapir's side. "I received an interesting report some time ago and came here to check. It seems like your clan bagged a nice duo for the next Soul Guiding Contest. Unfortunately, I can't allow them to take part in it two years from now."
"Hmph!" Tapir couldn't care less. "What will you do about it? Attacking the representatives of each clan is prohibited by the agreement made between all the top lines. Is Elder Devil Mephisto worried about losing the Underworld Relic this time around?"
Surprisingly, Malado nodded. "That's correct. After holding four contests this millennium, four clans have one victory each. Your Light Devil Clan got one of those victories. The Underworld Soul Guiding Contest could determine which of these four will get two wins or if another line would get one victory as well. It wouldn't be a problem if a different clan got a victory. After all, that would bring four clans to the fighting stage, and my Mephisto Clan would definitely win it. However, after what we saw these devils of yours doing, Clan Master Elder Devil Mephisto isn't sure that we can keep the relic."
Immediately after saying that, Spatial Power and Dark Element began to gather around Malado. It was obvious that he was preparing to attack.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmTapir wasn't worried, though. "Hmph! I'm also a High Devil, idiot! Also, I'm a Light Devil with Light Element Affinity." With that, Light Element and Spatial Power gathered around Tapir. The only problem was that Light Element was a lot more scarce in the Underworld, so he couldn't use it as much. In the same way that Light Element was bad for Dark Element, the opposite was also true.
Tapir also took the chance to talk with Rean's group. 'You guys should leave while I hold him back. Above all, make sure to protect Fagund.'
Titia, Fleus, Salahi, Doohan, as well as the other devils who were brought together, accepted Tapir's orders. Fagund was the next Light Devil Clan Master, after all. He couldn't die.
As for Rean and Roan, they didn't think it was going to be that easy. 'Forget it. Since that guy came to fight you, knowing that his clan was breaking the rules, he definitely has a plan. We can guarantee you that they've prepared everything to make us disappear without anyone knowing what happened.'
Tapir narrowed his eyes for a moment but couldn't go against Rean and Roan's words. Nevertheless, he couldn't give up there. 'You have to at least try. Gean, Doan, you two aren't normal. If you have a way to flee this place with Fagund, do so now.'
'Spatial Black Quagmire!'
Malado didn't give Tapir the chance to talk a bit more and immediately attacked. Dark Element and Spatial Power fused together, creating a field that tried to drag everyone inside. It made it difficult to move, not to mention that it had the power to kill the twins' group.
'Light Ascension Domain!'
Of course, Tapir wouldn't just stay there and let them be killed. His Light Element and Spatial Power also fused together, counterattacking Malado's Spatial Black Quagmire. At the same time, he shot in Malado's direction with his sword in hand while he used his Divine Sense to talk. 'Go, now!'
Yet surprisingly, Rean and Roan didn't even move. 'There's no need.'
And as always, any Golden Tickets and Stones are welcome. ;)