Dark clouds loomed over the Imperial Capital, as if nature itself was holding its breath.

Inside the grand war room of the Eastern Empire, a meeting was underway—one that would determine the fate of Tempest.

The war room of the Eastern Empire buzzed with tension. The air was thick with anticipation as the Single Digits, the strongest warriors of the Empire, stood before Emperor Rudra—or rather, the man who once was Rudra.

Now, he was merely a puppet.

Feldway's will guided him, twisting his once noble ambitions into a desire for absolute conquest.

At his right stood Velgrynd, the ever-loyal True Dragon, unaware that the man she had followed for centuries was no longer himself.

The doors slammed shut as the final generals took their seats. This was not a meeting for strategy or deception. This was a declaration of war.

Rudra—his voice cold and unwavering—spoke first.

"We will crush Tempest. No diplomacy. No schemes. Only war."

A slow grin spread across General Gladim's face. He was a man who reveled in battle, and this was exactly the kind of war he desired. "Finally. Enough of the mind games. We bring down the hammer."

General Calgurio, the battle-hardened tactician, nodded. "Rimuru's forces are formidable. But no matter how strong they are, they are few. The Empire's army is in the millions. We will bury them under sheer force."

Velgrynd's fiery eyes flickered. "Tempest will not go down easily. Rimuru has proven time and time again that he is beyond ordinary. We must strike with such overwhelming might that they have no chance to respond."

Rudra nodded. "That is why we will not hold back. This will be the greatest war the world has ever seen."

Feldway, watching from the shadows, smiled. They were playing right into his hands.

A massive holographic map of the Jura Tempest Federation illuminated the room, showing every key city, stronghold, and strategic point.

Rudra raised his hand, and the war plan unfolded.

Phase One: The Storm of Fire and Steel
The Empire's fleet of airships—numbering in the thousands—would unleash relentless bombardments, turning Tempest's skies into a storm of fire and destruction.

The Imperial Ground Legions, a force of millions, would march through every border, flooding Tempest with sheer numbers.
The strongest warriors, the Single Digits, and Velgrynd herself would lead the charge, ensuring the enemy's strongest are annihilated first.

Phase Two: The Fall of Tempest
Once Tempest's outer defenses crumble, the army would march straight to the capital.
Rimuru's strongest subordinates—Benimaru, Zegion, Shion—would be isolated and eliminated first.
The Empire's elite sealing squad would subdue and capture Veldora, removing Rimuru's strongest weapon.

Phase Three: The Death of Rimuru

With his kingdom in ruins and his forces crushed, Rimuru himself would be surrounded and killed.
No mercy. No retreat. Tempest will be erased from existence.
Rudra's voice boomed across the room.

"This is the will of the Empire. The world belongs to us. Tempest will fall."

The Single Digits slammed their fists on the table, roaring in agreement.

Velgrynd's eyes gleamed with fire. This was war. True war.

And from the shadows, Feldway grinned.

They all believed they were conquering for the Empire, for Rudra.

But in truth, they were all just playing into his hands.

The attack on Tempest had begun.

The skies would burn.

And the world would tremble.

Feldway's ambitions burned brighter than ever. The Eastern Empire's invasion was just the beginning—if their attack failed, he had an even greater force waiting in the shadows.

In the depths of the Celestial Realm, a monstrous force was gathering.

Feldway stood at the highest peak of the sacred domain, gazing upon an army of radiant warriors. The Seraphs. Pure beings of destruction, their only purpose was to enforce divine will—or, in this case, Feldway's will.

Behind him, a towering figure loomed—Zelanus, the Insect King.

Zelanus, ruler of the Insectars, was a creature of absolute instinct and conquest. His army of insect-like warriors had wiped out civilizations in the past, and now, they were aligned with Feldway's vision.

Feldway turned to his forces, his voice cold and resolute.

"If the Empire falls, we will bring down the heavens upon Tempest."

Zelanus chittered, his mandibles clicking in excitement. "The Demon Lords will not be able to resist a war of this scale. The Cardinal World will drown in blood."

Velgrynd remained silent, her gaze lingering on Rudra. She still believed in the Emperor, unaware of the puppet strings controlling him.

The plan was set. One way or another, Tempest would burn.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room within the Harlequin Alliance's headquarters, Yuuki and his closest allies convened.

At the head of the table, Yuuki leaned back in his chair, his ever-present smirk in place. His spies had reported everything.

The Eastern Empire was preparing to invade Tempest.

Feldway was moving his own forces in the shadows.

This was perfect.

Kagali, standing at his side, crossed her arms. "So, what do we do? Do we move against Tempest? Or do we wait for them to weaken each other?"

Yuuki chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We do nothing."

The room fell silent.

Laplace tilted his head, an amused grin stretching across his face. "Boss, ya sure? I mean, if Tempest falls, ain't that just Rimuru gone? But if the Empire falls, that's one less pain in the ass too."

Yuuki's smirk widened. "Exactly. This is a war where no matter who wins, we win."

The logic was simple.

If Tempest was destroyed, that meant the Demon Lords would be in disarray. The balance of power in the world would crumble.

If the Empire was wiped out, that would mean the strongest military force in the world was gone.
Either way, once the dust settled, Yuuki would swoop in and take control.
"We just sit back and enjoy the fireworks," Yuuki mused. "And when the time is right, we make our move."

Kagali smirked. "You're as ruthless as ever."

Yuuki laughed. "That's how you win."

My lovers—Velzard, Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera—sat around me, each absorbed in the projections before us.

Tempest was preparing for war.
The Empire was mobilizing its forces.
Feldway's angels and Insectars loomed in the background.
Yuuki schemed from the sidelines.

It was a game of gods and kings, demons and mortals.

A perfect storm of destruction.

I took a sip of my wine, my lips curling into a smile. "This time, we let the Demon Lords take center stage."

Velzard leaned against me, her voice amused. "So we're just watching for now?"

Testarossa smirked. "How long until you get bored?"

Ultima giggled. "You always say you'll wait, but you love getting your hands dirty."

Carrera grinned, her eyes burning with excitement. "At least let me blow something up later."

I chuckled, watching the chaos unfold. "Let's enjoy the show first. Then, when the time is right… we make our entrance."

The war for the Cardinal World had begun.

And we were just getting started.