The throne of Deviluke was an imposing structure, forged from metals of a thousand worlds and set with gems that shone with their own light. Seated upon it, King Gid Lucione Deviluke—yes, Lucione, a name that resonated in the annals of countless civilizations—listened to his captain's report with an expression that no subject could interpret.
Gid was a being of immeasurable power. His mere presence was enough to tip the scales of interstellar wars. His will was law in a hundred solar systems. And yet, at this moment, faced with the news that his daughter had chosen a human from a backward planet as her fiancé, his face remained inscrutable.
"Repeat that," he ordered, his voice deep as the rumble of a black hole.
Zastin, standing before the throne with the erect posture of one who has served his king for centuries, obeyed:
"Princess Lala has found a fiancé on the planet Earth. A human named Daniel Hernández. According to her own words, he fulfilled the breast-grabbing tradition, although it was accidental. And when I attempted to retrieve her, he..." He paused, carefully choosing his next words. "Proved to be a worthy opponent."
"Worthy?" Gid tilted his head slightly, a gesture that in anyone else would have been an invitation to continue, but in him was a warning. "Explain."
Zastin took a deep breath. He knew his king. He knew that half-truths were more dangerous than outright lies.
"At the start of the combat, the human was significantly weaker than me. His reflexes were impressive for a Terran, but not enough to match a Deviluke warrior. However..." He paused. "He possesses an artifact. A red gauntlet he called 'Boosted Gear'. With it, he can increase his power exponentially."
"A power increase?" Gid narrowed his eyes. "To what extent?"
"With the first increase, he matched my base speed. With the second, he began to counterattack. With the third, he surpassed me. And with the fourth..." Zastin lowered his gaze. "With the fourth, Your Majesty, he was overcoming me by a significant margin. Had it not been for the princess's intervention, it is very likely he would have won the fight."
The silence that followed was so thick it could be cut with an energy knife.
Gid did not move. Did not speak. He simply... processed.
A human. An artifact that multiplied power. The ability to surpass Zastin, his captain of the guard, a warrior with centuries of experience and training.
"Additional information?" he finally asked.
"Limited, Your Majesty. The fight was brief and the princess interrupted before I could test his limits. However, I observed something else." Zastin raised his eyes. "The human showed no fear. Not even when we were at a clear disadvantage. His determination was... solid. Unwavering."
Gid nodded slowly.
"Interesting."
He rose from the throne, a movement that made the very air seem to bend around him. His eyes, deep as interstellar space, fixed on Zastin.
"Bring him."
"Your Majesty?"
"I wish to speak with him. Personally." Gid paused. "If my daughter has chosen him, if he has demonstrated power against you, and if he has the courage to face what is coming, then he deserves at least a conversation." His expression hardened. "But if he proves unworthy, if he is merely a lucky man with a powerful toy, then I will intervene personally. Understood?"
Zastin inclined his head.
"Completely, Your Majesty."
The transmission ended, and Gid's image faded from the ship's screen.
Zastin exhaled slowly. It had not been an empty threat. King Gid did not threaten. He merely stated facts.
Now he only had to carry out his order.
At the Kuoh mansion, the morning began like any other since Lala's arrival.
That is, with absolute chaos.
Daniel opened his eyes and, for a moment, his brain refused to process what he saw.
Rias, as always, lay naked to his right, her crimson hair spread on the pillow like a tamed fire. Reynare was curled up against his left side, her wings partially unfurled in sleep. Hikari and Hibiki formed a knot of limbs at his feet. Sakura lay peacefully near the edge of the bed. Tamamo, in her spiritual form, had partially materialized her tails to use as a blanket.
And then there was Lala.
The princess of Deviluke was literally on top of him.
It wasn't a metaphor. She was on top. Her body, still dressed in the pajamas Reynare had lent her—an oversized t-shirt that had ridden up during the night, revealing her legs—rested on Daniel's chest, her head nestled in the hollow of his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his neck with the confidence of a koala clinging to a tree.
Her breathing was soft, steady, and a dreamy smile played on her lips.
Daniel counted to ten.
Then to twenty.
Then he gave up.
"This is my life now," he murmured, with a resignation that would have been comical if it weren't so absolutely true.
The problem, of course, was that his body did not share his philosophical resignation.
The image of eight beautiful women—eight, counting Lala—naked or half-naked, sleeping peacefully around him, was a spectacle that any heterosexual man would consider paradise. And Daniel, despite his growing draconic heritage, was still human enough to react in... predictable ways.
His "little friend," as he euphemistically called it, had decided to greet the morning with an enthusiasm bordering on inappropriate.
"Calm down," he whispered, as if talking to it might help. "Now is not the time. It's never the time. Calm down."
His body ignored the order.
"Draconic instincts are hard to control, lad," Ddraig commented, in a tone Daniel interpreted as amused. "Dragons are... passionate by nature. And you are surrounded by beautiful females who adore you. It's natural for your body to react."
"'Natural' doesn't mean 'convenient'," Daniel replied mentally, as he tried to think of unexciting things. Taxes. Bureaucracy. The look on Sona's face when she finds an error in the student council records.
It worked... partially.
Lala shifted in her sleep, snuggling closer against him, and her leg tangled between Daniel's.
The thought of taxes vanished.
"This is torture," he groaned silently.
"Patience, lad. Soon they will all wake up and you can escape to the bathroom."
"And if they don't wake up?"
"Then you'll have to learn to live like this. It could be worse."
"How?"
"They could be dragons."
Daniel didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Fortunately, Rias was the first to wake. Her garnet eyes opened slowly, and a lazy smile curved her lips when she saw Daniel trapped under a pile of women.
"Good morning, Daniel," she murmured, stretching with the feline grace of a cat. "Did you sleep well?"
"Define 'well'," he replied, in a strangled voice.
Rias laughed, a crystalline sound that made his heart race even more.
"Poor thing. So loved by so many and unable to do anything about it." She sat up, without the slightest modesty about her nudity, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "One of these days, we'll have to do something about that, don't you think?"
Daniel swallowed.
"That... that would be..."
"Wonderful?" Rias suggested, with a malicious smile. "Incredible? The best day of your life?"
"All that and more," Daniel admitted.
Rias laughed again and got up, heading to the bathroom with the naturalness of someone who had shared a bed with him for years instead of weeks.
One by one, the others woke up. Reynare, always alert, was second, followed by the twins, who stretched with the synchronicity of those who share a special bond. Sakura woke in silence, as was her custom, and Tamamo fully materialized with a sigh of satisfaction.
Lala was last.
She opened her eyes slowly, blinked a couple of times, and then her gaze met Daniel's.
"Good morning, Daniel," she said, with a radiant smile. "You slept well. I felt you snore a little, but it was cute."
"I snore?" Daniel asked, worried.
"A little bit. Like a teddy bear." Lala sat up, and then noticed she was literally on top of him. "Ah. I guess I moved during the night. Sorry."
"It's... it's okay," Daniel replied, while all the others watched the scene with expressions ranging from amusement to barely disguised jealousy.
Lala finally got up, and Daniel felt a mix of relief and loss. His body, free of the extra weight, could finally relax.
But his "little friend" still needed a few minutes of peace.
"I'm going to shower," he announced, carefully getting up and covering himself with the sheet. "Cold water. I need cold water."
"Why cold water?" Lala asked, confused. "Isn't hot water nicer?"
"It's... complicated," Daniel replied, as he fled towards the bathroom.
Behind him, he heard the laughter of his girlfriends.
"Poor Daniel," said Hikari.
"Always running away," added Hibiki.
"But we know he loves us," Reynare concluded.
Daniel closed the bathroom door and leaned his forehead against the cold wall.
"I need help," he murmured.
"No, lad," Ddraig replied. "You need patience. And maybe a longer shower."
Cold water fell on him for what seemed like an eternity. At first, the thermal contrast was brutal—his skin, hot from contained lust, made the water evaporate on contact, filling the bathroom with steam. Little by little, however, his body temperature dropped, and with it, the urgency of his situation.
When he finally came out, twenty minutes later, he felt almost human again.
The girls were waiting for him in the living room, already dressed and ready for breakfast. Reynare, in her self-appointed role as housewife, had prepared a table worthy of a banquet: eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, freshly baked bread, and a variety of teas and coffees.
"Good morning again," said Daniel, sitting down.
"Good morning," they replied in unison.
Lala, sitting beside him, watched him with a curiosity that hadn't diminished since her arrival.
"Daniel, why did you take so long in the shower? Is cold water really that pleasant?"
"It's... refreshing," he replied, avoiding the subject. "It helps wake you up."
"Interesting." Lala nodded, as if taking mental notes. "On Deviluke, we prefer hot water. It relaxes the muscles after training. Though I guess each planet has its customs."
"I guess so," said Daniel, grateful that she accepted the explanation without probing further.
Breakfast passed in a surprisingly normal atmosphere, considering the circumstances. Rias and Sona discussed Underworld politics. Reynare mentally organized the day's tasks. The twins planned their evening training. Sakura read in silence. Tamamo enjoyed her tea with the elegance of a lady of the imperial court.
And Lala watched everything with fascination, as if every human interaction were a scientific discovery.
It was Sona who broke the routine.
"Lala," she said, in her usual student council president tone. "Have you considered attending school?"
Lala blinked.
"School?"
"Kuoh Academy. Where Daniel and most of us study." Sona adjusted her glasses. "You could spend more time with him during the day. Learn about Earth culture. Get to know the others." She paused. "And keep an eye on him, of course."
The last sentence was said in such a neutral tone that anyone might have taken it as a simple observation. But Daniel knew Sona well enough to detect the competitive undertone.
Lala, however, didn't catch the subtext. Her eyes lit up like stars in a clear night sky.
"Could I? Really? I'd go to the same school as Daniel? I'd learn about Earth culture?" She jumped up, her arms outstretched. "Yes! I want to! Please, please, please!"
Sona smiled, a small but satisfied smile.
"I'm glad you're excited. However, there's a small problem." She paused, letting the anticipation build. "You can't start today. I need to process the enrollment documents, and that takes at least a day."
Lala's expression went from euphoria to disappointment in an instant. Her cheeks puffed out in a pout so childish, so adorable, that several of those present felt the urge to hug her.
"A whole day?" she protested, her voice muffled by her inflated cheeks. "But I want to go today! I want to see Daniel in his natural habitat!"
"His 'natural habitat'," Rias repeated, with an amused smile. "Lala, that makes him sound like an animal in a zoo."
"It's an expression!" Lala deflated her cheeks, though her pout remained. "On Deviluke we say things like that. Well, not exactly like that, but..." She sighed, defeated. "Okay. I'll wait a day."
Sona nodded, satisfied.
"Wise decision. In the meantime, Reynare will stay home. She can keep you company and explain how everything works."
Reynare, who had been watching the scene with an expression of mild amusement, nodded.
"Of course. It will be a pleasure."
Lala looked at her, and for the first time, Daniel noticed something akin to shyness in her eyes.
"Are you sure you don't mind? I mean, I'm a complete stranger, and I appeared out of nowhere, and now I'm going to live here, and..."
"Lala," Reynare interrupted, with a gentleness that surprised even Daniel. "I've been through much stranger situations than this. And I've learned that family is chosen not by blood, but by heart." She gave her a genuine smile. "Welcome."
Lala stared at her for a moment. Then, without warning, she launched herself at her in a hug.
"Thank you! Thank you, Reynare! We'll be best friends! You'll see!"
Reynare, caught in the embrace of an alien princess, could only laugh.
"I guess I don't have a choice."
Before leaving for school, Reynare approached Daniel and, with the naturalness of someone who has done this a thousand times, stole a kiss from him.
It was brief, but intense. Their lips met in a contact that sent shivers down Daniel's spine, and when they parted, her golden eyes shone with satisfaction.
"Have a good day, my love," she whispered.
Daniel smiled, dazed.
"Thanks, Reynare."
Lala, who had observed everything, felt a pang of something she couldn't identify. Jealousy? Curiosity? Desire to experience the same thing?
Without thinking twice, she approached Daniel and, before anyone could stop her, kissed him.
It was... clumsy.
Her lips bumped against his with more enthusiasm than technique. Their noses bumped slightly. And when she tried to deepen the kiss, she wasn't quite sure how to do it.
But when she pulled away, her cheeks were burning, and in her eyes was an expression of absolute wonder.
"Oh," she said, in a small voice. "Oh, wow."
Daniel looked at her, confused.
"Lala? Are you okay?"
She didn't answer. She simply grabbed him by the lapels of his uniform and kissed him again.
This kiss was different. Longer. Deeper. Less clumsy. Her lips found the rhythm, her tongue—well, that was a bit more complicated—but when they finally parted, they were both breathless.
"This is... this is amazing," Lala murmured, her eyes shining. "Is it always like this? Is kissing someone you like always like this?"
"More or less," Daniel managed to articulate.
"Separation." Rias's voice cut through the moment like a knife. The demon princess had appeared behind them with an expression that was a mix of jealousy and amusement. "Lala, dear, I understand this is new for you, but Daniel has to go to school. And so do we."
Lala looked at her, and for a moment, Daniel feared she would refuse. But then she smiled, radiant, and nodded.
"You're right. I'm sorry." She released Daniel, though her fingers lingered a moment longer than necessary. "Go. Learn things. Come back soon."
Daniel, still processing what had just happened, could only nod.
The walk to school was, as always, a parade of loving interactions.
Hikari and Hibiki kissed him at the entrance, each on one cheek, with a synchronicity only twins could achieve. Sakura gave him a soft kiss on the lips, brief but full of tenderness. Tamamo, in her spiritual form, whispered words of love in his ear that no one else could hear. Rias, of course, gave him a passionate kiss that left several students gaping. And Sona, to everyone's surprise, gave him a quick but firm kiss before straightening his tie.
"We don't want you to arrive disheveled," she said, with that subtle smile only Daniel knew how to interpret.
The murmurs of the students followed them inside the building.
"Did you see? Again!"
"The Kuoh playboy strikes again."
"How can he have so many girlfriends? It's not fair!"
"They're not girlfriends, they're fiancées. It's worse."
Daniel sighed, but said nothing. He had already accepted his nickname. He had already accepted his fate.
Classes passed with their usual monotony, broken only by interactions with the girls who, although not his official girlfriends, orbited around him with a persistence bordering on comical.
Yukari, as always, shot murderous glances at anyone who got too close to Daniel. Her possessiveness, though unrequited, was so intense that several students had learned to keep their distance purely by survival instinct.
Tohsaka Rin, for her part, continued her eternal tsundere dance. She denied everything—that she liked Daniel, that she wanted to spend time with him, that she felt anything more than friendship—but her actions betrayed her. The lunches she shared with him "by chance." The glances she threw his way when she thought he wasn't looking. The instant blush that appeared on her cheeks whenever he spoke to her.
"It's pathetic," Yukari commented during break, with her usual lack of filter. "Just admit you like him and get it over with."
"I don't like him!" Rin protested, her cheeks burning. "I just... he's just a friend!"
"Sure. And I'm the god of Japan."
Rin tried to strangle her. Yukari laughed, dodging her attacks with the agility of someone who has spent years perfecting the art of running away.
Mitsuru, on the contrary, had adopted a much more direct approach. During lunch, she sat across from Daniel with a tray containing what appeared to be a carefully prepared meal.
"For you," she said, pushing the tray towards him. "I made it myself. I hope you like it."
Daniel looked at her, surprised.
"Mitsuru, you didn't have to..."
"I wanted to." Her expression was serious, almost defiant. "I am Mitsuru Kirijo. When I decide something, I do it. And I have decided to win you over."
Rias, who was sitting nearby, let out a laugh.
"Mitsuru-chan, it's adorable that you're trying, but Daniel is already quite busy with us."
"There's always room for one more," Mitsuru replied, unfazed. "And I am a Kirijo. I don't give up easily."
Daniel, caught between the lovingly prepared lunch and the stares of his girlfriends, could only thank her and eat.
The food was, to his surprise, delicious.
When classes ended, Daniel headed to the main exit with his girlfriends, expecting a quiet return home.
What he found was Zastin.
The captain of the royal guard of Deviluke stood by the school gate, impeccable in his uniform, his expression serious but not hostile. Around him, students passed without seeing him—some kind of camouflage technology, Daniel assumed.
"Mr. Hernández," Zastin said, slightly inclining his head as Daniel approached. "I need you to accompany me. His Majesty, King Gid, wishes to speak with you personally."
Daniel felt a knot in his stomach.
"Now?"
"Right now." Zastin paused. "Do not worry. It is not an execution order. His Majesty merely wishes to... get to know you."
Daniel looked at his girlfriends. Rias nodded, her expression serious. Sona adjusted her glasses, already in strategist mode. Tamamo, in her spiritual form, partially materialized at his side.
"We will go with you," Rias said. "We are not going to leave you alone."
Zastin looked at them, assessing the situation.
"They may accompany you. But only them." He pointed to Rias, Sona, and Tamamo. "The others must wait here."
Hikari and Hibiki protested, but Daniel calmed them with a look.
"It will be okay," he said. "Wait for me at home. I'll be back soon."
The twins nodded, though their expressions clearly showed their discontent.
Zastin activated a device, and an energy field enveloped them. When the light dissipated, they were inside a spaceship.
It wasn't a large ship—probably a shuttle—but its technology was evidently far superior to anything on Earth. The walls glowed with a soft light, and in the center of the main room, a holographic screen occupied a prominent place.
"Connect me with His Majesty," Zastin ordered the ship.
The screen came to life, and the image of King Gid appeared before them.
Daniel felt the weight of his gaze like a mountain.
Gid was... imposing. Not in a physical sense—although he certainly was, with his powerful build and regal bearing—but in a deeper sense. There was something in his eyes, in the way he looked, that made anyone feel as if they were being examined to the very depths of their soul.
"So you are Daniel Hernández," Gid said, his deep voice resonating in the room. "The human who grabbed my daughter's breast."
Daniel swallowed, but forced himself to maintain his composure.
"It was an accident, Your Majesty. I didn't know that..."
"I know." Gid raised a hand, stopping him. "Zastin explained the circumstances to me. I did not come here to accuse you of anything." He paused, his eyes scrutinizing Daniel. "I want to know who you are. I want to know if you are worthy of my daughter."
Daniel took a deep breath.
"My name is Daniel Hernández. I have no titles, no lands, no armies. I am an exchange student at Kuoh Academy, and a few months ago I was a completely normal human." He paused. "But I am also the wielder of the Boosted Gear, the Gauntlet of the Red Dragon Emperor. I have defeated primordial gods. I have faced conceptual entities that threatened to erase reality. And I have knocked out four hundred demons without lifting a finger."
Gid looked at him in silence for a long moment.
"You have done all that... and you are still a student?"
"School is important," Daniel replied, with a half-smile. "My fiancée Sona insists that education is fundamental."
Sona, at his side, smiled slightly.
Gid let out a laugh.
It was an unexpected sound, so out of place in the tense atmosphere of the conversation that Daniel blinked, surprised.
"I like you, human," Gid said, when his laughter subsided. "You have guts. And humor. Two rare qualities in my daughter's suitors."
His expression turned serious again.
"But that does not change the facts. My daughter has announced her engagement to you. According to the laws of Deviluke, you are her official fiancé. And although I personally have no objections—you have demonstrated power, determination, and courage—there is something you must understand."
Daniel waited.
"By making this engagement public, you have become the target of every suitor Lala rejected. And believe me, there are many. And they are powerful." Gid stared at him. "They will come for you. Some will want to kill you out of pride. Others, out of revenge. And others, simply because they can."
Daniel felt a chill run down his spine.
"How many?"
"Dozens. Perhaps hundreds." Gid paused. "And among them, there are beings whose power surpasses everything you have faced so far."
Rias stepped forward.
"But Your Majesty, if Daniel is under Deviluke's protection..."
"He is not." Gid's voice was firm. "Not until he proves himself worthy. That is the tradition. The fiancé of a Deviluke princess must survive the challenges of the rejected suitors. Only then will he be officially recognized as a member of the royal family."
Daniel felt the ground open beneath his feet.
"And if I don't survive?"
Gid's silence was more eloquent than any answer.
"If you do not survive," he said finally, "then Lala will be available again. And I..." He paused. "I will ensure that your planet does not suffer for your failure."
The implicit threat was clear. If Daniel died, Earth would be at the mercy of the enraged suitors. And Gid would not lift a finger to protect it.
"I understand," Daniel said, his voice surprisingly calm.
Gid looked at him with an expression that might have been approval.
"You accept, then."
"I have no choice." Daniel raised his eyes, meeting the king's gaze. "But even if I did, I would accept. Lala trusted me. She chose me. And I am not going to let her down."
Gid nodded slowly.
"Good. Then this is what will happen: you will return to your planet and continue your life. The suitors will begin to arrive. Some will be weak, others strong. They will all want to prove their worth against you." He paused. "If you survive them all, if you prove worthy of the title of my daughter's fiancé, then you will be officially recognized as a member of the royal family of Deviluke. You will rule at my side. You will have power, wealth, and the respect of a hundred solar systems."
"And if I don't survive?" Daniel asked, though he already knew the answer.
Gid stared at him.
"Then Lala will cry. And I will destroy your planet with my own hands, so that no other inferior being can claim what belongs to my daughter."
The threat fell like a slab.
Rias squeezed Daniel's hand. Sona, on his other side, did the same. Tamamo, silently, placed a hand on his shoulder.
Daniel took a deep breath.
"I accept the conditions, Your Majesty."
Gid nodded.
"Good luck, Daniel Hernández. You will need it."
The screen went dark.
The silence in the ship was absolute.
Zastin, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, stepped forward.
"Mr. Hernández. I will take you back to your planet. And..." He paused. "I wish you luck. Princess Lala deserves someone who will fight for her."
Daniel nodded, speechless.
The return trip was silent. When the ship dropped them off on the outskirts of the mansion, the sun was already setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
Rias was the first to speak.
"Daniel..."
"I know," he interrupted, with a tired but firm voice. "I know what's coming. But I'm not going to give up. I can't."
Sona adjusted her glasses.
"Then we'll have to prepare. If hundreds of suitors are coming, some of them incredibly powerful, we need a plan."
"And training," added Tamamo. "Lots of training."
Daniel nodded.
"Yes. But first..." He looked towards the mansion, where the lights were already on. "First, we have to tell the others."
That night, Daniel gathered all his girlfriends in the living room.
Lala was there too, though she still didn't fully understand why the atmosphere was so tense.
When Daniel finished explaining the conversation with Gid—omitting the most alarming details about the possible destruction of Earth—the silence was absolute.
Reynare was the first to speak.
"So, basically, you are now the target of hundreds of enraged aliens who want to kill you to marry Lala."
"That sums up the situation pretty well," Daniel admitted.
"And if you die, Gid will destroy Earth."
"Also."
Hikari jumped up.
"Then let them come! We'll beat them all up!"
"Yes!" added Hibiki. "We are Daniel's Sekirei! We won't let anyone hurt him!"
Rias smiled, a fierce smile.
"My power of destruction will be ready. Let their armies come."
Reynare unfurled her wings, her expression determined.
"Three pairs of wings and a lot of eagerness to test them."
Sakura, silently, nodded.
Tamamo, with her feline smile, said:
"I waited a thousand years to find my husband. I'm not going to let a few jealous aliens take him away from me."
Sona adjusted her glasses.
"I will begin designing combat strategies immediately. We need to know our enemies, their weaknesses, their attack patterns."
Lala, who had been listening to everything with an expression of growing astonishment, finally spoke:
"You all... you're all going to fight for Daniel?"
"Of course," Rias replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "He is our fiancé. Our love. Our family."
Lala looked at them all—at Rias, at Sona, at Reynare, at the twins, at Sakura, at Tamamo—and for the first time since she arrived on Earth, her eyes filled with tears.
"I... I didn't know," she murmured. "I didn't know something like this existed. Such a strong love. Such a united family." She got up and, before anyone could stop her, hugged Daniel with all her might. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. For bringing all this trouble upon you. For putting you in danger. For..."
"Lala," Daniel interrupted, hugging her back. "Don't apologize. It wasn't your fault. And besides..." He smiled, a warm smile despite everything. "You're part of this family now. And family protects each other."
Lala looked at him, her eyes shining.
"Really?"
"Really."
She smiled, a radiant smile through her tears.
"Then... then we're going to win. Together."
"Together," they all replied in unison.
In outer space, thousands of light-years from Earth, the news of Lala's engagement spread like wildfire.
On a hundred worlds, a hundred enraged suitors prepared their ships, their armies, their weapons. Some out of wounded pride. Others out of revenge. Others simply because they could.
But in a remote corner of the galaxy, on the flagship of his empire, a being with violet skin and white armor received the news with an expression that froze the blood of his subordinates.
Frieza.
The galactic tyrant. The emperor who had destroyed entire planets on a whim. The being whose power surpassed everything the galaxy had seen in millennia.
"A human?" he repeated, his voice soft as silk and sharp as a blade. "Lala Satalin Deviluke has engaged herself to a human?"
"Y-yes, Lord Frieza," his subordinate replied, trembling. "The news just arrived. King Gid has recognized the engagement."
Frieza closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath.
And then, he smiled.
It was a terrible smile. A smile that did not reach his eyes, that chilled the souls of those who witnessed it.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting."
He rose from his throne, his tail moving slowly behind him.
"I was also a suitor, you know. I volunteered. Not out of love, of course—that is such a... human emotion. But for power. For the empire I would rule if I joined the royal family of Deviluke." He paused, and his smile widened. "Gid did not reject me. He simply... waited. And now, because of an insignificant Terran, all my plans have gone to waste."
He began to pace, his footsteps echoing in the silence of the ship.
"I could accept it, I suppose. Let this human enjoy his luck. Focus on other objectives." He stopped. "But no. I cannot. Not after that damned Gid humiliated me so many times. Not after his daughter looked at me with those eyes..." His fists clenched. "Those eyes that said 'you are not worthy'."
He turned to his subordinate, and in his eyes was a gleam that chilled the poor man's blood.
"Prepare a ship. The fastest we have."
"A-are we going to Earth, Lord Frieza?"
"No." Frieza smiled, that terrible smile. "Not yet. First, we have other matters to attend to. But when the time comes..." He raised a hand, and a small sphere of energy formed in his palm. "When the time comes, I will teach that human, and his entire insignificant species, what it means to anger Frieza."
The sphere disappeared.
Silence returned.
And somewhere, on a small blue planet lost in the far reaches of the galaxy, Daniel Hernández felt a chill run down his spine.
He didn't know why.
But deep down, in that place where the Conqueror's Haki brushed against the edges of the future, he knew something terrible was approaching.
That night, Daniel could not sleep.
He lay in his bed, surrounded by the women he loved, and yet, his mind found no rest.
Gid's words echoed in his head over and over again.
"They will come for you."
"Dozens. Perhaps hundreds."
"And among them, there are beings whose power surpasses everything you have faced."
"If you fail, I will destroy your planet with my own hands."
Rias, beside him, must have felt his tension, because in her sleep she snuggled closer against him, murmuring words of comfort that didn't quite reach consciousness.
Daniel held her, grateful.
Whatever happens, whatever comes, he would not be alone.
Never again.
And with that thought, finally, sleep claimed him.