Steam rose from the earth like the town itself was exhaling a hot sigh. Nestled between forested mountains, the quiet resort village of Kurogawa used to be a demon fortress. Now it boasted brochures, guided tours, and souvenir towels with little horns printed on them.
"I can't believe this used to be your war base," Sakura Maou said, stretching as she stepped into the steamy cobblestone plaza.
"It had excellent geothermal defenses," Ragna Maou said proudly. "And now it has excellent yuzu mochi. Progress."
Lily Maou giggled as she licked a soft ice cream shaped like a tiny flaming skull. "I like this place! It smells like eggs and victory!"
They'd come here for two reasons: rest and training. After the recent events with Miss Iroha and the Council of Nine Rings looming over their heads, the Maou family needed to level up. Together.
Their hotel, once a command tower, had been converted into a spa with actual demon bellhops. One winked at Ragna. Sakura nearly drop-kicked him into a towel rack.
After a hearty lunch of lava-cooked dumplings, Ragna clapped his hands.
"Alright! First family training exercise! Combat round-robin — first up, me versus Sakura."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "You're challenging me? In public?"
"Not like that! I mean in a fight!" He blinked. "Although, after the fight..."
Lily groaned and covered her ears. "Please no flirting during the sparring. I'm a child!"
They chose a cleared arena platform surrounded by steaming rocks. Sakura drew her sword. Ragna summoned a flaming gauntlet.
"Remember," he said, grinning, "we're not trying to kill each other."
"Says the guy who once reduced a mountain to ash when someone ate his pudding," Sakura replied, lunging.
Their blades and flames clashed midair with a thunderous boom. Sakura spun in midair, parried a flame-spear, and kicked Ragna square in the chest — only to be caught by his tail and flung gently into a rock wall. Dust settled. They laughed.
"Still got it," she said, brushing her hair back.
"You're even scarier when you're relaxed," Ragna said, wiping soot from his shirt.
Meanwhile, Lily was sparring against two magical training golems. Her aura flickered — white with streaks of crimson.
Ragna paused. "Hey... did you see that?"
Sakura nodded, concern knitting her brow. "That's... new."
Lily hurled her plush staff, which spun like a boomerang and bonked the golems out cold. She stood panting.
"I think I'm getting stronger," she said. "But it feels weird. Like... something inside me is waking up."
That night, under the stars, the three soaked in the outdoor spring. Fireflies danced over the water. Ragna was half-dozing. Sakura nursed a cold drink.
"You were amazing today," she said.
"I was definitely kicked through a wall," Ragna mumbled.
She smiled, then her voice turned quiet. "Ragna... if the Nine Rings push you back... If you ever become the Demon Lord again... I'll have to kill you."
He didn't flinch. Just looked up at the stars.
"Then I'll stay human. For both of you."
Before Sakura could answer, a scream echoed through the hills.
They leapt out of the water, towels flying. Within minutes, they were fully dressed, armed, and sprinting toward the sound.
A tourist couple had been attacked near the edge of the woods. Something had emerged from the shadows.
A figure stepped out into the moonlight. Tall. Armored. With flaming red eyes and a jagged crown.
Sakura gasped. "Ragna... that's you. From before. From the war."
Another figure emerged: a woman in old celestial armor, blade dripping with holy light.
"That's me," Sakura whispered.
The creatures mimicked their former selves perfectly — same stances, same auras.
"They pulled our memories," Ragna muttered. "Reflections from the Netherverse."
Lily stepped forward. "Then I'll fight the reflection of me."
From the shadows, a third form appeared — a shadowy child with glowing white-red eyes.
"That's not you," Sakura said.
"No," Lily agreed. "That's what I could become."
They fought side by side, real versus reflection.
Ragna clashed with his demon self, fury meeting restraint.
Sakura met her old holy warrior past in a dance of divine strikes.
Lily faced her shadow, hesitating, until she spoke gently:
"You're not real. You're just my fear. And I choose love instead."
Her staff glowed. The shadow vanished like mist.
By dawn, the battlefield was silent.
The family sat on a boulder, bruised but victorious. Steam curled from the morning earth.
"We fight well together," Sakura said.
"That was our most productive vacation ever," Ragna replied, offering a burnt fish-on-a-stick.
Lily bit into it and winced. "Still tastes like sulfur. But I love you guys anyway."
From the mountaintop, a dark eye watched them.
One of the Nine had marked the Maou family. And the next battle would not be a dream.
But for now — the family was stronger.
And they were ready.