The Greatest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Tensura

With that, the MC and Veldora vanished into the abyss, leaving Velgrynd alone and bewildered, her sharp eyes scanning the now-empty battlefield for any trace of her missing brother. But there was nothing—only the fading embers of her lingering flames.

Velgrynd clenched her fists, her fiery aura flaring momentarily before she exhaled, composing herself. "Whoever did this… they're not ordinary." Her crimson eyes narrowed. "Veldora, you better not get yourself into any more trouble."

A ripple in space twisted reality as the MC and Veldora reappeared in a different section of the forest, far from Velgrynd's reach. Thick trees stretched endlessly around them, their canopies shielding them from the sky. The MC remained cautious, keeping his senses sharpened. He wanted to ensure that Velgrynd had left the area before revealing themselves.

For several long moments, silence filled the air. The only sounds were the rustling leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures.

Once he was satisfied that Velgrynd wasn't pursuing them, the MC let out a low chuckle. "Looks like we're in the clear."

Veldora, now fully aware of the situation, turned to him with a demanding gaze. His golden eyes burned with curiosity and suspicion.

"Alright, you—who the hell are you? What did you just do? And where is my sister?"

The MC met his gaze with a relaxed smirk, his tone deliberately casual. "I'm just a nameless demon that happened to be passing by. Seeing the great Storm Dragon in such an unfortunate situation, I couldn't help but offer some assistance."

Veldora stared at him for a moment before suddenly throwing his head back and letting out his usual three-step laughter.

"Hahaha... Hahahaha... Hahaha ha! I see! You can tell how great I am!"

The MC simply chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Yeah, I figured you'd say something like that."

From his years as an assassin, he had long developed the ability to read people's personalities with pinpoint accuracy—and Veldora?

A complete tsundere.

Veldora crossed his arms, nodding to himself as if reaffirming his own greatness. "Well, it's only natural that someone would want to help someone as mighty as I! That woman—Velgrynd—was simply taking advantage of my momentary lack of focus!"

The MC smirked, playing along. "Of course. She must've just gotten lucky."

Veldora puffed out his chest. "Exactly! You, demon, have a keen eye! I like that!"

The MC chuckled again, already formulating his next move. He had successfully gained Veldora's interest—now, he just had to steer the conversation in the right direction.

Veldora and the MC kept talking, their conversation flowing naturally. For the first time in his long life, Veldora felt something unfamiliar—a sense of being understood. He had always been seen as a force of destruction, a calamity to be feared. But this demon… he was different. He listened. He didn't cower or treat him like a mindless beast.

The MC, ever perceptive, noticed the change in Veldora's demeanor. His tsundere personality was obvious, but underneath all that bravado, there was loneliness. That was his opening.

After a pause, the MC casually asked, "Do you want to be my friend?"

Veldora blinked, clearly taken aback. His wings twitched, and his tail flicked anxiously. "Hah! So, a mere demon wants to be friends with the mighty Storm Dragon? Do you realize how lucky you are to even be speaking with me?!"

The MC smirked. "Oh, no worries if you don't want to." He turned away, acting as if he had already lost interest. "I just thought… you might enjoy having someone to talk to. But if you're fine on your own, that's cool too."

Veldora's eye twitched. "W-Wait! I never said I was fine on my own!"

The MC suppressed a grin. "Oh? Then what are you saying?"

Veldora crossed his arms, shifting uncomfortably. "I mean… it's been a while since I've had a decent conversation. And you actually understand my greatness! But that doesn't mean I need a friend!"

The MC let out an exaggerated sigh. "I see, I see. So the mighty Veldora is too great for friendship. Makes sense. After all, why would a legendary dragon want something as simple as companionship?"

Veldora fidgeted, clearly battling with his own pride. He let out a deep breath before muttering, "…I never said I didn't want it."

The MC smirked. "Oh? So that means… we're friends?"

Veldora huffed, looking away. "Hmph! If it makes you happy, then fine! But don't think this changes anything! I am still the unstoppable Veldora, feared by all! You are simply fortunate enough to bask in my presence!"

The MC chuckled. "Of course, of course. Whatever you say, my friend."

Veldora flinched slightly at the word "friend," but instead of denying it, he grinned.

"Hahaha… Hahahaha… Hahaha ha! You are an amusing one, demon! Very well! From this day forth, we shall be allies!"

The MC extended a fist toward Veldora. "Then it's official."

Veldora stared at the gesture for a moment before finally, with a smirk, he raised his massive clawed hand and tapped it against the MC's fist.

And just like that, the mighty Storm Dragon had made his first true friend.

Veldora paused, eyeing the MC with curiosity. "So you don't have a name?" His voice held a touch of surprise, but there was also a hint of incredulity. "How does someone like you not have a name?"

The MC smiled inwardly, knowing this was the perfect moment to fuel Veldora's already massive ego. He lowered his gaze slightly, feigning humility. "I don't have one," he began, choosing his words carefully, "because I've heard that only those who are truly strong and great can give me a name."

He let that statement hang in the air for a moment, knowing it would rattle Veldora's pride.

Veldora's golden eyes widened as the implication sank in. "What? Me? You mean I'm the one who can name you?" His voice was a mixture of surprise and growing excitement.

The MC nodded slowly, keeping his tone calm and respectful. "Of course. Only someone with your immense power and greatness have the ability to give me a name."

Veldora's wings fluttered, and a wide grin spread across his face. His pride surged as he looked at the MC, sensing that this was exactly the kind of validation he thrived on.

"Hahahaha! Of course! It's clear to me now that I'm the only one worthy to name you! I, Veldora, the mighty Storm Dragon, shall bestow upon you a name unlike any other!"

The MC smiled inwardly, watching as Veldora's ego grew with each passing moment, knowing that the trap had been set.

Veldora closed his eyes for a moment, tapping his chin with one of his massive claws as he pondered. The wind in the forest stirred slightly, as if responding to the energy in the air. After a few seconds, his eyes snapped open, shining with excitement.

"Your name shall be... Arion!" he declared with a booming voice, his pride evident in every syllable.

The moment the name was spoken, something deep within Arion stirred. A rush of energy surged through his body as the name was engraved into his very soul. His existence felt more solid, more defined. It was as if something missing had now been found. His entire being pulsed with newfound power, and for the first time in his life, he truly felt like he belonged.

Inside his mind, Lara's voice echoed, soft yet urgent.

"Arion sama, now that you have a name, you are ready to evolve into a Demon Lord. You are ready."

Arion, however, remained composed. He clenched his fist, feeling the power coursing through his veins, but he exhaled slowly, reigning it in.

"Not yet," he responded internally. "Hold it back until i give you the signal."

Veldora, oblivious to the internal conversation, was watching with satisfaction. "Hahaha! I can feel it! My naming ability is as grand as I expected! You feel stronger already, don't you?"

Arion smirked slightly, nodding. "Yes, I do. Thank you, Veldora. You have truly given me something precious."

Veldora puffed out his chest proudly, his wings stretching outward. "Of course! I am the mighty Storm Dragon! This is but a small feat for one such as I!"

Arion let the moment settle before tilting his head slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"You know, Veldora… since we're friends now, how about we take it a step further?"

Veldora blinked. "Oh? And what step is that?"

Arion smiled. "What do you think about us sharing a last name? A family name?"

Veldora's eyes widened, his expression unreadable for a moment. Family. It was a word he rarely thought about. He had sisters, yes, but they had always been more rivals than family in the traditional sense. The idea of having a true bond with someone outside of just power and combat… it was a new, strange, yet strangely appealing concept.

He crossed his arms and huffed. "Hmph. You sure are full of interesting ideas."

Arion chuckled. "Come on, you wouldn't want your first and only friend to go around without a proper family name, would you?"

Veldora's ego sparked at that. "Hahaha! True, true! It would be a shame for you to be left incomplete! Very well! What name shall we take?"

Arion closed his eyes for a moment, considering the options. A name that represented their bond, their strength, and their power. After a few moments, his eyes opened, and he looked at Veldora with a confident smile.

"Tempest."

Veldora's eyes gleamed as he repeated the name, testing how it felt on his tongue. "Tempest…"

The moment he spoke it, something clicked. It wasn't just a name. It was power. It was a storm waiting to be unleashed, a force of nature itself.

He grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "Yes! Yes! That is a fitting name! From now on, we shall be the Tempest family! I am Veldora Tempest, the mighty Storm Dragon!"

Arion nodded. "And I am Arion Tempest, your friend and brother in name."

The air around them seemed to crackle with energy as their names intertwined in the very fabric of the world. A bond had been formed—one that would not be easily broken.