3rd Pov
A freezing breeze gazed at the ocean...Velzard coldly glared at Guy, she was still in her dragon form.
A large serpentine body with two arms sticking at the front, a large golden gem on her forehead, the mere presence of hers was cooling down the entire earth threatening the formation of a new ice continent.
Guy : You became softer, Velzard...it doesn't suit you.
A blazing fire surrounding his fist, he throwed yet another punch...their fight has been going on for a while now.
Even if they had to keep the sudden appearance of Manas : Fate in check.
Velzard : You bark even more than I remembered.
Dodging the attack, Velzard used her natural agility to slide around the air...trails of frost rained behind her path.
She turned around and opened her mouth, gathering energy instantly and locking Guy who was right ahead.
Velzard : [Frost Breath].
A light blue mass of energy left her mouth radiating everything on its path, Guy was completely submerged into the beam.
The air froze at the sheer coldness of Velzard's attack, the clouds were cleared leaving a large hole in the vortex gathered in the sky.
But as the [Frost Breath] cleared by himself, Guy could be seen unharmed...his skin and clothes were partially frozen leaving a crystalized torn.
Though nothing he couldn't handle, judging by his maniac smirk...his fighting spirit flooding his surroundings, this was just the start.
Guy : As i thought you became softer...shooting your breath toward the sky so you won't hit those trash below ?
Guy bursts through the air, interlocking both his hands before descending with a heavy motion.
He quickly made an impact with Velzard's body, the wind bursted as Velzard was sent flying dozens of meters away.
Guy : Caring for these weak humans now ?
Velzard : Don't speak bullshit, I'm only doing this because I can't have my new family angry at me.
The ice empress was left unbothered, charging another breath...neither of them had activated their ultimate skills yet.
Their fight continued for several more minutes before they were cut short, the other threatening presence they had felt changed drastically.
Mirai having come back, a lounging sense of familiarity filled Velzard's soul.
Her eyes fixed the girl for a brief moment...
Velzard : (So you were his daughter...as the humans say, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.)
A smirk decorating her mouth, Velzard had made up her mind before the war started...instead of continuing her fight with Guy.
She decided to retreat something that her past self would definitively not do...this even managed to startle Guy who out of rage tried to stop her.
Guy : Where do you think you are going ?!
Velzard : You don't interest me anymore, Guy.
Dodging again, she gathered magicule into her core and released it right after to freeze Guy.
Guy : An ice prison ?! Are you running away now ?!
As he stated, Velzard created new spells based on her skill...a prison made of ice, even for Guy he will need at least a dozen seconds to free himself.
Enough for Velzard to leave...was she really running away ? No, fighting powerful individuals was always part of her species nature.
A true dragon is the highest ranked being and so their pride is above the rest...but for the current Velzard, she found something more important than such meaningless pride.
She had listened and understood Dawn's story...what would pride give you once those you cherished died ?
Velzard : Say whatever you want, I have better things to do than dealing with a hobo demon...you'll have to find another mommy to beg for some coins.
Without turning back, Velzard flew away...leaving a rageful Guy in the dust...
Guy : Velzard...you'll pay for that...
Mirai Pov
Phew...i finally came back, feeling the true sense of my body is a bit weird after being trapped in my mindscape for so long.
Anyway, it seems my body has turned back to its prime condition...though I can tell I haven't regained all my power...
Manas Fate : (That's right, currently more than half of my authority with Dawn.)
Mirai : (I see...only one person can really control the aspect of fate, but by splitting definitely a 100 %, you can share the power.)
I stretched my arm lightly, feeling these now foreign bones crack...before I started analyzing my surroundings.
Eleonor was standing on the side speechless, her eyes staring at me...I owe her an explanation later...
Eleonor : W-are you Yuu ?
Mmh...i guess she can instinctively tell i'm not her best friend...Yuu, well technically i am but not really.
Now that my mind is clear, I realized that the Yuu I fought during the trial wasn't fake...I also feel conflicted...
Was she truly dead ? Can't I just create a new personality named Yuu ? Those questions swirled in the back of my mind.
Mirai : You are half right and half wrong, Eleonor...
I gave her a sympathetic smile and shifted my sight away...feeling a teint of guilt, though my vision then landed on a corpse.
Mirai : Seems like we will meet again, Horizon-san.
Laying on the ground, an arm severed...this was surely Manas : Fate's work...thought it seemed she decided to keep him alive so I could judge him personally.
Horizon White...this man wasn't unfamiliar to me, after all aside from being father's close subordinate here...
He is also the man I loved previously...the one who shattered all hope in me after stabbing my heart...
Horizon : Shit...
Mirai : You don't seem to remember the past yet you betrayed me...no us again.
Horizon : What are you talking about !
He was struggling to get up under the pressure of my gaze...I wonder what he saw at the moment, a monster ? A girl with unfamiliar power ?
Mirai : You'll understand soon.
My eyes glowed as I requested Manas : Fate to give him back the memories of the first reality...i had questions before passing judgment upon him.
I stretched my arm toward him and let the power of fate flow...I squinted my eyes, watching carefully as Horizon's face turned pale.
Memories in series must be flashing through his mind...his mouth opened agape, his eyes blanked for an instant...
I watched coldly as he fell onto the ground gasping for air...
Mirai : Now you remember...if you do, you better answer my question carefully.
Unleashing my [True hero Haki], I crushed his presence like an anvil falling on an ant...he must have felt the sudden urge of bloodlust and magciule.
His body jolted up, his eyes dazed off toward me with fear and confusion...
Mirai : Tell me only the truth...was everything about us fake ?
Horizon : Y-yes-huh ?!
I forced an answer out of him, using my skill so he would only speak the truest truth...I closed my eyes feeling the last tint of regrets leaving my heart.
Even if he betrayed me...I once truly cherished my time with this man, I loved him with all my heart even if that heart was already rotten.
So I had hoped that there would be a misunderstanding...even if that hope was overshadowed by my own hatred.
Mirai : Tell me...why did you backstab me ?
Horizon : I-no ! Stop this !
He tried to stop his own mouth of speaking...this man is definitely human, he wasn't born as a puppet.
He became one along the path called life...
Mirai : I don't have enough time...
Grabbing my sword [Desinity], I stabbed his right thigh, a loud and painful groin left his lips...he sure was different from the cold and composed Horizon my father raised...
This was the conflict between both his past and current personality.
Horizon : I-i...i was a slave a-and the one who lent me their hand back then w-was...t-the-
Mirai : The Author...
I understand now...at the end he is a victim of the Author too...
Mirai : Then who does your loyalty belong to ? My father Dawn Arceid or the Author ?
This was my final question, my hand was already hard gripped on the handle of my blade...i just waited for confirmation so i could slice his neck off.
Horizon : I-i don't know...
Mirai : I see...that's all I need to hear.
Closing my eyes, I let my body move on its own...a sentient smell of blood invaded my nostril as I felt a slight resistance at the edge of my blade.
My arm circled around, forcing a path to whatever was blocking me...in an instant, I had killed Horizon White...
I had killed a former love, a comrade and a traitor...
His headless body geezing blood right before me...I turned around before reopening my eyes.
Mirai : I will weave my own fate from now on...
This was the last string that truly bonded me to the former reality...now I can start anew.
Velzard : You showed quite an interesting side of yourself, brat.
Lost in my thought for a moment, I looked up as the gigantic body of the white ice dragon overshadowed the land.
Velzard...she is one of the closest women with my father here, I didn't expect her to come for me right away...
Is she seeing me as a threat ? I instinctively raised my guard...even if I was strong, fighting a true dragon is never easy.
Velzard : Mmh...no need to be on guard, hop on I will support you from now on.
Mirai : Huh ?
Lowering her body, she landed on the ground waiting for me to get on...a freezing chill ran down my spine.
Was I supposed to get on her back ?
Velzard : No need to be wary, you are his daughter...that's sufficient for me to help you.
Her large golden pupils fell upon me, her words brought a sense of ease to me...she didn't seem hostile, no in fact she had that sort of motherly presence...
I hesitated for a moment but her gaze reassured me enough to take a step forward.
My feets leaped by themself as I jumped on the oldest true dragon alive...supporting myself with one of the large scales flooding her back.
I made my way up toward her head, only then I realized how massive those creatures truly were...
The world on the ground seemed so small as Velzard rose up and started flying...I quickly turned toward Eleonor who was still down there.
Mirai : Start gathering the troops and retreat ! I'll join you later !
My voice echoed through the freezing air...I'm sure Eleonor heard me though I couldn't get her answer as Velzard didn't wait to get high in the sky.
Mirai : Where are we going ?
Velzard : Where you'll shine the brightest.
Shine ? What is she saying...I looked around confused before realizing what she meant.
This was a bloody battlefield...even if the glory is monopolized by the strongest...in this world, you just need one man to change everything.
This is why the effort of the common folk, unfortunate enough to meet a true monster...their effort is just overshadowed by an already blooming shine.
Velzard : I'm honestly not invested in helping you human...but even i have eyes.
This was honestly shocking...a true dragon is a superior species, reigning above all life.
They are like royalty in the food chain, so naturally they were bound to become arrogant and independant.
Not having to rely on Human's intelligence...as far as i know, even if millions of humans were crushed, they wouldn't bat an eye.
So for the strongest true dragon alive to pronounce such words...was pleasantly surprising.
Mirai : Yeah...humans like me aren't self-sufficient.
When the strongest can live eternally even if they were alone...as a true hero, I only arbor a strength rivaling them.
I live for a purpose and for that same, i can't achieve alone...the true strength of an army is the soldiers.
Velzard : Yes...humans are weak, that's why they need a leader...a source of hope.
I could basically feel the smile on her face, despite being on her back...this was still very strange to me, i never expected myself sharing a discussion like that with Velzard-san...
Still, her words guided me...I was about to leave directly to join my father, forgetting that I had a duty to achieve here.
Guy : Where do you think you are running ?!
Hick ! I tightly grabbed onto Velzard's scale as she accelerated suddenly...several red energy orb flew past us.
Demon lord Guy Crimson...this guy was here too, and it seems he isn't happy with Velzard...
Velzard : How annoying, I guess I have to finish you off first.
Mirai : Wait !
Velzard : What ?
Mirai : Please focus on dodging.
My eyes locked in, the world surrounding me slowed down...it's about time I get used to this body a bit.
It feels like I haven't moved for ages...
Velzard : Fine...but I can only cover for you that much.
Mirai : Naturally, I can't expect anyone to buy time indefinitely against Guy Crimson.
3rd Pov
For the next few minutes, Guy had been throwing all kinds of magic and spells toward the sky...circling around, Velzard taunted him by avoiding them all.
Some managed to gaze and burn her scale but nothing she couldn't handle...in fact she was more curious at what the little hero on her back was doing.
Mirai on her side was focusing...a bright silver light erupting from her heart...she was at that moment controlling the fabrics of fate.
Dawn and Mirai...both of them possess this ability and it works on the same scale.
It's akin to what modern humans call « coding », the system as a whole being reality itself...they are the one who can change the code of this system.
By applying the required formula through their skills, Fate can then be manipulated...the process was never that I wanted something then it became reality.
It's more of a I want it, I develop it, finally I change it...
Mirai : (I saw father multiple times affect so many people at once but...he is really incredible.)
Mirai's plan was to remotivate the entire army under Ruberios's flag...to give the retreat order.
Even if she yelled at them to run away, most of them already lost hope and don't have the energy to do so...in times of crisis like that, a good leadership can change everything.
And now...the only solution for Mirai is to use Fate, no one knows Mirai but with Fate...everyone will follow her order.
Mirai : (A power that affects multiple people at once will always be more constraining than on a single individual.)
What Dawn could do with seemingly ease was actually extremely complex...Mirai was confident that once she recovered all her power.
She would actually surpass her father but that's only in terms of raw power and ability.
But Dawn actually excelled in pure skill...
Manas Fate : (There is no need for you to overthink it...just walk at your own rhythm.)
Mirai : (Easy for you to say that...care to help me out a bit?)
Manas Fate : (I am currently very limited...taking further action will be dangerous.)
Mirai : Huh ? What do you mean by that ?
Manas Fate : (Something you will have to worry about later, all i can tell is that i cannot help before we meet with Dawn again.)
Even if Mirai didn't count on her Manas's help when she thought of her plan, it was still a bit annoying...though it seem Manas : Fate was limited in her action due to the share of power given to Dawn.
Mirai : (No Mirai ! Focus on the task ahead of you.)
It was now a fact to her...she might be the legitimate holder of Fate but Dawn was a genius at manipulating that aspect.
But at the end, what he held was a copy of her own power...
Mirai : Velzard-san...i'm ready.
Velzard : Took you long enough.
Velzard's state can't be said to be pleasant, as time passed more of Guy's offense landed...she was in a pretty bad state.
Mainly because she didn't defend herself...focusing on just dodging, she also didn't use her skills to protect herself because of Guy's nature.
But now...she could finally move freely.
Velzard : [Snow Crystal].
Stopping all motion, she floated still while activating her defensive spell...a large flower patterned ice shield formed, totally blocking all of Guy's attack.
Guy : You think that's enough to stop me ?!
Activating his own ultimate skill : Lord of Pride, Lucifer...everything about [Snow Crystal] was uncovered.
In a matter of seconds, he would be able to overcome this night-invincible wall...but these few seconds would again be the real problem.
Mirai : [Destiny beyond Fate].
Because the one Guy Crimson was fighting is a hero...the arch-nemesis of the demon lord.
A true hero incarnates the hope of all humanity, just like that hope...Mirai held in her hand the light that shall guide mankind.
Mirai : Listen to me, Knights of Ruberios ! Allied force of the holy land !
Standing on top of the white ice dragon, the picture of a valiant warrior riding a dragon while confronting the most fearsome demon lord was printed in everyone's mind.
Mirai : I am Mirai Averion ! Daughter of Dawn Arceid and a new hero who will guide us to victory !
Rising her hand up in the sky, she infused the spell she had been preparing in her sword...the formation of energy gathered to a single formed a large blade made of pure light.
A light of hope...
Mirai : This war is already won on our allied side ! Now retreat ! Run, your family is waiting for your triumphal return !
Her voice ported out for everyone to hear, for a brief moment the battlefield was silent...only the sound of cooling waves and raging clouds could be heard.
Only the figure of a new rising hero could be seen in the heart of all the wounded soldiers.
The mention of their greatest hero's name brought surprise and joy...the original denial and shock they must have felt was overwritten by Fate.
The warm light welcoming their souls as if a path was being formed to guide them.
Mirai : Believe in me ! Place your faith in me ! I shall bring you all back home alive !
Her eyes glowing sapphire, strange purple markings appeared all over her body...
Mirai : I shall slay all evil blocking our path ! For Ruberios ! For Humanity !
Stretching her second hand, she held [Destiny] tightly before swinging it down...Guy who was the target of the holy light shrinked.
He tried to get away but couldn't make it in time as his figure disappeared into the light.
Mirai : Judge all evil that stray away from the path of rightfulness, be the blade that shall suppress all harm toward justice, by the light that shall hunt all darkness, I convene the third law of Averion, [Astral Judgement].
Guy : Fucking sh-
The holy light severed the sea in half...the wing arced in a crescent shape, leaving an unremovable mark on this part of the ocean.
A line following the bay of Ruberios all the way to the Eastern empire...where water failed to flow.
This was the technique she had created over countless of retry...a sword that personify her own vision of what Averion symbolized.
Velzard : Frightening...you are truly his daughter.
Mirai : This is just the start...Guy Crimson survived, though it seems he had to let go of his material body.
Still floating on the same spot, Mirai looked at the after effect and consequence of her attack...surely the nature she had just destroyed will change the ecosystem forever.
Just like how her father had dropped the temperature of the continent's west part...she too had left a mark on the land directly.
Velzard : It's fine, Guy can be considered out for the following part of this war.
Mirai : Yeah...he may come back enraged at the very end but for now...
Her gaze trailing off toward the folk, the allies were cheering for her...she could basically feel a sudden burst of faith and motivation through the entire field.
They were all working together to get out of here now...as for the enemy, the majority of them were wiped out by Kyuri.
Though they were also retreating...some lucky one managed to get back to their land...in the end over a million of imperial soldiers had lost their lives here.
This is a total victory for Ruberios...
Velgrynd : You damn sister...
Again another guest, Velgrynd was back in her human form...her dress was slightly torn and dirty...
Still she had retreated after a infernal fight with the allied force from Dwargon and Sarion.
Velzard : My~it has been a long time, sister.
Velgrynd : I didn't think you would fall so low to let a lowly human ride you.
Velzard : Are you provoking me when you are in the same situation ? How cute.
A sweet rolled down the scorch dragon's forehead...she didn't know why but suddenly she felt so distant from her sister.
Even if they weren't exactly close before...she felt at this very moment that Velzard took a leap in some foreign territory she could never reach.
Velgrynd : A-are you really my sister ? I feel like you are a totally different person...
Velzard : Mmh...well I guess it truly has been a while since we last met.
Velgrynd Pov
My sister Velzard...she really changed, the way she stands there feels completely different...
This battle ended with a total defeat on our side, I can't contact Rudra or the other me...on top of that, the measures I took were destroyed by this hero Mirai...
I knew she was dangerous the moment she taunted me...still, her appearance and presence shifted.
Was she hiding her true form and power all this time ? To reveal it at the very end ?
Velgrynd : Daughter of Dawn Arceid...a new hero, huh...
I glared at the girl standing behind my sister...this girl right now isn't someone I can take lightly.
Mirai : And you are the scorch dragon, Velgrynd...shouldn't you be retreating now ?
Velgrynd : Cocky aren't you...
I should as she says but the overall situation is just too weird..I can feel multiple energy bursting through the world all around the planet.
I feel like if i leave now...i would be walking on eggshells...
Velgrynd : Sister...can you tell me what's really happening in this war ?
Velzard : I am as clueless as you, this war wasn't something in our hand to begin with.
She is right...I couldn't help but look down, my mind has been clearer ever since Mirai used her spell.
That light managed to clear something in my soul too...and I have come to realize.
Despite being a true dragon, the strongest and wisest being...we fought in a war that we couldn't control.
Rudra, Guy Crimson, Dawn Arceid and now Mirai Averion...these people seem to be the core of this war, to even reduce us to dragons as pawns.
Velgrynd : Do you know what happened to Rudra ? I can't feel his presence anymore...
I thought I had sensed him retreating...but now, it feels like his presence vanished and someone else has taken his place.
Velzard : Rudra ? I guess he must have lost the battle against Tempest...other than that, i don't really know.
Velgrynd : Really...
I took a thinking pose and overworked my brain...is Rudra dangerous ? Now that i think, he was feeling a bit unwell before the war started.
I honestly don't care much for the empire, but if Rudra's life is threatened...i will have to take unprecedented action...
Mirai : If you are talking about the emperor Rudra Nam Ul Nasca, I advise you to resolve your heart.
Velgrynd : What ?
I glared at the girl, does she know something ? It sure looks like she does...
Mirai : Promise me one thing, scorch dragon...if you do, I'll tell you everything I know about Rudra's condition.
Velgrynd : ...
How audacious...but i guess this is the trademark of those called heroes, just like Rudra these humans are so daring.
I took a moment to think before letting out a big sight.
Velgrynd : What do you want ?
Mirai : I just want your cooperation in the future events...that's all.
Velgrynd : Cooperation ?
Mirai : Yes...if you think logically, this war is meaningless and dumb...now that it has come so far, we can only prepare for the future.
She stretched her hand toward me before tightening her fist, this girl who looked like a brat to me a moment ago.
Was now a fully fledged woman...seriously, do kids these days grow up so fast ?
Velgrynd : I'll think about it, just tell me about Rudra now.
Mirai : Heh, fine i'll let you off for now.
A thick mark formed on my forehead, along with an awkward smile...this arrogant attitude really started to annoy me...
Velzard : How kind of you, Mirai-chan.
And this sarcastic tone...these two seem to be a perfect match duo...
Mirai : Anyway, have you ever heard of the term « Manas ».
Velgrynd : Manas ? What's that ?
It does sound a bit familiar, I must have heard of that word somewhere before but forgot...
Velzard : Mmh i think i heard big brother mention that word once back then.
Velgrynd : Big brother Veldanava ?
Mirai : Well this is expected from the god creator...
Oh ? It seems she knows about Veldanava too...now that I think, who is Mirai Averion really ?
Her power isn't something you can hide for so long...she couldn't have awakened on the spot because no matter how exceptional you are.
You need some time for adaptation...
Mirai : A Manas is simply said, a skill which attains a mind of its own.
Velgrynd : Huh ?
Velzard : A mind of its own, mmh...
Velgrynd : Wait ! Do you really believe her ? Is that even possible ?
It's absurd...a skill achieving a will of its own ? It's unheard of !
Velzard : Normally, I would have denied such a possibility but Mirai already showed us the proof of her claim.
Velgrynd : What proof ?!
Wait...now that she mentioned it, earlier this Mirai girl was giving off an otherworldly presence.
Even to me, it felt so alien and unexplainable...she wasn't like the hero she is now...
Velgrynd : Don't tell me-
Mirai : That's right, the being you all witnessed earlier is a Manas.
That also means this girl has a living skill...how dangerous...
Mirai : Ultimate skill : the lord of Justice...
My eyes widened at the mention of Rudra's skill...how did she know ? No, that wasn't important, the simple explanation of what a Manas is followed by Rudra's skill.
The realization clicked in me...did Michael become a Manas ? Then what happened to Rudra now ?
Velgrynd : Tell me everything now !
I gritted my teeth and reached out my hand to grab her...but before I could approach too closely.
I felt a freezing aura weighing me down, the sheer pressure made me stop all motion...
Velzard : Cool your head down, even if you are my sister I won't hesitate to strike you down.
For the very first time, I was genuinely scared of Velzard...her golden eyes were staring at me not as a sibling but as a threat, no...
Perhaps to her, I was more of a lizard than anything...I knew she was much stronger, even if I didn't openly admit it...
Now I'm feeling it, she was never serious when confronting me in the past...she is a monster in her own category.
Velgrynd : I-i'm sorry...
Velzard : Right, now be a good girl and stop interrupting Mirai-chan.
I shifted my gaze down, unable to reply...only a nod left my stiff figure.
Mirai : You are really scary when you want...Velzard-san...
Velzard : Ara, this is merely education I failed to instill in my rebel siblings.
Mirai : I see...that aside, as you both probably have guessed Rudra is no more...his skill has now taken over his body.
I clenched my fist hard, the more i thought about this possibility the more realist it became.
Velgrynd : Then where is Rudra now ?
Mirai : His soul shattered and dispersed across the otherworlds...
Velgrynd : N-no...this can't be...
I could hear the sound of my heart shattering, my pupils shook heavily as a massive headache assaulted my mind.
Velgrynd : H-how can this be...Rudra was the kindest and most ambitious man...
I couldn't care less how my expression morphed into ugliness...I bit my lips while covering the side of my face with a hand.
Mirai : There is no need to despair, I can guarantee you that there is a way to bring him back.
Velgrynd : W-what ?
I weakly looked up, her eyes weren't lying...was there truly a way for me to reunite with Rudra once more.
Mirai : That's why, Velgrynd...join force with us, I'll promise you that one oath...you will be able to meet your beloved again.
Velgrynd : R-really ?
Her hand stretched for me to grab it, I hesitated for a moment before shaking my head.
Velgrynd : Tell me...what I need to do.
I couldn't fully trust her but all she had said made sense to a certain degree...if I don't take this opportunity now, I might regret it later.
On top of that...Velzard is so different, I'm curious as to why she changed that much...
Perhaps this is a trap...but everything led me to take this hand offered to me...
Mirai : Eleonor will take care of the evacuation, we should leave for Tempest now...the key of this war is there.
I just nodded, this war had already reached a point of non return...
Strangely, I looked up at the falling sky..the angels were menacingly running rampant any time now.
I should have realized something was wrong the moment Rudra decided to use Armageddon at such a time...
3rd Pov
Meanwhile on Tempest's side...Rimuru had come back from his own battle, ordering the retreat order.
The entire army soon managed to get back home...without any causality, a total victory worthy of being celebrated.
While the soldiers cheered, Rimuru with his cadres quickly made way toward the Labyrinth...
There, he was welcomed by Shuna...
Shuna : Congratulation for your victory, Rimuru-sama.
A warm smile decorating her face, Rimuru returned the gesture while following the ogre princess.
Rimuru : Was there any problem on your side ?
Shuna : Miss Flora had dealt with some invaders...aside from that, nothing worth mentioning happened.
Rimuru : I see.
Shuna : We took the measure ahead and already prepared a meeting room.
Opening the door, a large room was presented to Rimuru...a room big enough to welcome a hundred people.
A square table at the center, empty from all presence...
Shuna : I already got the confirmation from the allied force, they are all on their way for the first world emergency meeting.
Rimuru : Ahhh...more work.
Shuna led him to his seat first with a kind smile.
Ramiris : Oh Rimuru-kun, already back ?
Rimuru : Ramiris ? Seems like you got it easy.
Resting his chin over his hand, Rimuru watched as Ramiris took her own seat.
Behind her, Treiny and Beretta stood still blowing lightly after recognizing Rimuru's presence.
Ramiris : By the way, you seem to have evolved ?
Rimuru : Well it kind of happened...
Ramiris : Veldora isn't here ?
Rimuru : I have to deal with him and his sister...
Shifting his gaze aside awkwardly, he still had to talk things out with Velgrynd...and something tells him that it won't be easy.
Ramiris : Well, that aside I wanted to show you something concerning.
Rimuru : Mmh ?
At her words, Treiny stepped forward and settled a small device on the table before activating it.
A holographic projection erupted to illuminate the empty space above the table.
Rimuru : This...
Ramiris : We found this earlier...the entirety of the south-east, mainly Milim's domain, the land of Jistav and the harpy territory of Fulbrosia are engulfed in this dome.
The picture was alarming, a sort of white sphere surrounded the land...its rampaging effect had crossed into the Jura forest's territory.
But it didn't seem to expand...Rimuru could tell just by looking at the picture, it wasn't a natural phenomenon but man made.
Rimuru : What is that...
Ramiris : From what I observed so far, it seems that the laws of space and time were overruled, no destruction would be a more accurate assumption.
Rimuru : Wait...didn't Milim go there ?
Ramiris left out a confused expression before getting a more stern one, Milim was indeed the one who went there.
But the world was affected by [Fate Paradox], for anyone other than Rimuru and Mirai, that reality didn't happen.
Ramiris : Milim ? No...Dawn is there, and he must have engaged in a reckless fight against the world destroyer dragon Ivarage.
Rimuru : Wh-
Ciel : (Master wasn't affected by the sudden change of reality due to the ultimate skill : Lord of Fate instigated by Dawn Arceid.)
Suddenly Rimuru remembered, the information he had right now could be different from the one everyone else had.
Rimuru : (This could be dangerous...what if there are other things who got mixed up.)
This was a reminder at how terrifying the power to change reality is, with the wrong usage...an entire nation could have never existed.
Ciel : (Would master like me to alter his memories so everything would fall in order?)
Rimuru : (I trust you so do it.)
Ciel : (Right away.)
It was honestly too much of a headache to try finding what happened or not...if Ciel could take care of everything as she was basically immunized.
It would only benefit Rimuru before he got a brain stroke thinking that he was an odd ball compared to the rest.
Rimuru : So...Dawn-kun is there ?
Ramiris : That's what I believe but approaching the area isn't wise...
Rimuru : What is this dome ?
Ramiris : Mmh...it's hard to explain but I would refer to it as a hole in space.time.
Despite the white dome being limited in size as a multi nation large sphere...what contained within the dome was an entire world made of nothingless.
It wasn't exactly the void but rather a subspace line that directly moved around reality, a sort of interstice space that separated all creation.
Ramiris : This is basically a gate connection to a world of infinite possibility.
Rimuru : Infinite ?
Judging by how serious and tense Ramiris was, Rimuru could only gulp fearing the worst.
Ramiris : Listen well Rimuru and keep it secret for now...
Her hands shook nervously...
Ramiris : Dawn is responsible enough to take care of his own business but if...in the worst scenario, he happens to lose and that Ivarage is the one coming out of the rift...
Rimuru : (I never saw Ramiris this nervous before...)
Ramiris : Then I fear that this world is doomed.
Her reasoning was based on the fact that if Ivarage ever came out alive...mean he is at least at the level of a true hero capable of facing the catastrophe of the world.
And on top of that...time doesn't exist within the dome, perhaps a few seconds passed, or maybe decades.
Ivarage will grow stronger as time passes...no matter how, if he defeats Dawn single handedly.
The world might have to welcome a true evil god...
Rimuru : Doomed, huh...
They might be winning the war against the Eastern empire but the looming threats were still around waiting to act.
Rimuru : It's fine...
Ramiris : Huh ?
However, Rimuru didn't worry much...he was concerned about the overall matter but still he let out a tiny smile.
Rimuru : I'm not very familiar with the west's culture but from what I heard, Dawn-kun is a hero...he will win for sure.
Ramiris : I-i know...i was just saying in case...
Rimuru : Yeah, let's prepare for the worst just in case...
Crossing his arm, Rimuru looked down pondering...the battle was far from being over.
Rimuru : By the way, where is Flora-san ?
Ramiris : Mmh, I think she went off trying to communicate with Ruberios...she and Lucas have been a great help in organizing the Labyrinth to welcome all the citizens.
Rimuru : I see...any news on the other battlefield ?
Before Ramiris could answer, the door opened with Shizu making her appearance.
Shizue : I can answer that.
In her hands was a large stack of papers...which made Rimuru jolt in fear.
Rimuru : S-Shizu-san...are those paper ?
Shizue : Yes...after coming back, I was charged with gathering all the reports received by the allied nation.
Shizue was one of the warriors who helped Tempest fight on the frontline, though she was more of a support than an actual fighter.
Helping reorganize the troop, carrying out Benimaru's directive and much more...naturally, her sword was teinted red during the battle too.
Rimuru : A-ah...
Shizue : Oh don't worry, I already went through them all...you just have to listen to my own report now.
Rimuru : R-really ? (Is she an angel ? No, she must be a goddess!)
Rimuru was genuinely touched, escaping from the hard nightmare that paperwork was.
On top of that Shizue displayed great skill in doing that, to Rimuru he thought that Shizue actually liked doing paperwork...
Rimuru : (It suits her very well...she would make the perfect secretary!)
He could see the picture of Shizue wearing a tight secretary outfit guiding her colleague on how to do their job.
Though he didn't know the sad reason as to why Shizue had become so good at doing paperwork.
Shizue : (During my time in Ruberios, I was neither the smartest nor the strongest...all I could do was actually doing paperwork for Yuu-san and Flora-san...)
That was the harsh reality, a fact that she wanted to bury within her soul...even at night she would dream of all those piles of paperworks, unfinishable.
Shizue : Ahem ! So on a general scale we are winning on every side, but it seems the battle on the northern coast has turned chaotic.
Rimuru : North coast, huh...Ruberios and the empire's largest force...
Shizue : Yes...demon lord Guy Crimson appeared there, because of that Miss Velzard joined the battle along Kyuri-chan and many other external forces.
Rimuru : Whoa...that sounds rough.
Looking up, he imagined the scenario...he already met with Velzard several times and he could tell why Veldora was so scared of her.
So a fight between Guy and Velzard has nothing to be envious of his own battle against two true dragons.
Shizue : But amidst all that, a particular report from Eleonor caught my interest.
Rimuru : Eleonor ? I remember her, didn't Dawn invite her on a date, hehe.
Shizue : Mmh...as much as love talk is entertaining, I would like it if Rimuru-san would be serious about this matter.
Rimuru : Ah...sorry, continue please...(She is scary too.)
An innocent smile that carried all the murderous intent in the world...Rimuru and any man could agree that such women are the scariest.
Shizue : As I was saying, in her report she describes the appearance of a lady that replaced Yuu-san...
Rimuru : Replaced ?
Shizue : Yes literally, and this lady called herself the daughter of the hero, Dawn Arceid.
Silence dropped over the empty room...Rimuru's mouth was left hanging as he tried to process the information.
Ramiris's attendant almost lost balance in their footing and the spirit queen herself kept a calm expression.
Ramiris : (Mmh, a daughter, huh...what a naughty boy, hiding such truth from me.)
Rimuru : C-can you repeat please,
Shizue : Dawn-san...has a daughter, her name is Mirai and she seems to be a hero just like her father.
Rimuru : Seriously...I knew he was old but that's...
Pinching his forehead, from a world destruction threat to a friend's unexpected daughter...today sure was filled with surprise.
Shizue : This Mirai is now on her way toward Tempest.
Rimuru : Oh ? Is she using teleportation ?
Shizue : No...she is actually riding Miss Velzard who is in her dragon form, it's also stated that the scorch dragon was with them...
Ciel : (Before you ask, individual : Velgrynd possesses a skill called « Parallel Existence » allowing her to split her existence in sort of clones, the one master fought is only one of two.)
Rimuru froze, his head dropping on the table...he then heard Ciel's voice announcing a powerful aura approaching which belonged to Velzard.
Rimuru : (Ahhh...time to get back to work.)