— –Rimuru– —
"Lord Rimuru, they are on their way." Testarossa announced with a graceful bow.
After giving her a subtle nod in response, he got lost in thought about all of the reports he had been given about Hinata.
She'd spent the last hour in the hot springs with Shizue, both enjoying the peaceful ambiance and taking in the little luxuries Tempest offered. Rimuru hadn't expected her to immerse herself so willingly, and from what he'd gathered, she seemed to genuinely enjoy Tempest, especially its food stalls.
For someone with such a hardened exterior, her appetite had been... impressive. He half-wondered if, by the end of this visit, she might be tempted to ask about staying longer, as well as some of the recipes.
At the moment, he was sitting in a traditional meeting room, and Diablo was waiting by the side to serve tea or bring snacks should they need any. Shuna was next to his side, while Shion stood behind him, ready to protect both of them at the first sign of danger.
After a few moments, the door opened, revealing Hinata and Shizue, who both had slightly rosy faces from the hot springs. Both of them were wearing beautiful kimonos made from the finest of Tempestian silk.
Originally, Hinata had wanted to wear her formal Paladin armor. However, before the meeting, Rimuru asked for a more casual and comfortable clothing style.
It was all somewhat manipulative, but until he understood Hinata, he wasn't going to let all of his hard work go to waste.
He had sent Shizue to get Hinata to fall in love with Tempest, and throughout her visit, he had made sure that everything was as welcoming and relaxing as possible. He had even added some more extra special herbs to the hot springs to help her relax even more.
If she put on her paladin armor again, that would help her get in the mindset of being on guard once again. However, with the soft kimono, she would hopefully be far calmer and more reasonable.
Usually, he wouldn't have put so much effort into Hinata, especially since she wasn't the true leader behind it all, no, that would be Luminous. But it was clear that Luminous placed a lot of importance on her. If Hinata decided Tempest was her enemy, then the fake war between Tempest and Luminism might escalate into a real war.
If he was being honest, at this point, he believed he could take on the battle and win while still keeping the casualties in Tempest to a relative minimum. However, that would be counterintuitive. Not only would it be a hassle, but the whole world would be left in shambles. Probably.
In the end, it would be a massive pain in the ass, and he had neither the time nor the patience to deal with such a stupid war, a war that could very easily be prevented, especially since he wasn't sure what the future might bring.
One of his main goals for the future was not to become lenient and sloppy.
He had grown stronger, far stronger than most people in the world. But that didn't mean he was unkillable. He had seen that firsthand through Prophet.
Getting sloppy with something as simple as this would be the first sign he had gotten too comfortable. And he would be damned if his enemies caught him off guard because he stopped caring.
"Hinata Sakaguchi." Rimuru greeted her with a smile.
"Rimuru Tempest." Hinata answered back as she entered, her tone formal but polite. She inclined her head in acknowledgment, her sharp gaze moving briefly to Shuna. "Shuna Tempest. It's a pleasure to meet both of you. I must admit, Tempest City is… it is quite impressive."
"I'm glad to hear that." Shuna replied with a gentle smile, her voice warm and welcoming. "We've put in a lot of effort to build Tempest. It's still a work in progress, but soon, we'll have realized our full vision."
Hinata's eyes lingered on Shuna for a moment longer as though appraising her sincerity. Yet that was when Rimuru drew her attention again with a chuckle.
"You know, it's been a long time coming, but Shizue's told me quite a bit about you." He said, keeping his tone casual yet respectful. "It seems like you've earned yourself a pretty solid reputation. Even Luminous herself told me to leave the 'war' in your capable hands, and to only bother her if you weren't sure about something."
At the mention of Luminous, he saw Hinata's expression shift subtly. The name was a deliberate choice, a small move to bridge the familiarity between them.
Luminous had given Rimuru permission to inform his inner circle, those who needed to know for their secret war to go without a problem. At this point, everyone in the room knew her true identity. However, they were quite good at keeping secrets.
Hinata let out a soft sigh as she heard him, nodding her head as her eyes focused on his.
"So she's leaving it all to me, huh? I can't say I'm surprised. I had a feeling something like this was coming when she first sent me here." Her voice softened, a hint of resignation woven into her tone. "Well, perhaps it's for the best."
As she finished speaking, Diablo stepped forward to serve all of them tea, letting the warm and relaxing fragrance into the air, and after Rimuru, Hinata was the next to take a sip, her eyes widening slightly as she tasted it before her shoulders relaxed a bit more.
"I haven't known Luminous for long, but it's clear she trusts you." Rimuru said with a soft smile. "Does she also make you handle any issues that crop up in Luminous' territories? I can imagine that would get… tiring."
"No, thankfully, the Seven Luminaries manage most of the significant matters." She explained. "They're capable, but… let's say they don't always make things easy. While they're loyal to Luminous, they each have strong opinions, and convincing them to see eye-to-eye can be a feat in itself."
"You have my sympathies, Miss Sakaguchi," Shuna said with a soft, knowing smile. "We're fortunate to have fewer disagreements here in Tempest, yet even so, managing everything smoothly is no small feat."
Hinata's lips curved into a faint smile at Shuna's words as she gave a slight shake of her head.
"Perhaps I make it sound worse than it really is. Yet, I must admit, things here in Tempest run far smoother than they do back in Lubelius."
"Do the Seven Luminaries know about what's to come?" Rimuru asked with some curiosity after a few moments.
"As far as I'm aware, no. Luminous has chosen to keep it quiet for now." Hinata replied. "But once the plans are set in motion, I'm certain she'll inform them, or perhaps she'll just send Louis to break the news."
"Well, if you ever need a break from all that." Shizue interjected with a gentle smile. "You're always welcome in Tempest."
Hinata glanced back at Shizue, thinking for a few moments before taking another sip of her tea and sighing.
"There is no need to waste our time speaking in circles or to tiptoe around the main issue. I will cooperate to the best of my ability." Hinata abruptly spoke as she put her cup down. "We'd use our time better if we just began discussing our plans. I am curious as to what you have prepared, Sir Rimuru."
Rimuru himself couldn't help but let out a mischievous smile as he heard her before taking out a book from his Stomach.
Hinata's eyes widened as she took the book, a slight smirk forming as she read the title aloud.
"How to Fake a War… For Dummies?" She said, her smirk growing into a full-on amused smile. "A short and in-depth guide for Demon Lords and gods… why is g in gods not uppercase, whatever, it does not matter." She paused, skimming the subtitle. "...strategic theatrics and nation-building on the sly?"
"Bestseller in Tempest, I'll have you know. Written by yours truly." Rimuru said with a chuckle.
'I helped out a bit, didn't I, Raph?' Rimuru asked internally.
[You did, in fact, gather all of the information used to create this book.]
'Yeah, that, but I also—'
[In addition, you provided the base plan used to generate the book, as well as provided assistance in creating the titles of each chapter.] Raphael added, but Rimuru could almost feel her rolling her nonexistent eyes with a smile.
'Aye.'
Looking back at Hinata's smile as she flipped through the pages of the book, Rimuru couldn't help but smile even more. Shizue had warned him about how serious and stubborn Hinata could be, so he thought of a silly book to break the ice, and judging by her appearance, it worked.
It was the little things, really.
Honestly, he was quite proud of the titles he had come up with.
Propaganda Parade: Shaping the Narrative for Maximum Drama
Disaster Planning for Dummies: Making Sure Nothing Actually Blows Up.
Strategic Surrender (Or, Making It Look Like You Meant to Lose)
War Games Gone Wrong: Troubleshooting Common Pitfalls
Allies or Frenemies? Managing Fake Enemies Without Hurting Feelings
Theatrics 101: How to Look Tough Without Breaking a Sweat.
Art of the Fake Punch: Convincing Combat Without the Bruises
Peace Talks and Handshakes: How to Fake a Reconciliation with Style
Aftermath and Glory: Crafting Victory Speeches for All Outcomes
"I can see you're prepared." Hinata muttered, setting the book down with a soft thud. The faint smile that had played on her lips vanished as she turned her gaze back to Rimuru, her expression sharpening. "But as detailed as this guide might be, I'd still like to discuss things in a more serious manner."
"Don't worry. I wasn't planning on goofing around the whole meeting." Rimuru answered as he, too, took on a more serious expression. "I have prepared some of my people and had them infiltrate noble houses across the West, as well as a few different organizations. As soon as I give the word, they will start spreading rumors about me. And with Luminous' declaration, the 'war' between us will start."
"How many houses and organizations have you infiltrated?" Hinata asked with narrowed eyes.
"Enough." Rimuru answered with a smile, and though Hinata's eyes were focusing and trying to pressure him for a few moments, he didn't elaborate.
"I see…" She finally answered after relenting, her eyes turning to the book before asking. "What about our fights? How will you ensure nothing goes wrong? You must be aware that almost no other paladin knows about Luminous' true identity, so they will not be able to have fake battles without realizing something is wrong."
"One of Tempest's strongest magics is Illusion." Shuna answered with a smile. "But we have crafted a better plan than just simple magic…"
One by one, questions poured from Hinata, each one met with confident, thorough answers from Rimuru and Shuna. They detailed contingency plans, carefully woven strategies to control the flow of information, minimize casualties, and maneuver public opinion across the Western Nations. Rimuru explained how Tempest would handle its growing influence, how Luminism could rise alongside it, and finally, how the two nations would unite under a common cause.
With each response, Hinata's expression grew sharper, and a new light seemed to ignite in her eyes. She leaned in, her follow-up questions cutting deeper as she absorbed the full extent of their plans. Rimuru could see the gears turning in her mind as his vision began to take hold.
"You mentioned you would support me personally during my crusades to spread Luminous' influence. But how do you plan to do that? Are you simply going to wear Shizue's mask as you did when you visited Englassia?"
"No, though I could hide my magicules and change my appearance to look more human." Rimuru answered, hiding all of his aura and magicules inside of Beelzebuth and changing himself to look more human. "However, there is something else I want to try out. But we can deal with it once the actual crusades begin."
He had awakened an ability when he evolved into a Paradox Slime, and he had only used it once to experiment with trying to interact with the Hero's Egg. However, it hadn't reacted much.
He wanted to try a few more experiments to awaken the egg, and what better way than in a war against a Demon Lord? Even if, ironically, that Demon Lord turned out to be himself.
After a few more questions and answers, Hinata had gotten a full overview of the plan.
"A world united under Tempest and Luminous…" Hinata murmured, her voice trailing off as her gaze drifted, lost in thought. At last, she nodded, a steely resolve in her voice. "You have my full support."
Her voice was filled with determination as she spoke, her eyes focused as she went silent once again, clearly lost in thought before speaking up.
"I have a question." She began slowly, her tone careful. "And I hope you won't take it the wrong way." She paused, meeting his gaze with a hint of challenge. "Would you be willing to fight me?"
The question didn't come off as aggressive but simply as a test of strength. Perhaps she saw him as a threat, or she simply wanted to test his power to see if she could defeat him should he turn evil, yet before he could answer, he felt Shion's Battlewill surge.
"Lord Rimuru, allow me to take this challenge on your behalf." Shion asked in a surprisingly formal way, her eyes blazing with determination as she took a step forward.
Her words made Hinata raise an eyebrow with slight annoyance, yet she didn't speak up, simply returning her eyes to Rimuru to see his decision.
"Shion…" Rimuru whispered as he turned to look back at her, though he couldn't help but sigh internally as he looked at Hinata.
'Raph?'
[Answer. No Ultimate-level Skills detected on the subject, Hinata Sakaguchi. Probability of victory against her is set at 99.999999999999990992710471047812978…% within the Labyrinth due to death nullification. Outside, the probability stands at 98.999911178…%.]
[The subject, Hinata Sakaguchi, is currently at the Enlightened Human level. Her proficiency in Holy Magic may elevate her beyond others of her rank, yet Enlightened Humans are equivalent to Demon Lord Seed-level adversaries.]
[However, her soul shows a notable strength due to a higher concentration of Skills. In addition, her energy surpasses the level expected of an Enlightened.]
[In comparison to the recent encounter with Carrion, her energy exceeds his prior to his Royal Beast Transformation.]
[Additional data is required for further analysis.]
'Oh? Pretty strong for a Human. Though I expected her to be stronger…' Rimuru mused, though he noticed Hinata's frown deepening, as if somehow sensing his thoughts.
'It should still be a good chance to let Shion get stronger, no?' Rimuru thought as he looked at her. She had awakened an absolutely ridiculous Skill, Infinite Regeneration. Though if he was being honest, he had been subtly helping her.
He had been strengthening her through Asmodeus' Invigorate, helping her physical body, astral body, and spiritual body grow stronger. In addition, he also used Beelzebuth's Food Chain to pass down his Infinite Regeneration Skill.
One still needed to be a proper vessel for the skill to be passed down through Food Chain, yet thanks to Raphael, Shion's outrageous training had been enough to push her body and soul past that final step.
"Hinata, if you can beat Shion, then I will fight you. But for now, why don't you test yourself against one of Tempest's strongest?"
Shion smiled brightly as she heard him nodding with a grin.
"My lord, if that's the case…" Diablo interjected with a wide smile, stepping forward, "...then allow me to step in as well. I'd be more than pleased to occupy her, ensuring she doesn't trouble you further."
"I see… well, I have been curious to see Tempest's strength. So I do not mind that deal. However, if I win, keep my challenge in mind." Hinata answered, standing up.
Seeing how she was rearing to fight already, Rimuru shook his head slightly as he stood up.
"I was going to show you the Labyrinth later, but no time like the present, eh?"
— –Hinata– —
Standing on the same floor where Rimuru had previously fought Carrion, Hinata adjusted her stance, feeling the solid weight of her armor settle around her. Across from her, Shion stood with a confident grin, the purple-haired Oni radiating an eagerness that was almost infectious. Hinata exhaled slowly, grounding herself, and let her gaze rest on her opponent, fully aware of the strength Shion carried beneath that cheerful expression.
Hinata's dream had always been to create a world where humanity could thrive peacefully, an egalitarian society without conflict or strife. The vision of such a world had shaped her life, pushing her to become stronger, to lead others, and to protect the vulnerable.
Tempest and Lubelius were two places where this vision had already taken root, defying the odds. However, both had taken different paths to reach the same goal. If their influence could spread across the world, she knew she'd do whatever it took to make it a reality.
At first, she hesitated. The prospect of working with Rimuru had been daunting, but her time in the hot springs had allowed her to find clarity. Just because Tempest was built for more than just Humans didn't make its values any less admirable. She could see the hope it inspired.
When she'd walked into the meeting room, she'd already been ready to lend her support. Yet her conversation with Rimuru had done more than reinforce her resolve; it impressed her. His plans were precise and thought through with contingencies that accounted for nearly every possible twist. Each time she'd pressed him with a question, he'd met her with an answer, calm and ready, as if he'd anticipated her every thought.
'Is this why you sent me Luminous?'
Luminous behaved strangely when it came to Tempest. But she finally felt like she could understand. If she were being honest with herself, she had been expecting the worst from the start. Preparing herself mentally to face her former teacher should it come to it.
However, now, as she held onto her rapier, she felt an eerie sense of calmness. It wasn't her Legendary Weapon, Moonlight. She could tell that Shion's blade wasn't Legendary yet, and if she was going to test herself against one of Rimuru's strongest, then she wanted it to be on relatively even ground.
She had challenged Rimuru simply to test his strength, to test herself against him. In the end, as foolish as it might sound, she wanted to be strong enough to defeat him should things take a turn for the worst in the future. So she didn't want the reason she won this fight should it come to it to be solely due to her weapon.
She always kept a few extra rapiers with her in case of emergencies, so she would simply use those for this fight.
'Ramiris' Labyrinth…' She thought once again, glancing at her resurrection bracelet before smiling as she felt her inner instincts begin to burn.
'It's good that I don't have to hold back in fear of killing her.'
— –Shion– —
Closing her eyes, Shion drew in a steadying breath, her fingers tightening around her trusted sword, Gorikimaru.
When her eyes reopened, they burned with determination. This was her chance, a chance to prove herself, to show Rimuru that her training had honed more than just her strength. She wanted to be the one he could rely on, a warrior whose resilience would never falter. Even if her body was destroyed, she'd rise again, fighting with every fiber of her being.
Fighting had always been her passion, an urge she'd nurtured since she was young. But ever since Charybdis, few had been worthy of a true battle; training bouts had become almost mundane. Only her private training kept her on the edge.
Hinata, though, was different. She was the strongest Paladin, the right hand of one of the Demon Lords in the Ennead. She would be her test. A worthy opponent.
"Don't hold back." Shion called, her voice echoing across the Labyrinth floor. "I won't."
Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile touching her lips as she raised her rapier in response, her stance balanced and ready.
This battle would come down to speed and strength. Shion knew her Odachi could easily overwhelm a slim weapon like Hinata's rapier in sheer power, but she was determined to push her speed to match Hinata's agility as well.
Over time, Shion had pushed her mastery of Shunpo to the very limits, perfecting the technique until her movements were nearly invisible. She would not be caught off guard.
"I am ready." Hinata announced, her calm voice cutting through the charged silence.
"Then, you may begin." Rimuru announced.
In an instant, Shion vanished, leaving only a rush of wind in her wake. She reappeared directly in front of Hinata, Gorikimaru raised high, her blade glowing with the white-hot essence of pure Fighting Spirit.
'Ogre Guillotine.' Shion thought, channeling all her power into the downward swing.
Hinata's eyes widened as Shion closed in, her sheer speed clearly catching her off guard. For a split second, Shion saw a flicker of surprise in Hinata's gaze, but it vanished as quickly as it came. Hinata leaped back just in time, the ground where she'd stood splitting as Gorikimaru's blade struck down, carving a deep, jagged line into the floor.
Then, in an instant, the entire floor ahead of Shion exploded as Fighting Spiritl extended from her blade, leaving a massive gash across the floor.
Hinata landed with a graceful twist, her face now serious as she reassessed Shion with an intensity that bordered on admiration. Her sharp gaze met Shion's, and without speaking, they both understood that this was going to be a hard fight.
Shion lunged forward once more, her movements flowing with effortless precision, each swing of Gorikimaru carrying the weight of her entire strength. Hinata darted left, then right, her speed almost blurring as she avoided the slashes within a hair's breadth precision. Shion could feel her own Fighting Spirit flaring higher, matching Hinata's fluid, adaptive movements.
Hinata countered with a quick lunge, her rapier striking forward in a swift, almost invisible thrust. Shion twisted, blocking the strike and feeling the sting of the impact even through her weapon's thick blade.
Shion, however, used Shunpo to move back, making an opening for her to focus her Battlewill on Gorokimaru.
"Spirit summoning." Hinata chanted, and as she did, four spirits emerged behind her. Yet, as they did, they suddenly froze in place, looking at each other with hesitation.
"What?" Hinata asked with some surprise since the Elementals had never reacted like this before.
The battle paused unexpectedly, the Elementals hovering awkwardly, exchanging uncertain glances. Shion's instincts screamed at her to act, but she held herself back. She wouldn't win this fight by exploiting such an easy opening. It would simply be embarrassing for her since Rimuru himself was watching.
"You can attack; don't hold back." Rimuru shouted from where he stood, and as they heard him, the Elementals exchanged one final look with each other before nodding.
The moment she noticed the Elementals move forward, so did Shion.
Vanishing from her spot, Shion arrived in front of the fastest Elemental, the Wind Elemental, Sylphide.
Sylphide swirled her arms, attempting to summon blades of wind, but Shion's speed outpaced her. In one swift, fluid motion, Shion's Odachi cleaved cleanly through the Elemental. Her Cook skill activated upon impact, causing Sylphide to burst apart, disintegrating into countless orbs of green energy that swirled back to Hinata, returning the power to its master.
Shion barely had time to relish her success before she sensed danger beneath her feet. The ground softened, shifting into thick mud before solidifying, trapping her in place. This was no ordinary earth magic. Its resilience marked it as the work of the Greater Earth Elemental, War Gnome. Even so, Shion smirked and summoned her brute strength, ripping free from the ground's grip.
But Ifrit, Hinata's Fire Elemental, seized the opening, unleashing a wave of blazing heat. The flames roared, engulfing the battlefield in a searing wave hot enough to melt steel. The fire began to consume everything around her, yet Shion stood completely unbothered. She could resist the fire, and any small damage that passed through her resistances was instantly regenerated.
"This is nothing compared to Benimaru's flames!" Shion shouted as she swung her blade coated in Battlewill, sending an Aura Blade directly toward Ifrit, the Aura Blade came with enough force to sever the flames surrounding her in half, and though Ifrit tried to resist it, he too was severed in half by it, causing him to burst into crimson energy that flew back to Hinata.
Yet, Hinata wasn't idle as Shion fought.
"Holy Field." Hinata chanted, causing countless golden magical circles to surround the area.
In an instant, the entire area glowed, encapsulated by a field of Holy Magic. A faint, oppressive energy pressed down on Shion, but she shrugged it off, grinning as she prepared for the remaining Elementals now charging toward her.
With a surge of speed, she advanced on the Water Elemental, Undine, intent on cleaving her down like the others. But just as her blade was about to make contact, she felt a flicker of danger from behind.
Hinata appeared in her blind spot, moving with a technique that startled Shion.
"Shunpo?! How did you?!" Shion muttered, her momentary shock costing her concentration.
In that instant, War Gnome and Undine seized the opportunity. The ground beneath her fractured, sharp earth spikes thrusting upward to pierce her legs and abdomen, while a rain of ice spears from Undine struck from above, each spear aimed with deadly precision. Hinata followed up by darting forward, her rapier blurring as she launched a relentless series of thrusts and slashes, every strike aimed at Shion's vital points.
Pinned down and surrounded, Shion's heartbeat thundered in her chest, not from fear but from pure exhilaration.
"Gotcha!" Shion roared, a fierce grin spreading across her face. Ignoring the pain, she pulled Gorokimaru back and swung it with all her might, abandoning defense in favor of a full-force offensive.
Hinata's eyes widened as she registered Shion's move, but she could only brace herself. Shion's powerful swing crashed into her rapier, the force so overwhelming it sent Hinata flying backward. She skidded across the ground, her body tumbling before she finally regained her balance, her expression more serious than ever.
Meanwhile, Shion looked down at herself. The earth spikes had torn through her legs and abdomen, while the ice spears had punctured her arms and chest, even piercing her heart and lungs. Despite her use of the Diamond Path Art to harden her defenses, the combined power of the Greater Elementals had broken through her armor.
But Shion's grin only widened. She flexed her muscles, the force of her strength shattering the spikes and spears as she broke free, blood seeping from the wounds for only an instant before all of the wounds closed. Her Fighting Spirit surged even higher, pouring into Gorokimaru until it was practically vibrating with raw energy.
"No more embarrassing myself." Shion muttered as she vanished from her place.
She reappeared behind Undine and War Gnome, her blade stopping by her side before she once again vanished, using Shunpo to charge toward Hinata. However, unlike before, she felt her Shunpo was slower. However, she pushed that thought back as she prepared to clash with Hinata.
As she reappeared before Hinata, their blades clashed with such force that the ground beneath Hinata's feet shattered, fragments of stone and dust bursting into the air. Simultaneously, Undine and War Gnome exploded as Shion's previous attack took effect. They formed into swirling beads of brown and blue energy, dancing through the air to reunite with Hinata.
Shion smiled with a massive wave of adrenaline as she took a step back, letting the Elementals pass by her. The moment the two Elementals reached Hinata, Shion's Cook took effect, causing them to explode into a violent burst of ice and rock shards. When she had slashed them before, she had used Cook to overwrite them and turn them into timed explosions, explosions that detonated point-blank.
Without wasting a moment, Shion shot forward again, using the dust and mist as cover as she encircled Hinata, appearing behind her to try to attack her back. Yet Hinata wouldn't let herself be defeated so easily. Using the dust as cover, her rapier shot forward with deadly accuracy. With three swift strikes, she pierced Shion's heart, stomach, and lungs in a single fluid motion.
Shion staggered from the attacks. She had been caught off guard since she had expected Hinata to be stunned by the attack, yet by the time blood began to flow, her wounds had already healed.
However, Hinata had used the opening to make some more distance, casting Holy Magic to heal the wounds inflicted by the icy shards and dirt spikes that had embedded themselves into her armor.
Yet, she had to quickly raise her rapier and block as Shion appeared in front of her, using Ogre Guillotine to coat her blade in Aura.
'Gotcha.' Shion thought with a smile as she saw Hinata's eyes widen. She had imbued Cook into her own blade with one single purpose, to destroy her weapon.
Cracks quickly began to spread through Hinata's blade as the two stood in a stalemate, but Hinata had to relent and jump back just as her blade exploded into countless shards.
— –Hinata– —
Hinata glanced at her broken blade, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the rapidly approaching Shion. It was clear now that Shion had abandoned traditional defense, trading caution for relentless offense. Her wounds healed almost instantly, barely a moment's delay in her assault, and Hinata realized that simply inflicting damage wouldn't be enough to slow her down.
The world seemed to slow as she activated her Mathematician Skill, activating Thought Acceleration and Predictive Calculation. New calculations flashed through her mind, each predicting Shion's next movements. Every swing of that monstrous Odachi, every surge of her Aura, and even the explosions from the Elementals. Hinata's mind processed them all, preparing her for the next strike.
'I didn't expect her to take my attacks without blocking. I doubt there are many who could fight with so little care for their own health.' Hinata thought, gritting her teeth.
Shion charged toward her, and though her own weapon was shattered, Hinata didn't hesitate. With absolute precision, she hurled the broken blade directly at Shion, watching as the Oni instinctively raised her Odachi to parry. Hinata seized the moment, summoning a new rapier from her Spatial Storage as she dashed forward, drawing closer in a blur of movement.
'She's strong.' She acknowledged silently as she focused on her next movements.
Closing the distance, Hinata mirrored Shion's Shunpo, her Predictive Calculation aiding her as she began to grasp the strange movement Art Shion had mastered. The unfamiliar technique felt more natural with each step, and she slipped into range with a swift smile, her rapier stabbing toward Shion's neck with deadly accuracy.
She felt her rapier pierce Shion, yet she had to twist her body almost instantly, just in time to avoid Shion's sweeping blade by the narrowest of margins before landing another quick, precise slash.
Now fully aware of Shion's weapon-breaking skill, Hinata didn't even attempt to block. Blocking was futile anyway, as each clash would drain her energy from how absurd Shion's strength was. Instead, she weaved and dodged, her Predictive Calculation guiding her to the perfect spots to avoid Shion's strikes. With fluid precision, she unleashed a flurry of thrusts and slashes, each attack calculated to wear down Shion's seemingly limitless stamina.
'I just have to keep attacking.' Hinata thought, her mind racing through calculations. 'Healing this fast must take energy. No matter how much she has, if I keep up the pressure, she'll eventually wear down.'
But as if reading her thoughts, Shion abruptly leapt back, her face twisted in a slight frown. She shook one foot, an almost imperceptible shift in her balance.
"What did you do?" Shion demanded, eyeing her with suspicion. "You took my Shunpo, didn't you?"
Hinata allowed herself a small, satisfied smile as she nodded.
"Only a part of it. Don't worry. You'll regain full proficiency soon enough."
Shion nodded slowly, her expression darkening as she exhaled.
"This is harder than I hoped. I hope you'll forgive me, but I cannot afford to lose. Rule #27: There is no honor in defeat. I should have listened to it before, but old habits are hard to break."
Those words made Hinata narrow her eyes as she realized the meaning behind them. She was going to start fighting dirty.
With a determined glare, Shion raised her Odachi, coating it in a surge of pure Fighting Spirit before slamming it against the ground. The ground erupted beneath them, and sensing what she was about to do, Hinata prepared to dodge.
Shion swung her Odachi in a wide arc, sending a barrage of jagged rocks hurtling her way. Each stone thrummed with a strange energy that Hinata could barely feel, yet it was enough for her to recognize it as dangerous.
She dodged skillfully, her Predictive Calculation helping her anticipate their paths, but a few were too close to evade. She parried them with her rapier, feeling the strain as small cracks began to spread across her blade.
But Shion wasn't done. Before the dust from the rocks could even settle, she stabbed her Odachi into the ground once more, swinging it upward. A massive cloud of dust exploded toward Hinata, obscuring her vision and making it impossible to see Shion's next move.
'Even my Magic Sense is being blocked by the dust?' Hinata thought with narrowed eyes.
From within the swirling dust, rocks began flying at her again, each one charged with the same strange, volatile energy.
Using Chantless Magic, Hinata quickly summoned a few walls out from the earth to protect her, each layer quickly being pierced by the rocks. Yet she had calculated their strength with enough precision to raise enough defensive walls.
Yet before she could catch her breath, she quickly had to dodge to the side. Shion's massive odachi had swung at her through the dust, and Hinata could feel the gust of air from the blade's force rush past her.
Using the cover of the dust, Shion had maneuvered behind her, forcing Hinata on the defensive. But the paladin was not one to be easily cornered; she regained her footing quickly, moving in sync with her Predictive Calculation to anticipate the next move. However, Shion seemed to have learned from her own mistakes, altering her approach.
Instead of direct attacks, Shion targeted the ground beneath them. With a single, powerful swing, Gorokimaru hit the earth, and the terrain around them began to twist in a surreal manner.
Hinata's eyes widened as the ground bubbled and boiled, yet before she could understand it, she felt an aura blade surging from Shion's weapon, slicing the air with intense power.
"What…?" She muttered, leaping back just in time to avoid the slash that scorched the spot where she'd stood.
Then, another aura blade shot out from Shion, but this one carried an unexpected chill, freezing the air around it as it approached. Hinata's mind raced, analyzing every detail.
'Magic? No, I would recognize the signature if it were… A Skill, then? But what sort of Skill could do this?'
Hinata tried to use Usurper to copy the Skill Shion was using, yet to her disappointment. It did not activate.
'A Unique skill, then?' Hinata analyzed, pushing the thought away as she focused on every new bit of information she could gather.
Since she wouldn't be able to dodge the next attack, Hinata swung her rapier, now imbued with her Fighting Spirit, slicing through the Aura Blade. She succeeded, but her blade wavered strangely, as though it had become soft, almost flexible, refusing to hold its shape. It was as if Shion's attacks were warping the very properties of the objects they touched.
'I can't let her keep pushing me back.' Hinata realized. 'If she forces me to play her game, she will be able to manipulate the battlefield to her advantage. I have to take control. Now.'
Without wasting another second, Hinata darted forward, weaving through the distorted landscape with a combination of movement Arts that allowed her to slip through the volatile ground. She closed the distance with swift, precise steps, arriving directly in front of Shion. The Oni's eyes widened as Hinata's approach cut off her next move, forcing Shion to step back.
'Thankfully, I have Usurped someone who wielded an Urumi before.' Hinata thought with a slight smile as she kept the pressure on.
Since her blade no longer held its form, she began to use it like a whip. Each slash snaked through the air unpredictably, striking Shion from unexpected angles. Hinata's blade pierced her opponent's defenses repeatedly, her strikes cutting through Shion's skin even as the Oni attempted to dodge. Shion's quick movements were impressive, but Hinata's fluid, whip-like attacks made evasion nearly impossible.
After the tenth strike, however, Hinata felt her rapier shift abruptly, hardening in an odd, misshapen form that threw off her balance. She barely hesitated; without missing a beat, she released her grip on the weapon, stepping forward with a powerful punch that connected with Shion's forehead.
The moment her fist connected. However, she felt a strange energy enter her body. Hinata felt the foreign power attempting to overtake her own Fighting Spirit. Yet, she focused, pouring her own Fighting Spirit into her arm to overpower the energy.
Jumping back, Hinata made some distance, her eyes wide with some surprise as she looked at her fist.
"Certain Outcome?" Hinata finally asked, her eyes wide as she finally recognized the skill. "I guess it makes sense, but to see such a rare Skill…. I must say, I am impressed."
Hinata took a deep breath, letting the realization settle. She hadn't expected this level of power from one of Rimuru's subordinates.
'Am I going to have to use it after all? Otherwise, this is going to drag too long…' Hinata thought with a sigh as she prepared to finally draw her Legendary Rapier, Moonlight.
Moonlight had a special property. Not only could it break through Multilayer protections, but it could also inflict injuries that could not be regenerated by Skills such as Ultraspeed Regeneration. With it, Shion's overwhelming healing would turn into a weakness since the moment she took on a hit, she would be defeated.
Relying on Skills like Ultraspeed Regeneration was a gamble since in the end, you were at the mercy of your opponent's Skills, and the moment you let yourself take a big wound, it would be the moment the battle would be decided.
She was confident she could defeat Shion in a dragged-out battle of endurance, even without Moonlight. But her regeneration was too outrageous. She couldn't even slow her down for a second. She had even briefly considered using Usurper to steal it for herself. But that would only ruin the new and fragile alliance with Rimuru.
Shion was weaker than her, which made her an unfit target for Usurper's Copy. She could only use Forceful Takeover to forcefully rip the skill away from her as long as it wasn't part of a Unique Skill. It's what she had used on Shunpo, yet since it was an Art, at most, she could lower Shion's understanding of the Art.
'No…' Hinata thought as she shook her head. There was a reason she had held back from using it at the start. This was only a subordinate of Rimuru's, and she wanted to prove herself. What would it say about her if she had to give it her all for a mere subordinate of a Demon Lord. Was she not one of the Ten Great Saints? The supposed equals of the whatever the fuck council? She knew that was a mere hoax as Luminous alone could destroy her, but she still wished to live up to that reputation as much as she could.
Clenching her fists, Hinata took on a fighting stance, coating her entire body with Fighting Spirit.
"Let's finish this." Hinata muttered, though it was mostly to herself.
She still had plenty of tricks up her sleeve, and so she would try them all out before relenting. Focusing her magicules, she quickly cast a Spell that caused rain clouds to begin gathering above them, completely chantless through Chant Annulment. Yet Shion did not let her act freely.
The moment she began to cast her spell, Shion vanished, appearing in front of her with her odachi ready to slice her in half. Yet, Hinata could see it all through her Mathematician Skill.
Stepping to the side, Hinata sent a punch directly at Shion's stomach, using her other hand to grapple the handle of her odachi. Yet, even her fist coated in Fighting Spirit didn't cause Shion to flinch.
'This won't do.'
Knowing she would lose the contest of pure strength, Hinata let go of the odachi as she weaved under another punch. Stepping to the side and carefully analyzing the situation.
In a flash, magic circles appeared around her, gleaming with cold light. She summoned a barrage of ice spears, each one lancing toward Shion. But Shion responded with a powerful sweep of her Odachi, shattering the spears in a single motion, the frozen shards scattering around her in a sparkling mist.
Hinata smirked; that was exactly what she'd planned. She concentrated, causing the icy mist to condense tightly around Shion's arms, hoping to encase them and slow her down. The freezing cold wrapped around Shion's muscles, yet she barely flinched, pressing forward as though the ice was nothing more than an annoyance.
'Temperature Resistance? She also ignored the fire from Ifrit.' Hinata noted, summoning a wall of earth around her as a shield, yet also as a trap. 'I need to use other Elements and Skills then.'
Using the Earth as cover, Hinata used one of the Skills she had Usurped some years back, blending into the earth and quickly moving through the ground. She had taken it from a bandit who attacked the Church's supply lines. Stealing all the supplies meant for recovering villages after Monster attacks.
Shion crashed through the Earth Wall, causing all of the ground around her to collapse and causing Hinata to burst from where she was hiding. Just like how she had killed him, if the Earth around where one was hidden was destroyed, one would be forced to exit.
However, that's when Hinata pointed her hand like a gun to Shion, quickly casting the Holy Magic Holy Cannon. In an instant, Shion's head had been pierced by a beam of light, yet, as annoying as her healing was, she was only slowed for a moment.
'How is that possible? Even Ultrapseed Regeneration shouldn't be enough to heal so quickly from a Spiritron-based attack? Can I use Disintegration? Or would that kill her? How much damage can I do and still have Ramiris' Labyrinth heal her?' Hinata began to think, yet her body was still moving as she caused a bright golden orb to appear in her hand.
The orb floated to the sky before turning into a bright golden spear made out of pure Holy Energy. And just in time, the clouds she had summoned before began to let out a gentle stream of rain.
— –Shion– —
It was frustrating.
How much had she missed?
Had she even hit once since she had broken her sword?
It was as if Hinata could foresee all of her attacks before she even finished moving. Shion had even tried altering her moves mid-swing, feinting left and then lunging right, only for Hinata to step lightly out of range, unbothered, as though she'd predicted every shift in Shion's strategy before she herself had. Even as she used Cook to affect the battlefield, Hinata would simply open more distance.
The most frustrating part was the fact she could feel that Hinata was still holding back. She had barely used Holy Magic. If anything, she was being used as a training subject.
If only she could consistently land strikes on her, she would be able to win. But she couldn't touch her.
The Holy Field was still pressuring her. And now, her regeneration had taken longer to heal her. The golden ray was enough to slow her down, even if it was for a moment. Which meant this was the beginning of the end.
'Am I really going to lose?' Shion thought before clenching her teeth.
She had been training hard to create new Arts. Although they were still incomplete, she could still use them. She had wanted to perfect them before using them in a battle, but she would be forced to now.
The golden spear's light intensified, a warning as it began to soar toward her, swift and merciless. Instinct flared, screaming that something was wrong. The angle and the speed were too obvious.
She knew it was a trap, but that meant she was meant to know it was a trap. Having fought so long with Hinata, she knew better than to underestimate her.
Resisting her usual urge to charge, Shion leapt back, barely escaping as the spear detonated upon impact with the ground, a shockwave tearing through the air with lethal force. The blast radius shattered the earth, however, no debris flew out as it all became instantly obliterated.
There was no time to savor her survival. A second golden ray sliced through the air, forcing her to tilt her head sharply to avoid it. She could feel the holy energy crackling as it grazed past her cheek, leaving behind a thin line of scorched skin.
Shion closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, letting her Fighting Spirit surge through her veins. Her body relaxed, easing the tension, and in that single heartbeat, she vanished from her spot using Shunpo, she appeared near the edge of the barrier, swinging her odachi with all of her might and finally shattering the Holy Field now that she had been given a proper opening.
Then, without a moment to rest, she vanished once again, reappearing inches from Hinata with her aura blazing.
'Phantom Blade.' Shion thought as she released all of her Fighting Spirit.
Her blade carved through the air, shimmering with an ethereal light as she poured her energy into it. Hinata reacted with practiced precision, stepping back just in time, but Shion's attack left an imprint, an afterimage of pure, burning Aura, floating in the air, frozen mid-swing. As she continued her assault, the imprint followed, mimicking her last move with deadly accuracy.
A flicker of surprise crossed Hinata's face, her eyes widening at the new technique. Her lips quirked in a subtle smile, a reaction that only fueled Shion's determination further.
Shion's phantom wavered, slightly delayed, yet Hinata's smile didn't fade. The gap was just enough for her to sidestep the attack, leaping over the phantom's blade. But Shion didn't relent. She lunged, launching another strike, and her phantom copied, creating a relentless barrage from multiple angles.
Yet, that's when Hinata's grand plan finally took effect.
The fallen rain suddenly stopped mid-air, freezing into floating beads of ice before they all swarmed to try to stop Shion. She could destroy them all easily with a single movement, but that's when she saw the cloud above her falling to crush her with all of the frozen condensed water.
'Cook'
With a single swing of her sword, she sent an Aura Blade to the falling cloud, slicing it in half, but the cloud was massive enough that Shion had to send a few more Aura Blades to slice it more. Otherwise the falling cloud would cause enough damage around her to give Hinata a massive opening.
Yet, she was doomed whether she attacked the cloud or didn't. Either way it occupied her attention long enough for Hinata to take a step back and act.
"It's over, Shion." Hinata's voice was calm, unyielding, as she clasped her hands together in a prayer-like motion. It took a few seconds as she gathered all of her energy, yet the cloud had given her that time.
Suddenly, golden chains erupted from the ground, glowing with holy energy, each link searing against Shion's skin as they wrapped around her arms and torso. She gritted her teeth, muscles straining as she shattered one chain with sheer strength, but no sooner had it broken than two more appeared, binding her tighter. The chains multiplied, unrelenting, until Shion was encased in a coffin of golden links, each one burning her flesh, her body trapped within a searing casket of holy energy.
With another sweep of her hand, Hinata summoned ten golden spears, hovering in a deadly formation around the bound Shion.
"Holy Impalement."
The chains tightened, rattling as Shion thrashed against them, cracks beginning to spider-web through the golden links. But it was too late. Hinata flicked her wrist, and the spears descended as one, piercing through the chain coffin and striking Shion's trapped form in a dazzling explosion of golden light. The force rippled outward, a shockwave shaking the ground and sending a radiant flare into the stormy sky.
Hinata staggered, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. The effort to summon and maintain the golden chains had drained her reserves more than she'd anticipated, and the spears had taken over half of the energy she had left. Having already been using her energy during the fight, she was relatively low at the moment.
She usually only needed a few chains to disable an opponent; against Shion, she'd had to summon over fifty, each link demanding a portion of her remaining strength.
But as she caught her breath, a surge of relief washed over her. It was over. With the battle over, she finally let down her guard.
Or so she thought.
Without a single sound, something spun through the air, a familiar blade hurtling toward Hinata, Gorokimaru. However, Shion had used the last of her strength to coat her blade in Fighting Spirit. Or, more specifically, Haze.
Haze hid the presence and complete existence of Gorokimaru, even to the naked eye and to observation Skills like Magic Sense. And with Hinata lowering her guard, it was enough for the blade to almost reach her. However, even in her unguarded state, Hinata still felt something was wrong, noticing the blade just as it was about to reach her.
The sight of it jolted her, and her Thought Acceleration kicked in, instincts screaming for her to dodge. But she had been left in shock for too long, and her reaction fell just short.
She managed to twist to the side, narrowly avoiding a direct hit, but the blade slashed across her shoulder, severing her arm in a clean cut. Hinata's eyes widened, pain flaring through her as she stumbled, clutching the stump of her arm, blood dripping onto the ground.
From within the fading light of the explosion, Shion's figure appeared, a mangled silhouette crawling forward. Her body was destroyed, with barely a single arm remaining, charred and broken from the relentless assault. Yet, with each agonizing second, her body began to regenerate. The stump of an arm reformed into a shoulder, a torso into a head, and finally, a whole body stood, swaying but defiant. She staggered to her feet, her eyes blazing with a fierce, unyielding resolve.
"I am not done." Shion muttered weakly, her once terrifying aura now far weaker from the amount of magicules used to heal her body.
Her outfit slowly reassembled from a single thread, stitching itself over her skin. A tired smile spread across her face.
"I'm not losing." She said, her voice strengthening as she pushed off the ground, lunging toward Hinata with raw, primal energy.
Hinata raised her leftover arm to defend. However, she didn't have her usual sword. She was left with only her fist. In addition, she felt a mixture of a daze after seeing Shion regenerate, and the stump on her other side was still causing her blood to run cold as she felt her blood continuously flow out. She needed just a moment to regain her bearings, but that was a moment she didn't have. With the opening, Shion finally managed to land her first proper strike.
With a single punch, she sent Hinata stumbling backward. Then she continued it with another after another. Without a chance to heal her arm and from the nonstop strikes that weaved perfectly onto each other, Hinata was finally taking some real damage.
Yet before Shion could get the upper hand and win the battle, she saw a beautiful rapier appear in Hinata's hand.
Then, as the feeling of a cold blade passed through her neck, Shion's world went dark.
Reappearing a few moments later on the floor, she looked up to see Hinata with wide eyes, still in shock. In her hand was a beautiful sword giving out an energy that only Legendary weapons could give.
"I lost…" Shion muttered before finally closing her eyes as her exhaustion took over.
— — —
Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)
Go Check out Basilisk's great story "I'm a Daemon, so what?"
https://discord.gg/WTgN9J3YgK
~A/N~
In case anyone is thinking. "Hey, did he just skip over the plans?" I did it on purpose lol. I thought it would be better to give the bare minimum of what the plans would be and then show them and elaborate on them as the plans are happening rather than just dump all of the plans in one go here. Like "Yo, we are gonna eat potatoes," and then have a scene in which they eat potatoes. Rather, have something like "yo, let's eat!" and then cut to them eating potatoes.
Also, since I am in it, Ep is bs, and strength measuring levels are bs. It's hard to find anyone's strength. And I will forever be salty about how Fuze chose to go about it
Also, when it comes to me reading comments, I read em all.... eventually. Sometimes I like to take breaks from reading/replying to comments just to refuel my mental energy. That's not to say that there are bad comments or something like that. Ya'll are great. But I dunno, it's hard to explain but sometimes answering is hard for me. Anyways, see ya next time.