The air inside Clayman's castle was thick with tension. Zephyron stood before Clayman, his tall, imposing figure casting a long shadow across the floor. His cold, glowing eyes met Clayman's, who sat on his throne, deep in thought.
"You summoned me, Lord Clayman?" Zephyron asked, his voice echoing slightly in the vast chamber.
Clayman turned his gaze toward Zephyron, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yes, I did. I have a special task for you, Zephyron. As you know, our preparations are almost complete. But there is one loose end… Rimuru's subordinates."
Zephyron crossed his arms. "You want me to eliminate them?"
"Exactly," Clayman said, his grin widening. "However, there's something about you that surprises me." He gestured toward Zephyron's chest. "You, an elemental, possess a power unlike anything I've encountered. Not only can you use skills and think on your own, but you were the first to resist my control, even though it was only partial. Impressive, truly."
Zephyron's eyes darkened at Clayman's words, his expression cold and unmoved. Internally, he communicated with Nova, frustrated by the situation.
"See what happened, wasn't it your advised to not get free from the control "
[Notice: The calculations did not… I am superior to Great Sage in terms of processing… but still… i can't understand]
"Relaxed, it was not all bad I got a name from one of the strongest being alive" Zephyron thought to himself, his voice firm. "You made a mistake, but ensure it doesn't happen again."
[Acknowledged.]
Clayman, continued his speech, justifying why he used the pendant—a powerful artifact imbued with ultimate-level magic—on Zephyron to control him. "You should be grateful for the honor of serving me. After all, I am a master puppeteer, and you're nothing more than my tool."
Zephyron's gaze narrowed as he suppressed his irritation. His voice was cold but resolute. "I'll bring you the heads of Rimuru's subordinates. Consider it done."
Clayman smirked, clearly pleased. "Good. Make sure there are no survivors. Afterward, return to me. We'll show Rimuru just how powerless he and his underlings truly are."
---
Time: Tempest Forces Attack Clayman's Castle
On the battlefield, the night was dark and silent, save for the aftermath of a great battle. The ground was littered with the remains of Clayman's forces. His once formidable army had been decimated.
Shuna stepped forward, preparing to confront the last of Clayman's remaining subordinates—his skeletal warrior, the last of his five fingers.
"You've done well to defeat them," the skeleton rasped, his voice like scraping metal. "But if this is the extent of your power, you will all die. None of you are strong enough to survive what comes next."
Shuna narrowed her eyes, determined. "We won't give up that easily."
The skeleton tilted its head as if amused. "You misunderstand. You don't have a choice."
Before Shuna could respond, the ground trembled violently. The skies above darkened, and a massive surge of magicules flooded the area. It was overwhelming, unlike anything anyone had ever felt before. The very air crackled with raw, untamed energy—a swirling mix of pink and purple magicules, a destructive force akin to Milim and Veldora's combined power.
Shuna's eyes widened in shock as a figure descended from the sky. The earth buckled beneath his landing, waves of power radiating outward, shaking the surrounding trees and hills. It was Zephyron.
The intensity of the magicules he released was akin to that of a True Dragon, but something even more destructive lay beneath the surface. It was as though a god of destruction had descended upon them. The sheer force of it caused Shuna to stumble back.
The skeleton dropped to one knee, trembling. "Even I cannot defeat him. He's beyond us all."
Benimaru, the strongest of Rimuru's subordinates, stood at the front of the group, his face grim. Behind him were Souei, Shuna, and the others, all shaken by the overwhelming presence that Zephyron radiated. The oppressive energy made it difficult to even breathe.
Benimaru gripped his katana tightly, knowing the odds were against them. "This is bad," he muttered. "We don't stand a chance against this monster."
"Lord Rimuru… we can't defeat this person." Souei was the first to voice what they were all thinking.
---
Rimuru's POV
Back at the demon lord meeting, Rimuru sat still, listening to Raphael.
"I know. Get out of there now!" Rimuru ordered, panic rising in his chest.
Before the command could be sent, the connection was abruptly severed.
"What happened?" Rimuru asked, his tone urgent.
[They are trapped in an insulation barrier. No signals can enter or leave the area.] Raphael replied calmly.
"Damn it!" Rimuru cursed. "I need to help them. They won't stand a chance against that puppet… and how did Clayman manage to control something that powerful?"
[Notice: The individual named Diablo will be more than suitable for this job.]
Rimuru raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Diablo? Is he really that powerful?"
[Yes. He possesses enough strength to match, and even surpass, Zephyron.] Raphael's response was confident and unwavering.
Rimuru took a moment to consider. If Diablo was as strong as Raphael claimed, sending him might be their only hope.
---
Back at the Battlefield
Zephyron hovered above the battlefield, his gaze cold as he surveyed the trembling figures below. "Pathetic," he muttered. "You thought you could stand against me? I am far above your level ."
He raised his hand, and the ground beneath him split open. Massive stone formed from the ground as raw power surged forth. The landscape was being torn apart by the sheer force of his magic. The typhoon of magicules around him intensified, swirling pink and purple energy enveloping everything in sight killing weak monster's in process.
Benimaru, fists clenched, faced the overwhelming force. "Even I might not survive more than a few moves from this being."
He launched a black flame attack at the levitating Zephyron. The attack exploded upon impact, but Zephyron smiled. Small fragments of the destroyed earth floated in the air as Zephyron manipulated them with ease, using his elemental powers to control the battlefield.
"Activating anti-magic area," Nova announced to Zephyron.
A barrier formed, and Benimaru cursed. "Damn it!" he shouted, leaping into the air for one final attack. His katana was aimed at Zephyron, but the latter stopped it effortlessly. Fire erupted from the blade, but Zephyron remained unharmed, his nullification skills rendering the magic useless.
Benimaru fell hard to the ground, his bones breaking from the impact as the anti-magic field suppressed his abilities. "We have to hold on until Lord Rimuru sends help," he said, struggling to rise.
Zephyron unleashed a barrage of stones, each one flying like bullets through the air, tearing through Rimuru's forces. Goblins, orcs, and beastmen alike fell in droves. Shuna, protected by Souei, was gravely injured. One of her horns had been shattered, and Souei was on the verge of death.
"Are you alright?" she asked, but Souei didn't respond.
Zephyron was feeling very nervous, watching as the battlefield grew silent. Only a few hundred of Rimuru's forces remained, all on the brink of defeat.
Just as all hope seemed lost, the barrier was shattered by a sudden, terrifying killing intent.
Everyone looked up to see a man in a butler uniform, his eyes radiating a cold fury unlike anything they had ever seen.
Diablo had arrived.