The Battle Intensifies – Arion Watches from the Shadows

From afar, unseen by either combatant, Arion stood in the darkness, his arms crossed as he observed the fierce duel between Rimuru and Hinata. The fight had already surpassed his expectations.

"Interesting…" he murmured, his sharp eyes locked onto the battlefield.

Hinata fought like an unstoppable force, her swordplay refined to perfection. Every movement was calculated, precise, and filled with intent to kill. Rimuru, on the other hand, relied on his adaptability, dodging, countering, and narrowly avoiding death with every clash.

Despite the Holy Barrier suppressing Rimuru's full power, he was keeping up.

But how much longer could he hold out?

Arion smirked. "Show me what you're really capable of, Rimuru."

Hinata lunged forward, her sword Dead End Rainbow shimmering with Holy Energy.

"Seven Slash – Disintegration!"

FWOOOSH!

Seven radiant sword arcs sliced through the air, each infused with a power that could erase existence itself.

Rimuru's instincts flared—this attack was deadly.

He moved.

His body blurred, shifting with extreme speed as he weaved between the deadly slashes.

One missed his neck by mere inches.

Another grazed his shoulder, causing a burst of searing pain as his flesh vaporized from the holy energy.

"Tch—!"

He twisted midair, dodging the final slash, but Hinata was already upon him.

SHING!

Her blade stabbed forward, aiming straight for his core.

Rimuru barely had time to react.

He parried—but the force sent him skidding back, his feet digging trenches into the ground.

Hinata's attacks were relentless, each strike a potential deathblow.

And Rimuru knew—

She wasn't even using her full power yet.

Arion narrowed his eyes. "She's not fighting with emotion. This is pure skill… a battle-hardened warrior who only seeks victory."

But Rimuru…

He was holding back.

Arion could tell.

"Why aren't you fighting seriously, Rimuru? Are you trying to talk your way out of this?"

Arion shook his head.

"That won't work. Not with her."

Rimuru gritted his teeth.

This fight was dragging on too long.

He needed to turn the tide.

Hinata dashed toward him, her sword ready to end it.

But this time—

Rimuru smirked.

"Try dodging this."

His aura flared, and suddenly—dozens of black tendrils erupted from his shadow.

They surged toward Hinata, aiming to bind her movements.

But—

"Holy Field Expansion!"

BOOM!

A radiant shockwave burst outward, obliterating the tendrils instantly.

Hinata vanished and reappeared above him, her sword descending.

"You're finished!"

Rimuru's eyes flashed.

"Not yet."

A massive barrier erupted around him, blocking the strike at the last moment.

But Hinata's blade—it didn't stop.

CRACK!

The barrier shattered.

And for the first time—

Rimuru was forced to retreat.

Arion chuckled. "This is getting fun."

He had no intention of interfering.

Not yet.

He wanted to see just how far Rimuru could go.

And whether or not he would finally stop holding back.

Rimuru gritted his teeth, feeling the effects of Hinata's Holy Barrier. It was suppressing his strength, but he wasn't about to let that stop him.

Hinata stepped forward, her Dead End Rainbow sword gleaming with divine light.

"You can't run forever, Demon Lord. Accept your fate."

Her blade glowed intensely, preparing for another lethal technique.

Rimuru's mind raced.

(This isn't good… if I take another hit like that, I might actually die.)

He took a deep breath. It was time to fight seriously.

Hinata tightened her grip.

"I'll end this in one move."

She raised her sword, her energy focusing into a devastating attack.

"Disintegration!"

BOOM!

A massive beam of pure holy energy shot forward, aiming directly at Rimuru.

The air shook from the sheer force of the attack.

(I can't block this!)

Rimuru vanished, activating his super-speed movement just before the blast could vaporize him.

But Hinata anticipated it.

She reappeared behind him in an instant—her sword already swinging down.

"Got you."

CLANG!

At the last second, Rimuru summoned a barrier, barely stopping the blade.

But cracks spread across the barrier, and it shattered instantly.

(Damn it, she's too fast!)

Hinata didn't slow down. She struck again, forcing Rimuru onto the defensive.

Rimuru dodged, his body blurring as he narrowly avoided a decapitating slash.

(Her attack speed is insane! If I take a direct hit, I'm finished.)

He needed a way to turn the fight around.

That's when he had an idea.

Hinata charged again, her sword glowing.

But this time, Rimuru smiled.

"You're not the only one who can finish this in one move."

His aura exploded outward, his skill Gluttony activating at full power.

"Gluttonous King Beelzebuth – Devour!"

A massive black vortex formed in front of him, swallowing the holy energy surrounding them.

Hinata's sword stabbed forward—

But instead of piercing Rimuru, her energy was sucked in.

Her eyes widened. "What?!"

For the first time, Hinata was off-balance.

And Rimuru took his chance.

With lightning speed, he struck back, sending a wave of dark energy toward her.

Hinata barely dodged, flipping backward, but it was clear—

The battle had shifted.

From his hidden vantage point, Arion smirked.

"Now we're talking."

He had seen enough.

During Rimuru and Hinata's battle, Luminous Valentine watched from the shadows, her presence concealed. She observed the fight intently, her sharp eyes following every clash of Hinata's sword against Rimuru's counters.

The battle was fierce—Hinata was moving with lethal precision, her attacks relentless. Rimuru, though strong, was clearly being pushed back by the Holy Barrier, which weakened monsters like him. Luminous knew the truth. She knew Hinata was being manipulated into this confrontation.

And yet, she remained silent.

That was her first mistake.

Without warning, a voice—cold, smooth, and inhumanly calm—whispered into her ear.

"Why are you letting Hinata be manipulated into this fight?"

Her entire body froze.

A chill unlike any she had ever felt ran down her spine, and before she could react, a wave of invisible energy crashed down upon her. Only she could feel it, yet it was more suffocating than any force she had ever encountered.

(What… is this!?)

Her instincts screamed at her—this was dangerous.

She tried to turn, tried to react, but her body refused to move. It wasn't just power—it was absolute control, something far beyond normal restraint.

And then, she felt him step closer.

The pressure intensified, making even a Supreme Vampire like her feel fragile.

A breath away from her ear, the voice came again.

"Answer me… and your answer will decide your fate."

Luminous gritted her teeth.

She had lived for centuries. She was the ruler of the Holy Empire of Ruberios, a true Demon Lord, and the very embodiment of eternal darkness and light. And yet—this being behind her was unlike anything she had ever encountered.

The weight of his presence made her soul tremble.

But she was no coward.

Forcing herself to steady her voice, she spoke:

"I am not 'letting' anything happen. This battle… is necessary."

The pressure grew heavier.

She clenched her fists.

"Hinata is strong, but she is bound by her beliefs. If I step in now, she will never realize the truth. She will remain a pawn, blind to the bigger picture."

The energy around her fluctuated, as if the unseen force was measuring her words, weighing them.

She took a breath and continued, her voice unwavering.

"She must see the truth with her own eyes. Only then will she break free from the manipulation controlling her."

A pause.

The presence shifted behind her.

Then, the voice spoke again—still calm, but this time with a hint of amusement.

"…Interesting."

And just like that—the crushing pressure vanished.

Luminous staggered forward, gasping slightly.

When she turned around, the space was empty—whoever had confronted her was already gone.

She placed a hand over her heart, feeling it pound.

For the first time in hundreds of years, Luminous Valentine felt something she had almost forgotten.

Fear.