A Storm Approaching

After watching the Demon Lords' gathering, I shifted my focus to another brewing storm—one that was steadily making its way toward Tempest.

Hinata Sakaguchi and the Ten Great Saints.

I leaned back, exhaling slowly as my lovers surrounded me, their hands still offering their soothing touches.

"She's really going through with it," Testarossa mused, her fingers lightly pressing into my leg.

"She's bringing her little army, too," Ultima added with a giggle. "Ten Great Saints, was it? Do they really think that's enough?"

I smirked. "Oh, it's enough for a show."

On the surface, it was easy to see why Hinata was marching toward Tempest—she believed Rimuru was a dangerous enemy. That belief, however, wasn't entirely her own. She was manipulated.

The Seven Luminaries, the shadowy figures pulling the strings from within the Western Holy Church, had successfully forged a message from Rimuru—a false challenge meant to lure her into battle. And to make sure she took the bait, they gave her the Dragon Buster, a weapon rigged with their own tricks.

But even without their influence, Hinata was already inclined to act.

She had already faced Rimuru once before and failed to kill him. Now, she likely believed he would seek vengeance. It was only natural for her to strike first.

And so, here she was—traveling across the land on horseback, her forces moving in perfect unison. Their banners bore the Holy Church's emblem, the golden cross shining in the sun. They rode with purpose and confidence, unaware of how deeply they were being played.

And as I observed them, I couldn't help but chuckle.

"While they're moving by horse, it'll take them some time to reach Tempest," I murmured, my fingers tapping against the armrest of my throne.

Carrera grinned from behind me. "Plenty of time for Rimuru to prepare a proper 'welcome party,' don't you think?"

Velzard let out a rare chuckle. "I imagine it will be quite the spectacle."

I smirked. "Oh, definitely. Knowing Rimuru, he's already preparing for their arrival."

As I watched the Holy Knights march toward what they believed would be their glorious victory, I knew the truth.

They were heading straight into the jaws of the storm.

----____-----

Long ago, Chloe Aubert, the time traveler, had left this era. But before she vanished into the ever-turning flow of time, she entrusted something incredibly valuable to Luminous Valentine—her physical body.

Chloe's body was no ordinary shell. It held an immense latent power, an existence that defied fate itself. And so, knowing the dangers of leaving it unguarded, Luminous sealed it away in a hidden chamber within Ruberios, the heart of her kingdom. A sanctuary protected by layers of divine enchantments and barriers so potent that only she could access it.

She believed that no one else knew.

She believed that her secret was safe.

But Luminous had underestimated the persistence of those lurking in the shadows.

Unknown to her, certain individuals had already discovered the truth. They had been watching, waiting, scheming. These were not ordinary thieves—they were manipulators of fate, individuals who sought to twist destiny itself. And for them, Chloe's body was the ultimate prize.

I, of course, knew about this.

Unlike Luminous, I had the advantage of knowing the future.

Chloe had told me herself.

During our brief yet fated encounter, she had shared many things—fragments of events yet to unfold, cryptic warnings about powers that should not exist, and the reason she had left her body behind.

She had to abandon her body for her plan to work.

For her to return at the right time.

For her to reclaim herself when the moment was right.

But if someone else got to her body first?

That could change everything.

And so, this was another matter that I had to monitor closely.

I leaned back, exhaling slowly as I processed everything. My lovers watched me with curiosity, sensing the shift in my mood.

"What is it?" Velzard asked, her piercing blue eyes locking onto mine.

I chuckled softly, though there was no humor in my tone.

"Oh, just another storm brewing in the shadows," I murmured.

Luminous, for all her power, had made one mistake—she assumed that hiding Chloe's body was enough.

But she wasn't dealing with ordinary threats.

She was dealing with those who knew the future, just as Chloe did.

And now, it was only a matter of who would reach the body first.