Tempest Vs The Great Saints

The air around Tempest was tense as the Ten Great Saints, led by Hinata Sakaguchi, finally arrived at the borders. Their presence alone sent ripples of anticipation through the land, but they were not met by Rimuru directly. Instead, Benimaru, Shion, and a few of Tempest's most powerful warriors stood at the front lines, ready for what was to come. The battlefield had become a chessboard, and the pieces were about to collide.

As the Holy Knights of the Ten Great Saints moved forward, they were met with the fierce resistance of Tempest's finest. Benimaru's flames licked the air, cutting through the knights like hot knives through butter, while Shion unleashed her full battle frenzy, her sword flashing in the light. The knights were struggling—Tempest's generals were just that strong. Ranga and Gotta flanked the sides, supporting their allies and ensuring there was no escape for the Holy Knights.

Despite the fierce resistance, the Ten Great Saints seemed to be focused on something—or someone—more important. Hinata had reached her destination, and her gaze locked onto Rimuru as he made his entrance onto the battlefield. There was a calmness about him, his usual carefree attitude almost out of place amidst the chaos.

As Rimuru strolled forward, he didn't waste time addressing the skirmish. His focus was entirely on Hinata, and the tension between them was palpable.

Hinata stepped forward, her expression solemn, the weight of the situation apparent in her every step. When she spoke, her voice was steady, yet her eyes held an almost hesitant quality.

"Rimuru," she began, "I've come to apologize."

The words hung in the air, but Rimuru didn't respond immediately. Instead, he observed her, coldly appraising her, the gears in his mind turning. There was no way he was going to buy such an easily delivered apology. His voice was measured when he spoke.

"Oh?" Rimuru said, his gaze sweeping across the Holy Knights behind Hinata. "If that's true… then why bring all these knights with you?" His voice dripped with skepticism. "Seems like you came prepared for a fight, not for peace."

Hinata stiffened. "They came by themselves," she said quickly, though her words were unconvincing. It was clear to everyone around that she was lying.

Rimuru wasn't fooled. His eyes narrowed, the familiar spark of suspicion flashing across his face. "If you really wanted to apologize, you wouldn't have brought an army to my doorstep." He stepped closer, his voice cold and unwavering. "I don't buy it, Hinata."

The tension escalated as the air between them crackled with unspoken words. Rimuru's every movement was calculated, his body language betraying his distrust of Hinata's true intentions. The knights behind her, still struggling against Benimaru's and Shion's onslaught, seemed out of place here, standing as a silent testimony to Hinata's true purpose.

Hinata, realizing she could no longer maintain the illusion, gripped her sword with renewed determination. She didn't back down; instead, she readied herself. The stance she took was one of regret—but also of resolve. She couldn't afford to waver now. Her gaze met Rimuru's, and there was a flicker of something unspoken between them. She knew what had to come next.

Before anything further could happen, I turned my attention elsewhere, a far more pressing matter requiring my focus. As Hinata and Rimuru faced off, I had already set into motion plans of my own. It wasn't just about this clash—it was about the clerics of the Seven Luminaries who had orchestrated this entire mess. They were the ones pulling the strings from behind the scenes, manipulating Hinata, and using her as a pawn.

I had known for some time that there was more to this than met the eye. Hinata's actions were being influenced by someone—those scheming clerics who wanted to sow chaos and manipulate events for their own gain.

Turning to the Eminence in the Shadow, I issued a quiet command, knowing full well the seriousness of the situation.

"Get ready," I said, my voice low but carrying an air of finality. "I want the clerics of the Seven Luminaries captured. Do whatever it takes to bring them to me. They will have valuable information on what's truly going on behind the scenes, and we'll need to know everything before we decide how to deal with them."

They vanished into the shadows like a silent predator in the night, already on their way to track down the ones responsible for this mess. They would find them, and when they do, we would know the full extent of their schemes.

Back on the battlefield, Rimuru and Hinata began their duel. Their swords clashed in a flurry of movements, creating sparks that lit up the dimmed sky. Hinata was a master of swordsmanship, and her blade—the famed Dragon Buster—was a weapon forged with divine intent. Yet despite its power, Rimuru was a force to be reckoned with, his movements fluid and precise as he countered each of her strikes.

For Hinata, this wasn't just a duel of strength—it was a battle of ideals. She had come here believing she was doing what was right. But with every passing moment, her resolve was starting to crumble. Rimuru, as always, was not just a foe of physical might, but of cunning and truth.

Their swords met once more in a dramatic clash, and for a brief moment, everything was still.

But as the fight continued, the full scope of the clerics' manipulations became clear to both Hinata and Rimuru. The knights weren't here of their own will. They were pawns, just as much as Hinata had been. But even if Hinata had realized the truth, it was too late to turn back.

As the sword fight raged on, Rimuru finally spoke, his voice cutting through the tension. "You're not here to apologize, Hinata. You've been used. And I'm going to make sure everyone who's behind this pays the price."

The clash between Rimuru and Hinata had reached its climax. Both warriors stood in the eye of the storm, swords clashing, the world around them trembling with every strike. Hinata was fighting with everything she had, her divine sword, the Dragon Buster, flashing with overwhelming power. But Rimuru had seen through her every move. His speed, reflexes, and adaptability were unmatched.

Suddenly, Hinata stepped back, gathering her strength for one final strike. She raised her sword high, the air around her rippling with energy as she summoned her strongest attack. "Dragon Slaughter: Thousand-Fold Slash!"

The air was thick with the force of her power. A massive wave of slashes, each one capable of slicing through even the hardest of materials, erupted from her blade. The ground trembled as the energy surged toward Rimuru, a storm of divine power and fury.

Rimuru, though, stood his ground, his eyes sharp and calm. The attack came at him with overwhelming force, yet he effortlessly used his Predator skill to absorb the energy, his body unfazed by the torrent. The very air itself seemed to bend around him as if acknowledging his dominion over this fight.

But then, the sword—still vibrating with residual power—moved of its own accord. It twisted through the air like an extension of Hinata's will, its blade shimmering with malevolent intent. It darted toward Rimuru at an unimaginable speed, aiming to stab him while he was still processing the aftermath of her attack.

For a fleeting moment, Rimuru didn't notice the sword's movement, caught in the shockwave of Hinata's final strike. But Hinata, realizing the consequences of her own blade's unpredictability, reacted too late.

In a flash, Hinata leaped forward, her body crashing into the sword's path. The blade plunged deep into her side with a sickening sound, and she crumpled into Rimuru's arms, her blood staining his hands.

"Hinata!" Rimuru's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. His once carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by an intense desire to heal her. His hands glowed with a powerful aura as he channeled his healing abilities, trying to stop the blood flow and mend her wounds. He muttered her name under his breath, his mind racing. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

As Rimuru desperately tried to heal Hinata, the clerics of the Seven Luminaries revealed themselves, stepping out of the shadows, their cloaks swirling ominously. Their faces were concealed, but the power radiating from them was undeniable. They had been watching this from the very start, waiting for the perfect moment to intervene.

"Rimuru Tempest," the leader of the clerics said coldly, stepping forward, his voice like ice. "You have just gravely injured Hinata Sakaguchi. You will pay for this."

The clerics formed a perfect circle around Rimuru and the wounded Hinata, their hands raised high in unison as they began to chant. The ground around them seemed to crack and tremble as energy built up in the air, swirling into a massive ball of divine power.

"Divine Judgment!" they intoned together, the attack coalescing into a blinding sphere of holy energy. The very atmosphere crackled with the sheer power of the attack, a force capable of rending the very earth apart.

Rimuru's eyes narrowed as he assessed the incoming assault. Even with his vast power, the intensity of the clerics' collective attack was enough to cause a threat. It wasn't a strike he could ignore.

But just as the sphere of holy energy was about to launch at Rimuru, there was a sudden flicker in the air, and the Eminence in the Shadow appeared.

Dressed in all black, no one could recognize their identity. Velzard, Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera, stood before Rimuru with a confidence that radiated from their every movement. They were the silent shadows, the unknown protectors of this world, and in a blur of swift, practiced moves, they intercepted the attack.

Velzard unleashed her Ice Dragon's Roar, freezing the air around the clerics and causing the holy energy to falter, its momentum halted by the cold grip of her ice. Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera moved in sync, their shadow magic overwhelming the clerics, their forms like fleeting whispers in the dark, striking from every direction.

The clerics of the Seven Luminaries stood frozen in shock, their attack now dissipating into nothingness, absorbed by the sheer power of the Eminence in the Shadow and their mysterious allies.

"Who are you?!" one of the clerics demanded, his voice filled with disbelief.

The Eminence didn't speak. They didn't need to. With a movement so swift that none of the clerics could even follow, the reached out and snatched each of them by the throat. Velzard's ice encased their movements, freezing them in place, while Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera ensured there was no escape.

In an instant, the clerics were bound, powerless. With one final, fluid motion, the Eminence in the Shadow vanished as quickly as they had arrived, their forms swallowed by the darkness, taking the Seven Luminaries with them.

The battlefield fell silent. Only the faint sound of the wind remained, carrying the scent of blood and magic through the air.

Then, a voice broke the silence.

"I see my soldiers have caused you problems again, Rimuru," Luminous Valentine appeared, her expression tinged with both regret and resolve. She stood in front of Hinata, her healing powers already manifesting. A Holy Healing spell radiated from her hands, enveloping Hinata's body as the bleeding began to stop, her wounds slowly healing.

For the first time in the chaos, Rimuru sighed in relief. His eyes softened, but he didn't let his guard down. He knew there were still deeper layers to the plot at play, but for now, at least Hinata was safe, thanks to Luminous' intervention.

"I didn't expect it to get this far, Luminous," Rimuru said, his voice steady despite the turmoil. "But I've learned something important today."

Luminous glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "And what is that?"

"That you can never truly trust anyone, even when they're standing right in front of you," Rimuru said, his gaze now shifting to where the Eminence in the Shadow had vanished. "Especially not when there are those pulling strings in the background."

The fight was over—for now—but the war was far from won. Rimuru knew that there were still enemies lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike. And now, the Seven Luminaries had been unmasked, their plans exposed.

But this was just the beginning.