A Time of Peace, A Time of Growth

The Cardinal World had entered a rare era of peace. Conflicts had settled, empires had reorganized, and rulers had solidified their power.

In Tempest, Rimuru continued his unrelenting expansion, turning his nation into a utopia of progress, technology, and power. With his ascension to a higher existence, he now stood as a force that few could challenge. But even so, he never grew complacent.

Veldora, on the other hand, was different. Unlike Rimuru, he had no empire to govern, no grand ambitions beyond his love for battle.

And that's why he always came back.

Back to the City of Eternal Night.

Back to me.

The skies darkened as a massive golden dragon streaked across the heavens, tearing through the sky like a comet. A split second later, he landed on the outskirts of the city—a shockwave erupting from the impact, sending a tremor through the land.

The citizens of the Eternal Night barely flinched.

They were used to it.

With a burst of energy, Veldora shifted back into his humanoid form—his long golden hair flowing, his sharp, draconic eyes gleaming with excitement. His grin was wide, full of anticipation.

"Arion!" he bellowed, his voice shaking the air. "Get out here! It's been too long! We need to fight!"

From the highest tower, I stepped out onto the balcony, looking down at him.

"You couldn't at least use the front gate like a normal visitor?" I said, smirking.

Veldora crossed his arms. "Normal? Please. I'm a dragon, not some common noble. Besides, you know why I'm here."

I chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. You want to go all out, right?"

His eyes gleamed.

"Damn right. There's no one else I can fight at full power except you."

I stretched, rolling my shoulders. "Fine. Let's go, then."

With a snap of my fingers, the space around us twisted and shattered—and in an instant, we were both transported into my personal dimension.

The sky in my dimension was endless, shifting between deep blues and shimmering purples. Floating islands hovered in the distance, and an ocean of energy churned below, raw creation and destruction intertwined.

This was a realm where no rules applied.

A realm where we could fight without restraint.

Veldora didn't waste a second.

He roared, his body exploding with golden lightning, his aura distorting space itself. His draconic energy surged, causing massive storms to form above us.

I smirked, raising my hand, and with a simple flick of my fingers—the entire storm was erased.

Veldora's eyes twitched. "Show-off."

And then—he attacked.

A single punch—one that could have shattered entire worlds—came hurtling toward me.

I blocked it with a single hand. The shockwave ripped apart mountains.

But I didn't move.

Veldora grinned. "I love this."

We clashed. Again. Again. Each strike shook reality itself.

Time lost meaning.

Only the fight mattered.

And in the end, as always—I won.

Veldora lay on his back, laughing despite the bruises and burns.

"One of these days, I'll win, you know."

I sat next to him, smirking. "Sure you will, buddy."

After the battle, we returned to the City of Eternal Night.

My lovers—Velzard, Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera—were waiting, as stunning as ever.

They had been on a mission as the Eminence in the Shadows, handling an underground plot that had surfaced in a distant kingdom.

Testarossa, elegant as always, smirked as she crossed her arms. "Did you two destroy another dimension again?"

Ultima giggled, resting her chin on her hands. "Let me guess—Veldora lost."

Veldora groaned. "Do you have to say it like that?"

Carrera yawned. "It's predictable at this point. Anyway, are we eating or what?"

Velzard smiled, her voice carrying a mix of warmth and mischief. "I made sure Arion built us a proper bathhouse for nights like these. We deserve to relax."

Veldora's eyes widened. "Bathhouse? You mean like the ones in Tempest?"

I sighed. "Yes, Veldora, just like in Tempest."

His grin returned. "You're the best, Arion."

With that, we spent the rest of the night recapping events, laughing, drinking, and enjoying the rare peace.

Because we knew—

The Cardinal World never stayed peaceful for long.

Even in this time of relative peace, we never let our guard down.

From the heart of the City of Eternal Night, within the grand citadel that stood as both a fortress and a palace, we watched.

Projections of the world unfolded before us—shimmering screens of ethereal energy, displaying events in real-time. A vast network of surveillance magic, hidden informants, and arcane constructs allowed us to observe everything of interest.

And there was plenty to watch.

The first projection flickered into focus, revealing Tempest—a nation that had rapidly evolved into an empire of innovation and power.

Rimuru sat on his throne, listening to reports from Benimaru, Diablo, and the rest of his generals. His ascension had only made him more unfathomable, and his domain continued to expand.

Ultima leaned against the side of her seat, watching with a smirk. "Tempest is growing too fast. At this rate, Rimuru will surpass every kingdom in the world before they even realize what happened."

Carrera scoffed. "'Will surpass'? Please. He already has. The only reason the others haven't panicked yet is because they're either too stupid to understand or too scared to act."

Testarossa twirled a lock of her silver hair between her fingers, her crimson eyes gleaming. "And that's exactly why people like Feldway and Yuuki are still scheming."

Velzard, sitting beside me, chuckled softly. "Rimuru always did have a way of disrupting the balance. He doesn't just rule—he rewrites the very rules of existence."

I nodded, watching as the scene shifted to Tempest's technological advancements—new weapons, constructs, and magical research facilities.

"He's building something beyond just a kingdom." I mused. "He's building a future."

But not everyone saw that as a good thing.

The next projection shimmered into focus, showing Feldway—hidden within the depths of his domain, surrounded by his loyalists.

His plan was slow but effective.

He was still chipping away at Rudra's mind, his insidious influence creeping deeper every day.

Velgrynd was powerful, but even she hadn't noticed.

Damrada and Tatsuya Kondou now stood at Feldway's side, each playing their role in his grand scheme.

Velzard's expression darkened as she watched. "He's patient. Too patient."

Ultima scowled. "And Rudra's running out of time. If Feldway takes full control…"

I narrowed my eyes. "Then it'll be a different war altogether."

Feldway wasn't just playing politics. He was altering fate itself.

Another projection appeared—Yuuki's office, where he and the Harlequin Alliance sat in discussion.

Yuuki was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips as he listened to Kigali, Laplace, and the others debate their next move.

The death of Granbell Roose and Mariabell had left a void.

But they weren't grieving.

They were plotting.

"So, Rimuru really is untouchable now," Kigali muttered, adjusting her glasses. "That makes things… complicated."

Laplace chuckled. "Complicated? Nah, sweetheart, it just means we need a new plan. We can't go at 'im head-on, but we can still play the game."

Yuuki tapped a finger against his desk. "Clayman was an idiot. His death isn't worth avenging. But… Rimuru? He's a problem. And problems need solutions."

Testarossa sighed, shaking her head as she watched the projection. "They're still underestimating him."

Carrera grinned. "They'll learn soon enough."

I leaned back in my chair, fingers steepled. "Not yet. Let them scheme. Let them believe they're in control."

Velzard smirked. "You really enjoy watching them struggle, don't you?"

I chuckled. "Watching them is half the fun. The real entertainment starts when they realize they were never in control to begin with."

For now, we watched.

Because no matter how much they plotted, schemed, or planned—

We were always ten steps ahead.