The Gathering Storm

The sun dipped low over the flourishing capital of Tempest, casting a golden hue across the bustling streets.

Merchants called out their wares, adventurers strolled the marketplace, and children ran through the streets, their laughter filling the air.

Yet, within the castle walls, the atmosphere was far from carefree.

The air was heavy, filled with an unspoken tension that hung over Tempest's most powerful leaders like a storm cloud.

Inside the audience hall, Rimuru Tempest sat on his throne, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a rare, solemn expression.

His golden eyes, sharp and unwavering, were focused on the group before him—his trusted generals and closest confidants.

Benimaru, the Crimson Ogre, stood with his arms crossed, his scarlet eyes sharp and brimming with authority.

Beside him, Shion, the violet-haired powerhouse, cracked her knuckles, her amethyst eyes glimmering with restrained excitement.

Souei, the silent assassin, stood quietly in the shadows, his sharp gaze unreadable, while Hakuro, the old master swordsman, observed with his wise, calculating eyes.

At the front, a figure that commanded immediate reverence stood silently—

Diablo, the Primordial Black, his pitch-black eyes gleaming with mischief and adoration, focused entirely on Rimuru.

The demon's perfect posture and elegant smile gave him an aura of controlled menace, but his gaze softened slightly whenever he looked at his lord.

They all stood at attention, sensing that this was no ordinary meeting.

With a calm yet steady voice, Rimuru's tone carried weight, a rare seriousness that drew their full attention.

He leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes sweeping across the room, pausing on each of his generals.

"Listen carefully, everyone."

He paused, his voice measured but firm.

"Soon, Tempest will be gaining two new residents."

His eyes narrowed slightly, making sure his words hit their mark.

"Yuuya Tenjou… and Velzard."

The mention of Velzard's name instantly made the room stiffen.

The legendary Ice Dragon, sister to Veldora, was a name that everyone knew—one of the most terrifying beings in the Cardinal World.

But the name Yuuya Tenjou was unfamiliar, and the confusion on their faces was palpable.

None of them had ever heard of him.

Benimaru's crimson eyes narrowed slightly, his arms still crossed over his chest.

He exchanged a glance with Shion, who furrowed her brows slightly in confusion.

"Yuuya Tenjou?"

Benimaru's deep voice cut through the silence.

"I've never heard of him."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Who is he?"

Shion, always the brash and bold one, smirked slightly.

"I bet it's just some wandering adventurer."

She tapped the hilt of her massive sword against the ground, her amethyst eyes gleaming playfully.

"I'll knock him around a bit and put him in his place."

She grinned confidently, clearly underestimating the situation.

Diablo, however, didn't share Shion's playfulness.

His scarlet-black eyes narrowed slightly, his lips curving into a sly grin, sensing the gravity behind Rimuru's tone.

The Primordial Demon folded his hands behind his back, his voice silky and composed.

"Hmm… Velzard and a stranger together, you say?"

His eyes narrowed with interest, his voice laced with a dangerous curiosity.

"For someone to be in the company of a True Dragon… he must be quite the specimen."

He smirked knowingly, already intrigued.

Rimuru's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing sharply.

His voice grew more serious, cutting through their banter.

"You're all underestimating him."

His golden eyes flashed coldly as he slowly rose from his throne.

"Yuuya Tenjou… is dangerous. More dangerous than anyone we've faced before."

The generals stiffened slightly, exchanging puzzled glances.

Benimaru furrowed his brows, arms still crossed tightly over his chest.

"More dangerous than Clayman?

Rimuru's voice was low, almost a whisper, but it cut through the room like a blade.

"Stronger than Milim."

He let the words hang ominously in the air.

"Stronger than Guy."

The entire hall fell into a stunned silence.

Shion's eyes widened slightly, her playful smirk vanishing instantly.

"Wait… what?"

Her voice dropped slightly, a hint of disbelief in her tone.

Hakuro's eyes narrowed, his sharp gaze focused intently on Rimuru.

His voice was calm but heavy.

"Stronger… than Guy Crimson?"

Even Diablo, who rarely displayed anything but supreme confidence, paused slightly.

For the briefest moment, a flicker of genuine surprise flashed in his eyes before his smile widened devilishly.

"My, my…"

He chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with sinister delight.

"It seems we're about to meet a true monster."

Near the back of the hall, Veldora, who had been lounging lazily with his arms behind his head, suddenly stiffened.

At the mention of Velzard's name, his golden eyes widened with genuine fear.

The relaxed grin on his face evaporated, replaced by a look of sheer horror.

He slowly sat up, his hands trembling slightly.

His voice cracked, clearly shaken.

"W-Wait, wait… did you say Velzard?!"

Shion turned toward him, raising a brow.

"Yeah… what about her?"

Veldora's face paled, and his voice rose slightly in panic.

"She's coming… here?"

Souei's eyes narrowed, sensing Veldora's distress.

"What's wrong?"

Veldora swallowed hard, his golden eyes twitching slightly.

"You… you don't understand…"

His voice dropped to a hoarse whisper, trembling slightly.

"She… she and Velgrynd… they…"

He clenched his trembling fists, his voice filled with dread.

"…They killed me. Multiple times."

The room fell silent.

Benimaru blinked.

"Wait… WHAT?!"

Veldora's eyes widened slightly, his voice quivering with fear.

"Yes! They beat me to death repeatedly! I resurrected every time, but the PAIN… the frostbite… I can still feel it!"

He grabbed his cloak, pulling it around himself protectively.

While Tempest prepared for Yuuya's arrival, elsewhere in the Cardinal World, Hinata Sakaguchi and her saints were deceived by the Seven Luminaries.

They manipulated her into believing that Rimuru was still a threat, and she led an assault on Tempest.

However, Tempest's forces crushed them easily.

Rimuru once again defeated Hinata, though he showed mercy.

Diablo and Benimaru overwhelmed the saints, leaving Hinata humiliated.

Luminous arrived shortly after, annihilating the Luminaries in a fit of righteous fury.

Afterward, Luminous approached Rimuru, her voice unusually soft.

"Is… Yuuya here?"

When Rimuru shook his head, she visibly deflated, her eyes filled with disappointment.

Hinata shot her a suspicious glance, watching the rare blush creep onto Luminous' cheeks.

Tempest braced itself, knowing that the storm was coming—and his name was Yuuya Tenjou.

---___----

The icy winds howled across the endless white expanse of the Ice Continent, carrying a biting chill that would freeze lesser beings to the bone. But for the three figures lounging on a grand balcony, the cold was nothing more than a mild breeze.

Seated comfortably, overlooking the vast expanse of ice, Yuuya Tenjou, Velzard, and Guy Crimson were enjoying a rare moment of peace. Yuuya leaned back in his chair, arms resting behind his head, a lazy smirk on his face. Velzard sat beside him, leaning her head lightly against his shoulder, exuding an aura of pure elegance. Guy, with his usual confident grin, sat with one leg over the other, sipping a fine wine from a crystal glass.

However, that moment of peace was about to be shattered.

A powerful aura exploded through the sky, cutting through the serene landscape like a comet on fire.

Yuuya's sharp eyes flickered, sensing the familiar chaotic energy approaching at breakneck speed. He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Oh boy… here she comes."

Guy's eyes sparkled with amusement, his smirk widening.

"Heh… finally. I was getting bored." He cracked his knuckles. "I wanted another sparring session anyway. Today, I'm winning."

Velzard sighed in exasperation, her breath forming a soft mist in the cold air.

"You two are like children. It's exhausting watching you fight all the time." She leaned against Yuuya, her icy blue eyes half-lidded, as if she already knew how things would play out.

Before they could say anything else—

BOOOOM!

A massive explosion of raw impact sent snow and ice flying hundreds of meters into the air as a pink blur crashed down like a meteor. The ground shook violently, forming a massive crater.

As the snow settled, a familiar childish voice rang out, echoing with excitement.

"YUUYA! YUUYA! I'M HERE FOR OUR REMATCH!"

The dust settled, revealing Milim Nava, the Chaos Queen, standing dead center in the destruction she caused. Her brilliant pink hair swayed in the wind, her sky-blue eyes burning with determination.

Yuuya let out a sigh, rising from his seat, rolling his shoulders casually.

"You really don't know how to land properly, do you?"

Milim grinned widely, completely ignoring his comment.

"Come on! I've gotten way stronger since last time! I won't lose!"

Guy stood up as well, his crimson eyes flashing with excitement.

"Heh… sounds fun. I'm joining too."

Milim blinked, turning to him.

"Eh? But I challenged Yuuya!"

Guy shrugged, cracking his knuckles.

"You think I'd miss this? If he's as cocky as ever, I want in." He turned to Yuuya, smirking. "Do you really think you can take both me and Milim on at the same time?"

Yuuya smirked, his golden eyes glowing dangerously.

"Why don't you try and see?"

Milim's smile widened.

She raised a fist, cracking her fingers.

"No holding back then, Yuuya. I'll go all out!"

The three of them moved far from the castle, stepping onto an endless frozen wasteland. The sky above rumbled, sensing the sheer amount of power gathering in one place.

Meanwhile, Velzard, Rain, and Misery hovered above, creating an immense barrier to contain the battle. The sheer destructive force about to be unleashed could obliterate entire nations, and they needed to make sure Tempest or the world itself wasn't affected.

Velzard folded her arms, her icy gaze watching as the three warriors squared off.

"Honestly… this is unnecessary."

Rain smirked, her dark hair flowing behind her.

"Oh, come on. You know you enjoy watching them fight."

Misery chuckled, shaking her head.

"At this point, it's a tradition."

Velzard let out a tired sigh.

"I swear, they'll destroy this continent one day."

Milim moved first.

With a burst of pink energy, she vanished from sight, reappearing in front of Yuuya in an instant, her fist already swinging toward his face at speeds that shattered the sound barrier.

Yuuya grinned, leaning back just enough to let the punch pass inches from his nose.

The shockwave behind it obliterated the ice for hundreds of meters, forming a deep trench.

Guy appeared right behind Yuuya, a massive sword of hellfire materializing in his hand.

"Gotcha!"

He swung down, but—

CLANG!

A golden blade clashed against his, stopping him dead in his tracks.

Yuuya's own sword gleamed with divine energy, its sheer pressure splitting the ground beneath them.

"Not so fast, Guy." Yuuya smirked, pushing Guy back.

Suddenly—

Milim charged again, firing an energy blast from her palm.

"Dragon Nova!"

The blinding sphere of destruction roared toward Yuuya at lightspeed, engulfing everything in its path.

BOOOOOOOOOM!

The explosion lit up the sky, turning night into day. The sheer force of it sent tremors across the Ice Continent, shaking the very foundations of the world.

As the light cleared, Milim blinked in shock.

Yuuya was unharmed.

He stood amidst the destruction, his golden aura swirling violently, untouched.

He smiled, but it wasn't friendly—it was deadly.

"Not bad." His voice was calm, but filled with overwhelming power.

"But now… it's my turn."

In an instant, Yuuya disappeared.

Guy's eyes widened.

"He's fast—"

CRASH!

A devastating kick slammed into Guy's side, sending him spiraling through the sky like a meteor. He crashed into the ice mountains, obliterating them on impact.

Before Milim could react—

"Behind you."

BANG!

A blazing punch connected with Milim's stomach, sending her rocketing into the frozen ocean below.

The water erupted into the air, forming a tidal wave that towered miles high.

As the shockwaves finally settled, Velzard, Rain, and Misery watched with awe.

Rain let out a low whistle.

"He's terrifying."

Misery nodded, her face half-amused, half-impressed.

"I almost feel bad for Guy and Milim."

Velzard simply sighed, shaking her head.

"They never learn, do they?"

As the dust cleared, Guy and Milim rose from the wreckage, grinning wildly.

Milim clenched her fists, eyes burning with excitement.

"Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!"

Guy smirked, wiping blood from his lips.

"Alright… now I'm getting serious."

Yuuya grinned, raising his sword once more.

"Good. I'd be disappointed otherwise."

The battle raged on, shaking the world to its core.