The Rippling Shockwaves

Far across the Cardinal World, from the Eastern Empire to the Holy Empire of Ruberios, from Dwargon to the Elven forests, the entire continent felt the aftermath of the colossal battle between Yuuya, Guy, and Milim.

Mountain ranges quaked, entire seas rippled with massive waves, and the skies darkened with ominous storm clouds as the shockwaves of their blows tore through the atmosphere. Kingdoms and nations felt the earth tremble beneath them, as if the world itself was breaking apart.

In faraway cities, rulers and generals rushed to their war rooms, terrified that an apocalyptic battle or divine calamity was about to strike. Clerics prayed, scholars scrambled to decipher ancient prophecies, and warriors braced for war, thinking the world's end was at hand.

King Gazel Dwargo, ruler of the Armed Nation of Dwargon, stood on the balcony of his palace, watching the ground quake violently beneath his feet.

The mighty stone walls trembled, and even his personal guards, some of the most elite warriors in the world, struggled to maintain their footing.

A commander rushed in, his face pale with terror.

"Your Majesty! The earth… it's shaking all across the continent! This isn't natural—it's as if the gods themselves are at war!"

Gazel's eyes narrowed sharply, his face remaining calm despite the chaos.

"Prepare the royal guards and send word to Tempest. If this continues, I want to know exactly what's happening."

Without hesitation, Gazel personally mounted his wyvern and, alongside a contingent of his elite knights, flew toward Tempest at full speed.

In Tempest, Rimuru Tempest, now a Demon Lord and the leader of the nation, was seated in his office, chatting with Diablo and Benimaru.

Suddenly, the ground shuddered violently, the windows rattling as if struck by a hurricane. Books fell from shelves, and the entire room vibrated with an eerie hum.

Rimuru sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Let me guess…" he muttered, almost bored.

He turned to Diablo, who smirked knowingly.

"…It's probably Yuuya and Guy fighting again, right?"

Diablo gave a polite chuckle, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Of course, my lord. That sort of apocalyptic force? It could only be those two… and Milim, of course."

Benimaru crossed his arms, his face slightly pale from sensing the unimaginable power.

"Seriously? How strong is Yuuya? I mean… I've felt Milim's aura before, but this is…" He shook his head in disbelief.

"And they're just… sparring?"

Before Rimuru could answer, the doors swung open with a heavy thud.

King Gazel Dwargo strode in, his face stoic but his eyes sharp, clearly demanding an explanation.

"Rimuru," he said, his deep voice firm, "what in Veldanava's name is going on? The entire continent is shaking. Is this some new threat?"

Rimuru leaned back casually in his chair, his hands folded behind his head, and gave a lazy smile.

"Oh, that?" he shrugged.

"Nah. It's just Guy and Yuuya having a sparring match. Milim's probably joined in too."

Gazel's eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed his face.

"Wait…" he narrowed his eyes, stepping forward.

"Yuuya? As in… the same Yuuya I met a few years back?!"

Rimuru blinked, slightly caught off guard.

"Huh? You know him?"

Gazel crossed his arms, his gaze turning thoughtful.

"Of course, I do. A few years back, he lived in Dwargon for a while. He was something of a local legend."

Benimaru's eyes widened.

"Wait—what? Yuuya used to live in Dwargon?"

Gazel nodded, his voice steady but tinged with nostalgia.

"Yeah… back then, he helped us fight off a horde of ancient dragons. Saved thousands of lives. Not only that, but he crushed several crime syndicates with nothing but his bare hands. He was a hero—a literal living legend. The dwarves still talk about him with awe."

Rimuru let out a low whistle, leaning forward slightly.

"Huh. A dragon slayer and a crime-fighter, huh? And now he's just casually wrecking continents for fun?"

Gazel's expression grew serious.

"Tell me, Rimuru…" he narrowed his eyes.

"Is he one of the Demon Lords now?"

Rimuru shook his head.

"Nope. Not interested." He smirked slightly.

"But he did say he and his lover Velzard will be moving to Tempest soon."

Gazel's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Wait… Velzard? As in the Ice Dragon? Veldora's sister?!"

Rimuru nodded casually, as if it were no big deal.

"Yup. The two of them are lovers."

Gazel slowly exhaled, staring at Rimuru in sheer disbelief.

"So let me get this straight… Tempest now has you, a Demon Lord. Veldora, the Storm Dragon. Soon, you'll also have Velzard, a True Dragon, and Yuuya, who apparently surpasses Guy Crimson in strength?"

Rimuru grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

"Heh… yeah. That about sums it up."

Gazel's expression darkened slightly, his brow furrowing.

"Rimuru… you just destroyed the balance of the world. The Eastern Empire won't take this lightly."

Rimuru shrugged nonchalantly.

"Meh. If they don't like it, they can do something about it." He leaned back in his chair with a cocky grin.

"That sounds like a problem for another day."

Gazel's eyes narrowed further.

"You're insane. You're literally gathering the strongest beings in existence in one country. That's bound to cause panic."

Rimuru smirked mischievously, his eyes glinting.

"And? It's not like I can say no to Yuuya or Velzard. Would you?"

Gazel shook his head slowly, realizing Tempest was becoming a force that could rival the entire world.

Far away in Ruberios, the Holy Empire, Luminous Valentine sat alone in her chambers, sipping a crimson wine in deep contemplation.

Her heterochromatic eyes gleamed softly under the candlelight, but her mind was elsewhere.

"Tch…" she clicked her tongue in mild frustration.

She stared out her gothic arched window, biting her lip slightly.

"I want to see him again…" she murmured softly.

She had considered teleporting straight to the Ice Continent but immediately thought better of it.

"Ugh… but that damned Ice Dragon will be there."

Just thinking of Velzard made her pout slightly, crossing her arms in annoyance.

"Hmph… that smug lizard…" she mumbled.

She glanced at the frosted mirror, noticing her cheeks were flushed just from thinking about Yuuya.

She groaned in frustration, falling back onto her velvet sofa, her legs kicking slightly in a flustered fit.

"Ugh… I'm acting like some lovesick girl…" she muttered, blushing faintly.

Still, she couldn't shake the image of Yuuya's golden eyes staring into hers…

And her lips tingled with the memory of his touch.