Yuuya's Intervention

I reappeared in Ruberios with a brilliant flash of light, the ground trembling faintly as my feet touched the war-torn soil.

The once grand city was now reduced to ruin—crumbling spires, fractured walls, and blood-streaked cobblestones.

The air was thick with the scent of smoke and charred stone, the remnants of battle still lingering.

My eyes instantly fell upon the broken figure of Hinata, lying motionless on the ground.

A few feet away, Luminous knelt beside her, her delicate fingers trembling as they brushed over Hinata's lifeless face.

Her normally cold and regal demeanor was shattered, her expression contorted in grief and disbelief.

Her gloved hands shook violently as she cradled Hinata's body, her tears falling onto the bloodstained earth.

"No… No, no, no… please…" Luminous choked out, her voice barely a whisper, breaking with raw emotion.

Her eyes were wide, trembling with desperation, unwilling to accept what had just happened.

"You can't leave me…" she whimpered, her voice cracking.

"You promised… you said you wouldn't leave…"

Beside her, Rimuru knelt, his face pale and filled with sorrow.

He placed a gentle hand on Luminous' trembling shoulder, his voice soft and comforting.

"Luminous… I'm so sorry…" he whispered.

But Luminous didn't respond.

She was lost in her grief, clutching Hinata's lifeless form, her body shaking with silent sobs.

As I slowly approached, I placed Chloe's crystal coffin beside Hinata.

The coffin shimmered softly, emanating a gentle golden glow.

But the moment Hinata's soul left her body, a faint wisp of light emerged—

Her soul, glowing softly like a fragile ember, drifted upward.

The ethereal light floated toward Chloe's coffin, guided by an unknown force.

The moment it merged with the body, the coffin began to glow ominously, its golden light darkening into a sinister hue, pulsating with chaotic energy.

Without warning, a terrifying shockwave erupted from the coffin.

The ground split apart beneath it, sending cracks racing through the ruined city.

The air itself warped, crackling with unstable energy, and a violent burst of magic swept outward, blowing away the rubble.

The coffin shattered, and Chloe opened her eyes.

But this was not the same Chloe.

Her once serene and gentle gaze was now fierce and savage.

Her eyes glowed crimson, brimming with raw, feral rage.

Her body radiated ominous mana, crackling with dark tendrils of chaos slithering around her like hungry serpents.

The ground beneath her feet cracked, unable to withstand the sheer pressure of her awakened fury.

Her face was cold and emotionless, her expression utterly devoid of warmth.

To her, everything was an enemy.

Without warning, she vanished from sight—

And in an instant, she was right in front of me, her sword flashing with lethal speed.

Chloe's sword swung with blinding speed, aiming straight for my throat.

But before her blade could even graze me, I moved faster than light itself.

In a single flash, I vanished from her reach and reappeared directly behind her.

Without hesitation, I raised my hand—

And with a precise, devastating strike, I delivered a sharp chop to the back of her neck.

CRACK!

The force of my strike rippled through her entire body, causing her eyes to widen briefly in shock.

She didn't even have time to comprehend what happened.

Her body shuddered once, then went limp, her feral mana instantly dissipating.

The chaotic tendrils that once coiled around her flickered and dissolved, vanishing into the void.

Chloe's breathing softened, her face relaxed, and she collapsed into my arms, completely unconscious.

I held Chloe's unconscious form carefully, making sure not to harm her.

Her body was still trembling faintly, the residual mana from her rampage causing her to twitch slightly.

I immediately turned to Rimuru, my voice firm and commanding.

"Rimuru."

He looked at me, still stunned by how quickly I had handled Chloe.

"Use Shizu's mask on her—NOW."

Rimuru's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice almost stammering.

"Wha—wait… how do you know about Shizu?!" he asked, his voice filled with shock.

But I ignored his question, my gaze unwavering.

"There's no time. Just do it."

Without another word, Rimuru quickly reached into his coat, pulling out Shizu's mask.

He gently placed it over Chloe's face, and with a soft golden glow, her mana finally calmed.

The wild energy that had been raging around her subsided, and her breathing steadied.

And in the next instant, both Rimuru and Chloe vanished—

As Rimuru and Chloe disappeared, the battlefield fell into a heavy silence.

The lingering tension was palpable, the air still crackling with residual energy.

I slowly turned around, my eyes locking onto Luminous.

She was still kneeling beside Hinata, her tears streaming down her cheeks, her face pale with shock and grief.

Her hands trembled, stained with Hinata's blood, and her lips quivered as she stared at the empty space where Rimuru and Chloe had vanished.

She slowly turned her gaze to me, her eyes filled with pain, seeking answers.

Her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with uncertainty.

"…Yuuya…?" she murmured, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Is… is it over…?"

I walked toward her, my footsteps steady and calm despite the chaos that had just unfolded.

Without saying a word, I knelt beside her.

Gently, I placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

My voice was low and steady, filled with calm certainty.

"Everything is going to be fine."

My tone was resolute, carrying a soothing authority that seemed to pierce through the sorrow.

"Chloe is safe. She'll recover… and so will you."

For a moment, Luminous stared at me, her eyes searching mine, still glimmering with uncertainty.

But as she looked into my calm, unwavering gaze, she felt her trembling subside.

Her breathing slowed, her fingers loosened, and her tears began to cease.

Slowly, she exhaled.

Her shaking hands steadied slightly.

The grief in her eyes didn't fade entirely, but it was now tempered with hope.

She closed her eyes briefly, taking a slow, shaky breath.

When she opened them again, her expression was calmer, though still burdened with sorrow.

But in her eyes, I could see it—

A glimmer of trust and reassurance.

Because she believed me.

And she knew—

Everything would be fine.

A few minutes later, Chloe

Suddenly, a faint golden glow illuminated the cracked and scorched earth, dispelling the darkness.

The air shimmered softly, and with a brilliant flash of light, Rimuru appeared.

But he was not alone.

Standing beside him was Chloe, fully restored to her adult form.

She was stunningly beautiful—

Her dark hair flowing elegantly down her back, her deep azure eyes shimmering with warmth and wisdom.

Her presence emanated a calm, radiant divinity, her very aura exuding tranquility and grace.

She wore a long black combat dress that hugged her form perfectly, accentuating her slender, graceful frame.

Her silver gauntlets glimmered faintly in the moonlight, and her cape billowed softly behind her.

The soft glow of her restored divinity made her appear almost ethereal—like an angelic warrior returned from the heavens.

But what caught everyone's attention the most—

Clutched gently in Chloe's delicate hands was a small orb of light—

The soul of Hinata, still faintly flickering with life.

Luminous' eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.

Her voice, once choked with despair, trembled with disbelief.

"H-Hinata…?" she whispered softly, her voice barely audible.

Chloe stepped forward, her expression calm but filled with compassion, and she knelt down beside Hinata's body.

With the utmost care and reverence, she pressed the orb against Hinata's chest.

The moment the orb made contact, a radiant light surged forth, spreading across Hinata's body.

The ground illuminated, the broken stone beneath her feet glowing softly with divine energy.

The wounds on Hinata's body slowly began to mend, her ashen skin regaining its color.

Her fingers twitched faintly, and the pale blue of her eyes began to flicker beneath her eyelids.

The light pulsed one final time—

And Hinata's chest slowly rose, her breath returning.

For a brief moment, everything was still.

Then, with a soft gasp, Hinata's eyes fluttered open.

Her chest heaved, taking in a desperate breath, as though she had been drowning in darkness and had just breached the surface.

Her eyes, still dazed and weak, blinked slowly.

Her gaze shifted—first to Chloe, who smiled softly, and then to Rimuru, who gave her a reassuring nod.

And finally—

Her eyes landed on Luminous.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Luminous' eyes were wide with disbelief, her lips trembling, unable to comprehend what she was seeing.

"…Hinata?"

Her voice was barely a whisper, almost afraid to hope.

Slowly, Hinata's lips curved into a faint smile, her voice soft and weak.

"…I'm back… Luminous…" she whispered, her voice trembling.

That was all it took.

Without hesitation, Luminous flung herself forward, pulling Hinata into her arms.

She clutched her tightly, her fingers digging into Hinata's back as though afraid to let go, afraid she would lose her again.

Her shoulders shook violently, and she wept openly, her face buried in Hinata's neck.

Her voice was broken with emotion, trembling with relief and overwhelming joy.

"You're back… you're back…!" she sobbed, clutching Hinata desperately.

"I… I thought I lost you…"

Hinata, still weakened, slowly wrapped her arms around Luminous, her eyes soft with warmth.

She stroked Luminous' hair gently, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm here… I'm not going anywhere… I promise…"

I watched the emotional reunion in silence, a faint smile touching my lips.

I slowly turned to Velzard, whose gentle, icy-blue eyes were watching me with understanding.

She could see the satisfaction in my expression—

The kind of quiet pride that came from fulfilling a duty.

She walked over to me, her elegant form moving gracefully over the cracked and bloodstained ground.

Without a word, she reached for my hand, her fingers intertwining with mine.

I gave her a slight nod, and without saying a word, we vanished.

The faint glimmer of our teleportation magic was the only sign we had ever been there.

We reappeared in Tempest, just outside our castle-like home, the familiar cool breeze of the night brushing against our faces.

The city was still bustling, the festival in full swing, completely unaware of the chaotic events that had just transpired in Ruberios.

Velzard and I walked slowly through the quiet courtyard, the moonlight casting long shadows against the stone paths.

Her fingers were still intertwined with mine, her grip warm and comforting.

Finally, we reached our home.

I turned toward her, and she gazed up at me with soft, tender eyes, her expression filled with affection and pride.

"You did it…" she said softly, her voice almost a whisper, filled with admiration.

"You saved them all… just like you said you would."

I gave her a faint smile, squeezing her hand gently.

"I made a promise," I replied, my voice calm but firm.

"And I always keep my promises."

Without another word, she leaned into me, resting her head against my chest.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close and secure, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against mine.