Tensura Reaction/Short

The Slime King's Lethargy(3)

Rimuru and Milim stood in a vast, desolate dimension, one of the many forgotten realms nestled deep in the fabric of space and time. The sky above them was a swirling mix of violet and crimson, and the ground beneath their feet was cracked and barren. There was nothing here, no life, no civilization, only endless emptiness. Perfect for the battle that was about to unfold.

Milim grinned, her eyes flashing with excitement as she floated a few feet above the ground, her body humming with raw power. "Are you ready, Rimuru? Let's see if you've still got that spark!"

Rimuru smiled faintly, feeling something stir inside him. It wasn't the fire of ambition or the thrill of responsibility, those feelings had long since faded. Instead, it was something simpler, a primal urge he hadn't felt in centuries: the desire for a challenge.

"Sure," he said, his voice calm, almost indifferent. "Let's see how this goes."

Without another word, Milim shot forward like a bullet, her fist aimed straight at Rimuru. The air cracked and warped from the sheer force of her movement, but Rimuru barely moved, raising a single hand to deflect her strike. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the dimension, distorting space itself, but Rimuru remained rooted in place, completely unfazed.

Milim skidded back, her eyes widening in surprise. "Whoa! That's more like it!"

Rimuru didn't respond, simply lifting his palm toward her, a lazy flick of his wrist sending a massive burst of energy toward the Demon Lord. The sheer force of the attack warped reality itself, bending the fabric of the dimension as it hurtled toward Milim.

For a moment, Milim's eyes widened with excitement. She gathered her strength and unleashed a deafening roar, countering the attack with one of her own. The two forces collided in the sky, sending ripples of destruction through the dimension. Explosions of energy burst forth, shaking the ground beneath them and turning the air itself into a maelstrom of chaos.

But despite Milim's raw power, Rimuru's attack overwhelmed hers. The wave of energy crashed into her, sending her tumbling through the air. She managed to regain her balance mid-flight, but it was clear, Rimuru had the upper hand, and by a wide margin.

Rimuru's expression remained unchanged as he calmly hovered in place. This battle was already over.

Milim shot forward again, undeterred by her initial defeat, but Rimuru barely reacted. Every punch, every kick, every blast of energy she hurled at him was effortlessly deflected. Rimuru moved with an almost eerie calmness, as though he wasn't even trying.

Finally, with a sigh, Rimuru raised his hand again, this time summoning a colossal torrent of magic that engulfed Milim in an instant. The dimension quaked violently as the spell crashed down, and when the dust settled, Milim lay on the ground, defeated but laughing.

"You're still as strong as ever, Rimuru," she said between gasps of breath. "No... you're even stronger than before."

Rimuru floated down, landing softly next to her. "I guess I am."

Milim looked up at him, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "But... you didn't seem excited. You barely even tried."

Rimuru didn't respond immediately. He looked up at the sky, his gaze distant. "Maybe I've just lost my spark, Milim. Maybe I'm just... tired."

Milim sat up, tilting her head. "Tired? Of what?"

"Everything," Rimuru said quietly. "This world. My duties. Even fighting like this. It doesn't thrill me anymore."

Milim stared at him, her usually playful demeanor replaced with concern. But before she could ask anything further, a sudden wave of pressure washed over the dimension. It was subtle but unmistakable, a presence that could only belong to one person.