Snowbound Flames

Chapter 15 : Shadows Of Conflict

Rimuru sat in her office, staring at the message she had crafted for Hinata Sakaguchi. Despite Raphael's assurances that it was perfect, she couldn't shake the unease gnawing at her.

"This feels too formal," Rimuru muttered. "But I don't want to provoke her, especially after everything that happened."

<< The message maintains a 98.7% probability of successful communication, >> Raphael responded. << Shall I deploy additional measures? >>

"No, no need to overthink it. Just send it."

A magical glyph flared to life, and the message shot through the communication network. Rimuru sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I hope this works."

Several days later, Rimuru stood at a vast plain near the border of Tempest, her subordinates Benimaru, Shion, and Diablo at her side. The air was heavy with tension, and the distant sound of marching footsteps reached their ears.

"Hinata should be here by now," Rimuru said, frowning. "This isn't like her. She usually acts faster than this."

At that moment, a familiar presence made itself known. A figure clad in a dark cloak, with an almost imposing air of calm, appeared behind Rimuru.

"...Guy?" Rimuru turned to look at him.

Guy Crimson had returned from his mission in Farmus, and despite the otherwise hectic atmosphere, he had an almost unreadable expression as he surveyed the scene.

"I thought it best to return and ensure no further misunderstandings," Guy said, his voice calm but laced with something unreadable.

"Good timing," Rimuru muttered. "But Hinata's coming, and something's off. I think the message I sent her was tampered with, and now we're stuck in this mess."

"Troubling," Guy replied, looking unfazed by the mounting tension. He turned his sharp gaze to the horizon. "It's rare for one as capable as her to act so rashly. This situation feels... off."

Before Rimuru could respond, a large force appeared on the horizon, and the distinct sound of marching boots became audible. The Crusaders, led by Hinata, arrived.

"Rimuru Tempest," Hinata called out, her voice cold. "I received your message. If this is your idea of a joke, then prepare to suffer the consequences."

Rimuru blinked. "A joke? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," Hinata snapped, drawing her blade. "You dared to mock the innocents lost in your ascension to Demon Lord. That message was an insult!"

Realization dawned on Rimuru. "Wait—what? That's not what I sent! Someone tampered with it!"

"Enough lies!" Hinata's magic flared, and she lunged forward.

Rimuru barely had time to activate [Universal Barrier] before Hinata's [Dead End Rainbow] struck. The attack created a shockwave, forcing Benimaru and Shion to leap back.

"Hinata, listen!" Rimuru shouted. "I didn't send that message!"

But Hinata wasn't listening. Her strikes were relentless, each one faster and sharper than the last.

"[Gluttonous King Beelzebub]!" Rimuru retaliated, summoning a swirling vortex to absorb Hinata's holy energy.

"[Holy Cannon]!" Hinata countered, severing the vortex with a blade of pure light.

"Why won't you listen?" Rimuru yelled, her frustration mounting. She conjured [Black Flame Armor] to deflect another of Hinata's strikes.

"I trusted you once," Hinata hissed. "And I paid for it. I won't make that mistake again!"

Their battle intensified, each clash shaking the earth. Rimuru activated [Deathmarch Dance], raining down beams of light, but Hinata weaved through them with ease, retaliating with her [Holy Severance].

As the two fought, the Crusaders watched in awe.

"Is this... the power of a Demon Lord?" one of them murmured.

"Lady Hinata's no ordinary human, but even she's struggling," another whispered.

The fight reached a stalemate when a sinister presence swept across the battlefield.

"What now?" Rimuru muttered, her senses on high alert.

From the shadows emerged the Seven Days Clergy, led by Granbell Rosso. Their collective energy was overwhelming, and they had an air of superiority about them.

"Enough of this spectacle," Granbell sneered. "It's time for a true reckoning."

"And you brought them along?" Hinata gestured to the Crusaders.

"They're here to bear witness to the salvation of the world," Granbell replied smugly.

"By salvation, you mean destruction," Rimuru said, narrowing her eyes.

Vega, one of the Seven Days, stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Enough talk. Let's see what you've got, Demon Lord."

Rimuru activated [Spatial Motion], teleporting out of Vega's path just as he unleashed a devastating punch that shattered the ground.

"[Black Lightning]!" Rimuru retaliated, sending bolts of dark electricity toward Vega, but they were absorbed by Aria, who had conjured a barrier of light.

"Don't think we're weaklings," Aria said, smirking.

Meanwhile, Hinata was engaged in a fierce battle with Gracia, clashing against Gracia's [Cursed Lance]. The battlefield was a chaotic whirlwind of magic and steel, with Rimuru and Hinata barely holding their ground.

Granbell observed from a distance, his expression unreadable. "It's almost a shame," he mused. "You two would've made fine pawns."

"Don't count us out yet," Rimuru growled, activating [Gluttonous King Beelzebub]. She unleashed a massive wave of devouring energy, forcing the Seven Days to regroup.

At that moment, a new presence arrived—Luminus Valentine, the True Vampire Queen, and Louis Valentine, the Holy Emperor, descending like a storm. Her crimson and ice blue eyes gleamed with fury as she surveyed the battlefield.

"Bow before her, as it is our one and only god, Lady Luminus!" , Louis said.

"Granbell," Luminus said coldly. "What do you think you're doing?"

Granbell stiffened. "My lady—"

"Silence!" Luminus cut him off, her aura flaring. "You dare defy me?"

The Seven Luminaries hesitated, but before they could act, Luminus struck, her power overwhelming them. One by one, they fell, their cries of defiance silenced by her wrath.

Guy stood at the edge of the battlefield, his cold gaze flickering from the fallen Clergy to Rimuru. He said nothing, but his presence alone sent a shiver down the spine of every onlooker.

At that moment, a glimmer of danger appeared behind Rimuru. Without thinking, Hinata moved in front of her, deflecting a blade aimed at Rimuru's back.

"Watch your six, Demon Lord," Hinata said, breathing heavily.

Rimuru smirked. "Thanks. Guess I owe you one."

"You owe me a lot more than that," Hinata muttered.

The battlefield quieted, the Crusaders stunned into silence. The Seven Days Clergy had been defeated, but the tension between Rimuru and Hinata remained.

For now, however, they shared a fragile truce, with Luminus watching over them like a silent guardian. Guy stood nearby, observing, but for once, he remained silent, offering no words of advice—only the looming weight of his presence.