This is impossible— That was Demon Lord Luminas Valentine's honest assessment.
The plan had been to finish
The Life-Death Reversal technique— Blessing of the Dead— should have killed Dagruel.
But in the end, the instant-death effect was nullified, and Luminas's ultimate art was shattered.
At that point, Luminas had half-expected this outcome.
Neither gave an inch, and at first glance the fight appeared evenly matched. However, if one observed their battle through the Ultimate Skill *King of Lust*, the situation looked quite different.
Against Glasard—a mass of energy—Albert was carrying out energy conversion at key points throughout his body.
The life force being depleted from each was negligible, but the difference in their total reserves hinted at the eventual outcome.
In other words, the battle would be decided before Albert could wear Glasard down completely.
In the form of Albert's defeat.
But this wasn't something Albert should be blamed for. On the contrary, he was fighting brilliantly and holding his ground against the Sword King with impressive skill.
If one compared only their swordsmanship while ignoring the energy disparity, one could even say Albert held the advantage.
But even so, the situation wouldn't change.
At this rate, Albert's defeat was only a matter of time.
Meanwhile, the battle between Adalman and Fen had grown even more intense.
A black-haired youth clad in pitch-black priestly robes, and a scrawny, diminutive giant wielding the Chain of Sacred-Demonic Suppression.
Adalman, too, had gained a significant boost in Magicules after merging with the Death Dragon, Wenty.
But even so, the gap was starkly evident when facing Fen, whose power rivaled that of the dragon species.
For Luminas, who could visualize life force as numerical values, the difference appeared utterly despairing.
The fact that the fight was even standing at all against Fen—who was called both the God of Combat and the Fist King—was nothing short of a miracle.
Among throwing, striking, and grappling, strikes would naturally be the primary method.
Joint locks were meaningless against a spiritual life-form whose Physical Body could repair itself in an instant.
At best, modified throwing techniques that simultaneously threw the opponent back could get through. But those were purely defensive in nature, not intended to deal damage through throws.
In essence, it was all about buying time.
Adalman understood her disadvantage and was fighting not to win, but with the primary objective of wearing down the enemy through a prolonged battle.
But even that was only possible through a razor-thin concentration of will.
In Luminas's field of vision, she could see Adalman—having abandoned full-body defense and concentrated all her energy into a single point—parrying Fen's attacks.
To close the gap in energy density, Adalman was concentrating all her power into a single point to fight.
It was a level of skill that could be called divine.
But it couldn't last long, Luminas thought, and her defeat wouldn't be far off either.
And then there was
The woman before her, rising again and again, charging at Dagruel.
Her figure was reminiscent of the Hero Chloe, who had once saved Luminas's life.
Blood streamed from her head with no sign of stopping. Wounds across her body healed, only for new injuries to be inflicted immediately after.
Shion's attacks couldn't even touch Dagruel, and each counter from Dagruel left Shion with near-fatal wounds.
Yet Shion kept rising, charging again and again.
"Ah, sis! Please stop already!"
"Lady Shion! You can't beat Father—"
"This is bad, this is bad! At this rate, Lady Shion is going to..."
Dagruel's sons had initially been nothing but flustered.
But somewhere along the way, something shifted— "RAAAARGH! Father!! We're your opponents!"
"No choice but to do it. We've made up our minds!"
"We'll do it, we'll do it! And then he'll praise us for it!"
True to their words, they steeled their resolve and charged at Dagruel.
Now, all three lay sprawled on the ground with grievous injuries, barely alive and unable to stand.
These three were presumably powerful demons in their own right. That was why they were still alive.
But that was all. Before Dagruel's absolute strength, it meant absolutely nothing.
*(This is impossible. There's no way to win. Is this where I, too, come to an end?)* Luminas had reached a state of half-resignation when a voice whispered into her ear: "My lady, preparations for retreat are complete—"
The "Seven Star Great Elders," whom she had ordered to carry out guerrilla operations, had been quietly advancing preparations for covert teleportation.
They had judged that there was no victory to be had in this war and had prioritized securing their own safety.
Certainly— Yes, certainly, the old Luminas would have retreated without hesitation.
A battle with no chance of victory was meaningless.
Countries could be rebuilt. There was nothing to cling to.
Immortal beings like Luminas had no reason to risk their lives in battle.
But— *(Is this truly the right thing to do? Is retreating here the correct choice for me?)* Luminas hesitated.
The only reason Shion could still stand was because of Luminas's support.
She had been using ability-enhancement skills and providing instantaneous healing even for near-fatal wounds...
She had pushed Shion's resurrection ability to its absolute limit using her own powers.
If Luminas now retreated, it would mean Shion's immediate death.
*(Abandon the vanguard and flee alone? Such a disgraceful way of living—I absolutely refuse to accept it!* *I am the proud... "Queen of Nightmares"!!)* And so, Luminas steeled her resolve.
"I will not. There will be no retreat. If I should by some chance be destroyed, have the Seven Kings select the next ruler.
I am the proud Eight Star Demon Lord.
Fleeing in disgrace would not befit me... wouldn't you agree?"
She said this with an enchanting smile—a bewitching smile unbecoming of her appearance as a young girl.
The "Seven Star Great Elders" heard this and their eyes widened in momentary shock.
They were astonished that their master, who clung so fiercely to life, had chosen to prioritize her pride.
But at the same time, they understood deeply.
Yes—fleeing did not befit the Demon Lord Luminas Valentine, Queen of the Night. She who always reigned with grace and nobility, the Vampire Princess.
"We cannot obey that order."
"Indeed."
"When you perish, we shall perish with you."
For the first time, the "Seven Star Great Elders" defied Luminas's wishes.
The fact that this didn't provoke displeasure in her, but rather surprised her, left Luminas feeling bewildered.
Rather, she felt a sense of delight— "Ha! You fools! Then hurry up and reinforce the barrier! Move it, you dolts!"
Luminas issued her orders with evident enjoyment.
*"As you wish! Then, we shall proceed to the city's defense—"* "Yes. Using the Secret Art of Sacred-Demonic Reversal, change the barrier's elemental attributes.
Do not let the Angels enter the Holy Capital! As long as we buy enough time, Demon Lord Rimuru will send reinforcements!"
"My lady... do you trust Demon Lord Rimuru...?"
"Hmph! I don't trust him. But— When there are those who fight for their master with such unwavering faith... don't you think that behavior is worth trusting?"
Hearing this, the "Seven Star Great Elders" turned their gaze to the battlefield.
Demon Lord Rimuru's subordinates, fighting in a way that could only be called buying time.
In this situation, even staking their lives to buy time was practically meaningless.
This wasn't their own country, and though they were allies, these people were sacrificing their lives to defend another nation's territory.
It was an act that eloquently proved they believed their master would never abandon them.
"I suppose so... To trust—those are words I had forgotten long ago."
"Then, we shall proceed with the operation."
"May fortune smile upon you, my lady!"
They bowed in unison, and the "Seven Star Great Elders" departed.
Was this truly the right call? Luminas wondered.
But she didn't regret it.
Before her eyes, Shion rose once more.
Wounded again and again, yet standing each time.
Yes—she would do what she could! And just as Luminas moved to provide support to Shion once more— "How tiresome. I sensed a stirring of awakening, so I decided to indulge you, but what a disappointment.
Or perhaps... you've grown complacent because you have someone to protect you?
If so, then let me dispose of your healing method first. That might make things a bit more interesting for you."
Dagruel's muttering voice reached her ears.
She grasped its meaning in an instant.
"No—stop!"
Shion screamed in a panic, but Dagruel's blow silenced her.
She didn't seem dead, but she appeared unable to move.
Dagruel glanced at her, then turned toward Luminas and began walking.
Luminas steeled herself.
"Very well, Dagruel! I shall be your next opponent!"
Luminas braced herself against Dagruel's approach.
She found herself inwardly amused by her own words.
*Face him, as if I could—even to Dagruel, I must be nothing more than a speck of dust.* "Hmm. As expected of Luminas. A Demon Lord's pride is not merely for show, it seems."
At Dagruel's words, she smiled faintly.
Pride was the furthest thing from her mind. Luminas simply didn't want to betray Shion.
*(How strange. Unlike Chloe, I haven't known Shion that long. And I can't possibly defeat Dagruel. So why am I not fleeing?* *—Perhaps I, too, am placing my trust in something. That someone will come to help.* *Something so convenient could never possibly happen...)* She entertained these obvious thoughts.
For a moment, she felt as though the carefree image of a certain black dragon flashed through her mind.
A smile naturally found its way to her lips.
Dagruel looked puzzled at this but said nothing as he closed the distance— "Then, let us go!"
The moment he shouted, he thrust his fist toward Luminas.
Terror that could freeze her soul. But Luminas did not flee.
Evasion was impossible.
Recognizing this, Luminas mocked herself.
*(How unlike me... struggling until the very end. It's so unlike me...)* But she held no dissatisfaction—rather, she stood tall with pride.
Holding fast to her dignity as a Demon Lord, she would take pride in having at least challenged a powerful foe without fleeing at the end.
At the very least, she would face that detestable, arrogant evil dragon with her own hands— Luminas's thoughts stopped there.
Just before Dagruel's fist reached her, it happened.
Right at this moment.
It was the instant Dagruel's fist was about to reach Luminas.
—A massive fist, right before her eyes.
And a brown palm that caught it.
A man who had appeared suddenly before Luminas had blocked Dagruel's attack—a blow that held despair-inducing power.
And then, "Quahahaha! I have arrived!"
A man who laughed heartily and shouted in a booming voice.
But time was currently stopped, so his voice reached no one.
No one except Dagruel.
No—actually, it had reached Luminas too.
*(He came!!)* But while Luminas was conscious, she was unable to move her body.
Veldora's voice had reached her in that confused state— *(What!? I can't speak!? Time has been stopped... but who on earth did this?)* Luminas reflexively tried to shout, nearly blushing at the realization that no sound came out.
She then focused on grasping the situation, and finally understood that the world's movement had indeed stopped.
*(What an airhead! He can move freely even in a stopped world, just like it's nothing—)* What struck Luminas next was something far more remarkable.
Simultaneously, she felt the situation becoming utterly absurd. The tension she had been holding in the face of death loosened, and a sense of relief welled up from somewhere unexpected.
*(Ridiculous. That Veldora shows up and I feel relieved—impossible!)* She severed the thought that had crossed her mind and refocused her awareness on the present situation.
A stopped world with neither light nor any way to perceive anything.
But Luminas's heightened senses were beginning, dimly, to grasp the situation.
The only ones moving freely were Veldora and Dagruel.
Listening in on their conversation: "What... did you say...!? I made such a stylish entrance, and the world has stopped!?"
"Veldora, is it? Your timing was exquisite, but my condolences.
I should mention—I'm not the culprit, you know."
"Grrr, I know. The one capable of pulling a stunt like this would be my elder sister.
A stop of one or two seconds would suffice, but she always stops it for unnecessarily long periods."
"Well, there's no point in stopping it for long. When there are those who can move within the Stopped World, there's no meaning in stopping it at all."
"Exactly. I've told her that several times, but she never listens. Well, whatever. The way she stops time so that no time passes as a 'punishment'... but never mind that.
More importantly—I have a favor to ask—"
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I want to redo my entrance, timed to when time resumes.
I need to make a stylish impression and move Luminas, you see."
"...You want me to listen to your reasons?"
"Quahahaha! Why, it's simple. I've done quite a number of things in the past.
As a result, Luminas holds quite a grudge against me.
By making a good showing here and earning her gratitude, I intend to wipe the slate clean.
Kehehehe. That's why I've been hiding and watching this whole time.
I was worried you might go on a rampage at any moment.
And yet...
I finally made a grand entrance, only for my sister to ruin it.
So—could I count on your help?"
A long, weary sigh seemed to emanate from Dagruel.
And Luminas felt exactly the same way.
*(This rotten lizard—I'll deal with him later!)* Her face flushed bright red with fury.
If she could move now, she would absolutely be delivering a kick to his skull.
Might anger be enough to let her move? Veldora's attitude was so outrageous it almost seemed possible.
He clearly thought Luminas couldn't hear him in the Stopped World and had let his guard down completely.
*I'll make him pay for this later!* Luminas swore internally.
Just as Dagruel was about to respond to Veldora's request, someone rose with a swaying motion.
It was Shion.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and wounds across her body were still open, showing no signs of healing.
But oddly, no blood was flowing.
Wrapped in an eerie aura, Shion rose to her feet completely.
Hmm? Dagruel fixed his gaze on her.
"Shion, is it? You can move in the Stopped World too...?
Hmm—'Envy' has vanished from you. So that's what this means—"
Veldora noticed something and cut himself off.
And then, speaking over him: "V-Veldora, sir... th-that one is my prey. Y-you couldn't possibly let me have her, could you?"
Using her sword as a crutch, panting for breath, Shion pleaded with Veldora.
He squinted at her.
"Hmm. Very well. I shall lend you a little of my power. Fight to your heart's content!"
"Th-thank you so much—"
Veldora caught Shion as she nearly collapsed.
And from Veldora, energy flowed into Shion through their contact.
"Tch! I said I'd lend you some, but you're not holding back at all, are you... (Maybe I should recoup this from Rimuru later...)"
As Veldora grumbled, looking somewhat drained, Shion's complexion grew healthier by the second.
Her wounds closed, and even her clothes were restored to like-new condition in no time.
Dagruel raised one eyebrow but allowed it, standing quietly as he waited for Shion to finish preparing.
And then— *<<Individual Name: Shion has undergone an ability evolution,* *and has acquired the Ultimate Skill* *'King of Tyranny'>>* Even in the stopped world, the "Voice of the World" continued to resonate.
It was the moment Shion awakened to an ultimate power.
"I've kept you waiting. But as you'd expect, I'll make sure to give you a bit of entertainment."
"Hmm. Then I'll take you up on your word."
The two nodded casually at each other and faced off once more.
In a stopped world where even recognizing another's presence was difficult, the battle between Shion and Dagruel was about to begin.
And in the midst of it all— *(Could it be that my turn has...)* Not a single person noticed that Veldora was having such concerns.