Smoke still hung heavy in the air.
Cracked earth stretched across the battlefield like broken glass. Mountains in the distance had crumbled, rivers had boiled and evaporated, and the skies—once thick with chaos—were now beginning to clear as light gently poured down like rain after a storm. That light wasn't just sunlight. It was magic, life, restoration.
One by one, the Demon Lords and True Dragons stirred. Some coughed. Others groaned. Their bodies bruised, their armor cracked, their breaths heavy—but they were alive.
Rimuru's fingers twitched first. A strange warmth was flowing through his veins again.
He blinked, turning his palm upward. "This feeling…"
Guy Crimson's eyes flared open. "No way… my magic… it's returning."
Velgrynd, still on her knees, gasped as she clenched her fist, sparks of crimson flame dancing across her knuckles. "I can feel it… it's back."
All across the ruined battlefield, the broken, the wounded, the fallen—soldiers, warriors, monsters, kings, dragons—felt the same thing: the return of their magic, their essence, their strength.
From above, shimmering golden light rained down gently like falling stardust. It did not burn. It healed. It restored.
Milim, tears brimming in her eyes, ran toward Yujiro.
"Uncle!" she cried, flinging herself into his chest.
Yujiro didn't flinch. He stood like a mountain, unmoved by the applause of the skies or the awe in the eyes of gods. His arms slowly raised… and he hugged her back. A rare sight. The Beast of Strength embracing someone.
"You did good, kid," Yujiro said, his deep voice calm, but proud.
Milim sobbed quietly. "I tried… I really tried…"
"I know," he replied. "That's why I came."
Behind them, Diablo slowly stood, blood still dripping from a deep wound in his shoulder. "He really did it…" he muttered, stunned. "He defeated that thing… without magic… without a skill… Just pure… power."
Shion, leaning on her broken sword, shook her head. "That wasn't power. That was something else. That was a force of nature."
Benimaru, resting his hand over his chest, smiled with bruised lips. "He… saved us all."
Even Veldora and Velzard, mighty as they were, remained silent in awe. For once, even the True Dragons felt small.
Far Above. Beyond the World. In the Celestial Throne…
Veldanava—the Supreme One, the Creator of All—watched silently. His throne made of collapsing stars, his body composed of shifting constellations and galaxies, he looked down upon the Cardinal World like a god observing a fragile sandcastle.
His arms folded. His eyes glowing with ancient wisdom.
"So… even at your peak, Atraval… you could not match the man called Yujiro," he spoke, his voice layered with thousands of echoes—like thunder in every dimension.
A sphere hovered before him—an orb showing the battlefield. It played the final moments of Atraval's destruction on loop, slowed down, as if even time respected Yujiro's technique.
"That martial art," Veldanava said with curiosity. "No magic. No divine technique. Just raw understanding of the body, the spirit, and death."
He leaned back into his throne, eyes still on Yujiro standing in the battlefield, arms crossed again.
"A mortal," he whispered. "But he stands taller than gods."
Veldanava raised one hand, and in it appeared a swirling mass of divine energy—Atraval's core, broken and flickering.
"You served your purpose," he said, closing his hand around it. The energy vanished. "You reminded them. Painfully. Magic is a tool. Not identity. Without it, they are nothing—until they train their body, their will… like him."
Then he smiled. A calm, divine smile.
"Lucky them… that he still walks their world."
He waved his hand, and across thousands of galaxies, the story of Yujiro—the man who defeated Atraval without magic—began spreading.
Some feared it.
Others revered it.
But none could deny it.
The world would remember this battle forever.
Back in the Cardinal World…
Rimuru stood beside Guy, both watching Yujiro now seated on a large rock, chewing meat like it was just another day.
"He really is something else," Rimuru muttered.
Guy nodded. "He's not a god… He's what gods are afraid of becoming."
And up above, the skies finally turned blue again.
Peace… at least for now.
The winds had finally settled.
The battlefield where the world once trembled under Atraval's wrath now stood silent. Shattered rocks, cratered earth, and scorched plains stretched out as far as the eye could see. Yet, amid the destruction, hope returned. The skies turned a calm blue, the sun shone gently, and a soft breeze carried the scent of rebirth.
The magic had returned, yes—but something deeper had changed.
The Demon Lords and True Dragons, now fully healed by their powers, stood silently—watching one man.
Yujiro Hanma.
Still patting Milim's head like she was a kid. Still chewing on a piece of roasted meat he'd casually pulled from who-knows-where. Still wearing that cocky smirk, as if the end of the world was just another Tuesday.
Milim had her arms wrapped around him like a child who didn't want her dad to leave.
Then, footsteps.
Guy Crimson, the Ice-Cold King and leader of the Demon Lords, walked toward Yujiro. Behind him came Rimuru, Leon, Luminous, Carrion, Frey, Draguel, Diablo, Benimaru, Shion, Rudra, Veldora, Velzard, and Velgrynd—each step heavy with respect and reflection.
Milim turned and blinked. "Huh? What's going on, guys?"
Yujiro turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow with a lazy smirk. "Looks like a crowd," he muttered.
Guy walked up, stopping right in front of Yujiro. The others stopped behind him.
"…I…" Guy began, his voice lower than usual, not from weakness, but humility. "No—we all…" he gestured to the Demon Lords and True Dragons behind him, "acknowledge you. You are the strongest. And thanks to you… we're alive to see another day."
He extended his hand.
Yujiro stared at it for a second.
Then—clap—he shook it.
His grip was firm, but not overpowering. "Took y'all long enough," Yujiro said with that smug grin.
Rimuru, standing to the side, scratched the back of his head nervously. "Man… he really just saved the whole world. With his fists…"
Yujiro's eyes flicked to him. "Slime."
Rimuru flinched. "Y-Yes?!"
"I didn't forget about you. I'll be visiting my forest soon."
Rimuru gulped. "W-Why? I mean—yes! I'll make sure everything's clean! And the wine! And the food! Y-You'll love Tempest, I swear!"
Yujiro chuckled. "You better not disappoint me."
Then, with Milim finally letting go and all the Demon Lords giving him a respectful nod, Yujiro turned around and started walking away, cracking his neck.
"I'm goin' back," he called behind him. "Need a drink. That good Dwargon wine better be cold."
Later…
With Yujiro gone and the battlefield quiet once more, Guy looked around at the rest.
"Well," he said, brushing dust off his coat, "first things first. We need to rebuild. Cities, kingdoms, forests—Atraval did a number on everything."
Rimuru nodded. "Yeah. But if we all help, it'll go faster."
Carrion pumped his fist. "I'll get my beastmen on it."
Frey folded her arms. "My kingdom can offer air transport and supplies."
Leon smirked. "El Dorado's wealth isn't just for show. We'll fund the northern reconstruction."
Luminous nodded, glowing softly. "We'll heal the wounded… not just with magic, but with care."
Then suddenly—
Milim raised her hands and shouted, "BUT before all that—let's celebrate!!!"
Everyone blinked at her.
Milim pointed to the sky. "Everyone's still in my kingdom! We just won a world-ending battle! And we have Yujiro to thank! Let's party tonight and rebuild tomorrow!"
Rimuru laughed. "Honestly? I could use a break."
Guy smiled faintly. "Fine. One night."
"PARTYYYYYYY!!!" Milim yelled, flying off toward her kingdom.
Everyone followed.
The people had been waiting. Nobles, elves, dwarves, beastkin, demons—civilians of all kinds huddled together under banners and tents. There had been fear. Anxiety. No one knew what was happening outside.
Then someone shouted—"LOOK!"
A child pointed to the sky. One by one, figures descended from the clouds—Milim, Rimuru, Leon, Guy, Velzard, Veldora, and many more.
"They're back!"
"Is it over?!"
"We're saved!!"
Milim landed with her fists on her hips and yelled, "THE THREAT IS GONE! WE'RE ALL SAFE!"
The crowd roared. Cheers. Clapping. Fireworks. Children crying in joy. Soldiers hugging civilians. Families reunited.
And with a snap of her fingers, chefs and maids got to work—grills fired up, massive steaks sizzling, drinks being poured into barrels, mountains of food arriving in seconds.
Bonfires lit up the night. Music began playing.
Shion was chasing Diablo for stealing meat off her plate.
Benimaru was drinking with Carrion in a test of who could stay standing longer.
Veldora was surrounded by kids, retelling the story with dramatic flair: "And then, just as Atraval raised his hand—BOOM—I swooped in with my dragon roar and scared him stiff!"
"Wow!" the kids clapped.
Velgrynd rolled her eyes. "Liar."
Rimuru sat with Leon and Luminous, sipping on some special fruit wine. "I still can't believe Yujiro just won like that."
Leon shrugged. "That's what monsters do."
Luminous smiled. "Still… I'm glad we got to see it."
Up in the sky, fireflies danced with magicules. The stars twinkled brighter than ever.
Milim spun around in her pink dress, grabbing Rimuru. "Come on! Dance!"
"Huh?!"
"Dance with me, Slime King!"
And so, under the bright night sky, surrounded by laughter, meat, music, and magic, the world—once again—felt alive.
Far Away… Veldanava's Realm
The Creator watched it all.
He leaned on his palm, smiling.
"They understand now," he whispered. "Not just what they are—but what they must become."
He looked at the image of Yujiro sipping wine like a war never happened.
"And you… you remind me what real strength looks like."
The stars above pulsed with light.
And peace… however temporary… reigned.