37

Chapter Text

I don't want to wake up from this dream.

This warmth, please don't go away.

The morning is still young, so please,

Give me 5... no, 10 more minutes.

-=-=-=-

Ah, that's right.

I remember being so worried about my new role.

Leader of an entire nation? A Federation, with alliances and tons of subjects? How could I possibly manage that? I'm just… me.

Then, it was like perfect timing.

She arrived in this world.

Me, as a what, a king? A leader? Ha, can you believe that?

But, like a gift, she was there.

A brand-new friend. Another Otherworlder, with way more experience in management and discipline. Someone who could do, think, speak, act in ways I couldn't.

She lightened my workload so much, was strict so I didn't have to be… she let me be, me. Whether she meant to or not. With her around, I didn't have to worry about anything.

I can never thank her enough for that.

…

I can never thank her for anything.

If I hadn't taken things so lightly…

If I had taken my role as Tempest's leader more seriously…

The worst part is that, deep down, I don't think I did the wrong thing. I just… didn't do the right thing either. I had to save them. But I was supposed to be here, not there. I fulfilled one duty, but which one was I more obligated toward?

Whose promise means more?

Maybe if I hadn't been so relaxed, so confident, so arrogant...

…or, if she'd never shown up… would I be worse off... or better?

No, what's wrong with me? I should be grateful. I should be begging for forgiveness.

I'm really not human anymore, huh?

…

This is all my fault.

-=-=-=-

Late Afternoon

Sealed Cave

Jura Tempest Federation

"Still no response?" Gabiru's wings flex nervously behind him.

Vesta shakes his head negatively, looking away from the glowing communication orb floating over his palm.

"The communication line is open on our end, but it's not connecting." The orb's glow dims, dropping down into Vesta's palm. "Something is still cutting us off."

"Or, something is cutting off the city." Another voice cuts in.

"Sir Souei!" Gabiru starts.

"Gabiru, Vesta." Souei melts from the shadows. He acknowledges them each in turn, then holds up a hand. "I'll cut to the chase. I've just confirmed a report from Souka saying that two barriers have been erected over Tempest. I've also confirmed that Lord Rimuru and Mary were attacked during their return-"

"WHAT!?!" Is the echoed call from those gathered, being Vesta, Gabiru, and Gabiru's retainers.

Souei continues, as if they hadn't been interrupted him.

"It's too early for 100% certainty, but all signs point to a targeted assault on Tempest and its base of power."

"Wait, back up a moment Sir Souei!" Gabiru blurts out, stepping directly in front of the Kijin. "Lord Rimuru was attacked?! We need to-"

"Do nothing." Souei cuts him off.

It's only then that Vesta and Gabiru notice the bags under his eyes. His hands are even shaking as he clenches them into fists.

"We'll do nothing, because we can do nothing. Lord Rimuru isn't alone, and between him and Mary there's no point in us trying anything on his behalf. Right now, we can only trust in him and her that they will return as soon as possible."

"I- but-"

Gabiru sputters, but internally he knows Souei is right. In this world, there are the weak and the strong. Further, there are the strong, and the truly strong… and the gap between the latter two is like the distance between the Heavens and the World. Of the people he knows… the Demon Lord Milim, Lord Rimuru Tempest, Lady Tanya… and those closest to them, such as Sir Benimaru, Mary Sue, Sir Hakurou…

But even still, even knowing this, he cannot abandon his ideals. "But that's… not right. We need to…"

He looks at Vesta, who avoids his gaze. He's grimacing, and belatedly, Gabiru realizes he is as well.

"It isn't." Souei acknowledges, with a rare frustrated sigh. "But there's nothing we can do for them right now. Even if we were in the right place at the right time… no, I'm sorry. Right now, what's important is resolving the situation at Tempest."

"You're right." Gabiru shakes his head. Then, he pauses, as a faint trickle of energy crawls across his scales. "Wait, this is-"

Two human-shaped figures burst from the shadows along the edge of the cavern.

"Sorry we're late!" Rimuru lands on his feet, one arm shooting out for Mary to grab onto as she stumbles. "The warp circle wasn't- oh! Souei, Vesta, Gabiru- alright, this is a good group for this. What's-"

"We got ambushed by some fucking religious nutjob!" Mary cuts him off. Considering the jagged blood stains and rips through her button-up shirt and jacket, no one doubts for a second that they'd gone through Hell to get here.

However, it is mildly unfortunate Tanya is not here to appreciate the true humor of Mary saying that specific sentence. Oh well. At a later time, perhaps.

"Hinata Sakaguchi." Rimuru adds, not at all surprised by the immediate gasp and horror-struck expression from Gabiru and Vesta respectively. "But we're here now. What's going on?"

Hiding his relief, and quickly donning his "work face", Souei steps forward. "Lord Rimuru, Mary. It is good to see you survived, but let's spare the pleasantries. Follow me. I'll update you as we run."

"Good to see you too, Souei. Let's move!"

-=-

"Humans, huh… wait. What the hell…? This is…"

Rimuru's voice echoes over their connection. Mary and Souei exchange a glance, even as they dart around trees and ground foliage.

"…I should be able to get through. Souei, find out who's responsible. Don't engage if you're unsure of anything. Mary, help investigate the situation when you get here."

Without waiting for confirmation, Rimuru's Thought Communication abruptly cuts out.

It is a familiar sinking feeling that speeds Mary up, until even Souei has trouble keeping up with her. With Rimuru flying on ahead, and Gabiru, Gabiru's men, and Vesta staying behind in the cavern, the duo sprints towards the ominous glow on the horizon.

They break free from the greater forest, entering the open area signifying Tempest's outer edges. Looming above them is a massive, semi-opaque pyramid of magical energy. Underneath the pyramid is a red-tinted dome, likely another magical barrier of some kind.

Somehow worse is the fact that Mary recognizes it. Or at least, the magical signature strikes a similar chord within her. Her eyes flash neon.

"Oh… shit." Mary breathes out, skidding to a halt just steps away from the barriers. "This is…"

Through the multicolored layers is the true worst part of it all. The air above Tempest is befouled by smoke, the afternoon sky cloudy, dark, and swirling with malice and power.

A storm is on the horizon.

"What the hell?" She understands Rimuru's confusion now. "This isn't real, right?"

Souei comes up beside her. Without a word, he presses his palm flat against the pyramid-shaped barrier… for about a second, before it sparks, and he yanks his hand back.

"Unfortunately, neither of us are dreaming." Souei shakes out his hand, smoke curling along the flesh. "Solid, and painful to the touch. Can you get in?"

"I- yeah, I should be able to…" Mary presses her fingertips against the pyramid-shaped barrier. For a split second, it pauses, then pushes through. "…not solid, and it doesn't hurt. I feel like I'm pushing my hand through a sheet of warm mud."

"Good. Go in after Lord Rimuru; I'll reconvene with Vesta and Gabiru before investigating the source of the barriers out here."

"Understood." Mary defers to his judgement, recognizing the lack of time on their side. "I'll reunite with Tanya as well, learn as much as I can."

Souei nods. "Stay safe."

In a blink, he melts into his own shadow and disappears.

"You too." Mary whispers to the open air, before turning toward the barriers. She takes a deep breath, holds it… then exhales. Without further pause, she steps forward, one boot in front of the other.

Walking into the remnants of a dream.

The first thing she notices upon passing the barriers is the noise. Or rather, the lack of it.

The streets are empty. Worse than that, they're marred. Smoke clings to the air; Mary wrinkles her nose at it, covering the lower half of her face with her hand.

It's a painfully familiar scene. It's something she never wanted to see again. This isn't some simple attack. A targeted assault at Tempest's base of power? No, that's underselling it, but to Souei's credit, he couldn't know the full extent.

This is a declaration of war.

Unbidden, those ever-familiar embers crackle and pop just underneath her ribcage. This is her home. This is the place where she finally-

How dare they, who would even dare, I won't accept-!!!

With a grimace, she suppresses it. Now isn't the time. She's better than that. She has to be.

…

…and no, this isn't just a declaration from their enemies. The war has already started.

That's right. Keep a cool head. Analyze the situation.

What happened? Who would do this? And better yet, why? What had Tempest done to deserve this?

Nothing, of course. Nothing reasonable. Nothing justifiable, not to anyone with any sense.

Well, that doesn't matter. There's no time for that now. When the dust settles, they can try to connect the dots. But for now, damage assessment and damage control are the prime concerns. Analyze that instead.

For a moment, Mary turns back. She raises a hand, hovering over the nearest barrier… before letting it drop. She could destroy one of them, and possibly disable the other. Maybe she would have done so without thinking, once upon a time.

But, thinking about it, neither of them is lethal. Not outright. And if Rimuru elected to leave them alone for the time being, she would too. There's no time.

Mary faces Tempest proper and begins to run. Down the street, and towards a nearby building, she leaps, leaving a gust of air in her wake as she easily clears its height and lands on its roof. Like that, she travels through the devastated city, taking in the sights with a growing pit in her stomach.

The burn under her ribs gets harder to smother with every step and jump. Her shoulders are too tense.

The damage just gets worse the further in she gets. Soon, she is crossing entire streets at once, over blocks of burnt, blackened buildings. Twice, Mary stops and leaps straight up into the air.

Much of Tempest is damaged. Much of it is beyond repair, needing outright replacement. More places still are on the edge of collapse, or are still burning even now.

From brief glimpses, she can see people gathering. Examining the scene, parsing through the shattered remnants of their previous lifestyle. The sight of them soothes her, but barely.

Some sections, also, are unharmed. Certain large buildings, such as the school, are unblemished. The Assembly Hall is similarly secure, from what she can see in the distance.

That makes sense. That would be where Tempest's Executives gathered, assuming they weren't out in the city itself.

Another upside, so far, is an utter lack of corpses.

It's honestly surprising. Given the barriers above are strikingly like those used against her and Rimuru, any monsters should be-

A flash of light blue in the corner of her vision. Mary pauses on a rooftop, squinting in that direction.

It's Rimuru, and in that same direction, just as she focuses that way with Ability Sight, there's an aura of flame.

Her first instinct is to follow.

Her second instinct prevails.

Those flames are Benimaru's, and Rimuru is already on the scene. The two of them will be fine, which means she should go somewhere else. Divide and conquer.

There's a crowd near them, a few blocks away. In the city's central plaza. No doubt that will be Rimuru's next stop. She can meet up with him there later.

So, where…?

Right. There it is.

Mary leaps to another rooftop, then drops down to the street. In a straight line down this street is the Assembly Hall, and without pause, she is sprinting that way.

Something isn't exactly adding up. The city feels like death has descended on top of it, but there is little sign of any actual death. It sickens her. The nausea from seeing a safe haven's violation.

What happened, exactly? It bears to reason that the people with answers, those not named Benimaru at least, will be at the Assembly Hall. Rigurd, or Rigur, or even Shion.

Or, preferably, Tanya and Shuna.

Someone else might have guessed the problem already, but Mary's more of a "hands-on" sort of person anyway. So, she'll settle for physically finding-

Wait. Tanya!

That's right! It was odd seeing no corpses, and seeing undamaged buildings surrounded by burnt husks. But this makes more sense! Tanya must have done something.

The heat in her chest lessens, barely even a simmer. For the first time since Hinata's appearance, Mary feels light. It allows her to relax a bit, though the sight of the devastation around her still gnaws at her ribs.

Well, of course Tanya did something. It's such an obvious realization that she almost laughs. The stress must be getting to her. She's not thinking straight.

Tanya's been running the whole place in Rimuru's absence. More specifically, Mary thinks, Tanya must have planned against such an attack. The cautious type, that one.

Even more than that, she's human, which means-

Oh boy. I bet whoever decided to attack the city under her watch met a pretty nasty surprise, huh?

The pit in her stomach lessens. Actually, she begins to feel… a little hopeful. Tempest is in a sorry state, for sure, but isn't this fine? Buildings can be replaced. And, with the distinct lack of dead bodies, maybe they avoided the worst of it?

Hell, a targeted assassination attempt on Rimuru's life was thwarted with only a little bloodshed. Honestly, the worst of it was getting her guts rearranged by that Hinata Sakaguchi nutjob.

For some reason, she can hear Gobta snickering at that last sentence.

The wind rushes through her hair, the street cracking under her boots as she speeds up one more time.

Upon reaching the courtyard in front of the Assembly Hall, Mary winces.

For two reasons. One, there are people outside, and they don't look great. Hobgoblins, Goblinas, and a couple beastmen merchants. They more so linger, likely still in shock. She's seen that look before, even if the memories of those times are still blurry.

It's the aftermath of devastation; it feels like you're walking through a dream, so great is the shock. But they are alive. They will recover.

The second reason is because part of the stone under her boots is cracked from her abrupt stop. No doubt someone will be annoyed about that, though Mary has no intention of being held responsible for it.

Pretending it never happened, Mary strides to the Assembly Hall doors, feeling and ignoring the eyes following her.

They're wary.

She notes, somehow only just realizing the doors are already thrown open. Sheepishly lowering her fist, which she'd been about to knock with, Mary enters the building.

Now, if I were coordinating a counterattack, I'd be in the-

From the entrance hall, then to the back of the expansive building, Mary rushes to the conference room.

She bursts through the door and finds no one.

"What?"

Mary exits the way she came, footsteps pounding on the wooden floors. She backtracks, checking Rimuru's office on the right side of the Hall. Nothing. Then she heads to the staircase and goes up.

The office Tanya and Souei used to share on the second floor is empty too. The highest floor of the building is similarly bereft. She checks.

It doesn't make much sense. This is the central hub of Tempest's authority. There should be people holed here. There should be some sign of Tempest's leadership, at the very least.

But Tanya, Benimaru, Rigurd, Hakurou, Kaijin, Geld, Haruna… none of them are here. There are signs of previous occupation, of course. The conference room had a communication orb on the table, and a few of the chairs were skewed.

But, at least on the higher floors, no one is here. It's like they'd all rushed out to deal with something or other in a hurry.

That's… entirely possible. Did she seriously choose to investigate the one place that's empty? That would be terrible luck.

Mary descends to the ground floor, debating then deciding not to just jump out the window to make it quicker. There's no need to rush, exactly, other than her own impatience. And she's trying to work on that, so… the patient path.

This time.

One of the stairs creaks under her boot. It gives her pause.

She'd noticed it earlier, but even here, it's-

-extremely quiet.

Mary focuses after that thought, taking particular care to listen. It's too quiet. Even with her superhuman senses, there's not a whole lot to register.

Except for… there. Footsteps?

Yes, now that's she trying to hear it… Mary follows the sound, ghosting through the hallway. It's true, she hadn't found anybody of note on the upper floors, nor the ground floor. But there's one section you hadn't checked out.

Back near the entrance, Mary retraces her steps. Ignoring Rimuru's office, which sits on the right side of the Assembly Hall's ground floor, and the conference room, which sits at the back of the Assembly Hall's ground floor, she goes left.

She enters a door on that side, into a hallway. And the noise, which would be barely noticeable to most ears, increases. Hurried footsteps, muffled whispers and curses, groans of discomfort.

They set up an infirmary? No shit. I must be a fucking idiot.

Though, in her defense, the existence of Full Potions makes an infirmary far less relevant.

Still, with none of the Executives around…

I want to see everyone.

She seriously doubts Tanya or Benimaru would be in a makeshift infirmary. Mary turns around to leave.

"Mary?"

Mary pauses, then turns back around.

"Oh, Haruna." She says, as the familiar Goblina rushes up to her. "Where's-?"

"Mary!" Haruna grabs her hands. "Oh, thank the Storm Dragon! If you're here, then Lord Rimuru must be here as well. Where is he?"

Oh, that's not good. And here she was, thinking the worst might be behind them.

"What happened?" Mary demands, that pit in her stomach from earlier returning with a vengeance. Of course, it could never be that easy.

Still, if it isn't too bad, then maybe…

Haruna blinks, the aura around Mary much more viscous than before. Then, a horrific look of realization crosses her face, one that has Mary raising an eyebrow.

"I- you don't-" She shakes her head. "Of course, you couldn't know yet. I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Why are you apologizing?"

"Mary- oh, Mary, I'm so sorry." Her grip on Mary's hands tightens. "It's- no, I can't."

"Haruna." Mary pulls her hands free, and grabs Haruna's shoulders. "What. Happened."

"I-" Whatever Haruna is about to say, she doesn't. Mary can see the moment she changes her mind. "Hakurou and Gobta need help. We've managed to keep them alive, but their wound, there's something keeping them from healing, and Lord Rimuru- we need his help."

Those aren't the words Haruna had in mind. She'd been about to answer with something else, and now she's pretending otherwise.

Mary wars with herself, wanting to ask, needing to know, burning… but that's not what she should be doing.

"…be strong enough for others."

Instead, Mary says, "Take me to them."

-=-=-=-

Meanwhile…

Back Alley Near the Plaza

Tempest, Jura Tempest Federation

A towering inferno fills the scarce space in the alley. It's hard to breathe, the flames greedily sucking at the already damaged and depleted air.

At a dead end, Mjurran kneels cross-legged, leaning against the brickwork behind her. Youm the "Hero" crouches next to her, one arm around her shoulders. His face is bloody and burnt, and he's slumped over, barely conscious.

Guarding them both is Grucius, bare-handed. On the ground at his feet are the handles of two daggers. The blades on both are shattered down to the hilt. Burns scratch across his exposed skin as well. Blood drips from a busted lip.

"Step. Aside." It scorches the very air. Despite Benimaru's blank expression, it can be felt on the wind. It's in the way he holds his sheathed katana in one hand, blood staining the silvery pommel. It's how, in his other, a crimson flame licks hungrily at the air.

At first glance, he doesn't seem affected by the barriers overhead. But it's clear that his flames burn much cooler, powered by aura rather than magicules. Sweat beads his forehead, but he stands tall. Fearless.

Worse, Geld towers behind him, eliminating even the thought of a potential escape. His own silence is deafening. There is not getting out of this.

Grucius shivers in spite of the heat, and even the resigned-to-death Mjurran can't help the trickle of fear in her artificial heart.

"Sorry man." Grucius grins through his pain. It's a paltry imitation of confidence. "You've already lost your cool. Can't let you get to them now."

"Lost my cool...?" Benimaru's expression twists. Fire wreaths his aura, a vicious snarl in place. The air grows disgustingly warm, sweat dripping down the beaten-down trio's faces.

"Why is that I wonder? Do you have any idea what's been done!?"

Benimaru advances. Grucius swipes at him, only to catch the handle of Benimaru's katana across the face. His nose cracks, and he slams into the side of the alley, crumbling to his knees.

"That woman is our primary suspect, and I swear to you, if I have my way, all three of you will be-!!!"

"Benimaru, stop!"

Benimaru stops, his hand held high and wreathed in flame.

Slowly… he lowers it, the flame extinguishing.

"Lord Rimuru." He turns his head. "You're finally here."

Rimuru rushes past Geld to stand at his side. It is the abject confusion on his face that finally gives Benimaru a true reason to pause.

"Benimaru… what's going on here?"

The crimson Kijin looks away.

"Benimaru?"

"…Geld, can I ask you to escort Grucius, Youm, and Mjurran to the Assembly Hall?"

Geld nods, giving a single grunt of assent.

"Good. Thank you." Benimaru sighs. Suddenly, he appears far more tired than before. "Shut them up in one of the offices and keep watch until we've returned. We don't want…"

"I understand." Geld walks forward, Benimaru and Rimuru shifting to the side of the alley. As he's picking up Grucius's barely conscious body, he calls over his shoulder. "…it is good to see you again, Lord Rimuru. I'm glad you were able to return safely. Is Mary safe, as well?"

Rimuru frowns. "It was a bit rough going, but we're both in one piece. I'll tell everyone about it later."

"That's good to hear. Poor girl…"

"Huh?" Rimuru blinks. "What do you…?"

But Geld is focused elsewhere now. Gathering the prisoners.

"My lord." Benimaru places a hand on Rimuru's shoulder. "Please, follow me. Shion is on guard duty. Most everyone should be… well, you'll see."

-=-

He does see. He wishes he didn't. He wishes…

"There are three rules. I'd like you to uphold them, at the very least."

"There was an attack. They surprised us. If we weren't weakened by the barriers… but even with that, there weren't many casualties." Benimaru won't look at him. "There's… a good reason for that."

"First, no fighting amongst yourself. We're stronger together than we are separated."

"Safehouses, designated escape routes in case of emergency. We passed out fliers with maps of the city, detailing everything." Kaijin steps from the crowd, walking up behind him. "And these odd tools my brothers and I were commissioned to create… well, they worked too."

"Second, no belittling other races. You never know what others might be capable of."

"I thought I was going to die. No, I knew I was going to. But then…" Shion clenches her fists, black, sharpened nails digging into her palms, drawing blood. "…even wounded, even clearly exhausted, I was still saved. As was the child I'd been protecting. She just…"

"And third, no attacking humans. Self-defense should be okay…"

"They hid among the merchants. We let them into our city, treated them with kindness, just like you told us too." A short, older Hobgoblin calls. "These humans… they were merciless, my lord. They did this-"

"Silence." Rigurd growls. The shadows along his face grow deeper. "Look forward, look down. Who, exactly, are you disrespecting?"

The old Hobgoblin covers his mouth, bowing his head. He realizes his mistake.

"…but I like humans! They can do some pretty great things, you know?"

Rimuru stands frozen in place. For the first time since becoming a slime, he feels sick. Genuinely, achingly sick.

"This… this isn't…"

Bile rises like a curse in the back of his throat.

…this isn't real, right?

-=-=-=-

Meanwhile…

Assembly Hall

Tempest, Jura Tempest Federation

In a side room of the Assembly Hall, Tempest's main seat of power, a makeshift infirmary is set up. Originally a comfortable gathering space, its purpose has been converted to something more gruesome.

Against the wall left of the door are four beds, and against the opposite, the furniture from the original layout. Several cushioned chairs, loveseats, and a coffee table sit flush against the pale wallpaper, with potion bottles, bandages, buckets of water and sponges, wire, scissors, and other various implements of possible medical use strewn around them.

Or in the case of the coffee table, on top of it.

A window, with the curtains partially drawn, lets in enough light to see the room's current occupants. Haruna is picking up one of the water buckets, a sponge floating inside. In the two beds nearest the door are Gobta and Hakurou, bloody bandages wrapped around their torsos and limbs.

Despite this, the two of them, injured greatly by the Otherworlder Kyoya's spatial attribute attack, are sitting up and stretching. Those bloody bandages from before are loose, revealing unblemished skin underneath.

"I can't believe I'm alive…" Gobta mutters, patting his stomach. "She really saved us, huh Gramps?"

A hand slams down on Gobta's head. "Hoho... perhaps you'd like to sleep some more?"

It's good they can converse like usual. They were in a truly terrible state earlier. But, luckily, or perhaps just thankfully…

Right. Her.

In the bed nearest the window, Shuna lies fitfully unconscious. Mary sits on bed's edge, a troubled look on her face.

"Thank you so much, Miss Mary." Haruna leaves her former patients' sides, stopping in front of Mary and bowing her head. "I'm certain Lord Rimuru could have assisted, but in his absence, you were able to do what we could not."

"We're at 'Miss' now, huh?" Mary grabs Shuna's hand, squeezing it lightly. The warmth, that proof of life, comforts her. "Don't worry about it. If I can help, I should. It's all good now, right?"

She tries not to let her impatience get the better of her. She's failing.

…that being said, whoever did this better already be dead. Otherwise, they'll wish they were once I find them.

Haruna winces ever so slightly. Most others wouldn't catch it, but even beyond those incredible senses, Mary's entire body is wired right now. There's an itch just under her skin.

Something isn't right. It's digging at her, something deep in her bone marrow aching.

She notices, and frowns. It's been bothering her… well, at lot of things are bothering her right now, and she's been trying to ignore them to focus on the here and now. But, well, it's not adding up.

The embers in her chest spark threateningly. It's hard to contain herself. Her thoughts, deductions might not be the best, but her instincts? They've kept her alive.

Something's not right.

It's a cold trickling feeling down the spine. Stark against the heat in her chest.

"What bothers me though, is I think Tanya could have dealt with this herself." Tetra Breaker could probably- no, could definitely dissipate the spatial effect. Mary had been exposed to the flavor of that Unique power enough times to assume that much. "Where is she?"

Immediate silence. Gobta and Hakurou look up, interested as well.

"Could she? That makes sense, right?" Gobta asks. "Yeah, why didn't she?"

Hakurou's brow furrows. "Unless she was caught up elsewhere, I don't see why she couldn't. Is the attack still ongoing?"

"No, I think it's over. For now." Mary answers, her burning green gaze locked onto the nervously sweating Haruna. "I could imagine her searching the city, though."

Or dealing with whoever let this attack happen at all.

It does make sense.

If you look at it logically, it only makes sense to prioritize the bigger issue. And, well, if something is still happening that presents a threat to Tempest, that would be a bigger issue than two injured Executives. Who are presumably strong enough to survive a little bleeding.

…a lot of bleeding, but the point stands.

"There was a crowd in the central plaza, so if I were betting, I'd bet she's over there. Does that sound right?"

But that doesn't explain why Haruna is so nervous.

…unless Tanya ordered her to keep quiet about it? Whatever "it" is?

"She's! Well, um…" Haruna looks away, wide-eyed, and meets Hakurou's eyes. She looks away again, to Gobta, then to the floor.

"Haruna, what's going on?" Hakurou gets up from his bed. Gobta follows close behind.

Mary's eyes spark, focusing all her attention on the Goblina.

"…Tanya's not here." Haruna manages to get out. "She's, uh…"

That uncomfortable pit of dread from before bottoms out in Mary's stomach once more.

"Haruna. Where is Tanya?" Unconsciously, Mary's eyes glow even brighter.

Then, in the silence that follows. In a silence that you could hear a pin drop.

"She's…" There's a weak voice.

It's not Haruna who speaks. The room's attention shifts like a whip, to the prone woman resting on the room's fourth bed.

"… gone." Shuna says, her voice cracking. Her eyelids flutter, as if she's trying to stay awake.

The room collectively holds its breath, waiting for something more… but no, Shuna is unconscious once more.

…gone?

To Mary's shame, she immediately thinks of desertion. Then, she thinks of a counterattack. Is Tanya that vindictive?

If Shuna was injured enough to be rendered unconscious and depleted like this, Mary could see it. She's feeling the same sort of murderous urge towards their attackers herself.

"…gone where, exactly?" Utterly lost, uncomprehending of the most likely outcome, Mary looks to the others for support. "It's not… what?"

No, not uncomprehending. Unwilling to comprehend. Something inside of her won't let her connect the dots. Because that would be… no, it's not worth even thinking about.

That would be…

And then, as if in response, everyone at once feels it.

A massive explosion of aura, washing over their senses like a tsunami.

Rimuru's aura.

-=-

As Mary, Hakurou, and Gobta leave the Assembly Hall, they pass by Geld. Accompanying him are a beat-to-hell Youm, a bloodied-up beastman Mary vaguely recognizes, and a teal-haired woman she doesn't know at all.

He's carrying the first two. The woman walks a beside him, head bowed. It reminds Mary of a prisoner march. Without really thinking about it, Ability Sight analyzes the unfamiliar woman's passive energy signature.

…

It's only Geld's presence that keeps her from stopping right there. This woman… the feeling matches that of one of the barriers. Perfectly.

It's all starting to paint a picture she really doesn't like. Already, there is metal in her throat and fire in her lungs. There are answers to be found, but she really doesn't want them.

Mary doesn't even realize she's stopped in her tracks until Hakurou taps her shoulder. He gives her a meaningful look, and without words, they keep moving. They pass by without further incident.

It isn't long before, instead of a swift walk, the trio is jogging. Then, running. Hobgoblins, Goblinas, beastmen and human merchants all pass them by, heading in the opposite direction. Mary can't remember the last time her heart pounded in her chest like this. She'd almost forgotten how those licks of flame scorch the inside of her ribcage. How easy it is to give herself away to- to-

No. No, she can't- she's better than this. She's not like that anymore.

Get ahold of yourself!

She can't. It's too much. This entire day is just way too much. Fielding a murder attempt, nearly dying, arriving back home – oh god this is her fucking home this is her home this is – and finding it half blackened, half burnt to ruins… seeing Hakurou and Gobta and Shuna in such a terrible state, and now-

Rimuru. Rimuru, what happened? What the hell is happening to make you-?

Mary arrives on the outskirts of the plaza. Alone. Hakurou and Gobta couldn't keep up, or perhaps they didn't try to. Her blood doesn't pound through her ears, but roars. It's the only thing she can hear. It fills her senses to the brim.

The crowd she saw earlier has dispersed. There's only a few left now. The other Executives.

What could have happened? Why is everyone here? What are you doing? What happened?

What happened? Who, what, why are you all-

Her thoughts are a jumbled mess. Like a wave, rising and rising, it grows higher and louder and buzzes over everything else.

Benimaru, Rigurd, Shion, Kaijin.

Rimuru. Kneeling. He looks up at her. He mouths something, some sort of horror-stricken look on his face. She can't hear him. She can't hear anything.

Her senses fail her.

It's so LOUD.

It distracts her. She blinks, her eyelids feeling like sandpaper. Her mind struggling to line up with what her instincts are screaming at her.

Something is wrong. This is wrong, wrong, WRONG!

Rimuru is kneeling. He was kneeling. He's getting up. What was he kneeling next to?

Next to…

…

…

Oh.

All at once, everything goes silent. The fire in her chest trims down to a muted sizzle, leaving behind nothing but an aching, scorched void.

Oh.

It's ironic. The thought never even occurred to her.

Oh god.

Mary walks forward. It doesn't feel real. It feels like walking through a dream. Step by step. Slow. Robotic.

"This..."

She blinks, and the body is just in front of her. Tanya's body.

...can't be real.

She looks so peaceful. Laying back, arms at her sides.

She's covered in blood. It stains everything.

Mary falls to her knees. The faint heat across her shins doesn't even register.

This is a dream. This has to be a nightmare.

The scene doesn't change. The body does not disappear. Unnoticed, the other Executives turn away. Rimuru reaches out, as if to grasp her shoulder, then pulls back. He wants to turn away as well but can't bring himself to do so.

Not her. Not her too.

Mary stretches out her arm, pressing her fingertips against Tanya's palm. It's cool to the touch. There is no warmth to comfort her.

Fingers trembling, she grabs Tanya's hand. Lightly, then squeezing with a desperate strength. As if to share her own warmth. As if to warm her back to life. 

Oh god… no, you- you can't take her from me.

No one wakes up.

"NO!!! "

It's only as she tastes her own tears rolling down her face, that she realizes she'd shouted that aloud. But then, she can't stop.

"Not- not her too!" Her voice breaks. "You can't! Not-"

Everything she has left from before. Not Tanya. Not her. Why, why, why-

"Please! You can't- PLEASE!!!"

She sobs, and sobs, as if it's torn from her throat.

"Don't do this to me! You can't do this to me!! Not again!!" She cries out at this injustice.

It's unfair. You can't do this. Not to her. Not to her.

Oh god, why her?

Is it never enough? Must she always suffer?

"You can't! You can't!!"

Mary hunches over. Tears drip onto the crimson-white fabric, staining it further.

"Not you too... this- this... why is this…" She hiccups. "…why…"

…why does everyone I care about have to die?

The World watches on.

…I just… wanted to be happy again.

.

.

.

.

.

A few blocks away, a familiar trio of adventurers approach the plaza.

And with the story one of them brings… the World will never be the same.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Meanwhile…

Somewhere Else

In-Between

= There we go. I'm impressed by you. =

= So very, very impressed, Star. =

= To think, any mortal could desire something so greatly. =

= Even after a third Death. Are you truly so greedy? =

= I like that. A product of my origin, perhaps. =

= Well, I suppose your uniqueness led to this as well. =

= Still, it's not enough on your own. You've drifted too far. =

= They have all the necessary pieces in place. They will try to revive you. =

= But if you aren't there. . . =

= I'm sorry. His claim supersedes mine. =

= Three days for us. Six days for you. =

= You won't have much time. Nor leeway. =

= You're under his jurisdiction once more. He will be watching. =

= Yet, he has grown impatient. Risky. =

= Normally, it would be impossible. And yet. . . =

= I know you don't believe in fate. =

= But it's almost as though the stars have aligned. =

= Every single twist and turn along your long journey. . . =

= It all led right here. The tools at your disposal are just right. =

= You have a chance to escape again. =

 = Only you can do it. =

= I've done what I can. There is only so much a name can do. =

 = So, it's all on you now. =

= To put it in more familiar, or perhaps, palatable terms. . . =

= This will be the most difficult operation of your career. =

= But you can do it. =

 = Collapse. Reconstruct yourself from stardust. =

= . . . =

= And please, whatever you do. =

= Don't let those precious memories fade. =

= They're quite fond of you. You have a role to play yet. =

= So, once you've escaped his sight, try to remember. =

 = No, you must remember! If you don't, you'll never-! =

-=-=-=-

Gone. They're gone.

Remember, huh? Remember what, exactly?

That's the problem with these Deities. They're so used to seeing everything that the little details go under the radar. I wonder if you even considered the full extent of this?

Maybe you have, and you dismissed it. Or you're a better pretender than I thought. I don't think so, but either way, I don't mind.

If I was able to fool you, then… regardless, I'll make full use of the advantage it gives me. 

I've finally got a feel for it, thanks to you. I've almost figured it out.

Perhaps it's something to do with being temporarily non-corporeal. Perhaps I've simply absorbed something or other. Perhaps it was proximity to my soul. Perhaps there is more to a name.

Perhaps it was this or that or something neither of us could fully comprehend. But regardless of the source, I'm starting to get it now.

I know I can do it. It's still not complete, but this is a prime opportunity.

So, thanks, but stay out of my way. You want me to take you at your word? No thanks. Don't misunderstand this. And don't think for a second that I'm on your side.

This is just convenient for me, and I'd be a fool to pass up the opportunity. I'm grateful, you know. I have no quarrel with you.

You're surprisingly hands-off. But don't mistake allies for friends.

…

Ah, here we go. I can feel it. He's looking this way.

Took you long enough, you big bastard. Don't waste any more of my time, now.

After all, I only have six days to make this work.

-<>-<>-<>-

< Ah! There you are. >

< Did you think it would be that easy? >

< Come now. . . >

< Did you have fun? >

< . . . >

< Did you get it all out of your system? >

Get what out of my system, exactly?

Don't you know not to keep someone waiting? I'd think you wouldn't hesitate to gloat upon your success. After all, your little puppet Sue finally got one over on me.

It stings to be killed by such a fucking zealot, but it's not worth much being concerned now.

I died. Go on. Tell me what I already know.

< . . . >

< Oh. Oh ho ho. Is that it? >

< I understand it now. >

< I suppose, since you were lost for so long, it makes sense. >

< But don't worry. I've found you now. >

< You're wrong, Tanya. If there's one compliment I'll afford you, it's this one. >

< You are someone who did not die when you should have. >

< You are a Star. But of course. . . >

< You don't remember, do you? >

< That's okay. They'll tell you everything you missed. >

< Let's get you back where you belong, hm? >

-<>-<>-<>-

Winter

Undisclosed Location

 Germanian Empire

"Authorization confirmed. Alright, head on through."

There's an electronic buzz, and the metallic rattling of a well-kept, but aged, scissor door.

A young woman, clad in a familiar military uniform, steps forward. Behind her, the gate slides shut.

"Officially, you have five minutes." An older man behind the gate calls to her, before she steps away. He glances at his watch, then slides it under his sleeve. "But, with these tired eyes of mine, well…"

The woman nods, "Expect us."

Before the man can respond, she's moving, the swift tapping of her boots on concrete fading.

The basement level of this facility is an exclusive area, specifically designed for mages. As such, there's both greater security and numerically less cells. Cost and a lack of mages that survive combat are obvious reasons for this, though the Empire having multiple locations with such cells is a testament to their foresight and expectation. 

This particular facility only has four cells, each placed at the end of a hallway connecting to a center reception space. These hallways extend from every side of this space, an effort to keep any potential prisoners from collaborating or even just conversing.

This hallway is the Eastern one, and at the end of it is another open space, blocked off by metal bars interlocking in a grid shape. Light is shaky and intermittent down here, but the vertical vent in the cell's ceiling gives enough to see.

Inside, the young woman can see a cot, toilet, and wash basin… along with a person.

She approaches the bars.

On the cot, directly opposite her, the person stirs. Their hands, resting behind their head, slide out and over her head. The reason why is obvious, as the faint light glints along silver handcuffs, along with silver…

That scruffy, tired, painfully familiar and beautiful figure inside sits up and swings their legs off the cot. They look up, and stare for a moment, locking eyes with their visitor.

That color-!!!

From the surface vent in the ceiling, an almost holy glow caresses them. Visibly stronger, taller, healthier… and as tired as ever. But she'd recognize this woman anywhere.

"Long time no see..." From within the cell, the dead woman speaks. She leans forward, elbows on her knees. And with that same flickering, luminescent teal, glowing under silver bangs. "...Visha."

-=-=--<>-<>-

Known Skills List

Mary:

Common Skill: Thought Communication

Extra Skill: Magic Sense

Extra Skill: Magic Aura

Extra/Intrinsic Skill: Physical Enhancement

Unique Skill: Ability Severance

Tanya(?):

< ERROR >

Notes:

Listen I know it's like super depressing right now. They'll get back to kicking ass and taking names very soon, I promise.

If you're wondering about Tanya's soul and the barriers, all I'll say is that patience is a virtue. This next part might be what you think, and also it might not. You're gonna have to trust me on this one, I've got good ideas coming up. Good to me, at least, and that's what matters most.

Also, don't worry about Tanya being out of focus, she gets her own mini arc like, now-ish? I'm probably going to do 3/4 Tempest, 1/4 Tanya chapters for a bit. Maybe half and half, something like that.

Btw, if you hate Drake, you'll love these next couple chapters. Next time, "Rage Against"