"There's actually something like that..." Kevin sat on the ground, processing everything Rimuru had just told him.
"What's wrong? Hard to accept? Or just can't believe it?" Rimuru leaned in close, munching on a skewer while speaking casually.
"No, I believe you," Kevin responded firmly. "It lines up with what I suspected from the start. After all, the gate to the Sea of Quanta hasn't been opened."
"You really are a smart one, chomp chomp…" Rimuru praised while chewing.
"Barbecuing in the Sea of Quanta… what am I even supposed to say to that?" Kevin's face was streaked with black lines. Did these people not realize where they were? They actually had the nerve to set up a barbecue here. If you're that bold, give me the Judgment of Shamash and I'll buff your grill.
"Don't sweat the small stuff," Rimuru said nonchalantly. "Besides, who said you can't barbecue in the Sea of Quanta?"
Kevin: "..."
"Hey, kid, want a skewer?" Garp came over holding dozens of them, offering one to Kevin.
"…Thanks." Kevin had originally meant to refuse, but the tantalizing aroma of the grilled meat hit his nose, making him unconsciously swallow. He hadn't eaten in over 1,500 years. Unable to resist, he accepted the skewer and started eating with delight.
"You guys, what if the gate to the Sea of Quanta closes later? How do we get back?" Himeko asked, rubbing her temples with a headache.
"You still have plenty of time, no need to worry. And don't underestimate a certain someone here—he can get you all out," Kevin replied calmly, glancing at Rimuru, who was still enjoying his barbecue.
"Here, Seele, eat some too." Bronya handed over a few freshly grilled skewers to her sister with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Sister Bronya," Seele replied, gratefully accepting the food and digging in.
But amidst everyone's joy, Marco looked absolutely miserable, his face practically screaming the word "suffering."
"Hey, Marco! What's with that face?" Whitebeard scolded him.
"Dad, how do you expect me to be happy like this?" Marco retorted, uncharacteristically talking back.
Turns out, they didn't bring any firewood, so they made Marco lie under the grill in his phoenix form to serve as the heat source.
"A small sacrifice for the greater good!" Whitebeard showed no shame in the matter. After all, what fun is having kids if you can't use them as tools sometimes?
"Alright, keep the flame low. If you burn the meat, I'll let you feel the 'Fist of Love' Garp just taught me," Whitebeard threatened, raising a massive fist.
Marco felt like all hope was lost, but obediently toned down his flames. He had no desire to experience the so-called "Fist of Love."
"You should understand—I can't trust you all completely yet," Kevin stood and looked Rimuru in the eye, serious.
"I understand," Rimuru shook his head, clearly not offended. "If it were me, I wouldn't trust us outright either. But we'll prove ourselves with actions."
"I hope so." Kevin gave him a long, deep look before continuing, "If you really can save this world, I'm willing to offer everything I have. But if you bring harm to it… I will stop you." With that, he took out a Desire Gem and opened a portal to the outside world. His form slowly vanished before their eyes.
Rimuru stared at the spot where Kevin had disappeared, smiling wryly.
"That guy sure is cautious," Garp said beside him. "But it's people like that who're worth trusting."
"True," Rimuru nodded. "Didn't expect him to trust us anyway. Now then—how about one last round of food?"
After a while, everyone had eaten their fill.
"Everyone good and full?" Rimuru asked. "If so, it's time to head out."
"Ready whenever," Whitebeard replied.
"So, are we heading for the portal?" Himeko asked.
"Heh! You're underestimating me. I don't do things the usual way." Rimuru grinned mischievously.
"What are you planning?" Garp suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Just watch—I'll show you how I tear open space with my bare hands!" Rimuru flew into the sky.
"Magic Armament Mode: Titan Form!"
An enormous surge of energy burst from within him, condensing and compressing around his body. A colossal figure—several thousand meters tall—took form behind him, towering like a mountain.
"What the hell is that?!" Whitebeard's eyes went wide, and he involuntarily gulped at the sight of the titanic figure behind Rimuru.
"This is insane," Garp said, but rather than panic, he laughed heartily.
The towering figure began to move, causing the entire Sea of Quanta to tremble.
Rimuru extended both hands into the void as if grabbing onto something—then ripped his arms apart.
With his immense power, he physically tore open a rift in space.
"This is Rimuru's power…?" Himeko murmured in awe. The terrifying force far surpassed even Kiana when they'd fought. Even without intent to intimidate, Rimuru radiated overwhelming pressure. For the first time, she began to believe—maybe defeating the Honkai wasn't impossible. "Maybe… we really can win."
"Sister Bronya, I never imagined Sir Rimuru was this strong," Seele said, wide-eyed beside her sister.
"Bronya is also shocked," Bronya replied calmly, though her eyes couldn't hide her astonishment.
At that very moment, deep within the embattled city of Abyssal Trench, everyone—humans and Honkai beasts alike—paused in their fighting.
Above the city, a tear in the sky had appeared—ripped open as if by force—endless seawater pouring into the crack.
"What the hell is that?" Cocolia stared at the fissure above with furrowed brows.
Then, a massive hand emerged from the rift.
"Damn it! All units, prepare to retreat. I repeat, full retreat!" Feeling the overwhelming pressure descending from the sky, Cocolia didn't hesitate to issue the command.
But before they could move, the hand descended toward the city.
Just as it seemed it would crush Abyssal Trench—
—it slowly faded, revealing a group of figures standing in its place.
"That's… Bronya!" In the distance, Theresa, who had been preparing to board an evacuation ship, froze as she spotted one of the figures.
"Wait, that's Himeko—Himeko's alive!"
"I'm not seeing things, right? That's Seele?" Rosalia, beside her, stared at Seele standing next to Bronya, eyes misting over, her voice trembling.
"Yes… it's Seele. She's really back. Seele and Sister Bronya have come back together." Liliya wiped tears from her eyes, unable to look away from the figure above.
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