Far in the shadows… beyond the edge of the world, above the mountains where light didn't dare touch…
Atraval, the Bane of All Power, watched.
His eyes shimmered with a hatred as ancient as the stars.
Floating in his own abyss, he leaned forward slightly, peering into the Cardinal World—watching the Demon Lords gathered in desperation, listening to every word they said.
His lips curled into a wicked smirk.
"Look at them… scrambling like ants," he muttered, voice thick with venom. "Trying to save what they can… trying to plan. Wakakakaka… fools."
He watched Milim speak about her kingdom.
Watched them decide to send every civilian there.
He leaned back, folding his arms behind his head lazily.
"Sound idea. Clever, even… but I'm not after the weak. I want those who stand on top—the proud kings, queens, Demon Lords who thought their magic made them gods. That's who I want to crush."
His voice became darker, sharper.
"I'll give them a week. Seven days. Let them move their sheep to safety. Because when I return…"
"I will wipe the skies with their blood."
"This time, I strike even harder…"
Then he laughed.
A deep, mad, echoing laugh that shook the void.
"WAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA!!!"
Back in the Cardinal World…
The meeting ended.
The Demon Lords dispersed—fast. There was no time to waste. The world was still in shock, still reeling, but orders had to be given. Lives had to be saved.
Every nation was alerted.
Carrion sent messengers riding thunderbeasts through forests. Frey's winged warriors flew across the skies like burning comets. Luminous' Holy Order marched into cities declaring the emergency. Guy Crimson's generals Rain and Misery used blood scrolls to summon portals to royal courts.
Rimuru sent Souei to every corner of the world with shadows—whispering one message to every ruler, every guild master, every queen:
"All civilians are to be relocated immediately to the Forgotten Dragon Kingdom. This is not a request. This is survival."
The message spread like wildfire.
Panic followed it like a shadow.
The Exodus began.
Hundreds…
Then thousands…
Then millions of carriages filled the roads. Wagons. Walking caravans. Floating ships. Even some monsters carried families on their backs.
Mothers held their children close. Fathers clenched swords with hands that shook. Elders whispered prayers from long-forgotten temples.
A boy with a wooden staff asked his mother:
"Mama… is this the end of the world?"
She smiled weakly, eyes full of tears.
"No, my love. It's a new one… just starting."
Teleportation circles lit up across the skies like stars returning to the night.
Leon opened rift gates with his sunfire magic. Rimuru, barely recovered, still poured energy to keep the roads moving. Luminous herself, wings of twilight spread, summoned a sea of light to guide lost travelers to safety.
Even Ramiris arrived, flying like a glowing firefly. She landed beside Milim, determined.
"I built a Labyrinth! Twenty floors deep, no traps this time!"
"Each one is a sanctuary. The people will be safe below."
Milim hugged her joyfully.
"Thank you, Ramiris! You're amazing!"
"I know, right? I'll even decorate them!"
The Forgotten Dragon Kingdom was no longer forgotten.
It became the heart of the world.
Endless caravans passed through its gates. Knights from Ruberios helped set up shelters. Eurazania beastmen carried supplies. Frey's harpies flew overhead, dropping food and water.
Each floor of Ramiris' Labyrinth glowed with protective magic.
One had waterfalls and lakes.
Another had fields of wheat and flowers.
One was made entirely of soft earth and glowing trees, perfect for children and the elderly.
Frey landed beside Carrion:
"How many more wagons on your side?"
"Two thousand. But we're escorting them personally."
Rimuru met with Leon near the outer gates.
"This is insane. But it's working."
"Barely," Leon replied. "But if it gives them a chance to live… we keep pushing."
Milim ran up to Veldora and Velgrynd.
"We have to keep the kids happy! You guys should put on a show!"
Veldora grinned.
"Of course! I shall perform my legendary punch tornado! Ha-ha!"
Velgrynd smacked him on the head.
"Just don't break the Labyrinth."
But before the exodus...
On the hill above it all, he practiced Tai Chi slowly, calmly, like the chaos below didn't matter.
When Milim returned, out of breath, she shouted:
"Uncle!! You won't believe it!"
He didn't look up. Just kept breathing.
"Monsters came… out of nowhere! And they took people's magic—all of it!"
Yujiro paused.
"With just a touch…"
She nodded quickly.
"Yes! They could only be defeated with strength—with your kind of strength! You were right! Everyone's using their fists now!"
Yujiro smirked. Eyes closed. Silent.
"Those arrogant fools," he said quietly. "I warned them…"
Milim stepped closer.
"We're moving everyone here. Civilians only. Demon Lords and soldiers will stay behind to fight. You don't mind… right?"
Yujiro finally turned.
Looked at her.
Smiled.
"Fine by me."
"YAY! I was afraid you'd say no!"
He patted her head gently.
"Just keep them alive."
And with that… he returned to training.
Over the next days…
The mountain valleys around Milim's kingdom overflowed with life.
New villages appeared overnight. Tents. Stone buildings. Children ran freely. Blacksmiths forged blades. Teachers gathered students under trees.
But the mood was tense.
Hopeful.
But heavy.
One evening, Rimuru stood on a raised platform.
Soldiers from all nations had gathered.
He spoke with a voice that echoed:
"We are entering a new age. An age without magic. Without skills. And we can no longer depend on the things we once did."
"The enemy—these Nullborns—cannot be harmed by magic. They laugh at it."
"From now on, your fists… your kicks… your blades… your bodies are your only weapon."
"Train. Harden yourselves. Break your limits."
"Because when they return…"
He looked up at the burning sky.
"We fight as humans. Not gods."
The crowd roared.
And high on the mountain…
Yujiro opened his eyes.
And waited.
Four days.
That's all it took.
Four long, chaotic, heartbreaking days.
But they did it.
Every man.
Every woman.
Every child.
Every elder.
Every last civilian across the Cardinal World had been moved to the Forgotten Dragon Kingdom.
The world had never seen a migration like this. Not in any era. Not in any story.
But now—finally—they were safe.
At least for now.
The Demon Lords stood at the gates of Milim's capital, watching the sun rise over a kingdom that was no longer forgotten.
Villagers, merchants, nobles, orphans—all walking side by side.
Children laughed in fields that only days ago were silent. Some tried to catch butterflies while others stared in awe at Ramiris' glowing labyrinth floating above the horizon like a castle in the clouds.
Fathers held their children close. Mothers tended to the wounded. People were learning to live again… slowly.
But the Demon Lords knew better.
This wasn't peace.
This was the eye of the storm.
That same morning…
They left.
Rimuru, Guy, Milim, Leon, Carrion, Frey, Luminous, Draguel, Dino, Velgrynd, Veldora, Velzard, Rudra…
All of them—along with thousands of trained fighters and elite soldiers—moved away from Milim's kingdom.
Far into the barren lands.
It was dry. Empty. Lifeless. No rivers. No trees. Just cracked earth stretching into forever.
It was the perfect place for war.
Far from civilians.
Far from hope.
Exactly where they needed to be.
Within hours, the land was transformed.
Tents popped up like mushrooms after a storm.
Canvas and stone. Wood and leather.
Massive camps formed:
One for soldiers from Tempest
– One for Eurazania's beastmen
– One for Ruberios' paladins
– One for the fairies
– One for Draguel's giants
– Even one for the monsters of the deep who had never seen the sun
Each tent had a banner waving proudly in the wind.
In the center of the camps stood a large blackstone table. This was the War Table, and around it sat the Demon Lords.
No magic. No skills. Only strength.
That became the chant of the new world.
Every day, fighters lined up as their Lords taught them how to fight without magic. Many were clumsy at first—throwing wild punches, missing kicks, swinging swords too hard or not at all.
But the Demon Lords were patient.
Guy Crimson, the King of Chaos, stood before a line of knights.
He clenched his fist and said:
"Forget everything you've learned about power. Today, you learn how to punch someone in the face. Hard."
He cracked one of the knights in the chest with a swift jab. The knight flew backward, landing in the dirt with a groan.
"That's what we're aiming for. Again."
Leon Cromwell, all gold and flame, walked among his soldiers.
"You were raised on magic. I was born in it too. But this enemy… it doesn't care. It eats magic. So use this."
He pointed to his chest.
"Your will. Your fire. Your instincts."
Rimuru showed his generals how to fight without relying on skills.
He even let Shion punch him to test her strength.
She grinned as she landed a brutal hook.
"See, Rimuru-sama? I don't need skills to crush bones!"
Rimuru winced, rubbing his jaw.
"...Remind me to never let you do that again."
Milim taught the younger fighters.
Her sessions were wild.
"No magic allowed!" she shouted, jumping around in circles.
"Come at me with your fists or don't come at all!"
She smiled, but her punches broke boulders.
Meanwhile…
Benimaru and Dino taught swordplay and hand-to-hand combat.
Luminous taught discipline—breathing, movement, pain control.
Carrion sparred with beastmen, showing them how to rely on instinct.
Velzard and Velgrynd trained dragonkins in raw elemental resistance—without magic barriers.
And Veldora? He just enjoyed yelling:
"THIS IS TRUE COMBAT!"
By Day Five…
The camps were alive with motion.
Sweat. Bruises. Broken weapons. Determination.
No one was resting.
Everyone knew that at any moment, the Nullborns could return.
The nights were hardest.
Fighters couldn't sleep. Too nervous.
Whispers circled around fires:
"What if they come tonight?"
"What if this is the end?"
"What if magic never comes back?"
Rimuru walked among the camps at night, reassuring everyone.
Guy sharpened his blades in silence.
Velzard stood at the highest point of the camp, watching the stars, her silver hair fluttering like a banner.
Milim, for the first time in her life… sat still.
Day Six passed.
No Nullborns.
The air became heavier. Like the sky was holding its breath.
Rocks cracked from the heat. Wind howled like wolves.
The tension was unbearable.
Then came Day Seven.
The sun rose blood-red.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
At the War Table, the Demon Lords stood, staring in every direction.
"They're coming," said Velgrynd.
"I feel it," said Luminous.
"We've done all we can," said Carrion. "Now… we wait."
The ground trembled.
A single, deep vibration—like the heartbeat of a god.
Veldora looked up.
"Heh… they're back."