Seeing the communication request Zhang Yutong had sent, Rimuru, who had been tangled up with Ancient One, abruptly released his scythe. His hand hovered above the shaft before tugging lightly upward. In an instant, the Demon Scythe emitted a jet-black glow and swiftly swept around Rimuru, forcing Ancient One back.
Ancient One instantly appeared some distance away. She raised her head and looked calmly at Rimuru, a gentle smile on her face, as though she had no intention of attacking first.
She simply defended, waiting calmly for action and overcoming strength with softness.
Rimuru took a deep breath, straightened up, and accepted the request. A massive virtual projection quickly connected the two.
"Hey! Rimuru, I think you need to give me an expla... Hm? Oh, damn, it looks like things are... um... a little inconvenient on your end?"
The moment the call connected, Tony Stark's impatient questioning came through. But then the chaotic world on Rimuru's side, where mirrored spaces rolled and twisted like a kaleidoscope, immediately made Stark shut his mouth.
"It is a little inconvenient..." Seeing that it was Stark, Rimuru was not particularly surprised. He merely gave a helpless smile. "But I know what you want to ask... In fact, something did go wrong."
Rimuru had never intended to fight this final battle in New York. Although he had looked aggressive when he went to Kamar-Taj, if Red Fox had not appeared, Rimuru had been quite confident he could "persuade" Ancient One. At the very least, if he attacked by surprise, Ancient One would have been severely injured from the start.
"Then..."
"But Stark, I promise you, no matter what happens amid this chaos, I will restore everything to how it was." Rimuru glanced at Ancient One and told Stark seriously, "I promise you."
"...Fine." Iron Man's