The smoke of war began to spread. As slaughter and conflict made the entire world tremble, when Deputy Commander Asphis was forced to come to him with a face full of guilt and self-reproach, quietly informing him that the pursuit had failed and that his brothers were being attacked in waves by Amishir's encirclement and could barely hold on any longer, Phoenix had to admit that at this very moment... it was just like back then.
But this time, besides the same hatred and frustration toward Rimuru as before, he felt an additional trace of bewilderment.
How had it come to this... How had things ended up like this?
Just a second ago, victory had been in his grasp... and yet—
"So... do you have anything else to say, Phoenix?" The Unifier, sensing that the dust had settled, looked with slight curiosity and surprise at the petite girl who had been shielding Rimuru behind her. He could not help but examine Rimuru a few more times, and a strange sense of pride at seeing the younger generation surpass the older one flashed through his heart—
Damn it, when he had first stepped into the demigod realm, he certainly had not had the ability to befriend a Domain-level big shot.
Amid the dreadful silence.
Phoenix's face was ashen, his gaze as heavy as if his horse had died. He swept his eyes over The Unifier, then over the Sprout members they had rescued, before finally fixing them firmly on Rimuru's face.
"Don't celebrate too soon... brat." He stared at Rimuru hoarsely, threatening him with a dark expression. "I admit that I fell here this time, but that was only because I trusted a petty person—little one... I don't believe they can protect you forever..."
"Heh, a broken-backed dog, yet it barks