Elixide looked toward Ji, whom Rimuru had dismembered nearby, and asked in confusion, "Then what was the deal with that one? Why was she so powerful? If it hadn't been for Rimuru, we probably would have all died at her hands."
Heaven Slayer looked at Ji's dismembered remains, then at Rimuru, who was yawning in boredom, and an inexplicable chill ran through him. After all these years, he had thought he had caught up with her. Now he realized how naive he had been. Rimuru was still the same woman whose strength had been far beyond his reach back then. Nothing had changed.
Heaven Slayer gave a bitter smile. He had never imagined Rimuru would be so powerful. Ji had already reached the half-step Sovereign level, yet she had not even lasted three moves against Rimuru. It was terrifying.
Heaven Slayer couldn't help recalling how Ji had toyed with him throughout the chase. Several times, she could have caught up to him, yet, strangely, she hadn't. Later, he had realized that she was merely indulging in the cruel amusement of a cat playing with a mouse.
Once he understood that, Heaven Slayer stopped hiding and flew straight toward Rimuru. Just as he had expected, Ji neither attacked nor caught up. Instead, she followed the three of them with keen interest.
Only when Heaven Slayer found Rimuru did her unfathomable strength snap Ji back to her senses. She had taken her game too far. Ji wanted to finish the three of them off quickly, but it was already too late. Rimuru rushed over and effortlessly caught Ji's full-powered strike with one hand.
At the sight of the injured Heaven Slayer, Rimuru's expression darkened. She turned toward Ji, her eyes filled with deathly stillness. In Rimuru's eyes, Ji was already dead.
Rimuru