After forcefully sending Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu away with a flick to the forehead, Izumi let out a long sigh.
Seriously, what kind of reaction was that?
Some things were supposed to stay unspoken.
If people found out about conversations like that, his reputation would never recover.
He needed to be more careful in the future.
With those thoughts in mind, Izumi left the matter behind and began wandering through Dimension City.
As more worlds continued merging into his realm, the city's population increased every day.
New races, new cultures, and new visitors constantly arrived.
The city had become livelier than ever.
While strolling through the streets aimlessly, a surprised voice suddenly called out.
"Izumi-sama?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Izumi turned around.
A moment later, a smile appeared on his face.
Standing there was none other than Erica Blandelli.
"Well, if it isn't Erica."
"It's been a long time."
Back when he had visited the world of Campione!, he had taken Aiba Asagi's friend—actually, here referring to Astarte? No—more accurately, the original text means Kanon Kanase's counterpart Yukina? Regardless, after causing chaos and destroying an entire pantheon, he had promptly left.
Since then, even after that world merged into his own, he had never crossed paths with Erica again.
This was their first meeting since those events.
Unfortunately, Erica's expression was filled with resentment.
"Izumi-sama truly is incredible."
"You caused a complete disaster in our world and then ran off."
"If I hadn't run into Yukina here afterward, I wouldn't even have known this was your world."
Remembering everything that happened back then, Erica felt genuinely aggrieved.
Izumi merely shrugged.
"You just didn't notice."
"Anyway, come walk with me for a while."
He clearly had no intention of discussing old incidents.
Instead, he casually invited her along.
Erica had changed quite a bit over the years.
She carried herself with even greater elegance and authority now.
More importantly—
The aura surrounding her was very different.
Izumi quickly noticed something interesting.
She had become a Campione.
After hearing his invitation, Erica accepted without hesitation.
She simply followed beside him respectfully.
If anyone from her original world saw that scene, they would likely faint from shock.
After all, Erica had experienced considerable changes after Izumi left.
Through a series of fortunate encounters, she had eventually met Athena.
With Athena's assistance, she had become a full-fledged Godslayer.
From a great knight, she had risen to stand among the Demon Kings of her world.
In her original world, that power had made her nearly untouchable.
But after their world merged into Dimension City…
She realized how narrow her perspective had been.
There were simply too many terrifying beings beyond her world.
Compared to the countless universes gathered here, the Campione world was hardly exceptional.
The lesson had come quickly.
Especially on the very first day after the merger.
A certain arrogant Godslayer had loudly declared herself the strongest.
Then she was immediately beaten half to death.
Recalling that memory, Erica couldn't help laughing.
"Back then, Lady Luo Hao really thought she was invincible."
"But then she challenged the wrong person."
"A beautiful woman carrying two spears stepped forward…"
"And defeated her in just a few moves."
"All of us Godslayers were terrified."
Although Luo Hao had survived, the psychological damage was apparently severe.
According to her disciples, they could still hear their master quietly crying in the middle of the night.
Izumi nearly burst out laughing.
"That's truly tragic."
"Absolutely miserable."
Erica smiled helplessly.
"Well, she was simply too accustomed to being unrivaled in our world."
"Still, after that lesson, she stopped looking down on people."
Izumi nodded.
He already knew who Erica was talking about.
The beautiful woman wielding two spears could only be one person.
Scáthach.
Recently, Scáthach had developed a hobby.
Whenever arrogant newcomers arrived believing themselves invincible, she would personally teach them humility.
Countless self-proclaimed strongest warriors had already received that lesson.
Some recovered.
Others never fully did.
While chatting, the two eventually arrived at the most crowded area in Dimension City—
The Battle Arena.
No matter the time of day, this was always the liveliest place in the city.
Their arrival attracted almost no attention.
Everyone's focus was fixed on the battle currently taking place.
After all, death inside the arena was only temporary.
Defeated combatants would be revived afterward.
As a result, fighters could battle at full strength without restraint.
And today's match was particularly brutal.
On the stage, a golden king was overwhelmingly dominating a blue-haired lancer.
"Hmph!"
"A mere mongrel dares challenge me?"
"Die! Die! Die!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The golden king laughed wildly while bombarding his opponent with attack after attack.
The one enjoying himself immensely was none other than Gilgamesh.
Meanwhile, the unfortunate victim being mercilessly beaten was Cu Chulainn.
Apparently, Cu Chulainn still hadn't forgotten certain past grudges.
Despite knowing perfectly well that he couldn't win, he had challenged Gilgamesh once again.
The result was exactly what everyone expected.
A complete one-sided massacre.
"Damn you, Gilgamesh!"
"Just wait!"
"When I get stronger, I'll definitely stab you to death!"
While desperately dodging attacks, Cu Chulainn continued shouting threats.
Gilgamesh looked utterly unimpressed.
"You?"
"Pathetic."
Then—
A spear shot forward.
The next instant, Cu Chulainn was skewered.
Ironically, a lancer had been killed by a spear.
The audience barely reacted.
At this point, they had seen this exact scene countless times.
Not far away, Scáthach happened to witness the entire spectacle.
Her face instantly darkened.
"That idiot."
"He clearly needs more training."
"Once we get back, I'll double his schedule."
Her decision was immediate.
Cu Chulainn embarrassed himself far too often.
Clearly, more education was required.
Meanwhile, Gilgamesh stood proudly atop the arena.
Although he could never defeat Scáthach herself, crushing her apprentice was still deeply satisfying.
Just as he prepared to leave—
His gaze landed on Izumi.
The moment he recognized him, Gilgamesh's expression froze.
Then anger immediately filled his eyes.
Because he remembered.
Very clearly.
The humiliating incident where Izumi had thoroughly beaten him before.