The surging torrent of magicules erupted like a ferocious beast breaking free from its cage, roaring violently as it spilled outward in every direction.
The sheer pressure stirred up a raging storm of magical energy that swept across the hall.
Even the Demon Lords—who had previously been watching the spectacle with casual indifference—couldn't help but show visible shock at Ren Kuroda's current state.
"He's not only awakened… his magicule output is also this overwhelming?"
Leon Cromwell spoke calmly as he observed Ren standing at the center of the storm.
"No wonder he dared to speak like that earlier. With magicules of this magnitude, among the Demon Lords present… there are probably fewer than three who could suppress him."
"That's insanely strong," Dino muttered drowsily, his half-lidded eyes opening slightly as he looked at the battle between Milim and Ren.
"If someone like me—a third-rate Demon Lord—jumped in there, I'd probably get wiped out instantly."
"It's certainly an impressive amount of power," Guy Crimson added, swirling the wine in his glass while his crimson eyes fixed on Ren.
"But power alone won't be enough to stop Milim."
Inside the barrier, after reaching his current peak state, Ren first drove Shinyu, his blade, into the ground before him.
The next instant—
He vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already behind Rimuru, directly above Milim's back.
His hands clasped together like a hammer as he smashed downward toward the back of Milim's head.
Milim hadn't expected Ren's speed to increase so drastically in such a short moment.
Her consciousness managed to track his movement—
But her body couldn't keep up.
The blow landed.
Milim's body shot downward like a cannonball from midair.
"BOOOOOOM—!"
A thunderous explosion shook the ground beneath everyone's feet.
Even Guy's magically reinforced castle couldn't completely withstand the impact.
A massive crater appeared in the floor.
After slamming Milim down from the air, Ren flashed once more in midair and vanished again.
He reappeared where he had been standing earlier, pulling Shinyu out of the ground.
His free hand extended forward.
"Bakudō #63 — Chain Lock Bind!"
Glowing chains burst from Ren's hand.
In an instant, they shot straight into the dust-filled crater and wrapped around Milim's body, binding her tightly.
Ren then raised Shinyu high with his right hand.
Under the state of Blade Spirit Release, flames began to coil around the blade.
"Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain Style—Invasion Like Fire: Greedy Wolf!"
The moment the blade sliced through the air, the atmosphere inside the barrier suddenly turned scorching hot.
The small flames on the blade ignited as if fed with fuel, swelling into a raging inferno.
As the slash flew forward, a long, piercing wolf's howl echoed through the hall.
A majestic giant wolf of fire burst into existence, sparks flying from its paws as it charged straight toward the bound Milim.
Although it was technically just a slash—and the wolf itself merely an elemental construct—
Everyone present felt the same strange illusion.
The fiery wolf looked so vivid that it seemed like a real, terrifying magical beast charging across the battlefield.
"Ren, are you actually trying to kill her?!"
Rimuru shouted while fighting Clayman, still keeping an eye on Ren's side of the battle.
"Milim's just being controlled!"
"If you keep going like that, you're going to destroy her!"
"Of course I'm serious!" Ren snapped back.
"If I don't go all out, I'm the one who'll get killed!"
"And you think Milim's going to die from that? Not happening!"
"When you're fighting her, the only one risking their life is me!"
As if to prove Ren's words true—
Milim suddenly released an enormous surge of magicules.
The glowing chains binding her body shattered instantly under the pressure.
They snapped apart violently, broken in a single burst of brute force.
Then she looked up at the approaching flaming wolf.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
The blazing wolf—nearly ten meters tall and radiating scorching heat—rushed toward her.
But Milim didn't dodge.
Nor did she step back.
The pink-haired Demon Lord kicked off the ground so hard that the floor beneath her shattered, launching herself directly toward the charging wolf.
Before the wolf could even open its enormous jaws—
Milim grabbed it by the throat.
Then she ripped it apart.
With brutal strength, she tore the majestic fire wolf to pieces.
It let out a final howl before exploding into a storm of flames.
The raging fire engulfed the area.
Milim stood right at the center of the explosion.
But thanks to her absurdly high resistances, the damage she suffered was practically negligible.
"Milim…"
Ren narrowed his eyes.
"You were never under Clayman's control at all, were you?"
Even though Milim quickly returned to her blank expression after tearing apart the Greedy Wolf—
Ren, currently in Blade Spirit Release, had senses far beyond those of ordinary beings.
He had clearly seen it.
That tiny smile.
Moreover, Milim's state now was completely different from before.
Even though her face remained expressionless, Ren could clearly feel it.
Her excitement.
Her battle spirit.
This was not the emotional state of someone being mind-controlled.
"So you figured it out, huh?"
Milim stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
"It's your fault for being too strong, Ren. I couldn't help getting excited."
"We fought before, sure—but that time ended too quickly because Rimuru stopped us before you could use this form."
"But now I finally get to see your real strength!"
"You really are amazing, Ren!"
"Your magicules are incredible… and your techniques are even stronger than your raw power should allow!"
Seeing the serious expression on Ren's face, Milim realized she couldn't keep pretending.
So she simply admitted the truth.
On the other side of the battlefield, both Rimuru and Clayman were completely dumbfounded.
Clayman stood there muttering "Impossible… impossible…" like his brain had shut down.
Meanwhile Rimuru was repeatedly apologizing to the Lord of Wisdom inside his mind.
"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have called you a knockoff product earlier!"
"That was Ren's fault for misleading me!"
"Well, now that the secret's out…"
Milim grinned brightly.
"Our fight isn't over yet, Ren."
"Rimuru can handle Clayman easily enough."
"So let's finish our battle properly."
Having finally found such a powerful opponent after so long, Milim looked genuinely thrilled.
In fact, she was almost grateful to Clayman.
If not for this situation, Ren might not have agreed to fight her for so long.
"I refuse!"
Ren replied immediately.
"You're obviously stronger than me!"
"This is just you bullying someone weaker!"
"Well, that can't be helped."
Milim tilted her head playfully.
"Because earlier, I already accepted Clayman's 'order'."
"And I've activated the power of…"
"Wrathful King."