["The Star Rail's travel records instantly document our movements. With such commotion at the space station, Mr. Welt would undoubtedly notice." Dan Heng patiently explained.]
["For now, we can still handle just a Doomsday Beast, but if an Emanator of Destruction were to arrive as well…" Himeko trailed off, her expression grave.]
[Another unfamiliar term. Stelle shot Himeko a puzzled look.
But now wasn't the time for explanations. As the group reached the platform, March 7th suddenly realized the ground beneath them was engulfed in a massive shadow. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up—a colossal dragon circled menacingly outside the space station, its gaze fixed on them.]
"Lady Frieren, this presence… it's overwhelming." Fern gazed at the sky as though the Doomsday Beast had pierced through the Celestial Screen, its shadow blotting out the mountains.
The oppressive aura far surpassed that of the ancient dragons they had hunted before. In fact, those dragons seemed like mere insects compared to the Doomsday Beast.
Its sheer magnitude and the scale large enough to eclipse entire towns and peaks—even as an illusory projection on the Celestial Screen—caused many in the town to collapse in terror the moment the Doomsday Beast appeared.
Yet such a breathtaking spectacle was something even seasoned adventurers might never witness in their lifetimes. The staggering sight of the Doomsday Beast simultaneously stoked people's curiosity and numbed their fear and dread.
["The Doomsday Beast… it actually chased us here."]
[March 7th wasn't intimidated. Frowning, she nocked an arrow and pointed it straight at the distant beast: "Come down here!"]
["ROAR—!"]
[As if understanding her, the Doomsday Beast swooped down onto the platform, its deafening roar kicking up a storm of dust that momentarily blinded everyone.]
"Against a monster of this size, ordinary attacks likely won't work."
"We should aim for that purple crystal on its head or target its neck—"
"Hah, you think this thing's like the demons we fight? Cutting its neck won't do anything. Its main weapons are its arms—we should sever those first."
"No, no, you've got it wrong. We should stab that square-shaped hole on its chest—it's glowing!"
The Demon Slayer Corps immediately erupted into debate, shouting advice at the Express crew from behind the distant Celestial Screen.
Too bad they couldn't hear a word.
The Serpent Hashira lazily leaned against a tree branch, studying Stelle and Dan Heng's techniques with interest. As fellow melee fighters, he was curious how they'd breach the Doomsday Beast's seemingly impenetrable defenses.
However—
["This sanctuary, is but a vision."]
[After murmuring these words, Dan Heng thrust his spear with a thunderous "BREAK!", piercing clean through the Doomsday Beast's palm and leaving a gaping hole.]
The Serpent Hashira's eyes widened in shock.
Huh???
Bro, are you even using a spear?
He'd seen skilled spearmen before, but none who could wield one with such devastating force.
[While he was still reeling, Stelle had already sprung into action. With nothing but a bat, she deflected multiple attacks before charging straight at the Doomsday Beast and slamming her weapon into its chest.]
The resounding CLANG not only sent the beast staggering back but also made Muzan and the Upper Moons flinch in unison.
Stelle looked human, but the sheer power behind her swings… was anything but.
After sensing the Doomsday Beast's oppressive aura, none of the Upper Moons dared claim they could match its defenses. Yet watching it recoil under Stelle's bat, they all gulped nervously.
…This girl is terrifying.
For a moment, the Infinity Castle fell into dead silence. As Muzan stood there, tense as though facing a dire threat, it was Gyokko who finally broke the quiet with a strained laugh:
"Sure, these people are strong, but they're worlds apart from us. They pose no threat."
Kokushibo raised his voice: "No. What concerns our lord isn't them—it's whether the Demon Slayers might learn something from them."
"That's even more impossible. That Dan Heng kid's spear skills are exceptional, but the Demon Slayers all use swords. Even if they learned from him, what could they do? Abandon a lifetime of swordsmanship to take up spears?"
The other Upper Moons nodded in agreement.
[Despite Dan Heng and Stelle's relentless assault, the Doomsday Beast showed no signs of weakening. After a brief charge-up, its wings unfurled, countless eyes emitting blinding beams that engulfed the entire platform. Fortunately, March 7th and the others dodged in time, avoiding injury.]
"It's no good, Frieren. Weapons alone aren't enough to take down something like this." Stark shook his head.
Frieren paused mid-page-turn. Stark had voiced her thoughts—she didn't believe a bat or spear could kill a monster of this scale.
But if not weapons, then what? Magic?
"Hm? What's that?"
Just as Frieren wondered, a crimson beam of light flashed outside the space station.
[The beam seemed to have traveled from afar, expanding rapidly mid-flight before unleashing a devastating radial blast.]
[The Doomsday Beast's agonized roar was drowned out by the ensuing inferno and smoke.]
[The explosion rocked the platform, scorching heatwaves billowing outward. Even Frieren, separated by the Celestial Screen, could almost smell singed hair.]
[Yet "Himeko" remained perfectly calm, as if she'd anticipated this. She swiftly evacuated everyone from the blast's epicenter.]
"See? I was right!"
"Th-this… this is absolutely, undeniably, 100% Explosion Magic!"
In a small tavern, Megumin—the Crimson Demon Clan's foremost genius mage—gulped down her juice while boasting about the spectacular blast to her companions.
She drank so eagerly that crimson droplets spilled from her lips, trailing down her throat and dripping onto her snow-white collarbone.
The sticky sensation didn't bother her. If anything, it amplified her exhilaration.
Of course.
Even humans from another world knew Explosion Magic.
Kazuma and Aqua were so narrow-minded, thinking that world had no magic. How else could Silver Wolf's vanishing trick be explained?
This sudden, cataclysmic explosion was irrefutable proof. That world not only had magic—it had Explosion Magic.
And that red-haired Lady Himeko? Without a doubt, she was a supreme archmage!