Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
The severed Salamanders exploded instantly, bursting like fireworks.
But in the very next moment, the dismembered Ifrit split into several bodies once again.
"Roar!!!"
With a bestial howl, Ifrit opened its mouth and unleashed a scorching pillar of flame.
It released its power without restraint, transforming everything inside the Spatial Prison into a sea of fire.
Watching Ifrit stubbornly refuse to submit, Takumi's gaze gradually turned cold.
The majesty of a predator standing at the top of the food chain spread outward like a rising tide and swept over Ifrit.
"Urgh…"
Ifrit's eyes widened instantly, and its movements came to an abrupt halt.
It trembled.
Its body began shaking instinctively.
The terrifying pressure nearly became a tangible impact, crushing down on its body with overwhelming force.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
Ifrit's clones exploded one after another, leaving only its mangled true body kneeling on ground that had already turned into molten lava.
No… It would die!
It was going to die!!!
Both its flame-formed body and its mind trembled uncontrollably.
Takumi had appeared to be nothing more than a tiny human, yet in Ifrit's eyes, he had now transformed into a Demon Lord capable of devouring all things and destroying everything!!!
He was tens of thousands of times more terrifying than Demon Lord Leon!
It was no match for him.
It was utterly incapable of resisting.
Ifrit's previously uncontrollable desire for destruction had now been completely replaced by shuddering terror.
Seeing it trembling uncontrollably, Takumi gave a cold snort.
"Hmph. So you still possess some reason. That makes things easier."
With that, Takumi grasped at the empty air.
The Spatial Prison rapidly contracted until it became the size of a marble, which he pinched between his fingers.
Gulp!
The people and monsters present could not help swallowing nervously at the sight.
An exceptionally high-ranking spirit like Ifrit had been subdued just like that?!
Under everyone's gaze, Takumi lightly flicked his finger and instantly separated Shizue from it.
The moment her body flew free, she fell directly into Takumi's arms.
After finishing, Takumi tossed the marble into his mouth as casually as though he were eating a snack.
He did not devour it, however, and instead left it inside his Stomach.
The Flame Spirit Ifrit was still worth analyzing.
Once he fully analyzed it, he could use it as a foundation to mass-produce Flame Spirits.
Creating spirits of other elements would not be particularly difficult either.
It was worth noting that Ifrit was the general name for Flame Spirits. This particular one had no individual name.
Takumi intended to name the Flame Spirit in this world and use it for a small experiment.
In the world of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, both naming and reproduction were extremely important and unforgiving mechanisms.
Naming another being would reduce one's own maximum magicule capacity.
And producing a powerful descendant required an enormous expenditure of magicules from both parents.
Even someone as powerful as the Star-King Dragon had weakened after producing offspring and was subsequently killed.
That was why Takumi remained cautious about such matters.
However, if he could make proper use of this mechanism, he could enhance his servants.
For example, he could name Setsuna, Kleehe, and the others.
After all, in this world, they technically did not possess names.
What Takumi truly wanted, however, was to use Raphael, Lord of Wisdom to analyze the world's naming mechanism.
If he could exploit a loophole and name others without suffering any loss, then he could casually bring people over from other worlds, give them names, and strengthen them with ease.
That would be even more efficient than granting them divine envoy chess pieces.
Takumi pushed those thoughts aside.
He would have to see later whether the idea was actually feasible.
"Haa…"
Letting out a breath, Takumi looked down at the unconscious Shizue in his arms.
Chloe tugged at his clothes and softly asked, "How is Big Sister Shizue?"
"She'll be fine. I just need to take her back and treat her."
Takumi's steady answer allowed Chloe to relax.
In truth, Shizue's condition was extremely poor.
It had originally been the Flame Spirit that kept the magicules inside her from falling into complete disorder.
And now, the lifespan of her physical body had already been completely exhausted.
At present, her life truly resembled a candle flickering in the wind.
Takumi was not worried in the slightest.
Even if she really died, he could simply use Resurrection of the Dead.
At that moment, the adventurer trio cautiously approached and asked about Shizue's condition.
Then Ellen quietly asked, "Mr. Takumi, are you the king of this newly founded empire?"
"Yes. I'm also the one who killed the Storm Dragon. That should be the information you came here to investigate, right?"
Takumi answered casually and even revealed what had happened to the Storm Dragon.
Ellen was stunned, and the other two were equally shocked.
The three of them now looked at Takumi as though they were gazing upon a god.
Kaval cautiously said, "Takumi-sama, we promise we won't tell anyone about this!"
He was terrified, afraid that Takumi might strike them down on the spot.
Seeing his frightened expression, Takumi shook his head.
In an instant, all three felt their hearts leap into their throats.
Then Takumi spoke.
"There's no need to be so afraid."
"You don't have to hide any of this. Go ahead and spread the word."
"And if you're tired, you can stay here for a couple of days. I won't do anything to you."
With that, Takumi carried Shizue and teleported back to the imperial palace with Chloe.
After he placed Shizue on the bed, she opened her eyes at just the right moment.
A faint blush appeared on her deathly pale face.
In truth, Shizue had woken up earlier. She had simply been too embarrassed to move while Takumi held her.
After living in this world for so many years, this was the first time she had ever been so close to a man.
And considering she had already lived for several decades, perhaps this counted as an older woman taking advantage of a younger man.
"Sniff… Sniff…"
As expected, Takumi carried a pleasant fragrance.
After taking another two breaths, Shizue revealed a serene smile.
Suddenly, she felt as though she had no regrets left in this life.
At the very least, a handsome man like this was accompanying her before her death.
"Um, Mr. Takumi… could you fulfill one of my wishes?"
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen to you."
Takumi patted the back of Shizue's hand reassuringly.
Shizue gently shook her head.
"I know what condition my body is in. The truth is, I've always hated this world."
"My final wish… or rather, I suppose I have two."
"One concerns Leon Cromwell. I want you to teach him a brutal lesson for me."
"If that isn't possible, then forget it."
"And the other…"
"Mr. Takumi, could you come a little closer?"
As Shizue spoke, a trace of desire appeared in her beautiful eyes, and she looked at Takumi with slight embarrassment.
Her life had flashed before her eyes, and she realized that she had never even experienced romance.
She could no longer ask for anything so extravagant.
The only thing she could do was indulge herself just a little during the final glow of her life.
...
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