Everyone froze in place—Daichi had flown into the sky without using any gadget.
After showcasing his overwhelming power, he already knew: he'd have to wipe their memories.
Their loose lips could become a serious problem, and might even cause the Demon Realm storyline to arrive prematurely.
With a wave of his hand, a wall of wind materialized, blocking the pirates' path forward—and any way back.
He wasn't worried. He knew Dekisugi would take care of the others.
Behind the wind wall, everyone was still in shock.
But Dekisugi, already aware of Daichi's identity as a mage, spoke first:
"Let's go stop the energy from leaving Earth first. Daichi will explain everything later. Hurry!"
Everyone agreed. Saving the world came first. They put their questions aside and charged forward.
Daichi gripped his staff, attuning himself to the storm overhead.
Not only did it offer a perfect battlefield, but parts of the Sky's laws had surfaced—exposed for him to grasp freely.
But that could wait. Right now, his focus was on the pirates below.
He pointed his staff at the two leading them. "I never liked killing. But you—" he narrowed his eyes—"you crossed the line. You tried to kill me once. This time, I'll repay you with the lives of everyone you brought."
He swung his staff. A cyclone lifted two pirates—boat and all—into the sky.
Lightning followed, summoned by the sigil of Sky.
The thunderbolt struck. The two pirates were reduced to ash.
"That's your fate. Wait your turn," he said coldly, glaring down at the rest.
The red-and-green-haired woman began to sweat. Daichi's gaze… it reminded her of their captain's—unflinching, merciless, and cold.
"What the hell are you?" asked the man, Gaka, trembling.
"I'm a mage," Daichi said flatly. "There are countless things in this world you've never seen. I'm just one of them. So don't be afraid—you're only paying the price for your ignorance."
He swung his staff again. A razor-sharp wind slash ripped across the ocean's surface.
Finally, the pirates snapped out of it.
This wasn't awe—it was survival. One misstep and they'd die.
As they scattered, Daichi invoked Sky and the winds spiraled into a vortex—a waterspout that trapped them all.
No escape. That was their only thought.
Daichi knew he couldn't prolong the fight. Controlling this much elemental power was a massive strain.
He called down bolt after bolt of lightning. Pirate after pirate was incinerated.
Soon, only two remained—Bibi and Gaka.
Daichi let the massive storm dissipate and descended onto their submarine.
Gazing at them, he asked without emotion, "You led these people to their deaths. How do you feel?"
Gaka, eyes full of tears, shouted, "You're the one who killed them! They were my brothers!"
Bibi slashed at him.
Daichi enhanced his strength with Might Strength, caught the blade bare-handed, and with a flick of Sky's force, launched her into the air.
"Yes, I killed them. But if you hadn't pulled a gun on me first, I wouldn't have done it. And you? You've pillaged across the seas. Don't act like your hands are clean."
He wasn't just speaking to them—he was talking to himself.
"Look up. Your beloved woman… she's gone too."
Gaka turned skyward.
Bibi, still airborne, was struck by lightning—reduced to nothing.
Gaka howled, pulled out his pistol, and fired madly.
Daichi watched the man's final fury, then brought the storm's judgment down upon him.
Ash.
With all the pirates gone, Daichi sat down atop the submarine, lost in thought.
He had restrained himself for so long. But after taking that first life, regret had started to gnaw at him.
He knew the cycle wouldn't end unless one side was wiped out.
If he let them go, they could strike again—hurt the people he cared about.
So he'd chosen to end it. Completely.
And now…
He couldn't forgive himself.
Vivid memories of their faces, their final expressions, Gaka's final madness—all replayed in his mind.
He saw them circling him like spirits. A waking nightmare.
He went silent, lost in doubt.
Meanwhile, Nobita and the others had entered the submarine and were facing Captain Hardor.
Hardor looked at them and sighed. "So you still came…"
Outside, Daichi was spiraling into darkness.
The images wouldn't stop. The voices wouldn't fade.
His mind, his spirit—unraveled.
Then a voice boomed inside his head.
"Do not let the heart demon consume you!"
The Devouring Soul Slate's roar snapped him out of it.
The images vanished.
"What… what just happened?"
"You killed too many. It's natural to feel guilt," the Slate explained. "But your sensing magic was active the whole time. You felt all their final emotions. That's what poisoned your soul."
"When you finally relaxed, those feelings attacked—became your inner demon. If I hadn't stopped it, you'd be dead from mental collapse."
A cold sweat drenched Daichi's body.
He'd nearly died again.
"Not just their emotions. Even the star itself is grieving. That's also feeding your despair."
"But this is also an opportunity. While the star's energy is being extracted, try sensing its sigil's law."
Daichi hesitated. "What if the heart demon returns?"
"Relax," the Slate sneered. "Unless you hit Tier 5 Archmage, I can devour all your inner demons like snacks. They're excellent nourishment."
Daichi sighed. So you let it grow just to fatten it up, huh? You damned shady stone.
Still, he activated his sensing spell again—this time focusing on the laws of the Stars.
A primordial will lingered in every corner of the sky, each movement filled with purpose.
Daichi aligned himself with its rhythm.
And then… understanding bloomed.
But just as he was drawing deeper insight, a wave of betrayal, sorrow, and rage slammed into him.
His earlier guilt surged back.
The Slate calmly devoured the new heart demon. "Tastes amazing. Too bad I couldn't let it grow more."
The emotion vanished.
Daichi entered deep meditation again.
The sigils for "Sky" and "Stars" glowed faintly on his soul—unstable, but bright.
He didn't notice. He was immersed in the pattern of celestial motion.
Back inside the submarine, Doraemon's side reached its climax.
The pirate ship had absorbed enough energy and was preparing to ascend into space.
Doraemon, wearing the Super Gloves, struggled to hold back the energy drain.
But the power of a star? A simple gadget couldn't compare.
Doraemon was overwhelmed and pulled into the energy sphere.
Nobita screamed as the one closest to him was swallowed by the light.
He spotted the anti-gravity paint Doraemon had tossed away earlier, splashed it on the wall, and dove into the abyss.
Everyone else tried to help, but none of their tools could pierce the energy sphere.
Nobita, without hesitation, plunged his hand inside.
The sphere was nothing like it appeared. It contained unbearable heat, pressure, and electricity.
His arm burned black. But he didn't flinch.
The boy who usually feared everything didn't cry.
Not a single tear.
Everyone watched in stunned silence. Even Gian and Suneo felt respect rising.
At last—Nobita reached him.
He grabbed Doraemon.
The others pulled together, yanking them out.
They succeeded.
But Shizuka, at the very front, missed Nobita's hand by a moment.
He and Doraemon fell together.
In midair, Nobita clutched Doraemon tightly with his only remaining arm.
"…It's okay. Even if we die… we'll die together."
Then, he lost consciousness.
(End of Chapter)