Rigur and gang were all safe at the edge of the forest.
Between Getting arrested twice and making a deal with Kaijin, we had spent a total of five days in the city—pretty much what we expected. Things didn't quite go according to plan, but we largely accomplished what we'd set out to do.
It's a pity I couldn't check the Free Guild in town. It sounds kind of like the adventures' club, the exact place where an otherworlder or two might hang out. It would've been nice to check out all the weapons and armor the dwarves were known for, too. But oh well. We had a bunch of master craftsmen with us here. That was enough of a find.
After introducing Kaijin and his hapless friends to the goblins, he would be working with them for a while to come. Thankfully Kaijin and the rest of the bunch, Don't seem to be racists.
After that, we began rearranging the transport due to our increased number, Rimuru asked Ranga to increase his size to carry more people, he was quite unhappy that he would be carrying someone other than rimuru and growled at the group, scaring the shit out of them.
"Hang on, Ranga,"Rimuru said. "I tried transforming into one of you guys earlier, and I'd like to test out how it works a bit. That's why I want you to let these dwarves on, all right?"
Ranga's head immediately shot up. "I understand, my master!"
Kaijin and Garm, eldest of the three brothers, would go on rimuru back; Ranga would take Dold and Mildo. Once they were on, he'd spin some Sticky Thread to make sure they stayed on. These guys move at quite the speed. The experience would probably make them pass out.
Now that we are ready Rimuru transforms.
Mimic: Tempest Starwolf.
"Astounding! Your dazzling strength knows no bounds, my master!"
"Hah-hah-hah! Yeah, I'll bet! And you'll look like this someday soon, if you keep it up!"
"We will do our best to live up to your lofty expectations, my master!"
Ranga's eyes sparkled at this new mission in life. The rest of the tempest wolves grew equally excited.
After getting on the wolves and putting the dwarves who fainted from the pressure of rimuru's form and securing them with sticky threads.
Fainted dwarves wouldn't make great traveling companions, but either way, we were off.
Shelving the dwarves's matter for later, We proceeded down the path back to the goblin village. At least they wouldn't bite their tongues or whatnot if they were unconscious. If I were them, I wouldn't want to wake up in the middle of this scream machine anyway. It'd be better for everyone if they stayed asleep until it was all over.
"Rigur!" rimuru asked "Have you ever successfully summoned one of the black wolves before?"
"…I have not, Sir Rimuru, it embarrasses me to admit."
"Really? Because I guess Gobta managed to."
"What? Gobta, is that true?"
"Y-yes! I gave the call, and he came over for me!"
There was a fighting spirit in everyone's (and every dog's) eyes now.
"…It's not impossible," Rigur reflected. "Gobta is strong enough to have done the Dwarven Kingdom journey round-trip on foot once!"
Now that he reminded me, Gobta did cross the forest before when he was goblin, He was an idiot, of course, but not useless. Surviving a four-month journey through the wilderness and foraging off the land wasn't something any old guy could do. He'd had to deal with monsters along the way, too, weak though they might have been.
We decided to make camp once night fell. I wasn't tired at all, but everyone else needed rest except rimuru —We decided to test out our abilities in the meantime.
A tempest starwolf, to say the least, was physically gifted. I could practically sense the power pulsing inside him. Just a light jump, and he was way up in the sky; on land, he tore up any path he found with his rapid sprint. Add on some quick reflexes, and it looked like he had what it took to make good use of this form.
He might actually be stronger than me now in that form, as long he can bring it's full capability, before all what he used was water blades that were quite predictable, I could dodge them even without flash step, but now the tempest star wolf's physical capabilities alone could make trouble for me especially his tough fur.
He told me that his Sage skill could assist in battle, With the Sage's support, this wolf could probably insta-kill the black snake from back in that cave—no skills required. I'd learned in town that the lizard rated a B-minus in rank, and from there I deduced that the black snake wasn't even an A, and rimuru could win against ten of those centipedes at once, so I'd estimate him to be an A-minus or so? Sounds about right.
In that form rimuru has access to a skill called Dark Lightning which is similar to my Dark Thunder, the only difference that it needs the starwolf's horn to launch although I don't think that will be required for long.
And as I thought it didn't take him long to learn to shoot it in his normal slime form although it sacrifices some strength, not that the attack he made was weak, He wasn't able to adjust the amount of magicules he used in his first try and ended up blasting a huge rock Into dust with a deafening roar of thunder.
it was quite powerful but using the attack like that haphazardly isn't a good idea. He could wind up running out of magic in the middle of battle.
Given the range of that lightning strike, though, it could make a good trump card. The entire twenty-yard radius around the disintegrated boulder was now blazing hot and glassy. I couldn't output so much damage with the same skill due to my current form, My spiritual body can't handle putting that much power in one attack or it will break the balance between maintaining the form and suppressing the hollow factor, I really need to solve this problem soon.
We disturbed the resting party with that deafening attack so they came to check on the situation. After sending them back, we continued practicing albeit silently this time, Until morning.
The next day...
After the group have breakfast we will continue on our way, their food was pretty simple just heat and eat, goblins were cooking afterall, thankfully I can't eat right now.
The dwarves were up, still white as sheets.
"You all right?"
"Y…yes… Where are we?"
As they slowly shook out the cobwebs, they realized they were in unfamiliar territory. It unnerved them. We explained we were on our way to the village these goblins called home.
"Wh-what?! That would be a journey of some two months, normally! We won't have enough food unless we procure a cart at some nearby town!"
Well they fainted before they were told anything, we decided to take it slow and explain in detail about what we were doing.
Breakfast happened to be served right then. It was just a few wild hares roasted whole, but it was more than enough stimulus for the dwarves' stomachs to start rumbling. Guess they can keep food down, at least.
As they ate, We reviewed our future plans. We would be at the village in another two days or so, rimuru explained.
"""No…"""
They whispered in unison, realizing exactly how fast those wolves were taking them.
"Hey, don't worry!" he replied. "Once you get used to it, it's a breeze!"
It'd be nice if they could get used to it, but I figured we'd probably reach the end of the journey before then.
We set off back down the road.