Third POV:
While Clayman took his place around the table, Mithra looked at Rimuru, waiting for his judgment. The slime's eyes turned cerulean after activating his skill, as he was prying onto the clown's soul.
'Hostage.' Rimuru said a single word in her mind, she nodded as an acknowledgment and waited for his next move.
While they were waiting for Walpurgis, Mithra and Rimuru discussed Clayman's fate once all would be finished. Rimuru would scan his soul, watch his memories and weigh his karma based on his misdeeds.
If his karma got too bad, death awaited him. Otherwise, he'll get spared, but not by charity; it's mere pragmatism, as he remains Jistav's ruler and would serve as a good puppet. Also, using him as a bargaining chip will be useful against Yuuki.
While peeking into Clayman's soul, Rimuru didn't find many malevolent acts until a few years ago when its frequency exploded. Normally, it would've brought death upon him, but Rimuru found something peculiar which modified his karma.
'A brainwashing, huh? And a damn potent one. Confusing his decision-making and worsening his personality, no wonder his plans seemed a bit off for a supposedly cunning guy.'
Because of that mental attack, Clayman's misdeeds don't weigh as heavily as they should if he had a clear mind. And outside of those, his memories show he's more of a goofy coward who tries hard to play the villain.
-'What a letdown, he's just a pathetic dude who dreams too high… Hmm? Oh, I see.. He hides a cultured side. I got an idea, lemme tinker a little with his mind and remove his moral barriers…
Aaand done, now it's time for the show.'
-'Heh, disrespect at its finest, I can't wait.'
-'Glad to see we're on the same page, Ciel. Enjoy it.'
Rimuru stopped tampering with Clayman's soul and sat comfortably in his chair. He gave a discreet wink to Mithra and she couldn't hide a faint smirk as she understood he cooked something.
Misery introduced all the main participants of the Walpurgis, except Veldora. Guy had ordered her to keep his name hidden for the clown, so that he wouldn't act out of what's planned.
When she finished, Clayman got up and cleared his throat, ready to start his plea. No one could have imagined what he would say right now.
"I like boobs."
A few seconds of silence fell on the room, as everyone processed those simple words. Most of the participants started to show dubious expressions, when Clayman continued.
"More than boobs, I have a sweet spot for well-endowed women. Squishy boobs where you can plunge your head like they're candy, plump thighs who entrance your mind, curves sculpted like a fine piece of art."
Many looked at him like he was insane, it's way too different from what they anticipated. Why the hell is he talking about that stuff? No one wants to hear the fantasies of that clown.
Soon, Luminous and Ramiris glanced discreetly at Tempest's side. When they saw Rimuru's proud face, they understood he's responsible and relaxed, ready to enjoy this entertainment.
-'Hey, what you did, will it last or will the clown notice something is wrong?' Mithra asked, not wanting for the spectacle to end too fast.
-'As long as no one reacts loudly, he'll continue, so… Try to restrain your laughs, and let him spill every little secret he has.'
What did Rimuru do to make Clayman show his pervy side? Simple, he manipulated the brainwashing spell to break his moral limiters, and forced his fantasies to overthrow his immediate memory. As Clayman has weak spiritual defenses due to the brainwashing, he won't immediately sense a dissonance between what he thinks he says, and his actual words.
"Once I defeat all of my enemies, nothing will stop me from creating a country full of stunning women." Clayman began to act grandiloquent, waving his arms as he got more passionate about his words.
"I'll start with Frey, that overflowing sexiness will be a great asset as a dancer. She's so sexy it should be illegal, how am I supposed to keep a straight face with such a generous cleavage?"
Behind Frey, Carrion has let out a chuckle under his mask. She gave him a murderous glare and he stiffened. The clown was too preoccupied with his speech to notice.
"But don't worry, less voluptuous ladies. I'm not cruel enough to let you out of that ideal world. You, Valentine's maid. I don't know how long it can take for a Vampire to reach adulthood, maybe you're a late bloomer. But I assure you, you have potential and I'll wait for you."
Luminous got a vein popping on her forehead, making Roy and Gunther shiver. It's unforgivable, being mocked by that disgusting clown. When she saw Kumara smiling and taunting her by making her breast bounce, she clenched her fist so hard her retainers feared she would go rogue.
"As for the pixie… Well, I'm sure someone could have a fetish for minigirls. I don't know, maybe making you wear a swimsuit and bathe in a teacup. Not bad, such fairy juice could be sold for a hefty sum."
Ramiris hid under the table, horrified by Clayman's imagination, while Guy turned his head to not show his amusement. She'll annoy him for years if she sees it. It's at that time we could hear Dino snore, he must've reacted to it unconsciously as he likes to bicker with Ramiris when he's awake.
-"Sleeping as usual. Can someone explain to me again why this slug is a Demon Lord? I'm sure he only got a place by serving as Dagruel's cock-sleeve. Or else, why would they always come here together?"
-"Nneuaarggh?" The sloth awoke on the spot, troubled by the sheer loathsomeness of that statement.
The angel girls snickered behind him, and Ramiris stuck her tongue out as she heard him when it was her turn. Luminous forgot her anger and delighted herself with Dagruel's outraged expression. Ultima did the same as she had a few grudges toward the giant in the past.
Right now, some of the people around the table were desperately trying to hold their laughter. It won't be long before someone bursts and Clayman's mental manipulation wears off.
-"And since we're on the topic of men, don't think I forgot about you Leon, I'll make you pay for what you did to Lord Kazaream. I'll give you to Guy as a prostitute, I know he's a slutty demon and I can buy his neutrality with your stupidly handsome face."
-"Don't you dare put oil on the fire, idiot! I'm already busy avoiding this thirsty redhead each time I see him." Leon yelled and stood up abruptly, making his chair fall.
-"Bwahahaha! Hell yeah, I didn't think you had such good tastes, Clayman. Again, again!" Guy's silence fell apart, and he started clapping his hands, he couldn't stop for a while.
-"What? How dare-" Clayman got quiet, as he recalled what happened, now that his brainwashing had stopped. His skin went pale, and he took a step backward. "No, no! That's not what I wanted to say. What is this sorcery?!"
-"Okay, now you've recovered your mind, let's get to buisness." Rimuru stood up, followed by Mithra. "No need to say anything, Clayman, none of them will back you up. You've made yourself many enemies by scheming against everyone."
-"You, you're the slime of that damn forest. Is this your fault? You think you're a big shot when you're a part of the weakest species? Too bad for you, as I have the strongest power working with me."
Milim approached, she managed to keep a bland face until now. Clayman began to laugh with malice, and Guy snapped his fingers, making the table disappear and the space widen.
-"Call your subordinates if you want them to fight, before I put a barrier." Guy warned, excitement showed in his voice as he was awaiting for a good spectacle. The elf and the automaton immediately took place next to Clayman.
-"You'll pay for making a fool out of me. It doesn't matter how strong you are, against Milim you're nothing."
-"You're right, clown. Numbers don't matter now." Mithra had a wicked smile, as Clayman is unaware of Milim's act. "That's why we'll face you without them, us two will suffice."
-"Are you that stupid? Well, I should thank you for making it that easy, outnumbered as you are." Clayman stopped trying to hide his disdain any longer, so full of himself and sure of his victory.
-"Oh, I should make a clarification. We won't even fight you or your subordinates." Rimuru interjected while Guy created his barrier. "We'll play with Milim. Our weapons will be enough against you."
-"...Are you out of your mind? How could a weapon act by itse-"
*Bong*
Clayman was interrupted and smacked into the ground by Mithra's mace-bell, which was floating by itself. The weapon, taller than an average human, began to glow as darkness swirled around it. When the fog dissipated, an ethereal humanoid in armor, nearly as tall as Dagruel, appeared.
It wielded the very same mace, and began to display its skills by swinging it around.
-"The only Soul magic I've ever managed to learn," said Mithra, cracking her wrists, not paying attention to the clown anymore. "Enjoy its company while we're busy on our side."
The spell she used allow the manifestation of the lingering spirit of the weapon's past wielder, and, due to the mace's legendary rank, the summoned spirit kept enough power to face foes of Clayman's caliber. Even if the real one died millennia ago and got lost to history, shards of his legacy remained in the weapon.
-"Okay, who goes first? Do we do it by head or tails?" Rimuru picked a coin in his Stomach.
-"Tails."
He launched the coin, and the result was…
-"Tails, here I go." Mithra advanced toward Milim, ready to enjoy their mock battle.
Rimuru leaned on the barrier, while Clayman's party tried to survive against the giant armored dude.
Milim cracked a smile, and rushed at Mithra, going for a punch. The demoness didn't evade, and took the blow head-on.
-'Is she crazy? I could feel it from here.*munch munch*'
-'Where did you find that popcorn, Ciel?'
-'Veldora made it last week, and forgot it in your Stomach.' She's looking at her box, then behind her, where a huge pile awaits. 'You want some? It's too much for me.'
-'Sure. I'll give some to the others too, let's enjoy it together.'
Mithra didn't back down as she saw the overpowered girl's fist connect with her cheek, which resulted in a shockwave that was felt in the whole room.
She stayed silent for a few seconds, and looked Milim in the eyes.
"Mmh, it still hurts, but now, I won't be sent flying with a mere punch anymore."
She threw her own punch, coated with [Barbatos]. Milim, not as stupid as her, parried it with her arm. She felt it going numb, as her resistances got targeted by a wicked power. The dragonoid grinned to the point her fangs were fully displayed, it was time to have some fun.
-"That was payback for the time you yeeted me straight back to hell. Now let's play."
-'...Such a petty reason.' Ciel groaned, wondering if Mithra really is an adult with that temperament. 'Yet I should be used to it now.'
Mithra followed with a spell right under Milim's feet. She evaded a pillar of dark flames by stepping sideways, and launched a kick. This time, the old hag deflected it, aware her newfound strength isn't enough to take the full impact of her blows in repetition.
She went for a shoulder smash, Milim spinned to avoid it and kicked her again. Mithra blocked it with her leg, using [Uriel] to absorb the damage.
She's aware it's best to use her Skill sparsely. If she overuses it, Milim will find it annoying and use more of her abilities to break the status quo.
Against the creator's daughter, Mithra lacks sheer power and experience. And as Milim is renowned to be a battle junkie herself, she doesn't want to risk for this sparring to go out of control.
Also, Guy would recognize it as he was one of Veldanava's closest friends. It would be bothersome to let this dude know too much about their abilities for now.
Milim's hands start to glow as they're engulfed in an ominous pink aura. Then, the hands took the form of claws, and she lunged, trying to slash Mithra's torso.
The demoness had to fall back and release a nuclear beam to create distance. While she had time, she prepared a special spell reserved for when she's getting serious.
-"Heh, it's so good to be able to have fun without needing to worry about hurting someone badly. Let's go for a final clash, okay?."
-"You want to end it that soon?" Milim spoke for the first time of the night, breaking her act.
-"Well, your other bestie will get grumpy if we take too long." Mithra pointed at Rimuru, who finished his popcorn and tapped his foot with impatience.
-"Fair, we shouldn't let him out of the party."
Milim charged an art using that pink aura, while Mithra pierced her chest with a fire orb. That spell, Power Within, grants a fair boost in offensive abilities in exchange for a progressive life drain.
"I'm curious how you'll deal with this…
Drago Buster!" Milim released a volley of powerful magical missiles, confident her opponent could counter it.
On her side, Mithra's body trembled. The ground around began to shake, while an increasingly menacing sound could be heard.
"Ah.. Guys, cover your ears." Rimuru immediately cut-off his sensory organs, protecting Ciel at the same time.
Tempest's side carried out the command, particularly the demons. Those four knew what's coming and braced for the impact. Noticing it, Luminous and Ramiris followed. The rest of the Demon Lords and their followers did the same, not wanting to experiment for themselves what could happen. Only two individuals didn't comply.
Guy, true to himself as the incarnation of pride, and also curious of what the now second strongest demon was preparing. And Dino, who reacted too late as he got enough energy to simply remember to exist. And suddenly, it all ceased for a second. Until…
*Roooooaaaaarr*
Mithra used her signature move, releasing a horrific war cry which embodies her art. Applying pressure onto the physical and spiritual planes, it got boosted by her Skills. She can transmit her Demon Lord and Dreadful auras through it, and she can use [Uriel] to demolish space to an extent. Using [Atomist] as the cherry on top and partially interfering with spiritrons, the final result is one of her deadliest weapons.
The shockwave clashed with the Drago Buster, effectively canceling its power and making it explode. The sound got through the barrier, afflicting everyone. Thankfully, all harmful magical effects were confined inside the boundaries of the arena.
Well, they probably wouldn't have risked too much even without it, as Mithra roughly directed the multiple layers of magic toward Milim's attack. Rimuru, who was inside, barely felt anything even as he was standing behind her.
Those who suffered the most were Clayman and his subordinate, as they weren't prepared for that deafening sound… And Dino.
Unlike Guy, who plugged his ears in a hurry when something worse than Velzard's yells reached him, the angel couldn't do better than falling off his chair, completely stunned.
When silence returned, Mithra hummed with satisfaction and waved at Milim, who didn't seem bothered by what happened. Thanks to her [Milim Ear], she simply ignored it as she didn't want to hear.
Before taking his turn, Rimuru looked at Clayman's side, hoping he didn't get pummeled too hard already. It didn't look too bad, if we don't account for the shattered automaton under the spirit's feet, and the remaining two on the ground after Mithra's roar.
Somewhere in the fight, the clown swallowed his pride and accepted resorting to his battle form. It was enough to confront the spirit for now.
-"I see you survived the first wave. Since it would be boring if you simply stall for time, I'll spice things up a little. Let's make it… Two."
-"Say what? I can only hear bells. Bells everywhere." Of course, Clayman's eardrums didn't like such brutal treatment.
He tried to stand up, while the dark elf could only sit. And before the clown could take a battle stance again-
*Zaap*
-he got struck by lightning, making his skin turn to charcoal. Rimuru used the same spell as Mithra earlier on his spear, invoking another spirit. A second tall humanoid, clad in an armor made of dragonscales, and a golden crown hidden in brands of bristling ashes. When he wielded the spear, he seemed to command the winds, and emitted sparks of lightning.
Now facing two opponents, Clayman silently cried as he'll get bodied if it continues like that. Rimuru switched places with Mithra, and left her some popcorn. Diablo tried to be a cheerleader but was stopped by the others, ashamed of his antics.
'Somehow, I'm having goosebumps, facing you even in a simple mock battle. I'll show you a glimpse of my style.' Rimuru took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. "Soul Ablaze."
His aura burst and turned pure white. When he opened his eyes, his iris turned blue and pierced through a pure dark sclera. That spell uses a principle similar to Power Within, in fact he created it based on Mithra's pyromancy. In exchange for a weakening of his defenses, his mental and physical capabilities went through the roof. It allows for better reflexes and more precise moves.
He closed the gap between him and Milim in an instant, and punched her. She instinctively blocked it, at least that's what should've happened. The next second, his palm found its way right to her face, as his arm bent around her arm.
That attack didn't seem to have any effect on her though, as she remained unfazed, albeit confused about that move. Now it was her turn, she returned a fist to him, which passed through his body. Literally.
Rimuru reshaped his body and created an opening where the blow should've landed. He used that opportunity to slap Milim's right cheek before stepping backward.
She then used her clawing attack, only to find Rimuru turning way too small as he melted his legs. He passed under her action, and aimed at her chin. She jumped back, but his hand flew straight to her as it detached itself from his body.
The spectators couldn't hide their surprise about this fight… They couldn't do so either for the previous one, but that's a given when we talk about the old hag. Milim may not be fighting seriously, but facing an opponent without a conventional body makes it harder to avoid his attacks. It's the first time anyone here saw how a sentient slime could battle.
After a few trades of blows, Milim started to understand how it works and evaded a move or two. She remains a battle genius with millennia of experience. But something was bugging her.
It's not normal that she's not feeling anything. Mithra may possess greater brute strength, but Rimuru is Awakened too, so why? She found her answer when a drop of green liquid fell from her nose.
-"Grrr, Rimuru! Take it seriously, please. It looks like you're mocking me."
-"Hehe, sorry. I found it funny, that's all." Rimuru scratched his head , making Milim pop a vein.
Each time his attacks connected, he slapped some paint on her instead of using strength. Now her face looks like a piece of modern art, competing with Rain's painting on her bad days.
-"I'll force you to use a proper move, be ready." She charged her pink aura on her hand, shaping it like a spear.
-"Hey, that's the move she used against me." Carrion sweatdropped under his mask, recalling a bad time.
-"Well, I agree I have to show you at least one cool move before we end it." Rimuru prepared an ethereal orb in his hands. His aura swirled around it, and one could swear they heard a few haunting screams in it.
-"Drago Spear!" Milim launched her attack which held about the same amount of power as Drago Buster.
-"Heh, it's weird to be on the receiving end of Stardust-fueled arts for a change. Thankfully I know how to handle this. Soul Stream."
His spell created a powerful beam using the properties of Soul magic to the extreme. To be sure it would be enough against her attack, he sacrificed a few souls he had in reserve and strengthened it.
They collided, exploding loudly as the shockwave created a crack in the barrier, already weakened by the earlier blast. Once the cloud dissipated, the two main characters in this little battle decided it was enough.
Rimuru went to Milim and patted her head, apologizing again for his prank. She didn't sulk for long as he gave her a portion of popcorn, before going toward Clayman.
It was time for the spirits to cease their assault, as the clown lost all dignity and simply ran away to avoid their blows. He lost two of his arms and smelled like roasted meat. Seeing it was now over, Guy dispelled the barrier, while Rimuru grabbed Clayman by the collar.
-"Time out, good job in surviving. Now it's time for you to step down as my hostage."
-"Wait, you won't finish him?" It intrigued Guy, as he expected the clown to drop dead after all of this.
-"I still have to take care of his allies, and it's faster to use Jistav as an actual puppet state with this guy under our grasp, rather than plainly conquering it."
-"As you wish. After all, it's your victory." He looked at his colleagues Demon Lords. "I assume no one will argue about their entry to our council?"
No one said a word. In the meantime, Rimuru went to Shion and whispered something to her, while lending her Clayman. She let out a scary smile, and proceeded to smash him with her greatsword. Rimuru clapped his hands, gaining everyone's attention.
-"Before we actually end this, I assume some of you want to make the clown pay for something. That's why we present this to you." He showed a meatball which got Clayman's face protruding.
-"Da hell are you doing?" Mithra asked, unaware of what he's planning.
-"It's a game: you have to pass the ball to someone in any way you deem fit. You can use a weapon, you can use spells, anything as long as you don't obliterate it. You lose if you let him drop on the floor, and it's recommended to use stylish moves for everyone's enjoyment. Who's with me?"
Many of the Demon Lords and subordinates began to laugh ominously, causing the meatball to drop unconscious. After all those years where he undermined their patience, they could finally let their nerves burst.
For five good minutes, Clayman got the beating of his life. Some individuals were particularly eager to unleash their pent-up wrath, especially the girls. Frey and Luminous were obviously disgusted by his fantasies, plus his remark about her body for the vampire. Milim almost killed him when she kicked a little too hard, saying it's a payback for when he mocked her lack of chest.
Even Leon took a turn when he understood the clown was responsible for the times he got annoyed by a few winged majins, on top of the pervy speech' blunder. The blondie had to create distance before the lobster demon could try to fondle his ass.
Once everyone got satisfied and Rimuru trapped Clayman inside his Stomach, they returned to their places and the table appeared.
-"Since the clown is now out, I'll recover my place." Luminous switched with Roy and changed back to her usual attire, confusing Carrion and Frey.
-"Well done, newbies. It was a spectacle worthy of my time, and I'll let you off the hook about these four." Guy pointed at his fellow Primordials who showed their hostility toward him. "I was afraid you were just pushovers who used Milim, Valentine and Veldora's influences for yourselves. But you've earned the right to be called Demon Lords."
-"Kuhahaha, of course my sworn friends are worthy, Guy. Why do you think big bro Veldanava blessed Rimuru in his past life?" Veldora casually dropped the bomb while bragging about them, before shutting his mouth in a hurry when he realized what he did.
Those who knew about that name were fixated on Rimuru, who facepalmed. Mithra followed him soon. An uncanny silence fell, until someone appeared in the gate behind Guy.
The temperature dropped suddenly when a girl with white hair approached slowly and sat on the table right in front of Rimuru. Veldora shivered and was about to faint, while the slime sweated a little, uneasy as he knew too well her reputation.
"When I peeked at the forest some time ago, I found something I never hoped to come across again. After all this time, I feared no trace of him would remain. But now, I have confirmation he's still somewhere."
Velzard leaned toward Rimuru, with a seemingly innocent smile which made him uncomfortable. He internally cursed Veldora, wondering if he did it instinctively to not be the only one targeted by her today.
"You're a gift of fate, Demon Lord Rimuru. Will you tell me everything you know about my dear brother?"