"Huh, yeah, why?" Veldora asked with some confusion.
Pulling out Charybdis' core from his Stomach, he looked at the dark heart-like object pulsing in his hand. It was still filled with energy, and it gave off an aura of pure destruction.
"I've been meaning to try this for a while, but I wanted to try to recreate Charybdis again." Rimuru explained. "She's a Tempest, too, if you think about it. Do you wanna help? She could also join your sect."
"Our sect." Veldora corrected, earning a nod from Ramiris. "But sure, I don't see why not. Just don't leave me with the responsibility of, um… taking care of them. That's a you problem, bud."
Rimuru rolled his eyes at his comment but nodded nonetheless. Though Veldora really ought to pay child support.
Taking out another of his extra Orichalcum and Mithril bodies, he let the skeleton flop onto the ground.
"Oooh! Lemme help!" Ramiris shouted as she saw Rimuru kneel down to place the heart in the chest of the skeleton. Closing her eyes and putting her hands in a praying position, she began to focus, and moments later, countless Lesser Elementals of Space, Water, and Wind began to gather around the skeleton.
Veldora raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he knelt down next to Rimuru and began to flow his magicules through the body. He was even using Faust, his Ultimate Skill, to make sure he flowed his power through the skeleton as effectively as he could. Charybdis' core instantly began to beat with a renewed strength as Veldora's magicules began to flow through it.
"There ya go, bro, I gotchu. Think of it as my child support. That's all I had to give, right? I'm good?" Veldora said with a smile as he stepped back, looking at the now glowing skeleton.
"Please become one with this body." Ramiris requested. Her control over the Spirits had been mostly lost after her corruption. Most Spirits still listened to her out of respect, but they could ignore her if they wished. But now she could sense that control return, if only weakly, and that at just the Lesser Elementals.
The small Elementals all began to lower, sinking into the skeleton and vanishing. However, the bones themselves showed small markings from where each Elemental had fused with it.
"Well… It's my turn now." Rimuru said with a small smile as he extended one of his arms before cutting it off. Using his control over it, the Slime moved towards the body and, with Raphael's assistance, changed it until it transformed into a circulatory system for the skeleton.
He wasn't planning on using his own body anymore to strengthen anyone else, especially since they were currently working on creating better bodies. Still, for Charybdis, he would make an exception.
As all of them finished, they all took a step back.
'Your turn.'
[Understood. Activating experiment #1093.]
The moment Raphael spoke, the circulatory system Rimuru had created latched onto the heart, causing it to beat even stronger as muscles began to grow on it. The skeleton began to glow as it floated off from the ground, releasing more and more energy.
[Notice. The subject, Charybdis, lacks an ego. Therefore, it will continue to attack anything on sight.]
[Artificial Ego creation has started…. Error. Ego incomplete. Beginning analysis… Notice. A lack of data has been found. Searching for solutions…. A solution was found, and the experiment will continue.]
[Recreating brain and body in order to better suit the experiment.]
Suddenly, as Raphael spoke, the large skeleton body began to bubble up, threatening to collapse before suddenly starting to shrink to the size of a child.
[Integrating Experimental Ego… Process complete.]
[Activating Material Creation.]
As the body began to take form, a kimono, similar to the one Veldora wore while he was training his "disciples," appeared around the body. And then, in an instant, she stopped glowing, revealing her appearance.
She appeared to be around ten years old, with dark skin and blonde hair, just like Veldora's. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing the golden hue. She opened her mouth slightly, letting out a slight growl and revealing her sharp, shark-like teeth before she jumped to the first thing she had seen, Veldora.
(image here)
"Ahhh! What the hell?! What did you make, Rimuru?" Veldora shouted as Charybdis bit into his arm, latching on with her teeth with enough strength that she didn't get sent flying as Veldora began to fling around his arm wildly.
"Uh…" Rimuru muttered as he saw the young girl continue to chew on Veldora's arm to no effect. However, that was enough for her to change her attention to him.
Finally letting go of Veldora since she couldn't bite through him, she jumped and tried to bite Rimuru. Yet the moment she took a chunk from him, she spat it out with a disgusted expression.
She dropped to the floor, spitting repeatedly as she tried to get the Slime flavor and consistency out.
"Uh… Rimuru?" Ramiris muttered with some fear as she hid in his hair. And just as Charybdis threatened to eat her in one bite, Rimuru finally took action, causing her to slam against Uriel's Absolute Defense.
Acting like an animal in a cage, she began to slam repeatedly against the barrier surrounding her.
'Raph?' Rimuru asked with concern, looking at the rampaging girl.
[Answer. Due to the lack of Ego, an experimental one was created by stimulating her soul with Asmodeus's Life Domination. However, due to the lack of data, an extremely basic Ego was created. It is still somewhat dormant inside of her, so she is acting on her instincts.]
[The reason for her change in appearance was to better suit her underdeveloped Ego. And better analyze the growth of an Ego as the life stages progress.]
[Suggestion. Give Charybdis a name to help stimulate her Ego further and promote growth in her Ego. It is estimated that after naming, the Ego of Charybdis will be similar to that of a child.]
'Ah, that makes sense… I guess she needs a name, too. It would be sorta lame to just go with Charybdis again…. Chary? Char? Charys? Char— alright, let's move away from Char stuff…'
After thinking for a few moments and doing some slight letter scrambling, he settled for a name. Placing his hand on the barrier, he used Asmodeus to calm her down as best as he could, causing her to stop attacking and making her look at him with some curiosity.
"Irys. Your name is Irys Tempest." In a way, she was his sister/niece, so he decided to give her the Tempest name.
The moment she received her name, she seemed to calm down even more. Carefully removing the Barrier around her Rimuru saw Irys look at him curiously before jumping over and snatching Ramiris off from his head.
"Ahhhh! Kill it! Save me Rimuru!!! She wants to eat me!" Ramiris shouted as Irys tried to run away with her before slamming face-first into another barrier.
[...]
"..."
[...]
"..."
[The Ego was indeed awakened…] Raphael muttered, sounding slightly embarrassed.
[As stated previously, more research and information is needed… However, during Veldora's imprisonment, a book was created that will assist with managing Irys.]
[Transfering the data on the book "How to Raise Kids for Dummies."]
— — —
Luminous lay sprawled across her luxurious couch, her figure draped in the soft glow of twilight filtering through the high windows, lazily plucking a piece of fruit from the ornate dish beside her. She bit into it with a casual grace, savoring the flavor, letting the sweet juices linger on her lips while Hinata stood nearby, her eyebrow twitching in barely concealed irritation.
"What was that?" Hinata's voice was cold as she asked.
Luminous didn't even flinch. She finished chewing, glancing at Hinata with an almost bored expression, her lips curling into the faintest smirk.
"Rimuru and I are going to stage a fake war between us. Probably in a couple of months, give or take." Her tone was so nonchalant it might as well have been a discussion about the weather. "Don't worry. I doubt anyone will die."
The flippancy of her words only seemed to deepen the scowl on Hinata's face. Luminous, noticing her annoyance, turned her head fully to meet Hinata's gaze, amusement flickering like fire in her heterochromatic eyes.
"Think about it." Luminous continued, her lips turning into a playful smile. "I've just handed you a rather big hint. I thought you'd be quicker to catch on." She teased.
Hinata's mouth clamped shut, her jaw tight as she fought to control the rising frustration. She closed her eyes, taking a slow, deliberate breath, clearly trying to calm herself before she did or said something rash. Luminous, watching her struggle, found the whole situation delightfully entertaining.
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she leaned back, sipping on her blood wine as Hinata mulled over her words. The silence stretched for several moments, punctuated only by the faint sound of Luminous' occasional sips, until finally, Hinata's eyes snapped open in sudden realization.
"No…" Hinata muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes." Luminous replied, her smile widening, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes as she sat up straighter, her fingers idly twirling a lock of her hair.
"What does Rimuru get out of this?" Hinata asked, her suspicion clear even as she grappled with the revelation.
"We'll make up after a while. After we have managed to gain influence over the entire West." Luminous answered smoothly, swirling her wine glass before taking another sip. "And once we do, I'll simply declare that Tempest is not to be touched. Anyone who dares to challenge that will be marked as an enemy of god. That ought to keep most people from acting foolishly."
Hinata's eyes narrowed, her suspicion deepening.
"Why are you trusting Rimuru so much?" She asked, her voice sharp with disbelief. "You're usually more cautious when dealing with other Demon Lords. You even revealed your true identity to him."
Luminous leaned back with a faint smile, letting out a soft, almost wistful sigh.
"Caution is for those who lack foresight, Hinata." She said, shaking her head slightly.
"Well, he already knew who I was, so it hardly mattered." She turned her gaze back to Hinata, the playful glimmer in her eyes softening slightly. "Besides, weren't you already planning on going to Tempest yourself?"
Hinata's mouth tightened, but Luminous continued before she could respond.
"Instead of asking me for answers." Luminous said, her voice almost teasing. "Why don't you go see for yourself? If you really think this is a bad idea after spending some time in Tempest, I will not go through with it."
Hinata's eyes widened slightly at Luminous' unexpected offer. For all her bluntness and schemes, Luminous was giving her an out.
"Besides." Luminous continued, looking directly at her as she placed her empty glass down. "The only reason I'm doing this is for you. You're the one who wants a peaceful world, don't you? Leaving Rimuru unchecked means leaving more room for future conflicts. Humans don't trust Monsters. Eventually, some foolish kingdom will try to start a war they can't finish."
She paused, shaking her head with a faint smile before speaking up again.
"We can stop that before it even begins, prevent unnecessary deaths, and, in the process, spread Luminism. It's a win-win."
Hinata wanted to argue, but in the end, all she could do was sigh, all her anger leaving her.
"I see…" She muttered, giving Luminous a final nod before turning to leave the room.
Luminous watched her go, her playful smirk fading into something more neutral, her eyes briefly softening as the door closed behind Hinata.
"So stubborn." Luminous muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she stood and began walking down the halls of her palace.
As she moved through the grand corridors, her mind drifted back to the past. Things that felt as if they had been just weeks ago, even though they had been hundreds, if not thousands of years in the past. The halls were quieter than she remembered them.
Her steps eventually brought her to a secluded part of the palace, a place few knew existed. The private room was lined with layers of protective magic, security measures she had personally crafted over hundreds of years. This room held something precious, something she had poured her heart into safeguarding.
The door slid open with a soft hum of magic, revealing what appeared to be a massive coffin with a glass casing. Inside, a beautiful woman lay perfectly still, her form seemingly untouched by time. She was completely naked, her skin pale and flawless.
As Luminous stepped closer, her expression shifted several times, first to sadness, then anger, and finally settling into something more tender, a mixture of affection and frustration.
"I've delivered your letter." Luminous said with a sigh. "Though I wish you had told me sooner. You know… you really are a pain." She muttered, her voice low. "All these secrets, you really could have been more honest with me."
Reaching out, Luminous placed her hand gently on the surface of the Holy Ark. The moment her fingers made contact with the glass, her pale skin began to burn, but Luminous didn't flinch, simply keeping her hand in the Ark.
Placing her forehead against the glass, Luminous closed her eyes, ignoring the pain. She let out a pleasurable moan as her skin seared before pulling away. She did not have time to enjoy her more… private hobbies at this moment.
— — —
Opening his violet eyes, a man with pure white hair let out a sigh. His clothes were clean and elegant, giving the air of a charming and rich man. He was the ruler of the West, Granbell Rosso.
He had just returned from possessing the body of one of the Seven Luminaries, Gran, following a lengthy meeting with them. Despite his usual composure, a slight frown had crept onto his face.
"A frown? Now, that's not something I usually see… Is something happening?" A small girl with blonde hair and violet eyes, just like him, spoke up. She had been sitting on his lap, looking through a long list of reports sitting on the desk.
At the sound of her voice, Granbell's frown disappeared, his face softening back into its usual calm demeanor. His hand instinctively moved to stroke her head, a familiar gesture.
"Mariabell…" He said in a soft yet firm tone. "The world is changing… It appears there is one last hurdle in our way."
Mariabell didn't react outwardly to his words, maintaining her deadpan expression as she flipped through another report.
"Tempest?" She asked in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Indeed." Granbell answered, looking down at the reports on his table. The Daemon attacks in the northern territories had stopped, and for the first time in centuries, if not millennia, the north was at peace.
Most would have taken this as a victory, but to Granbell, the timing was too convenient.
"A new Demon Lord has risen, The Emperor, Rimuru Tempest." Granbell said slowly, his eyes narrowing as he uttered the title.
"The Emperor?" Mariabell asked, a slight grin appearing on her face, changing her deadpan expression for the first time. "Well, he won't be for long."
Granbell didn't respond immediately. The title "Emperor" bothered him deeply, more than he let on. For the first time in centuries, his instincts as a Hero warned him that something was wrong.
It was one thing to have a new Demon Lord, but adding on the title, the Daemons' sudden silence in the north, the rumors about his alliance with other Demon Lords, the destruction and takeover of Falmuth… One after the other, they all made him more and more wary.
His thoughts drifted back to his former teacher, the Emperor, no, the true Emperor, Rudra Nam Ul Nasca. Granbell had long known of Rudra's connection with Guy Crimson and the twisted game they played between them. And that was what made him so suspicious.
Guy wouldn't allow anyone under his council to use that title. Or at least, he shouldn't have.
A thousand years ago, Granbell had parted ways with his teacher. He had left to conquer and unite the West for him. It was why he had spent his life establishing his roots in the West, uniting Humanity, and steering them toward a future of strength and cohesion.
He had taken his time, ensuring everything progressed properly.
Over time, however, Granbell had grown distant from Rudra's methods. He had lost the only person who mattered to him. Which led him to reject the Emperor's brutal tactics, especially the sacrificial slaughter of his army to awaken a chosen few. That was where their ideologies had diverged.
Yet, the lessons he had learned from Rudra, particularly about the protection of Humanity, still guided his every action.
Though, he had to admit he could see the wisdom behind his actions now. Maybe he should have done the same. His own forces would have been stronger that way.
It took him some time to see eye to eye with his former teacher, but some sacrifices had to be made in order to protect Humanity. For one, they would have to be tied down and controlled by the Rosso before they had a chance to destroy themselves.
United by force, they would thrive under the Rosso.
"The Emperor…" Granbell repeated, his eyes narrowing as the words left his mouth. "He is taunting him…"
"Hm?" Mariabell asked with some curiosity. "Who is taunting us?"
Shaking his head slightly, Granbell looked down at the papers with the reports once again.
"That's not something you should be concerned about for now… I will teach you about him later." Granbell answered, causing Mariabell to frown slightly before she looked down at the reports.
"Mariabell… there will be a war soon. The West will be unstable for some time. Tell me, how would you take advantage of it?" He asked, testing his granddaughter one more time.
He continued stroking her hair, watching closely as Mariabell's greedy expression surfaced, her mind already turning. Granbell withheld many of the answers. He wanted her to think for herself, to grow sharper through these tests. Only then would she be truly ready to take over the Rosso family.
"A war? Is the church going to fight Tempest?" Mariabell asked, her grin growing as she began to think.
"In a way…" Granbell answered. The situation was undeniably suspicious, but for now, he would continue to observe, guiding his granddaughter and ensuring she learned the game of control just as he had.
— — —
Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)
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