A small girl with violet hair sat in a relatively empty room in a magnificent palace, drinking tea. Sunlight streamed through the tall, ornate windows, casting intricate patterns on the polished marble floor.
The scent of fresh flowers wafted in from a nearby garden, blending with the delicate aroma of the tea. There was soft music filling the air as she calmly drank her tea, her eyes closed, and she enjoyed every moment of it.
For someone as long-lived as her, luxuries like this were the sort of things that made living worth it. Time had become irrelevant, and yet these fleeting pleasures still held meaning. At the very least, while she waited for her plans to come to fruition.
Once her vessel was ready, she would be able to have some more fun in the Cardinal world, and win her game with Blanc and Jaune. Yet, just as he brought the cup to her soft lips, she felt someone appear behind her.
"Long time no see, Violet." Diablo's familiar voice echoed in the room.
Violet let out a soft sigh, placing the cup down with a sharp clink. She didn't turn around immediately, knowing all too well who had come to disturb her peace. Her yellow eyes flickered with momentary irritation before her expression smoothed over.
"What are you doing here, Noir?" Violet asked, noticing the grin on Diablo's face as she asked the question. She knew he was enjoying this, he always did.
There was a pause, just long enough for her to feel the grin on Diablo's face without even looking.
"I am afraid you are wrong, Violet. From now on, you must refer to me as Diablo." His words were laced with pride, one hand over his chest as though he had received a grand honor.
Violet's eyes widened slightly in surprise, though her shock quickly gave way to a frown. She crossed her arms, finally turning to face him. Her violet hair fell gracefully around her shoulders as she tilted her head, giving him a long, measured look.
"You got a name? What sort of weirdo would name you?" She muttered, though the annoyance in her tone couldn't mask her curiosity.
"Kufufufu... There is no need to be jealous, Violet." Diablo replied, his voice dripping with amusement as he stepped forward and picked up her teapot, pouring her another cup with exaggerated care. His eyes glowed faintly as he leaned in, still grinning. "That is precisely why I am here."
Violet looked at the cup Diablo had served her with some suspicion, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of the cup. It was always like this with him, nothing came without some hidden agenda.
"What do you want?" She asked with narrowed eyes.
"Kufufufu... So eager, as always…" Diablo said with a wider grin before teleporting to the center of the room with a flourish. "I came here with an offer."
Diablo's expression turned painful, almost as if he were being stabbed through the heart, his hand clutching his chest before turning to Violet with a dramatic expression.
"I have been separated from my Lord for far too long. Every second away feels like a thousand needles piercing my eyes. And yet, to fulfill my Lord's wishes, I must remain apart from him." Diablo's voice quivered with emotion, shaking his head in exaggerated despair. "Just like my Lord, my servitude to him is a Paradox. Being away from him and following his orders brings me both joy and pain."
Violet shook her head, clearly unimpressed with the theatrics. Diablo's flair for the dramatic had always been excessive, even for her tastes.
"If you came here just to complain, then I don't want to hear it." She said, turning her head away to the window to avoid looking at Diablo.
Before she could fully turn away, Diablo reappeared in front of her, effortlessly placing himself back in her field of vision. His movement was as fluid as a shadow, always where he wanted to be before anyone could react.
"As I said, I came in here with an offer. I want you to join me under my Lord. That way, I can have someone of my caliber fulfilling my duties while I remain close to my Lord." Diablo offered with a smile. "I assure you, our Lord is unlike anyone you have ever seen. One look at him, and you will devote your life to him as I have."
Violet raised an eyebrow, the skepticism clear in her gaze. She had seen many powerful beings in her lifetime, what made this one any different?
"Why don't you ask Jaune or Blanc instead?" She asked with some suspicion, her fingers drumming lightly against the armrest.
"Kufufufu… well, you know Jaune. She's always so… explosive. The jobs I have in mind require a bit more finesse." He waved a hand dismissively before continuing, "As for Blanc… well, she goes by Testarossa now. She's busy following our Lord's orders. And between you and me…" His voice dropped slightly as though he was sharing a secret. "I fear that if I don't act fast enough, she'll steal my position as my Lord's number one assistant. Which is why I've come to you."
Violet's eyes widened, surprise flickering across her face as she stood up abruptly, her violet hair cascading down her back like a waterfall.
"Blanc? How the hell did—what? She's so—who did you say you were serving again? It's not Rouge, is it?" She shouted as her expression darkened. "I'll die a couple hundred thousand times before I even consider following what Vert and Bleu did."
"Kufufufufu. No, my Lord is not Rouge. He is a Paradox known as Rimuru Tempest." Diablo answered with a grin. "What do you say? My Lord was the one who offered me my vessel and my name. Who's to say he won't do the same for you?"
Violet went silent for a second, tapping her finger on the desk as she thought before shaking her head. The allure of power was tempting, but it wasn't enough to pull her away from her own ambitions, from her fun little games.
"While I am curious…" She began slowly. "I still have some things I need to focus on. One of my projects is nearing completion, and I won't abandon it after centuries of waiting."
Her refusal made Diablo frown briefly, his eyes narrowing in disappointment. For a tense moment, Violet braced herself, prepared for a fight, ready to teleport both of them away from her palace. But before she could act, Diablo straightened up, and his signature laughter filled the room.
"Kufufufufu. Well… that is fine. I still need to ask my Lord for permission to recruit you, after all. I merely wanted to lay down the groundwork for when the time comes." With that, he offered a slight bow, his long coat swirling around him as he turned toward the exit. "Enjoy your game, Violet. I'll be back soon."
With a flourish, he turned to leave, his long coat billowing behind him as he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Violet alone once more.
Picking up her cup, she swirled the tea inside it a few times before smiling. The encounter had left her both amused and intrigued.
"Noir came to me, eh?" She muttered before standing up. "I bet Jaune will be so jealous when she hears about it."
Chuckling to herself, she left the room.
— — —
Stepping through a Hell Gate, Rimuru looked around, taking in the view. The air crackled with energy as the scenery shifted around him. The Daemon Realm was unlike anything he had seen before. The sky was a crimson color and not a trace of the sun or the stars. However, it appeared to shift as he took a few steps forward. It was as if the sky itself was unstable.
The air was thick with magicules, and as Rimuru took a deep breath, he felt a slight weight in the air. His body felt slightly different, and though he was already technically formless, that feeling had been amplified many times over.
[Notice. Due to the limitations of this Dimension, your Physical Body has changed to a Spiritual Body. This Spiritual Body can be changed at will with my assistance and the assistance of Asmodeus.]
Nodding to himself, Rimuru looked at his surroundings. The heavy magicule density of the Daemon realm showed its effects on the Dimension as every single thing he saw appeared to be heavily mutated.
Dark, almost black dirt covered the floor below them, and growing from it were strange patches of bluish grass that twisted onto itself. In the distance, countless mutated trees grew, yet just like the grass, they appeared to be twisted and uncontrolled. Some twisted toward the sky, others wrapped around each other, creating a tangled mess.
'Beelzebuth.' Rimuru commanded, instantly consuming a large portion of the surroundings around them for future research.
"Welcome to the Daemon Realm, Lord Rimuru." Testarossa said with her soft laughter as she saw a chunk of the surroundings disappear in an instant. "It appears that no Daemon has claimed this land as their own, so it remains somewhat unstable."
"Hm?" Rimuru asked, moving around and using his Universal Sense to analyze his surroundings. Every minor detail changed with every step. The flora and skies changed colors in almost imperceptible ways but changed nonetheless. With enough time, he didn't doubt that this place would be practically unrecognizable from how it was now.
Rimuru crouched down, plucking a single blade of the twisted bluish grass between his fingers. He watched as it curled and writhed in his hand.
"So, this is what happens when no one rules here." He mused, half to himself, as he plucked a small flower and watched as thorns began to grow wildly on it. "And what happens when someone does?"
Testarossa's eyes gleamed with amusement, and she let out a soft laugh, the sound echoing eerily in the unstable air.
"The realm bends to the Daemon's will, of course. It reshapes itself, takes on whatever form they desire, and stabilizes under their power." She gestured toward the chaotic landscape. "Right now, it's like a canvas waiting for someone to paint over it. But until then... it's nothing more than raw chaos."
Her amusement faded into irritation as she noticed movement in the distance, a group of low-ranking Chevalier-ranked Daemons, their auras faint and unruly.
"However…" Testarossa added, gesturing to the Daemons in the distance. "For a Daemon to claim land and bend it to their will, they must at least be a Viscount. These… things are nothing but garbage, too weak to even think of shaping this realm. They lack the will to enforce their desire upon this land." She finished.
Rimuru nodded, his eyes narrowing as he observed the chaotic battle unfolding in the distance. The Daemons fought purely on instinct, a wild, animalistic brawl between two different groups. One group resembled goblins, but their bat-like faces and the long horns sprouting from their foreheads marked them as Daemon-born. They ran on all fours, screeching as they charged toward a group of bizarre, multi-headed chicken-like creatures, their feathers glowing faintly with dark energy.
Thinking back to what he had learned, Daemons were categorized by two methods: their evolutionary stage, which was a much more general ranking, and the second categorization, which, for the most part, was divided by their age. The reason for this was that the older a Daemon was, the more experienced they were. The more experienced they were, the more willpower they had, and willpower shaped the entire world.
Chevaliers, the lowest of the low. Daemons from newborns to about 30 years old. Nothing more than wild beasts driven by their primal instincts. Above them were the Baronets, Daemons between 30 and 100 years old, stronger and more intelligent but still barely considered conscious. They barely reached rank A.
Then, the Barons, between 100 and 400 years old, were usually ranked at around Special A, and they were around the limit most high-ranking adventurers could summon and fully keep under their control.
But the real danger began with the Viscounts, Daemons 400 to 1,000 years old. They could grow to the level of a Calamity-class monster, similar in strength to what Charybdis had been officially classified as, though her true energy levels was closer to Disaster class at the time.
Then came the Counts, Daemons over 1,000 years old, each one a potential Disaster-class in its own right. And finally, the upper echelons, the Marquis, Dukes, and Archdukes. These Daemons were ancient, powerful, and capable of destroying entire cities and small kingdoms if left to their own devices. Each one was at least 3,000 years old. However, the library in Englassia didn't have much information about them due to the rarity of their summonings in the Cardinal World.
"Hmm…" Rimuru mused to himself for a few seconds, curiously analyzing his surroundings before finally standing up. "Well… as much as I want to spend a few weeks here messing around and experimenting. I will have to leave it until next time. Could you lead the way, Testarossa?" Rimuru asked, earning a smile from her.
"It would be my honor to guide you through the Daemon Realm when you return, Lord Rimuru. For now, allow me to teleport us. We will stop by my domain to use the Hell Gate to Silberia. I'm sure my servants will not fail to impress you. I've trained them well." She said before standing next to Rimuru and snapping her fingers.
The moment they reappeared, Rimuru was struck by the complete change in scenery. The wild, twisting blue grass transformed into a soft, white grass that appeared to be glowing slightly under the light of an artificial sun. The whole area appeared somewhat ethereal and dreamlike.
The sky was light blue, with soft, perfectly placed clouds gently floating through the sky.
"Welcome to my domain, Lord Rimuru." Testarossa introduced herself with a proud smile.
Before Rimuru could respond, a figure materialized, a man dressed impeccably in a butler suit. He bowed low to Testarossa, though his eyes were drawn to Rimuru with a hint of curiosity.
"Lady Blanc, we were concerned about your absence. I'm pleased to see you've returned safely. And I see you've brought… a guest." The butler's eyes flickered with brief confusion as he eyed Rimuru. "Would you like me to set a table for you and your… guest?"
Testarossa's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, almost dangerous look.
"This 'guest' is my Lord, Rimuru Tempest." She corrected sharply, her voice cold as she looked at him with narrowed eyes. "You will show him the respect he deserves. And another thing, address me as Testarossa. I will not tolerate anyone ignoring the name my Lord has granted me."
The butler stiffened, fear flashing in his eyes as he immediately bowed low to Rimuru, his movements precise and elegant.
"Forgive me, my Lord. I beg your forgiveness for my insolence. Punish me as you see fit for failing to recognize your presence."
Before Testarossa could respond with more than a reprimand, Rimuru placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, calming her down.
"It's fine." He said in a reassuring tone as he addressed the butler. "I forgive you."
Though he had a reputation to keep as a Demon Lord and ruler, he also wasn't so petty as to make a big deal out of nothing. Plus, he would rather continue exploring rather than waste time letting Testarossa punish him for no reason.
Testarossa's eyes softened slightly, though they still held a hint of disdain. However, when the butler raised his head, her usual composed smile had returned.
"There's no need to prepare anything. Lord Rimuru and I are simply passing through," She said with a firm tone. "Return to my domain and ensure that everyone knows I've returned. Spread the word about our new Lord and how you are to address me from now on. I will return soon to gather all of you. We will be joining Lord Rimuru in Tempest. When I return, I want all of you to be ready to follow me immediately."
Her aura unconsciously pressed down on the butler, a subtle reminder of her power and authority. With a hurried bow, the butler swiftly disappeared to carry out her orders, leaving Rimuru and Testarossa alone once again in the glowing, dreamlike landscape.
"You don't waste any time, do you?" Rimuru remarked with a light chuckle.
Testarossa's smile returned fully, though this time, it was warmer, more relaxed.
"There is no room for failure in my domain. I must admit, after declaring how well-trained they were, I was severely disappointed by the first impression my butler left on you." Testarossa explained, causing Rimuru to shake his head slightly.
"There's no need to be so hard on him. It was just a small mistake, and I'm not someone who gets upset over things like that."
"Still, I hold my servants to a higher standard. They reflect me, after all." Testarossa answered. Then, she offered her hand with a smile. "We are close, Lord Rimuru. I placed protective seals on the Hell Gate to Silberia, which is why we had to stop by here. However, from here, I can take us directly."
A small smile grew on his face. He couldn't wait to see the Silberia Testarossa had told him so much about.
— — —
Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiy
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Yo comments really motivate me, so it be real cool if you did that lol. Takes me a while to get to 'em sometimes but I read 'em all.