Ciel: <>
Voice of the World: <<>>
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Frost Dragon Velzard, one of the three living True Dragons and the eldest of her kind, stood before the blue-haired man, scrutinizing him with a curious, intrigued gaze as she could sense the familiar aura of a True Dragon emanating from him.
Truthfully, Velzard was impressed. The man had mastered hiding his True Dragon essence to such an extent that even her siblings, Scorch Dragon Velgrynd and Storm Dragon Veldora, likely wouldn't notice—even if they were sitting next to him. The last time she had seen such control over one's own existence was from her elder brother, Star King Dragon Veldanava, the creator of the Cardinal World. Veldanava had developed this very technique to spend time with his human mate, Lucia, without terrifying the inhabitants of the Cardinal World with his overwhelming presence and a large number of magicules that are poisonous to most humans.
Although the man's technique was equally remarkable, it didn't pose a challenge for Velzard. As the eldest, she had spent the most time with Veldanava, who taught her how to see through this concealment—just in case she ever needed to track down not only him but any other True Dragon if the need ever arose. And that's exactly how she discovered this man's existence.
It had all begun a few months ago. She had been lounging in her Frost Palace when she felt something peculiar—her brother Veldora's presence disappearing from the world. At first, she paid it no mind. Veldora had been sealed in [Infinity Prison], and it was only a matter of time before he disappeared and was eventually reborn somewhere else. The thought of educating him again, as she had many times before, had even brought a sadistic smile to her face.
She ignored the incident for months until today, when she realized something: by her calculations, he wasn't supposed to perish for another hundred years. Suspicious, she decided to investigate and used her secret technique to search for her brother's True Dragon factor. To her surprise, she found not only him, but also sensed that he was no longer confined within the [Infinity Prison] as he wasn't in the same place she last sensed him.
What alarmed her even more was the presence of another unfamiliar True Dragon factor nearby—an entity she had never encountered before. Curiosity piqued, Velzard left her frozen dominion in the Ice Continent and followed this strange new presence all the way to Jura Forest.
Upon her arrival, she quickly located the man, emitting the True Dragon aura. And much to her suprise he too noticed her almost immediately, and while most would have been cautious under such scrutiny, Velzard was fearless. She was one of the strongest beings in existence, after all. Fear was a foreign concept to her. However, as she watched this man wield golden flames during the battle, a rare sense of caution flickered in her mind. Those flames... they rivaled her own ice... her ice that could even give trouble to Scorch Dragon Velgrynd herself.
Not one to take unnecessary risks, Velzard transformed into her True Adult form, just as the man appeared behind her.
"Honestly, I'm quite surprised—and a little curious—about what such a majestic and beautiful lady is doing here, Frost Dragon Velzard," he said with a playful smile. She turned to face him, and despite herself, had to admit that he was rather handsome up close.
"Our surprise is quite mutual," Velzard responded. Her diamond-blue eyes locked onto his golden ones with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue. "I was also wondering when the fifth entity of our kind was born into this world."
"Hmm... who gave you that idea?" the man replied, raising an eyebrow, amusement playing on his lips. "My name is Rimuru, by the way, and as far as you know, I might have just been born into this world like you said or I might have always been around. Who knows?" He shrugged playfully, a glint of mischief in his eyes, much to Velzard's annoyance.
"That's impossible," Velzard declared with unwavering confidence. "I am the first True Dragon to exist after my brother, the creator himself. He would have told me if another sibling of our kind had been existing in this world.
"Ah, that's where you're mistaken," Rimuru replied. "Though I may be considered a True Dragon in some ways, I'm not your sibling. Unlike Veldora, we haven't acknowledged each other as such."
"I see," Velzard mused, eyes narrowing slightly. "So, you're the reason my little brother suddenly has the ability to conceal his presence so masterfully." She crossed her arms. "But you say you're not a True Dragon, even though you have the essence of one. If that's the case, then what are you?"
"If I had to describe myself," Rimuru began thoughtfully, "I'd say I'm a subspecies of True Dragon, comparable to your kind. The key difference is that I don't have the same reincarnation cycle that you naturally-born True Dragons do. That being said, I will say one thing though, I'm quite confident that I am much harder to kill than you guys."
"Well, aren't you humble?" Velzard scoffed, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Claiming your resilience surpasses that of a True Dragon? You must have a lot of confidence in that tiny body of yours."
"If you doubt me, why don't you try me for yourself?" Rimuru teased, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Velzard rolled her eyes at his obvious innuendo. "No, there's no need for that," she said with a shake of her head. "I'm not an ill-tempered, whiny little girl like Velgrynd or a hot-headed moron like Veldora. Save your provocations for them."
"Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to do that," Rimuru replied, bowing his head in mock sincerity. It might have fooled her if not for the mischievous glint in his eyes, revealing that he wasn't serious at all.
Then the playful atmosphere between Rimuru and Velzard vanished as Rimuru narrowed his eyes, his tone shifting to one of seriousness. "By the way, earlier you said your brother would have told you about me if I had existed before, but are you sure that's really the case? Do you honestly believe your brother has shared every single secret of this world with you?"
Suddenly, the temperature around them plummeted as Velzard's eyes turned icy, glaring at Rimuru. Though Velzard was usually calm and composed, there was one thing she could never tolerate- any insult toward her elder brother. "What do you mean by that, Rimuru?" she asked, her voice frigid enough to send shivers through anyone in the world, but Rimuru remained unfazed, maintaining his calm expression despite her growing fury.
"Calm down, Velzard. If we were in a public place, you might have scared a lot of children and adults just now," Rimuru chuckled, attempting to diffuse the tension. But it was clear from the icy glare in her eyes that Velzard wasn't in the mood for jokes.
"Very well," Rimuru said, dropping the humor. "If you don't believe me, then allow me to tell you a secret—something your brother never told you. A secret that's quite relevant to you."
Curiosity flickered briefly in Velzard's heart, though she remained stern, determined to hear what Rimuru had to say before passing judgment.
"Tell me, Velzard, did you know that all individuals who possess an Ultimate Skill from the Virtue System can be controlled by the holder of [Lord of Justice, Michael]?" Rimuru said, watching with amusement as Velzard's eyes widened in genuine surprise.
"What!?" Velzard exclaimed, disbelief and shock evident on her face.
"In fact," Rimuru continued, "not only does [Lord of Justice, Michael] have control over the Virtue System skills, but it also has absolute control over any holder of angelic skills." He watched as her expression paled further. "So now you must realize that you, who possess [Lord of Patience, Gabriel], are at risk of being controlled by the current holder of [Lord of Justice, Michael]."
Velzard's eyes widened even more, and she stared at Rimuru in disbelief. How does he know about my Ultimate Skill? she thought. 'This is the first time I'm meeting him. There's no way he should have this kind of information on me!' As these thoughts raced through her mind, Rimuru's potential threat level increased dramatically in her estimation.
"And yet," Rimuru continued, as though unaware of her growing shock, "I don't think Rudra will use [Ultimate Dominion] on you—at least, not yet. You're more valuable as a pawn in his future plans, likely to be used against Guy." He casually dropped another bombshell of information. "Unfortunately for your sister Velgrynd, she doesn't have that kind of leverage. Her skill, [Lord of Charity, Raguel], also falls under the Virtue System, and given her affection for Rudra, I'd wager she's already heavily influenced by him."
Velzard's fists clenched as the truth behind Rimuru's words sank in. She had known that Rudra possessed [Lord of Justice, Michael]—after all, she was there when he traded his [Lord of Vows, Uriel] for it. But she had never imagined that Michael could wield such power over the Ultimate Skills of the Virtue System.
"H... how do I know you're telling the truth?" Velzard asked, her voice softer now but still filled with uncertainty.
"Hmm... true, you have no reason to trust me," Rimuru acknowledged with a thoughtful nod. "In that case," he said, producing a crystal ball out of nowhere and offering it to her, "this will serve as proof of my words. I could give it to you, but in return, I want a promise."
Velzard looked at the crystal ball suspiciously. "What kind of promise?" she asked.
"It's simple. I want you to promise not to mention a single word of this conversation to Guy," Rimuru replied.
"Huh? Why?" Velzard asked, genuinely confused.
"Because," Rimuru sighed, "I have a lot of things to handle in the coming days, and I don't want to deal with that annoying fellow right now."
Velzard narrowed her eyes. "And how do you know I'll keep my promise?" she challenged.
"Honestly, I don't," Rimuru admitted with a carefree shrug. "But I like to think we're friends now, and friends don't break each other's trust." He smiled sweetly, though Velzard could sense the mischief behind it. "Besides, even if you did tell him, I'd deal with him myself. The problem is that Guy is shameless enough to keep bothering me, no matter how many times I beat him."
After taking a moment to think Rimuru about Rimuru's offer Velzard sighed and took the crystal ball from Rimuru's hand. "Fine I will keep our conversation a secret," she said. "Anyway, what is this?" she asked gesturing towards the crystal ball.
"Don't worry about it. As I mentioned, it's proof that I wasn't lying to you. Just pour your magicules into it when you see your sister next time," Rimuru explained. "By the next time you see her, keep two things in mind. First, observe your sister carefully and see if you notice any unusual behavior. For example, see if she's doing or saying things that are out of character. And second, remember that [Lord of Justice, Michael]'s strongest ability is [Castle Guard]."
With those final words, Rimuru flashed her one last smile before disappearing, vanishing from sight.
Velzard stared at the spot where Rimuru had stood just moments ago, then down at the crystal ball in her hand. Letting out a tired sigh, she muttered, "I never thought a casual visit would turn into something so troublesome." With a heavy heart, she turned and flew back toward the Ice Continent although her mind was still going through the revelations she had just received.
******
Armed Nation of Dwargon
In the private quarters of Dwargon Castle, two men sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts as they shared a drink. The room, dimly lit and filled with the faint smell of alcohol, felt heavier than usual. King Gazel Dwargo, ruler of the Armed Nation of Dwargon, and Guildmaster Fuse were both wearing grave expressions as they read through the recent report of the battle between Rimuru Tempest and the Orc Lord.
"To kill Orc Disaster with a single touch..." Fuse muttered, rubbing his temples. His voice was laced with disbelief as he tried to comprehend what he had just read. "How am I even supposed to report this back to the King without sounding like a complete nutcase?"
"That's not even the worst part," Gazel sighed, downing another glass of alcohol in one gulp. He pointed at a specific section of the report. "Look at this... Subduing 200,000 Orcs with a single spell—this is beyond even my understanding. How could any nation hope to survive if they became enemies with such a monster?"
"That's... more than half of our nation," Fuse said in a low voice. "We have a population of around 300,000 people. If Rimuru ever decided to turn against us, he could wipe out two-thirds of the Kingdom of Blumund with a snap of his fingers." To emphasize his point, Fuse snapped his own fingers, the sharp sound echoing through the silent room. "Just like that."
"Thank you for that wonderful thought, Fuse," Gazel replied bitterly, shaking his head while Fuse grimaced. "And it gets worse. This Demon Lord Clayman seems to be behind the Orc Lord's rampage, and according to the report, Rimuru openly expressed hostility toward him."
"Rimuru's gutsy, that's for sure," Fuse muttered, leaning back in his chair. "But what happens if that Lord of Darkness himself decides to retaliate? He may not take kindly to Rimuru targeting his subordinates."
Gazel set his glass down, staring at it in contemplation. "There are two possibilities," he said slowly. "Either Rimuru is overconfident and unaware of the forces he's dealing with, or..." His voice trailed off as he looked Fuse in the eye, "he's already powerful enough that he doesn't fear Clayman. Or even the Lord of Darkness."
"No, no, no!" Fuse exclaimed, shaking his head furiously. "I don't want to hear that! I've had enough troubling news for one day—don't add any more to the pile." He quickly drained his glass and stood up, signaling he was done for the night.
As Fuse departed, Gazel remained in the room, staring into his drink as his mind raced with countless thoughts. He considered every possible outcome, and every strategy, but no matter the route he envisioned, it all led to one inevitable conclusion.
"I need to form an alliance with Rimuru," Gazel thought, his expression hardening with resolve. "For the survival of this nation." He took a final sip, sealing his determination with that last drink.
******
Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia
After returning from Clayman's territory, Frey slumped onto her throne, rubbing her temples in frustration.
"That damned Clayman! He nearly managed to steer that monster right into my kingdom!" Frey muttered angrily. "Thank the stars that man was reasonable enough to understand we had nothing to do with that fool."
As she closed her eyes and leaned back, the events of the day replayed in her mind. She couldn't stop the involuntary shudder that ran through her body as she remembered the battle she had witnessed. The image of the blue-haired man, subduing the Orcs with terrifying ease replayed in her thoughts. Frey was the Queen of the Harpy race, a species that prided itself on its speed and wings. But she knew—if that man could bring 200,000 Orcs to their knees with a mere spell, her kingdom's strength could be neutralized just as quickly.
What unsettled her even more was the fact that this powerful man was building a nation right next to her own and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. She clenched her fists in frustration. She might bear the title of a Demon Lord, but the cold truth was glaring at her with the fact that she was no match for that blue-haired man.
It wasn't just his power that frightened her. Orc Disaster was formidable, yes, but Frey was confident that she could have handled him in a direct fight. No, it was Rimuru's presence, his gaze through the glass ball after the battle. The moment he looked at her, Frey's instincts screamed danger. Every fiber of her being, every animalistic instinct honed from years of survival as a Harpy Queen, had begged her to stay away from this predator.
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a loud bang as the door to her throne room burst open, splintering into pieces. Ancient Demon Lord, Milim sauntered in, oblivious to the destruction she had caused.
"Frey! How are you? I came to play!" Milim chirped cheerfully, leaving behind a trail of broken doors.
Frey sighed, glancing at the shattered remnants of the doors. 'This girl has no respect for doors,' she thought in exasperation. She had tried countless times to encourage Milim to act more elegantly, but the girl was far too free-spirited, doing as she pleased without a second thought.
"Sorry, Milim," Frey said truthfully, shaking her head. "I can't play right now. That meeting at Clayman's drained all the energy out of me."
Milim's expression immediately shifted to an exaggerated pout. "What? Clayman hosted a meeting and didn't invite me!? How rude!"
Frey barely stifled a smirk at Milim's childlike outburst. But Milim quickly recovered, her curiosity piqued as she eyed Frey. "So, what happened at this meeting?"
"Not much," Frey replied with a tired wave of her hand. "Just watched Clayman's so-called brilliant plan crumble into a million pieces."
Milim's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Ooh! That sounds fun! Tell me more!"
Frey sighed, knowing Milim wouldn't let up. "Well, it started with a Kijin woman…"
She recounted the day's events to Milim—how a Kijin warrior had defeated the Orc Lord's subordinates, and how the blue-haired man had performed absurd feats on the battlefield, ending with his warning to Clayman.
Milim listened intently, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Ohhh! This blue-haired guy sounds interesting!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. "You think he's strong?"
Frey paused, considering her words carefully. "I don't know what you define as strong, Milim, but this man is definitely stronger than me and Carrion, for that matter."
Milim's face lit up with excitement. "Is that so? Well then, I guess I'll just have to test his strength myself!"
Before Frey could react, Milim clapped her hands and made up her mind. "Yes! It's decided! I'll go and test this man's strength myself!"
To be continued...
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