Ciel: <>
Voice of the World: <<>>
******
In the Queendom of Fulbrosia, Sky Queen Frey reclined gracefully on her throne, savoring a glass of crimson wine. The fiasco with Clayman and his ill-fated attempt to create a puppet Demon Lord was now a distant memory, leaving her days quiet and predictable as her queendom thrived in stability, and her stature as a Demon Lord ensured external threats remained at bay.
Just then, the tranquil atmosphere was interrupted when one of her guards entered the throne room and bowed low. "Lady Frey, Demon Lord Clayman has arrived and is requesting an audience with you."
Frey's brow arched at the mention of Clayman's name. "Requesting?" she repeated, her tone laden with skepticism.
The guard hesitated, her expression darkening as she cast her eyes downward. "No, Lady. He demanded an audience with you."
The words had barely left her lips when a feather from Frey's wing streaked through the air, grazing the guard's cheek with such precision that a thin line of blood appeared.
"Do not lie to me again," Frey said, her voice cold and sharp, sending a shiver down the guard's spine. "Now, did he give a reason for his visit?"
"No, Lady," the guard replied quickly, in a trembling voice. "He claimed we were 'unworthy' of knowing his intentions. He said he would speak only to you."
Frey sighed, setting her glass aside. "How typical," she muttered. Taking another deliberate sip of wine, she added, "Send him in. But first, summon my daughters."
"As you command, my Queen." The guard bowed deeply before retreating from the chamber.
Moments later, two harpies entered the throne room, their wings beating softly as they descended with effortless grace. The identical twins carried sleek, polished spears while their stoic expressions bordered on disinterest. Their only distinguishing feature amongst the two was their hair—Luchia's was blonde, while Claire's was silver.
"Greetings, Mother," the twins said in unison, bowing their heads. Without needing further instructions, they glided behind Frey's throne, standing guard with icy, stoic expressions as Clayman entered the room.
Clayman arrived shortly after, striding into the room with his usual theatrical flair. His smirk was smug, his movements exaggerated as though every step demanded attention. "Ah, Frey," he drawled, spreading his arms as if to embrace the room. "Looking as radiant as ever, I see."
"Spare me your flattery, Clayman," Frey replied coolly, reclining back with her wine glass. "State your business. I have no time for your nonsense."
Clayman's eye twitched, but he quickly masked his irritation with a practiced smile. "Now, now, Frey. I'm not sure what I've done to earn your hostility, but don't you think we, as fellow Demon Lords, should strive to get along?"
Frey swirled her wine lazily, her expression unmoved. "Get along with you?" she repeated with a note of derision in her voice. "Clayman, I'm a busy woman and unlike you, I don't waste my time coming up with ponzi schemes that fail moronically," she said, taking another sip of her wine. "That's why I won't repeat myself; get to the point."
Clayman's smile faltered as his fist clenched at his side. "I understand your frustration over the last plan," he said, his voice tight. "And believe me, I share it. But let's not forget that it wasn't my fault some upstart demon decided to interfere and ruin everything."
"That's why I believe that now we have the perfect opportunity and a reason to retaliate against that upstart demon and crush him with the might of us Demon Lords," Clayman said with a grin. "Once we do that, the entire Jura Forest and all of its resources will be ours for the taking."
Frey, however, looked no more interested than before. "I will be honest with you, Clayman, I have no interest in crossing that demon if I don't have to," she said. "In fact, in my opinion, it is much better for Fulbrosia to have a reasonable demon ruling the Jura Forest because even if we do succeed in conquering the forest, I will have to invest and expand my own resources and people to extract the value out of that forest. So the most reasonable thing I could do as the queen is to negotiate with that demon when the time comes, saving both the lives of my subjects as well as the resources of my nation."
Clayman clicked his tongue in frustration, realizing that his persuasion wasn't going to yield any results here. Pivoting, he decided to attack her pride instead. "Well, I wasn't aware the infamous Sky Queen had grown so spineless. Afraid of a mere upstart, and willing to negotiate with him? How disappointing."
The moment the words left his mouth, Frey's daughters, who had been silent until now, raised their spears, pointing them directly at Clayman. Their eyes blazed with fury as they glared at him.
Frey, however, simply chuckled, raising a hand to stay her daughters. "Stand down, my dears. Clayman forgets himself, but he's harmless—like a yapping dog with no teeth." She turned her gaze back to him, her smile icy. "Clayman, the only reason you still draw breath after insulting me in my own throne room is because I have no interest in dealing with Guy over your sorry corpse. You should thank him for sparing your pitiful life if you ever get the time away from all of this foolishness of yours."
She leaned back in her throne, wings shifted, their feathers gleaming menacingly in the light as she smirked. "And it's laughable, truly, that you accuse me of losing my spine when it's you who's lost your mind. Provoking someone far superior to you in power? Now that's the mark of a fool." Then her tone turned dismissive. "Leave. I don't have time to entertain your idiocy any longer. Feel free to continue your schemes, though. I'll be sure to raise a toast when they inevitably lead to your downfall."
Clayman glared at Frey and gritted his teeth, but he knew that now was not the time to retaliate. So he simply turned around and stormed out of the castle, swearing to himself that he would find a way to have his vengeance and make the Sky Queen beg for mercy in front of him.
******
In the Demon Realm, Violet, the Purple Primordial, lounged in her grand castle, a look of utter boredom etched on her face. Her recent skirmishes with Jaune had grown monotonous, and Blanc's absence only added to her irritation. Violet was convinced Blanc had been summoned to the overworld and was having the time of her life, leaving Violet stuck in her dull routine.
Just as she was about to let out another exasperated sigh, a smile spread across her lips as she felt a familiar presence approaching her. "Well, well, well," Violet said, leaning forward on her throne. "If it isn't the lovely Blanc. How considerate of you to show up, especially since I was just thinking about you."
Blanc, clad in regal white attire, stepped gracefully into the room. Her crimson eyes sparkled with an unsettling calm. "I'm flattered you were thinking about me, Violet," she said with a cool smile. "But please, refer to me as Testarossa. My new lord has given me this beautiful name, and it is the only one I will answer to now."
Violet's eyes widened in shock before narrowing into a pout. Folding her arms, she huffed, "What?! Someone named you? Who on earth would be foolish enough to name someone like you?"
Testarossa tilted her head slightly, her serene demeanor masking a flicker of menace. "Now, now, Violet. Jealousy doesn't suit that cute face of yours," she said, her voice light and teasing. But as her smile lingered, her crimson eyes darkened with malice. "And I would strongly advise you to watch your tongue when speaking of my lord. Should you choose not to, I'll be forced to rip that insolent tongue out and wrap it around your neck until you choke on your own arrogance."
Violet's eye twitched at the venom-laced threat, but she rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, fine," she muttered, waving a dismissive hand. "No need to throw a tantrum about it." Then, leaning forward slightly, her grin sharpened. "So, what brings you here, Testarossa? If it's a fight you want, I'm always game!"
"Oh, Violet, as much as I'd enjoy putting you in your place, I'm here for business," Testarossa said smoothly. "My lord has commanded me to bring you to the overworld and have you swear your loyalty to him." She took a step closer, the sound of her heels echoing ominously in the silent chamber. Her tone dropped to a deadly whisper and her crimson eyes flashed dangerously. "You can either come willingly... or I can drag you along with you after roughing you up a bit. Your choice."
The playful glint in Violet's eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, steely glare. Her aura flared to life, the room filling with crackling energy as tendrils of violet light swirled around her body, filling the room with suffocating pressure. "Like hell you're taking me anywhere!" she growled, slamming her fist in her palm.
Testarossa's smile didn't waver. Instead, it deepened, and the room seemed to darken as her own power surged forth. A swirling black aura enveloped her, cold and suffocating, reminiscing of death. "I was hoping you'd say that," she said, her tone dripping with malice. "Now, let me show you the strength bestowed upon me by my lord—a power far beyond anything you can comprehend."
The room trembled as the auras of the two Primordials clashed, the oppressive weight of their power turning the air dense. The floor cracked beneath Violet's feet as her violet energy surged like wildfire, illuminating her small yet menacing frame. Testarossa stood unfazed, her black aura swirling around her like a calm, predatory storm.
With a sharp cry, Violet closed the distance in an instant, her fist cloaked in violet energy aimed squarely at Testarossa's face. The speed and force of the attack shattered the throne behind Violet, but the White Primordial had already moved.
"Too slow," Testarossa teased, her voice cool and mocking as she reappeared effortlessly behind Violet.
Snarling, Violet spun on her heel, unleashing a ferocious barrage of punches and kicks. Her attacks blurred with speed, yet Testarossa wove through them with an elegance that bordered on insulting. Each dodge was calculated, every sidestep graceful, as though she were performing a well-rehearsed dance.
"Is that all you've got?" Testarossa asked, her voice laced with faint disappointment. She sidestepped a brutal kick that split the marble floor beneath them, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "I expected more from you, Violet. Or has all this time without me around made you soft?"
The taunt struck a nerve. Violet's snarl deepened, her frustration crackling like the energy that surged around her. She leaped back, summoning a swirling orb of concentrated Nuclear Magic between her palm that condensed into a volatile sphere that hummed with deadly intent.
"Let's see you dodge this!" Violet roared, hurling the orb with the force of a comet. It tore through the air, obliterating a section of the castle wall as it sped toward Testarossa.
Testarossa didn't flinch. With a flick of her wrist, the black aura around her condensed into a whip-like tendril, slashing the orb in two. The resulting explosion was deafening, shaking the very foundations of the castle. When the dust settled, Testarossa emerged unscathed, her expression serene.
"Impressive light show," she said lightly, brushing a speck of dust from her sleeve. "But still... utterly lacking."
Without warning, Testarossa vanished and reappeared in front of Violet, driving a palm strike into her stomach. The impact sent Violet flying across the room, her body smashing through one of the massive stone pillars. She coughed, staggering to her feet, her eyes blazing with rage.
"You're going to regret that!" Violet roared in frustration, the ground beneath her erupting as she surged forward once more. Twin blades of violet energy formed in her hands, their edges crackling with a deadly poisonous aura. She slashed furiously at Testarossa, each swing aimed to maim, but each strike met the same fate.
Testarossa meanwhile counter with her whip, parrying each of Violet's strikes with effortless precision. The sound of their blades clashing echoed like a symphony of destruction. Each time Violet pushed harder her frustration grew and so did Testarossa's smirk.
"You're slipping, Violet," Testarossa taunted, her voice dripping with condescension.
Finally, with a sharp flick of her whip, Testarossa knocked one of Violet's blades aside with enough force to send her skidding across the room. In the same motion, the whip lashed out again, piercing through Violet's shoulder with a searing, black-edged strike causing Violet to cry out while clutching her wound
"Careful now," Testarossa said, her tone mocking. "You might start to think you're outmatched."
With a guttural growl, Violet erupted in a surge of energy, the violet aura surrounding her intensifying until they roared like a storm. "I'm not done yet, BITCH!!!" she bellowed.
The castle trembled as she unleashed her full power, creating a maelstrom of poisonous aura that tore through walls and shattered windows. "I'm not done yet, BITCH!" Violet bellowed, her form blurring with speed as she charged again.
Testarossa's laugh rang out, cold and chilling. With effortless movements, she blocked every strike, each collision of their powers sending shockwaves through the chamber. Violet pushed harder, her attacks growing more desperate, yet Testarossa remained untouchable.
"Pathetic," Testarossa muttered. In a single, fluid motion, her whip lashed out in a flurry of strikes, each one glowing with an ominous black aura. The blows rained down on Violet, tearing through her defenses and forcing her to retreat under the relentless assault.
Panting, Violet glared at Testarossa, her tattered clothes clinging to her battered form. "I won't let you take me!" she spat, defiance burning in her eyes.
Testarossa chuckled, her crimson gaze gleaming with cold amusement. "Oh, darling," she said, her voice sickly sweet, "you never had a choice."
Raising her hand, Testarossa conjured a sphere of blinding white flames. She vanished in an instant, reappearing in front of Violet and driving the searing energy into her gut. The explosion engulfed Violet in a crushing wave of heat and force, slamming her into the ground.
As the flames dissipated, Violet lay sprawled, her body battered and barely able to move. Testarossa loomed over her, her expression one of smug triumph.
"See? Was that so hard?" Testarossa asked, crouching to meet Violet's glare. "Now, let's make this easy. Swear your loyalty to my lord, or we can go another round. I don't mind playing with you a bit longer."
Despite her state, Violet growled weakly and her eyes blazed with defiance.
Testarossa straightened, letting out a theatrical sigh. "Take your time, dear. But first..." Her crimson gaze shifted toward the shadows lingering in the corner of the room. "Why don't you step out? I know you've been watching this whole time."
A moment later a swirl of black smoke materialized, parting to reveal a figure with jet-black hair streaked with red and gold. His golden eyes, with fiery red pupils, gleamed mischievously as he stepped forward, a sharp grin playing on his lips.
"Hee-hee-hee-hee," the newcomer chuckled in an eerie voice. "How perceptive of you, Testarossa. But then again, I'd expect no less from one personally summoned by the great Rimuru-sama."
Testarossa's eyes narrowed, her aura flaring slightly. "Noir," she said icily. "What do you want? Don't tell me you're here to pick a fight too."
Noir waved a hand dismissively, his grin widening. "Oh no, nothing so crude," he replied. "In fact, Testarossa, I've come to ask for a favor."
******
In the quiet serenity of the evening, Rimuru sat in his home, casually playing cards with Framea.
"Uno! That's my win again!" Framea exclaimed triumphantly, her face lighting up with pride. "That's four wins in a row!"
"You're really good at this. I just can't seem to beat you," Rimuru chuckled, setting his remaining cards down as Framea eagerly began reshuffling the deck, her ears twitching with excitement.
'Sure, I could,' Rimuru thought with amusement, 'but where's the fun in that?'
'Winning isn't the point here,' Rimuru explained. 'For me, victory is getting to spend time with Framea and seeing that bright smile on her face.'
As if sensing Rimuru's sentiment, Framea looked up with a warm smile. At that moment, a thought communication interrupted the peaceful atmosphere. 'Ah, she's done already? Testarossa really is efficient,' Rimuru mused as he rose to his feet.
"Framea, I'm sorry, but something important just came up. I need to go," Rimuru said gently. He noticed the way her ears drooped slightly but saw her nod in understanding. "Hey, don't look so down. I'll be back soon. How about this: while I'm gone, enjoy a nice bath, and when I return, we'll have some ice cream together. Sound good?"
At the mention of ice cream, Framea's eyes lit up, and her mood flipped instantly. "That sounds perfect!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet and pushing him toward the door. "Now go finish that important thing quickly, so we can eat ice cream sooner!"
As the door shut behind him, Rimuru chuckled softly. "Did she forget I can teleport?" he murmured with a smile. "What a silly girl."
With a thought, Rimuru teleported to the deepest part of the Jura Forest cave where Veldora had once been sealed. Over the months, he had transformed the cavern into a lush Hipokute herb cultivation site for potion-making. , so it wasn't as isolated as before. But despite that, he had made sure to restrict access to the deepest part of the cave, where only he and his authorized people could go. Rimuru had also covered this area with various kinds of barriers that prevented every possible kind of information leak as well as retained any and all kinds of magicules leaked in this place.
'Testa, you can bring her here now,' Rimuru instructed via thought communication. Moments later, Testarossa appeared, holding a battered and bruised Violet by the collar of her torn dress. Despite her injuries, Violet's fiery spirit remained unbroken as she alternated between glaring at Testarossa and shooting furious glances at Rimuru.
"Hello, Lord, it is nice to see you again," Testarossa greeted, her voice soft and sweet as she tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear. Her demeanor starkly contrasted the deadly presence she'd displayed earlier. Violet's jaw nearly dropped in disbelief, seeing the same woman who had ruthlessly overpowered her acting like a shy maiden.
"I missed you too, Testa," Rimuru replied warmly. "Thanks for completing the task so efficiently." His gaze shifted to Violet, who thrashed futilely in Testarossa's grip. "So, this scrappy-looking kid is Violet, the Purple Primordial?"
"Who are you calling scrappy, you bast—" Violet's retort was cut short as Testarossa slammed her face into the ground with enough force to crack the stone beneath them.
"My apologies, my lord," Testarossa said coldly, pressing Violet's head further into the ground while the little demon continued thrashing her arms and legs. "It seems I failed to properly educate her."
"It's fine, Testa," Rimuru said with a wave of his hand. "Let her go. I'll handle this my way."
At his command, Testarossa released her grip, and Violet leaped to her feet, brushing herself off while glaring daggers at them both.
"You want me to swear loyalty to you? Fine. Prove you're worthy of having me as a subordinate!" she challenged, folding her arms defiantly while ignoring the deathly glare Testarossa was sending her way.
Rimuru stepped closer, unfazed by her bravado. "Alright," he said calmly. "But first, let me ask you something. You're an expert in torture and poison, right? And there isn't a poison in the world that can affect you?"
"Of course!" Violet boasted, puffing out her chest. "There's no poison in existence that can harm me!"
"Is that so?" Rimuru's smile turned icy, and Violet felt an unfamiliar chill run down her spine. Confusion flickered across her face since she'd never experienced fear before. However, then before she could even realize what was going on suddenly dark black claws materialized on Rimuru's hand, and he thrust them into her abdomen.
The world seemed to freeze for a moment before an unbearable pain unlike anything Violet had ever felt surged through her body. She collapsed, writhing on the ground, a guttural scream tearing from her throat.
"What kind of poison is that, my lord?" Testarossa asked, her crimson eyes narrowing as she watched Violet's torment.
"It's a special concoction," Rimuru said matter-of-factly, watching Violet writhe. "One specifically designed to harm Primordial Demons."
Originally, this poison was created by Diablo as a gift for Rimuru. Funnily enough, when he had asked why Diablo felt the need to create something like this, it turned out that it was Ultima who had taunted him about how she was more useful to Rimuru with her poisons, which Diablo took to heart and created this poison.
"I think this should be enough," Rimuru said, placing a hand on Violet's body. He channeled the antidote through her system, and after a few moments, she managed to stand, panting heavily and looking worn for worse.
"That..." Violet's voice was hoarse, but her expression shifted into a wide grin. "That was incredible! What kind of poison was that? I've never felt anything like it before!"
"So, was that enough of a demonstration, or do you need more?" Rimuru asked.
"It was plenty!" Violet exclaimed with excitement. "I'll gladly serve someone who can create poison like that!"
"Good, in that case, here is a body for you," Rimuru said, conjuring a body made up of Divine Steel, which Violet immediately occupied. "From now on, you will be known as..." he added, extending his hand and placing it on her head. "Ultima..."
As soon as Rimuru named her, Ultima's body glowed, and she evolved from an Arch Demon to a Demon Peer, gaining an insane boost in strength and magicules.
Once her evolution was complete, she kneeled in front of Rimuru and placed her hand on her chest. "I, Primordial Purple, Ultima, swear my undying loyalty to you," she pledged, and promptly, she was granted another reward.
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"Well then, Ultima," Rimuru said, sitting on a nearby rock. "As your first task, why don't you start by telling me everything you know about the Kingdom of Raja?"
To be continued...