「Note: The grading system I established is different from the original. Here is the grading system.
[Common Grade----> Rare Grade----> Unique Grade----> Legendary Grade----> Mythical Grade----> Genesis Grade]
That's what I meant. Within these grades, there are high levels and low levels (Low-Legendary Grade---> High-God Grade), and it only starts from legendary grade.」
Rimuru's POV:
It's been a few days after the last spar with Veldora.
After that fight, he decided to get stronger in order to defeat me.
That led to him creating new types of storm magic and the creation of new arts.
After seeing his will to get stronger, I wanted Chloe to do the same.
We also had our own spar session. Chloe was also able to create her own art and magic.
She decided to name her art 『Divine Temporal Arts』. It had two branches, with one being her sword art and the other, her magic art.
If not for me being an existence that transcends time and space, some of the arts she developed have the possibility of killing me.
Well, it's safe to say that she is among the top 10 in the universe.
And as for what that is, just think of it as a ranking system I made for the most powerful individuals in the universe.
Being between the top 50 is already an achievement on its own for this world.
Standing in the top 10 is considered impossible, so I'm quite shocked.
Anyway, I'm pondering about how to start my journey.
I recently made a plan to begin searching for capable individuals who could serve me.
I thought of summoning the primordial but ultimately rejected the idea.
I mean, the only reason why Diablo chose to serve me was because of the time mask.
He is also the reason why the other primordials came to serve me.
I might be able to defeat them to gain their loyalty, but I want them to serve me out of their own genuine feelings.
I'm now conflicted on my choice and what to do, but as expected, Ciel-san came to the rescue.
Ciel: (There are different dimensions where the insectars and cryptids reside. You might as well get some of them as your subordinates. They could help in strengthening your military might for the future Tempest. )
Rimuru: (Hm. I see. I don't have a better plan, so let's go with yours. )
With that decision, i activated 『Time Warp』 and found myself in a whole new dimension.
It seems like my physical body got switched with my spiritual body upon my arrival.
The place looked like the chaotic dimension of 『Azathoth』.
I found several insectars fighting against other cryptids, and I even spotted a few lesser demons from afar.
I guess Diablo's hell gate is still active in this dimension.
I wore my anti-magic mask and started my journey to find a few capable subordinates.
The new races that were spawned from my magicules had acknowledged me as their God.
I wanted to complain, but I was too excited about them because they were spawned from my aura, and they were really strong, so I just ignored it.
I always studied everything about them, so I got to learn that the Drago-Wolfs and Phoenix's were extremely prideful races.
They would never bow down to someone they never acknowledged and preferred to live on their own.
Their prideful nature exceeded that of the ogres. Heck! I could even compare it to that of Guy's.
I guess they recognised Mr as their progenitor. I'm glad I named the first ones that I spawned.
Due to them having a name, they are more powerful than the rest, automatically making them the leaders of their respective race.
And now, the leaders of said race recognise me as their "God."
In the past, Diablo had spoken about how he prevented the phantoms, cryptids, and insectars from invading the other worlds, mainly the central world.
I guess I now understood what he meant by that.
I always got ambushed once in a while, and I got pissed off because of it.
So I decided that it would be a wonderful idea to release my 『Demon Lord's Haki』.
Although it evolved to 『True Dragon's Haki』, I still had a duplicate in my 『Skill Storage』.
I didn't want to alert anyone with sentience about my existence as a true dragon.
I then began to head out to the place where I sensed a strong aura.
After walking for a while, I reached my destination, and what I saw greatly surprised me.
3rd POV:
As Rimuru arrived at his location, he was met with a desolate land that was destroyed with two individuals engaged in a life or death fight.
???: Tch. You're as annoying as I remembered! Why don't you let us through already!!
A mysterious figure said whilst aiming their sword downwards the other individual who just smiled smiled
???: Kufufufufu. And why would I do that? Isn't that the same as opening a door for some measly rat to enter your home while you gaze foolishly.
The other person blocked the attack with their claw and aimed a nuclear strike magic under the other figure with their spare hand.
???: Grhhhh!! DAMN YOU "NOIR"!!!
The mysterious figure backed away from the magic the individual now known as "Noir" had activated.
Noir: Now, now "Feldway", I thought you knew better than to let your opponent get the best of you.
The unknowingly person identified as "Feldway" then dissappear and appeared beside Noir with his sword slashing towards Noir.
Noir backed away and began to exchange attacks with Feldway.
The speed at which they fought was nothing to joke at.
Within a span of five minutes, millions of strikes had been exchanged.
Feldway:『Holy Ray!!』
From this attack, thousands of spiritron decaying rays traveled randomly at lightspeed.
Noir dodged the multitude of light rays that were about to hit him whilst firing a『Magic Bullet』at him.
The exchange went on for hours with no particular winner as none had the upper hand in the fight.
To a normal person, it would look like two flashes of colors colliding against each other repeatedly.
Their battle had distorted space countless times, and the light produced from the fight radiated extreme heat that had long surpassed thousands of degrees.
Gravitational waves were spreading out and destroying nearby rocks.
Rimuru: (I know that this has nothing to do with me, but I've had enough of this.)
Oi! How long do you plan on continuing this?
The two finally stopped for once and glanced at Rimuru.
Feldway: Hmph. So you are the intruder I sensed during our little spar.
Noir: Hm? Though I wonder how you made it to this realm without crossing the hell gate.
Rimuru: I'll explain that later, I merely came here to pick out some subordinates for myself.
Noir: Kufufufufu. Interesting~.
I've never heard of anyone entering this chaos dimension with such a reason.
Feldway: Great. Another weird one. What are you gonna do next, become his subordinate?
Rimuru: I am just a passerby, so don't mind me.
Rimuru decided that it would be better to leave them to their own devices and leave peacefully.
Feldway: Huh? Where do you think you're going?
(Being able to pass through this dimension without the hell gate.... he is someone I need by my side no matter what). Instead of looking for a subordinate, why don't you join me. I would be able to help you with what you need.
Rimuru: Hm? Intriguing offer, but no thanks. I'd rather not do that.
Feldway: Hm. What a shame. But you have to die.
In a split second, Feldway had appeared in front of Rimuru.
He had his sword in his hand, pointed towards Rimuru's face.
Rimuru: (W-Wah!! Ciel-san!! Ciel-san!!!)
Ciel: (There is no need to worry about a thing. Your face is more than durable. )
Rimuru: (T-Traitor!!!)
The sword connected and pierced through Rimuru's mask and face... or that is what Feldway thought -
*CLANG*
Feldway, who assaulted Rimuru, was repelled by a mysterious force.
His mythical grade weapon 『Ark』 shattered and faded to dust.
After that, a long silence befell
them as no one spoke up for a long, uncomfortable period of time.
Noir: .....
Rimuru: .....
Feldway: .....What?
Noir: Kufufufufu. I see.
Rimuru: Errrrgh
Feldway: WHHHHAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!
Rimuru's POV:
Rimuru: (Oooooiiii- wait, wait, wait, waaaaaiiiit! WHAT IN THE ACTUAL-
Ciel: (....)
Rimuru: (Ah! Sorry about that. But Ciel-san, what happened!?)
Ciel: (It seems that this is produced from using an item during time travel. )
Rimuru: (Huh? What do you mean? )
Ciel: (The mask has the element of time within it, but it is somehow complicated. )
Rimuru: (Go on. )
Ciel: (The mask has the ability to adapt to a timeline with different time properties. Whilst being here, we can consider ourselves as beings from the future. Normally, the world would reject foreign entities from a different plane of time to exist in another timeline. But when one has a skill that gives the user authority to travel within time, there is a type of protection they get against that same property. )
Rimuru: (Ah! I see. So does that mean that if a foreign material from a different timeline tries to forcefully interfere with the mask's composition, it will be repelled? )
Ciel: ( Hai!)
I see, I had more questions to ask regarding the mask, but that will be kept for a later date.
The guy whose sword I broke was trying was too confused to even blink.
He just kept looking at me and back his incomplete sword repeatedly, which ticked me off.
Rimuru: Oi! Wake up to reality!
Funfact is, I always wanted to say that.
Ciel: (....*Sigh*)
I think someone looked at me disappointedly, but it must be just my head playing mind games.
After that reference, he seemed to have woken up from his shock.
He then looked back at me before giving me a cold glare.
Feldway: What type of mask is that.
Now he is looking at me warily, trying to comprehend what just occurred.
Rimuru: You mean this? (Hey Ciel-san, could you lessen the effect of the mask? )
Ciel: (Of course! )
I removed my mask, and he began to analyse it.
After his analysis, he was shocked again to see that I had removed the time property of it.
He was becoming warier by the minute whilst Diablo was-
Noir: Magnificent! Truly outstanding. To think that someone would be capable of doing such a thing. Kufufufufu. It seems like I have found what I have been looking for.
You know what, let's not even go there.
Feldway: Tch. You'll pay for damaging the great sword that Veldanava-sama gifted me.
Rimuru: Yeah, yeah. If it's so great, why did it break upon contact with my mask.
Feldway: Why you!-
Noir: Great one, can I be granted the honor of knowing your majestic name?
Rimuru: .... Rimuru,.....Rimuru Tempest. (Wierd. )
Noir: Ah~, thank you. Please spare me any position in your rank. Even if it is the lowest.
Ciel: (..... If i had no idea who he was)
Feldway: ... When i asked whether you would ask for servitude, I was being sarcastic, you know?
Rimuru: Well, sure thing. I am in need of subordinate anyway.
Noir: I am eternally grateful, my lord.
Rimuru: Just call me Rimuru.
Feldway: ..... I'll be on my way then.
After that, Feldway disappeared to report everything to Michael, I think?
Rimuru: *Sigh* I guess I'm gonna continue what I was doing. But first, let me handle the hell gate. (Ciel, could you do something about the gate? )
Ciel: (Hai. All I need is permission to take control of your body. )
Rimuru: (Is that it? Sure thing. )
With that said, Ciel used the subskill『Space-Time Domination』 on the hell gate.
Rimuru: (Huh? What happened? What did you do? )
Ciel: (I changed the teleportation coordinates of the hell gate, making anyone who passes the hell gate to irectly transferred to your 『Imaginary Space』.
Rimuru: (I see. Good work as always, partner. ) Well, that's one problem off my mind. Let's get going.
Noir: Kufufufufu. Even I n ver thought of such a thing, I'm highly impressed Rim, ru-sama.
Rimuru: Oh! That reminds me. You don't have a name rig, t?
Noir: No, I don't Rimuru-sama. Although I'm referred to as Noir.
Rimuru: Well, I'm officially giving you a name. This is just proof that you are my subordinate. You'll be my very first official subordinate. Your name will be "Diablo".
Noir was enveloped in my pool of magicules. Though I noticed something odd.
The magicules he received were vastly dense and way bigger than what he had received during my time as a demon lord.
After he absorbed them, he came out wearing a black butler outfit.
His magicule capacity has greatly increased. He now has an existence value of +2.9 million.
(2,912,094).
Diablo: To be given a name by you, it's an honor.
Rimuru: Hm. Now that's taken care of, let's go!
We started off by leaving that area.
I was just randomly moving to the place I had never seen before.
I had no idea what to do, so I ended up asking Diablo for help.
He then showed me around. I met a few demons who tried to attack me. Yes, "tried" is the keyword.
They were immediately destroyed by Diablo, who did not allow them to even understand how or why they died.
Well, no need to say "rest in peace."
As we were strolling aimlessly, I encountered a pair of insectars.
They seem awfully familiar for some reason.
Ciel: (These two are undoubtedly Zegion and Apito. )
Rimuru: (W-WAH!! For real! I didn't think that they would be this old. )
Ciel: (No. They were mysteriously transported from the past to the
future by an unknown individual. It is a similar case with Chloe. )
Rimuru: (I see. ) Hey there, little one. (Urgh! I sound like Veldora..... weird. )
Beetle: W-Who are you? Stay away and I won't do anything.
The beetle asked, looking at me warily.
Rimuru: I understand your situation, but calm down.
--- F-Fine. But who are you? ---
Although he doesn't seem to have calmed down a bit, I choose to ignore it.
Rimuru: Me? I'm Rimuru Tempest. I was searching for some strong subordinates that could help me. What about you two?
I asked, though I already knew who they were.
--- W-We are just nameless individuals who escaped from our homeland and are seeking a new home.---
Rimuru: I see. How about we help each other out.
--- What do you mean? ---
Rimuru: Why don't you two become my subordinates, and in return, I'll give you guys a new home and my protection.
--- But why would you want weaklings like us as subordinates when you have someone as strong as him with you. ---
That's a good question...which is why it deserves a perfect answer.
Rimuru: Well, you may be weak now with injuries here and there-
As I spoke, I began to heal them. I gave the beetle a part of my slime cells while healing the bee with my hipokute solution.
They were skeptical at first, but that soon changed as they looked shocked about something.
I can't tell if they were shocked because of my nature as a slime or the fact that they healed almost instantly.
Rimuru: -but if you work hard enough, you could very well be among the strongest of my subordinates.
He looked down, thinking about something before asking-
--- Do you really mean what you said? ---
The beetle asked me
Rimuru: Yes. I won't force you to answer immediately. You can think about it and answer me the next time I visit. (Booyah!! This is a perfect strategy! They already have a bounty on their heads, so making a decision here is the only way out for them. I'm the best. )
Ciel: (It is only natural since he had a genius teacher. )
--- Then there is no need. We pledge our loyalty to you, my lord. Please take good care of me and my sister. ---
Rimuru: Then, as a sign of you being my subordinates, I grant you the name "Zegion," and you shall be called "Apito."
After that cliche scene, a huge portion of my magicules were transferred over to the two.
I am now thinking of how it is possible for me to name so many monsters with no permanent effect.
I mean, the amount of magicules I expend naming others is unreasonable. Yet I always remained alive after such a thing.
These are the moments where my trusty partner comes into play.
Ciel: (It is possible because the rate at which you absorb the magicules in the atmosphere is higher than most species. After exhausting your magicule pool, you enter a hibernation state where you absorb magicules faster than normal. But after evolving into a spiritual lifeform, you now absorb magicules until tour reserves are completely filled up. )
Rimuru: (Ah, is that so? Well, I guess that makes sense. )
Looking back at them, they had finished absorbing the excess energy and began to undergo their racial evolution.
The magicules that escaped my body were quite large, to be exact.
After absorbing the excess energy, they started to enter their evolutionary sleep.
Zegion/Apito: We are eternally grateful to you, my lord.
Diablo: You must be highly intelligent if you are able to recognise "our" lord's greatness. I approve of you. Rimuru-sama, please allow me to personally train them. I will make them your strong enough to put some demon lords to shame within a span of a few months after their evolution.
Rimuru: ..... Sure thing.
(I guess Diablo will always be Diablo. )
Ciel: (This is the first time I've met a being I couldn't understand. )
I decided to let them evolve in my 『Imaginary Space』.
I made Zegion come into contact with my turn null energy.
After evolving into an imaginary lifeform, I now had the ability to enhance my body with the turn null energy, making my body's durability surpass Low-Genesis grade material (reaching Genesis Grade material).
All I mean is that Zegion will now be able to use my turn null energy through my 『Imaginary Supply』without serious collateral damage.
Also, I prepared a body for Diablo to possess for when we reached the central world.
It is a body that has been absorbing my『Nihility Collapse』 energy for decades and has now reached High-Mythical grade material.
There are currently four of these bodies in my imaginary space.
These are for the remaining primordials that will serve me.
There are also thousands of golems stored in my imaginary space for the demons and sirens that will serve me in the future.
Though, they are exposed to my aura instead of my turn null energy.
I didn't plan on getting Diablo, Zegion, and Apito at the same time, so I decided to return back to the central world.
Rimuru: Diablo, I understand that you need a material body to exist in the cardinal world, so I'm gonna gift you one.
Diablo: I am very grateful for your generosity. I will greatly cherish this gift.
I brought out the mythical grade body I had stored in my imaginary space out.
He looked very shocked and happy before he started blabbering some nonsense like 'As expected of Rimuru-sama.'
I mostly ignored the rest of it. He possessed the body and fully incarnated into his new body.
After a while, he stood up and made a complete 90⁰ bow.
I wonder how he does that. We then we went back to the cardinal world.
Rimuru: Alright. Let's get going.
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Question: How many ultimate skills are there in the world of tensura. [LN Volume 21]