In contrast, Rimuru and Robin exuded calm confidence, and Velzard hummed a tune, completely unbothered by the approaching threat.
"Stop right there! If you turn back now, I'll let you go unharmed. Leave this place at once!"
Although Rimuru didn't expect them to comply, a warning was issued out of formality. Predictably, the Fenrir Wolves ignored it, responding with a collective howl from their leader as they charged forward.
Their assault, however, met an unexpected series of traps. Rimuru's Steel Thread skill ensnared the wolves, while Robin's strategically placed pitfalls, booby traps, and poison setups further decimated their ranks.
When the Kitsune beasts attempted to incinerate the barricades with their Foxfire skill, Rimuru intercepted them with his Water Blade, decapitating them before they could act.
The feline creatures, known for their speed and agility, darted toward the village but were swiftly brought down by Robin's precise, merciless arrows or succumbed to the toxins on the arrowheads.
The wolves and hounds that reached the fences clawed and bit at the defenses, but the goblins took advantage of their vulnerability, raining arrows or striking with clubs until the attackers fell.
"Impossible! How could we, the proud Direwolves, be outmatched by mere goblins and humans?! This cannot be... This I will not accept!"
"Father, stop!!"
Ignoring the pleas of his kin, the wolf leader cut through the steel threads with his claws, instinctively evaded traps, and lunged at Rimuru, fangs aiming for his throat.
The goblins, desperate to protect their protector, began to move—but Rimuru acted faster.
~──Ice Blade. ~
With a single swing, Rimuru's icy blade released a frigid slash that severed the Fenrir leader's head.
The blade itself, forged from water through Water Manipulation and solidified with Ice Manipulation, was a weapon of his own making, imbued with extraordinary sharpness and durability as verified by the Great Sage.
"Listen up, Fenrir Wolves and allies! Your leader is dead! Now, you have two choices: Obey or Die!"
Rimuru's ultimatum reverberated through the battlefield.
According to Velzard, monsters adhered to a strict survival-of-the-fittest hierarchy, and submission to a stronger being was natural for them.
Still, Rimuru doubted they'd surrender so easily—
"We pledge our allegiance to you!!"
"...Huh?"
To Rimuru's surprise, the surviving monsters immediately swore loyalty, 'It seemed Velzard wasn't exaggerating about their acceptance of such hierarchy!' He thought.
After the battle, Rimuru healed the injured goblins and wolves using his potions.
He also consumed the corpses of the slain, including the Wolves Leader, for potential skills and sustenance.
Leaving the village's perimeter defense to Robin and Velzard, Rimuru allowed himself a moment's rest as dawn broke.
Gathering everyone except his immediate allies in the village square, he decided it was time to address a concern that had been nagging him.
"Hey, village chief, do you and your people have names?"
"No, only my late son, Rigul, had a name."
"I see… then how about I give you all names?"
The moment Rimuru made the offer, the goblins erupted into whispers of disbelief and excitement.
"Y-You would do such an honor... for us?"
"Of course. If there's no problem with it, I'd be happy to name you all."
The goblins cheered, their faces alight with joy. Naming seemed to carry great significance among goblins, a fact Rimuru hadn't fully appreciated before.
First, he bestowed the name Rigurd on the village chief and named his late son's successor Riguru.
He continued naming the goblins—Gobuta, Gobuzo, Gobemon, Haruna, and so on...
Although the chief expressed concern over Rimuru's stamina, Rimuru felt no ill effects and continued without issue.
Finally, he turned to a Kitsune that had joined their ranks.
"You shall be... Tamamo!"
"Kyun!"
The fox let out an enthusiastic cry, its new name seemingly resonating with it deeply.
Next, he named the leader of the Fox tribe Tamamo, followed by Yasaka, Kokonoe, and others.
The Hunting Cat Tribe was named Nekomamushi, Kuroka, and Shirone, and the Hunting Howls Tribe was named Inuarashi, Free, and Roxanne.
After giving quite a few names, the only one left was the Wolves Tribe, 'but what name should they give them...?'
"Alright, let's go with this: 'Ranga.' Your name is Ranga, representing the fierce storm in your fangs!"
The moment Rimuru bestowed the name Ranga on the Fenrir leader's son, he felt a sharp, draining sensation. A massive amount of his magical energy was siphoned away in an instant. Rimuru staggered slightly but managed to maintain his composure.
However, as he tried to name the next wolf, his human mimicry suddenly shattered, and a wave of debilitating exhaustion hit him like a crashing tide.
'What... is this? I'm feeling fatigued, I had never felt ever since I was reborn into this body.' Rimuru thought, his slime body trembling as he struggled to comprehend the sensation.
"Warning: The remaining magical energy within your body has fallen below critical levels. Entering low-energy state: Sleep Mode. Full recovery is estimated in three days."
The voice of the Great Sage echoed within Rimuru's mind, its calm and analytical tone contrasting sharply with the situation.
Though his consciousness remained intact, his body became sluggish and unresponsive. Understanding began to dawn on him, it was magical energy depletion, akin to draining all MP in a game.
'Damn... So this is what Velzard meant,' Rimuru muttered internally.
He recalled her warning about naming monsters being a taxing process, consuming large amounts of magical energy and posing risks to the namer.
No wonder Rigurd had been so concerned. 'Guess I got carried away. Well, I'll just take a break until I recover...'
And with that, Rimuru Tempest allowed himself to relax, leaving his companions to manage things in his absence…