Chapter 2: The Tempest Pact
The air inside the sealed cavern felt different after the naming ceremony—warmer, almost alive. The Tempest Brothers quivered slightly, adjusting to the newfound power coursing through their cores.
Veldora loomed above them, his crimson eyes flickering with both amusement and curiosity.
"Kukuku... Now that you've received my name, I suppose it's only fair I teach you a few things... Little brothers."
Joshua's golden streaks pulsed faintly at the dragon's words, but he remained silent, letting Rimuru handle the talking. His mind was already processing the wave of new information his Heavenly Appraisal was providing.
"What kind of training are we talking about?" Rimuru asked cautiously.
Veldora's laughter echoed through the cavern.
"Strength... knowledge... survival. You two have the potential to become powerful beings, but raw power without control is meaningless. First, you will learn to harness your skills."
Joshua's mind flicked through the system prompts.
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[System Notice: Training Commencement — Veldora Tempest]
[Objective: Basic Combat Fundamentals | Duration: Unknown]
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Veldora's massive claws traced patterns in the dust, drawing complex runes that flickered with faint light.
"Magicules are the foundation of power in this world. Without control, they will consume you. Focus inward—feel the flow within your cores."
Both slimes fell silent. Rimuru's azure form shimmered as Great Sage assisted him, guiding his consciousness deeper.
Joshua, however, relied solely on his instincts—splitting his focus between his demonic and angelic energies. His form flickered slightly, the golden streaks across his body dimming and brightening as he struggled to maintain balance.
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[Duality Core: Stability — 68%]
[Warning: Misalignment Detected]
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Joshua's core wavered, but he forced himself to steady. The voices of both halves of his nature whispered at the edge of his mind—light and shadow vying for dominance.
"Balance..." Joshua muttered softly.
Veldora's gaze shifted toward him, narrowing slightly.
"Interesting... You walk the path of duality, little one. A dangerous road. But if you master it... you may surpass even those who sealed me away."
Joshua's flickering stabilized at the dragon's words, his golden streaks glowing brighter.
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[Duality Core: Stability — 95%]
[Unique Skill: Darkfang — Partial Activation]
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The younger slime's body rippled as a faint black mist began swirling around him—a fusion of demonic hunger and angelic precision.
Rimuru bounced slightly closer.
"Oi, Joshua... That's kinda scary."
Joshua remained silent, focused entirely on maintaining control. The mist faded, leaving his body shimmering faintly.
Veldora chuckled.
"Good. You learn quickly. But power alone is not enough—next, you will learn how to fight."
The dragon's eyes glowed faintly as a pulse of magicules rippled through the air.
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[Combat Simulation: Commencing]
[Enemy Projections — Lesser Elementals: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth]
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Four shimmering creatures flickered into existence—elementals formed from Veldora's magicules.
"Defeat them... without consuming them." Veldora instructed.
Rimuru and Joshua exchanged glances before turning toward their opponents.
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End of Chapter 2