A:N- to my readers, I ain't dead yet! In my country, anyone who subscribed to a certain company suffered a month-long network outage that took a while to fix, it was a painful wait, and mobile data is stupidly slow for my standards so I got nothin' to do stuck on my phone and can only READ and bored outta my skull. But I'm BACK, peeps! For the long wait, I'll make this extra long!
Shining in the Dark Battlefield
Rimuru watched from above as she directs her people like she was playing online games. Only, this is real life now, so she has to make sure nobody on her side dies.
This isn't a videogame.
Not Warcraft or Starcraft any more.
REALITY.
And she likes her new friends here more than her friends back in Japan anyway. In Japan, they hardly have time for each other as adulthood in Japan = WORKFORCE HELL.
Whenever they meet its always COMPLAINING and badmouthing their company or colleagues and even their bosses during meeting times in any Izakaya they decided on that it just adds to more stress. Its not fun anymore that friend meetings are more like Stress Relief Group Meetings now. And because of her work ethic when young, she was the only one of them to reach a high position through her other friends whom she met online and did favors for that they in turn helped her up while her school friends were 'being teenagers' back then and boy do they regret that now, that they're stuck being overworked Salarymen and Office Ladies struggling to go up.
She also dealt with them begging her help for 'benefits' but while she was willing, the problem was their credentials. She can pull strings, but unless they perfumed their resumes more by gaining more skills from online workshops and such that would get approval of HR, not even she can pull a miracle and risk herself getting demoted or worse, fired if HR Office Inspectors spotted files they did NOT approve of.
She logicked it so well her school friends can only sigh. Yeah, their main enemy is the HR Department and they were aware that their high-up friend was willing to help but she needs their accolades first.
She once compared herself to Itami Youji of GATE anime. Only, she wasn't a lazy geek like he was. She's a hardworking geek. Both are anime and LN lovers and she was a gamer. She balanced her work and gaming life that her family once snarked that 'she was unlike most japanese adults' where stress ruled their workforce lives and she has no stress to speak of and her brother joked he's jealous of her, even if he too, was in a high post thanks to her 'pulling skills' that he now enjoys a swanky life with his fiancee who was resigning from work so they can get married...and that was before she got killed in the streets, that is.
And now, its thanks to such a life that in this world, she makes full use of all she knows for the sake of these monsters who care for her now.
For her, managing a town and keeping her people well-off is just a typical day for her...just that, planning war strategies is NOT part of her job description dammit.
And so...she'll be a gamer once more and her people aren't dying, not on her watch.
But still, because of Gelmud creating an Orc Lord, she's not for Genocide either but he made the Orcs harm so many people they want justice exacted.
Her Kijin and their Lizardmen allies wants justice.
Hell, Benimaru is making full use of his inheritance already. He's nuking left-and-right, Shion is sending straight lines of vicious energy slashes, old man Hakurou is sending heads flying. Souei stuck at the Lizardmen Base so she relies on his reports. Aldrich-dono is also making full use of his flames, sending powerful flamebreaths, but he was careful NOT to evaporate his marshes as Benimaru was doing.
As for her woives and goblins, they're doing pretty well too! They rock~!
xxx
Indeed, her men are on a rampage.
Because they are now OP by standards and well-equipped, they moved in teams as races, but also, clearly understood that they work as a unit with everyone else.
The Lizardmen and Goblins they allied with can only stare in disbelief while doing their part.
'...did those Hobgoblins used to be like us?' a goblin croaked out.
Before their eyes, Rigur II showed off his newfound skills as a swordsman.
Hakurou learned Iaido and Battojutsu under his grandfather and in turn had many students under the Oni Village and King Gazel...and later, the Hunter Unit. Japanese Sword Arts are spreading!
The Hobgoblins are equipped with fine monsterhide light armor, and Rare-Grade weapons and armor.
Their movements are incredible that they were a subject of admiration and envy to these goblins who were nearly naked and only have garbage for weapons. Their rusty, cheap swords.
They felt absolutely miserable and regretted not taking a leap of faith back then.
According to Rigur, because they are all still building and expanding, nobody can join right now...for ten years, tops. This was Rimuru's rule that she cannot accommodate anyone else, not when she herself is swamped with work as everyone is reporting to her and she plans next building projects.
They cannot join the lucky ones who took the risk; they who now enjoyed evolution, and a better life.
If only they took the risk as their neighbors had done...would they be like these guys?
What's done is done, their problem now is surviving this!
xxx
The Lizardmen's morale is very high, because of their Chieftain who is now...very powerful.
So this, is a Draconian! Awesome! Their handsome, muscular chieftain soaring to the skies and raining inferno upon their foes!
Their enemies are set ablaze.
Their marshes glowing in golden flames ablaze, as that crimson kijin wields black flames.
Do they still even have something to do at this point?
xxx
Shion's strike mowed down many orcs.
That became the signal to start the battle as everyone rampaged to their hearts' content.
Benimaru was not surprised by the sudden slash that came from behind him.
Rather, he only muttered
'What the hell she doing...that idiot...'
Benimaru did not tremble, for better or worse, and the Hunter Unit were also stoic.
Rather, he was merely bitter that he could not draw first blood. However, he finally could go wild. He could bear the earlier grief.
Advancing at full speed, they crashed into the orc troops.
The orcs were ready to sudden attacks by unidentified individuals, but they simply could not react in time to the speed at which the Hunters attacked.
Brittle.
That is how Benimaru had described them.
There was no need even for us to go out, the goblins could have managed this alone.
This wasn't fun, so he thought. However, their lady wants them, the Kijin to gain closure. They who were driven to near-extinction. The Lizardmen who allied with them had a near close-shave, but after that, how many races were wiped off the map because of Gelmud and whoever is behind him?
They must deliver closure, after soothing the flames in their souls so they can move on as they start anew in their new home.
That was her hopes for the Kijin.
Boring this fight may be, but they are exacting vengeance on their losses. Their families. Friends. Neighbors. Their village.
Benimaru can only chuckle as he raised his sword Guren. Kurobe's Child that has potential to evolve and become a Legend-Class Item in no time flat as long as they expose it to their Magicules. He then pointed it at the wary Orcs.
'Okaaay. Yo, bastards. Yeah, you pigs over there, move. If you do, I'll let you go!'
But not a single orc moved.
'Don't screw with us! How could you...'
'Then, die!'
Since they had no intention to retreat, Benimaru decided to step in himself.
On his right palm, a black spherical flame appeared.
Increasing the diameter of this ball to a meter, he shot it at the orcs.
Sensing danger, they tried to run away. But it was far too late.
The ever accelerating round chased them. It's speed was around 600 kph–clearly beyond the orcs' abilities. They weren't even five steps away due to crowding when death took form of black flames.
Those struck were immediately engulfed and burned without leaving ashes.
However, the terror of the flame was not in this.
The ball also absorbed the magical energy of the orcs it struck and used it to fuel its growth.
Rather than a ball, it was now a dome with a radius of 100 meters.
And in a second, another roar resounded across the battlefield.
Well, it wasn't actually that loud, but those that heard it could feel their blood freezing in their veins.
Wide-area destruction skill...Hell Flare.
A skill that Benimaru had acquired, a form of Black Flames he inherited from Rimuru but took a form that suited him. The black dome had disappeared, and left scorched earth behind it.
They were supposed to be fighting in the marshes, but the ground was burned into glass.
Who could even imagine that terrible heat?!
It should go without saying, but it is easy to guess what happened to the orcs who got caught in the 2,000 ~ 5,000 degree fireball. Even their ashes were burned.
Only a minute had passed since Benimaru shot the flare.
And flashing a wicked smile,
'Clear the way, swine!'
He declared again.
The orcs were panicked out of fear.
Though they were under the effect of the Starving Ones, they should not have even recognized the emotion called fear.
However, that one attack awakened that terrible feeling.
For no matter how much they struggled, they could not escape.
An overpowering strength that they could not even imagine. Only forbidden spells could match such awesome might.
They had no way to counter the skill, and even if they attempted to grow stronger by feeding, the corpses were burned to a crisp.
He was truly a high demon far beyond their reach. And thus they feared.
The panicking orcs began to disperse.
Soon, they could barely maintain order.
Seeing them act like this, Benimaru quietly walked ahead.
To him, the orcs ahead were naught but a hindrance.
xxx
'Now then, tis' my turn to show my valor to my master.'
Reverberating from the depth of his stomach, Ranga said in a low voice.
And having zero interest in all else other than proving his might to Rimuru and his pack, he stared at the Orc General.
They stared at each other.
Orc General himself was confused. Suddenly a monster of great power had appeared.
He felt power oozing from the beast's body.
And moreover, from the direction the beast had come, he could feel terrifying magical energy.
Some great misfortune happened there. So the Orc General felt.
But being clueless to this all,
'I am Ranga, the Tempest Wolf that serves under Rimuru-sama!'
And to the orc,
'Swine, if you retreat, I shall not chase; if you attack, I shall not forgive!' Ranga barked.
The orc soldiers trembled, but not of fear.
Their general by their side, the effect of Starving Ones was strengthened.
'Guguguga! How insolent! A mere beast dares bare his fangs at me!'
The Orc General retorted.
And thus a battle began between them.
The general commanded the orc soldiers to surround Ranga.
For a beast, he saw no need for a fair fight.
But Ranga only laughed.
How joyous he was! He could finally show his true abilities.
Howling with all his strength, Ranga released his aura.
How long had he lurked within his beloved Rimuru-sama's shadow, absorbing the aura, while constantly re-imagining his body into a new glorious form. He keeps seeing an awesome visage whenever he rests in his master's shadow, exposed to her potent magicules daily. He trains himself here.
Aim for this form! Since he was told so, Ranga worked daily.
And now came the time for Ranga's true power to awaken.
Power gushed forth from his body.
His muscles bulged, his claws hardened, his fangs sharpened.
And, a new horn appeared atop his head. He grew bigger and more majestic. He's now seven meters tall on all fours. His pack evolved alongside him due to his 'All for One, One for All' mindset as he looks after his kin. His pack are now six meters on all fours and same with body length. Though with good reason as the Hunter Unit rides them, they look like babies on top of them!
That appearance, was just like that of his lord. Thus Ranga evolved into Tempest Storm Wolf. Well, Rimuru's version of it, that is...
Ranga glanced at the Orc General.
And he knew, he was no threat. To get a feel for his power, and to prove his intuition, he moved.
Ranga felt the flow of power, and directed magical energy into his horns.
After observing Ranga's transformation, Orc General sensed danger.
Go! He wanted to scream the order...but Ranga was faster.
Flash, and a roar.
Many lightning pillars appeared, connecting the heavens and the earth.
And a winding waterspout.
It was a skill that Ranga acquired, Death Storm. A wider area skill than the Black Lightning.
In a second, the Orc General was vaporized, and the surrounding orcs fell to the ongoing storm.
After the storm had passed, no orcs remained in the vicinity.
Wide area skill Death Storm held truly terrifying power.
Ranga observed this situation.
There were no casualties among the lizardmen, and he had used it with the largest possible range and also care. Master would tell them that attacking allies is also bad, so CONTROL is a must.
As expected, a lot of energy was used to fuel this skill, but Ranga could still continue fighting.
Having confirmed mastery over this skill, he howled a roar of victory and his pack howled alongside him in reverence.
Far away, he could see Benimaru slowly walking towards them.
'Yo!' he greeted. 'That's one hell of a growth spurt, Ranga.' Ranga became one hella dog, Benimaru thought. Evolving under Rimuru as their master...gets them insanely strong in turn. Though they'll need a new haircut. Again.
Rimuru always grooms the wolves herself, bath included and claw sharpening...and gives the cut-off fur to the dwarves for use into weaving light armor for the Hunter Unit, while the Kijin and Rimuru herself wear light armor out of Hellmoth Silk and whatever magic Shuna did to it.
'I worked hard daily as I rest in Master's shadow.' said Ranga. 'I always see a majestic form inside. My blood would sing, telling me to aim for it...and now, here I am!' he grinned, all teeth. 'This majestic form worthy of Tempest Wolf...wait, we're not Tempest Wolves anymore...' he scratched his head with a claw from his left paw. 'Whatever we are now is awesome!'
'Yeah, nothing's sweeter for a warrior than to grow in the battlefield!' Benimaru agreed with a hearty chuckle. 'A true victory! Anyways, let's mop up some more and show off!'
'Yes!'
xxx
'Uweee...they're really going all out.' Rimuru sweatdropped as she surveyed the battle while giving orders through Telepathy, giving them new tasks. 'At least they're still following my orders NOT to cause environmental damages but Benimaru and Aldrich are making way too much glass!'
And Ranga evolved before using his Death Storm attack as Great Sage noted. 'Say Great Sage, what is Ranga now exactly?'
/The Noted Individual Ranga and his pack has evolved into Tempest Storm Wolf species, due to their blessing gained upon being incorporated with Storm Element upon naming./
'So they're now wind and lightning-aligned beasts eh?'
/Correct. Due to master's generosity back then, they are now A-Class monsters./
Rimuru let her warriors know of Ranga's pack's gains in the heat of battle that further raised morale.
'My my, how proud.' she chuckled. 'They better not forget that they're not supposed to make a mess, I hope...' Rimuru sweatdropped, looking sheepish as she watched some more.
All the Orc soldiers that were trying to escape were eviscerated by Shion.
The first blow was dealt by Benimaru, but the rest of the attack point was on my commands.
It was aimed at the crowed areas, to cut down the enemy's forces.
Shion was successful in finishing off her enemy, she continued to strike the place as ordered.
Hakurou was taking care of the enemy's commander, he precisely kills the general classes to throw the rank and file into disarray without their commanders.
It can't be called a battle.
This is a Slaughter.
Approaching without any sound, and in an instant he cut them all down.
Because the effect of the Unique skill Starving ones is to increase the power of an individual under its influence after devouring corpse. So, it was a good idea to destroy the corpse of the one that was cut down.
I locate where the Orc general was and they were instantaneously killed by Hakurou after I communicated with him.
The current situation, the losses of the Orc soldiers reached about 30% after subtracting from up above. 250.000 - 30% = 175000...and still counting because everyone is showing off, even her Hunter Unit who could fight with confidence, thanks to both their training and their gear when before, they would squirm in fear before their superiors.
If there's anyone who grew up the most, it's her goblins, so Rimuru was proud of them.
And then, the Orc Lord finally began to show movement.
/Notice: Movement of Orc Lord detected./
Once the time to reorganize the forces of both sides comes, they shifted from confrontation to glaring at each other.
The pigs were tense after they noticed the superiority they brought here was lost.
The Orc Lord comes out to the front.
A monstrous and ugly pig in good armor, but tattered black armor underneath, most likely from all that growing he did while pigging out quite literally.
Suddenly, the two surviving Orc Generals were cut from head to toe and devoured. The dull yellow colored eyes were filled with hostility, and he releases his aura. In response to the aura, all of the orc soldier's forces seemed to brimming with power. Rimuru cast Thought Communication Network on everyone she named.
/Benimaru, can you cast your Hell Flare again?/
/It's an easy victory if I cast them!/ came Benimaru's smug reply.
/Ranga, how about you?/
/My Lady! About thirty percent of my magic power has recovered. It won't bring out power like the previous one, but it's possible to shot it one more time!/
/One shot is enough. Beside, that strike at the Orc was an overkill. Just half of the power was enough to kill them./ Rimuru snorted. /Cast it with the same range as earlier, but decrease the power when use it./
/With pleasure!/
/Shion. This time I want you to strike the Orc Lord with a flashy single slash!/
/Yes! I will use all of my power this time!/
What...? Up until now she didn't use her full power!? Well...
She was brandishing her Odachi joyfully with full power, or trying to slashing with it.
This fellow might be holding a strange strength after all, or so I thought.
/Hakurou. You also want to kill the Orc Lord? But not this time. Please endure!/
/Whew, understood. You want the young people to blossom.../
/I'll be counting on you!/
This way, Rimuru finishes the preparation for the interception.
The Orc Lord was no longer a threat.
Kiin!
"Hm?"
A harsh sound was heard.
Rimuru's Magic Perception had perceived someone that comes flying at supersonic speed from a distance. /Someone's coming./
That person was in the middle of the marshes, and landed in the middle of the two confronting armies like a meteor. I feel a pretty strong aura from the strange men that dressed like a clown in a suit.
Perhaps, Gelmud finally decided to show up.
xxx
While all this is going on, someone has problems.
A wide conference room.
The room were shrouded in silence.
Several shadows of men and women were sitting surrounding the large round meeting table.
A large crystal sphere was nested in the middle of the table.
From the lowest position seat near the entrance of the room, a man was casting some kind of spell towards the sphere.
The man dressed as a clown. His name is Gelmud.
He is the one who was entrusted with this meeting, and also the person responsible for certain project.
The project that he had worked for many years, and that project is to give birth to a new Demon Lord.
For the sake of his own ambition, the project must not ended in failure.
And then, it was finally the last day of the project.
He succeeded in inviting the four whimsical Demon Lords.
It has to succeed at all cost.
It's impossible to make the Demon Lords move with money.
You would need things that attract their interest, like a prey or a hard to obtain Magic Tool.
Anyway, it was necessary to pay a very valuable compensation.
This time, Gelmud succeed in making the four Demon Lord move. In other words, the compensation he paid was enough.
When the time comes for the birth of a new Demon Lord, the other Demon Lords would not stay silent.
If a fool freely calling himself a Demon Lord, he or she would be killed because they invoked the Demon Lord's wrath. Moreover, if there was such person that managed to turn the table against an infuriated Demon Lord, such person, if they had the ability...they would be recognized as a Demon Lord.
These past several hundred of years. There was no birth of Demon Lord with such ability.
The last born Demon Lord, the Human 'Demon Lord' Leon Cromwell.
With his overwhelming Magical power he increased the number of Majin that he controlled, he claimed himself as the Demon Lord of the frontier.
One of the Demon Lord, which was furious with him, the Curse Lord had waged war against him. But he was slain by Leon instead.
He was also defeated by Leon's own hands.
In response to the situation, the other Demon Lord recognized him as a new Demon Lord.
But, Demon Lord with such ability was not a common occurrence.
Therefore to claim a stranger as a Demon Lord, it was necessary to get the support of at least three or more Demon Lord. If you messed with the new Demon Lord, the supporting Demon Lord will become opponents at the same time, that is what to be expected.
And following such procedures, for the sake of the birth of the new Demon Lord, Gelmud become fired up because of his ambition.
This time, to make the Orc Lord as Demon Lord would require one more step.
For the bored Demon Lord, he prepares the stage for the birth of the Demon Lord as a spectacle. It was for them to have fun, which was one of the conditions for the support.
Of course it's not just that, he would also gave them Magic equipment and Magic tools.
For Gelmud this was a gamble of a lifetime.
The Orc Lord had to eat the Goblins and Lizardmen, to evolve as Demon Lord.
Today was the day when it will all end.
To become a Demon Lord and getting the support at the same time, one must devastated human city.
In doing so, it will become the news of the birth of a new Demon Lord.
If such things happened, Gelmud's ambition will be achieved. With manipulating the Orc Lord from the shadow, he would be on equal standing with the other Demon Lords.
And yet...
There was no reaction from the crystal ball.
Gelmud become impatient.
This is bad.
He doesn't want to imagine what happened if he offends the Demon Lord that were looking forward to the play.
It won't project! There's nothing that can be done. At that moment, he wondered if he is going to become a minced meat.
Even, if he's not killed, He might be cursed to become minced meat with only consciousness left.
Gelmud hurriedly cast the spell again, but there are still no reaction from the crystal ball.
'Hey...what are you doing?'
A voice colder than ice echoes.
The room turns silent, the intimidation was enough to disturb Gelmud's spell.
Gelmud was panicking with sweat leaking all over.
'Ple, Please wait! I will determine the cause right away!'
His instinct was saying, if he left it just like this it would be bad.
However,
Creak!
A sound of something that were creaking as if it was being squashed was heard. But no sooner than that,
Baaaaa~~m !
On the right side of Gelmud something big flew past by at high speed, it crashed at the rear door with thunderous sound. One of the Demon Lords, a petite and beautiful silver haired girl, lifted and threw the big round table with her left hand. It was without any skill.
The desk alone was several percent of state budget of a small country; it was a product of art from carved fragrant wood.
The heavy door in the back was decorated with elaborate decoration, Now it's just a large hole in the building's wall.
'You...are you treating me like a fool?'
The girl said.
Gelmud cannot mutter his words well due to his fear.
'P, p, please forgive me! I will immediately confirm the cause myself!'
So he spoke.
'Really? Then made it quick. Since I'm generous, I'm going to wait!'
"Which part of you is generous?!" Though he can't even afford the time to think about it. Gelmud was trembling in fear, the door was destroyed by the table that flew outside from the now large hole in the wall.
The conference room was on the 3rd floor, but he can't be picky about appearances anymore.
He leaps outside and starts chanting flight movement spell.
His ambition has all scattered away.
What occupied Gelmud's thoughts now, he doesn't want to die, only that.
He was not making fun of the Demon Lord. It's the truth
But, it had been seen as if he was making fun of them.
Gelmud prided himself as being a high ranked devil. That's why; he thought he was able to put a good fight against one Demon Lord.
But because there was four here, he worried that it was necessary to depreciate oneself and praise the listener, so he thought.
That's wrong.
Demon Lord is Demon Lord, because of that they were feared. Because he afraid of them, he was not a Demon Lord.
He knows it, he was being too conceited.
To become equal with the Demon Lord, such thing like that were impossible for Gelmud.
He was able to truly understand it.
Those who can't fathom the Demon Lord, won't be able to speak with Demon Lord.
With speed reaching the speed of sound, Gelmud flew toward the marshes.
But it was not for sake of his ambition. But for his survival, he needs to fix the blunder with all his might.
Upon landing on the marshes, Rimuru landed gently after letting herself fall from up above. Seeing this, Ranga and Benimaru hurriedly joined her.
The man that looked like a clown glanced at me.
'What the heck is all of this!? To dare to ruin this Gelmud-sama's plan like this!' he shouted loudly in both anger and flustered panic. The latter got them puzzled.
Gelmud. The high ranked majin, the mastermind of this war.
OOOOOOK, they didn't even ask him, but he goes and confesses his crimes...is he an idiot?
Acting like some big shot while looking like that. Maybe he's not dressing up like a clown. Maybe he IS a clown.
The Clown–Gelmud-san seems to be very angry. Moreover, he seems to be trembling and greatly flustered, so he's very incoherent.
Is he just calcium-deficient? I guess majin need vitamins.
Then the clown said, 'What a useless blockhead! It's all because you haven't evolved into a demon lord even after eating the lizards and the ogre trash, making this great Gelmud-sama come out all the way out here!' What a horrible manner of speech.
Rimuru stepped forward and using Thought Acceleration on Gelmud, she smacked his face with all her strength, knocking off his leather mask, and his lower jaw with it. 'GUHAAA!'
'Oh, do shut up now, you're before people you really shouldn't have pissed off.' said Rimuru coldly, as she applied an Anti-Magic Field solely around Gelmud's body and tying him up with her sticky thread. 'In reality, you're just...nothing. The weak always barks the loudest, like yourself.'
Gelmud regenerated his lower jaw. Its not magic, it's a skill so it's out of the Anti-Magic thingy. 'How dare you call me weak!'
'Yep, you are.' Rimuru smiled darkly, her eyes having an icy gaze. 'I'll repeat...you pissed off the wrong bunch by starting this mess you brought onto us all. Benimaru! Rigur! C'mere for a sec!' Rimuru called out as Rigur quickly ran to her side while Benimaru was with her ages ago. 'Make a punching bag out of this guy, turn him into ground meat by softening up his bones and toss him at Orc Lord, will ya? He should know what its like to be eaten alive after setting up hundreds of people to the same fate and enjoying their deaths, so we should do the same to him.' Gelmud choked in horror at her words as Benimaru and Rigur looked down on Gelmud darkly. 'It's only fair and I'm a very fair person~ so what if he can regenerate, all the more fun!'
Such, was her cruel, vicious order that set Gelmud up for one helluva beating as Benimaru and Rigur happily exacted revenge on Gelmud who howled in pain as the two tribal princes gleefully beat him up.
Everyone else can only watch stoically. They watched as the instigator of Racial Genocides around Jura Forest is being pounded into ground flesh.
But anyways, this guy is clearly above an A rank, but still way weaker than Benimaru, Rimuru thought.
/It is based on ranking system as defined by humans that focuses on the amount of energy in circulation. However, even if those with the same amount of energy battle, the one who is able to utilize it more efficiently shall have the advantage. Moreover, since skill level is not included in the ranking, great difference of strength tend to occur among those of the same rank./
So that's how it was. She'll really have to train her fighters hard just to make a difference soon enough. Level is not something Rimuru can just figure out by looking. Since this isn't a game, if she doesn't fight them, she wouldn't know.
And that's why Hakurou, who's skill level was surely high, had obtained that powerful high quality body with his magicules. Even if you possess a lot of energy, it's meaningless if you can't use it creatively and efficiently. And Rimuru being an otaku, excels greatly. She cannot possibly lose against either Gelmud or the Orc Lord.
'You blockhead! Don't just stand there doing nothing! Save me!' Gelmud howled in pain as rains of powerful punches crushes his regenerating body, rinse and repeat. Each blow was mixed with pent up anger after all.
Two hours later...
'Rimuru-sama, I'm afraid due to his regeneration, we cannot deliver him to his demise as ground meat!' Rigur called out.
'Yeah, he just heals, I can't even bruise him seconds after crushing his face!' Benimaru complained. Rimuru playfully tut-tutted.
'Oh well, he's a crunchy biscuit at any rate.' Rimuru covered Gelmud's mouth with strings so he can't bark orders. 'Toss him! One stupid-ass clown sandwich coming right up, Orc Lord!' Rimuru called out as Benimaru did the tossing. Basically...a Death Sentence as Rimuru intended for him.
Gelmud was freaking out now but he can't even call for help now!
Orc Lord grabbed him...and ate him. Gelmud cried in pain as he was being devoured alive and soon, he was no more.
Soon, Orc Lord's eyes glowing a pale light, he seems to have become intelligent. At that moment, the Orc Lord, who had been moving on instinct alone, finally acquired self-awareness.
And released an aura that could not be compared with his past self.
/Confirmed. The Orc Lord's magical energy has greatly increased. Evolving into a Demon Lord Seed...success. Individual: Orc Lord has evolved into Demon Lord Orc Disaster./
"Huh? Who's that lady voice?" Rimuru asked Great Sage. It talks like Great Sage, but a lady...
/Confirmed. What you just heard was the Voice of the World acknowledging Ord Lord's evolution./
'Yare yare, well, we expected this much after sentencing Gelmud to death, its now my turn!' Rimuru declared. 'Back away guys!' her subordinates obeyed her order as this was the plan for the beginning. They deal with the army, she deals with the boss. Plain and simple!
'I am...Geld...' Geld spoke slowly. 'Geld...the Orc Disaster.'
"Demon Lord Seed...huh?" Rimuru narrowed her eyes. Stronger than her?
/Individual Rimuru Tempest is also Demon Lord Seed level./
"Wait, what?!"
/Subject possesses 1,999,999 magicules, a step away into Demon Lord status. However, the Demon Lord Seed is not yet awakened./
"What happens if I eat this guy?"
/Even if you eat Geld, the seed will not yet ripen. Master does not wish to become Demon Lord yet, so I did not say the requirements to nourish it./
"Well, that's true...I guess I'll settle for this for now." Rimuru sweatdropped. "Buuut so what if we're BOTH seeds? I have the brains Geld clearly doesn't have. I'm creative with my powers and use it well. It's as you said, Class doesn't matter. Skill always matters." she thought confidently. "I also have to boost morale by showing off! Ahhh being leader's a pain in the butt!"
She stepped forward and vanished. Incorporating her anime knowledge into her fights.
She never thought she'd say this, but being an Otaku saves the day!
Shunpo to appear above Geld.
Then using Power Conversion, channeling her massive power into her legs to generate ridiculous raw strength and stomped hard on Geld's shoulders with his head between her legs as a result, that his entire torso exploded into gore. Thank you Rosario + Vampire!
Hundreds of jaws dropped as she did so. However, Geld produced some weird yellow gel-like tentacles to piece himself back together and some attacked her, making her dodge them in the air by flying around. 'Whoa!'
'That guy heals quick! Rimuru-sama's attack will normally kill anybody!' Benimaru swore as Rimuru went with explosive kick attacks. And this is coming from a SLIME?
What a gal their master is!
At any rate, regeneration uses up Magicules. She was forcing Geld to spend up all his power. Anyone with a brain can figure THAT out as they watched with awe and reverence.
And so, after several more blows, they could see the difference.
Before, the regenerations were quick, but starting to slow down.
This is it. He's getting weaker! Yet Rimuru-sama is not tiring one bit!
Soon...the Orcs, seeing this, tried to buy time, but Souei who was assigned to defend the Lizardmen Base, was back and strung them all up.
'Just in time.' Benimaru whistled at his bodyguard appreciatively.
'Mm. We cannot let Orc Lord recover by eating his subordinates.' said Souei with a smirk. 'Burn up some more.'
'Ou!' Benimaru grinned as he cast his Hell Flare behind the two fighting leaders, clearing the back to prevent aid reaching the Orc Lord.
Soon...
Rimuru-sama went in her slime form.
'Rimuru-sama?!' Shion gasped out.
'It's OK~all part of the plan!' Rimuru chirped as she smothered Geld in her slime. Geld retaliated by corroding her off to no avail.
'Urrrgh!'
'Hey hey, you're not the only one with the patents to Regeneration and eating you know! Let's see which one is stronger...your Devouring or my Predator!'
Geld was now starting to get nervous now as the slime was covering all of him. Devouring him. HIM! The Devourer! No!
It's too fast!
He couldn't keep up...
As she was predating him, Rimuru reached into Geld's subconscious.
How much time had passed as we attempt to eat each other?
But believing in my victory, I focus on predating her and, I cannot lose. I have eaten my brethren. I cannot lose. I must become a demon lord. I have eaten Gelmud-sama. I cannot lose. My brethren are starving. I cannot lose. Eating until we have our fill!
Thoughts poured into Rimuru's as she heard his words as their souls met up in a dry, cracked field.
"Hmph. Are you an idiot?" she thought coldly in derision. "I don't know what you're on, but you've already lost to me."
"But, I cannot lose...I have eaten my brethren." Geld thought back somberly. "I am sinful...so I will not lose."
So Rimuru answered,
"It's pointless. Let me teach you something. It's survival of the fittest in this world. You've lost. So you die."
"But, I cannot lose. If I die, my brethren will be burdened with my sins. I became sinful, so that they won't starve, for that I would do anything! I will become the demon lord. So that no one starves, I will devour the hunger itself! That's right! I am Demon Lord Orc Disaster. The devourer of worlds."
Rimuru sighed. This guy has crazy resolve.
"And yet, you're still going to die. But rest easy. I will devour your sins."
"What? You will devour...my sins?"
"Yeah. And not just yours, but also those of your kind."
"Mine...ours...all our sins...Aren't you greedy."
"That's right. I am greedy." Rimuru chuckled. "We're both stupid gluttons. Can you relax now? Once you have, just go to sleep."
"Ah..." Geld sighed, looking up at the cloudless sky of their subconscious. "I cannot lose. But...sleep, huh. I feel...warm. Greedy one." he spoke to Rimuru. "You destination is hardly tranquil." he mused. "But, you who have accepted my sins...thank you. Now my hunger has finally been fulfilled..."
Demon Lord Orc Disaster. Named Geld.
Just now, his consciousness has finally disappeared.
/Confirmed. Demon Lord Orc Disaster has disappeared. Unique Skill: Starving Ones has been absorbed by unique skill Predator./
"I have won." Rimuru thought as the field became a fertile forest. "One who always starves could never have won against me who knows no hunger." and, she opened her eyes, burdened with the sins of his entire race as she was cocooned in her own slime, and burst out looking slightly mature. 'I have won. Sleep well, Demon Lord Orc Disaster Geld!'
Her declaration resounded across the land otherwise silent as the sun rose. It's already...morning.
And at that moment, the hodgepodge alliance of a Slime, Kijin, Hobgoblins, Goblins and Lizardmen shouted for joy even as the Orcs lamented in despair.
And thus, the Orc invasion has been stopped.
Based on his consciousness that had been flowing into me until now, Gelmud was in fact the cause of this incident.
Furthermore, he was in fact supported by an unknown number of demon lords.
That, however, the Orc Lord had learned before establishing his self, so was rather unsure about it.
But Rimuru knows enough to stay vigilant.
And beside, she can't just leave the orcs as they are.
The main problem has yet to be resolved. The Orcs themselves.
The war ended.
"I fought a truly strong opponent." Rimuru sighed wearily. "Perhaps, if he had finished his evolution...I probably would not have a method to defeat him. It's because we had fought now that I could win. I'd much rather had fought him before he had evolved! But...nobody would be satisfied enough nor gain closure, I bet."
But more importantly!
Right. She's gotten another unique skill!
That is, her Predator has changed into Gluttony.
Analyzing the skill made her want to seal it away.
Nope. It's too dangerous of a skill.
And while she was thinking these things, "Hm? Somehow my power feels as if though it's boiling..."
My wounds are healing faster! Have all been restored already?
Yeah...'
I heard such voices.
Hmm. As Rimuru thought. It's the effect of Gluttony.
Its effects are?
/Answer: Changing into unique skill Gluttony has added the following effects:
Decay: The ability to decompose the target. Ability to add decomposition status effect. There is now a chance of acquiring an ability after consuming only a part of a monster's corpse.
Supply: Whether a subordinate or not, you can now grant an ability unto a monster with whom you have a relationship. Limited by the target's inherent magical energy.
Food Chain: It is now possible to acquire skills from your subordinates. All of them.
These three have become your power./
Is what it said. The five original abilities of predator stayed the same, and these three were added.
And along with that, my stomach capacity seems to have doubled.
"So does this mean that I can now use Benimaru and Ranga's skills that they've gotten from evolution?"
/It is possible./
Seriously?! So whenever they get stronger I get stronger, and the opposite is also true. How terrifying this power had become! Though she can't share knowledge this way or transmit magic. Of course, proficiency Rimuru also needs to raise on her own. Daily effort is important, after all. But seriously, what an absurd power.
As expected of Orc Disaster.
"It's a shame I couldn't eat the clown earlier, but I did get some spare change from him. Particularly, through pure luck, I have gotten Flight Magic!"
She didn't need incantations to use it. She can fly around just by willing to do so. She no longer needs wings to fly. But more than getting her hands on unique skills and such, Rimuru had Great Sage to further optimize and integrate all those skills.
This all aside, the war has ended. The battlefield was filled with happiness, sadness, and despair.
Now then.
I think it every time after a battle, but more troublesome than the war itself are the reparations afterwards.