Satoru Mikami, the ordinary 37 year old we all know and love, has just been tragically stabbed.

As he has his final thoughts, a strange voice begins to speak, but his focus isn't with it.
The voice was speaking non-sense to him, skills? what is this, an Isekai fiction?

The voice finally piques his interest enough, he's going to die anyway, he can't hear his friend shouting for his name.
(For future refrence:
Thoughts - ''

Great Sage/Raphael/Ciel {}

VOTW []

Speech ""

Thought communication ()

He is currently trying to speak, that's why I will use "", but his throat wouldn't let the words get through.

The rest should be narration, If you see text like this, it is most likely an intermission or an important event.)

"I don't... want to feel this pain.. it's cold.. and yet so.. hot...
am I burning or freezing..?
Make it stop..."
[Success, you have gained the following skills:

Pain nullification, Cold Resistance, Fire Resistance.

Fire and Cold Resistances will be fused to created Thermal Fluctuation Resistance.]

"W-what... stop speaking.. non-sense.. you're sounding.. like a hermit, no.. an ancient sage.."

[Success, you have gained the skill:

Great Sage.]

"...I just wanted... to live a normal life, inspire people...get a girlfriend.."

[Failed, You cannot gain the skill Chosen Hero, as you do not meet the requirements.]

Satoru was deeply confused.

"I wish this... blood of mine.. would not flow...

it's feeling.. disgusts me.."

[Creating a body that does not require blood, in compensation, you will need Magicules to not fade out.]

"Stop... stop... stop.. this.. is getting annoying!

I want.. to live.. to see... to hear..I don't... want to die..."

[Success, You have gained the skill Magic Sense.]

It was then that his consciousness faded.

His friend fried his PC and Hard drive, throwing the entire thing into his bathtub, truly a loyal friend.

"Your final wish, Sir Satoru..."

Some time later, although not exactly specified, as time and space seemed to halt for him after his death, he was floating in an endless void of black, then he hit something hard, making him snap up.

"Hey, you're finally awake."

Satoru woke up to a complete pitch black void, he could only make out the figure of someone in front of him.

"W-where am I? Are you perhaps.. God? I didn't sin... Please I don't want to go to hell!"

The being looked at Satoru confused for a second, then laughed lightly.

"Calm down, I am no god.

I am just here to.. guide you forward.

You will soon wake up somewhere, and I need to help you quickly, Try to sit cross-legged."

Satoru tried at first, but couldn't, he couldn't feel his body, his new body.

Eventually after quite a few minutes he managed to sit up, he is yet to realize he is in a different body.

"Call this an intervention, and think of me as... a semi-omniscient being.

I am here to slowly guide you towards the path that should cause you the least tragedy."

Satoru blinked, though he did not notice that he did so.

"...Am I getting.. reincarnated?"

The being smiled lightly.

"Yes."

Satoru was dumbfounded, then he was sort of excited, then he was hit with grief, then happiness, then confusion."

" - HUH?

Wait, you're telling me getting Isekai'd is real?!

YES! YES!

But.. wait.. what if I'm weak.. oh no.. don't tell me there's your average demon lord that threatens the world...

No wait, if I'm getting Isekai'd, this could mean I might be the main character, is that what the voice back then meant? If so I just got some good skills, lucky me!.

But wait... now I'm just.. lost.. what about the language? The people? What will they think of me?

Shit..."

The Being stared at Satoru with amusement, he did not know Pre-Death Rimuru was this amusing, he felt relief knowing this person in front of him was good at heart and soul.

"Now now, let's get to the point. You will wake up in a cave... don't question the body I will give you, that is the intervention, just know that it was crucial to give you that precise body.

As you wake up, you should see everything at a weird 360 angle, don't be worried, you'll get used to it.

Gather as much materials, remember those Video Games you used to play, grinding, that was the term if I am correct."

The being paused, thinking of something, before continuing.

"After a few days, although you wouldn't know how much time has passed, just get the feel for it I guess, traverse the.. 'land' you'll be in until you find a massive pool of water, swim over it, and jump down to where it will take you to your most important encounter."

Satoru took all this in, he was quite scared of forgetting this, but then the being reassured him.

"Do not worry, memories are not forgotten that easily, I will make sure of it.

When you finish that encounter, I will meet you again, just hurry."

Satoru could hear a snap of fingers before his consciousness fades, he then wakes up after what felt like an eternity.

"U-ugh... I didn't get his name... Atleast I got a powerful friend...

Is he powerful? He seemed to be."

Satoru stood up and walked for a bit, not noticing his body had changed, or his new clothes.

he stopped by a lake and looked at his reflection, to his utter shock..

"WHAAAAAAAAAAA! I'M... I'M A GIRL!

NOO! TAKE ME BACK!

I DON'T WANT TO... NOOOO!"

I DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY... CHEST... OR ANYTHING!

Okay.. calm down Satoru... you can do this...

Maybe it's just a mistake... you'll change this form eventually right?"

He touched his body and all he could feel was a strange sensation, he could not feel a beat, there were no veins, no heart, no organs, he was like a doll.

"Okay time to confirm... am I... male or female.."

He closed his eyes and prayed to whatever god exists here that he was still united as one with his sworn bald brother..

He dropped to his knees and let out the most grief stricken shout in existence.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

How am I going to accomplish all my lemon fantasies..

Impossible.."

The ground shook, and Satoru was taken aback.

After the massive Grief that was finding out he doesn't have his sworn bald brother, Satoru decides to move on, as he remembered he was told to immediately get to work on gathering as many supplies... but how?

{Answer, Using the skill "Predator" you can consume a target, the chance of success is reduced if a target is conscious.

Using this on non-living matter will cause the matter to be stored in one of "Predator's" Sub-Skills, "Stomach", any object stored in "Stomach" is not effected by time.}

"Oh... Cool! When did I get that skill?"

{...You had it since you came to this place..}

"Did you just.. get frustrated?"

{Just your imagination.}

"I swear- Nevermind..

Wait does my body extend to consume the item?

How the hell?"

{Answer, You're a slime, but for some reason unknown you have obtained a body already.

Running analysis on body...

Failed.

It is presumed that your body was created along the slime form, and you might have accessed the body while reincarnating, it is presumed that you can change into a slime nonetheless.

Attempt change?}

"..Sure?"
Suddenly Satoru's body began to decrease in size, until he was a blob, his clothes disappeared, as if they were a part of him, he saw himself in the water's reflection.

"Oh.. my goodness..

Makes... more sense..

Uhm.. I didn't quite get your name yet."

{Answer, I do not have a name, for I am a skill, you can refer to me as Great Sage.}

"Interesting... alright, let's get working.

Explain my skills on the way, if you can, Great Sage!"

{Understood.}

Satoru traversed the cave, he found some Hipokute Herbs, Great Sage told him to use analysis as a test of his abilities, after analyzing the herbs, he used predator on the herbs and stored them, he got quite a massive amount before moving on to the next target.

"Great Sage, what do you think I should gather next?"

{Answer, it is recommended to gather the ore known as Magic Ore, it is highly plausible that it will prove helpful in the future.

The ore itself is used for crafting weaponry, and overtime it can evolve into magisteel.}

"Ooooh! Interesting! Don't mind if I do!"

After 30 minutes of material gathering Satoru shifted to his normal form before making his way through the cave.

"So you said I have quite a few skills...

Predator.. Magic sense.. Thermal Fluctuation Resistance...

It's so hard to keep up...

Do I have any offense..?"

{Answer, For now, Master has no means of offense, but it is possible to utilize the Sub-Skill "Stomach" for that, by consuming materials and using them against enemies, Master can cause damage.}
"Smart one you are...

Let's.. see.."

He shifts into his slime form, swims through quite a bit of water, then forgets he can't swim.

"Oh no.. I'm stuck... Uh...

Great Sage! Help me!"

{Answer, Consume water and then propel yourself.}

"Smart!"

Satoru does just that, he consumed quite a bit of water and used a bit of it to propel himself, he accidentally went too fast and fell over a cliff...

"Oh... Hell yeah! This feeling is-

Woahhhhh!"

He shouted desperately as he fell.

Splat, although he felt nothing.

"Thank the gods I am a slime...

This might not be so bad afterall!"

Satoru shifted into human form again, and walked quite a bit before feeling a heavy pressure exuding from something a bit forward.

"...This... feeling.."

{It is recommended Master takes extra caution, a heavy aura can cause fainting, and even sometimes, death.}

"Holy! Death?! I need to be careful.."

He approached the direction of the aura before he was halted by a massive voice.

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOAR! A PUNY HUMAN DARES ENTER THE PRESENCE OF MINE, THE GREAT STORM DRAGON VELDORA?"

"Nope see you later!"

"Wait! I'm sorry! Come back!"

The voice suddenly got much more quieter and softer, almost begging.

Satoru turned to the voice.

"Well.. I don't know what to make of you.. promise you won't hurt me?"

"I can't, even if I wanted to.."

Satoru was confused as he approached the voice, and when he saw it, he almost fainted.

"Holy shi-"

Satoru saw a MASSIVE dragon standing ahead of him, he was frozen from fear.

"Kuahahahaha! You are correct to fear me! For I am the great Sto-"

Satoru lost his focus on whatever he was saying and thought to himself:

'Is this the encounter he talked about? if so, I better hurry it up.'

Satoru mustered up the courage to talk, and approached slowly.

"U-uhm... Mighty... dragon.. what is your name?"

'Is this human dense?' Veldora thought to himself.

"Veldora, The Mighty Storm Dragon! One of the Four True Dragons!

Kuahahahaha! So fearful of my name, how it should be!"

Satoru sat infront of him, just confused.

"Well... why are you stuck like this?"

Veldora was pierced right in his ego, he didn't want to admit he was sealed by a human.

"Well.. u-uhm.. you see.. long story..

Anyways! Do you need my blessing small one?"

That seemed to distract Satoru's attention.

"Blessing?"

Veldora answered smugly.

"Yes, my blessing, I shall grant you a name, when you are named, you get stronger, and can use more skills, blah blah, but most importantly, you get to show off!"

Satoru just heard him skip over the most important information.. just to show off?

Is this dragon really as powerful as he seems?

Or is he just mentally handicapped to the brain of a child?

"Uh.. sure.. bless me..friend."

Veldora heard friend uttered from Satoru's mouth and he felt a great joy and sadness, someone called him a friend, but that person was a puny human...

"Kuahaha! You, be a friend with me? You're surely joking!"

Satoru just gazed at him then smiled wickedly.

"Fine then, I'll just go.."

He slowly got up before Veldora cried out in despair.

"WAITT! NO! STOP! PLEASE!

We can be friends..."

Satoru almost laughed but suppressed himself.

He turned around and extended his arm in a handshake, then realized that Veldora's arms were.. quite... large.

But Veldora did not leave him hanging, he extended a finger.

"To our friendship!"

Veldora was quite happy, still a little disappointed, but happy.

"Hm... how about We use a shared name, like a last name, to make people recognize our new found friendship?"

Satoru was stunned, he thought this child in a dragon's body could not think of something so beneficial, so he agreed on the spot.

"I like that idea! So what will it be?"

Veldora scoffed.

"You expect me to do all the work, I, The Mighty Sto-"

Satoru just cut him off.

"Okay okay! Whatever...

Hm.. Storm dragon... Wind..

Tempest!"

Veldora gasped like a kid seeing a treasure box full of candy.

"Is it bad?"

"It's amazing! Kuahahaha!

Your intellect might one day rival mine!

Now.. as for your name..

Hm.."

Satoru was praying to the gods of this world to please, PLEASE get him a good name.

"Rimuru."

Satoru tilted his head at this strange.. sound that he just emitted.

"Uh.. did you just sneeze?"

"No you idiot that's your name!

Rimuru Tempest, Sworn brother of Veldora Tempest!"

Satoru lost all hope, his mind immediately started to calculate how long people would laugh at his name...

but suddenly felt a massive surge of energy and magicules enter his body.

[Success, Individual Rimuru Tempest has established "Oath Of Brotherhood" with Veldora.

Permanently increasing his magicules, additionally, individual Rimuru Tempest has gained the following skills:

Unique Skill "Supercharge" - Expend magicules to increase the effect of a skill, varies from skill to skill.

Unique Skill "Contain" - Stagger an opponent using aura, this will make them lose their footing for a few seconds to a few split seconds depending on the opponent, the effects of the aura Containing the opponent can still apply, that is getting knocked out or death, this skill was gained due to the blessing of Veldora, the Storm Dragon.

Extra Skill "Manifest" - Expend magicules to create an object equal to common grade, the object is not very durable, but depending on magicules expended, it can rival an average sword.

This concludes the "Oath Of Brotherhood."]

"Oh... wow! I feel.. so much better..

Thanks, friend!"

Veldora felt his heart shatter, he was feeling happiness after such a long time.

After eating Veldora and placing him inside his stomach along with infinite imprisonment, Rimuru was knocked out.

Satoru, No, he's now Rimuru.

Rimuru wakes up in the same familiar void.

"Good morning.. er.. or should I say Good night?

Hello regardless, good progress, you went way faster than I expected, you also got the slime form! Nice observation from you and your Great Sage."

Rimuru stared at the being infront of him in utter awe and shock, he knew everything.

"Are you.. observing me..?" Rimuru asked, a bit terrified.

"Ahahah.. no don't worry, it's just that when you enter here I can analyze you from head to toe, nothing escapes my hollow eyes!" He chuckled a bit lightly, making Rimuru feel relieved..

"So, now you have to wait a whole month." He said with an expression that could not be seen.

"Eh? You're joking right? A whole month? the hell am I gonna do?" Rimuru asked very anxiously, he was too impatient in the beginning, let alone now.

"Sadly, you'll have to, it seems you got quite good starter skills, as for the cave, it is quite large, very large in fact, you can spend years down there, gather as much abilities as you can."

He said in a blank tone, just stating the facts to Rimuru, Rimuru can just choose to do whatever he wanted, but he trusted this stranger.

After a deep sigh from Rimuru,

"Okay fine...But can't you directly help me? Make my life easier." Rimuru asked trying to squeeze as much as he could from the being.

"I can, but I won't, because if I did, your potential would go to waste.

Veldora's blessing is better than mine for you at the moment."

Rimuru took those words in and sighed again.

"Alright.. no skills aswell?" He was really desperate.

"Hm... I can tell you how to make getting skills easier, other than that, I don't have any skills."

Rimuru dropped his jaw, this being that seemed all powerful, had no skills?

"Wait wait, no skills? you serious?" Rimuru asked as if he heard wrong.

"Yeah... just one, and I'm not giving it up, sorry."

"It's alright..." Rimuru looked quite sad, then continued.

"So how do I make getting skills easier?"

"You use your skill Contain to put massive pressure on the enemies, with the massive aura you were emitting without any control, any monster would've been subdued with contain, then as they are staggered/knocked out/dead, you use predator and you can get their skills and passives! Neat, right?"

Rimuru could only react excitedly.

"Yeah! Very cool, thank you sir!"

He got up to bow, making the being quite embarrassed.

"H-hey.. no need for that! Consider it a help for a future friend? Or rather, a current friend."

They shook hands before Rimuru woke back up.

Rimuru immediately began exploring the cave.

"Great Sage, if it is possible, draw layout of the cave as I go, so I can immediately come back here in a month, also keep track of the time."

{Yes, Master.}

Rimuru spent quite a lot of time killing monsters with this extremely efficient technique.

Almost a month has passed as Rimuru gathered much more magic ore and hipokute herbs, and skills.

"Great Sage, lead me back to Veldora's meeting spot, and tell me of my skills that I gained."

{Yes, as for the skills:

"Sound-Wave Tracing" - Allows you to tune into your surroundings, letting you feel anything within a radius of 100 meters, it is recommended to use for espionage.

"Body Armour" - Hardens a part of your body with metal, can be used as a weapon.

"Wind Blade" - Take a massive breath then breath it at high speeds, can cause injuries and cuts from low to high extents.}

Great Sage kept analyzing his skills until it got to 2 important ones..

{Unique Skill Predator evolved into:

"Apex Predator" - It has the same effects as Predator, but it is much faster, and can be made faster with Magicules, this effect applies multiplicatively with the Unique Skill "Supercharge".

With the evolution of the Unique Skill "Predator",

The Sub-Skill "Analysis" has evolved into a separate skill,

Unique Skill "Slime Wisdom" - It allows a much faster and more thorough analysis, additionally, any being superior to the Slime race of monsters will not be able to feel this analysis, unless they have superior means of detection.

Lastly, You have gained the Unique Skill

"Camaraderie" - A skill that raises your senses and abilities while more people you share a deep bond with are around, the more people, the stronger the effect.

This ends the analysis.}

'That last one... sounds broken...'

"Great Sage, how much is the increase in ability and do I have anyone currently applicable for a deep bond?"

{Answer, the increase begins at 1/4 of your current status, increasing by 1/4 for every ally after that.

This increase does not apply to magicules.

As for the applicable ones with a bond:

-The Storm Dragon Veldora - Oath Of Brotherhood.

- Error. Cannot Comprehend. Cannot Understand. Cannot Make Out the Person.

Rebooting Great Sage...}

"Huh? Great Sage? You there? Hellllloooo?"

After a few minutes Great Sage came back on.

"Oh... you're finally back... had me worried there."

{Apologies, it seems the answer could not be found.

Would you like to conduct a search as to why?}

"No.. it's fine, don't worry about it.."

The Red Primordial, Rouge, more widely known as Guy Crimson, the most feared individual in the Cardinal World, who is currently living in the Ice Continent along with the second oldest True Dragon and the current strongest one, Velzard the Ice Dragon, had woken up in a pitch black void, he immediately got up and looked around.

"Where the fuck...

Was I attacked while off-guard..? No.. impossible.."

Guy was utterly confused, before hearing a blank toned voice.

"Hello Rouge, or are you Guy now?" The voice asked, even though it knew through it's mega analysis powers.

Guy immediately turned around and attacked the being, his sword was shattered on the spot, but the being did not retaliate even when struck on it's head.

"Calm down, you're not up." The being told Guy.

"Not up? Then is this..?" Guy trailed off but the being answered.

"Yes, think of this as a dream space, you've dozed off, albeit with my help, it was difficult waiting all this time for you to drop your guard one bit!" The being chuckled slightly.

"Wait, what happens in my real body? What if I get attacked? You don't know what can happen!"

Guy was extremely worried, unlike his usual character.

"You'll be fine, Velzard will take care of you, she probably knows you're knocked out by now."
Guy was in utter horror.

"Wait.. what if she... Fuck... Ughh!

Anyways.. what do you want?" Guy was extremely frustrated.

The being stood up face to face with guy, even facing the being he still couldn't make out any features, no expressions no nothing.

The being took the initiative to talk.

"Alright let's restart this introduction.

Hello Guy Crimson, my name is Iudex, if you find that too hard to pronounce, you can call me whatever, you are currently within my domain, my only skill.

Forgotten Skill, Sleep Space."

Guy raised his eyebrow at his words.

'Forgotten Skill? Sleep Space..?'

"What does your skill do? And how is it a 'Forgotten' skill?"

Guy immediately took the initiative to question the being, Iudex.

"Hm.. how to explain it.." Iudex was trying to put it in the easiest way to understand, before continuing.

"Alright, have you ever heard of alternate dimensions within skills?"

"I think so...? Yeah..?" Guy answered a bit confused.

"Think of this as a whole dimension outside the plane of the universes themselves, still within a skill's property of course." Iudex told Guy, to Iudex's amusement, Guy was very sharp witted and quickly caught on.

"But with it being a skill, doesn't that mean this plane can still exist within the reach of universe..? but with what connection...?"

"Precisely, It is separate in dimension, but connected through other skill users, as all skills trace back to one origin, even mine, this is how I can connect to you."

Guy nodded, but then questioned him with the main question.

"But still doesn't answer why did you take me here?"

"Ah yes, of course, pardon me trailing off, you are here because I've selected you and someone else to go on the correct path, and I want you to meet that someone."

Guy tilted his head ever so slightly.

"That being is currently inside Veldora's cave, in a month or so, you will feel a massive aura come out of the cave, once you do, immediately hurry to him, before he turns off his aura.

And do not be surprised at how weak the being is within that moment, for he will grow into being possibly extremely powerful to the point of rivaling Velzard's niece, if the correct path is taken of course."

Guy was taken aback, a weak being becoming so strong, but he accepted his offer, since he was bored with nothing to do, Rudra's game was getting quite stale at this time.

"And you want me to take care of that being, and make him grow into his potential?"

Iudex clapped a little.

"Bravo, you really impress me with your sharpness Guy.

But yes, I want you to basically nurture the being, he will be your most vital ally at one point, he might even tip the entire game to your favor, just him."

Guy, hearing this, had the biggest most wicked smile ever, before asking one final question.

"What do you get out of this, Iudex?"

"Eh, Nigh-Omniscience of your world comes with it's cost, utter boredom, but there is something I want to do at one point, incarnate into your world, for now I can't since I am stuck in this skill, even though in this skill I am basically Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent to everything in here, I cannot leave."

Guy felt his heart drop for a second, again, unlike his usual self;

'Did he just say Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent? Isn't that the three stages of infinity? Even with all of that.. it's like he's sealed...'

"Alright..." Guy responded, before continuing.

"I'll take your deal, a month you said, you said it should be easy to tell when his aura comes? Did he take... his blessing?" Guy asked.

"Yes, he did, now, I'll see you later, Guy Crimson."

Guy was immediately awoken to Velzard right up in his face, he immediately slapped her face away and got up.

"Get away from me you lustful dragon! How long was I out?"

"My feelings... My heart is shattered, Guy.

30 minutes, extremely unusual for you to sleep."

'30 minutes... that's about right.. is his world in equal time.. did he make it like that on purpose?'

Rimuru had kept track of time, it has almost been a month, well a month according to earth time, he wasn't exactly sure if the time equivalence is the same in this world.

To be exact, there was still-

{1 hour, 34 minutes, 23 seconds to a month.}

'Thank you Great Sage... so exact! You would have been a good co-worker in my former life..

Forget good, you would've been the top worker!'

Rimuru was almost at the entrance, he had found it a while ago while traversing, and just waited there, but the door was already open for some reason.

'Weird... last time I was here the door didn't even the budge...

I wonder who was this strong...'

Rimuru suddenly felt weird, like his senses were just about to explode from danger.

'Wh-

What's going on..?'

A man, to be exact, a red haired man wearing an open coat, came walking towards Rimuru, Rimuru immediately started walking back, he tripped and started crawling backwards,

this was true fear, he did not know this person but he knew his place, he felt that this person could erase him from existence in one touch.

The man laughed manically, Rimuru was basically the equivalent of dead at this point.

"Look at you, absolutely pathetic, get up, you're coming with me."The man was extremely terrifying just to stare at, his voice was even more stern, adding to the terrifying-ness.

Rimuru was still frozen.

"Sigh..."

He extended his hand to Rimuru, which Rimuru stared at for 10 seconds, before taking it.

"U-u-u-uhm...

W-ho are...

y-y-y-you?" Rimuru's vocal cords wanted to cease to exist.

"Call me Guy, pronounced Ghee, and from now on you'll be with me, I have much to share with you, and so do you much to share with me, think of this as a mutual benefit relationship."

Guy said this, he wasn't wrong, but he wasn't completely saying the truth either, he was gaining MUCH more than Rimuru in his opinion, winning the game was Guy's main priority, and with this new secret weapon that he should be able to develop in no time, the scales will crash into the ground in his favor if what Iudex said was correct, as strong as Milim? Now that is one hell of a person you wouldn't want to be on the opposite side of, he had his doubts, but he wasn't losing much, he was bored anyways, if this.. thing... failed, he'll just kill it.

"U-uhm.. Sure.." Rimuru hesitantly responded.

They then suddenly teleported to the Frozen Continent, to be exact, they teleported to the castle.

Rimuru was taken aback, 'What an absolutely broken move..'

'Great Sage.. use that skill.. Uh.. Slime Wisdom?'

{Yes, Using Slime Wisdom...

Failed.}

'Huh?'

"Nice try, don't do that again."

Rimuru just nodded in fear and gulped, this guy was being far too lenient on him.

They were on the balcony, Rimuru could swear he was feeling cold just from looking at the area.

Three chairs, one table, one person was already sitting drinking tea, a beautiful

white haired teenage looking lady was sitting drinking said tea, she eyed Rimuru up and down with no interest, the only interest was why would Guy bring such a weakling here?

"What is this Guy, you're this weak now that you need such a low... thing.. to train with?" She said smugly, barely hiding her laugh in.

Guy's eyebrows twitched ever so slightly, then he came up with a genius reply.

"Oh no, I've brought him for you!" He saw her expression drop 180 degrees, from a wide smile to a very unamused frown.

"Tch... anyways...

Why is that thing here? And why do I feel my young brother's aura from him?"

Velzard asked, with an even bigger frown, as she and her brother do not get along very well, up until now she has beaten him several times just to "Educate" him.

As for how Rimuru was feeling through all this? He was dead, but they thought he was still alive as his eyes were open, but in fact his soul had escaped his body.

"Hellllllooo?" She was waiting a response.

Guy moved his hand in front of Rimuru's face, no response.

"I think he's dead, or just processing this."

Guy dragged Rimuru onto a chair, opposite to him and Velzard, and was just waiting for him to process what is happening.

"So.. you still haven't told me why you brought such a weak being here." Velzard asked, serious this time.

"I saw his potential, and I am 100% sure he will be crucial to tipping the scales of my and Rudra's game, sure he is a slime, but a certain someone has told me how this slime will be one of the most powerful beings." Guy responded, full of confidence.

"Unlike you to blindly trust someone, who is that person?" Velzard replied with another question.

"I wish I could show you, but I couldn't, let's say... he's out of this world." Guy replied.

"Don't tell me.. you're losing your sanity... you made up a person to tell you that...?" Velzard snickered as she finished saying that.

Guy just put on a massive fake smile.

"That person predicted this slime having Veldora's aura, and had told me exactly when to meet him, and he was correct." Guy replied.

"Oh? Then maybe he will tell me how to make my brother stop handing out gifts to random weak monsters." To this, Rimuru had enough.

"Okay I get it! I'm weak! You rubbed salt into the wound so much the wound killed me!

Can we get this done? Why the hell am I here?" Rimuru lashed out a little,

Velzard and Guy just gave him the look of 'Wow, someone dared lash out against us.'

"It speaks! And it's quite brav-" Velzard tried to poke even more fun at Rimuru before being completely cut off by Rimuru.

"First off I'm a male, and I have name, Rimuru, Second, can you spare me your bored sarcasm?"

Rimuru responded with his "Not taking any shit from you anymore" voice.

"Hah, everyone finds you annoying Velzard! Anyways..

You're here because of mutual benefit, I am sure you have met him, the void being within that skill called 'Sleep Space'." Guy gave him his answers.

"You should've lead with that, he didn't tell me I would be kidnapped...

Sleep Space? Wait.. that entire void was a skill?" Rimuru questioned with even more interest in Iudex, tho he doesn't know his name yet.

"He didn't tell you? Strange.

Yes, that entire void is Sleep Space, a dimension entirely separate from this universe, tho he can connect with us due to all skills being of one origin, that's what he said." Guy answered with what Iudex told him, not going into more detail.

"Huh.. he said he had one skill, is that it?" Rimuru said as Velzard almost choked laughing.

"ONE?! The guy you're following words from has one skill? I think I'm dying! I'm choking.. this is too funny! You're both falling into a massive trap, I'm warning you."

She didn't notice but as she was in her laughing fit both Guy and Rimuru were knocked out cold, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Was I laughing this long..? Huh..?

W..why.. am I so.. tired.."

Velzard soon followed suit, being knocked out cold aswell.

She soon woke up the same moment Guy and Rimuru woke up.

"Oh! Did I send you guys to sleep at the wrong time? Ahahh.. sorry..." The being scratched the back of his head before continuing.

"Oh well, You're Velzard, correct?"

Velzard immediately got up to attack him but Guy stopped her.

"It's useless, in here he's the leader."

"...Alright.." Velzard stopped charging her attack.

Rimuru just stared at this waiting for The Being's words.

"I didn't mention that the skill is quite.. contagious.. ahah..

Sorry." Iudex apologized to all of them.

"Don't worry about it, what do you want? We've both met and we should start training him soon."

"We? I'm not training that." Velzard declined.

"You don't have a choice, if we want to win, I'm doing this."

It was then Velzard actually realized that this being was real, and his words hold meaning.

'How strong is he.. to put me asleep? Or did the sleep just spread through Guy's power?'

"Anyways, let's get to work, I'll lay out a plan for you guys on what will happen soon."

Iudex got to work, he began explaining.

"First we need to make Rimuru a demon lord seed, for that, Clayman is planning to make a puppet demon lord using the Orc Lord, this is where Guy and Rimuru come in, Guy will basically offer free food for Rimuru, making him a Seed."

"You know this much..? How.." Velzard was genuinely surprised.

"I'll explain it at a later date, anyways, to nurture this Seed, we need souls, and for that, we're making a nation!" Iudex announced excitedly, but he noticed everyone just staring dumbfounded.

Rimuru took the lead.

"NO! I'm not making a nation and eating everyone in it!"

"Nope, me neither, takes too long." Guy joins in.
"You're saying you would do it if it took a short time?!" Rimuru questions him.

"Yeah, I would, are you dense? Why wouldn't I? I'm a monster, not a human, why should I care?"

"..." Rimuru just stopped talking after this, Velzard was watching this unfold, wanting to chime in, but then Iudex continued.

"No no, we're making a country, then we're making someone try to invade it, see, I'm smart."

"Hm... while that is a good plan, who would attack a country in the middle of a FUCKING forest." Velzard said.

"Ouch.. language.. and for your question, that county will be essential in trade, thus encouraging Falmuth to attack said country, they are a greedy bunch, those guys."

Guy was amused and laughed a bit.

"You are truly something, Iudex."

"Iudex?" Rimuru questioned.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you my name? My bad, anyways, setting up this country shouldn't take long, if you hurry, it shouldn't take long, and that country would be bustling with all kinds of monsters, Recruit help from Dwargon to build houses, get the help of Ogres before they are attacked, and then let Guy deliver the Orc lord to you on a silver platter, sorry to make you do the grunt work, Guy."

"If it makes me win the game and shove it in Rudra's face, so be it."

'Poor Guy... I'll try to finish this game as fast as possible to atleast give you a reaction out of Rudra before he...' Iudex thought to himself.

Rimuru took all that in, Velzard then questioned him.

"What about me?" Velzard questioned, interested in all this.

"Huh? I thought you didn't want to?" Iudex questioned her back.

"I didn't at first, but it seems that you have the whole entire plan laid out, so why not?"

"You two.. are very bored.. aren't you?" Iudex just flat out asks Guy and Velzard.

They both just nod three times in unison, with a smile on their face.

"So be it.. you will ensure Guy is not discovered when he kills the Orc Lord, you'll make it seem like Rimuru did all the work, we don't want people to know Rimuru is backed by Guy, if they do, they won't approach him, basically, you'll babysit Guy." He winked at her teasing guy.

Velzard just started laughing at Guy, who was extremely frustrated.

"You annoying piece of- Sigh, I'll be the bigger mentality here.

When do we meet again?"

"Right after defeating the Orc Lord, you'll go back to your castle and make sure no one is around when you go to sleep, see you later!" He clapped his hands as they all were immediately awoken.

Guy looked around making sure no one was watching them, thankfully Rain and Mizery were not around.

Rimuru headed out into the forest, meeting up with Guy heading to the Ice Castle.

"Good work so far, 'Great Rimuru', Heh." Guy said teasing Rimuru.

"Thank you, Rouge, how is your work?" Rimuru counter-teased, earning a 'Touche' from Guy.

"Work? I haven't even started." Guy said as Rimuru just stared at him with 'The fuck did you just say?' look.

"I don't need to start so early, Not to brag or anything, but tracking and killing the Orc Lord wouldn't take long anyways, when I say wouldn't take long, it wouldn't take a few minutes."

"Ooooh.. is it that weak?" Rimuru asked.

"No, you're just too weak to do that." Guy said smiling teasing Rimuru again.

"No wonder you are THE devil lord... all your actions have evil intent.." Rimuru just sighed, he had to put up with this guy from now till god knows when.

"Have you gotten stronger yet? Of course I can tell, but I want to see if you're a liar."

"A bit I guess, I evolved my Manifest into Materialize by using it too much I guess."

Guy paused looking at Rimuru weirdly.

"No, that makes no sense, skills don't evolve by usage." Guy flatly replied, then continued.

"Do you have any skill that fuses or anything like that?"

"A skill called degenerate, apparently it can fuse or separate skills."

"That's probably what then, Rimuru, make sure to always check your skills and know what they do, you can die if you gloss over one droplet of information." Guy spoke in an out of character tone.

Rimuru had the biggest, most wicked smile in the history of smiles.

"I didn't know you cared for me, Guy, am I your priority now? You're making me embarrassed."

To that, Guy replied:

"No you're just a valuable pawn to me, can't have you die now can I?"

Rimuru's smile faded into disbelief, before muttering something along the lines of 'clever piece of demon s-' and moving along, making guy laugh lightly.

"So what's the plan now?" Rimuru asks Guy.

"We wait until the Orc Lord arrives, and then we attack, yes, that means the second we see him."

"Alright... the Lizardmen have agreed to join us after we told them of the threat."

(Lord Rimuru, if I may.) A voice spoke in Thought Communication, Souei.

(Yes, Souei?)

(The Orc Lord has been spotted, we ordered everyone to stand down as you commanded, you said you will deal with the Orcs yourself, but are you absolutely sure?)

(Yes I am, don't worry about it Souei.)

(As you will, Lord Rimuru, I will take my leave now)

(Before you leave, make sure no one is watching the battle, not even you.)

(On it, Lord Rimuru.)

"That's our queue, let's go." Rimuru told Guy.

"Let's go."

"My my, did you two forget about me? Wasn't I supposed to babysit Guy to make sure he was flawless in using his one slash for an army technique?" Velzard showed up with the same teasing attitude.

Rimuru could see a vein explode on Guy's forehead.

"We have no time to waste guys, let's go, also, Guy, don't kill them all, kill a good percentage, but not all, we need all we can if we want Tempest to grow faster, and I think they would make great workers."

"Good idea... I'll make them 30,000 lighter, don't worry about timing your attack, the second you use that skill I'll know.

Now Rimuru, go to the Orc Lord."

He said that as he teleported the 3 of them into their positions.

Rimuru contacted Benimaru and Souei as he was teleported a short distance away from the Orc Lord.

(Benimaru, Souei, if an Orc is seen alone or a group is split off from the main force, make sure to not let anyone see you kill it, tell that to the others, take this as a covert operation, a largescale one.)

(Yes Lord Rimuru!) Both said excitedly at the same time, Benimaru liked the 'Killing' part of it, while Souei liked the 'Covert' part of it.

Rimuru took flight and spotted the Orc Lord, the biggest of them, before standing infront of it.

He already had a speech pre-prepared and had Great Sage memorize and just read it to him as he reads it out.

{Notice, this is an extreme waste of my ability.}

'No it isn't! This is amazing!'

He could swear he heard Great Sage sighing.

"Cough Cough, anyways.

You who devours your enemies and your allies.

You who causes hunger unparalleled.

You who dares enter my allies' domain.

Prepare, for this is the last time you will be seen, you glutton.

Apex Predator! Devour the Devourer!"

The moment he said this, The Orc Lord was killed, and since it was not alive, it was consumed by Apex Predator, 30,000 more Orcs were immediately dispatched, Guy prioritized the generals first then the smaller ones, immediately after the Orc Lord was killed, all the Orcs were not effected by Starved anymore, they begun noticing what they had done and what happened to the Orc Lord and were all stunned.

This small looking girl just killed the Orc Lord, the legendary monster that appears every few centuries.

Rimuru went around consuming the dead Orcs, he then flew up in the air and ordered the Orcs to stand down, to which they complied, then he asked them to choose a representative to attend the council, to which the late Orc Lord's son was chosen.

Soon after the Jura Tempest Federation was in effect, and Rimuru met the Dryads, specifically, he met Treyni, who was surprised at how he knew about the Orc Lord as soon as he appeared to close in.

Rimuru met Guy and Velzard after finishing his work, he looked as if he didn't stop working for 10 years.

"Tough day?" Guy asked Rimuru.

"Tough day? TOUGH DAY?! You don't even know what happened, If I could jump off a bridge and abandon my duties I would! It sucked! Establishing a country, meeting with Gazel... this Gelmud bastard aswell.. don't get me started.. weird clowns... Ugh..I want to cease to exist..."

Velzard and Guy laughed as they all sat down, Guy sent Rain and Mizery away and told them not to come back until he tells them, to which they both were happy, since they could be free from his "Tyranny".

"I didn't expect you to come this far, Rimuru, I am genuinely surprised, good job." Guy patted Rimuru's back.

"For a slime, you did quite good, good job." Velzard also complimented him.

'Are they being sarcastic? I literally did nothing?' He just smiled and went along with it.

"Ah... what a peaceful day... right, Ranga?" Rimuru said as his head was laying on Ranga's soft fur, a feeling that would place anyone who was not strong enough to resist in a coma that can last as long as their head was resting on his fur.

"Yes, master!" Ranga was wagging his tail and panting, he was the closest person to Rimuru, always in his shadow, even closer to him than Benimaru, that's what Ranga thought anyways.

"What do you think of the others, Ranga? Do you like them?" Rimuru asked.

"If you have chosen them, they must be worthy, so I see no problem with them, master!"

Ranga replied excitedly.

"No no, not like that, how do you feel about them yourself, do you think they are good people?"

Ranga finally understood his question, and gave his honest opinion.

"I don't know, and I don't care, so long they serve you, I see them as good people!"

Rimuru just blinked in dumbfoundedness.

'He sure is one... weird fellow.'

"But if I had to save one when all of them are in danger and you aren't nearby, I would likely save Lady Shuna first, she is kind but ruthless, just like you, master!"

'I don't know if that's a compliment.. but I do agree, Shuna is an amazing person, good at everything, cooking, cleaning, diplomacy, don't get me started on her weaving skills, they improved significantly...

Why isn't she my secretary?

Oh.. yeah... right.. she isn't because a certain someone self-appointed themselves...'

"As for the others... Benimaru is like me, so I would also be sure to save him if Lady Shuna didn't need saving first.

I doubt Shion would ever need my help, she is too strong!

Same for Master Hakurou."

'He stopped talking, did he forget about Souei?'

"Oi, Ranga, what about Souei?"

Ranga tilted his head in confusion

"Souei? Who's Souei?

Oh, you mean that shadow? I don't know, I never talked to him properly, but he seems to be fiercely competing with me for your loyalty, so I am always on the lookout for him."

'Is everything about my attention for these guys?' Rimuru was starting to question his subordinates.

(Lord Rimuru! We have encountered a massive problem!) A Thought Communication from Souei quickly sends Rimuru and Ranga back to the Tempest's outskirts.

'What is this massive aura? So strong just like Guy's...

I better be careful.'

As he arrived, he saw Benimaru, Shion and Souei struggling against a single lolicon looking girl, who was laughing, when she saw him, she stopped fighting and went directly to his face.

"So you're the one causing this... what did Guy call it..

my head hurts thinking about how to pronounce it..

Balance Disruption!

You're the one causing this bala...nce... destr..uction..?" She trails off slowly watching Rimuru just eating a very peculiar looking kind of food, it was pieces of meat seasoned with different peppers on a very thin stick(Kebab), the smell immediately made Milim drop her guard, the second she did that Rimuru took the chance.

"Want some?" He said chewing loudly.

Milim replied with a very excited and loud "YES!" as she looked at him expectantly, to her dismay he had conditions.

"You don't hurt anyone ever again, 'kay?"

"Yes, I won't! Now giv-"

"And you become my subordinate."

"Huh? Wait you got it reversed, YOU become my subordinate!"

"Guess you're not having this." He pulled out another one as he finished the first, and kept eating.

Milim cool only drool at the sight of such delicious food, her subordinates never make anything good, always raw food, so this was extraordinary, godly even.

Then she realized who this was.

"Hey you're that Rimuru guy that Gu-"

She was stopped halfway through as a massive kebab stake was shoved into her mouth, she immediately melted on the ground from taste, it was heavenly, divine, one could call it the star dragon king's masterpiece, it was that good.

'Too close, can't have anyone know yet.' Rimuru thought to himself.

"We'll settle for a friendship relation right now, we are equals, what's your name?"

As Milim downed the entire thing (Including the stick, she wanted every last part of the Kebab.), she looked at him confused.

"Huh? You don't know who I am?"

"Should I?

"Ehhhh? You don't know me, the Great Demon Lord Milim Nava!"

Rimuru had one word in his head, rather, two: Veldora Knockoff.

"Nope, no clue."

Of course his subordinates had already been frozen to death at this revelation, THE Milim Nava was just subdued and stopped by their lord.

"Leave it to Lord Rimuru to stop the most chaotic being in the world..."

"Yeah..." Souei and Benimaru said still very dumbfounded by it all.

"As to be expected, nothing less from Rimuru-Sama!"

Shion said smugly as if she had anticipated this from the beginning.

A while later Milim and Rimuru were just walking through the forest, alone.

"So you know... don't tell anyone, if you do, you can kiss your food allowance goodbye."

Milim just gasped in utter disbelief.

"I swear on my life I won't!"

Milim said that with such resolve that it would make her seem like she had her life's goal ahead of her.

"What do you know about me and Guy?"

"I know you both met along with Aunt Velzard a while ago, don't know anything else, it is suspicious, but I can't say anything, can I?" Milim asked, she knew the red line, that was the food.

"No, you can't, not even in front of me unless I tell you, okay?"

"Yes!

Since we are friends now... No.. from now on,

we are BESTIES!"

After saying that he was taken aback, he was an extremely lucky individual, that Rimuru.

The whole town went into cheers and cries, even Rigurd was crying waterfalls at this announcement, so much so he called a banquet, much to Milim's happiness.

"Alright Rimuru, it's time for your analysis, not that you've gotten much stronger yet have you? You're still not a demon lord." Guy went to Rimuru's temporary room in the Ice Castle just to find him talking to himeslf.

"You alright? You're losing your sanity already? We haven't even started."

"Eh?- No I'm just checking my skills, you guys don't do this?" Rimuru replied in a confused way, he thought everyone had an assistant like Great Sage.

"No? We don't talk to ourselves, we use analysis, or we memorize them, that's the easier way.

How the hell does talking to yourself do anything?"

"I have this skill called Great Sage, it's basically a super genius that keeps track of everything for me, skills, memories, and the like, I'm just reciting what it's telling me, and it's telling me my skills, you guys don't have assistants like this?" Rimuru replied in good detail, causing Guy to develop a sort of envy and jealousy towards Rimuru for having such an overpowered ability.

"Why the hell would the Voice Of The World give such an ability to a lowly slime?! You know what, forget it, tell me your skills." Guy said in dismay, earning a laugh from Rimuru.

"After the fight with the Orc Lord I evolved my Apex Predator into Unending Gluttony, which has these sub-skills I guess:

Devour - I consume the target, if the target is conscious the chance of consumption is reduced but not by as large a margin as Predation which is the origin of this subskill, still needs analysis to guarantee.

Abyssal Stomach - A much larger version of Stomach.

Combining Abyssal Stomach and Contain I got the sub-skill Graveyard, which would basically send enemies to my stomach and try to overpower them through usage of magicules and haki there, if they don't get defeated, they will be released immediately, and all the magicules I lost are gone forever.

Rot - Evolution of Corrode, it sends out tendrils that latch onto a body, when they do, the connected parts will immediately infect and rot, rendering them useless.

I have Receive and Provide, which basically let me give skills and take skills from subordinates without us losing said skills." Rimuru explained his first skill.

"Wait what? That last one is downright bullshit, who the hell decided to give you all this?"

Guy asked, even more annoyed at how good Rimuru's skills are.

Rimuru began explaining his other skills, sound wave tracing, air blade and the like, then he got to Supercharge.

"And then there's Supercharge, I haven't used it yet but it sounds absolutely amazing, I can use magicules with any ability to multiply it's effect by double, triple or even higher.

I haven't tested how many magicules I need, but this can be really good in crucial moments."

Guy lost his words for a second, thinking what would happen if he had Milim's Infinite Magicule Reactor, he could literally make a skill seemingly infinite in power..

"Okay that's enough for now, so you're a demon lord seed now right?"

"Yeah? What does that have to.. do..." Rimuru slowly stopped talking noticing the massive shit eating grin on Guy's face, he immediately began running away trying to leave the castle.

"Come back here Rimuru~! You're not leaving! You can't escape this! You know you want it!"

Guy chased after Rimuru, he obviously could just knock him down if he wanted to, but he was enjoying this.

Rimuru was cursing the day he met Guy and the day he reincarnated.

Eventually Rimuru thought he lost track of Guy in the storming weather, until an even more terrifying voice appeared right beside him.

"Why hello there Rimuru~, why are you running?" A devious Velzard said this from behind Rimuru, as he felt his soul leave his body for the second time since he met them.

'Gods, please make them have mercy on me...

Any gods that can hear me... please..'

Guy soon appeared, imagine a scene where 2 bullies are standing over the class nerd who's down on the ground.

"Now, let's have some fun, Rimuru~"

"Yes, let's have quite a good amount of it, Rimuru~"

The way they both say Rimuru in such an extending manner would rattle any bone, innocent at first but as they prolong the mu-ru you realize how evil their intent is.

"Have mercy, please! I will do anything you want!" Rimuru pleaded out.

"Oh, you will regardless, Rimuru~" Guy answered.

"..." Rimuru just gave up and let his body go.

"Now now, let's get this started!" Velzard said in a cheerful tone.

They all teleported into a strange part of the continent, in case you haven't caught up yet, they're going to train, that is why they sound so cheerful and pleasant meanwhile Rimuru sounds so full of despair and grief, he knows they will torture him to no ends.

Just a few minutes after they started, Rimuru who was forced to be in human form for better training, had to regenerate a limb every few seconds, they were flying off him like he was target practice, he wasn't the one training, it was Velzard and Guy, their normal punches and kicks sent Rimuru flying.

All of this was a warmup for them, as it was now Rimuru's turn.

"Alright, your turn." Guy just stood with open arms, Velzard just stood from the sidelines watching.

"What the hell would I even do to hurt you..?" Rimuru just stared at him.

Guy shrugged.

"Sigh... Hm..wait.." Velzard and Guy could see a lightbulb appear above Rimuru's head, not that they know what a lightbulb is.

Rimuru took a stance and began charging an attack with a manifested sword, he just had a weird idea, Rimuru had quite a good amount of magicule reserve at the moment.

Then Guy noticed what was going on, Velzard took notice after a few seconds.

"Oh? You're using that charging ability to generate a sword, how intriguing." Velzard commented.

The sword now in Rimuru's hand was equivalent to a legendary grade, his magicules were about to die out.

"Good, at least you can go to Unique-Grade." Guy praised Rimuru.

"But I don't think you should waste your magicules on this, rather, charge your abilities, since you aren't the greatest of close combat fighters are you?"

Rimuru could only nod as he consumed the sword restoring his magicules.

Then he began preparing a supercharged air blade, using wind manipulation he tried to make it as fast as possible, he shot it at guy at a third of the speed of sound, although nothing happened, Guy was knocked and fell on his back since he didn't expect that with his arms open, which made Rimuru and Velzard laugh non stop.

"Shut up! That was pathetic! Let's see if you can handle this!"

"We have to meet Iudex now don't we? We'll continue training later Guy and Rimuru~"

"Please stop saying my name like that.."

They all took a seat at the balcony, last time they sat after Guy sent Rain and Mizery away, they ended up straying from the main point which is to relax so Iudex can set them to sleep.

After letting themselves go on the chairs the first one out was Guy, then Velzard, Rimuru could only think:

'Ha..ah.. Children..'

Iudex was waiting for them to wake up here, which they all did the next moment simultaneously.

"You guys are getting good at sleeping, I'm proud." Iudex decided to start it off with a little teasing.

"It's stupid.. I should be the best at sleeping first, I was literally a human who needs sleep, how do these children stuck in adult bodies full of energy sleep before me?"

That earned a laugh from everyone, then Iudex began talking.

"So, now we begin the most crucial part of this entire plan, Rimuru's evolution into a Demon Lord, what we will do is wait for now, and wait for Charybdis."

"Charybdis? Ho? Who's gonna summon it?" Guy asked in an interested tone.

"Well let's say a certain someone doesn't like how Rimuru stopped his plans, and wants to get back at him, so they find a suitable candidate and revive Charybdis, to wipe out Rimuru and get souls from humans."

"Alright I get it, but I'm guessing you want Guy and Velzard to just destroy it and leave it to me?"

"No, that won't be necessary."

"Ha? Really? No more grunt work?" Guy asked as if he was doing the heavylifting for years now.

Velzard just stared waiting for him to continue.

"In fact, you might not even be needed to kill Charybdis, you'll have other goals, I'll fill you in a second, but for Charybdis, a certain 'Bestie' will do the heavylifting, all that matters is the core.

Rimuru, take the core of Charybdis and the person sacrificed for it, I know you might not like it, but you need everything for now."

Rimuru frowned a little, before wanting one piece of confirmation.

"Does this person harbor any grudge against me atleast?"

"He does, he quite literally will tell you that you will pay for something you said for him."

Rimuru nods.

"After consuming Charybdis, you should be entering the final stage, where Guy will come absolutely crucial, Guy, we need you to increase the pressure on the north of the continent, we need them to worsen their opinion of monsters and demons."

"Huh? What?!" Rimuru exclaimed.

"Interesting, very interesting plan I must say, you are quite good at planning Iudex-Sama." Velzard said in a teasing tone making Iudex fluster, although not visible.

"S-s-s-sama? D-drop it please, I'm not from.. where they use those honorifics! Just the name is fine!"

The trio laughed lightly at this before getting back into business.

"But seriously, what's up with ruining our reputation?

And how are Demons going to associate with monsters?" Rimuru asked in a more serious tone.

"You underestimate the power of the press and the public view, Rimuru, especially with the west absolutely despising monsters, and the church hating Veldora, which they might pin on you and all the monsters, Iudex's plan is quite clever I will not lie about that, I can provide monsters if need be." Guy told this to Rimuru, as Iudex affirmed this with the next sentence.

"Exactly, this is where Veldora comes in to play, you will be invaded, but rest assured that you will be able to kill them all, with the help of Velzard, can you not use Ice, Velzard?

If you can use anything else, let's say, Lightning, that would be extremely wonderful.

Because right after the invasion begins, you will massacre them, the souls will come to Rimuru, and you'll just blame it on the newly revived Veldora."

Velzard smiled, knowing what he implied about "reviving Veldora"

Rimuru dropped his jaw.

"Reviving Veldora? How?"

"Simple, after you evolve into a Demon Lord, releasing Veldora will be quite easy, you will get the means to."

Guy also smiled, realizing that Rimuru would grow quite a lot in the coming days..

"Can't wait to meet my little brother again! Oh how I missed disciplining him!"

Velzard said in a very sadistic and torturous tone.

"But isn't this quite dirty.. instigating humans to fight me..?"

"No not really, a certain kingdom has already been plotting to conquer your country, and they are trying to instigate other humans, such as the church, to come to your doorstep.

Rimuru, you must be very quick about your encounters, the second you feel weak, know that it is time, and that is Velzard's queue.

"Sadly, I can only use Ice, is that still fine?"

"Hm.. it should be fine, so long they ALL die, and Rimuru is the one who obtains the souls, which shouldn't be really difficult should it? Now Rimuru, go prepare, I have to talk to these two."

He snapped his finger and Rimuru was sent back to reality.

"Guy, Velzard, we need to make Rimuru see a tragic event, make him think it was too late, he needs a certain skill, in truth, I can't risk using Ice of such caliber, sorry Velzard, so you will let Rimuru feel worried, and when he returns, he will find one of his allies, no, a lot of his allies dead, then he will flare up, gaining a certain skill that will do the massacre for him.."

Velzard and Guy nod.

"Your plans are devilish, I assume you'll want to revive them afterwards?"

"Yes, I assume that Rimuru will choose to revive them using his newfound powers, and I hope he does, because those allies who die will be very powerful in the future...

Alright, that's it for now, if you need me in the future, just think of the void and relax, I'll be there to help.

Do not tell Rimuru that, I want him to feel stranded and alone, so he experiences grief."

They were then sent back, Guy and Velzard parted ways with Rimuru who went back to his country to prepare for Charybdis.

"..That plan sounds like it came straight out of hell, putting him through a wheel of emotions like that? If that isn't terrifying I don't know what is." Guy commented.

"Yeah, unlike the usual fun we have, seeing an absolutely enraged Rimuru will be.. a sight to see, to say the least.."

Rimuru has been preparing for this, Treyni the Dryad has come announcing to him that the legendary Special A rank monster Charybdis has appeared, and he immediately heads out, he tells no one to come but Milim Nava and tells the rest to stand down.

Milim is of course not one to question why he brought no one since she is very excited about going to battle Charybdis.

They both walk through the great sights of the Great Jura Forest, now the lands of The Jura-Tempest Federation.

Milim was just jumping around Rimuru like a child in a toy store, Rimuru is just admiring the land he has taken for a home.

Rimuru spotted Charybdis, and sighed...

'I don't.. want to kill Phobio..

Maybe... I can save him..

Great Sage.. If the core is lost, can you still revive?'

{Answer, it is not possible.}

'...Please... I don't want to kill an innocent person..

Sure he acted like an idiot... but he can learn..

And I have to kill humans after this aswell...'

Milim noticed Rimuru's silence and just asked him straight up.

"What's wrong bestie? You have nothing to fear! I am with you!"

She didn't understand why is he sad when she is around, he just kept walking, not focused with her at all.

'What's wrong..? Even my Milim Eye can't detect why he's sad! Even my sharp senses tell me nothing, what is wrong..'

Milim calmed down and began to walk beside Rimuru.

"What's wrong Rimuru? Why are you sad?" Milim asked in a serious tone, actual concern for her friends was not a normal thing to be seen.

"...It's nothing, don't worry about it." Rimuru begun having doubts about Iudex.

Is he really right? Driving people to us and instigating them to attack us.. just to make me stronger? Is he actually trying to help Rimuru? Or is he trying to make a puppet superpower..

Rimuru was lost in thought, they were just standing there observing Charybdis for a while.

Eventually Charybdis turned and targeted Milim.

It was saying some incomprehensible words that slowly made sense to Rimuru.

It was Phobio's anger cursing Milim and shouting her name.

"M..Mi..Milim! Cu..Curse You! Mi...Milim!" Just those same lines over and over.

Rimuru just watched it's hateful and angry aura spread everywhere.

Milim asked Rimuru

"Do I go?"

Rimuru made his choice.

Milim assured him she was able to hold back and leave the cores.

Rimuru had decided to follow Iudex's way, what caused him to leave his doubts was the fact that Iudex himself had said he needed to hurry and get power so he could protect his people.

Leading him to believe that Iudex is truly a good person wanting the best for Rimuru.

Milim stood in front of Charybdis, the latter erupting with anger when it saw Milim, preparing to attack her.

"This is what you get for making my bestie sad!

DRAGOOOO!

NOVA!"

And within a flash Charybdis and Phobio were no more.

Rimuru was in position and immediately consumed Phobio's and Charybdis' Cores.

[Success. Individual Rimuru Tempest has gained the skills:

Extra Skill - "Gravity Manipulation"

Extra Skill - "Summon Monster: Megalodon"

Extra Skill - "Beast Transformation"

With the Extra Skills "Summon Monster: Megalodon" and "Beast Transformation" being present, would the individual Rimuru Tempest like to fuse these skills with the Unique Skill "Supercharge" to create Unique Skill "Bestial Rage" - Allows user to empower and increase all their physical capabilities by threefold, expending magicules overtime, additionally, this skill can apply to objects that the user creates and/or has been selected as the object's master, such as swords, it is possible to apply this skill to other skills that have direct physical contact, such as Individual Rimuru Tempest's Air Blade and Unending Gluttony.]

"..Yes.."

[Success, Unique Skill "Bestial Rage" Has been acquired.]

Rimuru felt much more powerful, and felt his magicule count increase drastically.

But with that, he felt his heart ache.

He has made his first important decision.

Rimuru landed on the ground and laid down facing the sky.

Milim laid beside him.

"You're still sad Bestie? But isn't power what you wanted?"

"...Yes.. Milim..

Remind me to reward you later..

I'm always going to be grateful.." Rimuru said, whether he meant it or not could not be confirmed from his tone of speaking.

'If I'm struggling over one person.. I can't fathom the future...

I must.. get stronger.. but strength isn't power only.. it's mentality..

I need to be more cautious so I never have to feel like this again..'

Rimuru felt a new spark in his heart, he found a new resolve.

He will never let go of his allies, no matter what, he will never cause them pain.

If the humans want to attack him no matter what, even without instigation, then he will massacre them, because if he is feeling this much grief over a stranger he barely knew, he couldn't imagine the absolute misery and despair he would feel if one of his allies died.

"Really?!" Milim snapped him out of his thoughts after he said he would reward her and be eternally grateful to her.

"..Yes.. I will..

Let's go!" Rimuru's frown turned upside down and he walked back with Milim after rewarding her with some Kebab stakes.

"Well, it seems he did it, he, or rather, Milim, got rid of it."

"Yeah, it's going exactly like Iudex said it would, Rimuru is following his words to a tee." Guy and Velzard exchanged these two lines.

"I seemed to have sensed a bit of grief and despair from him, did he really get sad over a stranger he doesn't even know or like? If he got this sad I couldn't imagine his grief over one of his citizens, even worse, his close subordinates." Guy said quite dumbfounded at how Rimuru is so heavily effected by his emotions.

"It is interesting, and he even caused my niece, Milim, of all people, to resonate with him."

Velzard and Guy just sipped tea while this was all going on.

"Well, we should call him over for a quick talk, let's see how much he grew."

"I agree, Rimuru is truly a peculiar individual, I would like to see how much he will grow in the future, not in strength, but rather, his character, if he wants to grow, he has to overcome this obstacle of emotions he has." Velzard added.

"Yeah, I'll call him over later."

Over in Tempest, a massive banquet was being held, Rimuru and Milim sitting besides each other enjoying food, or rather, it was Milim herself, Rimuru was barely eating, not that he needed to.

"C'mon Rimuru! Eat something! You can't not eat something as good as this!"

Milim kept pestering him before Rimuru apologized and left in the middle of the night, the banquet continued as normal.

Milim followed him silently, only to see him meet up with Guy, then they disappeared

"Huh.. they're still meeting? Wait.. are they secretly besties behind my back? I must know!"

Milim took flight to the Ice Continent immediately after saying that.

Milim has arrived at the Ice Continent and was already messing shit up, Rain and Mizery were immediately sent out to her but she said she had to meet Rimuru and knew he was here and was shouting for Guy to come out because she knew he heard her.

Eventually Velzard, Guy and Rimuru all came out.

"Bestie! Have they kidnapped you? Are you alright?!"

"Yes Milim I'm fi-"

"Wait, if Guy and Aunt Velzard are here, that means you're secretly planning something fun behind my back right?! I knew it, you three are secretly besties! Rimuru, you wound me with your betrayal!"

Guy and Velzard were just trying their best not to die laughing.

But Rimuru? Rimuru was not having any of it, he was extremely sad already and angry that he was forced to make such a decision, and now he had to deal with Milim.

Milim kept complaining while Guy and Velzard kept laughing at Rimuru's situation, no sympathy involved.

"I am sad Rimuru! I thought I was your bes-"

"SHUT UP ALREADY! YOU SAW ME BEING ANGRY AND WALKING OFF! AND YOU FOLLOWED ME!"

This line from Rimuru shut everyone up.

He saw them silent and kept going.

"You didn't have to make a decision did you? Because you don't care for the lives of humans, you've never been human! You've never known weakness have you, Milim, daughter of the god of creation himself! For the love of everything, leave me be for awhile, no, leave me until I tell you to come back, go mess around in Tempest! Go eat whatever you want! Just leave me alone for now!"

Milim was about to cry and she stormed off.

Velzard and Guy were quite shocked, they never thought his emotional distraught would reach this much.

"And you two, you find this funny, you're in the same boat as her, I know you are.

You only go along with me because of your gains, and I will only do so because of mine."

He walked towards the Ice Castle waiting for them.

"Wow... that was... harsh.. he went in that hard on her?

He is developing in character Velzard, just maybe not the way you want him to develop..."

"Yeah I can see, although I should be mad at him for lashing out at my dear niece and mentioning my older brother in such a way, but I can understand why he said such things in an outrage, he was probably thinking too far ahead, of how a lot of his friends have a real possibility to die."

They soon followed after him.

After they all sat down, Rimuru had his head on the table, just waiting for them to let themselves go.

"Hey Rimuru, if you need to ta-"

"No, just get on with it, I don't need emotional support from a murder machine."

Velzard just side eyed Guy, she wanted to laugh, but knew it was not the appropriate time.

After they all let themselves go, Iudex accepted their request.

They all awoke simultaneously as usual, Iudex welcomed them.

"Hey.. guys..?" After checking their moods, specifically, Rimuru's, he knew what was going on without having the need to ask.
"Let me guess, you lost your temper on someone because you had to consume an innocent person?"

Rimuru only nodded.

"Listen, I'm sorry for forcing you to do this, you have the choice to leave if you want to, I will not hurt you, I swear I won't, I will wait ages for another person to show up if I have to, just don't hurt yourself."

Rimuru refused however, stating.

"It's too late to back out isn't it? What's done is done.. let's get on with it.

I've already made up my mind, I'm decimating those humans.

If what you said before is true, they are already scheming against me and my country, and I will not let anyone die."

Guy and Iudex's eyes widen a bit at this, what kind of emotional roller coaster does one person go through to have so many different opinions in the span of a few hours?

"..Well.. if you say so.."

Guy had a cold sweat run on his back, if he was going to try his best and not let his subordinates die, at least one of them, won't the plan halt?

"Guy, what we said before, forget that, with Rimuru having made up his mind, we can carry on normally, I'm sure he'll be able to defeat them without your help."

Iudex said that infront of Rimuru.

'Cunning, sharp, witty, most importantly, wise, my respect for you is getting higher by the second.. Iudex..' Velzard thought to herself, he really was a frightening individual when it came to talking, he would put anyone to shame.

Guy only nodded.

"Rimuru, remember your promise to that woman you look like?"

Rimuru immediately turned to Iudex.

"Shizu? What about it?" He asked with a tone that was devoid of any despair and a glint of hope.

"Your turn to save them has come, just ask Great Sage how to do it, you'll have a lot of spirits, take some for yourself, 'Kay?"

Rimuru only nodded, he had a bit of happiness knowing he can fulfill her dying wish.

"And.. be careful of the grandmaster, Velzard, this is where I need you."

She listened intently.

"Disguise yourself and go with him, make sure the grandmaster doesn't do anything to Rimuru, I have a bad feeling he might do something wrong." He said with a pause before he turned to Guy and continued.
"As for you Guy, as we said earlier, increase the pressure on western nations and with that, you'll increase the hate for monsters, this might seem bad, but if we clear the opposition, they'll basically be forced to like us, won't they? Yes, artificial opinions are worse than actual ones, but if we don't do this, they'll never like us."

Iudex spoke in an 'us' way, he really was trying his hardest to assure everyone that they all had their important roles, even if Rimuru does nothing in his opinion, Iudex still assures him that he does.

"Alright, I'll get to it."

"I'll see you later, guys!" He noticed Velzard wanted to talk to him, even if she didn't say it, so he let her stay.

"What is it Velzard?" Iudex asked with genuine curiosity, she doesn't talk much during their meetings.

"Well, just wanted to ask, are you from my older brother's world?"

"Yes, Yes I am."

"How did you get here?" Velzard asked the question.

"U-uhm.. Well.. it's a difficult story.."

"Please, if you can just condense it, tell me, I'm really curious."

"Fine, I'll just make it as easy to understand as possible.

I wanted to make my friends' lives easier, so I asked to be sealed so they wouldn't have to worry about me, and I ended up sacrificing myself to gain eternal slumber, where in this Sleep Space I am practically the god of creation, but, you see, I don't do anything here, because I don't want to see myself in other people."

Velzard took those words in and could only nod, before asking.

"Who were your friends?"

Iudex responded, with full truth.

"Rudra Nam Ul Nasca, and the Scorch Dragon Velgrynd, although they both are different people now, I am sure they are doing much better without me."

Velzard looked surprised.

"Alright.. I'll see you later, Iudex."

With that, the emotional roller coaster of Rimuru has ended, he has decided to get stronger.

This is where the next brutal scene will be set up, Rimuru single handedly slaughtering everyone himself, not letting a single person come to him or his allies.