At that moment, I was awestruck to see a gigantic figure that turned out to be a Dragon. The Dragon gazed at us with eyes aglow with mystical light, then, in a firm and commanding tone, it called us to come closer. Without a moment's hesitation, the slime beside me and I slowly approached. Although its appearance was fearsome and its power seemed unmatched, there was an aura about it—as if something restrained its fury.

"Alright, let's continue our conversation..."the Dragon declared in a deep voice that echoed throughout the space.

"Let me to introduce myself... I am Veldora, the Storm Dragon, one of the four strongest Dragons in this world!"it roared, its words carrying such force that the ground trembled and the air vibrated.

The strongest Dragon? I could hardly imagine the might of the other three Dragons. Just by gazing at Veldora, my entire body shuddered and trembled, as if every cell within me recognized the grandeur of that being. In its presence, I felt incredibly small—its majesty and power far beyond comprehension. In mere seconds, astonishment mixed with fear seized every breath I took.

Perhaps, it deserved to be called a deity rather than just a Dragon. Its power and wisdom were so extraordinary that I often felt the aura emanating from its body could change the fate of the world. Every beat of its heart seemed to send vibrations that could shatter the walls of doubt within me.

After a while of discussing the odd phenomenon that had granted the Slime consciousness—something I had never imagined—we began delving into conversations about the origins and the nature of our existence in this new world. From that discussion, a strong seed of friendship slowly grew between the Slime and me.

Before long, I was startled when the little slime, with unbridled enthusiasm, announced its intention to help shatter the barrier that had sealed Veldora. A mission that was not only dangerous but also meaningful—almost a turning point in our evolution.

In the midst of that moment, the Dragon, with its extraordinary wisdom, bestowed upon us names."You possess potential far beyond your current forms. I shall give you names that reflect your true souls and inherent strength,"it said in a tone that was both firm and hopeful.

Thus, the slime was named Rimuru, and I was given the name Wildra. Moreover, the Dragon also added a surname for itself, as given by Rimuru—Veldora Tempest. This naming seemed to symbolize a grand transformation—marking that, in one step, we had all evolved into higher beings, ready to face the challenges of this new world.

[ Character File ]
Name:Wildra Tempest
Race:Spiritual Slime
Age:1 day

Name:Rimuru Tempest
Race:Slime
Age:1 day

After Rimuru devoured Veldora's prison, we set out together in search of an exit. A long journey filled with twists, turns, and challenges lasted for about 60 days, until finally we reached the surface. As the great door that had long imprisoned us swung open, fresh air greeted our hopeful steps.

I approached Rimuru hesitantly, determination mingling with doubt in my heart. "Rimuru, let me to go in search of new strength. I don't want to be a burden to you if I still weak like this," I murmured softly, revealing the depth of my uncertainty.

Rimuru looked at me with a warm gaze, as if she could sense every hesitation within me.
"Then, we shall meet again..." she said in a soothing voice.

I smiled, even though this farewell pierced my heart. "How about... a year from now?" I asked, hope shining clearly in every word.

We shook hands—in a manner unusual for two slimes merging briefly as a symbol of friendship and promise. With a heavy heart, Rimuru continued on her journey, while I retreated back into the cave, treading my own path. I knew that despite the pain of this parting, in order not to weigh Rimuru down, I had to grow and become stronger.

Behind the sadness, determination and hope continued to blaze: one day, a year from now, we would reunite, wiser and mightier than before.

Sometime after I returned to the Sealed Cave, as my steps still faltered from exhaustion, I suddenly felt something warm envelop me. Unable to move my body, all I could do was hear a soft, trembling voice: "I got you..." That voice, though sounding like a whisper, was unlike any I had heard before—it carried an elegance and mystery with an underlying strength.

In that unexpected embrace, a mixed feeling of warmth and anxiety wrapped around every fiber of my being. I wondered, who exactly was this girl? Was she a messenger from the outside world, or an entity connected to the hidden magical power that sealed the secrets of this cave?

The girl had hair as white as freshly fallen snow, and her hands were so cold they seemed to contain ice. Gently, she caressed my slime body, until suddenly a wave of heat slipped in.

"Hey, cold lady, why do you always take everything for yourself..." she half-joked.

"But, he's more comfortable with me..." replied the blue-haired girl in a teasing tone.

The warm woman had a full, shapely figure with blue hair—not too bright, yet striking in attire unfamiliar to me, as if from Tiongkok or nearby.

"Uh...?" I stammered hesitantly.

"Ah, sorry, I've been touching you for too long..." said the white-haired girl, slowly placing me on a large rock that shimmered faintly with icy light.

"I will introduce myself," she continued firmly, "I am Velzard, one of the four strongest Dragons, the unparalleled Ice Queen!"

Soon after, the blue-haired woman tossed her hair with a captivating motion, "I am the Fire Dragon, Velgrynd... nice to meet you, kid!" she greeted enthusiastically, adding warmth to the chilly atmosphere.

"It seems you were named by our kin, Veldora," Velzard commented sharply, hinting at both camaraderie and a spirited rivalry.

"Y-yes..." I replied nervously.

Velgrynd squinted mischievously. "What is your name, kid?" she asked in a tone that carried a hint of mockery.

"Wridra... my name is Wridra..." I answered, trying to sound confident.

However, as soon as my name left my lips, Velgrynd burst into hearty laughter. "Hahahaha! What kind of a feminine name is that?! Seriously, kid, that doesn't suit a guy like you!" she said, clutching her stomach as if my name were the best joke she had ever heard.

I grumbled in irritation. "Just leave it... I didn't choose this name myself, you know," I replied half-jokingly, though inwardly I felt a slight sting.

Velzard, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke. "Well, she already mentioned it to you..." she said in a deeper, calmer tone.

I furrowed my brow. "She?"

Velzard sighed, her eyes piercing mine with an expression hard to decipher. "I will always be waiting for you... that's what she said. But since it took so long, Velgrynd and I have decided to come find you ourselves."

I swallowed hard. There was something in her tone that made my skin prickle.

"Eh? So... you've been searching for me for a long time?" I asked, even more confused.

Velgrynd grinned, her expression as pleased as a cat that had just caught its prey. "Of course! Didn't you realize how intriguing you are?" she said.

I blinked, more baffled by what was happening. It seemed these two women were very interested in me... but why? What exactly did they want from me?

Velgrynd looked at me with an expression of genuine surprise—something rarely seen in her usually confident demeanor. "A single name from us should be enough to cause a low-level creature to evolve one level... but this is beyond expectations," she murmured.

I could only remain silent, trying to grasp the sudden turn in my circumstances.

Velgrynd continued, this time in a more serious tone. "Usually, slimes of lower levels remain as slimes, even if they suddenly surge in mana. But you... you are not just any ordinary slime."

Velzard added in a calm yet firm tone, "Not only have you experienced an extraordinary surge in mana, but your very body has transformed. You are no longer just a monster. You have stepped into a higher realm—you are now a Spiritual Slime."

I blinked in shock. Spiritual Slime...? Did that mean I was no longer an ordinary living creature?

As if reading my confusion, Velzard smiled subtly and moved closer. "Spiritual beings are not meant to roam without a proper form..." she said, gazing deeply into my eyes. "Therefore, I wish to propose a contract with you, Naoto-kun."

A contract? I was even more bewildered by the direction this conversation had taken.

Before I could ask further, Velgrynd smirked and continued in a teasing tone, "Once this contract is forged, you will be able to use our bodies as clothing. That way, you won't be suspected of being a monster or a spiritual being."

I froze. Using their bodies...? What do you mean by that?!

"Consume us..." Velgrynd's voice echoed through the cave, calm yet imbued with an undeniable power.

I fell silent. What? My eyes widened, and my mind went blank. Had I just heard correctly? They want me... to consume them?

I tried to process the words, but the more I thought about it, the harder it was to accept. Is this... some kind of test, or perhaps a joke? Yet, from their expressions, I saw no trace of humor.

"What do you mean...?" I finally asked, my voice nearly trembling.

Velzard offered a slight smile, her gaze soft yet commanding. "Don't misunderstand, Wridra. We do not intend to sacrifice ourselves or anything as absurd as that."

Velgrynd sighed and folded her arms, as if growing tired of my confusion. "The bottom line is this, kid. If you want to survive in this world without arousing suspicion, you need a more appropriate form. With this contract, you can use our essence to shape a humanoid body or armor that disguises your existence as a spiritual being."

I swallowed hard. So, not 'consuming' in the literal sense...?

Velzard continued, her tone softening as if to calm me, "In other words, we will become a part of you—not by vanishing, but by connecting with you spiritually. You will gain strength from us, and in return, we will receive something from you."

I still didn't fully understand the consequences of this, but one thing was clear—this was no ordinary contract. And even stranger... why were they so eager to do this with me?

"I must emphasize again... I do not want any refusal," Velgrynd stated with a piercing look. Then, a gentle smile spread across her face. "We love you, Naoto-kun..."

I fell silent. What...? Her words were so sincere, so assured, that my heart—or whatever served as my heart in my new body—beat faster.

I wanted to ask more, but for some reason, the words stuck in my throat. Velgrynd seemed satisfied after expressing her feelings, while Velzard maintained her calm expression, though I could glimpse a hint of warmth behind her sharp eyes.

"Uh...? Is that so..." I finally uttered, unsure of what else to say. Without wasting any time, they began preparing the contract ritual.

"A true Dragon never truly dies," Velzard declared as she closed her eyes, as if reading the laws of this world from deep within her consciousness. "We will always be reincarnated in the same form, never losing our memories or power. This world considers our existence as absolute."

I listened intently, yet on the other hand, I still couldn't fully grasp why they were doing this for me. Why me?

Time passed. The ritual turned out to be more than just a formality. It took a full six months before the contract was truly completed. I felt my body change gradually, as if surrounded by a vortex of extraordinary energy that I could not put into words.

And suddenly—my Skill Predator devoured them both. A dazzling light enveloped me. Before I could panic, a surge of power unlike anything I had ever felt flowed into my body, as if I had just merged with two beings at the pinnacle of this world's existential chain.

From deep within my consciousness, Velzard's voice came through clearly, "This is only the beginning... I will continue to telepathically reach out from afar..."

Then, everything fell silent. I gazed at my hands—or rather, my new body. I could feel an incredible power coursing within me. This... was not something to be taken lightly. I had changed. And this world... would soon take notice.