The King of Dwargon.

In Clayman's room, a meeting between Demon Lords was underway. Carrion and Milim were part of his plan to ascend as a True Demon Lord, but today, there was a surprising addition. Milim had dragged the Queen of the Harpies, Frey, along.

Clayman wasn't entirely pleased with her presence, but he knew she would help pacify the childish Milim as he announced the failure of their plan.

"There is a new force in the Forest of Jura, and they have ruined our progress," Clayman began, explaining everything and showing a few orbs that recorded the perspective of Gelmud, as well as some of the Orc Generals before they were killed.

Gelmud had died, only capturing a glimpse of a blue-haired Kijin. The Orc Generals had recorded the massive blob of flesh appearing from the shadows. After the Orc Lord had evolved, the vision of the generals went dark as countless sneak attacks were launched with perfect synchronization. They managed to catch a small glimpse of a Kijin child attacking the Orc Disaster before the images cut off.

Milim looked intrigued by the strange kid, while the rest of the Demon Lords began to discuss their plans. As intriguing as this all was to Frey, she couldn't help but let her mind wander.

One of her harpy priestesses had just prophesied the revival of one of their worst enemies, Charybdis. The priestess had read the flow of magicules and the warping of space, and it had all but confirmed it. Some prophecies were written down in her kingdom and passed down from generation to generation, and it was just her luck that Charybdis would revive under her reign.

However, this also brought forth another prophecy that had been in her family for some time. It was hard to pinpoint when exactly this prophecy had appeared, but the first queen had ensured that it would be remembered no matter what. A prophecy tied to the very enemy they had sworn to fight: Charybdis.

'What a mess…' Frey thought, focusing her attention on the small orb showcasing the brief glimpses of the battle.

— — —

Everything had been a blur for Rimuru after he defeated the Orc Lord. The nearly 200,000 Orcs needed to be fed and settled into different sections. Integrating them all into Tempest would disrupt the current balance and space. Instead, Rimuru decided to split the groups of Orcs into smaller settlements across the Forest of Jura.

Each group was placed in locations calculated by Sage to be optimal for small cities. Rimuru provided them with 'For Dummies' books to help them start their own communities. These small cities would eventually expand Tempest's influence, specializing in different areas and contributing to improving Tempest.

In addition, thanks to Souei's team, they were able to bring in the Lizardmen and a few other races to join Tempest, which only added countless more names to the list.

'… … …' He couldn't help but sigh as he gave off the countless names, but it was an investment, or at least that's what he told himself. Even with Sage using some of their brain power to come up with names, it was still exhausting.

The Lizardmen, who were evolving into Dragonnewts, were integrated into different segments of his government, with individuals like Souka naturally gravitating toward the intelligence sector.

As for Gabiru… he was a bit of a lost cause right now. Since he hadn't been betrayed by Gelmud in this reality, he was still dedicated to him. But Rimuru decided to deal with him later. He had countless other Lizardmen under his name, so he just let Gabiru continue his misguided efforts to make Gelmud proud.

If Gabiru came around later, Rimuru would rename him and find a suitable role for him. Yet for now, Gabiru ran off with his crew, oblivious to the larger picture.

Moving on.

Thanks to the Hipokute fertilizer and their pre-battle efforts, they managed to get a head start in farming and providing food for the new Tempest citizens. However, Rimuru was somewhat dissatisfied with their current farming methods, which were less efficient and diverse than he desired.

Their current crops were basic: grains and potatoes were their main harvest. That wasn't enough to make Rimuru happy. He envisioned a more diverse and efficient agricultural system.

Rimuru wanted to send envoys to Eurazania, Carrion's city, which was known for its farming and various types of sweet fruits and vegetables. But he held off because he planned to use the envoy they sent to him to gain the upper hand in negotiations. If Phobio still came marching in like he owned the place, beating him up before healing him and sending him back would help set everything in motion.

He hoped things would go as planned, but he was ready to pivot and adjust his strategies if necessary.

At that moment, Rimuru was working on his plan to ensure their fight against Charybdis went smoothly. Without the support of the Dwarven kingdom yet, he aimed to bring another group of allies into the fold: the Harpies.

He wanted to use his knowledge to formally create strong bonds between the two lands. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all, and getting another Demon Lord on his side would be for the best, with the future becoming more uncertain with each passing day.

Rimuru wanted to personally visit Fulbrosia to meet with Frey, which meant he would have to wait until Milim visited Tempest. He didn't want Milim to show up without him being present. However, he was ready for her to show up at any moment since he finally had his "Anti-Demon Lord Elixir," or, as it was better known, Apito's honey.

After eating some of it for himself, he had to agree that it was a dangerous weapon. As much as he wanted to eat it all himself, he had to make sure to save a stockpile for when the Little Nuke, Milim, arrived.

In fact, many of his actions now were to ensure that Milim fell in love with Tempest. He created an entire department of chefs dedicated to making the most delicious recipes and stockpiled different sweets and treats. The fact that this effort also improved the overall food quality in Tempest was a hidden benefit.

— — —

Eventually, between countless breaks, he finished naming all of the Orcs, Ogres, and Lizardmen. He had given titles and roles to as many people as possible, ensuring their future paths were as smooth as possible. Now, he was rewarding himself with a well-deserved break.

He was in his slime form, being held by Ellen, one of the adventurers who had come with Shizue. The trio had fallen in love with Tempest after experiencing all of the luxuries. Since Rimuru knew that her father was a representative for Sarion, he was making sure to spoil her as much as she wanted.

As for why he was letting himself be held by her? Well, everyone else was busy, and since he was on vacation he wasn't going to bother to walk around. 

"You wouldn't believe the face Fuze made when Shizue told him about you. He looked like he was going crazy. And then his reaction after we showed him the gifts you gave us. That Full Potion is crazy!" Ellen said with excitement as she continued to wander around town.

Rimuru couldn't help but chuckle slightly, making his body jiggle as he heard it. The old man, Fuze, had countless connections all over the place, so the earlier they got him to support Tempest, the better for their future.

"Is he coming over to visit yet?" Rimuru asked.

"Yup, Shizue is going to guide him back. I'm happy that she doesn't have to wear that mask anymore. She kept telling me how nice it felt. I'm glad that she's enjoying everything so much more now."

Ellen couldn't help but subconsciously squeeze Rimuru tighter, his gelatinous body being quite comfortable to hug. After a few more moments, she let out a satisfied sigh.

"Man, Tempest is amazing. I've never imagined a place like this could exist, but here it is, right in front of me. It gives off that friendly and warm energy like everyone here is looking out for each other."

As she spoke, countless worker ants made their way through the streets, holding gigantic blocks of stone above them as they continued to assist during the construction. Ellen gave an uncomfortable expression before sighing.

"After running from them for hours, it still feels weird to see them all acting so friendly," Ellen said.

"Just don't meet the queen, and you'll be fine. She's a weirdo," Rimuru joked, more to himself than to her, but she still laughed along.

"You know, if you ever need anything, you can count on us. We've seen firsthand what you're capable of, and we believe in your vision for Tempest."

"I'll hold you to it," Rimuru said, smiling internally. Yet before he could relax, he received an alarm from Sage.

[A group of Pegasus Knights is heading in this direction.]

'What? Right now?' Rimuru asked. He knew they were spying on Tempest thanks to Souei's reports, but he had hoped to have earned some more time since he hadn't crossed paths with them in Dwargon.

Jumping out from Ellen's arms, he landed in his young Kijin form, looking slightly older thanks to consuming the Orc Disaster. Yet he still looked to be between 10-12 years old.

'Hakuro! I need you at the entrance right now,' he commanded. Hakuro would be the most important person to prevent anything from going badly.

'Sage, begin the preparations,' Rimuru added. He knew that with Hakuro there, Gazel would likely revert to his old, dedicated student self. But even then, he had 300 Rank B+ to A Kijin under his name.

He wouldn't be surprised if Gazel saw him as a Disaster Class threat and was prepared to fight and even kill his mentor if he accidentally left the wrong impression. And though they would be able to fight back, it would still end up as a massacre, and the odds were not in their favor.

By the time Gazel and his knights arrived at the entrance of Tempest, the city had become a ghost town. The inhabitants had used the countless tunnels dug by the ants to hide, while hundreds of Shadow Operatives concealed themselves, ready to act if necessary.

The army was also hidden in tunnels beneath the city, poised to emerge and defend Tempest if anything went wrong.

As the King of the Dwarves approached, he looked serious, his eyes scanning the gathered group: Rimuru, Hakuro, Shuna, Shion, and Kaijin. Benimaru and Souei were currently in hiding, ready to jump out and attack if needed with their own groups.

Giving the king a small nod, Rimuru introduced himself. 

"Gazel Dwargo, I am Rimuru Tempest. To what do I owe the honor?" Rimuru said, maintaining a serious expression.

Gazel's eyes narrowed as he asked. 

"Are you the one who claims to be Veldora's Prophet?"

"I am. While Veldora works on his resurrection, he has appointed me to look over the forest," Rimuru replied confidently.

The knights behind Gazel exchanged suspicious glances, but Gazel's expression remained unchanged.

"I've heard many rumors about you, Rimuru Tempest. Your rapid rise to power has not gone unnoticed," Gazel said, his tone measured.

"Tempest aims to be a place where all races can live in harmony and prosper. We seek peace, not conflict," Rimuru responded. "War is messy, so how about we talk about things over a cup of tea?"

Gazel studied Rimuru for a moment, weighing his words. 

"Peace is a noble goal, but actions speak louder than words. I need to see for myself what kind of leader you are."

At this, Rimuru sent a mental message to Hakuro, urging him to speak.

"Gazel?" Hakuro asked, acting surprised. "Is that you? I haven't seen you since you were just a kid. To think that you would grow to become a king… I still remember when you could barely swing a sword." He added, a grandfatherly smile appearing on his face.

Gazel's serious expression instantly broke, surprise evident on his face as he asked.

"Teacher… is that you?" He muttered, the seriousness returning to his face after a few seconds.

"You can call me Hakuro now. I serve under Lord Rimuru, though I have taught him a thing or two, which would make him your brother in arms." Hakuro said, letting out a small chuckle before adding. "Though, to be fair, he has also taught me a few things."

A smile broke through Gazel's serious expression as he turned to look at Rimuru with new eyes.

"King Gazel, you heard the old man." Rimuru began, a smile appearing on his face. "How about we have a little spar as brothers? There is no way to talk to another brother in arms than with a spar. I can tell you are still hesitant about me."

'Are you ready, Sage?' Rimuru asked as he saw the smile in Gazel become bigger.

[Affirmative.] They both had been waiting for a chance to update Sage's Sword Arts database, and this would be their perfect opportunity. 

Gazel chuckled slightly as he pulled out his sword.

"What are your rules?" he asked, the smile still on his face.

"Five minutes. It's just a matter of getting to know each other, so the number of hits doesn't matter. Feel free to teach me as much as you want, brother." Rimuru said, making sure to emphasize the word brother in order to create a sense of familiarity between the two.

Gazel looked to Hakuro, and after getting a nod of approval, he smiled even wider.

"I will… As your elder brother in arms, I'll let you take the first hit."

"King…" One of the Pegasus Knights tried to speak up, but seeing the determination in Gazel's eyes, he lowered his head and sighed.

Taking a moment, Rimuru nodded to show he was ready before vanishing and appearing below Gazel. He swung his blade upwards but felt a massive weight parry his weapon.

"Haha, you should know better than to use my teacher's tricks against me. I have been struck by that attack enough times to react on pure instinct alone."

Smiling, Rimuru nodded his head.

"You are right. Would you mind if I used my own physical advantages during the fight?" Rimuru asked, earning a nod from Gazel.

Without missing a beat, Rimuru's form shimmered, his limbs extending and twisting in impossible ways. He lunged forward, his sword seemingly coming from multiple directions at once, a blur of magisteel aimed at Gazel.

Gazel's eyes narrowed in concentration. He moved with practiced precision, deflecting each strike with calculated movements. His blade danced through the air, meeting Rimuru's attacks with a series of swift and decisive parries. Sparks flew as their swords collided, the sound of metal against metal filling the training grounds.

"Interesting, I have never fought against anyone who can move like you do." Gazel said with a smile as he saw Rimuru use prototype Shunpo to teleport from place to place, leaving afterimages.

Yet even as he said that, he swung his sword with impressive speed, striking Rimuru with the blunt side before causing him to take a few steps backward.

[Notice. A flaw in prototype Shunpo has been detected. Creating a new version. Please continue to use the new prototype.]

Following Sage's advice, Rimuru vanished again, drawing a smile from Gazel. When it came to pure physical strength, he wasn't a match to him. But that only made it better since Sage was absolutely focused on this very moment.

Gazel tracked Rimuru with his eyes, even with the movement Art. As Rimuru appeared next to him, Gazel spun on his heel, his sword moving in a wide arc. Rimuru's blade clashed against Gazel's once again, but this time, Gazel twisted his wrist and redirected Rimuru's momentum, causing him to stumble slightly. 

[Notice. A flaw has been corrected.]

"Lesson one: never lose your footing!" Gazel declared, stepping forward with a powerful thrust aimed at Rimuru's midsection.

Rimuru quickly regained his balance, his body shifting again to avoid the thrust. He flowed like water, his form becoming more fluid and unpredictable. Using his shapeshifting abilities, Rimuru elongated his arm, wrapping it around Gazel's sword arm in an attempt to disarm him.

Gazel's eyes widened in surprise, but he reacted swiftly. With a burst of strength, he broke free from Rimuru's grip and spun around, his sword slicing through the air in a deadly arc. Rimuru barely managed to dodge, the blade grazing his side as he twisted away.

"Excellent, Rimuru! You're learning fast!" Gazel praised, a proud smile on his face. "But can you keep up?"

With that, Gazel unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one faster and more precise than the last. Rimuru found himself on the defensive, his body constantly shifting and morphing to avoid the onslaught. He could feel the weight of Gazel's experience in every strike, the sheer power and precision behind each swing.

[Notice. A flaw has been corrected...]

[Notice. A flaw has been corrected...]

[Notice. A flaw has been corrected...]

Sage chimed in repeatedly, highlighting the flaws in the movement technique until she eventually spoke up again.

[Notice. Analysis of Gazel's sword style has been partially completed. Current processing capabilities incapable of fully replicating movements.]

[Updating Sage's Sword Arts… Complete.]

By this point, Rimuru was vanishing so fast that even Gazel was struggling to keep up. To his surprise, he felt an attack coming in his direction that he couldn't fully dodge without going all out.

As the clang of the blades echoed, a proud voice broke the tension.

"Five minutes have passed," Hakuro announced, a smile on his face.

— — —

Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: @LuluViBritania (FF.N, SB, WN and QQ)/-LuluViB|99th Britannian Emperor(Discord) and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)