Showdown of Stars and Storms

For those who are not aware. 

I have changed up some things about this story, which you can reread chapter 1 to know, and ignore if you already do.

Veldanava did not create everything with Nihility, but instead with the Great Holy Spirits, which was how it was supposed to be in the Ln till Vol. 21 ruined it. And instead of totality, the Great Holy Spirit of Light represents Everythingness.

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BOOM.

Unknown to anyone in the Central World, within a separate, Unique Space created by the Star-King himself, clashed two titanic Dragons. The bulkier one, clad in dark scales, fought his opponent with ferocity unreal, who remained clad in bright cyan scales that stressed his ashen eyes.

The space shook, the world trembled, and actuality itself seemingly warped as the two titans clashed with each other. Roar after roar, their voices boomed shaking up everything around them. 

"Are you still not going to get serious?"

The bulkier behemoth, 'The Storm Dragon; Veldora', bellowed.

"I could say the same here, Veldora"

His opponent, 'The Star-King Dragon; Veldanava', expressed with his tranquil voice. 

The barren land, which was filled with nothing but punitive dust ruptured, as the Storm Dragon's Aura shredded the surface, not to mention the Storms that it caused. The winds, becoming a full-blown hurricane, lightning vaporizing the earth, devastated the land, as Veldora's Aura was once again unleashed after years.

Veldanava, however, unaffected by it, stood on guard, his Aura still not leaving his flesh.

Veldanava soared toward his opponent, getting behind him at inconceivable speed. Veldora however remained unscathed as he dodged the Veldanava's claw with his 『Risk Prediction』. 

Taking advantage of the lower mobility of their dragon forms, Veldora hastily transformed into his human form, charging up an enormous amount of Aura into his fists.

Veldora stretched back his arm, and gave a tremendously powerful punch, 『Draconic Burst』. The force emanating from it decimated everything in his way. 

"So we are fighting like that huh?!"

!!!

Veldora, startled looked behind him, only to find Veldanava, in his original human form, looking at him with narrowed eyes and a grin. Even with 『Risk Prediction』, he could not avoid the incoming strike, as Veldanava's fist threw him flying in an instant. 

Turning into this draconic form, Veldora charged a massive amount of magicules in his mouth and fired it towards Veldanava with speed just short of that of light itself.

Veldanava, being far away, dodged it with ease. 

"Hmm. The speed of the attack was impressive, but it won't be too effective if its trajectory can be predicted"

Veldanava spelled out, not as a taunt, but as a suggestion for Veldora to improve. Saying this, he too turned to his draconic form, and gathered an amount of magicules that was almost half of Veldora's own capacity. 

Usually, this would be a bad move, for a single mistake would cost them too many magicules. However, Veldanava wasn't a typical entity, being inimitable even among the True Dragons. Veldora possessed Energy higher than both his sisters. However, even so, it was not even half of Veldanava's own. 

Veldora's 'Risk Prediction' went off, warning him of the danger. He felt a little frustrated at this. He had been using 『Probability Manipulation』 of his Ultimate Skill from the beginning of the fight, however, he wasn't even sure it had any effect.

Veldanava was just playing around with him. He knew that. He himself was not going all out, but he knew that any more would actually work against him, as Veldanava could easily turn his own attacks against him. His only hope was 'Probability Manipulation', which was failing him spectacularly till now. 

However, he did not have the time to fret over that now. Veldanava was charging up his attack, and Veldora sure as hell knew it wasn't any good.

Just as the Veldanava fired his beam of energy from his mouth, Veldora was a little confused. That attack seemed to be identical to Veldora's own, just with massively more energy. However, Veldora knew better than to think that. Veldanava was crafty, and this attack was most definitely not going to be a simple replication of his own.

Swoosh.

Just as Veldora moved out of the attack's trajectory, it split into numerous pieces that, in an instant, wrapped around him, immobilizing him, albeit fleetingly.

However, that was for Veldanava to pin the Storm Dragon down, towering over the latter's body. 

"You lose"

Veldanava said softly, as if he had not just restrained Veldora.

Sigh. 

Veldora heaved a light sigh, as he turned back to his human form. Veldanava, seeing Veldora accepting his 'defeat', let him go, turning to a human himself, and helped his younger brother up.

Tap. 

Veldora gave a light punch to Veldanava's chest, who seemingly didn't mind, except now, Veldora was beaming a full-blown mischievous grin.

"I win", He said.

Veldanava blinked, once, twice, as he finally registered what just happened. 

Veldora had never admitted defeat, it was merely the assumption Veldanava came up with. And now, even though it was akin to a tap, he did land a blow on him.   

"Hehehehe. You got me, you win. You have got a lot better at controlling your energy, and your Skill is one of a kind. Want me to train you?"

Veldanava beamed with a proud smile. Veldora had not defeated him in a fair battle, yes, however, he still did win their bet. 

He looks happy. I am glad —Veldanava thought, looking at his younger brother nod zealously at his suggestion.

"Let's go back then"

"YES"

Veldora almost shouted, fervent enough to burst through the portal his brother had summoned.

And so, the two stepped through the portal.

}-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-{ 

Entering once again in the Outer Space, the 2 True Dragons found themselves in the company of a Kijin and a Slime, both of whom gawking at them, mouth agape.

"T-That was…"

Hakurou found himself unable to form words. He looked to his master, but alas, Rimuru too seemed to be speechless.

"KUHUHUHUHAHAHAHA. Did you see Rimuru? That is the power of the Mighty Storm Dragon"

You're saying that but you couldn't even land a proper hit on him —is what Rimuru wanted to say, but the words just refused to leave his mouth.

"…Y-Yeah"

Rimuru's uneasy words came out strained. 

"Fufu, you should be this troubled by such a display, Rimuru, Hakurou. Didn't a warrior's true strength lie in their spirit"

Hearing Veldanava's words, Hakurou's eyes widened. That's right—He thought, as his spirit fired up, with intensity fitting of a master swordsman.

"…"

Rimuru, on the other hand, was a 'normal' human living in a peaceful material world prior to his reincarnation. He did understand what Veldanava's words conveyed, but his past as a civilian human could not bring himself to truly fathom the weight of those measly words.

However, there was a thing he did realize. Veldanava's very presence was divine, serene beyond measure. He had noticed it from the very beginning, that Veldanava, just being there, instilled a sense of hope and tranquility he had never and believed could ever be felt before.

Is this why Veldora seems so comfortable around him? —The slime questioned. He knew that Veldora did not get along with his other siblings, avoiding the very topic always when brought up in a conversation. He wondered if Veldanava's aura was the reason he felt at ease with him, or was there more to Veldora's past than he let on.

"Are you satisfied, Rimuru? Seeing some of Veldora's grand abilities"

"Yeah. It was really amazing"

Veldora smiled wryly, taken aback, not noticed by anyone except his older brother who smiled gently.

Hmm? Usually, he would have jumped around saying how great he was… maybe he's tired —Rimuru thought. 

"So. Uh, Lord Veldan…"

"You don't have to call me 'Lord', Hakurou", Veldanava's voice suddenly turned playful, "You can just call me what you did in the morning"

"P-please don't tease me, Lord Veldanava. How can I dare call you a 'youngster'?!"

Hold up, he said WHAT? —Screamed Rimuru in his mind, disbelief clear on his face, as he looked at the Kijin, mouth ajar.

"Fufufu. I am being serious though, I insist you call me just Veldanava, or Nova, when others are around"

"…O-Okay"

Hakurou said with a sigh. Looking into the eldest True Dragon's eyes, he knew there was no room for denial. 

"Before we leave for the city, I have a question, Rimuru"

"Hmm?"

"What are you going to introduce myself as?"

"Introduce him?

Hakurou muttered unknowingly. Hearing that, Veldanava turned to him, before giving him a brief overview of the situation.

"I see. How about Nova being a rouge dragonewt swordsman who came to Tempest to find a challenger for a duel"

"Hmm. Quite a convincing story, though I suppose you would need to mention we have met before, so that suspicion about me being a spy does not arise"

Veldanava added to Hakurou's suggestion, seemingly pleased by it, while Rimuru was happy they figured it out themselves and not having to ask 'Raphael'.

"And what the rumors about brother fighting me?", Veldora added.

…Wow. That goofy old man actually said something meaningful for once —Rimuru was surprised himself, seeing the aloof dragon add a momentous point to the conversation.

Veldanava narrowed his eyes at Rimuru, who remained seemingly oblivious to the gesture.

"Of course, 'It was a joke. How can just a dragonewt swordsman fight against The Storm Dragon'"

Veldanava averred, receiving a nod from the other 3.

"Alright then, It's time to go"

Said Veldanava, as a portal appeared before them, and a black-haired stalker demon seen through it, seeing whom, Rimuru's eye twitched.

}-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-{

The morning next, everyone gathered at the center of the city, called as Rimuru declared something 'important' to be announced.

Even the other Kijin, who were busy enough to not pay much attention to yesterday's matter were present, confused, except one.

Shuna was waiting…patiently... for this fiasco to finish. After all, she did need to let her Master that 'SLACKING OFF' is not a good thing. It's not like she wants to punish him or hoard him to herself, definitely not…right?

Thinking about Rimuru's absence in the office the other day, she smiled… however, the red-headed Kijin beside her was drenched in sweat, seeing his younger sister's expression.

I hope you survive, Lord Rimuru—Benimaru prayed to whatever God was watching over them.

Silence. 

The crowd, previously full of chatter and gossip, now stood unvoiced, as their master arrived.

The Chancellor and Founder of the Great Jura Tempest Federation, The True Demon Lord, The Ruler of Monsters, The Rising Star, and… 'The One Favored by the Stars and Storms', took the stage, his two secretaries close by.

"Well, I am sorry to gather you here again so quickly", Rimuru rubbed the back of his head, before his voice suddenly turned less playful, "I have an announcement to make. I know many of you have seen him, but just let me introduce you"

As the Demon Lord said that, Veldanava, in his original human form, teleported beside him, startling Shion, Shuna, and Benimaru. I did not even sense him —They thought.

If they had not been told about this by Diablo and Hakurou, they would have leaped to their master to defend him.

"This is Nova. He is a dragonewt, and a master swordsman who is going to live here for some time. Feel free to go to him for any kind of advice if you want. That's all"

Rimuru completed with a cheery voice, getting a small applause and clapping for the newcomer. 

However, there still remained few with suspicion against the stranger, particularly among the 3 Kijin who had just now seen him. But they didn't raise their voice, after all, it was their lord's decision, and they did not dare question him.

Nova huh?! I guess I will have to keep an eye on him for a while —Thought the red-haired Kijin, eyeing the black-haired 'dragonewt'. 

He was not going to let a tragedy like the one with Falmuth repeat itself… 

…NEVER AGAIN!