The spatial transit magic did not merely convey Rimuru and his companions across distance; it dragged them through a tear in the fabric of the world.
When the blinding luminescent rings dissolved, the frigid, oppressive atmosphere of the Walpurgis chamber struck Rimuru like a solid blow. It was an immense hall carved from star-black stone, spanned by ancient, vaulted arches that seemed built for beings whose past disputes had erased armies and redrawn national borders. The air was thick with dense, highly compressed magicules, creating a passive, suffocating pressure merely through the presence of the legendary entities gathered inside.
Rimuru took a tentative step forward, his polished leather boots making no sound against the obsidian floor. To his left, Diablo adjusted his pristine white gloves with immaculate, terrifying serenity, his golden-crimson eyes reflecting the dim, ethereal light of the hall. On his right stood Shizue. She wore her dark coat over fitted leather armor, her hand resting easily near the hilt of her blade. Her posture was remarkably steady, her breathing calm despite the crushing atmospheric density that would have driven an ordinary human to their knees.
Even after completing his awakening as a True Demon Lord, Rimuru felt a sharp, internal thrill of caution run through his core.
[Report: Multiple individuals within the chamber possess energy readings exceeding reliable comparative parameters. Numerical ranking is not advised.]
'Thanks, Raphael,' Rimuru thought wryly. 'I could have guessed that just by looking around.'
The raw, ancient presence of the established rulers was staggering. This was not a power born merely from high magicule counts; it was centuries of absolute rule, territorial supremacy, and unbroken survival carved into the very stone.
Across the sprawling chamber, the scene was a bizarre mixture of ancient political weight and casual disorder.
Loki was already present, lounging casually in a high-backed stone chair. Behind him stood Testarossa in a sharply tailored black suit, her crimson eyes scanning the room with cool, predatory evaluation, while Veyron waited at his shoulder, a silver-edged administrative portfolio held securely beneath his arm.
Loki was currently engaged in a loud, completely shameless argument with Guy Crimson.
"You put ancient enemies three inches apart and expect civil debate," Loki declared, waving a dismissive hand at the massive circular table that dominated the room's center. "That isn't tradition, Guy. It's bad furniture planning."
Guy Crimson occupied the presiding chair opposite the massive double doors, his wild red hair falling loose over broad shoulders clad in ceremonial black. His crimson eyes flickered with exasperated amusement. "This is Walpurgis, Loki, not a municipal planning committee. Stop talking before I incinerate you."
"You can try," Loki replied without blinking.
Nearby, Milim Nava was entirely ignoring the political gravity of the room. She was leaning over a massive sideboard laden with exotic delicacies, practically buried in a mountain of roasted meats and frosted pastries.
"Rimuru!" Milim bellowed around a mouthful of sweet bread, waving a sticky silver fork through the air. "You made it! You have to try the glazed boar, it's amazing! Walpurgis is the absolute best!"
Rimuru raised a hand with a slight laugh. "I'll try it after the meeting, Milim."
Behind Milim stood the two former Demon Lords who had chosen to serve her. Frey let out a weary sigh as she watched Milim raid the sideboard, while the broad-shouldered Beastman king, Carrion, stood at her other shoulder with his massive arms folded across his chest.
Further down the line, Ramiris hovered above a stone seat several sizes too large for her, with Beretta and Treyni standing guard behind her. The instant she spotted Rimuru and Shizue entering the hall, the tiny spirit queen shot upright, waving her hands wildly.
"Rimuru! Shizue! You actually made it!" Ramiris squeaked, her face lighting up with immediate excitement.
Rimuru returned her enthusiastic wave. "Good to see you again, Ramiris."
Shizue offered the fairy a gentle, warm smile. "It is good to see you again, Ramiris-san."
Ramiris looked ready to zip across the chamber and immediately begin recounting everything that had transpired since their time at the Dwelling of Spirits, but Beretta leaned down and whispered a quiet reminder that the formal assembly was about to convene, prompting her to settle back above the chair with a proud puff of her chest.
Beside her sat Dino, his cheek propped against an idle fist, looking entirely asleep at first glance. Only the occasional shift of his half-lidded gaze revealed that he was quietly tracking every alliance, every attendant, and every subtle shift in the room's volatile atmosphere.
Nearby sat Dagruel, looking like a quiet, immovable mountain of thunder and earth, his dark eyes measuring Rimuru's approach with heavy, unreadable weight.
Luminous Valentine occupied her own chair openly, silver hair framing the crimson-and-blue eyes that watched the room with ancient composure. Loki had destroyed the usefulness of her maid disguise at the previous Walpurgis, and no one present now mistook Roy for the true ruler.
Roy Valentin stood behind her in formal white-and-gold robes, projecting the guarded authority of a senior attendant. The arrangement left no ambiguity about who represented Lubelius.
As Rimuru, Diablo, and Shizue reached the center of the hall, the atmospheric pressure in the room visibly shifted. Every gaze in the chamber swung toward the newly arrived candidate.
The gathered overlords were not merely measuring Rimuru's aura; they were calculating the dangerous web of political alliances linked to his name. An attack on Arashi was no longer a simple border dispute with a newly awakened slime. It meant risking an immediate conflict with Loki's vast domain, inviting Milim's unbridled, unpredictable wrath, drawing Diablo's ruthless devotion into the field, and potentially summoning the Storm Dragon Veldora from his lair.
Yet, beneath that unspoken calculation lay a colder, harsher reality. In the eyes of the established Demon Lords, political connections could not substitute for personal strength. Friendship could open the doors to Walpurgis, but only absolute sovereignty could earn a permanent seat at the table.
Then, Leon Cromwell turned his head.
Leon's golden eyes passed over Rimuru and locked completely onto Shizue. For a fraction of a second, Leon's flawless, aristocratic composure flickered. He studied her posture, the quiet confidence in her shoulders, and the clear, unburdened light in her eyes. There was no flame of Ifrit consuming her spirit from within, no sign of forced control, and no lingering trace of terror.
Shizue met his gaze directly. She did not reach for her sword, nor did she flinch under the weight of his legendary reputation. She stood firmly at Rimuru's side. Bot out of helpless dependence, but because she had freely chosen to be there. Facing the ancient lord who had once summoned her into a living nightmare without surrendering to hatred or fear.
"Well, well," Loki grinned, catching Rimuru's eye and giving a breezy, casual wave that drew an irritated scowl from Roy Valentin. "Look who finally decided to show up. Did you take the scenic route through the forest, Rimuru?"
He greeted Rimuru as a familiar peer, but Loki deliberately remained in his chair. He offered no grand speech on Rimuru's behalf, nor did he make any move to act as his sponsor. He left the floor entirely to the young candidate.
Guy Crimson leaned back in his throne, his sharp eyes fixing on Rimuru with predatory focus. He was testing the newcomer, watching to see if Rimuru would hide behind Loki's established authority or lean on Diablo's menacing shadow, evaluating whether the newly awakened candidate possessed the independence to speak for his own nation.
Rimuru stopped before the grand table and gave the presiding Demon Lord a measured, respectful bow. "Thank you for receiving us, Guy-san."
Guy's gaze lingered on Rimuru after the bow, but he offered no reassurance. Around the table, Dagruel watched his balance, Dino's half-lidded stare sharpened, and Luminous studied Shizue rather than him. Rimuru understood the message. They did not care whether he had rehearsed the right words. They wanted to see which borrowed strength he reached for when the pressure rose.
Rather than looking toward Loki for permission, Rimuru walked directly to the unmarked stone chair prepared for the summoned candidate and took his place. His posture remained calm and steady, concealing the rapid calculations beneath his surface demeanor. Behind him, Diablo and Shizue took their positions. Diablo rigid with absolute devotion, Shizue steady and composed in her chosen duty.
A sudden, deafening boom echoed through the hall as the massive double doors slammed shut. Ancient magical seals flared along the threshold in brilliant crimson light, completely cutting off the chamber from the outside world.
Guy Crimson slowly rose from his chair. He released only a small fraction of his aura, yet the oppressive magicules settled over every seat, instantly silencing the room.
"The extraordinary assembly of Walpurgis is now in session," Guy announced, his deep voice carrying an undeniable authority that echoed off the star-black stone.
Sitting straight in his chair, Rimuru felt the full weight of the moment settle onto his shoulders. Every word, posture, and decision made from that moment onward would enter the historical record.
---
Find early chapters on my patreon
[Patreon.com/tenten100?]