"Wait—what?!"
Rai barely had time to react.
Milim vanished.
Not moved—vanished.
A shockwave exploded behind him as her fist came crashing down. Instinct screamed. His body liquefied instantly, flattening across the ground as the impact shattered the earth where he had been standing.
BOOOOOOM!
The forest split apart. Trees were ripped from the ground like weeds. The air itself trembled.
Rai reformed several meters away, eyes wide.
"Okay… yeah… that's definitely Milim Nava."
She tilted her head, pouting.
"Huh? You dodged? That's kinda impressive!"
Rai forced a grin, though internally, alarms were blaring.
That wasn't even serious.
[Analysis: Target possesses overwhelming magicule count. Combat probability: negligible.]
Yeah, no kidding.
Milim suddenly appeared in front of him again—this time casually poking his cheek.
"You feel weird," she said, squishing his face. "Not like normal slimes. More like… Rimuru."
Rai gently pulled back, raising his hands.
"Let's not fight to the death five minutes after meeting, yeah?"
Milim blinked.
Then grinned.
"Okay!"
"...That was easy."
She floated upside down in the air, staring at him like he was a new toy.
"So, Rai, what can you do?"
He hesitated.
Then shrugged. "A bit of everything, I guess."
"Show me!"
Rai sighed. No way out of this, huh…
"Fine. But don't blow up the forest again."
Milim puffed her cheeks. "That was one time!"
"...You literally just did it."
"Details!"
Rai shook his head, then focused.
His body shifted—fluid, seamless—forming a sleek humanoid figure again. Magicules gathered in his palm, swirling into a concentrated sphere.
"Black Flame."
The fire ignited—not normal fire, but something deeper. Dense. Devouring.
Milim's eyes lit up.
"Ooooh~ that's cool!"
Rai launched it toward a distant boulder.
The explosion was controlled—but devastating. The rock disintegrated, leaving molten residue behind.
Milim clapped.
"Not bad! Not bad at all!"
Rai relaxed slightly. "See? I'm not completely useless."
Milim suddenly leaned in, her face inches from his.
"But you're still way weaker than me!"
"...Yeah, I figured."
She laughed, spinning midair.
"But that's okay! Rimuru was weak at first too!"
That caught Rai's attention.
"You knew Rimuru when he started?"
Milim beamed. "Yep! He's super fun! Built a whole nation, made tons of friends, and gives me snacks!"
Rai chuckled. "Sounds like him."
There was a brief pause.
Then Milim's expression shifted—just slightly.
"But you feel… different."
Rai stiffened.
Her eyes, though still bright, now carried weight behind them.
"Rimuru is kind," she said. "He doesn't like fighting unless he has to."
She floated closer.
"You… like it."
Rai didn't answer immediately.
Because she wasn't wrong.
He exhaled slowly.
"I won't deny that."
Milim stared at him for a moment longer.
Then—
She smiled again.
"That's fine too!"
"...Huh?"
She landed lightly in front of him.
"As long as you don't hurt my friends, we're good!"
Rai blinked.
Then smiled.
"Deal."
Milim clapped her hands.
"Then you should come meet Rimuru!"
Rai froze.
"...Right now?"
"Yeah!"
That's… fast.
His mind raced.
Meeting Rimuru this early could change everything.
Opportunities. Risks. Unknown variables.
[Analysis: Encounter with Rimuru Tempest recommended. High probability of beneficial outcomes.]
Rai sighed.
"Guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
Milim grabbed his arm.
"Nope!"
Before he could react—
They shot into the sky.
BOOOOM!
The ground cracked beneath them as they launched, leaving a crater where they stood.
Wind roared past his ears. The forest shrank below them.
Rai's eyes widened.
"OKAY—THIS IS NEW—!"
Milim laughed loudly.
"WEEEEEE!"
Minutes later…
A massive city came into view.
Clean roads. Organized structures. Monsters and humans coexisting.
Rai's breath caught.
"Tempest…"
Even from above, he could feel it.
Order.
Power.
Unity.
This wasn't just a monster nation.
This was something greater.
Milim pointed excitedly.
"There! That's where Rimuru is!"
Rai swallowed.
Alright… here we go.
As they descended, he felt it—
A presence.
Calm.
Immense.
Watching.
[Warning: Extreme entity detected.]
Rai smiled slightly.
"Yeah… I figured."
They landed at the entrance of a large building.
Before they could move—
The doors opened.
And a figure stepped out.
Blue hair. Golden eyes. Calm smile.
Rai stared.
"So… you're Rimuru Tempest."
Rimuru tilted his head, studying him.
Then smiled.
"And you must be the 'other slime' Milim dragged in."
There was a brief silence.
Then—
Rimuru's eyes sharpened, just for a second.
"Interesting…"
Rai felt it.
That subtle pressure.
That awareness.
Like nothing about him could be hidden.
But instead of fear—
He grinned.
"Nice to meet you."
Two slimes stood face to face.
One, a Demon Lord who reshaped the world.
The other—
Something new.
Something unknown.
And perhaps…
Something just as dangerous.
End of Chapter 2