Chapter 154: Ch-25 <unforseen circumstances >
The Great Dao Sages knew they couldn't directly attack Kevin without severe consequences. Any direct assault would incur an immense karmic burden, one that could potentially backfire disastrously on them.
As it is one of world laws that they cannot eliminate protagonists without reducing their luck or fate..
Narrator (Player God): "We cannot attack Kevin directly. If we do, the karmic backlash will destroy us!"
Sage 1: "But how could this be? How did he amass such karmic protection?"
Narrator: "It's his connection to his wives. Kiana and Elysia—both surpass protagonist-level destinies. Their fates are intertwined with his, and it gives him unprecedented protection. This was the true gift of Shub-Niggurath—this soul bond is far more dangerous than we anticipated."
Sage 2: "So, his plot armor… it's not his own, but borrowed from those around him. Every step they take strengthens his defenses."
Narrator: "Precisely. We can no longer afford to treat him as a simple reincarnator".
The cave was dark, damp, and crawling with monsters, but the cat had no problem tearing through them with his razor-sharp claws. As an A-rank monster, his strength was more than enough to take down the cave's inhabitants.
The monsters fell quickly, one by one, and the cat would casually allow Rimuru to consume their corpses with his unique skill, Predator.
Each time Rimuru absorbed a new creature, his magicules grew stronger, and the cat could feel his own power increase alongside Rimuru's.
But something was wrong. The cat's sharp golden eyes darted around the cavern as they ventured deeper, his movements becoming more anxious.
Cat (thinking): "Where is Veldora? He should be sealed here. In the novel, Rimuru was supposed to meet the Storm Dragon in this cave!"
The cat's paws moved faster, his heart racing. Without Veldora, the whole chain of events would be thrown off. How would he or Rimuru receive their names without the dragon's blessing?
Rimuru, oblivious to the cat's concerns, cheerfully bounced along behind him, absorbing anything that the cat defeated.
Rimuru: "You're amazing, you know that? I don't even have to lift a… whatever I have. You're taking care of everything!"
The cat barely responded, his mind focused on the absence of Veldora.
Suddenly, a ding echoed in his mind, and a screen appeared before him. The message it displayed made his fur stand on end:
System Notification: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Veldora is not present in this world.
Cat (thinking): "No Veldora?! What? That's impossible! If there's no Veldora, how will Rimuru receive his name? How will I get a name too?"
The cat stared at the screen in disbelief, but before he could panic further, another message popped up:
System Notification: Name the slime. Reward:
*Human form
*Extra skill: Ultra Sense
The cat's pupils dilated as he read the screen.
Cat (thinking): "Wait… if I name Rimuru, doesn't that mean my magicules will permanently decrease?!"
He waited for a response from the system, heart pounding. After a moment, the screen updated.
System Reply: Magicules will recover with the help of the system. No permanent drawbacks.
A slow, cunning smile spread across the cat's face. This was an opportunity—no, it was a golden opportunity.
If he gave Rimuru his name and then fell into a temporary evolutionary slumber, he could manipulate Rimuru's emotions and loyalty.
By telling Rimuru later how dangerous naming someone could be, it would bind Rimuru's trust to him even more tightly. The slime would feel indebted, thinking the cat had sacrificed something crucial for him.
Cat (thinking): "This is perfect. I'll make him trust me completely."
Cat: " Hey, come here."
The blue slime bounced over obediently, curious. "What's up?"
Let's just leave our previous name behind and decide a new name. The cat replied.
Slime : "A name? Really? Then you give me a name?"
The cat nodded.
Cat: "From now on, your name is… Rimuru."
A bright light enveloped Rimuru as the name took hold. The cat felt his magicules drain rapidly, and, as planned, he collapsed into a deep slumber, his body resting beside Rimuru in the darkness.
Rimuru's POV:
Rimuru watched in horror as his friend, the one who had guided and protected him, fell unconscious. His mind raced with panic.
Rimuru: "No! No! What happened?! Is he okay?!"
Rimuru circled the cat's still form, his heart pounding—or at least the slime equivalent of a heart.
For an entire day, Rimuru waited anxiously, watching over the cat. Every sound in the cave made him jump, every shadow filled him with dread. His thoughts swirled in confusion.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the cat stirred. Slowly, the feline opened his golden eyes, glancing at Rimuru's anxious form.
Cat (weakly): "Ugh, why are you anxious? I'm not dead, you know."
Rimuru practically pounced on the cat, his body shaking with relief.
Rimuru: "You're alive! I thought you—! Oh, thank goodness!"
The cat sat up, looking down at Rimuru with a serious expression. Now it was time to drive the point home.
It seems naming is a dangerous thing. Naming you cost a lot of my power for you, and if you go around giving out names recklessly, you'll suffer the same consequences. You might not wake up at all."
Rimuru's body rippled in fear and asked " is the weakening permanent ".
The cat shock his head and said that the recovery is slow and he is recovering.
******
As Rimuru and the cat—now named Senshi—prepared to leave the cave, something shifted within Rimuru. His Great Sage skill had been running calculations in the background, and finally, the results were in.
Great Sage: "Analyzing... It will only consume 73% of your magicules to name the cat."
Rimuru blinked—or at least the slime equivalent of blinking—and turned toward Senshi, who had been strutting ahead confidently.
Rimuru then named the cat " senshi ".
Senshi stared, momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Rimuru to name him, but now that it was done, he felt a surge of power coursing through his body. His fur gleamed with newfound vitality, his senses sharpened, and even his claws seemed to glint with a more dangerous edge.
Senshi (thinking): This… This is more than I expected… I feel stronger. Much stronger. And all from a name?
The system in Senshi's mind flickered to life:
System Notification: Evolution complete. Title granted: Senshi, The Phantom Beast.
Senshi smirked.
Senshi (thinking): Not bad. This might just play into my plans perfectly...
As they ventured out of the cave and into the wilderness, they encountered a ragtag group of goblins. The goblins appeared frightened, with desperation in their eyes. Seeing the formidable aura of the duo, especially Senshi, the goblins quickly knelt.
Goblin Leader: "Oh mighty ones! Please, you must help us. Our village is under attack."
Rimuru, ever the compassionate soul, bounced forward.
Rimuru: "What's the problem? We'll help if we can."
The goblin leader, trembling, explained their dire situation.
Goblin Leader: "We are under constant attack from direwolves. Since our protector, Lord Kevin, vanished, we have been defenseless."
Senshi (narrowing his eyes): "Who is this Kevin you speak of?"
The mention of this name intrigued Senshi. Was this Kevin a figure of importance in this world? Why hadn't he come across this name in his memories of the Tensura novel?
The goblin leader looked up at Senshi with reverence.
Goblin Leader: "Kevin-sama is one of the great Demon Lords. Even Lord Veldora, the Storm Dragon, listens to him. He rarely meddles in the affairs of the world, but his presence alone kept the monsters at bay."
The goblins' words caught both Rimuru and Senshi off guard. Kevin, a Demon Lord? Not just that, but someone even Veldora, a true dragon, listens to? Senshi's sharp mind raced to piece together this new information.
Senshi (thinking): "This Kevin… could he be like me? A reincarnator who's already altered the storyline of this world? But Veldora listens to him… and other powerful beings, too? If that's true, then Kevin has already changed the balance of this world significantly."
Senshi's suspicions grew. This was no ordinary world anymore. If Kevin was indeed a reincarnator like him, the storylines and events would be vastly different from what he had expected. Rimuru wasn't just going to follow the path he remembered from the novel, not with wildcards like Kevin in the mix.
Later, in private, Senshi sat atop a high tree branch, staring out over the horizon.
Senshi (thinking): Kevin's disappearance is a problem. He was clearly someone who influenced this world, and now he's gone. If there are more like him—reincarnators —they could be manipulating events from the shadows. I need to become stronger.
Rimuru's potential is limitless, and I need to be ahead of him, guiding him while also stealing his opportunities.
His system buzzed to life again, showing him the opportunities ahead.
System Notification: Next protagonist opportunity: Lead the battle against the Direwolves. Reward: Power boost and new skill.
Senshi grinned to himself.
Senshi (thinking): Perfect. Rimuru will handle the fight, but I'll make sure I benefit from it just as much. It's time to steal the protagonist's opportunities and rise to the top.
Senshi (smirking): "This world is mine to shape. Kevin, wherever you are, I'll be ready. And if you stand in my way, you'll regret it."
A/N~ this cat is a small fry but the other two players is extremely strong and influential. Guess the identity of them..
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