The Jura Tempest Federation had grown fast—too fast.
Roads were paved with stones that hummed with magic. Bridges connected territories that once warred against each other. Goblins, Ogres, Lizards, even Orcs… they worked side by side with humans. All under one banner. All under one king.
A slime.
But no one in the outside world knew the full truth.
They didn't know the storm that once raged above the forest—the True Dragon Veldora—was now gone. Whispers said he had perished, vanished into dust from some forgotten battle. A legend erased from history.
And in his place, the mysterious king of monsters rose from the shadows.
Rimuru Tempest.
In the golden halls of Falmuth, King Edmaris swirled his goblet of wine, watching the crimson ripples reflect on the surface like blood.
"Monsters and humans living together?" he muttered. "What kind of joke is this?"
His advisors stood nearby, tense and silent. They had heard the rumors: the Orc Lord defeated, the Ogres united, the Lizardmen submitting… all under the leadership of a slime.
"Surely, Your Majesty," said one nobleman, "this creature—this Slime—must be hiding something. No one rises that quickly without a secret."
Another chimed in, "And with Veldora gone, the land he protected is open. We could take the forest—its riches—all in the name of order. Or perhaps… the Church."
Edmaris' lips curled into a sly smile.
"Yes… Yes, that could work. We say the monsters pose a threat to the faith. The Church blesses the war. We send our knights. We strike fast."
The High Chancellor adjusted his glasses. "And what of the rumors that the new king is forming alliances? That he's already bonded with Dwargon?"
"Then we strike before they get stronger."
The king raised his goblet.
"To Tempest's fall… and Falmuth's rise."
Beneath the neutral capital Ingracia, behind a set of sealed doors, laughter echoed.
The Moderate Harlequin Alliance had gathered.
Clayman, face hidden behind a porcelain smile, leaned forward on the table.
"That slime," he said with a cold tone, "defeated the Orc Disaster like it was nothing. Wiped out the threat we spent months cultivating."
Beside him, Laplace chuckled as he balanced a dagger on his fingertip.
"Creepy, ain't it? Real wild card. Never saw 'im comin'."
Tear, playing with her pigtails, frowned. "He's not even a Demon Lord…"
"Not yet," Footman added, voice booming.
Behind them stood Kagali, her eyes narrowing. "This Rimuru Tempest… he's dangerous. More dangerous than expected. And most importantly, he's unknown."
Clayman's eyes turned to Yuuki Kagurazaka, seated at the far end, sipping tea.
"What do you think, Yuuki? Another obstacle?"
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"No. Not an obstacle. Just another tool."
In the cold, marble halls of Ruberios, the capital of the Western Holy Church, a sharp silence ruled.
Hinata Sakaguchi, the Holy Knight Commander of the Imperial Guard, stood still in the dim light of the cathedral chamber, her silver hair catching the light of the stained-glass windows.
"…He absorbed her?"
The cardinal before her nodded, sliding a parchment across the stone table. "That's what our agents in Dwargon claim. A slime… absorbed Shizue Izawa, your former master."
Hinata's fist clenched. The paper crumpled beneath her white gloves.
"She was kind. Too kind for this world," she whispered. "And now she's… gone?"
"They say he took her body. Wears her face."
Her cold violet eyes narrowed. "Then I will rip it from him myself."
The cardinal nodded. "This… Tempest… their alliance with Dwargon is growing. They allow monsters and humans to coexist. Heresy."
"It's worse than that," Hinata muttered. "It's mockery."
In the scorched peaks of the Forgotten Dragon Kingdom, flames crackled as Yujiro Hanma stood shirtless under the twilight sky.
The strongest creature alive stretched, muscles groaning like ancient steel. His eyes were wild. Hungry.
His fists had already broken most of the so-called Demon Lords.
But one remained.
Leon Cromwell.
The Golden Hero.
Yujiro's lips curled. "I've beaten dragons, demons… I'm curious what a 'Hero' tastes like."
From behind, Middray, approached, bowing lightly.
"You plan to face Leon?"
Yujiro didn't turn around. "Yeah. Milim's still playing with that slime in Tempest."
Middray hesitated. "Leon isn't like the others. He's calm. Strategic. Not someone who charges blindly."
Yujiro cracked his knuckles. "Good. Then I can break him slowly."
Middray smirked. "He probably still doesn't know you exist."
"He will."
Back in Tempest, Rimuru floated through the village in his slime form, perched on Milim's head as she skipped down the road. Goblins bowed, Orcs cheered, and kids followed behind them like ducklings.
"Your city's gotten huge, Rimuru!" Milim beamed.
"I know, right?" Rimuru said proudly. "It's been peaceful. Too peaceful."
Milim glanced up, lips puckered. "You should enjoy it! It won't last forever, y'know."
Rimuru froze. "…What do you mean?"
Milim blinked. "Hmm? Oh, nothing! Just feels like a storm's coming."
<
Rimuru sighed. "Why does Great Sage always pick the worst times to say things like that…"
On the other side of the world, in the kingdom of the Forgotten Dragon, Yujiro Hanma, the one and only was itching for a fight and one Demon Lord remained and that was Leon Cromwell. Yujiro called Middray and told him to take him to Leon Cromwell kingdom....
The morning sky blazed with orange hues as two figures cut through the clouds like missiles. One was Middray, his draconic wings spread wide, riding the air with grace. The other was far more terrifying — Yujiro Hanma, no wings, no magic, no tricks — just raw muscle and presence, standing upright on a slab of floating rock he launched into the sky himself.
"You sure you wanna do this?" Middray asked with a nervous glance.
Yujiro cracked his neck, grinning. "You think I came all this way to smell flowers? Let's see what this Leon Cromwell is made of."
Middray sighed, muttering under his breath, "Man... I've seen this scene play out before. And it never ends quietly."
Below them, the majestic continent of El Dorado spread like a masterpiece. It was wide, carved with nature's symmetry but forged with magical precision. Forest District to the west, Field District to the south, Lakes and Rivers weaving through like veins of magicules. The Mountain District, closer to the center, was where the great Ashen Heart Volcano resided.
Its black peak vomited smoke and fire endlessly — the cursed result of the ancient battle between Velgrynd and Veldora. But the capital city nearby shined brightly, untouched by any of the chaos. Magic winds and complex barriers kept the air pure and the skies clear, ensuring El Dorado's allure never dulled.
And at the heart stood Leon Cromwell's palace, a castle of white gold and sapphire spires.
The moment Yujiro and Middray landed at the Western Gate, the ground trembled slightly. Not because of some spell, but because Yujiro's very steps carried the weight of a walking catastrophe.
Two royal guards immediately noticed the pair and raised their spears.
"Halt! Identify yourselves!"
Yujiro ignored them completely, his hands shoved in his pockets, a smirk plastered across his face.
Middray, ever the diplomatic one, stepped up. "Yo, relax. I'm Middray, right-hand to Demon Lord Milim Nava. This is Yujiro Hanma, Milim's uncle. We're here to speak with your lord, Leon Cromwell."
One of the guards blinked. "There's no record of any meeting scheduled. Please wait while we confirm this with the palace."
Yujiro stopped, turned his head slightly.
"Wait?" he said, voice low but thunderous.
The other guard raised a hand. "I must insist, sir. We can't allow entry without--"
CRACK.
Before anyone could blink, Yujiro had crossed the distance. A single palm struck the guard's throat with surgical precision. The man collapsed, unconscious, without even realizing he was attacked.
The second guard, eyes wide in terror, dropped his weapon. "I-I need to sound the alarm!"
He scrambled toward the emergency rune etched into the gate wall. A red light pulsed. Sirens blared like banshees as magical barriers activated.
Middray groaned. "Welp. I guess Leon-sama knows we're here now."
High above, in Leon's palace, magic alarms screeched.
Claude, the silver-haired swordsman with a sharp demeanor, rushed into the central tower.
"What happened?"
Alrose, the stern magic knight, had already pulled up a vision screen. "Two outsiders just downed a gate guard. One of them... is rumored to be Yujiro Hanma."
Claude narrowed his eyes. "That name again..."
Leon Cromwell entered the chamber, his white coat flowing like mist behind him.
"Let me see."
He stared at the vision screen. There he was. Yujiro, walking casually through El Dorado's main gate like it belonged to him.
"That man... is real?" Leon asked, voice tight.
Alrose nodded. "I've heard tales. A human with no magic, no skills. He defeated entire nations. Even dragons. Some say... he beat Demon Lords with his bare fists."
Leon frowned. "Nonsense. No being without magic can beat a True Dragon. I fought Velgrynd myself once."
Claude spoke, hesitant. "Yet... the air around him feels heavier than magic."
Leon turned, golden eyes cold.
"Ready the royal guard. No one enters El Dorado uninvited."
Yujiro and Middray walked through the main street of the capital, dozens of citizens staring from a distance.
Whispers followed them:
"Who is he...?"
"Why hasn't he been stopped yet?"
"That's not magic pressure... that's something else... something worse."
Then, the royal palace gates opened. Dozens of knights poured out in formation. Behind them stood Leon Cromwell, radiant and confident.
Leon stepped forward, cloak billowing. "You must be the so-called Yujiro Hanma."
Yujiro tilted his head, smirking.
"You must be the prince with pretty hair."
Middray whispered, "Oh no... here it comes..."
Leon frowned. "You trespass. You injure my guards. You walk into my kingdom like it's your own."
Yujiro cracked his knuckles. "I walk wherever I want."
Leon's aura exploded around him, magical arrays forming midair.
"You disrespect my rule."
Yujiro took one step forward. The magical arrays shattered.
Leon's eyes widened. "...He broke my spell barrier... just by moving?"
Yujiro smirked. "I came to see if the last so-called Demon Lord is as strong as they say. You're the only one left."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "I'm not like the others. I'll show you what a true ruler can do."
Yujiro's smile widened. "I hope so. Otherwise this will be a waste of a walk."