Beast Kingdom of Eurazania
"This nation of monsters is becoming a real pain to deal with," the ruler of Eurazania and one of the Ten Great Demon Lords, Beast Master Carrion, muttered under his breath as he listened to the report about the rapidly growing nation within the Jura Forest.
Of course, Carrion wasn't the only one keeping a close eye on Tempest. Every major power across the world had begun turning their attention toward this new nation rising from the depths of the Jura Forest, and each of them had quietly deployed their agents, lurking in the shadows and gathering whatever scraps of information they could find. And the more they uncovered about Tempest's explosive growth, the more their curiosity deepened, along with their greed. Even so, none of them were foolish enough to poke a hornet's nest without first understanding just how deep it went.
Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Carrion leaned casually against the wide stone balcony of his castle, as his sharp eyes settled on the three figures before him, his three trusted Beastketeers. "You three, what do you think? How should we handle this new nation of monsters?"
"What are you so worried about, Carrion-sama? Just give us the order, and we'll crush that nation for you!" Suphia, a girl with sharp cat-like eyes and wild white hair, along with matching cat ears and a tail, replied in an energetically blunt and confident tone.
"Indeed, Lord Carrion," Phobio, a young man with spiky black hair, sharp cat-like eyes, and a matching tail, agreed with Suphia. "In fact, I could go and capture that nation for you myself," he added haughtily, crossing his arms over his chest.
"There's no need to be so reckless. We do have an option of handling this matter through diplomacy," Albis, a buxom woman with snake-like eyes and flowing black-gold hair, said calmly, acting as the voice of reason.
"Diplomacy is for equals. Do you really think this little nation, which hasn't even existed for a year, would dare speak against Lord Carrion and our mighty Eurazania?" Phobio scoffed, a hint of disdain creeping into his voice as his lips curled into a faint smirk. To him, the very idea of negotiating with such a fledgling nation was laughable and almost insulting.
"Damn right! The three of us are more than enough to bring that nation down for Lord Carrion. No need to waste words on them," Suphia chimed in again, her grin widening as she slammed her fist into her palm with a sharp smack, clearly itching for a fight.
"Even so, it's better to be cautious than to rush in blindly," Albis said, calmly voicing her opinion without backing down from her stance.
Carrion, meanwhile, remained silent as he listened to the exchange between the three Beastketeers while his mind worked through their arguments. On one hand, he understood exactly where Albis was coming from. Rushing into an unknown situation without proper information was the kind of mistake that could cost even a Demon Lord dearly. But on the other hand, he was the ruler of Eurazania, a nation built on strength, one that lived and breathed the philosophy of 'might makes right'. Long-winded negotiations and careful diplomacy had never been his style, and frankly, he had little patience for playing nice when brute force could settle things faster.
Carrion also had some idea about the one leading this new monster nation. He had seen Rimuru Tempest with his own eyes before, back when Clayman's so-called Puppet Demon Lord plan had been foiled by that man, but it wasn't enough to make him wary. If anything, it only strengthened his confidence. From what he had seen, Rimuru was strong, sure, but not overwhelmingly so. Carrion was convinced that the blue majin couldn't be that far above him in terms of power. After all, if Rimuru truly possessed that level of strength, then someone like Guy Crimson would never have allowed him to roam freely without either forcing him into their ranks or crushing him outright. That alone was enough for Carrion to dismiss the idea of Rimuru being a real threat.
"Enough!" Carrion raised his voice sharply, instantly cutting off the brewing argument between his Three Beastketeers. "I understand all of your opinions," he continued as he swept his gaze across the three lycanthropes before him. "And while I do agree with Phobio and Suphia's approach, we can't just ignore Albis's perspective either." He straightened slightly as he spoke, indicating that his decision had already been made. "That's why I've decided this. Phobio, you will lead a team to the nation of monsters and test the waters first. Try to persuade them to surrender to us, and if they don't..."
"I'll just show them what happens when someone disrespects Lord Carrion's generosity," Phobio replied immediately, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he cracked his knuckles, clearly pleased with the outcome. "Don't worry, Lord Carrion, I will..."
Just then, Phobio's words were abruptly cut off as the doors burst open and a soldier rushed into the room. "Lord Carrion, we have a serious problem!" he blurted out, clearly out of breath as he dropped to one knee, struggling to compose himself. There was a hint of panic in his voice, something that immediately put the four people in the room on alert. "Something ominous and dangerous has appeared in the Jura Forest!"
"Speak clearly. What are you talking about?" Albis responded sharply, tapping her staff against the ground with a firm, echoing sound.
"Albis-sama, just a few minutes ago, the Jura Forest was struck by a sudden earthquake," the soldier began, taking a shaky breath as he forced himself to steady his voice. "At first, we thought it was a natural tremor, but it didn't feel right. When our scouts were sent to investigate the source of the disturbance, they reported that they saw a massive, shark-like creature flying through the sky."
The moment those words left his mouth, the Three Beastketeers fell completely silent. The earlier tension in the room vanished, replaced by a heavy, uneasy stillness. Suphia's tail stiffened, Phobio's confident expression faltered, and even Albis's composed gaze sharpened ever so slightly. Without a word, the three of them exchanged a quick glance before slowly turning their attention back toward their ruler, waiting for Carrion's response.
"What did you say?" Carrion reacted instantly, closing the distance in a single step and placing a firm hand on the soldier's shoulder. His eyes narrowed as they locked onto the young man before him. "Did you just say a massive shark-like creature flying through the sky?"
"Yes, Lord Carrion!" the soldier replied, his voice trembling slightly under the pressure, his back stiffening as he found himself standing this close to his king for the first time. "Our scouts were terrified, and according to their report, that monster didn't appear alone. It summoned other fish-like creatures to fly alongside it."
"I see..." Carrion murmured, his tone turning grave as he began piecing things together in his mind before he spoke again. "What course is it taking? It isn't heading toward us, is it?"
"Fortunately, no, Carrion-sama," the soldier answered quickly, shaking his head. "Based on our scouts' estimates, it's moving in a straight line toward Demon Lord Frey's nation, Fulbrosia."
"I see..." Carrion repeated, this time with a quiet nod as he fell into brief silence. After a moment, he lifted his hand and gestured for the soldier to leave, silently dismissing him. Once the doors closed behind the man, Carrion turned his attention back to the Three Beastketeers. "Phobio, take your unit and secure the perimeter around the nation. Albis and Suphia, prepare your units for departure. We'll be heading to Fulbrosia soon."
"Lord Carrion, if you're going there personally, allow me to accompany you!" Phobio insisted immediately, stepping forward with determination, clearly unwilling to be left behind when the other two Beastketeers were going with his leader.
Carrion, however, shook his head without hesitation. "No. You'll remain here. Eurazania's safety will be in your hands while I'm away," he said firmly, his tone leaving absolutely no room for argument. Phobio's jaw tightened as he fell silent, forced to accept the order, though the dissatisfaction on his face made it clear he wasn't happy about it in the slightest.
"Lord Carrion, forgive my impudence, but do we really need to involve ourselves in this situation?" Albis asked, a faint frown forming on her face as she carefully chose her words, "It's already fortunate that a monster of that caliber isn't targeting our nation, so wouldn't it be wiser to use this opportunity to expand westward instead?
"You're overlooking something important, Albis. It may not be targeting us now, but what about later? Who's to say that mindless monster won't turn toward our nation next?" Carrion replied with a scoff, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at her. When Albis opened her mouth to apologize for her short-sightedness, he waved a hand dismissively, cutting her off before she could finish. "Save it. What matters is understanding the threat in front of us. Right now, our best chance to deal with this calamity is for me and Frey to join forces and take it down."
"Besides," Carrion continued as a faint grin formed on his face, "if we come to her aid now, Frey will owe me a big favor that I can call in anytime. And if we succeed, the spoils from that monster alone will be more than enough to make this expedition worthwhile." His grin widened slightly as he slammed his fist into his palm with a bang. "Alright then, if that clears up your doubts, let's move out. We've got a giant fish to kill."
Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia...
At this very moment, while Carrion was making preparations to march toward Fulbrosia and lend his aid, the nation's true savior was already busy setting up his own entertainment.
"Now, did you two understand the game?" Rimuru asked, and received two immediate nods in response. "Good. And just so we're clear, the only rule is that you are not allowed to attack each other. Got it?" he added, earning another pair of nods.
Right now, both Shion and Benimaru stood side by side, locking in on the swarm of Megalodons flying in the distance with predatory looks in their eyes. Then, almost unconsciously, the two glanced at each other, and in that brief moment, their competitive spirits ignited instantly, like dry tinder catching fire. After all, it wasn't every day they were given a chance to earn a weapon personally crafted by Rimuru himself. In fact, if the others back in Tempest found out about this, there was no doubt some of them would be cursing their luck or straight up dying of envy over missing such a golden opportunity.
Frey, who stood a short distance away observing the entire exchange, felt a vein throb visibly on her forehead while her wings twitched ever so slightly, betraying the frustration she was trying so hard to keep under control. What annoyed her even more was the sheer absurdity of the situation. Even after her earnest and urgent plea for help, he was still treating that flying monstrosity, something that could very well wipe her entire nation off the map, like it was nothing more than a trivial nuisance. Worse, he had somehow turned the swarm of monsters it summoned into part of some ridiculous game.
Sensing the sharp, almost burning glare directed at his back, Rimuru casually turned toward Frey with a faint smirk already forming on his lips. "Why are you making that face? Don't tell me you want to join in and compete with them too?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"No, I have no interest in taking part in some stupid game..." Frey replied through gritted teeth, trying to keep her irritation in check. "It would be beneath my station to compete with your subordinates. And besides, wouldn't it be unfair for them to go up against a queen like me?" she added haughtily, crossing her arms and lifting her chin with clear arrogance.
Rimuru, meanwhile, didn't bother responding to her remark at all. He simply shook his head with an amused smile. "Anyway, Frey, tell your people to stay put and not get in Shion and Benimaru's way. We don't want any friendly fire, right?" he said, that same obnoxiously sweet smile still on his face.
Once again, it felt like a blade drove straight through Frey's pride. Rimuru had, in the most casual way possible, reduced her forces to nothing more than potential obstacles in his stupid game, as if they were liabilities compared to his subordinates. Still, there was nothing she could do but swallow her wounded pride and fly off to relay his instructions.
Once she was gone, Rimuru's attention shifted right back to his two eager subordinates, who looked like they were barely holding themselves back from charging in early. "Alright then, get ready. Whoever kills the most fish in the next half hour wins," he said, lifting his hand into the air. "Your time starts now." The instant his arm came down, both Shion and Benimaru vanished from their spots, their bodies turning into blurs as they launched themselves toward the incoming swarm.
Then, as if settling in for a show, Rimuru casually created a deck chair behind him and dropped into it, leaning back with complete ease. Resting his head against one hand, he watched as his two subordinates tore through the forest at incredible speeds, racing toward the approaching calamity.
Meanwhile, Shion and Benimaru raced toward Charybdis and its swarm of summoned Megalodons, cutting through the air at explosive speed as the massive silhouette of the calamity grew larger with every passing second. But as they closed the distance, they quickly ran into a problem. The creature was flying far too high in the sky, well beyond the reach of a normal leap, even for beings of their strength. Still, neither of them slowed down. They bent their legs, preparing to launch themselves upward anyway, ready to force their way into the fight. But then, just as they were about to jump, a familiar voice suddenly echoed clearly in their minds.
<
Once again, Shion and Benimaru paused for the briefest moment, exchanging a quick glance before identical smirks spread across their faces as they silently thanked Rimuru. Without hesitation, they launched themselves into the sky, with Shion claiming the left side of Charybdis as her battlefield while Benimaru took the right.
Shion was the first to move, and when she did, it felt less like a leap and more like a cannon going off. The ground beneath her feet shattered from the sheer force as she launched herself upward, her massive ōdachi already drawn and glinting coldly in the fading evening light. The air itself seemed to recoil as she tore through it, closing the distance to the swarm in an instant. The moment she entered their range, the Megalodons reacted violently. Their massive, scaled bodies twisted unnaturally midair as they surged toward her, jaws snapping open to reveal rows upon rows of jagged teeth, each one large enough to tear through steel.
However, neither their size nor their teeth meant anything to Shion. To her, they were nothing more than oversized targets waiting to be cut down. She drew in a slow breath, tightening her grip on her blade, and then she swung her ōdachi at the incoming monsters. The moment her ōdachi cut through the air, it unleashed a deafening boom that echoed across the battlefield, tearing through the nearest Megalodon and cleaving it, along with three others behind it, clean in half. Their dragon-scaled bodies offered no resistance at all. Blood and chunks of flesh burst outward, scattering across the sky before beginning their slow, gruesome descent toward the ground below.
Shion didn't even spare the fallen creatures a glance as she pushed forward into the heart of the swarm, continuing her assault without slowing down. Her blade rose and fell again and again, each swing driven by overwhelming strength, carrying enough raw power to slice apart or completely crush anything that got in her path.
One Megalodon tried to ambush her from above, diving down with its jaws stretched wide enough to swallow her whole in a single bite. Shion didn't even bother dodging. Instead, she raised her free hand and caught the creature by the snout mid-lunge. The impact alone sent a powerful shockwave rippling through the air, distorting the space around them, yet she didn't move an inch, and her feet held firm against the invisible footholds beneath her. Then A feral grin spread across her face as she twisted her body and, with a burst of raw power, hurled the massive creature straight into another approaching Megalodon. The collision echoed with a sickening crunch as both bodies smashed into each other, their forms crumpling before being sent spiraling downward like broken debris. Before they could even fall out of her reach, Shion had already appeared above them, her ōdachi raised high, and without hesitation, brought it crashing down with enough force to split both monsters apart in a single brutal strike.
Some Megalodons tried to circle her, coordinating their movements in an attempt to overwhelm her with numbers, but Shion answered by spinning in place, carving a wide arc with her ōdachi that tore through multiple bodies at once. Limbs, scales, and thick sprays of blood scattered in every direction, raining down from the sky in a gruesome display. And through it all, Shion advanced without slowing with an expression of pure exhilaration and unrestrained joy on her face, as if she had been waiting for a moment like this where she could truly let loose without holding anything back.
To the onlookers, there was no refined technique to admire, no elegance in her movements, only overwhelming power and absolute dominance, which might have looked crude to simpletons, but it was a fighting style perfectly suited for a warrior like her.
On the opposite side of Charybdis, Benimaru's approach couldn't have been more different. Where Shion tore through the battlefield like a raging storm, Benimaru moved like a controlled inferno, calm, precise, and absolutely lethal. The moment he entered the swarm, his katana slid free from its sheath in one smooth, practiced motion, while black flames began to coil around the blade, twisting and writhing like living serpents.
Suspended high in the sky and surrounded on all sides by those monstrous, flying sharks, Benimaru didn't rush in blindly. He took a brief moment to observe them, and then, just as the first one lunged at him, he simply shifted to the side, and in that same instant, his blade flashed. The creature continued forward for a fraction of a second as if nothing had happened, before its massive body split cleanly along a perfectly straight line. A heartbeat later, black flames burst from within the wound, spreading rapidly as they consumed the monster from the inside out, leaving nothing but burning fragments in their wake.
Benimaru moved again without pause, his body flowing through the battlefield with a natural, effortless grace that almost resembled a dance, while his katana traced elegant arcs through the air, and wherever that blade passed, death followed without exception. A Megalodon attempted to flank him from behind, only for Benimaru to pivot smoothly as his sword drew a horizontal line that severed the creature's head, separating it from its body in a single fluid motion.
The black flames that accompanied him didn't just burn, they devoured. They clung to severed flesh and spread rapidly, reducing even those massive bodies to ash before they had a chance to fall. That destructive nature became even more apparent when three Megalodons charged at him at once with their huge forms closing in from different directions. Benimaru exhaled softly and swung his blade in a single, sweeping motion. A crescent of black flame followed the arc of his strike, expanding outward and cutting through all three at the same time. He didn't even glance back as the flames roared behind him, erupting into a blazing inferno that swallowed them whole, leaving nothing behind but drifting ash.
More came at him in relentless waves, but Benimaru remained completely composed. His movements were never rushed or wasted as he slipped between their attacks with minimal effort. Every strike landed exactly where it needed to, from precisely the right angle. Each cut was fatal, clean, and efficient. And yet, despite that level of precision, his speed never faltered. He moved with a steady rhythm, perfectly matching the sheer destructive pace unfolding on the opposite side of the Great Calamity.
The Megalodons, for all their size and ferocity, were nothing more than mindless beasts in the end. Their massive bodies were covered in tough, dragon-like scales, their jaws lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, and their ability, [Mana Jamming], would have been a serious problem for most opponents. But here, none of that mattered. They couldn't recognize the one-sided slaughter unfolding on the left, nor could they comprehend that their special ability was completely useless against the devouring black flames on the right. There was no fear, no strategy, no instinct to retreat. They simply charged forward again and again, throwing themselves straight into death, unknowingly fueling the competition between two warriors who had a god's blessing watching over them, always guarding their backs.
At the center of it all, however, Charybdis remained utterly indifferent. The Great Calamity didn't so much as acknowledge the carnage unfolding around it. It didn't look back, didn't react, didn't care. Its massive form continued to push forward through the sky with grim, unwavering purpose, and its path fixed firmly toward Fulbrosia, as the massacre continued unfolding all around it.
Back on the rooftop of Fulbrosia's castle, Rimuru was lounging on a deck chair, casually holding a camcorder pointed in Shion and Benimaru's direction while sipping a cocktail that no one had any idea where it had come from.
Beside him, Frey and her two daughters stood completely still, their eyes fixed on the battle playing out in the distance. Shock was written plainly across their faces, their earlier composure long gone as they struggled to process what they were seeing. What unsettled Frey the most wasn't just the overwhelming display of power, but the realization slowly creeping into her mind that these two subordinates of Rimuru might actually be stronger than her. After all, she wasn't someone who overestimated her own limits. Her strength lay in aerial combat, where she could eliminate unaware opponents with a single swift strike. But when it came to direct confrontations, especially when outnumbered, that wasn't really her forte. So in a situation like this, handling one or two Megalodons would already push her to her limits, maybe even strain her. What she was watching now, however... the speed, the efficiency, the sheer dominance... it was on a completely different level.
Frey's face then flushed with shame as she recalled how she had dismissed the idea of joining their little game earlier, claiming it would be unfair for them, when in truth, it now felt painfully obvious that she was the one lacking the raw firepower needed to compete against the monsters serving under Rimuru.
From the corner of his eye, Rimuru caught Frey's reaction and quietly hummed to himself in satisfaction. He couldn't help but remember how, in his previous timeline, Frey had taken advantage of a simple slip of his tongue, using it to corner him into apologizing just to make a point in front of Milim. It hadn't really bothered him back then, and even now, he didn't hold any real grudge over it, but since he had the chance to be petty, he was more than happy to tease and annoy the harpy queen whenever he could.
Frey wasn't the only one overwhelmed by what was happening in the sky. All across Fulbrosia, soldiers stood frozen at their posts, and civilians cautiously peeked out from their homes, drawn in by the sheer scale of the battle. The sight unfolding above them was nothing short of terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. Many couldn't look away, and their eyes locked onto the brutal spectacle as Shion and Benimaru carved through the swarm with ease. And as they watched, a harsh truth began to take root in their minds. If those same blades, that same overwhelming power, were ever turned against their own nation, they would stand little chance of protecting their queen or their home.
Just then, as if someone had shaken her awake from a nightmare, Frey snapped out of her daze, her eyes widening as she realized just how close Charybdis had gotten to Fulbrosia. A chill ran down her spine as urgency took over, and without wasting another second, she hurried toward Rimuru. "Lord Rimuru, that Charybdis..." she began, her voice lacking its usual confidence as her fingers fidgeted slightly at her side. Right now, the proud queen who once carried herself with unwavering arrogance felt completely different. After pledging herself to Rimuru and witnessing the overwhelming dominance of his subordinates, her pride had been shattered beyond recognition, with blade marks all over its corpse. At this point, she didn't care if urging him sounded rude or if her desperation made her seem weak in his eyes. All that mattered was stopping that thing before it reached her people.
"Don't worry, I know," Rimuru replied as he checked his wristwatch. "Shion, Benimaru, time's up!" he called out. In the very next instant, two streaks of red and purple shot back through the sky, crossing the distance in a blink before appearing right in front of him. Shion and Benimaru stood there, both slightly out of breath, but otherwise completely unharmed. There wasn't a single drop of blood or trace of burns on them.
"Good work, both of you. I'll tell you the results later," Rimuru said, giving them a satisfied nod, and neither of them voiced any complaints, despite the obvious curiosity in their eyes. "For now, get some rest. I'll be back in a moment." Before anyone could respond, his figure flickered and vanished from the rooftop.
The next moment, he appeared out in the open field and looked up at the approaching calamity with an amused smile. "Hmm, you look bigger than last time. Must be because of the quality of the core you're using this time," he muttered to himself before rubbing the back of his neck. "Come to think of it, an old man like me shouldn't be looking up. So..." he said casually before making a slow, sweeping motion downward with his hand.
In an instant, the air around him shifted. An immense pressure descended upon the area, flattening the ground and crushing the trees nearby. At the same time, high above, Charybdis felt that same overwhelming force slam into it. The massive creature struggled, its enormous body resisting as it tried to maintain its altitude, but the pressure was absolute. No matter how much it fought, it couldn't escape. Slowly at first, then all at once, it was dragged down from the sky, its huge form crashing violently into the earth right in front of Rimuru with enough force to shake the surrounding area. Dust and debris exploded outward on impact, and through the settling cloud, its single eye burned with intense hatred as it tried to force itself back into the air.
"It's kind of sad to see so much hatred in those eyes when you don't even understand it," Rimuru said with a quiet sigh, shaking his head as he looked up at the struggling calamity with a hint of pity in his eyes. "But it doesn't matter now. After all, what kind of uncle would I be if I didn't free you from this prison, my niece..."
To be continued...