"Welcome home, My Lord."
A row of breathtakingly beautiful elves stood poised on either side of the entrance, their figures forming a grand path to welcome Rimuru and Issei.
Rimuru maintained his human form—an appearance that radiated the fierce, commanding aura of a True Demon Lord. The elves hesitated for a fleeting moment, intimidated by his presence, until they caught the gentle, warm smile playing on his lips.
"No need for such formalities," Rimuru said casually. "Treat me as you always do."
That single statement shattered the tension. The elves cast aside their hesitation, surrounding the duo with an air of playful sensuality.
Issei was immediately flanked by two tall, slender adult elves. They possessed ample bosoms and curvaceous figures, draped in garments so gossamer-thin that even the slightest brush of fabric allowed Issei to feel the warmth of their skin. He gulped repeatedly, his mind spinning as he surrendered to the blissful sensation of being sandwiched between two ethereal beauties.
He wasn't the only one. Even Rimuru, despite lacking the physical anatomy to fully process such biological stimuli, found himself drifting away into the whirlpool of worldly pleasures.
Initially, Issei had intended to have only a small drink. However, fueled by the intoxicating atmosphere and uncontrollable excitement, he ended up throwing back glass after glass until he was thoroughly wasted.
Rimuru, protected by his intrinsic skills, remained perfectly sober. Watching Issei's drunken antics, a bead of cold sweat rolled down Rimuru's face as a terrifying mental image flashed through his mind.
"Oi! Stop drinking already!"
"Hahaha! Don't worry 'bout it, Rimuru! I can handle... hic... way more!"
"I said stop! If Rias gets wind of this, it's not just your head on the chopping block—I'll be dragged down with you!"
The mere mention of Rias's name acted like a bucket of ice water. Issei's eyes snapped into focus, and he stared at the glass in his hand with sudden, soul-deep hesitation.
"You're right... I've had plenty. I should probably scale it back a bit."
Rimuru let out a sigh of relief. He then turned his gaze toward a sweet-faced Dark Elf sitting nearby.
"Onee-san, could I ask a favor of you?"
"Oh? Looking for a reading?" she replied, her eyes twinkling.
"Hahaha, sharp as ever, Onee-san."
"I don't mind, but didn't you once say you were done relying on prophecies?" The Dark Elf flashed a mischievous, knowing smirk.
"Ehem! Well, circumstances change. Unexpected variables have cropped up, and now I'm curious about any opponents who might actually give me a hard time."
"Hihihi. If such a being exists, it would almost certainly have to be a True Dragon. After all, only they could hope to pressure a Demon Lord like Lord Slime." The Dark Elf's tone was flirtatious, clearly enjoying the act of teasing him.
"Ahem! I have no problem with True Dragons. I've got one of those back in Tempest, after all."
The surrounding elves caught their breath, whispering amongst themselves in awe. 'As expected of a Demon Lord... to speak so casually of a True Dragon.'
"Very well. Since it's a request from Lord Slime himself, I'll give you a discount!"
Rimuru gave an awkward, strained smile. "I appreciate the sentiment, but please, no discounts. What would the world think of a Demon Lord who survives on coupons and hand-outs?"
"Hihihi, you overthink things, My Lord. But as you wish—full price it is! You wanted to see potential adversaries, correct?"
"Right. And if possible, look as far into the future as you can."
"I will try my best."
The Dark Elf began her ritual. Her crystal ball flickered to life, showing fragmented images of a distant era. At first, it displayed scenes from the world of Tensura, but the vision began to bleed into the world of DxD.
The mist within the glass cleared to reveal a pitch-black, gargantuan serpent emerging from the deepest reaches of the abyss. Its scale was nonsensical—the largest man-made aircraft carrier would have looked no larger than one of the creature's eyes.
"Leviathan...?" Issei muttered, his voice trembling.
"Leviathan? You mean the legendary sea monster? Does that thing actually exist in your world?" Rimuru asked.
"No... it shouldn't. At least, it's not supposed to."
"..."
The Leviathan rose from the water, its massive frame towering high above the clouds. Its eyes suddenly ignited with a malevolent glow before it unleashed a catastrophic wave of energy. The destructive force was staggering—thousands of times more powerful than the mightiest nuclear weapon ever forged by human hands.
In the blink of an eye, an entire nation was erased from the map.
The elves watching the prophecy shivered, a primal fear taking hold of them. Issei and Rimuru, however, wore expressions of absolute gravity.
"Even without seeing it in person, I'm certain," Issei said, his voice grim. "That thing is stronger than the three True Dragons and Milim combined."
Rimuru nodded in grim agreement.
"The architecture in the vision looked like a modern world. There's a high chance that prophecy takes place in your world, Issei," Rimuru noted.
"Whatever it is, I'm staying on high alert. It won't be funny if that thing suddenly pops up and decides to wreck my home."
"...If you ever need backup, don't hesitate to call." Rimuru offered a small, reassuring smile.
Issei nodded firmly. "Same goes for you."
It was a brief exchange—a simple promise—but it carried the weight of the world's fate.
'But why would Leviathan appear there? Shouldn't that thing belong in the world of "Strike the Blood"?' Issei wondered inwardly, his thoughts racing before he eventually shook them off. 'No use guessing. When the time comes, I'll find out soon enough.'
To be continued...Anvanced Chapter p*tre*n.com/AgamYupi02