"It seems it has begun!" Looking at the conspicuous black flame attack, Gobta exclaimed in astonishment.
"A great Lizardman magic? I must settle this here quickly and eliminate the one wielding such powerful magic!" Assuming this was Lizardman territory, the Orc General instinctively believed these black flames were their trump card.
Watching the Orc General's mana surge, Gobta turned directly to Gabiru. "You're Gabiru, right? Quickly, reorganize your defensive formation!"
"I understand!" Hearing his words, Gabiru dared not defy him in the slightest.
"Hmph. You appear to be aiding the Lizardmen. Useless. Goblins and dogs, even with the subordinates of that petty monster leader, our advantage remains unshaken!" Looking at Gobta, Ranga, and the others, the Orc General mocked lightly.
"Petty monster!" Being insulted himself was one thing, but hearing the Orc General refer to their revered Rimuru-sama as a petty monster ignited Gobta's fury.
"Then let me show you!" Before Gobta could act, Ranga's eyes turned crimson. Vast mana surged from his body, causing the sky to become overcast with dense storm clouds.
Soon, thunder and lightning rent the air, accompanied by numerous tornadoes. Countless Orcs, caught unawares, were swept into the vortexes.
"Eh, Takeru, it looks like lightning is about to strike. Is it safe for us up here?" Sensing the changes around her, Tsumugi asked nervously.
"Please rest assured. This level of tornado poses no threat to me," Salamence replied calmly.
"Well, once Ranga's attack concludes, Tsumugi, you may begin fighting as well." Watching the scene below, Takeru said with a light smile to Tsumugi.
"Eh? Oh, alright!" Hearing this, Tsumugi rapidly nodded.
Rimuru, in his slime form, floated in the air, utterly astonished by the surrounding spectacle.
[Explanation: Individual named Ranga's wide-area attack skill, Black Lightning Storm.] Sensing Rimuru's shock, Great Sage considerately provided an explanation.
Soon, the energy reached its peak. A colossal bolt of lightning struck the Orc General directly, the immense electrical attack instantly blasting him away.
The strike evaporated several layers of earth dozens of meters before Ranga.
With this single attack, Ranga completely evolved into a Tempest Star Wolf. The single horn on his forehead had become two.
"Witness this, Orcs! This is but a glimpse of the power of the one you call a 'petty monster leader'!" Having launched his attack, Ranga roared into the air before him.
Elsewhere, Benimaru and the others were slaughtering with their newly acquired abilities. The black flames from earlier were Benimaru's new power.
Upon receiving Rimuru's naming, his blue flames had evolved into their current black form.
"Who... who are you people!" Seeing three unfamiliar figures amidst their army, the Orcs could not help but ask.
"You do not recall? How cruel. Did you not devour our village?" Hearing the Orc's inquiry, Benimaru spoke calmly.
"Those horns... could you be the Ogre tribe!" Upon hearing this, the Orc warriors realized.
"Who knows? Perhaps we are somewhat different now," Benimaru said with a light laugh.
"This moment has finally arrived," Hakuro spoke softly, gripping his long blade.
"We thank Rimuru-sama for granting us this opportunity!" Shion raised her greatsword.
"Let me reiterate. Make way, pigs. Unless you wish to be burned to nothing but ash." Looking at the vast horde of Orcs before him, Benimaru condensed a baseball-sized sphere of black flame in his hand and mocked.
As his words fell, he rapidly hurled the black flame. The Orc army swiftly parted, clearing a path.
The black flame flew several hundred meters before finally striking the Orcs. It erupted in an explosion spanning a hundred meters in diameter.
This explosion was merely the beginning. Subsequently, Benimaru relentlessly attacked the Orcs. Hakuro and Shion also showed no mercy. To them, this battle was a new beginning and the first opportunity to demonstrate their worth.
"Alright, Tsumugi, go forth as well. Take care." Having Salamence lower Tsumugi Kotobuki to the ground, Takeru spoke calmly.
"I understand. Leave it to me!" Hearing Takeru's words, Tsumugi made a gesture of rolling up her sleeves, revealing arms that were not particularly muscular. Yet the immense power contained within those seemingly slender limbs was known only to those who had experienced it firsthand.
Swiftly approaching a contingent of the Orc army, watching the Orcs rapidly charging at her, Tsumugi's gaze turned cold.
"Here I go. Gale! Revenge Slash! Rapid Thrust..." Murmuring softly, she withdrew a custom greatsword from her item slot and rapidly swung it at the Orc forces.
Tsumugi's greatsword was identical to Shion's. Compared to other weapons, the greatsword suited her better.
Her combat style, much like her weapon, was wildly unrestrained. Each of her attacks inflicted massive casualties upon the Orc ranks.
Of course, compared to the two hundred thousand strong Orc army, her contribution was a mere drop in the bucket. It was also completely incomparable to Benimaru's indiscriminate black flame bombardment… a distinction between warriors and mages.
Rimuru, floating above, curiously observed the battlefield. Seeing the overwhelmingly numerous Orc army visibly diminish, he marveled at the Kijin's exceptional prowess.
'Ah, I hope we can remain on good terms with them even after this battle.' Rimuru thought hopefully.
"Takeru, Takeru! Can I fight too?" Milim, atop Salamence, watched the battle below, her fighting spirit again ignited.
"No. Did I not say before? You may only observe. If you disobey, I will have no choice but to send you away." Looking at Milim, Takeru pinched her cheek.
"I... I know!" Hearing Takeru's words, Milim rapidly nodded and dared not mention it again.
"So, Takeru, when will you act? I have already located the Orc Lord!" Milim then excitedly pointed to a spot below. Through her Dragon Eye, even amidst the vast Orc horde, she could easily identify the leading Orc Lord.
"No rush. Just a little longer." Hearing her words, Takeru calmly shook his head.
If merely slaying the Orc Lord was the objective, Takeru could have done so long ago. But he was waiting for a certain opportunity.
Elsewhere, Souei, accompanied by the Lizardman princess, infiltrated the Lizardman cavern. He liberated the imprisoned Lizardman chief and tribal chieftains. Simultaneously, he seized the opportunity to demonstrate his power, threatening the mastermind, Gelmud.
Upon hearing Souei's threats, Gelmud furiously smashed his crystal. "Damned fools! Worthless! Kijin? I had Geld order the attack on the Ogre village. Have survivors evolved?!"
"And that one! I never heard of such a monster in the Jura Forest! What has happened in my absence?! Damn it! I must do something, or the plans I have executed thus far will be ruined!" Gelmud also recalled the inexplicably powerful Ranga.
'At this rate... I will be killed by that Lord!' Imagining Clayman's cruelty, Gelmud shuddered. He rapidly flew toward the Orc Lord's location.
…
As time passed, amidst the relentless slaughter, the Orc army visibly dwindled. Yet due to their overwhelming numbers, they still appeared numerous.
"I am hungry. I wish to eat. Anything." On the battlefield, the Orc Lord, with a crimson jewel embedded in his forehead, spoke calmly.
Due to his unique skill [Starved], the Orc Lord's stomach existed in a state of perpetual, insatiable starvation.
Around the Orc Lord, thanks to the others' clearing operations, aside from the Orc Lord himself and two attendants, no ordinary Orc soldiers remained.
"Hey, Takeru, have you decided to act?" Spotting the conspicuous Orc Lord, Rimuru floated to Takeru's side and inquired.
"Here he comes." Hearing his words, Takeru opened his eyes and smiled.
"Eh, what's coming?" Hearing Takeru's words, Rimuru looked puzzled. Yet soon, he noticed a red streak flash across the sky, rapidly passing Salamence and landing on the ground below.
The sudden development startled everyone, who looked at the dramatically arriving Gelmud.
"A Majin?" Looking at Gelmud, Rimuru asked curiously.