Dominant Run! (Tensura/That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)

Ciel: <>

Voice of the World: <<>>

******

"I see," Rimuru murmured thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Ultima as she finished recounting her centuries-old history with Raja and the enchanted tiara she had once gifted to the kingdom's queen. The tiara, which was capable of performing miracles, however, came at a steep cost. Each use drained the wielder's life force, leaving their skin stained with Ultima's signature violet hue.

According to Ultima, she had made a contract with the queen: Violet would win the game if the queen or any of her descendants became completely stained in her color. However, should the queen's lineage resist and remain untainted, the queen and her lineage would be able to keep using the tiara. Violet's plan had been to claim the fully stained body as her vessel. But now, having received both a name and a body from Rimuru, she no longer cared about the deal or the kingdom.

Just as the silence settled between them, Souei materialized in the room, kneeling with practiced grace before Rimuru. "Lord Rimuru," he announced, "the neighboring nation of Raja has decided to advance their plans. They aim to strike within two weeks."

Rimuru nodded, "I see..." He paused, then conjured a letter with a flick of his wrist, the parchment glowing faintly with magic. "Take this to Shizu. Read its contents to her, and once she understands, destroy it completely. Leave no trace behind."

Souei accepted the letter with a deep bow. "As you command," he said before vanishing into the shadows as swiftly as he had appeared.

Turning his attention to Testarossa, Rimuru gestured toward Ultima. "Testa, take Ultima and show her around. Ensure she is familiar with our nation's rules and the people in important positions. Also, introduce her to Geld and his team, and have them construct a house according to Ultima's preferences."

"Understood, my lord," Testarossa replied with a poised smile. She turned to Ultima, her crimson eyes gleaming with pride. "Come with me. You'll see just how much we've accomplished here," she said, her voice warm yet tinged with the satisfaction of someone who had helped build something extraordinary as she led Ultima away.

As their footsteps faded, Rimuru sighed softly and stretched his arms. "Now, all that's left is to wait for her reply," he muttered to himself. Deciding to make good use of his downtime, he left his house and strolled toward Veldora's house.

The Storm Dragon greeted him with a boisterous laugh, already holding out a stack of freshly acquired manga (courtesy of Rimuru, of course). With a grin, Rimuru joined him in their sacred ritual of idly passing time—one manga volume at a time.

******

The Ice Continent, Demon Lord Guy Crimson's Castle.

Inside Demon Lord Guy's castle, Velzard sat alone in her room, her expression unreadable but tinged with an air of quiet intensity. She was waiting, her thoughts swirling as she anticipated the arrival of a particular visitor.

"Rain," Velzard called out, and within moments, a blue-haired woman clad in a pristine maid outfit appeared, bowing gracefully before her.

"Lady Velzard, you summoned me?" Rain asked politely.

"Where is Guy?" Velzard inquired.

"Lord Guy has gone to El Dorado to meet Leon-sama," Rain informed her.

"I see," Velzard said with a small, dismissive gesture, prompting Rain to take her leave. As the sound of her retreating footsteps faded, silence reclaimed the room and Velzard's thoughts wandered to the blue-haired man she had encountered months ago. Her gaze drifted to the crystal ball Rimuru had given her.

Her fingers brushed lightly against its surface as a familiar thought tugged at her as she sighed. 'To possess knowledge that even I—Veldanava's first sibling—was unaware of, and to share it so freely… Who is this man, really?' The question had haunted her for months, circling her mind in an endless loop ever since that encounter.

Her musings were abruptly interrupted by a sudden, powerful, and familiar aura arriving at the castle and heading straight for her. Velzard's lips pressed into a thin line as the presence drew closer.

Without bothering to knock, the door swung open, and a confident, melodic voice rang out. "Hello, sister. It's been a while."

Velgrynd, the Scorch Dragon, strode into the room with all the poise and arrogance befitting her title. Her azure-blue hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her enchantingly sharp features, while her curvaceous figure moved with an effortless grace. An amused, almost mocking smile played on her lips as she seated herself across from Velzard without so much as a glance for permission.

"You look sad and lonely," Velgrynd teased, her tone laced with malice and mocking glee. "Perhaps you chose the wrong partner in this little game."

Velzard regarded her sister coolly, her own demeanor a perfect mask of indifference. "Hello to you as well, sister," she replied, her voice calm and detached, brushing off the provocation with ease.

Velzard's relationship with Guy had always been complicated. Once, there had been a spark between them—a connection she had been certain was mutual. They were drawn to each other in ways she had rarely allowed herself to acknowledge. Over time, that spark had shifted into something else. Now, they shared the castle not as lovers but as housemates, their interactions marked by familiarity rather than intimacy. It was a quiet arrangement, one that suited them both… most of the time.

Velgrynd, however, was never one to let sleeping dragons lie. She leaned back in her chair, a smirk tugging at her lips as if she had already unraveled Velzard's innermost thoughts. "You always did have a knack for choosing the most complicated paths," she said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "I, on the other hand, chose wisely. Rudra and I are a perfect match. He appreciates me exactly as I am."

Velzard raised an elegant brow, her icy composure unshaken. "Rudra?" she repeated, her tone light yet tinged with disdain. "A man so obsessed with the control he turned himself into a puppet for his own ideals? Yes, quite the match indeed."

Velgrynd's smirk faltered, her expression tightening for a fraction of a second before an unexpected glaze of fury filled her eyes. Her voice, sharp and laced with rage, sent a ripple of unease through the room. "Do not speak of my Rudra as if you know him!" she snapped, her tone vibrating with barely restrained anger.

The temperature in the room spiked without warning, the air shimmering from the sudden heat. Velzard felt it immediately, the intensity of Velgrynd's aura pressing against her like a suffocating wave.

"I apologize," Velzard said evenly, her voice a soothing contrast to her sister's fiery outburst. "I take my words back."

Velgrynd's anger dissipated almost as quickly as it had flared, leaving the room eerily calm. It was as though her rage had never existed—her expression now cool and composed, her smile returning in an unsettlingly smooth transition.

Velzard's eyes narrowed slightly as Rimuru's voice echoed in her mind. 'Observe your sister carefully and see if you notice any unusual behavior.' The memory of his words sharpened her focus. Velgrynd's explosive reaction and subsequent calmness struck Velzard as distinctly unnatural. Was it merely a defensive response to her comment about Rudra? Or was there something more beneath the surface?

Determined to test Rimuru's warning further, Velzard kept her gaze steady on her sister. "You're right, of course," she said, her tone measured and deliberate. "Rudra must be… unique to have earned your unwavering loyalty."

Velgrynd tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "Unique indeed," she replied, her tone carrying an unsettling affection towards the man.

At that moment, Misery, the green haired maid quietly entered the room, her movements graceful and unintrusive. She carried a tray with two crystal glasses and a bottle of fine wine, setting them on the table with practiced precision before bowing and slipping out of the room without a word.

Velzard reached for her glass, her expression unreadable as she watched Velgrynd out of the corner of her eye. Her sister, now perfectly calm, picked up her own glass, swirling the liquid with a casual elegance.

Velzard took a slow sip from her glass, her icy blue eyes never leaving her sister. She placed the glass back on the table with deliberate precision, her gaze sharp yet unassuming.

"Velgrynd," Velzard began softly. "Tell me, what is it about Rudra that inspires such fierce devotion in you? It must be something extraordinary to captivate the Scorch Dragon so completely."

Velgrynd's smirk deepened, as she leaned back in her chair, her movements languid, yet her aura felt slightly off, like a flame burning just a little too brightly. 

"He is everything," Velgrynd said, her voice dripping with an intensity that bordered on reverence. "Rudra is not just a man. He is a vision, a purpose given form. His ideals… his dreams… they are perfect. And I will see them realized, no matter the cost."

Velzard tilted her head, her expression neutral, but the words struck her like a cold gust of wind. "No matter the cost?" she repeated, her tone light, almost teasing, yet her words were a calculated probe.

Velgrynd's eyes darkened, and the air in the room grew heavier, and warmer. "Yes," she said firmly. "Even if the world must burn, his will is absolute. His dream is worth everything. That is the bond we share—one forged in trust, understanding, and purpose."

Velzard studied her sister, her fingers lightly grazing the edge of her glass. This devotion… it was too absolute, too consuming. It wasn't mere love or admiration; it was something far deeper, more dangerous. Rimuru's warning resounded in her mind like an alarm.

"His will is absolute?" Velzard asked, her voice tinged with a faint edge. "Forgive me, but that doesn't sound like a partnership. It sounds more like servitude."

Velgrynd's smile faltered, and her hand tightened around her glass. The temperature in the room spiked again, the wine in Velzard's glass warming unnaturally. Velzard met her sister's gaze, unflinching even as the heat pressed against her like a tide.

"I serve no one," Velgrynd said sharply, her voice low but seething with indignation. "Rudra and I are equals. Our bond is unbreakable. You wouldn't understand."

Velzard leaned forward slightly, her expression softening as she allowed the faintest flicker of emotion to show—concern. "Perhaps I don't," she said, her voice quiet, almost kind. "But I've known you for millennia, Velgrynd. I've never seen you this… fervent about anyone or anything. I'm simply worried."

Velgrynd's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in her expression, but before she could respond, Velzard pressed on, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "You're right—Rudra must truly be exceptional to inspire this in you. But are you certain that your feelings… your loyalty, are entirely your own?"

Velgrynd froze, the room plunging into a heavy silence. For a moment, Velzard thought she might have pushed too far, but then Velgrynd laughed—a sharp, humorless sound that filled the room like crackling fire.

"Do not insult me, Velzard," Velgrynd said, her voice cold and cutting despite the heat radiating from her. "I am no one's puppet. Rudra and I are bound by destiny, not by coercion or deceit. You should concern yourself with your own affairs rather than questioning what you cannot comprehend."

Velzard inclined her head slightly, conceding the point without argument, but her mind raced. The vehemence of Velgrynd's reaction, the unwavering certainty in her words, and the brief flare of fury all pointed to one unsettling conclusion: Velgrynd's devotion to Rudra was not natural—it was absolute in a way that defied reason, perhaps even her own will.

Velzard's fingers brushed against the crystal ball Rimuru had given her, hidden discreetly beneath the tablecloth. Following Rimuru's instructions, she poured her magicules into the ball.

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. The luxurious room of Guy's castle dissolved, replaced by the sleek interior of a flying vessel and the two dragon sisters found themselves standing before two other figures.

"Rudra!?"

"Rimuru!?"

The sisters' eyes widened in shock as they each recognized one of the two individuals now accompanying them.

However, before the sisters could process what was happening, Rimuru abruptly raised a sword radiating with Storm Magic and without hesitation, he swung it downward, unleashing a deadly arc of energy that hurtled straight toward Rudra.

"Rudra!" Velgrynd's scream echoed through the chamber. Without a second thought, she threw herself in front of the attack, shielding him with her body.

"What the—" Velzard's breath caught as she watched her sister's reckless reaction, and Rimuru's earlier warning echoed in her mind: 'Remember, [Lord of Justice, Michael]'s strongest ability is [Castle Guard].'

'That attack wouldn't have harmed Rudra… and Velgrynd should have known that. So why did she—' Velzard's thoughts were cut off as the illusion shattered and the luxurious room of Guy's castle reappeared around them.

Velgrynd stumbled backward, disoriented, her eyes darting around the room before her gaze locked on her sister, now filled with rage. "You!" she hissed, her voice dripping with venom as her hands ignited in roaring flames. "What did you do!?"

Velzard stood her ground, her icy calm unshaken. She stepped forward, her piercing gaze locking onto her sister's. "Why did you jump in front of Rudra?" she asked, her tone unnervingly composed as she folded her arms across her chest.

"What do you mean, why?!" Velgrynd snarled, the flames in her hands flaring. "That attack—"

"—wouldn't have done a damn thing," Velzard interrupted sharply, her voice cutting through her sister's anger. "You know as well as I do that as long as Rudra sits on that Emperor's throne, no attack in this world can harm him. The [Castle Guard] is the ultimate shield in the world, isn't that right?"

Velgrynd froze, her fiery aura dimming slightly as Velzard's words sank in. "Of course I know that!" she snapped, but her voice wavered. "I mean, I thought I knew…" Her tone faltered, confusion clouding her features. "Then why did I—"

Suddenly, Velgrynd winced, clutching her temples as a sharp pain shot through her head. She staggered, her breaths quickening as conflicting emotions surged through her. "What's… happening to me?" she whispered, her voice trembling. Moments later, her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Velzard knelt beside her sister, her icy demeanor hiding the storm of questions swirling in her mind. She placed a hand on Velgrynd's forehead, scanning her with a subtle flow of magicules.

'Something is wrong… Rimuru was right,' she thought grimly.

Straightening, Velzard rose to her feet, her resolve solidifying. Gently, she lifted Velgrynd's unconscious form into her arms.

"I need answers," Velzard muttered to herself, her voice low but resolute.

Without another moment's hesitation, she summoned her wings and ascended into the sky, flying toward the Jura Forest.

To be continued...