Chapter 2 - The Storm Dragon

437 9 0
                                    

Dragons are immortal and unblemished beings made of pure energy and formed by sentient beings' prayers. With only 4 True Dragons in the world, The Storm Dragon, given the name Veldora, is a top-class existence. Due to a certain incident 300 years ago in which Veldora trashed a human city and attacked Demon Lord Luminous Valentine, and was subsequently defeated by the dispatched Summoned Hero. The hero imprisoned him in her Unlimited imprisonment, sentencing him to live his days in monotonous boredom.
     Dragons are one of the few monsters cast primarily as a powerful and fearsome opponent to be slain. Dragons are often presented as fierce, devouring monsters; according to many traditions, they spit fire; they may be chthonic, aquatic, or aerial beings. They thus express, in mythological language, aspects of the natural setting of the various societies, and the dangerous or positive qualities of those aspects, such as drought or rain, flood, and so on.

“So comes snow after fire, the fascination of riddling talk.”

“There might even be more than one legitimate right reason.”
    
     Ten years have passed. Ever since Mother has banned me from exploring the cave. To always be more than a hundred radius from the entrance. That day, I gave the voice the name ‘Great Empyrea’. The voice only talked when something serious was going to occur. Great Empyrea became a great help to strengthen my skills. Mother became fond of Great Empyrea for helping me to reach my full potential.

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process,”

“If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”

     Very slowly using all five fingers, I unsheath my blade toward my summoned ghost. The sun reflects its radiation of solar light to mirror the steel. Instead of lessening, the fury of intolerance. It propagated the sword, its votaries have been subjecting, above all other creeds, to this form of anger.

    “Hey, Mama, you promise you will stay by my side until the end, right?” I asked. She brushes a strand away from my face, slowly cupping my cheeks into her palms. Mother held a smile I always loved, “Yes, until the end,” she promised. However, time is endless so can it be wasted.  Mother, whose eyes have turned blank, could no longer regenerate. The blade that sliced her in half was lifted above her trailing path. A figure, dressed all in white, a cross of painted red. The bitterness withered in the air as I stared at the soul before me.

    I’m in a constant state of anger ever since my mother was slaughtered by a human. Mother was a kind-hearted person. She had sympathy for humans, even when she was on the brink of death, she still felt pity for them. Just like us, they lose perspectives too.

     The ghost appeared before me, reaching forward its long claws. Flicking the handle of the blade, I twisted it to press deeply into the entity. Its arm flung from reattaching as it tried again. An hour had already passed as the sun-scorched the grass. They chatted with the wind as I walked with my ghost.

     The cave we venture to as the world around us keen to watch. Same as always, the cave was cool and silent, thoroughly carpeted with moss. Every step sent vibrations beneath my feet. The moss was a thick, living pelt, transforming every rock surface into a mythical, sleeping bed for nature to take control of. Nothing has changed. The wind blew snow crystals back and forth between the dust. The ancient pines creaked overhead. I saw that the stones were no color and every color. Like water or diamonds or crystals, it's pure and reflects the light. I was being resisted by millions of tiny crystals, I knew, but the strength of their chemical bonds was enormous.

     Mother flipped a couple of written pages. Her legible handwriting was pretty as the delicate lotus in the early evening. “With only 4 True Dragons in the world, The Storm Dragon, given the name Veldora, is a top-class existence. Due to a certain incident 300 years ago in which Veldora trashed a human city and attacked Demon Lord Luminous Valentine, and was subsequently defeated by the dispatched Summoned Hero. The hero imprisoned him in her Unlimited imprisonment, sentencing him to live his days in monotonous boredom.” She read the pages.

     “Veldora,” I muttered. My ghost vanishes into thin air, residing itself back to its slumber as I trudge further into the cave-like I did ten years ago. Like before, black serpents reside in the cave alongside other creatures that became a great practice.

     The following skill attacks:

Lord Of Order: Paralysis Breath!

“Paralysis Breath,” I ordered. The spider erupted in purple fumes that began to decay its fleshes as the structured bones crack. Nothing left but a puddle of its liquid as the spider slowly fell asleep. Its body could not handle the elements of the paralysis breath causing environmental allergies to the insect.

Supernatural Swordsmanship: Crimson Flutter!

A sword slashes that curve and twists. A defensive technique that deflects attacks using rotating sword slashes.

Supernatural Swordsmanship: Butterfly Effect!

I fiercely twist my upper and lower body, creating a whirlpool that cuts anything caught in it. A fast and accurate stab, capable of reducing the impact of a moving target.

Invisible Black Matter: Roar Clap!

My ghost adjusted his stance, lunging his punch forward, a roar of a clap erupted as the unlucky creature was slammed into pieces.

Supernatural Swordsmanship: Effect Thrust!

I surround the creature with powerful waves and slashes that slice up the creature in all directions, in the shape of a vertex.

     Suddenly, I felt a strong presence. To hear another soul and to whisper to another soul; “I think someone else is here with us.”

“Never assume that the person you aredealing with is weaker or less important than you are.”

“Should you offend their honor and their pride, they will overwhelm you with a violence that seems sudden and extreme given their slowness to anger.”

    A voice that could rival a thunderclap, cleared its throat. “Hmm? It appears we have another guest,” I walked towards the voice. Behind, another entrance settled the person I’ve been longing to meet.

     I smiled, “Ara ara,” I glanced up to meet the dragon’s eyes that had its source of light. “Hello,” I greeted as I adjusted the blade holder on my hip. “And who might you be?” The dragon spoke to me.  “I’m an Ajin that does not possess a name in this world. My mother has spoken highly of you,” I said to the storm dragon, Veldora. “In this world?” Veldora asked me, curious as to what I meant. “It seems I was reincarnated into this world after an event took place.” He beckoned me to come forward. “So, you are also unique,” he states more similarly to himself. “I suppose I won’t mind more company,” he accepted my reasoning. “I’m assuming you are referring to the slime,” I mentioned, gesturing to the slime that slowly approached me with wariness. “Hello! Don’t worry, I’m not a bad slime,” the slime said. I chuckled, “That reminds me of an old game I used to play.”

Wait…

     “By chance are you from Japan?” The slime asked, shocked by the sudden response. I shook my head, “I’m from America, however, I am intrigued with Japanese culture. My final wish was to take after a character,” I answered the slime. The slime peaked at the information, clearly deep in thought. A light bulb appeared above him as he figured out which character.

     Velodra quietly listened, having been patiently waiting. “An interesting story, you two are not unique but reincarnated. How unusual,” he said. The slime glanced up at the dragon. “How so,” the slime questioned him. “There are occasionally those who come here from other worlds, but most would be unable to withstand having only their soul transverse worlds,” Veldora explained the reasoning. He sat up straight, watching the newcomers' expressions change. “We call them otherworlders.” He stated. The slime came up with an idea. “We should look for these otherworlds ' The slime looked at me, hoping that I’ll come along. I agreed, happily. There wasn’t much I could do on my own. Veldora thought otherwise, “What? You’re leaving so soon?” He said, sounding sad as he pouted his dragon nostril. I couldn’t help but giggle at the attempt. “I suppose we’ll stay a little longer,” I said to ease his loneliness in this cave.

     Similar to Mother’s story, Veldora was sealed for 300 years by a hero using unlimited imprisonment. A hero is known to be blessed with the divine. In other words, a few call themselves summons who only served to be powerful weapons, taking more than 30 mages to summon one from another world. “So, you’ve been in here ever since,” The slime easily assumed. Veldora nodded, “That’s right, I’m so...very bored,” he slumped against his hind legs. I began to feel sorry for the dragon. Imagine being trapped for 300 years all by yourself. The slime spoke up, “We could be your friends!” He suggested to the dragon. “WHAT?! A mere Slime and Ajin!? O-Oh, um proposes a friendship with me, the storm dragon?!” The slime arched his coexist eyes at him, “Okay, geez, if you didn’t want to we won’t force you” The dragon changed his mind as he insisted to be friends. The two reached forward to connect their hands with the dragon to make this official.

     I look at the dome that surrounds Veldora. “I don’t wish to leave you here,” I said, sincerely. “However, I could try.” I took a couple of steps back as I concentrated on the sealment.

Would you like to use Unique Skill: Lord Of Order?
 
   “Yes,” I quietly said to the Great Empyrea. The tension around me immediately changed, eyes locking onto the dome. The dragon had a hint of hope sparkling in his expression. “Break," I ordered. The dome erupted into small particles as it gradually floated in the air. A sudden burst of wind pushed the two of them back. Veldora, left speechless, was about to leap in victory until the dome was once again put in place. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, sincerely. The slime patted my back to comfort me. “See, It’s impossible,” Veldora commented, although he appreciated his friend's efforts. “Is there anything else we can do?” The slime asked his skill.

Examining possibilities…
     “Hey! Don’t keep talking to your skill,” Veldora behaved like an old man, not wanting to be left out. I waved him off as I glanced down at the slime.

Examination complete. Possibilities conclude…

     The dragon and Ajin watched the slime, sweating profusely as they watched the slime’s face begin to falter. Veldora was about to comment how hopeless until he was interrupted. “It’s only a possibility but...she says if we analyze it from the inside out, we might be able to solve it,” The slime gave his answer to the problem. Veldora was intrigued, “Oh?” He sounded. Once more Veldora is saddened that his friends will have to leave until the Slime does something bizarre. “Want to get in my stomach?” The slime asked Veldora. The two, dumbfounded, were both lost at words. The slime then explained himself by what he meant. If he can use one of his skills ‘Predator’ to analyze the Unlimited Imprisonment, the dragon won’t have to vanish while he’s in his stomach.

     Veldora erupted in laughs. “HA HA HA HA!” He laughed, the cave shaking with the booming voice. “That sounds interesting, please do it,” he accepted the slime’s permission to help him break free. I smiled genuinely for the first time, “Thankyou for trusting us,” I said. The slime agreed, “Okay, I’ll use Predator-” “Wait!” Veldora interrupted the slime.

     “Before we start I’ll give you two names, it will grant you divine protection,” Veldora announced to the two nameless creatures. “It will engrave your souls the fact we are equals. It’ll be like what humans call family names, but a name of your own,” Veldora explained. The two were in awe. I felt like I had hit the jackpot. A new beginning in my -  “Hey, Mama, you promise you will stay by my side until the end, right?” I asked. She brushes a strand away from my face, slowly cupping my cheeks into her palms. Mother held a smile I always loved, “Yes, until the end,” she promised.

     Sadness wept into my heart as I clenched the haori. “Huh? Are you okay,” The slime asked me, concerned as I tensed up. I brushed off the memory as I smiled at the two, “I’m fine,” I assured them. Veldora was pleased with the answer as he started first, “Give me a cool one,” he requested. The slime thought hard about time until it hit him like a lightning bolt, “Tempest!” I nodded excitedly at this,

“The Storm Dragon, Veldora Tempest!”

     “WHAAAAAAAAAT!” Veldora roared in response, flapping his wings out. The slime and Aijin flinched at the sudden reaction. “TEMPEST YOU SAY,” he continued, “IT SOUNDS FANTASTIC, AS OF TODAY I AM VELDORA TEMPEST!” He loved it.

     The dragon looked at the slime. “Now, I’ll grant you one in return,” He thought for a moment. “I’ll grant you Rimuru,” he said to the slime. “You will be Rimuru Tempest!” He exclaimed with more intent. The slime began to glow a bright holy light. A change occurred to him as the color of his slime became a brighter blue. He looked more lively and not dull.
    Veldora turned to the female Ajin, who waited patiently for a name. My heart was racing with anticipation to hear what I will be named. “I will grant you the name, Shinobu Tempest!” Hearing his words, tears wept in the corner of my eyes as I clutched the haori even harder. Was it destiny that I’m given the same name? “Thank you,” I thank Veldora with a warm smile on my face. He nodded, very satisfied with the names he’s given. “Okay then, I’ll eat you now,” Rimuru said as he got his skill readied. Veldora gave a light laugh, “haha! I will see you face-to-face in no time,” he gave the two creature farewells as Rimuru engulfed the Unlimited Imprisonment into his stomach to analyze.
     Little do they know, the world has begun to shift. A Catastrophe Class Monster has disappeared, confirmed, by many countries in the Jura Forest. The two creatures will be in the center of it all.

“Now you must be strong, even if you feel small,”

“Cultivate your pain into poisonous walls,”

“Channel grace and poise with a fire in your eyes,”

“Soar away, like a butterfly,”

“Show your smile, your charm so that no one knows,”


“Lay beneath is anger that grows,”

“Just like a butterfly, graceful and beautiful,”

“Now you must be strong, even if you feel small.”

Words count:2511

Killing Butterflies | Tensei Shitara Slime Datta KenWhere stories live. Discover now