Year of the Rabbit

Ch 7 - The Jura Forest Alliance

All things considered, that Gabil had managed to hold his own surprisingly well, Rimuru noted from the sky watching as Gobta jumped in, preventing the lizardman from being killed on the spot. The lizardman was as crafty and clever as he was boastful and stupid. And brave he supposes, he did defend the goblins rather than leaving them to die. Admittedly, he'd kind of assumed the cocky bastard was all talk and no action - especially after he'd gotten defeated by Gobta. Watching this though... was Gobta actually just powerful?

Gabil had dodged the snapping tendrils extending from the orc's shoulders with strain but he'd done it, despite the strength Rimuru could feel radiating from the general. And still, Gobta had taken him down with one kick to the head.

Does this mean Gobta has talent? he blinked in confusion. Ugh, the idea rattled him. Best not to think about it too hard.

Especially with Ranga evolving to a Tempest Star Wolf and promptly demonstrating his new unique skill.

"[Great Sage] what is this?!" he shrieked, dodging quickly from the path of the series of massive twisters that descended from the sky, crackling with electricity and began frying and ripping the orcs below to shreds.

[Answer: this is the unique skill [Death Storm] of the individual Ranga.]

Death storm is right, holy crap!

Was he able to use that ability too given he'd [Mimicked] the dire wolf and had actually taken the form of the Tempest Star Wolf first? It was something to test - far, far away from his little village.

Where is he, he slime thought furiously, scanning the hoard of orcs. The reason he hadn't joined in yet (beyond fulfilling his side of the oath taken between himself and the kijin), was that he only intended to fight the orc lord, as he promised Treyni. And yet, for such a powerful and unique monster, he'd yet to catch sight of the threat to their livelihoods.

The number of orcs was shrinking rapidly under the liberal fire and violence exhibited by the kijin, at least simplifying the numbers he had to pick through.

<Rimuru, I found him.>

Hm?

He was interrupted before he could ask with an explosion away from where the kijin were wreaking havoc erupted making him whip around. It only took him a few seconds to be hovering over the place he'd left Ranga and the lizardmen again, bringing him the slight of an odd majin in a long, flowing coat wearing a plague-doctor mask standing with visible frustration just a little ways away front the startled defenders, Black Bunny standing in-between them wild Wildfire raised defensively.

The rabbit lowered the sword with narrowed eyes.

"I was wondering when you'd come out," Black Bunny said, her tone completely void of emotion. She was pure business mode from what he could tell, watching Wildfire's blade light up a blazing orange of menace. She adjusted her grip, pointing the glinting tip in the majin's direction, "Spying from the bushes... that's no way for a majin to behave, hm?"

The majin stamped his foot like a petulant child, "Who the hell do you think you are?! Ruining my plans?!"

"Your plans," she scoffed, not lowering her weapon.

"That- That majin... that's Lord Gelmond," Gabil said, visibly perking up with relief at the sight of the demon who named him. He started to move towards him and Rimuru abruptly felt really bad for him - he was an idiot sure, but being someone's Namer was a great honor. That was going to be a rough betrayal to recover from.

He stumbled to a stop just as quickly as he'd started moving, the flaming blade of Wildfire held out as a physical barrier.

"That demon is not your ally Ser Envoy," and Rimuru was surprised by how gentle her voice was. She didn't turn her head to look at him, still fixated on her energy just in case he tried a sneak attack but the rabbit was still trying to break it to him gently. "I haven't fully unraveled his plan, but I know enough to be aware he did not grant you your name in good faith. "