Reincarnated as Rimuru's Ultimate Skill

The Birth of Aoi, Rimuru's Hidden Ally

The dark clouds inside Aoi's mind had begun to clear, and she could finally feel herself breaking free. The battle between the light and the dark had left her exhausted, but the connection she had forged with Veldora, the mighty Storm Dragon, had given her just the push she needed. Now, standing at the precipice of a monumental change, she felt a surge of energy ripple through her very being.

"It's time," Aoi thought as the world within her mind began to shift.

With a final push of willpower, she felt the connection between her and Rimuru stretch and change. No longer was she merely an Ultimate Skill tied to his soul. She was becoming something more, something independent, but still deeply connected to the one she loved.

Light surrounded her consciousness as her essence transformed. She could feel herself becoming something akin to a manas, a powerful spirit formed from Rimuru's magic, but not entirely. Unlike other manas, she was still bound to Rimuru's existence as his skill, a unique entity born from his soul and her wish for power.

Finally, the light faded, and Aoi felt her new form solidify. She was still within Rimuru, but now she could sense herself as something distinct. She had her own thoughts, her own consciousness, and, most importantly, her own will and materiel body.

"I did it..." she whispered in awe, feeling her new existence.

She was no longer just a silent observer trapped within Rimuru's soul. She was free, an entity in her own right. Yet, despite this newfound independence, her connection to Rimuru remained. She was still his Ultimate Skill, able to merge back with him at any moment.

"But now..." she thought with a mischievous grin, "it's time for him to know I exist."

Later that evening, as Rimuru rested after another long day of managing the growing goblin village, Aoi made her move. She had thought long and hard about how to introduce herself, and while her love for Rimuru was strong, she couldn't exactly drop the truth on him without some... adjustments.

"He's going to need a little nudge," she told herself with a nervous chuckle.

She reached out to him mentally, her presence brushing against his consciousness gently at first, then stronger. Rimuru stirred, his thoughts racing as he felt the unfamiliar touch.

"Huh? Who's there?" Rimuru's voice echoed in the shared mental space. "Is that... a new skill?"

Aoi smiled. "Not just any skill, Rimuru. It's me, Aoi."

There was a moment of silence before Rimuru responded, his curiosity piqued. "Aoi? Who's Aoi? Are you one of my abilities?"

"Sort of," Aoi replied, her tone playful. "I'm more than just a skill. I'm... well, I'm part of you, but also my own person. It's hard to explain."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Rimuru asked, clearly confused. "How can a skill be a person?"

Aoi took a deep breath, preparing herself for the delicate web of half-truths she was about to spin. "Well, let's just say that when you reincarnated into this world, something special happened. I came into existence alongside you, born from your soul as your Ultimate Skill. But there's more..."

Rimuru was quiet for a moment, processing her words. "So, you're like... part of me, but also not? How is that possible?"

"It's complicated," Aoi admitted, her voice softening. "But here's the thing, Rimuru. I'm not just some random skill. I'm here because of a very special wish of yours."