The bustling streets of Tempest were alive with energy. Rimuru, reclining on his throne, enjoyed a moment of peace as reports from his subordinates came in. Tempest had grown into a thriving nation, and everything seemed to be running smoothly. That was, of course, until she arrived.
"Rimuru-sama!" Shion burst into the room, nearly toppling over in her excitement. "An incredibly powerful aura is approaching Tempest! It feels... cold!"
Rimuru raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Raphael's display. Velzard, True Dragon of Ice. She must have business here.
"Cold, huh? Well, let's go see what all the fuss is about," Rimuru said casually, rising from his seat. Diablo, standing silently nearby, gave a small bow.
"As you wish, Rimuru-sama. Shall I prepare a proper welcome for our guest?" he asked, his crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Let's not start a war before she's even stepped inside," Rimuru chuckled, making his way outside.
The air grew colder as he approached the outskirts of the city, frost forming on the trees and ground. Citizens huddled together, confused but unafraid—they trusted their leader to handle whatever came their way.
A figure floated down from the sky, her icy blue hair and cold, piercing eyes making her presence undeniable. Velzard, the True Dragon of Ice, landed gracefully in the main square, the temperature dropping several degrees as she stood there, her gaze fixed on Rimuru.
"So, you're the slime everyone's been talking about," she said, her voice calm but with a hint of challenge.
"And you must be Velzard," Rimuru replied, maintaining his relaxed demeanor. "What brings the mighty Ice Dragon to my humble little nation?"
Velzard's lips twitched, almost forming a smirk. "I was curious. They say you defeated my brother, Veldora, then befriended him. Quite an odd relationship, don't you think?"
Rimuru scratched the back of his head. "Well, it's not every day you find a dragon that's fun to hang out with. Veldora's part of my family now. You're welcome to join us if you'd like."
Velzard's eyes narrowed. "Join you? Do not be ridiculous. I am here for another reason. I've heard tales of your strength, Demon Lord. I came to see it for myself."
Before Rimuru could reply, a gust of icy wind swept through the square, causing frost to spread across the ground. Velzard raised a hand, her magic forming intricate ice patterns in the air.
"You wish to fight me?" Rimuru asked, a small grin forming. "Well, I can't say no to a good sparring match."
The citizens quickly retreated, and Rimuru gestured for Shion and Diablo to stay back. "This is between us. No need to interfere."
Velzard wasted no time, launching a barrage of razor-sharp ice shards. Rimuru easily dodged, his body moving fluidly as he analyzed her attacks.
"Raphael, any suggestions?"
<<Solution: Observe her movements for five seconds to identify patterns. Counter with minimal effort to conserve energy.>>
Rimuru smirked. "Got it."
He raised a hand, summoning a black flame that instantly melted the incoming ice. Velzard's eyes widened slightly—only slightly—as she realized he wasn't just strong; he was completely unfazed by her power.
"You're holding back," she said coldly. "Don't insult me."
Rimuru shrugged. "I thought I'd give you a chance to warm up—wait, bad choice of words."
Velzard's glare intensified, and she unleashed a massive wave of ice, freezing the ground for miles around. Rimuru activated Spatial Motion to appear behind her, tapping her lightly on the shoulder.
"Tag, you're it."
Velzard spun around, summoning a spear of ice in her hand and aiming it at him. Rimuru caught it effortlessly, absorbing the energy into his body. "Nice trick, but I think I can do better."
He raised his hand, creating a massive storm of black lightning that clashed with Velzard's ice. The resulting explosion lit up the sky, leaving the ground beneath them scorched and frozen in equal measure.
Velzard stepped back, breathing lightly. "You're... more capable than I expected."
Rimuru smiled. "Thanks, I try."
For a moment, Velzard stared at him, her cold demeanor softening just slightly. "I will stay here, for now. Consider this... a temporary truce. I still have questions about you."
Rimuru crossed his arms. "Stay as long as you'd like. Just don't freeze my city, okay?"
Velzard didn't respond, turning and walking away, leaving a trail of frost behind her.
As Rimuru watched her go, he couldn't help but feel intrigued. The Ice Dragon was as fierce as they came, but he had a feeling there was more to her than just her icy power.
"Interesting," he murmured, already looking forward to what her presence in Tempest would bring.
