Bastard's Son

Chapter 4

"Alright, I think that pretty much sums up what we can do."

Rimuru was tired, and I could tell. We had just spent the last decade training each other. I am now considerably older, lord knows what mom'll think of me when she sees me, if ever. Though only a year has passed on the outside world, I feel remarkably stronger, and I know it. I am not who I was as a teenager. Now 28, I am wiser, and more intuitive. It's time to face my father and demand the answers that I need from him.

"Ten years just like that, huh Rimuru?"

"Yes, my friend. It is time for you to be sent back to the outside world and take it head on."

"I guess so, I'm going to miss the time I spent here. But I'm super excited to try food again."

That's right, I've been relying on Rimuru's energy to provide me nourishment for the time I spent here in the spirit realm. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have survived even a day. The gravity here is heavier than the outside, so we'll see how nimble I'll be when I get out.

"I apologize for tearing up most of your clothes during our training.  I took the liberty of making these new clothes for you. I did not know what color you want your element to represent, but I thought black would suit it the best."

What I found in front of me was my scythe, the one that we conjured up when I first arrived, next to the clothes. The clothes were a black Haori lined with a plaid gray design, a simple black shirt, long durable boots that went up to around half my shins, and loose gi-type pants. Rimuru also took the liberty of giving me a back mount for the scythe so I din't have to lug it in my hands the entire time. 

"Rimuru these are amazing, but how did you make these?"

"They're made from my scales, very durable and I believe breathable as well."

I tried the clothes on and he didn't lie, these were the most comfortable clothes I've ever worn.

"And one more thing before I send you back. This necklace."

A necklace appeared before me, and it was a work of art, likes of which I've never seen.

"This is my heart, as well as yours. It'll allow you to communicate with me wherever you go, and give you an extra layer of protection. Should this necklace be broke, however, both you and I will cease to exist."

These words were not to be taken lightly. Rimuru made a big sacrifice for me, it's only right I repay him for his kindness.

"Thank you, Rimuru. I think I'm ready to be sent back now."

"Very well, I will see you soon, my dear friend."

"And I you."

He nodded and a mana circle appeared, purple in color.

"It is time, Damon."

I nodded at him and stepped on the circle. After that, I was suddenly at the front of the village I went to when I first arrived at the kingdom of elementals. I was excited to see all of my friends. After walking in everyone looked at me weird, but after noticing me by my trademark scar, they all rushed to my side. Even Theo was there to welcome me, I was glad to find out that he and a local from the village had started a relationship. I'm glad that he found happiness after the death of Jefferson. He deserves that happiness more than anyone.

"Where have you been Damon, you look older than even me at this point!" Said Baba, but it's true. I have grown considerably, in all aspects.

"I've been in the world of spirits. Time there passes by slower, so I guess I fell victim to it." I chuckled at him. Theo came up to me and told me counts of all that had happened. He was now a renowned tailor, having multiple shops in the air nation, even the store that I had worked at previously was larger, he had really made a name for himself. As for the village itself, it is larger, I guess they really have grown in my time away. but, it's good to be back.

"What will you do now Damon?" Theo asked me.

"Yes, word of your existence has reached all parts of the country. It's to the point that there's a manhunt for you. The fire king himself has aligned himself with the other masters in order to take you down." Baba said to me concerned.

"Weird, shouldn't word of me being his son gotten out as well?"

"He's done a good job at keeping that under wraps, my guess is that he'll destroy you before he deals with the masters, you have to be careful."

"I will, Baba. He'll answer for what he's responsible for."

"What do you plan on doing?"

"I want to unite the kingdom, make everyone equal. But to do that, I'll have to take down each of the elemental masters."

"You mean you're going to take down the fire king, air master, water emperor, and earth kai? All at once?"

"If I have to, yes."

"That isn't a good idea, they've all grown stronger in the year you've been gone."

"Remember, I've been gone ten years. There's no way they can stop me."

"That much power comes at a price my friend, please make sure that you remember where you came from."

"I will Baba, if it's alright with you, I want to call this place my home."

"Of course, my friend. You have done so much for this village."

I smiled at Baba before asking the question I've always wanted to ask him."

"One thing, what's this village called?"

"This village has no name Damon."

It all made sense to me ow, no one ever really called this place by any name, they call called it, "the village".

"Would it be out of place to name the village?"

"No, son. This is your home now. Name it as you please."

"Rimuru village."

"A fine choice."

Baba smiled and everyone rejoiced at the name. I named it after Rimuru for everything that he's done for me. After that, there was a welcome back party for me and we ate, drank, and partied throughout the night. Theo was kind enough to give me my old room for the time being while I gather my thoughts. I know that I need to take down the elemental masters, but I need to take down the fire king first. That's the first place of business. After staying in the village for a week while I accustomed myself to the outside world again. I decided to take him down first. 

After the festivities, I decided to embark on my journey. Thanks to my training with Rimuru, I got there way quicker, only taking me a day and a half as opposed to the weeks it took me before. I knew that the fire king was on the hunt for me, but the last place he would look would be his very own backyard. After again sneaking my way back into his palace, a sort of deja vu came upon me as I went with the same plan I did when I was last here. I waited for the man in the war room, and lo and behold he entered soon after.

As soon as he entered, he felt the pressure in the room get heavier, as if he knew someone was here.

"Reveal yourself. At once." He demanded, and I obeyed. I walked out and he looked at me oddly.

'You seem familiar, but I do not recognize you."

"It would appear so, father."

Once again his advisors were murmuring at how I was actually real and that I needed to be taken down.

"I will kill you here and now."

He lifted his hand and I knew what it meant, he was going to summon his phoenix. But I wasn't the person I was when we last met. Everything was if time slowed, everything except me. I burst forth and knew I was faster than him. I drew my scythe from my back. An immense wave of air came off of me as I dashed through the room, and when the wind settled, I was standing side by side with my father, with the blade of my scythe at his neck, I was facing the opposite direction that he was facing and I knew that he was shocked at what had happened. He knew I was stronger, I hadn't even used Aura Release, but he knew I could take him down. Coming to this realization, all I said were a few simple words,

"Just try and do something."