Orc Lord II

In the meantime, Souei arrived at the Lizardmen's settlement under the cover of shadows, his movement as silent as the wind. The guards stationed at the entrance spotted him and immediately raised their weapons.

"Halt! State your business!" one of them demanded, his spear pointed toward Souei.

"I am Souei, envoy of Lord Rimuru Tempest," Souei said calmly, his piercing blue eyes fixated on the guard. "I seek an audience with your leader regarding a matter of utmost importance."

The guards exchanged glances, wary of the stranger who radiated an aura of quiet but immense power. Finally, one of them nodded and said, "Follow me."

Souei was led through the settlement, observing the Lizardmen's primitive but functional village. The structures were simple, crafted from stone and wood, yet there was a sense of discipline and organization. The air was tense, as if the inhabitants were already preparing for an impending battle.

Souei was escorted to the main hall, where the Lizardman leader, a towering figure adorned with intricate scales and ceremonial armor, sat on a throne carved from stone. His eyes gleamed with intelligence and authority as he regarded Souei.

"What brings you here?" the Lizardman Chieftain asked, his voice deep and commanding.

Souei bowed slightly in respect before speaking. "I come bearing a warning and a proposal from my lord. An army of 300,000 Orcs is marching through the forest, leaving destruction in their wake. A detachment of 5,000 Orcs is heading toward your settlement. My lord wishes to form an alliance with you to face this threat together."

The Chieftain expression darkened, but before he could respond, one of his guards stepped forward, glaring at Souei. "Why should we join forces with you? What proof do we have that your lord is strong enough to stand against such a force? If your lord is weak, the Lizardmen won't stoop to join weaklings."

Souei's eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor slipping for a brief moment. In an instant, his steel threads lashed out, coiling tightly around the insolent guard's neck. The guard froze, his eyes wide with terror as the sharp threads glinted dangerously.

"I suggest you hold your tongue," Souei said coldly, his voice as sharp as his threads. "I have no patience for those who insult my lord."

"Enough!" the Chieftain yelled, standing from his throne. "Release him. I will not tolerate bloodshed in my hall."

Souei hesitated for a moment before retracting his threads, allowing the guard to collapse to the ground, gasping for air. "I apologize for his behavior," the Chieftain said, his tone softer but firm. "My subordinate spoke out of turn. Now, tell me more about your lord."

Souei nodded, his composure restored. "My lord, Rimuru Tempest, is no ordinary monster. He is a Slime, but do not let that deceive you. My clan and I were once Ogres, but we evolved into Kijin after being named by him. Our strength has increased exponentially, and his power is beyond anything you've encountered. He is wise, just, and capable of leading us against the Orc threat."

The Chieftain's eyes widened slightly. "You were once Ogres, but now you are Kijin? That level of evolution… fascinating. Your lord must indeed be powerful to achieve such a feat."

Souei inclined his head. "He is. And he has sent me to urge you not to engage the Orcs unless it is to defend yourselves. Their numbers and strength make them a formidable enemy, especially if their leader is an Orc Lord. My lord will arrive in a few days to discuss our alliance in person."

The Chieftain crossed his arms, deep in thought. After a moment, he nodded. "Very well. I will wait for your lord's arrival before making any decisions. In the meantime, we will strengthen our defenses and heed your advice."

Souei gave a small bow. "Wise decision. My lord will appreciate your cooperation. Until we meet again."

With that, Souei vanished into the shadows, leaving the Lizardman leader to ponder the coming storm.

----'(Gabiruuuuu So cool)----

In the meeting hall, Rimuru sat at the head of the table with his top generals gathered around the map spread across the table. Madox, Benimaru, Shion and Rigurd awaiting his commands. The tension in the room was palpable as they finalized plans for the coming battle against the Orc horde.

Suddenly, a familiar voice resonated in Rimuru's mind—Great Sage.

"Master, there is a way for you to ascend to the next level and greatly enhance your power."

"Next level? What do you mean, Great Sage?"

"You have the potential to become a Demon Lord."

The words hit Rimuru like a bolt of lightning. He paused briefly but maintained his composure, not wanting the others to notice. "A Demon Lord? Isn't that a big deal? What's the process?"

"To awaken as a Demon Lord, you require two things: a Demon Lord Seed, and a large number of souls to catalyze the transformation. Specifically, 100,000 monster souls or 10,000 human souls."

Rimuru smirked inwardly. "Well, isn't that convenient? There's an Orc army of 300,000 right at our doorstep. That's more than enough."

"Correct. By defeating the Orc Lord and his army, you can secure the necessary souls without involving innocent humans."

Rimuru chuckled softly to himself, his eyes glinting with anticipation. "Alright, Thanks, Great Sage."

Rimuru leaned forward, placing both hands on the table. "Alright, everyone, listen up. The Orc horde is spread across the forest, but their forces are divided into three main groups. Here's the plan: I'll handle the largest force myself—roughly 100,000 Orcs. The rest of you will take command of different divisions to deal with the smaller groups."

The room went silent for a moment as his generals processed the audacious statement.

Benimaru broke the silence. "Rimuru-sama, are you sure you want to face such a large force alone? Even for you, that's... bold."

Rimuru smiled confidently. "Don't worry about me. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. Besides, this is the perfect opportunity to test just how strong I've become."

Madox nodded, his expression serious. "If Rimuru-sama is handling the largest force, we need to ensure that our units perform flawlessly against the smaller groups. I'll lead the Kobolds to the eastern flank. The terrain there is swampy, which works to our advantage."

Benimaru pointed to the northern front on the map. "The Elves and Lycanthropes will strike the Orcs from the north. With their speed and ranged attacks, we can inflict heavy damage before they have a chance to counter."

Shion slammed her fist on the table, her usual energy shining through. "The Hobgoblins and I will take the southern sector. We'll hold our ground and make sure none of those Orcs escape."

Rimuru nodded, pleased with their strategies. "Good. Remember, this isn't just about winning—it's about minimizing our losses. Don't take unnecessary risks.

Urgent News

As the meeting continued, a scout burst into the room, breathing heavily. "Rimuru-sama! I have urgent news!"

Rimuru turned to him, his expression calm but commanding. "What is it?"

"A group of Lizardmen is currently engaging Orcs near the marshlands, close to their territory. They're heavily outnumbered and struggling to hold their ground."

The room grew tense at the report. Benimaru frowned. "It seems the Orcs are already on the move. If the Lizardmen fall, the Orcs will gain even more momentum."

Rimuru's eyes narrowed, his tone decisive. "Then we have no time to waste. It's time to move."

He turned to his generals, his voice firm. "Mobilize the army. Stick to the plan, and don't underestimate the Orcs. They may be mindless in their hunger, but their sheer numbers make them dangerous. Let's show them the strength of Tempest."

With that, Rimuru stepped outside, where the village bustled with preparations for war. The sound of marching soldiers and the gleam of weapons under the sun filled the air. The stage was set, and Rimuru's journey toward a new level of power was about to begin.