The Mighty Storm Dragon

The next day, after King Gazel and his guards departed with promises of alliance paperwork and trade agreements, life in Tempest returned to its normal rhythm. The villagers resumed their daily tasks, the generals returned to their training routines, and Rimuru decided it was finally time to fulfill a long-awaited promise—to free Veldora.

Rimuru made his way to the cave where it all began, the place where he first encountered the fearsome Storm Dragon. As he stepped inside, he was overwhelmed with a wave of nostalgia. The cavern was just as he remembered it: the faint glow of crystals embedded in the walls, the eerie stillness, and the faint hum of magicules in the air. It felt like a lifetime ago when he was just a simple slime exploring this very space.

"Ah, the memories," Rimuru said aloud, smiling to himself. "This is where it all started."

Raphael's voice echoed in his mind.

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Rimuru nodded. "Alright, let's do this. Release Veldora!"

Suddenly, the air in the cave grew heavy as magicules swirled violently. A brilliant golden light erupted from within Rimuru's body, illuminating the cavern. The radiant light took on the shape of a massive dragon for a fleeting moment, its wings spread wide and its eyes glowing with untamed power. Then, with a flash, the dragon's form condensed, entering the humanoid vessel Raphael had prepared.

The body began to transform, taking on a distinct human shape. When the light subsided, there stood Veldora in all his glory—tall, tan, and radiating an aura of overwhelming power. He was dressed in a flashy hero cape, complete with gaudy accessories that screamed "manga protagonist." His muscles gleamed as he flexed, striking a dramatic pose.

"HAHAHA… HAHAHAHA… HAHAHAHAHA!" Veldora's booming laughter echoed through the cavern. He raised his arms triumphantly and declared, "Behold the mighty return of the one and only Veldora the Storm Dragon! Tremble in fear and bow before me!"

He struck another exaggerated pose, complete with a finger pointing to the sky and a wild grin plastered on his face.

Rimuru stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded by the scene before him. "Oi, oi, old man… What are you doing? And where did you even learn to act like that?"

Veldora smirked and placed his hands on his hips. "Hmph! I had access to your memories while I was sealed away. I found the sacred texts—what you call manga. They are truly works of divine wisdom! I've studied them extensively and perfected the art of the dramatic entrance."

Rimuru's jaw dropped. "Sacred texts? Manga?! You… you turned into an otaku! Of all the things you could've learned from my memories, this is what you chose?!"

"Of course!" Veldora exclaimed, puffing out his chest. "These stories hold the secrets to true greatness! I've modeled my return after the mightiest heroes of those tales. Isn't it grand?"

Rimuru sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "I don't even know what to say to this…"

While Veldora continued posing and narrating his imaginary greatness, Rimuru's attention shifted.

Raphael's calm voice interrupted his thoughts.

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Rimuru blinked. "Huh? What is it?"

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Rimuru's eyes widened. "Two new Ultimate Skills? That's… insane! What do they do?"

Raphael began to explain.

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Rimuru smirked. "So, it's basically like I can borrow Veldora's strength whenever I want? That's pretty neat."

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Rimuru's grin widened. "Uriel, huh? That'll come in handy. Especially after all the trouble Veldora's seal caused."

While Rimuru was engrossed in his mental conversation with Raphael, Veldora was still flexing and talking to himself in the background.

"…and then, after vanquishing the evil Demon King, the great Veldora will ascend to the heavens, hailed as a true hero of legend!"

Rimuru snapped back to reality and shot him a deadpan look. "Oi, oi, are you still going on about that? You've only been free for five minutes, and you're already building an entire fanfiction around yourself."

Veldora grinned sheepishly. "Well, can you blame me? I've got a lot of pent-up energy after being sealed for so long!"

Rimuru sighed but couldn't help smiling. "Anyway, it's good to have you back, Veldora."

Veldora's expression softened, and he placed a hand on Rimuru's shoulder. "And it's good to be back. You've done well, Rimuru. I saw everything you did to build this place. You've really grown strong… and impressive."

Rimuru rubbed the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. " But now that you're free, I'm expecting you to pull your weight around here."

Veldora grinned. "Oh, just you wait! I'll show you how a true dragon contributes to society!"

Rimuru raised an eyebrow. "Somehow, that sounds more ominous than reassuring."

Them an interesting idea came to Rimuru mind...

Stay tuned....