Harvest Festival

As the massacre reached its conclusion, silence overtook the battlefield. The once-mighty army of 20,000 had been reduced to nothing more than corpses, their cries of agony now mere echoes in the wind. Rimuru hovered above them, expression unreadable, as if weighing the consequences of his actions. But there was no regret—only cold finality.

Then, suddenly—

A resonating voice filled the air, not just in the battlefield but through the magical projection as well.

"Report. Checking the number of souls required for evolution..."

We all watched as Rimuru slightly staggered in the air, his body tensing as if something profound was taking root within him.

"Confirmed. The required conditions have been met. The Harvest Festival will now begin."

I narrowed my eyes. So, it was happening.

Rimuru was evolving into a True Demon Lord.

Velzard, standing beside me, raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Testarossa and Ultima exchanged knowing looks, while Carrera smirked, clearly entertained. Diablo, on the other hand, watched with a glimmer of something far deeper—reverence, perhaps.

Then, through the projection, we saw Rimuru moving with effort, as if his body was becoming heavier by the second. His golden eyes flickered with understanding.

He knew.

He was about to fall into sleep mode.

And in that moment, we watched as he raised his hand, beginning the process of summoning a demon—a measure to protect Tempest while he was unconscious.

I smirked at the realization. "He's summoning a demon."

Diablo remained silent, but his eyes glowed with excitement.

I turned to him, my voice calm yet commanding. "Diablo… hack his demon summoning. Appear before him instead of whatever lesser demon would have answered the call. Assist him until he awakens."

For the first time in a while, Diablo's smirk widened into something almost… ecstatic. He bowed deeply, his voice filled with both devotion and delight. "As you command, my lord."

Then, in an instant, he vanished, slipping through the summoning ritual like a shadow slipping through the cracks of reality.

Through the projection, we saw it unfold—

Rimuru, his consciousness fading, had expected a random greater demon to answer his call. But instead, a figure of pure darkness and elegance appeared before him, bowing gracefully.

"It is an honor to serve you, Rimuru-sama," Diablo said, his voice smooth yet filled with utter devotion. "I shall ensure your wishes are fulfilled until you awaken."

Even in his weakened state, Rimuru's eyes slightly widened. "You… you're not the one I—"

"Shhh, no need to worry," Diablo chuckled. "Just rest, my lord. Everything will be taken care of."

And with that, Rimuru could hold on no longer—his body gave in to the evolution process, and he entered his deep sleep.

I leaned against the balcony, watching with intrigue as Diablo grinned in pure satisfaction, now standing as Rimuru's chosen protector.

We continued watching as the final moments of the battle played out through the magical projection.

The Falmuth army was no more.

The once-proud soldiers, who had marched on Tempest with dreams of conquest, lay scattered like broken dolls across the battlefield. But amidst the carnage, three figures still remained—King Edmaris and two of his high-ranking commanders, trembling as they cowered before Diablo.

"P-please… spare us!" Edmaris stammered, sweat dripping down his pale face.

Diablo, who had taken over as Rimuru's protector, tilted his head with amusement. "Oh? You were so bold when you invaded Tempest. Where did that bravery go?" His smile widened, but there was no warmth in it—only cold amusement.

Then, in a blink, he grabbed all three men by their throats, lifting them effortlessly into the air.

"Your fate shall be decided later," Diablo declared, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of finality. With a flick of his wrist, black chains of magic wrapped around them, rendering them immobile.

But his priority wasn't them.

Turning his gaze downward, Diablo gently picked up Rimuru, now in his slime form, as he remained unconscious from the evolution process. With surprising care, Diablo cradled him in his hands, his expression shifting from amusement to reverence.

"Now then… let us take you home."

And with that, he vanished into the shadows.

The moment Diablo appeared at the gates of Tempest, Rimuru's generals rushed forward. Benimaru, Shion, Shuna, Hakuro, Ranga, and the others had been eagerly awaiting their lord's return, but their excitement turned into shock when they saw a demon holding their leader.

Weapons were drawn in an instant.

Benimaru's eyes narrowed. "Who are you? And why are you holding Rimuru-sama?" His voice was sharp with suspicion.

Shion's aura flared dangerously. "If you did anything to Rimuru-sama, I will—"

"Calm yourselves," Diablo interrupted smoothly, completely unfazed by their aggression. He lowered Rimuru slightly, making it clear that he meant no harm. "I was summoned by Rimuru-sama himself. My purpose is to protect him while he undergoes his evolution."

A heavy silence followed.

Benimaru and the others exchanged glances, their initial hostility giving way to confusion. They could feel no ill intent from Diablo—in fact, his very presence radiated loyalty toward Rimuru.

After a moment, Benimaru exhaled, sheathing his sword. "Fine. But if you even think about betraying him—"

Diablo chuckled. "Betray him? Oh no… I would never." His golden eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent chills down their spines. "

With no more objections, they allowed him to pass.

Diablo walked to an open area and, with a wave of his hand, formed a natural throne-like rock where he carefully placed Rimuru's slime body.

Then, the air shuddered.

A voice, ancient and powerful, echoed through the skies.

"Notification: The evolution of the individual "Rimuru Tempest" has begun. Those connected to Rimuru shall receive gifts."

A strange light enveloped Tempest, and in that instant—one by one—Rimuru's closest subordinates began collapsing.

Benimaru, who had been standing strong just moments ago, suddenly staggered. "W-what is… this…?" His voice trailed off as he fell unconscious.

Shion, Shuna, Hakuro, Souei, and even Ranga all dropped to the ground, their bodies glowing faintly.

"They're… evolving," Diablo murmured, his expression unreadable. He crossed his arms and simply watched in fascination, letting fate take its course.

As each of Rimuru's trusted allies fell into a deep slumber, the entire nation of Tempest seemed to hold its breath—unaware that their future was about to change forever.