Primordial Slime: I Devour The World

The army had been waiting for two days. Two days since Lucien had sent his report.

The soldiers had expected reinforcements.

What arrived instead was one man. A soldier standing at the edge of the camp noticed movement along the road. "Someone’s coming." The others turned. At first, they saw nothing. Then a figure appeared. A dark coat hung loosely over his shoulders, partially covering a set of worn leather armor. His boots were stained with mud from the road. A large sword rested across his back. He didn’t seem particularly interested in it. He wasn’t wearing the polished armor expected of a royal commander. He didn’t need to. The moment the soldiers recognized him, the atmosphere changed.

"That’s..."

Someone whispered.

Another soldier swallowed.

"Gareth Draven."

The name alone was enough. Soldiers stopped talking. Officers straightened.

Even the horses became restless.

Gareth Draven.

The Empire’s Strongest Warrior. The man continued walking. His eyes moved across the camp. The soldiers moved aside. Lucien was already waiting. He stood outside the tent with several officers. The moment he saw the newcomer, his expression became serious. Gareth stopped in front of him.

"Lucien." The commander nodded. "Sir."

Gareth looked at him. "You’re relieved."

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. "On whose authority?" Gareth reached inside his coat.

He pulled out a sealed document. Lucien took it. His eyes moved across the royal seal. Then across the contents. His expression remained calm. Gareth watched him. "You’re relieved of command." "I can read." "Then you understand." Lucien folded the document.

"I understand that the capital has lost patience." Gareth stared at him. "The capital should have lost patience sooner." Several officers lowered their eyes. Lucien remained still. "May I ask why?" Gareth’s expression didn’t change. "You entered the forest."

"You found monsters. You talked to them. You let them kill five soldiers." Lucien’s eyes hardened. "They were assassins." Gareth stepped forward. "They were human soldiers." "They murdered six young members of Eldoris. They were killed after being captured." Gareth stopped. His eyes became colder. "You’re defending monsters." Lucien’s voice remained steady. "I’m explaining what happened."

Gareth looked at him. Then he moved. Lucien barely saw it. A fist struck his stomach. The impact lifted him from the ground. "Commander!" Lucien flew backward. He crashed through the wooden wall of the command tent. The camp erupted. Soldiers reached for their weapons. "Stand down!" Lucien’s voice came from inside the ruined tent. The soldiers froze. Gareth didn’t even look at them. He walked toward the wreckage. Lucien slowly stood. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He stared at the man.

"You’re insane." Gareth stopped. "Maybe." He stepped forward. Lucien raised his sword. Gareth looked at it. "You’re going to draw that?" Lucien’s grip tightened. "I won’t let you kill me." Gareth smiled. "Good."

Lucien moved. His sword flashed. Gareth stepped aside. The blade missed. His fist struck Lucien’s chest. The commander was thrown across the camp. Lucien pushed himself to his feet. There had been no complicated technique. No flashy magic. No visible skill. Just strength. Pure, overwhelming strength. Lucien looked toward Gareth. "Why?" Gareth stopped. "Why what?" "Why do you enjoy this?" Gareth looked back. Lucien continued. "You came here because of five dead soldiers."

Gareth’s eyes moved toward Eldoris. "I came because I heard there was a monster settlement." He smiled. "And now I’m interested." Lucien’s expression darkened.

"You’ll start a war." Gareth shrugged. "Then we’ll have a war."

_______________

Tanaka had seen everything. He stood on top of the settlement’s wall. Raizen stood beside him. The wolf leader’s fur was raised.

"That human." Tanaka nodded. "Yeah." "He’s strong." "Very." Tanaka had watched the entire fight. The human hadn’t used magic.

No visible skill. No complicated technique. Yet Lucien had been completely overwhelmed. Tanaka’s mind immediately began analyzing. His strength was absurd.

His speed was high. His movements weren’t particularly refined. He wasn’t fighting like a swordsman. He wasn’t using complicated techniques. He was simply... crushing everything in front of him. Tanaka frowned.

A berserker. That’s what he reminded him of. Not because he was wild. The man was surprisingly calm. But once he decided to fight, everything became simply hit and destroy.

Gareth walked through the camp. Soldiers stepped aside. No one spoke. Calian followed behind him. "My lord." Gareth stopped. Calian nearly walked into him. Gareth turned. "What?" Calian hesitated.

"Do you truly intend to attack the settlement?" Gareth’s eyes moved toward Eldoris. "Yes." Calian smiled. "I knew it." Gareth looked at him. "You seem happy." "I am." "Why?" Calian’s smile faded slightly. He thought about the dead soldiers. The monsters. The forest. Then Tanaka. "Because someone needs to remind monsters of their place." Gareth stared at him. Then he laughed. A short laugh. "You’re interesting." Calian’s eyes brightened. Gareth turned away.

_______________

Lucien stood alone. He had refused medical treatment. His soldiers had wanted to take him back to the capital. He refused that too. He remained near the camp. Gareth Draven had taken command. But Lucien wasn’t leaving. Lucien remembered their first conversation.

Turn back.

Tanaka had given them every opportunity. He had spoken with them. Allowed Lucien inside his settlement. Explained himself.

Even after the assassination attempt...

He had warned them. Now someone else had arrived. Someone who didn’t care about explanations. Lucien closed his eyes. He already knew what would happen. Gareth would attack. Tanaka would defend. And when that happened... There would be no turning back. Lucien looked toward the man who had replaced him. Gareth stood at the front of the army. His eyes remained fixed on Eldoris. Then he spoke. "Tomorrow." The soldiers around him went silent. He pointed toward the settlement. "Tomorrow, we take it."

Tanaka looked toward the human army. His expression became serious. "Everyone." The settlement went quiet. Tanaka stepped forward. "Get ready." Raizen’s eyes narrowed. "For war?" Tanaka nodded. "For war."

_______________

The next few hours changed Eldoris. Tanaka gathered the leaders beneath the Crystal Tree. Raizen stood at his right. Drakar stood nearby. Eldrin, Sylva, and Torga joined them. The five Kijin stood behind them. Tanaka looked at everyone. "We have one night." Drakar tightened his grip around his spear. "Do we know how they will attack?" "No." Tanaka shook his head. "And that’s the problem." He looked toward the walls. "The human army has numbers." Then toward the forest. "We have the forest." Raizen’s golden eyes sharpened. Tanaka continued. "We’re not going to fight them exactly where they want us to." Eldrin nodded. "Then what will the goblins do?" "Archers on the walls."

Eldrin smiled. "Understood." Tanaka turned toward Drakar. "Kobolds." Drakar immediately stepped forward. "We’ll handle the equipment."

"Good. Reinforce the gates. Strengthen the walls. Prepare spare weapons." Drakar nodded. "We’ll have it done before dawn." Tanaka looked toward Sylva. "Moonhares." Sylva nodded. "We’ll assist the wounded and keep the gardens and food stores protected." Tanaka smiled. "Exactly." The rabbits weren’t only warriors. They were part of the Dominion’s support network. Tanaka turned toward Torga. "Torga." The old turtle raised his head. "The Stoneshell Turtles will reinforce the defensive structures." "Can you?" Torga chuckled.

"We’ve carried heavier things than this." Tanaka smiled. "Good." His eyes moved toward the five Kijin. Rogan grinned. "Finally." Tanaka sighed. "I haven’t even given you an order." "I know." Raveana cracked her knuckles. "Where do we fight?" Tanaka looked toward the gates. "Wherever the enemy breaks through." Rogan’s grin widened. "Perfect." Raishin simply nodded.

Relia adjusted her staff. Ryuken remained calm. Tanaka looked toward them. "You five are the strongest fighters in the Dominion."

The Kijin became serious. "Don’t waste that strength." They nodded.

_____________

Tanaka then looked toward Raizen. "Raizen."

The Star Wolf King stepped forward. "We’re watching the forest." "Yes." "All of it?" "As much as possible." "Understood." Tanaka looked toward the surrounding wolves.

"Raxolf." The Star Wolf Lord stepped forward. "You’ll command the inner patrols." Raxolf lowered his head. "Yes, Great One." "The Star Wolf Warriors will rotate positions. No one patrols alone." Raxolf nodded. "Understood."

_____________

Sora bounced into the middle of the group.

"Tanaka!" Everyone looked at him. Tanaka blinked. "What?" "I have a job too!" Tanaka stared at the High Slime. "You do." Sora bounced proudly. "What is it?" Tanaka thought for a moment. "Stay with me."

Sora tilted his body. "That’s it?" "For now."

Sora bounced happily. "Okay!" Tanaka smiled. Then his expression became serious again. He looked around at his leaders. "Eldoris has never fought an army." The monsters became quiet. "We’ve fought adventurers. We’ve survived dungeon floors. But this is different." Tanaka looked toward the walls. "They have soldiers trained to fight together. They have commanders. They have weapons designed for war. And they have the new man."

Raizen’s expression hardened. Tanaka didn’t hide the danger. "I don’t know how strong he really is." The leaders exchanged glances. "But I know one thing." Tanaka looked at them. "We cannot underestimate him." Drakar nodded. "Understood." Tanaka looked toward the Crystal Tree. Its azure motes drifted through the night. "Eldoris wasn’t built for war." He paused. "But it’s our home." His voice became firmer. "And we’ll defend it."

____________

Night settled over the Dominion. Sora stayed beside Tanaka. For once, the little slime wasn’t bouncing constantly. He looked toward the human camp. "Tanaka." "Hm?" "Are they going to attack us?" Tanaka looked at the hundreds of campfires beyond the walls. "Yes." Sora was quiet. "Are we going to win?" Tanaka didn’t answer immediately.

He looked at Eldoris. At his people. At everything they had built. "I don’t know." Sora tilted his body. Tanaka smiled. "But we’re going to make sure they regret coming here." Sora bounced once. "Okay."

A sound echoed through the darkness.

Boom.

A war drum. Tanaka’s eyes narrowed. Another drum answered.

Boom.

Then another.

Boom.

"I believe our peaceful days are over." Tanaka sighed.

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