Chapter 24: Shadows of the Past, Flames of the Future
The three newly-formed brothers sat together near the barrier that had once been Veldora's prison, their conversation echoing through the vast cave.
"So, Elder Brother Veldora," Rimuru asked curiously, "how exactly did you get trapped in this weird barrier?"
Veldora let out a hearty laugh. "Mwahaha! That was about 300 years ago. Back when I was younger—and a bit more hotheaded—I had a rather nasty argument with the Queen of Dragons. In my rage, I accidentally burned down a medium-sized town. As fate would have it, a Hero was passing by. She used her unique skill, [Arachnid's Imprisonment], to defeat me and seal me here."
"Heroes, huh? That sounds familiar…" Drake muttered, memories of his past life surfacing—particularly of a certain tech-obsessed vigilante who used a scientific bow to hunt him down.
Rimuru blinked. "You've been stuck here for 300 years?! That's insane!"
"Yeah, and you two are the first beings I've had a real conversation with in all that time. It's been incredibly boring," Veldora groaned.
Drake's gaze sharpened. "This hero… Do you know her name? I might need to face her, considering the quests I've been given by the system."
Veldora suddenly looked nervous. "I don't like saying her name out loud… Feels like she'll just appear and trap me again. But since you need it, I'll say it: her name is Black Widow. I still get chills thinking about that encounter…"
Rimuru stiffened. A large exclamation mark formed on his slimy body. Drake sat frozen, eyes wide and distant.
"Guys? Are you okay?" Veldora asked, concerned.
Rimuru recovered first, his voice trembling. "Do you know her real name? Not the hero name."
Veldora furrowed his brow. "Hmm... Nat... Nita... no, wait—"
"Natasha Romanoff. Am I right?" Drake said quietly, almost in a trance.
"Yeah, that's it," Veldora confirmed. "Wait—how did you—?"
Drake smiled weakly. "So, you ended up in this world too… Little Nat."
A powerful memory surged forward:
A blood-soaked kitchen. A small boy stood clutching a bloodied knife. Beside him, a redheaded girl gripped his leg, her eyes filled with confusion and fear.
"Elder brother Drake... what happened to Mom and Dad? Why are they lying there? Why are you covered in blood?" she whimpered.
"Little Nat, don't look. Everything's going to be okay. Your big brother will protect you," the boy said, tears falling as he looked at his mother's lifeless body riddled with bullets, and his father's corpse, torn by countless stab wounds.
Back in the present, Drake exhaled deeply and turned to Rimuru. "I think you're from my world too. Given your reaction... you might know her. My full name is Drake Romanoff."
Rimuru stared in shock. "D-Drake Romanoff? The most feared serial killer who assassinated corrupt politicians across the globe? You're serious? Wait... that means Natasha is your sister?! Then how did she get reincarnated here too?"
"She's smart," Drake said softly. "Always was."
He turned to Veldora. "Big Brother, you said the hero—my sister—was still alive?"
Veldora nodded. "Her skill drains life force from the ones she imprisons. It sustains her, rejuvenates her. As long as she holds someone, she won't age or die."
Drake chuckled. "That's so like her. Always thinking ahead… I can't wait to see her face when she sees me like this."
Rimuru's eyes turned serious. "Elder brother, why? Why did you go down that path? Why the killing?"
Drake hesitated, then spoke. "Our father, Vladimir Romanoff, was a high-ranking Russian politician. Our mother—an ex-hacker known as Shadow. One day, she stumbled upon an email on his forgotten laptop and used her skills to hack into his hidden files. What she discovered… He was involved in human trafficking, child exploitation, and worse.
"They argued. I was hiding, listening. Then he… he pulled out a gun and shot her. I snapped. Grabbed a kitchen knife and... ended him."
Drake's voice shook. "Nat walked in, crying, asking why they were lying there. After that, we were bounced through orphanages until a so-called 'uncle' took us. Turned out to be a front for an assassin training organization. We got separated. She chose the path of a hero. I… chose vengeance. Her death is what broke me. That's why I surrendered. That's how I ended up here."
Silence followed.
Then Rimuru spoke, voice steady. "That was a different life. I forgive you. You're my brother now."
"Same here," Veldora added. "Brothers."
"Thanks, you two." Drake smiled, wiping his tears. "Though… there's still more. My unique skill gives me quests I must complete. One of them? Become a Demon Lord. Think a hero like her will ignore that?"
Veldora perked up. "Speaking of which, becoming a Demon Lord isn't exactly hard, but it is brutal. You'll need to absorb the souls of 50,000 living beings."
"Wait—souls?" Rimuru asked, horrified.
"Yup," Veldora nodded. "Kill them. Absorb them. Reshape your body with demonic power."
Both Rimuru and Drake turned pale.
"Well," Drake muttered, regaining composure. "Guess there's no running from bloodshed…"
"What about the other Demon Lords?" he asked.
Veldora's tone darkened. "There are three you should avoid.
"To the south lies the Armed Nation of Dwargon. Behind it is the Land of Death—the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Its ruler, Ainz Ooal Gown, is an incomprehensibly powerful necromancer. No one knows the full extent of his abilities.
"To the east is the Kingdom of Balmuth. Beyond it lies the Land of Dragons. That's where I'm from. Two Demon Lords reign there: Milim Belserion, the Princess of Destruction, whose strength is monstrous… and her mother, Irene Belserion—the Queen of Dragons. She's the strongest mage alive and one of the reasons I'm stuck here."
Before anyone could respond, Rimuru suddenly cried out, "Wait! My unique skill just told me… I can use Predator to absorb you, Big Brother! I might be able to analyze and break the seal!"
Drake and Veldora stared, stunned.
"ROOOOAAAR! Let's do it!" Veldora shouted. "Get me outta here!"
Rimuru's body expanded, enveloping Veldora and the barrier. In a moment, both vanished—only Rimuru remained.
"Well…" Drake blinked. "That ability is insane."
Meanwhile, far away in the Land of Death, a cloaked figure stirred. Dressed in black, she turned her head toward the Great Forest of Jura.
"Hoh… The pesky lizard escaped? How interesting."A cold smile spread across her face as she stepped into the shadows, heading toward the fores
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