In theory, with sufficient numbers, the Direwolves' inherent trait could push them to A- rank, equivalent to 9,000 magicules.
Imagine thousands of A- rank Direwolves surging like a tidal wave.
The mere thought was chilling.
Of course, A- rank was the Direwolves's limit.
After all, this was just an inherent skill (Extra Skill), not a Unique Skill capable of granting them Demon Lord Seed qualifications.
Moreover, thanks to their 'collective equals individual' trait, when Damien named the eighteen tribal leaders, a significant portion of magicules was distributed to the remaining Direwolves.
For 500 wolves, each with an average of 3,000 magicules, reaching B-rank at 6,000 magicules would require at least 1.5 million magicules.
Such a massive amount was beyond Damien's reach, even if he included Violet's 200,000 magicules and doubled it, equating to only 460,000 naming magicules (with Violet's discount, the effect was doubled).
460,000 compared to 1.5 million was a drop in the bucket.
But the beauty of the Direwolves's trait was that it drastically reduced the cost of naming the entire group.
Instead of 1.5 million, only a fifth... 300,000 magicules... was needed to evolve the entire pack into Star Wolves.
"Our master's magicules are recovering rapidly!"
On the other side, the Snow Empress noticed the swift rise in Damien's magicules and looked at Violet in surprise.
"After the naming, our magicule reserves were down to 80,000."
80,000 magicules was a dangerously low number for both Violet and Damien.
For a monster, depleting magicules meant the end of existence.
However, Damien wasn't just spending recklessly; he was investing.
"An investment means returns."
The first return came from Hoshiga, with 55,000 magicules.
As a named monster, Hoshiga returned 15% of his total magicules to Damien, equaling 8,250 EP.
The other eighteen wolves followed suit: 15,000 × 15% × 18, yielding 40,500.
Including Hoshiga's, that was roughly 50,000 magicules.
But this was only from the nineteen leaders.
What truly thrilled Violet was the remaining 500 Star Wolves.
Due to their pack trait, these wolves skipped the follower tier and reached the named monster tier under [Unity of All Spirits].
Yes, all 500 Star Wolves were classified as named monsters.
Thus, with an average of over 6,000 magicules each, reaching B-rank:
500 × 6,000 × 15% amounted to a staggering 3 million magicules!
This was why Damien went all-in, exhausting his magicules to name the entire Direwolves!
He admitted there was an element of gambling.
But he won the bet!
The once-ordinary C-rank Direwolves had become Damien's greatest source of magicule returns.
Forget Direwolves... they were his treasure trove!
Talk about striking it rich!
"What a pity."
Violet looked at Damien, whose magicule reserves had reached 990,000.
Of course, the additional 2 million-plus magicules weren't gone; they were stored with Violet.
"What?"
The Snow Empress, confused, didn't understand what Violet meant by 'pity.'
"He can't yet challenge the True Demon Lord awakening ritual."
"Why not?"
The Snow Empress recalled Damien mentioning that a Demon Lord Seed needed only enough souls to awaken as a True Demon Lord.
Souls were easy enough.
Couldn't a war yield plenty?
"No, it's not that simple."
Violet explained, "To acquire souls, one must break through the Astral Body encasing them."
Absorbing souls wasn't as straightforward as imagined.
Souls were protected by a special energy called the Astral Body, shielding them from external interference... one of the Cardinal World's most mysterious, fundamental principles.
"Breaking the Astral Body can't be done with magicules. It requires sheer willpower to force through."
Violet didn't know how Rimuru in the original story managed it.
She could only say that the remnants of the Star Dragon King and Lucia's souls helped Rimuru cheat his way across that chasm.
"But if that's the case, why did so many awaken as True Demon Lords later?"
The Snow Empress remembered Damien saying that Benimaru, Shion, and others had the potential to become True Demon Lords.
In the original story, they awakened by absorbing enough souls with Rimuru's help.
"Souls and the Astral Body are distinct concepts."
If it were just souls, direct absorption would suffice.
If Damien could obtain 100,000 souls, he could awaken as a True Demon Lord on the spot.
"But where would we find 100,000 unprotected souls?"
Such a vast number of souls was something only an ancient Demon Lord like Guy might have stored.
Souls followed the cycle of reincarnation.
Except for those with Ultimate Skills, no one could interfere with their destination.
Moreover, these weren't souls from killing 100,000 ordinary people.
The souls of common folk were too weak.
In the original story, during the Falmuth Kingdom's attack on the Jura Tempest Federation, the kingdom's forces were elite humans.
Only souls of that caliber could meet the conditions for a Demon Lord's awakening.
"Once an ordinary person dies, their soul can't linger in the material world. It immediately moves to the other side and reincarnates."
"Only those with C-rank or higher combat strength can briefly linger, allowing a Demon Lord Seed to absorb them."
"And during this process, soul loss is significant."
If 100,000 people died, a Demon Lord Seed might absorb only 30–40% at best.
The rest would be drawn away by the reincarnation cycle, vanishing without a trace.
"So, to awaken as a True Demon Lord, Damien must face 100,000 souls wrapped in Star Soul Bodies and forcibly absorb them?"
"Yes."
Violet added, "Leaving aside whether this act would cause him mental distress, withstanding the impact of the Star Soul Bodies is a major issue."
Could Damien's ordinary human willpower endure the onslaught of so many Star Soul Bodies?
The Astral Body wasn't just anything... it was the emotions and memories accumulated through each soul's reincarnations.
Forcing through was possible for Damien.
But what would be the result?
With so many memories and emotions piled together, could Damien maintain his sense of self, or would he become someone else entirely?
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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