"Even if he remains himself, what's the point of growing stronger if his personality changes drastically?"
Because she knew Damien so well, Violet was certain of his character.
He would never take the risk of facing 100,000 Star Soul Bodies.
"Then what should we do?"
The Snow Empress, unfamiliar with these matters, could only turn to Violet for answers.
If it were her instead of Damien, a mere 100,000 Star Soul Bodies wouldn't shake her resolve.
With 700,000 years of an ice-clear mind, the Snow Empress's willpower was beyond what the Cardinal World's Demon Lord Seeds could fathom.
However, due to the Familiar contract, she couldn't become a True Demon Lord before Damien.
"No."
Violet shook her head. "Damien will definitely awaken; it's just a matter of time."
Leaving aside the fact that Damien possessed remnants of the Star Dragon King's authority, the mere existence of Gate of the Void gave him limitless growth potential.
"You mean traveling to other worlds can make Damien stronger?"
"Not just in strength, but in willpower too."
Violet spoke frankly. "In fact, each time we acquire the rules of a new world, it strengthens us further."
Those Unique Skills were the best proof.
"Unique Skills are manifestations of soul power."
"As long as Damien has enough Unique Skills, they'll form an impregnable wall around his soul."
With such a defensive barrier, Damien could withstand the onslaught of 100,000 Star Soul Bodies, preserving his identity and completing his awakening as a True Demon Lord.
"How many worlds would he need to visit?"
"I don't know."
Violet said, "If we're lucky and encounter a powerful world, one might be enough."
It depended on the world's quality.
Worlds with entirely new rules and power systems would provide the greatest benefit to building Damien's willpower barrier.
"Let's head back to the village for now."
Violet glanced at the distant forest.
The presence there couldn't escape her senses.
However, she had no intention of clashing with the Moderate Harlequin Alliance.
It wasn't that they couldn't win, but it was unnecessary.
With their current reserve of 3 million magicules, Damien could hold his own even against an awakened True Demon Lord.
The top Demon Lords aside, the Moderate Harlequin Alliance and their backer, Yuuki Kagurazaka, no longer posed a threat.
With Violet's assistance, Damien could use Stardust Manipulation to enter dragon form.
His strength would reach an extraordinary level.
"I'll maintain the spatial passage."
The Snow Empress felt her role overlapping with Violet's, sparking a sense of crisis.
So, she stepped forward, opening a spatial rift.
"Transporting so many at once... can you handle it?"
Violet looked at the Snow Empress, who didn't respond, instead silently tearing open a spatial crack.
On the other side was the Kijin village.
"Fine."
Violet genuinely had no desire to compete with the Snow Empress for the title of Damien's strongest ally.
Her place was as the woman behind Damien.
Watching him grow stronger was enough to satisfy her.
"Everyone, line up and don't scatter."
"That's the village where we'll live from now on."
"Once there, don't wander. Wait patiently for the Ogre to assign housing."
For this day, the Ogre had undertaken massive construction, expanding the village several times over with countless new houses and facilities.
There was no need to worry about the new wolves and goblins lacking homes.
While the Ogre's engineering and forging skills weren't on par with the dwarves, they were leagues ahead of the primitive goblins.
The wolves and goblins cooperated well, quickly adapting to their new lives.
"Ugh…"
Damien didn't know how much time had passed.
When he opened his eyes, he was met with Ogerpon's adorable face.
"You're finally awake!!"
Seeing Damien stir, Ogerpon instinctively threw herself into his arms, her starry eyes brimming with tears. "Thank goodness!"
"Sorry for worrying you."
Damien didn't feel the weakness typical of waking from a faint.
On the contrary, he felt exceptional, almost too good.
"This feeling of overflowing power... even without checking my status, I know how much stronger I've become."
Damien mused, "The current me could probably one-shot the old me."
Opening his status panel and seeing the 999,999 magicule count, he nodded to himself. As expected.
For Damien, magicules weren't just energy.
The special skill Magicule Solidification allowed his physical attributes to scale with his magicule count, automatically boosting his base stats.
"Master!"
"My lord, you're awake?"
"Thank goodness."
As the commotion in the room spread, Damien's Familiars rushed in.
Shion was the most excited.
Without regard for propriety, she threw herself at Damien, enveloping him in an overwhelming embrace.
What could Damien say? It was both painful and blissful.
"Ahem, let go for now, Shion."
With no other choice, Damien gently pushed Shion away, his gaze sweeping over the group.
The Ice Empress and Snow Empress stood calmly by his bedside, as usual.
Benimaru and Souei were out on missions, so they weren't present.
"And you are?"
A few unfamiliar faces caught Damien off guard.
"My lord, it's me, Rigurd!"
Rigurd, the former elderly goblin village chief.
Unlike his previous frail, wind-swept appearance, after Damien's naming, Rigurd had evolved from an E-rank goblin to a C+ rank hobgoblin.
His towering, muscular frame, over two meters tall, blocked the light streaming through the window like a wall.
"Whoa, that's quite a transformation."
Damien recalled the original story, where Rimuru's naming had similarly transformed Rigurd.
Next to Rigurd were two green-skinned youths... his sons, Rirud and Rigud.
"Thanks to your grace, these old bones feel young again."
Rigurd struck a few bodybuilding poses, his chiseled muscles sharply defined.
'Young again? This is a whole new species.'
Damien didn't know how to react. 'Whatever, as long as he evolved, it's fine.'
***
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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