The instant the teleportation completed, the air changed.
A dense wave of mana—thicker, older, wilder than anything from the human world—rolled over the group. The sky itself shimmered like molten emeralds, streaks of energy rippling across the horizon.
Those who had never been to the Cardinal World stood frozen, eyes wide. The Jura Forest stretched endlessly before them, an ocean of colossal trees, each trunk the size of a tower. Magicules danced like dust motes in sunlight, forming glowing threads that pulsed between roots and branches. The forest felt alive—breathing, watching.
Rias exhaled slowly. "It's… beautiful."
"Dense," Sona murmured, pushing her glasses up. "Even the air feels heavier."
Lucian chuckled. "Welcome to the wild side of creation."
He shifted then, his human frame expanding—bones stretching, muscles thickening. In seconds, he stood in his ogre form, nearly ten feet tall, skin marked with faint runic etchings that glowed beneath the forest light. His aura rolled outward like a living storm, distorting the air. The sheer pressure sent leaves scattering in a whirlwind.
Tsubaki leaned toward Sona and whispered something sly. Whatever it was, it made the composed Sitri heiress turn scarlet. She tried to glare, but the heat on her face betrayed her. Fortunately, before anyone noticed, a few goblins hurried toward them.
"Lord Lucian!" one shouted, bowing deeply. "You're finally here! Lady Rimuru has been asking for you!"
Lucian rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh… yeah, I should've guessed she'd be missing me. Lead the way."
The goblins guided them through the village—a surprisingly organized settlement now, with new huts, fences, and even a few handmade roads. The air buzzed with activity: goblins smithing, wolves hauling wood, children laughing. When they reached the central hut, the guards straightened and hurried inside. Moments later, one emerged.
"Lord Lucian, Lady Rimuru asks that you enter. Your companions' lodgings will be arranged."
Lucian stepped through the door—and froze.
Rimuru stood by a bed, holding a familiar white mask. The air around her was thick with melancholy. When her eyes lifted and met his, something fragile cracked.
"Lucian!" She leapt into his arms, voice trembling. "You're back… Sorry you had to see me like this."
He returned the embrace gently. "What happened?"
Rimuru explained—how she'd found Shizu, her dying body tormented by the fire elemental within. How, in her last lucid moment, Shizu had begged to be devoured, to end her suffering.
Lucian's expression hardened. "She's still alive?"
"Barely. Even inside me, I can't stop the corrosion. She'll die within hours." Rimuru's tone was resigned—quiet but broken.
Lucian placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Then let me try. I can't promise a miracle… but I might be able to tame that elemental before it consumes her completely."
Rimuru's eyes widened—a flicker of desperate hope.
---
They traveled to the cavern where Veldora had once been sealed. The air there was ancient, heavy with remnant divinity. The crystalline walls glowed faintly, humming with echoes of the past.
Lucian glanced around. "Good place. Quiet. Deep enough to hold what's about to happen."
Rimuru nodded and summoned Shizu's form—fragile, unconscious, her breathing shallow.
Lucian exhaled and stepped forward. "Time to wake the beast."
He let go of restraint. His Draconian form unfurled in a flash of radiance, scales of black and silver shimmering like starlit obsidian. The air warped under the pressure—a low hum filling the cavern as the ground cracked beneath his feet.
But it wasn't enough. He pushed further.
The transformation deepened, the draconic merging with something older—the essence of Typhon, of chaos itself. His wings unfurled, vast and jagged, veins glowing with molten blue. His roar shook the earth, sending ripples through the dimensional fabric itself.
Magicules howled through the cavern like a storm. Every monster within miles froze, bowing instinctively. Birds fled, beasts trembled, rivers quivered in submission.
Lucian raised his hand, and reality seemed to bend around it. "By my authority as the Lord of Monsters…"
His power flared, a spectral crown of flame and frost forming above him. With it came the echo of an ancient command—the primal decree of Typhon.
Abhoth: God of Monsters.
The cavern glowed like dawn. Rimuru shielded her eyes as the energy expanded outward, invisible yet tangible—an overwhelming gravity pressing on every living thing nearby.
Even Ifrit—the elemental bound to Shizu—faltered. For the first time, the raging spirit felt fear. Its flames dimmed under the weight of a greater power.
Lucian's voice resonated through both worlds, calm yet commanding. "Kneel."
The inferno within Shizu's body obeyed. The flames bent, swirling around her form like a loyal pet. Lucian channeled his vitality into her, weaving life through flame, merging her essence and the elemental's into fragile equilibrium.
When the light faded, Shizu's breathing steadied. Her skin, once charred with corruption, regained color.
"It's not a permanent solution," Lucian murmured, panting slightly. "But she'll live—ten years, maybe more. The problem's no longer the elemental, but her weakened vitality."
Rimuru looked up, eyes glistening. "You… you actually did it."
Lucian smiled faintly. "Wouldn't let you lose someone that easily."
---
The aftermath was a storm of quiet wonder.
Lucian's skill pulsed as new data flooded him—skills, instincts, fragments of memory.
Among them, five gleamed brighter than the rest:
[Degenerate], [Great Sage], [Predator], [Amplifier], and [Scholar's Edition].
They settled under Abhoth's dominion, resonating with his divine core. He could feel the potential thrumming in him—every thought sharper, every perception deeper.
"So this is what eating evolution feels like," he muttered.
Still, he restrained his command. He released the subjugation from the forest's creatures, allowing them to roam free while maintaining the faint connection of loyalty. For Rimuru, Shizu, and the devils, he went further—erasing even the subconscious pull of devotion. They weren't tools or subordinates.
They were his people.
His friends.
"Oh, her life force seems stable now," Rimuru said after checking with the Great Sage. "She'll wake up in a day or two."
Lucian nodded, brushing off a few remaining sparks from his claws. "Good. Let's head back."
On their way out, he asked, "So… can you transform now since you ate her?"
Rimuru puffed her cheeks. "Nope. I'd have to consume her to fully assimilate the form."
Lucian frowned. "Not a fan of that phrasing."
He thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. Abhoth's power pulsed, linking to Rimuru's soul.
"There. Try now."
Rimuru blinked. "You gave me skills?"
"Consider it a little gift from me for not coming to see you earlier."
Her form shimmered, melting into a human shape. When the glow faded, she looked almost exactly like Shizu—but softer, more ethereal, her features distinctly feminine… and a lot more blue.
"Whoa," Lucian said, blinking. "You look beautiful. Did you also get back your gender?"
Rimuru smiled shyly. "Kinda. I have… the parts again, but they're mostly aesthetic. Can't reproduce, but…" her cheeks flushed, "well, I can now, you know… do things."
Lucian grinned wickedly. "Wanna test that theory?"
A baseball bat materialized out of her stomach and cracked him on the head.
"Go to horny jail," she declared.
The bat shattered on impact. Lucian didn't even flinch. "…Worth a try."
Rimuru huffed, satisfied.
---
When they returned to the village, they found three adventurers conversing animatedly with Sona's peerage. The group froze at the sight of Rimuru's new form.
"Wait—Shizu?!" Ellen blurted, wide-eyed.
Rimuru quickly explained, showing them the real Shizu resting safely. Relief replaced suspicion, and gratitude followed soon after.
The adventurers decided to stay until Shizu recovered, their curiosity about devils and other worlds growing by the minute. Ellen's excitement bordered on obsession when Tsubasa accidentally mentioned dimensional travel.
"She's going to be insufferable for weeks," Kavel muttered under his breath.
---
The next two days passed in a blur of training and laughter.
The devils sparred daily, their magic clashing with the raw, primal energy of the forest. Stray monsters prowled the outskirts—perfect targets. Rias's team practiced formation tactics while Sona drilled precision control into her members.
Lucian stood like a sentinel above the clearing, his aura suppressing nearby threats. Occasionally, he offered guidance—or sarcastic commentary.
"Less flair, Rias," he called. "You're not auditioning for a fireworks show."
"Forgive me for having style!" Rias shot back, dodging a moth the size of a wagon.
Meanwhile, Sona calmly adjusted her glasses and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "Some people mistake arrogance for elegance."
Tsubaki stifled a laugh. Rias threw her a glare.
It was chaos, but it was good chaos.
Lucian's eyes gleamed as he watched them grow stronger. He could copy their skills, analyze them, and even enhance their techniques—but what truly fascinated him was their spirit. Devils, humans, reincarnators—all chasing strength in their own way.
They reminded him why he should train himself too.
---
A few days later, as he oversaw Rias's peerage battling a massive Gehenna Moth, Rimuru arrived with Shizu in tow. The moth released waves of toxic mist, twisting the air into shimmering illusions. Lucian subtly manipulated the battlefield, dispersing the worst of it without the girls realizing, so it stayed a challenge but didn't become deadly.
When the fight ended, Shizu approached him, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Lucian. Rimuru told me everything. You saved my life—gave me freedom. I'm… truly grateful."
Her eyes shone with unrestrained emotion.
{Shizu's Affection Score increased by +35}
{5× Multiplier Applied.}
{Total Increase: +175.}
{Current Score: 0 → 175.}
{Relationship Type: Stranger → Saviour.}
{Affection Threshold: Unknown → Deep Trust.}
Lucian smiled softly. "No need to thank me. We're both Otherworlders—it's only right to help each other."
Still, the sincerity in her gaze lingered. "If you ever need anything, please ask. I'll be staying here for a while to repay the kindness."
She kept her word. Within days, Shizu began teaching swordsmanship to both devils and goblins alike. Her movements were graceful yet precise, each swing measured perfection. The forest clearing echoed with the rhythm of clashing wood and laughter.
Even Rimuru and Lucian joined her sessions. Though their sheer power made them win most fights, it was still good training.
"Stop trying to just win. Try to win without wasting any energy, including any movement," Shizu groaned as she corrected Lucian's stance.
Lucian scratched his head. "In my defense, I've never trained before."
"Maybe next time just lose. You'll learn faster," Rimuru teased.
He threw her a look. "Careful, or I'll throw hordes of monsters at you."
Rimuru smirked. "I'll devour them all."
The banter carried on, light and genuine. For the first time in what felt like ages, Lucian let himself relax—surrounded by allies, laughter, and peace.
A/n: I got a suggestion which I really liked, but it might make things a bit more complicated so I wanted to ask you guys for opinion. Should I give him the Essence of Gacha?