Once Rias and Sona called their siblings, the response from the other side was immediate: they were to return to the Underworld at once — and bring their entire Peerages. No delays, no excuses. The message had been sharp and crisp, clearly from people who understood trouble before it appeared.
They'd invited Lucian too, of course. Rias had even nudged him gently in that direction, but Lucian declined with a small shrug. The Underworld wasn't his favorite place — the last time he visited, he'd ended up in an awkward dinner with Sona's parents, stuck trying to explain why he'd suddenly appeared in their daughter's life. And besides, he had plans.
Not grand plans. Not world-shaking revelations.
Just something simple.
He wanted to learn more about Sacred Gears.
What exactly are they? How do they work? Could he study one? Break one apart? Copy one? Rip one out of someone if he had to? He wasn't opposed to killing — as long as the target deserved it — but killing a random Sacred Gear wielder seemed excessive. Injuring one, though… that was more flexible. Practical. Efficient.
The problem was finding one.
Thankfully, he had All-Seeing Seer. He didn't need to search actively. He just needed to exist. Eventually, a Sacred Gear would wander close enough, and he'd pounce.
Until then? He had time.
Lucian and Velzard were relaxing on a wide, quiet beach far from Japan, roasting corn over a crackling magical fire while watching lazy waves roll in. The heat didn't bother Velzard; the True Dragon of Frost somehow made even sunlight feel chilly around her.
"So," Lucian asked, leaning back on his elbows, "how do you usually pass the time? Y'know, when you're not freezing continents."
Velzard took a slow bite of corn before answering. "Everything. Watching mortals live. Wandering. Reading. Training. And when the world becomes too dull, I sleep for a decade or so. By the time I wake, the world has changed enough to entertain me again."
Lucian snorted. "Honestly? Sleeping for a decade sounds amazing. Imagine waking up with a hundred chapters waiting. No cliffhangers."
Velzard chuckled softly — a low, melodious sound. "You could do that, you know. You can travel between worlds. Wouldn't each of them have new stories for you?"
"Probably," Lucian admitted. "But I only got that ability recently. Haven't really tried going on a multiversal binge marathon."
"So you haven't stayed very long in any world."
"No. And I kinda like this one. Still new enough that I'm not bored yet. When I am? Sure, I'll hop around. Maybe visit a few for a day or two. Haven't decided."
Velzard tilted her head. "Could you send me to another world? Something peaceful, but strong enough to handle my presence. Unlike the last place."
Lucian thought for a moment, then nodded. There were many worlds she could visit, but only one he'd already scouted thoroughly — the Innkeeper Verse. It had dragons, cultivators, and places built to withstand people like her.
He teleported her right outside the Infinity Emporium, placing the same poison-antidote bottle he'd used last time into her hand — currency, essentially.
"If I die somewhere," Lucian warned lightly, "you'll be stuck here forever."
Velzard smiled warmly. "I don't mind. This world may not match my own in raw power, but it is vast. Billions of planets, countless realms. More than enough to keep me occupied."
With that, he left her — a True Dragon dropped casually into a new world — and slipped away with a lazy wave.
Since no one was in Kuoh Town anyway, he skipped it entirely and returned to Tempest.
The lively sounds of activity echoed from Rimuru's meeting room, so he headed there directly.
"Oh! Hey Lucian — you're back," Rimuru said brightly, waving him over.
Lucian flopped into an empty seat. "So what's the crisis?"
"War," Rimuru answered with a sigh. "Our scouts say the enemy army marches tomorrow morning. Estimates give us three days minimum, four at most before they hit Tempest."
Lucian nodded. "So what's the plan? Ambush? Meet them halfway?"
Benimaru leaned forward. "My suggestion is harassment. A large chunk of their troops are poorly trained conscripts. We lure in some wild beasts — that alone will destroy their morale."
Shojo, the former Ogre Chief, added his own idea. "Or hit their supply chain. Souei could lead a stealth unit. Cutting supplies means we control the pace."
Lucian shook his head. "No good. We're not trying to stall. We want a decisive victory. And high-level fighters can go days without food or water."
Rigurd puffed out his massive chest. "I say face them head-on! We Tempest citizens fear nothing. Kill or be killed!"
"Yeah, no, you're not joining," Rimuru deadpanned.
Lucian patted Rigurd's shoulder. "You handle the city. Leave the war to people who won't accidentally dislocate their spines swinging a sword."
Rigurd deflated, still enormous but sulking like a scolded child.
Lucian tapped the table thoughtfully. "How about this: Eve's been experimenting with monster hybrids. We unleash them at night. Harass the army. Meanwhile, I'll give them nightmares — lower the morale even further. Once they're shaken, we go in as an elite strike squad."
"But we won't be able to fight then.." thinking of Elite Squad as just Rimuru, Lucian and Eve.
"You're part of the elite team."
"I fully support this plan!" she declared instantly.
Lucian smiled faintly. "Thought so."
He turned to Rimuru. "But we still need pan B. What's our total military strength?"
Rimuru conjured a hologram showing numbers. "We've squeezed the city's forces in. Four thousand goblins — two hundred are C+ rank riders, the rest D-rank. For the orcs: one hundred eighty thousand at D+, fifteen thousand at C+, five thousand at B+. The ogres: four hundred fifty A-, fifty A-rank. And of course, our elites — like Benimaru and Geld."
Lucian nodded approvingly. "Strong enough. Okay, then… Rimuru, I need your help with Plan C. It's experimental. Might not even work. But if it does, it'll give us a major edge."
Rimuru blinked. "Experimental? How experimental?"
Lucian stood, smirking. "Let's find out."
Rimuru sighed dramatically. "Whenever you say stuff like that, something explodes."
"No promises."
He headed for the exit, motioning for Rimuru to follow.
"Come on," he said over his shoulder. "Let's go try something… interesting."
They stepped outside together — and the door swung shut behind them, the rest of Tempest unaware of the surprise awaiting them in the next chapter.
A/n: Man I've been busy these day, so expect delays.