The cave was quiet — too quiet.
If I didn't have Great Sage mapping every inch of the place, I might've believed we were inside a tomb.
Mana flowed through the walls like glowing rivers, humming faintly in the air.
It was heavy, almost suffocating.
"Whoa," Rimuru said beside me, his slime body wobbling with excitement. "This place is crazy! It's like a fantasy dungeon straight out of an RPG!"
I chuckled softly. "You're way too happy for someone who just got turned into jelly."
"Hey, you're jelly too!" he shot back.
Fair point. I wobbled a little in mock offense, earning a laugh from him.
Despite everything, it felt natural — like we'd known each other for years.
Still, I stayed alert.
Something huge was pulsing ahead, radiating pressure strong enough to bend mana itself.
> "Notice: An enormous magicule presence has been detected."
"Yeah, I feel it too," I whispered. "Stay behind me."
"Behind you? You think you're the big brother or something?"
I smirked. "Well, I did wake up first."
"Unfair," he grumbled — then froze. "Wait… what is that!?"
---
The Dragon in the Cage
There it was.
A mountain-sized creature lay coiled in the center of the cavern, surrounded by a shimmering sphere of light.
Four wings folded like iron blades, black scales glistening in the glow.
> "Hoh? Visitors?"
The voice was deep, ancient — it rumbled through the cave and right through my core.
Rimuru trembled beside me. "A talking… dragon!?"
The massive eyes opened, crackling with lightning.
> "You are no humans. Slimes, yet unafraid?"
I swallowed the nervous energy and managed a respectful tone. "We didn't mean to intrude. The magicules here drew us."
The dragon studied me, and for a terrifying second I thought he'd see right through me — the knowledge I was hiding, the power of my skill.
But he just laughed.
> "Kuhahaha! You amuse me, little slimes! I am the Storm Dragon — Veldora Tempest!"
Rimuru nearly jumped out of his slime body. "V-Veldora!? The one who destroyed a whole city!?"
> "Hmph. That was… long ago," Veldora grumbled. "And besides, they attacked me first!"
I tilted slightly. "So you've been sealed here since then?"
The dragon looked surprised for a moment. "You know of my seal?"
I shrugged. "Just a guess. This place feels… lonely."
> "Hoh… sharp one."
He seemed amused, and that was good. An amused dragon was better than an angry one.
---
The Offer
Rimuru relaxed a little. "You've been here for centuries, right? That's… rough."
> "Indeed! None dare approach me! I have not spoken to anyone in three hundred years!"
His voice cracked like thunder.
Rimuru thought for a moment, then said something I already suspected he would.
"What if we find a way to free you?"
I turned toward him, pretending to be surprised. "You sure that's smart, brother? He could level the continent."
> "Hah! You think I would destroy my saviors?"
"Maybe not intentionally," I said lightly, earning a snort of laughter from Veldora.
Rimuru puffed up. "I'll do it anyway! You seem lonely."
I sighed, half exasperated, half impressed. "You're insane. Fine, I'm in."
> "Hoh? Both of you? Interesting…"
Veldora's gaze burned with curiosity.
"Then, what is your plan, little slimes?"
Rimuru explained his idea — using his ability to store Veldora within himself for later release.
The dragon listened, then grinned toothily.
> "Kuhahaha! Very well! You are bold! I accept your proposal, little Rimuru!"
He turned his gaze to me. "And you, the cautious one. What is your name?"
"Tsuki," I said. "I'll stand as witness to his pact. You have my word — we'll find a way to break that seal."
> "Hoh… you have spirit! Very well, Tsuki. I shall grant you my name as well. From this day forth, you shall be Tsuki Tempest!"
Light flooded through me, raw and wild.
> "Name received. Magicule capacity increasing."
"Damn," I muttered. "That stings."
> "Kuhahaha! Get used to it, little Tempest!"
---
Predator and Copy
Rimuru activated his Predator skill, his body glowing as Veldora's enormous form began dissolving into streams of light.
"Tsuki!" Rimuru called, panicking. "This is working, right!?"
"Don't lose focus!" I said firmly, anchoring his flow of mana with mine.
At the same time, I extended a tendril of energy — invisible, harmless — linking to the barrier as it collapsed.
> "Unique Skill "Copy" activated. Target: Unlimited Imprisonment"
"Replication success — 76% structure acquired."
My core burned, but I smiled. "Good enough."
Moments later, the light faded.
The dragon was gone.
The cave, silent.
---
Aftermath
Rimuru bounced excitedly. "We did it! I actually absorbed a dragon! I can't believe that worked!"
"Yeah," I said, catching my breath. "Remind me never to let you 'experiment' without warning me again."
He laughed. "Come on, admit it — that was awesome."
"Not the word I'd use," I said dryly. "But yeah… pretty damn cool."
We shared a quiet laugh, the tension fading.
Then my tone hardened slightly. "Still, we should get moving. There might be monsters drawn here after all that energy."
Rimuru blinked. "You think they'll attack us?"
I looked at him — my voice calm but sharp. "If they do, I'll kill them."
He stared for a moment, surprised by the coldness in my tone. Then he grinned. "Guess we make a good team."
I smiled back. "Guess we do."
---
As we headed deeper into the cave's glowing tunnels, Great Sage whispered inside my mind.
> "Analysis of copied skill incomplete. Partial structure of Unlimited Imprisonment stored."
"Good," I murmured inwardly. "Keep it that way for now. No one needs to know."
Rimuru hummed beside me, bouncing happily through the darkness.
He was curious, kind, reckless — the heart of light.
I was calm, guarded, dangerous — the shadow to his sun.
Together, we'd survive this world.
And anyone who stood in our way… would regret it.