So there I was, bouncing through a cave like a glowing jellybean on caffeine, chasing the densest pocket of magicules I'd ever sensed. The deeper I went, the thicker the air got.
If I'd had lungs, I'd probably be choking. But being a slime had its perks — I was basically one big oxygen tank.
'Sage, are you sure this is safe? The magicule density's insane here.'
> ["Affirmative, Master. The concentration is equivalent to a Class-S Catastrophic Zone. Sustained exposure would disintegrate most living organisms."]
'...Comforting. Real comforting.'
Still, something in me was buzzing. My magic sense was practically screaming that something big — no, something massive — was up ahead.
I squished around a final rocky corner and—
There it was.
A colossal dragon.
Four wings folded like blades of black glass, scales shimmering with storms trapped beneath their surface. Even sealed, the air around him rippled and hissed like reality itself was struggling to hold him. His eyes glowed with molten gold, ancient and furious.
'Holy crap. He's... he's so cool and manly!'
If I still had a jaw, it would've been hanging open.
> ["Caution advised. Subject identified: Storm Dragon Veldora. Existence Value—immeasurable."]
'Yeah, no kidding, Sage. He's basically a natural disaster with wings.'
The dragon's eyes twitched. He tilted his head slightly, his deep voice rumbling like thunder.
"...Hm? What is this? A slime? How curious."
'Oh boy, he's talking to me! Keep it together. Don't panic, don't panic—'
I squished forward nervously. "Um, h-hello there!"
He blinked once. Then twice. "A slime? Speaking to me?"
His tail flicked, whipping up a gale strong enough to rattle the cavern walls. "How amusing! For one such as you to even survive here... You must be no ordinary slime."
'Damn right I'm not! I'm an isekai protagonist!'
But I kept that one inside.
Instead, I said, "Yeah, I'm a bit special, I guess. Name's... well, actually, I don't have one yet. You can just call me 'Slime' for now."
The dragon chuckled, the sound deep enough to vibrate through my gel. "A slime with humility. How quaint. Tell me, little one—what brings you to my domain?"
"Well," I began, trying to sound casual despite talking to something that could probably sneeze me into another dimension, "funny story. I was actually a human once. Got hit by a truck, died, and now... ta-da! Slime."
Veldora blinked. "...Truck? Died? Reincarnated?"
His brow ridge furrowed. "This is the first time I have heard of such absurdity."
"Yeah, it's an Earth thing," I said quickly. "We have these big metal beasts that move faster than common sense. They're basically monsters on wheels."
He snorted, a tiny arc of lightning sparking from his nostrils. "Hmph! Humans creating monsters... that does sound like them."
Then, with an oddly proud tilt of his head, he added, "Still, to think one could be reborn as a slime. Truly, the world is filled with mysteries."
I grinned mentally. 'He's not mocking me, right? Please tell me he's not mocking me.'
> ["Analysis: tone indicates mild amusement, not hostility."]
'Good enough for me.'
"So anyway," I said, trying to sound friendly, "since we're both kind of, uh, stuck here, why don't we be friends?"
Veldora blinked. Then, to my horror, burst into thunderous laughter.
"Friends? With me? Hah! You must be mad, slime! I am the Storm Dragon Veldora — feared by all! Worshipped by none! My mere presence turns forests to dust!"
'...Okay, bit dramatic there, big guy.'
"Sure, sure," I said quickly, "but, uh, you are sealed, right? So maybe a friend wouldn't hurt?"
He waved his tail dismissively. "Hmph! As if I require companionship!"
'Wow, and here we have it folks, the mythical tsundere dragon.'
I sighed and started turning away. "All right, all right, sorry for disturbing you then. I'll go—"
"W-Wait!"
I stopped. The mighty dragon's voice suddenly sounded... flustered?
He coughed, lightning crackling faintly in embarrassment. "...Ahem. I suppose it would not be entirely disagreeable to have someone to talk to after two centuries of solitude."
'Two centuries? Wait—did he just say two hundred years?'
I'd read enough lore in my old life to know Veldora was supposed to be sealed for three hundred years. Something was off here, but I kept my mouth shut. Best not to question a dragon the size of a small city.
"Yeah, that sounds great!" I said instead. "Friends it is, then!"
His tail gave a pleased flick, and his tone softened ever so slightly. "Very well. I, the mighty Veldora, shall acknowledge you as my equal! Ahem—well, perhaps almost equal."
'Yeah, definitely tsundere.'
…
We chatted for a while — well, mostly I chatted. Veldora seemed to enjoy having someone to talk to after being sealed so long. He eventually told me his story: how he'd fought the Hero, their battle shaking the very skies, how she had sealed him using the Unique Skill "Infinite Imprisonment."
"And then," Veldora said dramatically, "that treacherous woman distracted me with her beauty! I was not deceived, of course — I was merely... caught off guard!"
'...Totally deceived,' I thought, trying not to laugh.
He continued, his voice dropping low with grudging admiration. "She was strong. Stronger than any foe I've faced. Her skill sealed not only my body, but even my power of thought beyond this barrier."
'Wait... then how is he talking to me?'
> ["Answer: the barrier has weakened over time. Communication possible via magicule resonance."]
'Got it. Don't interrupt the dragon's monologue.'
Veldora sighed deeply, his golden eyes softening. "And so I have been imprisoned here for... two hundred years."
'Two hundred, huh... That's strange. But maybe time flows differently here?'
"Hey, Veldora," I said after a pause. "You've been alone all that time, huh? That must've sucked."
He glanced at me, surprised. "Hmph. It was... dull, yes. Endless silence. But I endured! For I am mighty!"
'Oh yeah, big softie confirmed.'
"Well," I said slowly, "how about I let you out?"
The cavern went completely still.
The dragon stared at me. "...You what?"
"I said," I repeated, "how about I release you?"
"You... dare?"
'Dare? Bro, I literally just suggested it!'
"I mean," I continued, "I can't just leave my friend stuck in a magic prison for eternity, can I?"
His eyes widened. "You... would call me your friend?"
"Well, yeah," I said. "We just established that like, five minutes ago."
Veldora froze for a long moment. Then, unbelievably, his voice softened. "...You are an odd one, little slime."
> ["Emotional fluctuation detected in Subject Veldora. Probability of developing attachment: 87%."]
'Heh, even dragons get lonely, huh?'
He lowered his head slightly. "Still, your kindness is... appreciated. But it is impossible. The Hero's Unique Skill, Infinite Imprisonment, binds even my soul. I cannot so much as unravel it from within."
"Then we'll do it together," I said firmly. "I'll take you inside my body with my Unique Skill Predator. You can analyze the barrier from the inside, while I analyze it from the outside. Maybe between the two of us, we can break it."
Veldora blinked. "You would... swallow me?"
"Uh, yeah, kind of. Don't worry, I promise not to chew."
The dragon actually laughed at that — a deep, rumbling laugh that echoed like thunder through the cave. "You are absurd! But... very well. I shall trust you, friend. However—before we proceed, it is customary for companions to share a name."
"A name?"
He nodded sagely. "Indeed. You shall bear my family name. Tell me, what name would you choose?"
I thought about it for a moment. Then it hit me. "Tempest."
"Tempest..." He rolled the word around in his thunderous voice. "Veldora Tempest. Yes, that has a fine ring to it."
He looked down at me with gleaming eyes. "Then, in return, I shall name you... Frieren Tempest!"
'Frieren?! Wait—what?! That's not Rimuru!'
Before I could even protest, the air around us thickened. Magicules swirled violently, compressing into a vortex of raw energy.
> ["Warning. Magicule density rising. Naming process initiated."]
'Wait, Sage! What's going on?! Why Frieren?! I didn't agree to—'
> ["Cannot interrupt naming sequence. Please endure."]
My vision flared white as the power of the name surged through my core. Every cell in my body screamed, expanding, evolving.
'Oh god, this feels like swallowing the sun!'
> ["Stabilizing. Evolution sequence commencing…"]
And then—everything went dark.
…
AN: You can read 20+ advanced chapters and advanced chapters of all my other fanfictions on my p@treon AnimefanfictionIND at just 7$.