Loosening Gears

Loosening Gears is the eighteenth chapter of the That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime manga adaptation.

Synopsis
When an Orc Lord is born, a skill in-born to all of his subordinates, Starved and those under that skill are able to obtain abilities of the things they eat in exchange for the feeling of forever starving.

Treyni asks Rimuru to stop the Orc Lord. Benimaru wonders why them as there are beings stronger than them and Treyni explains that if the ogre's village didn't fall, she may have come to them. If the orcs attack, the dryads don't have the strength to stop them, and that's why she is asking others for help. Treyni informs them that the Orc Lord is born. Rimuru asks for a few days to think as he wants to understand the situation and not cause meaningless death.

Rimuru continues with the meeting and the orc's goal. Upon confirming the Orc Lord existence, Shuna asks Souei if he found any bodies in their village and Souei declines, making everyone realize that the dead ogre's and orc's are used as food for the rest of the orcs. Treyni reveals that the orc's Starved skill, allows them to eat anything and is similar to Rimuru's Predator ability. The orc's goal isn't to destroy the ogre tribe and the lizardmen tribe, but to gain strength from eating them. As Rimuru's village has oni, hobgoblins and tempest wolves, the next orc target could be them. Treyni also reveals that the birth of the Orc Lord is due to a demon, who one day will eventually become a demon lord. Treyni asks him once again to suppress the Orc Lord, believing that with the storm dragon's blessing, oni and tempest wolves, he can defeat the Orc Lord. Rimuru accepts and decides to speak with the lizardmen and form an alliance. Souei wants to be the envoy and to come in contact with their leader. Rimuru agrees and after their form an alliance, the final battle will be held at the lizardmen's living marshes.

Gabiru awakens and explains that Gobta must have been the true leader of the village and they have been deceived. Gelmud then appears stating that he is Kleiman's messenger, the Gabiru's master, and wants to warn him. Gelmud informs Gabiru that the orcs are led by a Orc Lord and that the lizardmen's ruler is already at certain age which may be a burden. Gabiru then decides to head home.

Meanwhile, the lizardmen ruler receives news of an invader. Realizing the strength of the man, the ruler knows that even a hundred lizardmen won't stand a chance, so he invites him to talk. Souei then appears explaining that he is a messenger and is there to deliver his master's message.