Dragon-Monster Clash/Summary

Celebration and Evolution
Previously, Raphael discovered that it can use Rimuru's ultimate skill Beelzebuth to convert human Souls into pure energy which can then be used to make qualified individuals evolve into beings equivalent to True Demon Lords. The cost for Rimuru to evolve someone this way is 100,000 human souls, and Rimuru has hundreds of thousands of human souls collected during the Empire's invasion. To his pleasant surprise, many of the souls he collected, such as those of Enlightened or particularly strong individuals, had much more energy than normal and he had the equivalent of just over a million human souls - giving him the ability to evolve up to 10 of his subordinates.

The qualification for that evolution is a strong soul connection to Rimuru and the capacity for a Demon Lord Seed. Qualified candidates included Ranga, Benimaru, Shion, Gabiru, Geld, Diablo, Testarossa, Ultima, Carrera, Kumara, Zegion, and Adalman. Rimuru held a victory celebration in which he recognized those who worked towards their victory, and evolved Ranga, Benimaru, Shion, Gabiru, Diablo, Kumara, Zegion, and Adalman to True Demon Lords as a reward for their efforts. He granted each the title of "Lord" which he intends to signify permanent positions in his government held by senior staff who have long or immortal life spans. Rimuru officially accepts the Three Devil Girls into his inner circle and grants them such titles, but did not choose to evolve them. These evolved and recognized individuals would be known as the Twelve Guardian Lords.

The evolution of Benimaru had an interesting snag - his evolution, to a Divine Oni, would leave him unable to bear children. Momiji and Albis took this opportunity to once again propose to Benimaru, but this time they worked together with the intention of having him marry both of them. Tempest has a law against polygamy and allows it only for widows, but Albis got around this limitation by marrying Phobio then killing him in the Dungeon - although he resurrected, the legal administrators agreed to consider her a widow and thus able to be Benimaru's second wife. Benimaru agreed to marry both of them, and would complete his evolution once they were pregnant. His team would not gain additional power until his evolution was complete.

Shion's situation was also unusual - she did not appear to gain any additional power. However, her subordinates all appeared to gain power and abilities. Yomigaeri in particular improved their resurrection to the point that it rivalled those of the daemons.

Adalmann's evolution, along with Rimuru bestowing it a name, caused his Death Dragon to evolve, giving her the ability to transform into a human and speak. Although his swordsman companion Albert did not evolve, Rimuru granted him God-class weapons and armor which they acquired as spoils of war - the armor accepted him immediately.

Rimuru reveals the important fact that even resurrecting individuals such as himself, the daemons, Yomigaeri, and those in the dungeon can be permanently killed by legend and God-class weapons if they destroy their core.

Gabiru's evolution granted him and his Dragonewt elites additional Dragon Body strength and abilities, and the other Lizardmen became dragonewts.

In addition to his evolution, Geld received Legend-class armor acquired as spoils of war. Given his high base defense, Rimuru expects this armor to behave more like God-class armor when worn by Geld.

Diablo's evolution completed immediately, and during the process he intentionally acquired an undisclosed Ultimate Skill. His servant Venom evolved to a Daemon Lord, and the army of daemons beneath him increased in power as well.

Kumara's evolution was unique because of her relationship with her tailed beasts. Their unique relationship allows her to gain whatever power they have for herself. They also evolved during her evolution, which further contributed to increasing her power. It is also revealed that she had previously tricked Rimuru into naming them, which similarly increased her own power.

While she was not a candidate for this process, Apito requested the souls of her insect followers who died during the invasion be granted to her. This invokes a similar evolution in her.

Ranga, Geld, and Adalman fell asleep for the evolution process like Rimuru did when he became a Demon Lord. Similarly, Zegion and Apito formed cocoons in their respective dungeon floors where they remained during their evolution. The others recovered immediately.

This evolution was immediately reported to Milim's group and Gazel Dwargo.

Rimuru also names Ramiris' Dragon Lords as a reward for their efforts and the huge role the dungeon played in Tempest's victory and safety. Though their race didn't change, the dragons acquired increased intelligence and the ability to take humanoid forms.

Benimaru later succeeds in his relationships with Momji and Albis and completes his evolution to Divine Oni. This evolution also causes Souei to evolve, as well as the soldiers and agents under their command.

Captured Soldiers and Empire Revelations
The captured Imperial soldiers provided revelations that completely changed Rimuru's view of the Empire and the war. Bernie, the single digit that had infiltrated Masayuki's group and was defeated in a failed assassination attempt against Rimuru, had information about the invasion that few knew - the Empire intended for the force they sent to attack the Jura Forest to be completely defeated and massacred all along, though they thought Veldora would be the one to do it. They expected a few of the soldiers to awaken as Saints during the process, and Bernie's intended role was to collect those who awakened and help them escape back to the Empire. In this world where the quality of fighters is much more important than quantity, the Emperor considers the sacrifice of even a million human soldiers worth awakening even one Saint. This plan was thwarted, however, when Bernie and all those who had awakened, such as Calgurio, were killed by Rimuru's force.

This new perspective on the Empire reveals a predicament for the defeated force. The Emperor's process of sacrificing soldiers to create Saints requires a militaristic society. Since news of their utter devastation at the hands of Rimuru's forces along with Rimuru's exceptional mercy would likely cause a peace movement among the Imperial populous, the Emperor and Imperial Information Bureau (IIB) would likely have any returning soldiers killed to hide the information and blame Rimuru for the deaths. The captured imperials ask for Rimuru to provide them asylum until the end of the war, and he reluctantly agrees so long as they work hard to earn their living. It's also clear that many, if not most, of the captured imperial soldiers worship Rimuru as a god, likely due to his resurrecting them after they died. While not explicitly stated, we can expect this to grant Rimuru additional power with the skills of Faith and Favor he learned from Luminous since that power is increased by worshippers.

Guy's Visit
They are then visited by demon lord Guy Crimson, and the full details of his competition with Emperor Rudra is revealed to Rimuru. Guy and Rudra fought many times in the past and a victor was never decided, so they agreed to fight using only their "pawns" (individuals who have sided with them) instead of fighting each other directly. Guy has maintained a delicate balance of power until now, which Rimuru has recently disturbed. Guy wants Rimuru to cause problems for Rudra, and Rimuru was already planning to do so anyway. Rimuru thinks that he will get the best peace terms from the Empire if he shows that his force is strong enough to damage them, and decides to travel with an elite force to attack the Empire.

Guy also saw that Rimuru had evolved many of his followers to a similar status to True Demon Lords, and wants the same for the two primordial daemons (Rain and Misery) who serve him. Raphael reveals that it was not possible for Guy to evolve them himself because he named them - named individuals are changed to the point that they can no longer naturally evolve to True Demon Lords by consuming souls. However, Rimuru is able to use his process to evolve them, but requests that Guy provide the souls. Raphael estimates that it will require 500,000 souls to evolve the daemons, and Guy provides the souls right away. Diablo draws Guy away, and Rimuru evolves the two primal daemons for him. It required only 200,000 souls - Raphael tricked Rimuru, and therefore Guy as well, by including evolving Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera in its 500,000 soul estimate. Guy seems to notice the discrepancy, but didn't say anything. Rimuru thus has an additional 300,000 souls which he can use to evolve three more of his subordinates to True Demon Lords. He has enough souls to awaken all Three Devil Girls serving him, but does not do so.

Elmesia's Visit and Economic Side-story
Rimuru, Elmesia, and Mjöllmile have been up to a bit of mischief in the Western economy. Rimuru, Elmesia, and Gazel have an agreement to create an economic block among their three nations which they expect to subsequently dominate the Western economy through trade through Blumund. However, Rimuru, Elmesia, and Mjollmile have been involved in some more direct manipulation. In the public view they have formed two competing trade organizations intended to be the dominant actors in the economy with Rimuru as majority shareholder. Meanwhile, they have also formed underground black market/crime organizations to fill the role previously held by the Rosso family. They gain the cooperation of a surviving member of the Rosso family to participate, so all the activity previously associated with the Rosso family is now united under these new organizations - which are secretly controlled by Rimuru, Elmesia, and Mjollmile. They intend to allow the illegal activities to continue, in fact they intentionally provide the poor with paying roles in the organization. They do, however, intend to use them to collect information and make arrests for particularly dangerous or egregious behavior.

Elmesia visits Rimuru, and he assumes her visit is related to these schemes. However, she actually came because Gazel told her that Rimuru evolved some of his subordinates to True Demon Lords and wants to scold him and discover what ulterior motives he has for increasing his power so much. Rimuru fills her in on what he learned about the Eastern Empire and that there are powerful individuals there that rival even Demon Lord Guy. She seems satisfied with this response and understands why Rimuru is working to increase his nation's power, but she warns him that his people have gotten so strong that they could destroy the world - he better not get himself killed, the consequences would be dire for everyone else.

Yuuki's Empire Rebellion
In the Empire, Misha is discovered by Imperial Information Bureau (IIB) leader Kondou and killed by him. It is revealed that Damrada set her up.

Meanwhile, Yuuki, the Moderate Harlequin Alliance minus Laplace (who is away on a mission to Tempest), and various rebels meet at Yuuki's mansion to plan their overthrow of the emperor. Their meeting is interrupted when Damrada enters, apparently betraying the group. Yuuki and Kagali realize that he is being controlled by someone. Yuuki fights Damrada, working towards freeing him of the mind domination that is controlling him, while Kagali and the others flee.

Kagali and her group are surrounded by IIB agents and confronted by Kondou. Kondou reveals that he had used mind domination to manipulate Clayman, which eventually lead to his death. Kagali, Tear, and Footman go into a rage as Clayman was their dear friend, and this unstable mental state gives Kondou the opportunity to use his mind domination skill to take control of Kagali. He shoots a special bullet at Kagali which gives him mental domination over her. Tear, Footman, and the various Otherworlders on their side all have locking curses on them which force them to follow Kagali's orders. Kondou, using his mind domination, orders Kagali to use her control to make everyone on her side surrender and she complies. Those not under the curse are hopelessly outmatched and forced to surrender as well.

Having gained all the details about Yuuki and his rebellion from Kagali, the Emperor Rudra and the Scorch Dragon Velgrynd visit Yuuki personally. The Emperor uses the mind domination ability of his Ultimate Skill Michael, Lord of Justice on Yuuki, and although Yuuki attempts to use his Ultimate Skill Mammon to resist it he eventually falls to the floor. Rudra leaves, satisfied that he succeeded in taking control of Yuuki.

The Battle
The Composite Division, a force of imperial soldiers loyal to Yuuki who had been camped outside of Dwargon, is attacked by the Scorch Dragon Velgrynd. They are hopelessly outmatched, fall victim to her Gravity Magic, and slaughtered. Kagali is then seen using the corpses to create undead. Laplace, currently with Rimuru as his contact with Yuuki's camp, reveals various details about the undead powers Kagali is using. Kagali used this magic to create the Moderate Jesters - Tear and Footman were powerful but not mature enough to control their powers, but with additional experience Kagali developed the highly intelligent Clayman and perfected the process with Laplace who was their most powerful creation. With the corpses she has available from the massacre of the Composite Division, Kagali can make six undead as powerful as Laplace. Unlike the others, Laplace is not under a locking curse and cannot be manipulated by Kagali.

Rimuru decides the best course of action is for his elite group to attack the Empire immediately, which he hopes will draw Velgrynd back to Empire to deal with them. The Three Devil Girls and Gabiru's team fight Velgrynd and the Empire's force to buy time, but they do not expect to defeat her. Rimuru along with the elites that are awake - Diablo, Shion, Benimaru, Souei, and Laplace use Laplace's transportation magic to travel to Yuuki's mansion. However, Laplace's magic is interfered with and they are transported to one of the Empire's palaces instead.

Rimuru and his group are surrounded, Yuuki appears and Laplace appears to have betrayed Rimuru. However, Rimuru realizes that this is a trick intended to make them turn on Laplace and kill him - and they don't fall for it. The Emperor Rudra and Velgrynd come before them and propose Rimuru join their side against Guy, offering to make him an Arch Duke of the Empire - an offer which Velgrynd considers exceptionally generous. Of course, Rimuru will not serve the Emperor. The Emperor intends to be a dictator, which contradicts Rimuru's philosophy of providing people with free will. He also seems to treat his subjects as disposable, and serving others isn't Rimuru's style anyway.

Rudra reveals that Tempest's situation is much more dire than Rimuru expected. Rudra has an ability like Rimuru's Argos that allows him to see far away places, and he shows Rimuru what is happening in Tempest at that moment. Although Velgrynd is there in the room with them, she has the skill Parallel Existence which allows her to make perfect replicas of herself. There are also a Velgrynd copies fighting in Tempest. The Three Devil Girls lay defeated, while Rimuru's other forces and Dwargon face an imperial army arriving by airship. Velgrynd successfully attacks the dungeon, causing damage all the way down to the 50th floor, and through their Soul Corridor Veldora tells Rimuru that he will have to go out and fight her, otherwise she will come into the dungeon and cause devastation there. With Zegion still in his cocoon and no others strong enough to fight with him, Veldora goes out alone to fight Velgrynd.

Although Velgrynd is much more skilled than Veldora and has defeated him every time before, Veldora has more Magicules and has grown a lot since meeting Rimuru. His analytical skill Investigation King Faust has evolved into an Ultimate Skill, and he uses it to analyze and anticipate her movements then takes the necessary countermeasures.

An airship from the Flying Combat Corps then arrives to the battle and Kondou and Rudra emerge from it. The Rudra in the room with Rimuru is revealed to also be a copy created with Velgrynd's skill Parallel Existence. Kondou shoots Veldora with a special bullet which causes Veldora to writhe in pain. Emperor Rudra then uses his Ultimate Skill Michael, Lord of Justice to take control of Veldora. Raphael informs Rimuru that his connection to Veldora has been compromised and all the skills derived from the Ultimate Skill Veldora, Lord of the Storm are no longer available. The Emperor reveals that Rimuru and his party are trapped in a Dream Fortress, an isolated space created by Velgrynd, and cannot escape. The offer for Rimuru to serve him is still on the table, and he will return later for Rimuru's final answer.

Rimuru is enraged. The feeling of having Veldora taken from him is indescribable. He unlocks all the restrictions he had placed on himself and releases the full power that has been suppressed all this time. The Empire has brought the full wrath of Rimuru and Tempest, and they'll only have themselves to blame for the devastation they've unleashed.

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