Recap:
Joshua and Rimuru, newly reincarnated as slimes with no memories of their former lives, were born within a pocket dimension sealed alongside the mighty Storm Dragon, Veldora Tempest. Veldora, recognizing them as extraordinary beings, took them under his wing. He trained them in the control of their slime forms, magicule manipulation, and unique skills: Rimuru with his Predator ability and sharp adaptability, and Joshua with his unstable but immensely powerful angelic-demonic hybrid core. Through months of training, laughter, explosions, and bonding, they began to forge identities of their own. When the System declared their development complete, it began the process of transferring them to the physical world, where their true journey would begin.
---
As light exploded around them, Joshua's consciousness spiraled through an endless tunnel of stars and color. It wasn't painful—more like being swept along by a gentle but unstoppable current. The voice of the System echoed once more in his mind:
> **Transferring Host: Complete**
> **World: Jura Forest, Sector 14**
> **Environmental Risk: Moderate**
His body reformed—not in the pocket dimension where he had learned to mold his form and bend magic, but in a wild, damp cavern filled with the rich smell of moss and the soft dripping of water. He felt his core stabilize as he hovered above a soft patch of earth.
Moments later, another pulse of energy flared nearby. Rimuru's familiar blue form materialized a few feet away, bouncing once before he stilled.
"Ugh… that was disorienting," Rimuru muttered. "System, you need to work on the landing experience."
Joshua pulsed with amusement. "We're finally here. This is the real world."
They both took a moment to adjust. The cavern around them was dim, but not threatening. Luminescent mushrooms dotted the walls, casting soft blue glows. Water trickled down from above, pooling into a small underground lake. They could sense the ambient mana—far less dense than in Veldora's dimension, but wild, untamed.
Joshua focused inward. **Great Sage**, ever vigilant, offered a brief report.
> **Mana Signature Stable**
> **Core Capacity: 24% charged**
> **Status Effects: None**
He turned to Rimuru. "We should scout around. Learn where we are. Veldora said Jura Forest was huge and filled with monsters, right?"
Rimuru nodded. "Yeah. We should try and avoid fights until we're sure of our surroundings. Let's see if we can get to the surface."
Together, they began to slither forward, their movements more refined thanks to Veldora's rigorous training. They navigated the cave's tight crevices and shifting terrain with practiced ease. On the way, they passed ancient stone carvings—ruins lost to time, perhaps remnants of a forgotten civilization.
As they emerged from the cavern into the open air, a burst of fresh forest scent hit them. Trees loomed overhead, tall and proud, their leaves whispering in the wind. A soft golden sun filtered through the canopy. Birds chirped in the distance.
Joshua paused. He could feel it. Life. Everywhere. Trees, bugs, animals, even distant magicules. He extended his senses further. "There's movement. That way."
Rimuru expanded his own senses. "Humanoids? No… goblins, maybe? Their mana is low-level."
They agreed to investigate—carefully.
Creeping through the underbrush, they eventually spotted a group of five goblins limping through the forest. They looked battered—one of them had a torn leg, another was half-carrying a third. All bore deep claw marks.
"Looks like they just escaped something nasty," Joshua said.
"Should we help them?" Rimuru asked.
Joshua hesitated. Back in Veldora's realm, things were simple—training, rest, repeat. Here, there were choices. Helping meant exposure. But they were no longer just learners. They were survivors now.
He nodded. "Let's approach slowly."
Rimuru went first, bouncing into view. The goblins recoiled instantly, drawing rusted daggers and crude spears.
"W-We don't want trouble!" one shouted. "Stay back, slime!"
Joshua emerged beside Rimuru. "We're not enemies. We saw you were hurt."
"Talking slime?!" one of them croaked.
Another, the apparent leader, squinted at them. "Wait… the aura around you… It's strong. Are you unique monsters?"
Rimuru glanced at Joshua. "Sort of?"
Joshua addressed them directly. "We're newly born. But we want to understand this forest. What attacked you?"
The goblin leader lowered his weapon slightly. "It was a Dire Wolf pack. Twenty strong. They've grown restless lately—more aggressive. We tried to defend our village, but…" he looked back at his injured kin, "…we lost many."
Joshua processed this. Dire Wolves—monsters with a mid-tier danger ranking. Their leader might be B-Rank if mutated. Rimuru floated beside him, thoughtful.
"We could help," Rimuru said.
Joshua turned. "You sure?"
"Yeah. We can't stay hidden forever. Might as well make allies early."
The goblins were stunned. "You would… help us?"
Joshua nodded. "Lead us to your village."
---
The goblin village was primitive—huts of bark and mud, surrounded by wooden stakes sharpened into crude defenses. The smell of blood and fear lingered in the air. Goblin children and elders huddled in corners, whispering prayers to gods who had long stopped listening.
The village chief, an old goblin hunched with age and scars, approached them with awe.
"I welcome you, noble ones. My name is Rigurd. What are your titles?"
"Rimuru," said the blue slime.
"Joshua," said the gold-violet slime.
Rigurd bowed. "We are honored. If you truly intend to protect us, we will serve you in gratitude."
Joshua exchanged a look with Rimuru. "We don't need servants. But if you let us stay for a while, we'll help."
Over the next hours, Rimuru and Joshua inspected the village defenses, using Great Sage to scan materials and offer suggestions for reinforcement. They taught the goblins basic techniques for weapon sharpening and patrol routes. But it was clear that against a full Dire Wolf assault, they would need more than tactics.
Joshua turned inward.
> **Skill Activation: Soul Resonance – Target: Rimuru**
He linked briefly with his brother's mind.
"We should take out the alpha wolf. Break their morale. Veldora taught us how to suppress mana signatures. We can ambush them."
Rimuru replied, "Agreed. But we'll have to be quick. They won't fight fair."
That night, as the village prepared for the worst, the brothers slipped into the forest. Their cores pulsed with quiet power. Rimuru cloaked himself with stealth. Joshua suppressed his light aura and let only shadow radiate outward. Predators would sense him as prey—until it was too late.
They found the Dire Wolves three hours into the hunt. The pack was huddled near a shallow stream, resting. The alpha—a massive beast with glowing red eyes and jagged obsidian-colored fur—stood watch.
> **Scanning Target…**
> Name: Razorfang
> Rank: B-Class Beast
> Skills: Dark Howl, Shadow Pounce, Alpha Command
Joshua whispered mentally. "You take the left flank. I'll draw his attention."
He stepped forward, aura flaring. "Hey, mutt. Want a real fight?"
Razorfang snarled. The wolves leapt up, forming a half-circle. But before they could coordinate, Rimuru shot forward with a high-velocity body slam, knocking two to the ground.
Joshua activated **Black Flame**, encasing his body in white-hot fire veined with darkness. He launched toward Razorfang. The alpha countered with **Shadow Pounce**, their bodies clashing in an explosion of mana.
The battle raged—Rimuru consumed two wolves with **Predator**, adapting to their elemental resistance. Joshua launched purifying fireballs to keep the lesser wolves at bay.
Finally, as Razorfang lunged again, Joshua unleashed **Divine Judgment**, a beam of celestial-darkness energy that seared the alpha mid-air.
Rimuru followed up, leaping and striking with a limb made of compressed slime steel.
With a final howl, Razorfang fell.
The remaining wolves scattered.
---
When they returned to the village, Joshua carried Razorfang's core in his body. The goblins cheered, falling to their knees.
"You've saved us," Rigurd said, tears in his eyes. "We are yours to command."
Rimuru shook his head. "We want cooperation. Help us grow, and we'll protect you."
Joshua floated beside him. "And help us learn about this world. We have much to do."
That night, under the stars of a new world, the two slimes looked out over their first sanctuary. Their legend had begun—and already, ripples spread through the forest.
Somewhere, far away, a demon lord stirred.
*To be continued...*