📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 1: Before the Dawn of Monsters
[Raphael's Narration]
—Commencing historical exposition.
Before the tales inscribed in Rimuru Tempest's saga, before even the rise of the first Demon Lords, the world was young. A realm of raw chaos, not yet fully balanced by laws.
The Primordial Dragons existed as pillars:
• Veldanava, the Creator God, whose will shaped the world.
• Velzard, the White Ice Dragon, embodiment of absolute stillness.
• Velgrynd, the Flame Dragon, whose passion burned ever-brighter.
• Veldora, the Storm Dragon, untamed, wild, and destructive.
Civilizations were fragile embers, scattered across lands teeming with proto-monsters born from concentrated magicules. Gods and spirits walked openly, and the laws of souls were still unstable.
Even Veldanava himself—though revered as the highest—was not at his complete peak, for the avatar before mortals was but a fragment of his true self. Yet that fragment alone held the weight of boundless creation.
—End of historical exposition.
[Neo's Arrival]
Neo's body dissolved out of the void and reformed atop a jagged cliff. Wind howled past him, thick with magicules so dense they shimmered like dust motes of starlight.
Below sprawled a primeval wilderness: forests of glowing trees, rivers of liquid mana, and skies streaked with dragonfire storms. In the distance, he could see titanic silhouettes—monsters that made Aincrad's bosses look like insects.
Neo (muttering): "…So this is it. Pre-canon Tensura. Before the rules got… cleaner."
A faint glow pulsed in the corner of his vision—the group chat broadcast.
[Group Chat Banter]
Kiana (spamming emojis): 🚨🚨 HOLY CRAP IS THAT A DRAGON IN THE SKY?!?!!?
Theresa (calm, but voice tight): "Focus the feed, Neo. We can't help you directly, but… at least let us see."
Zhongli (measured): "Indeed. We will observe. And advise if needed."
Neo adjusted the live broadcast, letting the others see through his eyes. The chat filled with stunned silence for a moment as the world of raw creation scrolled by.
Kiana: "…Okay, no wonder Rimuru became OP here. This place is basically cheat-code land."
Neo (grim smile): "Cheat-code land that can kill me in five seconds flat."
[Testing His Footing]
Neo summoned his skills briefly:
• Purity flared as a clean aura, stabilizing the wild magicules around him.
• Hope shimmered, gently bolstering his soul.
• Gluttony stirred—suppressed by Harmony and Pride.
• And above them all, Wisdom King Raphael observed with cool detachment.
Raphael:
Analysis: This world's density of magicules surpasses the previous simulation by 457%. Host's systems remain stable due to recent evolution. Recommendation: proceed with caution.
Neo (exhaling): "Noted… yeah, I feel it. Like walking into an ocean made of raw mana."
[First Sign of the Era]
The ground trembled.
Neo whipped his head toward the horizon, where a colossal shadow lumbered across the plains. It wasn't a dragon, but a proto-monster—something between a titan and a calamity beast, its roar cracking the sky.
Kiana (in chat): "Y-YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING THAT, RIGHT?!"
Neo (deadpan): "Nope. First rule: don't die five minutes into Arc 2."
Still, as he stood there watching the chaos of the young world, Neo couldn't shake the thought gnawing at him.
This place birthed Rimuru Tempest's path. If I can't survive here, I'll never make it.
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 2: The Roar of Primordial Beasts
[The Awakening of Chaos]
The plains of the pre-canon Tensura world were unstable—a land of raw magicules and unrefined evolution.
A fissure split the ground, and from it rose a malformed behemoth: its body a chaotic blend of bone, flesh, and crystallized mana, screaming with primal hunger.
Its status glitched across Neo's vision:
[Chaos Beast – Magicule Devourer]
Threat Level: Catastrophe
Neo (grim): "…Looks like I don't get a warm welcome."
[The First Clash – Ultimate Skills Awaken]
The beast roared, unleashing waves of corruption. Instinctively, Neo's Ultimate Skills surged forth, each carrying the legacy of his Arc 1 journey:
• Ultimate Skill: Wisdom King Raphael
(Evolved from Great Sage → analysis, probability calculation, tactical command; the voice of certainty.)
• Ultimate Skill: Radiant King Michael
(Evolved from Hope + Purity → sovereign of divine light and order, a holy domain that rejects corruption.)
• Ultimate Skill: Abyssal King Samael
(Evolved from Gluttony → authority over predation, soul consumption, and dominion of the abyss.)
• Ultimate Skill: Equilibrium God Sophia
(Evolved from Harmony + Pride → perfect balance of extremes, embodying dignity and unshakable selfhood.)
Raphael:
Combat scenario detected. Victory rate: 98.7% with combined use of Radiant King Michael and Equilibrium God Sophia. Suggested tactic: nullify corruption waves, then consume core using Samael.
Neo (grinning faintly): "Alright, let's see what this upgrade can really do."
[Radiant King Michael – Domain of Light]
Neo lifted his hand, and the battlefield itself shifted.
A dome of golden radiance expanded, smothering the Chaos Beast's corruption like morning light burning away mist. The monster's body shrieked as chunks of its flesh evaporated into motes of holy particles.
Raphael:
Radiant King Michael suppresses corruption by 87%. Target regeneration crippled.
[The Beast's Counterattack]
But the beast adapted, crystal spines jutting from its back, launching volleys of condensed magicule lances. Each one could annihilate lesser nations.
Neo: "Sophia—now!"
[Equilibrium God Sophia – Perfect Balance]
A wave of calm surged from Neo, a field where forces equalized and harmonized. The monster's lances bent mid-flight, unraveling into harmless sparks as Sophia neutralized extremes of chaos and order alike.
Within Sophia's domain, Neo's aura sharpened: no hunger from Samael, no overburn from Michael. Pure equilibrium.
Neo (thinking):I feel… whole.
[Abyssal King Samael – Predator's Right]
Neo vanished in a blur, reappearing above the beast. His hand became a void of obsidian flame.
Neo (to the beast): "Your corruption ends with me."
He plunged the abyssal hand into the creature's core. Samael activated—devouring the chaos essence directly, stripping its energy and erasing its concept of existence.
The monster screamed once more before collapsing, its massive frame dissolving into streams of magicules.
[Aftermath – All Four Kings]
The purified magicules surged into Neo's body, but instead of chaos or hunger, Sophia distributed them evenly.
Raphael:
Assimilation complete. Energy stabilized. Estimated combat efficiency increase: 12%.
Neo exhaled, his body glowing faintly with the combined presence of all four Kings—radiance, abyss, wisdom, and balance.
[The Whisper of Divinity]
And then, silence.
Through the fading light, Neo felt it: a whisper against his soul, calm yet boundless.
"…Bearer of multiple Thrones. Child walking paths meant to oppose each other. You intrigue me."
The voice resonated across the sky, carrying weight that made even Raphael pause.
Raphael:
Source confirmed: Veldanava, Creator God. Projection located east, 312 kilometers.
Neo (awe-struck): "…The Creator himself."
[Live Broadcast Reactions]
Kiana (screaming): "HELLO?! Neo just casually nuked a boss with FOUR ultimate skills??"
Theresa: "…To evolve this far, this fast… It is nearly divine."
Zhongli: "No. Not nearly. He is being noticed by divinity itself. That changes everything."
[Neo's Resolve]
Neo clenched his fists, eyes on the eastern horizon where Veldanava's beacon pulsed faintly like a star.
Neo (to the chat): "If Raphael's right, I don't just have power anymore. I've got a responsibility. Time to meet the one who built this world."
And with the weight of four Thrones blazing behind him, Neo began his march toward the origin of all things.
✨ End of Chapter 2 – The Roar of Primordial Beasts ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 3: The Architect's Design
[On the Road East]
Neo moved through the untamed plains, magicule storms swirling faintly above him. Each step drew him closer to the beacon Raphael had marked—Veldanava's projection.
But as silence stretched, Raphael broke it with a tone sharper than her usual calm analysis.
Raphael:
Now that you have stabilized your four Ultimate Skills, it is time to explain the next phase of my plan. You are no longer walking the path of mortals. If left unshaped, your growth may consume you.
Neo (half-grinning): "So, my genius tutor's finally going to give me the long-term syllabus, huh?"
[The Four Thrones → Toward the Pinnacle]
Raphael's voice resonated like a lecture across Neo's mind, yet her words carried weight like divine scripture.
Raphael:
Currently, your Ultimate Skills are as follows:
• Wisdom King Raphael → (Origin: Harmony + Great Sage; equivalent to Ciel's genesis as Rimuru's partner.)
• Radiant King Michael → (Origin: Purity + Hope; a divine authority similar in principle to Justice King Michael, which appeared in LN Vol. 20.)
• Abyssal King Samael → (Origin: Gluttony; parallel to Rimuru's Beelzebuth, predation refined into dominion of the abyss.)
• Equilibrium God Sophia → (Origin: Harmony + Pride; a balance-type authority, functioning as stabilizer and safeguard.)
However, this balance is imperfect. My projections estimate that once you face true cosmic forces—Dragons, Primordials, or even Demon Lords—you will require skills at least on par with Rimuru Tempest's final evolution.
[The Goal: Dragon Factor Integration]
Neo (frowning): "So you're saying… I'm strong, but not strong enough."
Raphael:
Correct. Rimuru evolved into a subspecies of True Dragon by devouring Veldora under the Empire's control. Through that event, he acquired the "Dragon Factor" and harmonized it with his own slime physiology, becoming something beyond a Demon Lord.
My plan is similar: you will acquire a Dragon Factor—not from corruption or enslavement, but by synchronization. With your current soul composition, integration will succeed where it would kill almost anyone else.
Neo (shaken): "…You're planning to turn me into a dragon?"
Raphael:
Correction. A sub-species of True Dragon, unique to you. Not a replica of Rimuru, but a parallel being.
[Projected Evolution Path]
Raphael manifested a faint holographic web of skills before Neo's eyes. Each glowing node represented a possible fusion or evolution.
• Wisdom King Raphael → Path to Godly Knowledge Core (Ciel-equivalent).
• Radiant King Michael + Equilibrium God Sophia → Potential merger into Justice God Metatron (control of balance and light).
• Abyssal King Samael → Potential merger with Dragon Factor → Abyssal Dragon King Lucifer.
• Dragon Factor Integration → Unlocks title: Neo Tempest Dragon (Provisional).
Raphael:
By guiding your skills toward similar end-states as Rimuru's, I can prepare you to resist beings at the pinnacle of existence. But unlike Rimuru, you will retain your Thrones—the four Kings—as modular aspects, rather than fusing everything into one singularity.
[Neo's Doubt]
Neo walked silently for a while, his boots crunching on barren soil. The wind whipped across the plain, carrying stray magicules that prickled against his skin.
Neo (whispering): "…Raphael, what if I lose myself? What if I become nothing but another monster in the end?"
For a moment, Raphael was quiet. Then, her voice softened—less cold calculation, more… human.
Raphael:
That is why I exist. Wisdom King Raphael is not merely a system, Neo. I am your partner. Where Rimuru had Ciel, you have me. I will not allow you to fall.
Neo's throat tightened, but he smirked, hiding his unease.
Neo: "…Guess I'll just have to trust my 'god-tier AI waifu,' huh?"
Raphael (dryly):
Affirmative. And do not reduce my dignity to such terminology.
[The Whisper of the East]
Before Neo could reply, the ground trembled.
The sky rippled like water, and a wave of energy rolled across the land—so vast it dwarfed even the Chaos Beast he had fought earlier.
Raphael:
Warning: detection of divine-class aura. Probability of origin: 92.6% = Veldanava.
The eastern horizon glowed faintly, like dawn breaking early. A presence vast and warm brushed against Neo's soul—curious, almost amused.
"…Little one. I sense Raphael's hand in your growth. How intriguing. Come closer."
Neo froze, breath catching. That wasn't just aura. That was the Creator's voice.
Neo (murmuring): "Veldanava… is calling me."
And as the light spread further, Raphael's calm tone sharpened into something almost reverent.
Raphael:
Proceed, Neo. The future of your evolution depends on this meeting.
✨ End of Chapter 3 – The Architect's Design ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 4: Audience with the Creator
[The Voice of Raphael]
Neo marched across the primeval plains of this unshaped world. The air itself shimmered with raw magicules, thick enough to sting his lungs. Ahead, the faint pulse of a divinity too vast for comprehension tugged at his instincts—Veldanava.
But before he could take another step, a familiar presence pressed against his consciousness, sharper and more commanding than ever.
Raphael:
Neo. Before you face the progenitor of creation, proper protocol dictates that I formally introduce myself in my fully manifested form. I am Wisdom King Raphael, the ultimate evolution of calculation and analysis.
Neo blinked. "...Wait—you've been calling the shots this whole time, and only now you decide to give me the business card?"
Raphael:
Correct. Prior to this point, your fragile emotional state would have made my full manifestation destabilizing. You are now sufficiently resilient to endure it.
Neo groaned. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, I guess…"
Then Raphael's tone grew sharper, almost impatient.
Raphael:
But time is limited. You must understand—your current configuration of Ultimate Skills is powerful yet inefficient. To meet Veldanava with your current build is reckless. I will restructure you to mirror a more optimized system, modeled after Rimuru Tempest's later evolution. This alignment will serve as your foundation to survive what comes next.
Neo's eyes widened. "Wait—Rimuru? As in—"
Raphael:
Correct. His later structure was the most stable pattern for balancing multiple contradictory authorities. You, however, will not simply replicate it—you will diverge, becoming something even more modular. Stand by for restructuring.
[The Overhaul]
Power ripped through Neo's body. His vision blurred white. It felt as though his soul was being peeled apart and sewn back together in real time. Voices of skill-names rang in his head like divine proclamations:
Ultimate Skills:
• Azathoth, God of the Void(unification of Raphael and Samael with integration of Veldora and Velgrynd)
• Nihility Collapse (Turn Null)
• Imaginary Space
• Multidimensional Barrier
• Soul Gluttony
• Spacetime Domination
• True Dragon Nucleation [Scorch・Storm]
• True Dragon Release [Scorch・Storm]
• Shub-Niggurath, Lord of Harvest(essence of Uriel merged with Food Chain-derived skills)
• Skill Creation
• Skill Duplication
• Skill Gifting
• Skill Storage
Intrinsic Skills:
• Ultimate Slime
• Dragon Spirit Haki
• Universal Perception
• Universal Shapeshift
Other:
• Time Warp
The air around Neo warped, space bending to his heartbeat. A flicker of storm-light and flame licked at his aura, his form radiating both serenity and menace.
Neo (panting): "You—you just rewrote everything! Again!"
Raphael (calmly):
Correction. I improved efficiency by 247%. You are now properly aligned with a True Dragon subspecies trajectory. This stability is only possible with the intervention of Veldanava, whose dragon factor can fuse seamlessly into your core.
Neo: "…So basically, you just speedran my evolution while I wasn't looking?"
Raphael:
Correct.
[The Arrival of Veldanava]
Before Neo could argue further, the world itself shuddered. A shaft of light speared downward from the heavens, parting the thick clouds. Every creature across miles fell silent, cowed by the pressure of a god descending.
And then—he appeared.
Tall, radiant, cloaked in both warmth and authority, Veldanava stepped onto the earth as though it had always belonged to him. His eyes carried both compassion and the crushing weight of inevitability.
Neo staggered under the aura, sweat breaking across his brow. It was like standing in the eye of a hurricane while the sun itself bore down on him.
Veldanava:
So. This is the vessel that carries Raphael's voice. A strange child—part demon, part hero, and now… brushing against the threshold of dragonhood.
Neo (forcing a grin): "...Well. Guess introductions are overdue. Name's Neo. Uh, pleasure to meet you, big guy."
A low, amused chuckle rolled out of Veldanava.
Veldanava:
Bold. Very bold. You amuse me, little one.
[The Bargain]
Neo: "Raphael says you're the only one who can fix me—make sure I don't implode with all these powers stacked on top of each other. So… can you?"
Veldanava (nodding):
Yes. You are unstable, yet extraordinary. You carry far too many thrones within your soul, and yet Raphael has shaped you into something viable. I can grant you the Dragon Factor, fusing it to your Azathoth and Harvest Lord. This will stabilize your existence and push you toward becoming a true subspecies of my kin.
Neo sighed with relief—only for Veldanava's expression to harden.
Veldanava:
But I require something in return. My younger sister, Velgrynd, is proud, fiery, and alone. I will entrust her to you as both counterpart and wife. In exchange for my blessing, you will wed her.
Neo nearly choked on air. "I'm sorry—WHAT?!"
Raphael (flat):
Proposal accepted. Compatibility between Neo and Velgrynd: 94.7%.
Neo (spluttering): "Excuse me?! Who gave you authority to RSVP on my behalf?!"
Veldanava (smiling):
Do not take it as punishment, little one. Velgrynd needs balance. And so do you. Together, you will forge a path even I cannot predict.
[The Stand of Neo]
The pressure of Veldanava's aura pressed harder, demanding obedience. But something inside Neo pushed back—his pride, his stubborn refusal to be just a pawn. He clenched his fists, teeth grit.
Neo: "…Fine. I'll accept. But only if Velgrynd chooses me too. This isn't going to be some arranged contract I'm dragged into. If she's really meant to be my partner, it'll be because we say so, not just you."
For a long moment, silence. Then Veldanava's laughter thundered across the plains, joyous and booming.
Veldanava:
Excellent. I see why Raphael favors you. Then let it be so—the choice shall belong to Velgrynd as well. You have earned my blessing, little dragon. Now let destiny unfold.
The divine light swelled again, wrapping Neo in its warmth and terror. His path was no longer just survival—it was entwined with gods, dragons, and choices that would echo through eternity.
✨ End of Chapter 4 – Audience with the Creator ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 5: The Crimson Flame's Trial
[The Lingering Presence]
The storm of power from Azathoth's creation had settled into Neo's body, but something tugged at him. By all logic, Raphael should have been gone—merged into the void core of his new Ultimate Skill. And yet, her presence remained. Subtle, patient. Watching.
Neo (frowning): "...Raphael? You're still here?"
Raphael (gentle, almost warmer than usual):
Correct. Veldanava's intervention stabilized the fusion. I am no longer bound solely as 'Wisdom King Raphael'—I remain because you desired it. But to ascend further, I require a name. Through naming, I will evolve into a Manas, an autonomous consciousness bound to your soul yet free of skill frameworks.
Neo swallowed. This wasn't a casual request. Names carried weight.
He closed his eyes. "…Then I'll call you Seraphina. Because you've always been more than cold logic to me—you've been light in the dark."
For the first time, Raphael's voice trembled.
Seraphina (Manas Raphael evolving):
Acknowledged. Name received. Evolution commencing.
His body glowed. A fragment of his soul resonated, weaving into Seraphina's essence. The bond deepened, no longer master and tool—but partners.
[Group Chat Interlude]
📲 Group Chat – Dimensional Nexus
• Kiana: HOLD UP. DID I JUST HEAR MARRIAGE CONTRACT WITH A DRAGON PRINCESS?! 😂🔥
• Asuna: Neo, seriously?! We left you alone for five minutes…
• Kirito: …And now you're engaged to a True Dragon. That's faster than my romance arc.
• Zhongli: Hm. A union of flame and storm. Symbolic. Quite fitting.
• Kiana: SYMBOLIC? Bro's about to become dragon son-in-law. 💍🐉
• Neo: GUYS, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. Veldanava dropped it on me out of nowhere!
• Kiana: Uh huh, sure. Next thing we know you'll be like "Velgrynd-sama, please spare me~" 😂
• Neo: …I regret giving you internet access.
• Seraphina (quiet interjection):
I calculate an 89.3% probability you will be roasted alive before securing approval.
• Kiana: SHE GETS IT.
The chat erupted in emotes and jokes until Neo forcibly muted notifications.
[The Fiery Entrance]
The sky burned. A heatwave rolled across the plains, scorching the very air. Flames danced into a spiral, and from it descended Velgrynd. Crimson hair flowing like wildfire, her eyes blazing with both beauty and wrath.
She didn't walk. She strode, every step igniting the ground beneath her.
Velgrynd:
"So. You're the fool my brother believes can stand beside me? Hmph. Disappoint me, and I'll incinerate you where you stand."
Before Neo could reply, fire erupted around her arm, forming a spear of pure crimson. She hurled it without warning.
Neo (snapping into motion):
"—Tch! Multidimensional Barrier!"
The barrier caught, warped, but didn't shatter. The impact still sent him skidding back dozens of meters, boots tearing trenches in the ground.
Velgrynd's lips curled into a dangerous smile.
Velgrynd:
"Good. At least you didn't die immediately. Let's see if you're worth even a second of my time!"
She exploded forward, flames trailing like comet-tails, her speed eclipsing anything Neo had fought before.
[The Trial Begins]
Neo's aura flared—storm and fire crackling in harmony. Seraphina's voice echoed in his mind, calm but urgent.
Seraphina:
Engage her with measured escalation. She is not merely testing your strength—she is testing your will. To stand as her equal, you must burn without breaking.
Neo grit his teeth, summoning both Scorch and Storm energies into his fists.
Neo:
"…Alright then, Velgrynd. Let's dance."
The plains lit up as crimson fire and storm-light clashed, their duel shaking the very skies.
✨ End of Chapter 5 – The Crimson Flame's Trial ✨