(Third Person POV with Nova's inner monologue woven in)
Time is a strange thing.
It flows, it bends, and sometimes it trips over itself when someone like Nova exists.
Inside the cavern, silence reigned, broken only by the humming of magicules drifting in thick, visible currents. Crystalline stalactites pulsed faintly with pale-blue light, each beat syncing with the heartbeat of the world itself.
And there, at the heart of the storm, rested a fox.
Nine tails, silver-white with a faint shimmer of starlight, waved behind him as if dancing to music only they could hear. His mismatched eyes—scarlet and teal-blue—glowed faintly in the shadows. Each flick of his tails carried destructive potential enough to level kingdoms, but his face remained expressionless, his eyes half-lidded, as though the weight of existence itself was too boring to be bothered with.
To a mortal intruder, Nova would be a divine omen, a myth given flesh. To a seasoned adventurer, he'd be a calamity. To Veldora… he was an anomaly worth laughing at.
But Nova himself?
He didn't care about appearances.
He cared about control.
Because fate had just whispered in his ear.
---
(Nova's POV)
Ciel.
<
Scan the timeline. Confirm my suspicion.
<
I snorted internally. Called it.
So the script was intact—mostly. That slime egg was already nearby, wiggling into existence. Which meant canon was about to kick off… with some colorful edits.
Alright. Game plan. Play nice. Let the script flow just enough until the Eastern Empire arc, then tear the whole thing apart. But before that—Step One.
A faint smirk touched my mental voice.
Make sure Veldora names Rimuru… without suspecting me.
Subtle. Elegant. Deliciously ironic.
(Third Person POV)
Veldora, on the other hand, was still gawking at Nova like a child staring at fireworks. His golden eyes reflected mischief and curiosity in equal measure.
"So, Nova! What brings you here, hmm? Seeking power? Or perhaps… freedom?"
Nova's tails twitched, just once. His voice was quiet, but its weight crushed the air like a falling mountain.
"I am already free."
The dragon blinked. "Ho? Then what is it you seek?"
Nova's gaze slid lazily toward the barrier that trapped Veldora, then back.
"Entertainment."
That single word echoed like a blade against stone.
For a moment, silence lingered. Then—
"BAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Veldora's laughter rolled like thunder, shaking the cavern walls, dislodging tiny fragments of crystal that rained down like glittering dust.
"I like you, little fox! Truly, I do!"
Nova didn't smile, but his inner voice purred. Hook, line, sinker.
[Notice: Energy stabilization complete]
[Notice: Host evolution has reached peak stage]
Nova's body finished its evolution in that instant. His snow-white fur gleamed with silver undertones, nine tails fanned out like a divine halo, and his mismatched eyes burned with quiet dominance.
Even Veldora, a true calamity-class, felt it—a sharp prickle along his scales. Respect. Wariness. Excitement.
"You're strong," the dragon admitted, his tone shifting, his pride temporarily set aside. "Stronger than anything I've crossed in centuries."
Nova tilted his head, voice flat as stone.
"Flattery is wasted on me."
Veldora's grin sharpened. "Ho? Then what would impress you?"
"A story."
The dragon blinked. "Eh?"
"Tell me yours," Nova said. "I'll listen. And maybe… I'll tell mine."
(Hours Later)
Veldora talked. And talked. About the Hero who sealed him. About wars and humans. About centuries of boredom. His voice carried arrogance, but underneath, there was loneliness, a gnawing need for acknowledgement.
Nova listened in perfect silence. Not because he cared, but because information was leverage. And because Ciel was recording every single detail, sorting it neatly into categories he could use later.
When the tale ended, Nova finally spoke.
"So… you're bored."
Veldora froze, then let out a slow rumble. "...I suppose so, yes."
"Then here's a deal," Nova said. His tails flicked once, scattering sparks of magicules into the cave air. "You help me with one thing. In return, I'll keep you entertained."
Golden eyes narrowed. "Oh? And what is this 'one thing'?"
Nova's gaze slid toward the cavern entrance, where faint ripples of magic stirred. A sign. A presence. Someone was arriving.
"You'll know soon enough."
(Nova's POV)
Ciel, ETA on Rimuru's arrival?
<
Perfect.
Ciel, set a psychological suggestion. Push Veldora to the idea of naming Rimuru. Make it feel like his own thought.
<
...You scare me sometimes.
<
Fate sneezed.
A blob of azure slime wobbled its way into the cavern, humming faintly as if surprised by its own existence. It paused, blinking—yes, somehow slimes blink—at the overwhelming magical density in the air.
Nova's eyes narrowed slightly. There she is. Rimuru… or rather, Rimuru-chan now.
The slime's voice piped up, high and feminine.
"Wh-what the?! A dragon?! Wait—where am I?!"
Veldora's booming laugh shook the cavern. "Fuhahaha! A visitor! How amusing!"
Nova's tails swayed lazily as he watched, saying nothing.
Ciel, trigger now.
<
Veldora paused mid-laugh. His expression shifted—thoughtful, calculating. Then, as if struck by inspiration, he declared:
"Hoh… A little slime like you deserves a name, doesn't it?"
Nova's lips curved upward, the faintest ghost of a smirk. Perfect.
The conversation followed canon, more or less. Rimuru's confusion, Veldora's theatrics, the naming ritual. But Nova slipped words in here and there, his voice a cold undercurrent that Rimuru barely noticed, guiding reactions without ever being obvious.
When Veldora proudly proclaimed her new name—Rimuru Tempest—Nova spoke at last.
"Fitting," he murmured.
Rimuru flinched at the weight in his voice, her tiny blob body wobbling as she glanced his way.
"Uh… who's the fox?"
Nova's mismatched gaze bore down on her.
"Nova," he answered simply. "Your… future friend."
"...Future what?"
Nova didn't elaborate. His silence was louder than words.
When Rimuru absorbed Veldora into her soul, the cave grew still again. The silence pressed heavy, broken only by the faint sizzling of magicules dissipating.
Rimuru glanced nervously at Nova.
"So… uh… you're strong, right?"
"Yes."
"Like… really strong?"
"Yes."
"…You're not gonna eat me, are you?"
Nova tilted his head slightly. "No."
"...Why not?"
His tails swayed lazily. "Because I said so."
The slime blinked. "...You're weird."
Nova didn't bother denying it.
Get used to it, Rimuru. You've no idea what kind of monster you just picked up as an ally.
(Third Person POV)
As Rimuru hopped further into the cave, Nova followed at an unhurried pace. His nine tails glowed faintly, whispering with restrained destruction.
He could end this world tonight. Burn the script tomorrow.
But not yet.
For now, he would watch. Nudge. Manipulate.
And when the time came… break everything.
The game had only just begun.
To be continued…