The next morning, Akira woke up to find that the excruciating pain had almost vanished, leaving behind only a faint numbness. Beside his bed was a small empty bottle emitting the scent of pure herbs, and neatly folded clothes consisting of a comfortable black jacket and practical trousers, resembling modern Japanese designs but made of an incredibly durable fabric. He put on his clothes with heavy steps, then headed toward the sliding wooden door leading to the balcony. He took a deep breath, and slid the door open. When he stepped out onto the balcony... he forgot how to breathe. It wasn't a "village" or even an "ordinary city." What stretched out before him was a sight that tore apart all laws of logic. Under a clear blue sky, the "Tempest Empire" sprawled. Giant skyscrapers made of white magic stone and gleaming blue crystal embraced the clouds. Transparent bridges of solid light connected the buildings, over which sleek metallic trains glided without any friction, leaving behind trails of pure mana. In the sky, entire islands floated peacefully, with waterfalls of clear water cascading down from them to pour into artificial rivers that intersected the capital with astonishing geometric precision. And at the center of this mad genius... stood a colossal statue. A statue of a young man with long hair and gentle features, holding a sword in his hand, smiling warmly as he looked toward the horizon. And despite the passing of 500 years, not a single speck of dust had touched that statue. — "This... this is impossible to be just a nation in a fantasy world," Akira whispered, his eyes unblinking. — "This is magic fused with technology that surpasses Earth by centuries!" — "Kuwahahaha! Even though I've seen this sight for hundreds of years, seeing the shocked faces of strangers never loses its charm!" A loud, rough voice, filled with overwhelming confidence, echoed, making the entire balcony shake. Akira spun around quickly, only to freeze in place. A tall man, with dark skin and bulging muscles that threatened to tear his open black shirt, and blonde hair standing up like chaotic spikes. He was sitting on the edge of the balcony, his legs dangling in the air, holding an old, worn-out book in his hand... resembling a manga volume.
[Passive Alert: 'True Dragon' energy detected.] [Level: Mythical Catastrophe.]
Akira ignored the system's silent warning. He didn't need it to know that the entity before him could wipe out the entire capital if he sneezed too hard. — "You're the human from yesterday, aren't you?" The blonde man jumped with an agility that didn't match his massive size, landing in front of Akira. — "I heard from Benimaru that you cut Souei's threads. I was expecting a muscle-bound monster, but you're just a scrawny kid! Kuwahahaha! I am the Storm Dragon, Veldora Tempest! The greatest friend, and the first companion of Lord Rimuru!" Veldora puffed out his chest proudly and placed his hands on his hips, waiting for Akira's reaction. Akira managed to take a step back with difficulty. — "The... Storm Dragon?" — "Exactly! And now, tell me, boy from Japan..." Veldora suddenly leaned in, his features shifting from pride to terrifying seriousness, his golden eyes narrowing. — "...Did the 41st volume of 'Adventures of the Black Knight' come out before you got here? This volume that Rimuru left me stopped at the most important moment five centuries ago! I'm going crazy!" Akira's jaw dropped. A legendary dragon... asking him about manga?! — "I... I'm sorry, I don't know what manga you're talking about..." Veldora sighed with exaggerated disappointment, dropping his shoulders like a child who had his candy taken away. — "What a disappointment. I thought 'Otherworlders' coming from Japan always brought new sacred texts with them." — "Kufufufu... Please excuse Veldora-sama's naivety. He hasn't learned patience despite half a millennium passing." Another voice appeared out of nowhere. It wasn't loud like Veldora's; rather, it was soft, polite, and slipped into the ear like honey-sweetened poison. From Akira's own shadow, a black liquid rose to form the shape of a tall, slender man. He wore an elegant, completely wrinkle-free black butler's suit. His black hair was streaked with gold and red, and his eyes... were horrifying. A black sclera centered by red and gold pupils, like the gates of hell.
[Passive Alert: Primordial Demon detected.]
The man bowed with a terrifying smile never leaving his face, placing his hand over his chest with exaggerated respect. — "Allow me to introduce myself to our guest hailing from the homeland of my great Lord. I am his first and last loyal servant, Diablo." Akira couldn't even respond. Diablo's aura was different from Benimaru's or Souei's. Diablo looked like someone who could flay your skin while smiling and making small talk about the weather. Diablo raised his head, and approached Akira until the distance between them was practically nonexistent. His demonic eyes began to scrutinize Akira with a precision that pierced his soul. — "Kufufufu... truly fascinating. No magic. No spiritual energy. But... there is a 'void' deep within you. A cold, black void." Diablo smiled, but his eyes were dripping with a maddening danger. — "Tell me, Akira-dono... My Lord Rimuru disappeared 500 years ago due to a sudden tear in the fabric of space-time. And now, you appear suddenly, from his exact homeland, carrying within you an energy that breaks the laws of this world..." Diablo tilted his head, and his smile vanished entirely, revealing the features of a demon ready to tear the world apart. — "...Do you have anything to do with my Lord's disappearance? Answer me truthfully, for I can read your soul before your tongue even speaks." The air caught in Akira's lungs. Veldora was watching in silence, and Diablo was waiting for an answer. Rimuru's empire wasn't just an advanced city... it was a volcano of raw power, filled with immortal monsters living on the memory of their lost master, and any wrong move from Akira would turn him into ash before he could even blink.