Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken novel Chapter 187
I confronted Yuuki, and we began to size each other up.
And in the middle of the tense atmosphere,
Oh yeah, I was wondering...... How did you find this place?
Yuuki asked.
He seemed to be either bold or stupid.
Who even asks this kind of question to the enemy?
I ain't supposed to tell you that man!
Ah, I guess that's right?
I didn't really expect an answer, and I guess Rimuru-san isn't that gullible huh.
Yuuki shrugged as if disappointed.
Well, he probably isn't.
He probably kept talking, to try and find out my weaknesses.
Actually, just like Diablo said, Moss' recon was perfect.
He had sent out both an appropriately sized dummy body, and a mini body.
It didn't matter if the big one got found.
Rather, the plan was to let the enemy find it, and let their guard down, while the smaller clone would remain in contact without them suspecting a thing.
As one of them got found out and destroyed, the other would use that chance to get into camouflage.
Really, his abilities was excellent for this kind of work.
Now then, let's recap.
First, the strategic victory conditions from before recovering Veldora.
Recover Veldora.
Eliminate the threat.
Annihilate the Imperials.
Of those, most of the work was done.
One could say operation complete. The only thing left would be the releasing (finishing off) the Emperor.
In that case, the new victory conditions,
Recover Chloe.
Finish off the Emperor.
Finish off Yuuki.
Would become like that.
The most important and given most priority was the task of recovering Chloe.
But as long as there were the three Wishes (Orders), I couldn't just take her back.
Worst case, there was the option to eat Chloe and use Soul Analysis to try and find a way to break the curse......
Even with Wisdom Lord Raphael doing the Soul Analysis, there was a big risk of failure.
If possible, only after eliminating the controller \= Yuuki, should I calmly start working on the curse.
In any case, I wanted to finish things before Yuuki made Chloe do anything.
Similar to Rimuru planning his bout with Yuuki, the latter also, looking at the unexpected situation, let out a sigh.
When he noticed the spy, he did anticipate something like this, but of the things he anticipated, this was the worst of the worst, and he couldn't help but sigh.
(Geez, can't you just leave me alone......)
In any case, he needed to do something about this.
In this situation, Yuuki's options were limited. It was pretty bad that Vega was eliminated in an instant.
Well, Vega didn't really matter that much......
But, ordering Chloe now would be a bad move.
Currently those stronger than Yuuki would be : Guy » Crimson, Milim » Nava, and the one in front of him, Rimuru.
There was also Demon Lord Leon » Cromwell to whom he had suffered defeat once, and to whom his powers were known. But he was now someone Yuuki had some chance to win against the next time.
But against this Rimuru with his unusually high growth speed, he honestly couldn't predict anything.
If he made Chloe deal with Rimuru, in that instant she would be released.
Therefore, they would need to finish each other off. And in an ideal scenario, just before that happened, Yuuki himself would step in and steal their powers.
But failing to get the powers, he would then have to face an angered Milim.
It was good that Chloe wasn't hostile towards him, but he was running out of options.
If he atleast had 2 wishes (orders) remaining, he could order the elimination of Rimuru now, and somehow escape......
His only saving grace was the fact that Rimuru and the rest didn't know that he had only one remaining.
Yuuki considered putting Chloe in hiding a good decision.
Rimuru would therefore take into account the possibility of him issuing an order to Chloe, and wouldn't be able to act carelessly.
Using that opportunity, he would somehow survive this event.
And in the worst case scenario, he would be forced to play his trump card, he expected.
(Yeah, I don't really wanna have to do that though.)
But as he thought so, there didn't seem to be any other means of him escaping his current trial.
The Demons working under Rimuru.
Yuuki truly understood the breadth of power of those elite Demons.
3 of those pillars had appeared.
Each, making even Demon Lords look like weak, were the very definition of danger.
(The hell. They're too OP.)
That was his honest feeling.
He could likely have faced one of them and won, but all three at once would spell certain defeat.
Demons never obeyed those weaker than themselves. And obedience time after a summoning would be shorter, the higher their Nobility.
It was unlikely that Rimuru had summoned all three and put them under leash. That left the possibility that Rimuru had become a much higher class than them.
Yuuki was on the fine line of actually just using his trump card right now without hesitation.
(Man, I could've atleast made the Emperor use Armageddon (Angel Army) before Rimuru-san came....... )
As he thought so, everything changed.
And it changed for the better, for Yuuki of course.
Testarossa surveilled the surroundings, making sure there were no threats lurking about.
There were none, she determined.
Around them were the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, with no signs of human presence.
Other than a line of corpses, 100,000 soldiers who seemed to be in pain but not actually alive, there were no others.
Being wary of them without negligence, Testarossa assured Rimuru.
That they could promptly handle whatever Yuuki was planning on doing.
Being done with eliminating Vega, Carrera faced Ultima.
Releasing the Emperor was the wish entrusted to them; their contract. They had to accomplish this without fail.
Ultima would be the one to do it.
Since Rimuru had decreed so, Carrera had no complaints. That being the case, she was given the duty of eliminating Vega who had soiled her battle with Kondo.
That being done, it was only a matter of taking care of the Emperor and the mastermind.
At a glance, Yuuki, the mastermind, didn't seem so much a "danger". However, he exuded a presence that made her "uneasy".
Not "danger" but yet "uneasiness".
Carrera therefore judged Yuuki to be a genuine threat.
He could perhaps even have the might to oust her and her fellow Demons.
(I want to think that I'm just thinking too much. No, he might just be thinking of making us think like we're thinking like that.)
It was her first encounter with the boy named Kagurazaka Yuuki.
Even so, his cunning presence that didn't match his face had put Carrera's instincts on top alert.
Perhaps that vigilance and observant eye was something she inherited from the ever diligent First Lieutenant Kondo.
At present, the one who was on highest alert towards Yuuki was, unmistakably, Carrera.
As for Ultima,
She faced Emperor Rudra.
Hair turned pure white. Pallid skin. He had a sickly frail presence, but the strength of his will still shined brightly in those eyes.
She faced the young Emperor who could still be called a boy.
For a while now,
What? just what nonsense do you speak?
Kondo Tatsuya and Damrada dead?
The hell is Velgrynd even doing......
Damrada? And even Kondo Tatsuya?
.......No....... Impossible. If they're dead, why was I even.......(TN: **** I'm sad again.)
He had been muttering deliriously.
The strength in his eyes began to flicker and fade, as if his heart was being reflected in them.
It was of no concern to Ultima, but seeing as he had calmed down,
That Damrada guy asked me to kill you.
When I accepted, he'd seem to have died in peace.
Same for that Kondo guy.
He fought my fellow demon, Carrera, over there and fell valiantly.
The both of them were your underlings, so aren't happy you'll be joining them?
She asked him in a carefree way.
It was her slight way of being considerate.
But those words had tremendous effects.
I see. So they both fell with pride.
Therefore, I too shan't allow myself to fall in disgrace.
As a Ruler of this world, I shall persevere till the very end.
I shall make Justice King Michael bend to my will!
Clad in the Aura of his former days, the Emperor declared with his will of Nobility.
As a ruler, who lived long, and wagered the fate of the world in his Game.
Unlike before, he released the chains on his powers, and wielded the Justice King with all his might.
To go berserk, and cause the erasure of civilization; to meet the expectations of his subordinates who had sacrificed themselves.
To meet the conditions of his final decree.
His loyal subordinates had kept their word.
So in the end, he would meet his demise as the Emperor.
....... The Emperor however, didn't realize that those thoughts were had been planted into him via Yuuki's Thought Manipulation.
His heart weakened, his mind damaged, he never realized that he had become vulnerable to Ultimate Skills.
In addition, there was fault in his reliance on the Absolute Defense of "Castle Guard".
Being protected from all fronts, he didn't have experience in safeguarding his mind.
The Absolute Barrier would project from all evils as long as those swearing fealty were nearby.
But without those loyal subjects, it had no effect at all.
He had only hoped to slightly influence him.......
But Yuuki's Thought Manipulation "Worm" had, facing no resistance, encroached the Emperor's mind, and made Yuuki's plans come to fruition.
In other words, Armageddon was unleashed.
****!
Sensing danger, Ultima went into full gear.
Oh no you don't! "Bloody Bite" !!(TN: Damrada's chuuni caught on lol!)
But she was the slightest bit too late.
Yield to my power! Armageddon Activate!!
Using the last of his spirit, Rudra summoned the Angel Army.
Her claws were weakened by the sheer Holiness of that Skill, yet "Bloody Bite" still forced its way towards Emperor Rudra's heart.
However, using Rudra as the key, the Gates of Heaven spread open.
Ultima's "Bloody Bite" was nullified a single moment before reaching him.
The skies of the Imperial Capital became saturated with Holy Aura.
And thus, the Ultimate Army against Demons, The Angel Army had begun to manifest.
The circumstances flipped.
Yuuki had made the first move.
The Emperor had exceeded his expectations in moving according to his plans.
The "Worm" he had unexpectantly used showed great results; it was a happy mishap.
Rather than the "Worm", it was most likely because the broken Emperor couldn't resist Justice King Michael's temptation.
The current situation could be said to be born only because the goals of Yuuki and the Justice King were one in the same.
At any rate, it was Yuuki's move.
His goal.
Was that of stealing the Ultimate Skill Justice King Michael from Emperor Rudra.
Normally, one could only attain an Ultimate Skill with a strong will. However, in Rudra's case it was being borrowed.
Knowing this, Yuuki was determined to steal it.
Obviously, there were certain conditions. The soul needed to be expressly weakened or else it would be impossible.
Meaning, making him activate Armageddon which put him in his weakest state, it was the perfect time to plunder the Skill.
Ahaha! Sorry Rimuru-san. I'll be winning now!
Yuuki activated his Ultimate Skill Greed King Mammon , and began approaching the Emperor.
Steal Skill!!
Turning the tables.
Stealing his Skill and putting the Angel Army under his command.
It was the only plan that he could use to overcome the current circumstances, but then.......
Naive.
He heard Rimuru mutter.
Ha-? Before even thinking of complaining, his cheek received a dizzying shock.
Kufufufufu. Those actions are well within calculations.
Yuuki was blown away by Diablo who had, completely erasing his presence, perfectly hidden himself.
That single attack, breaking through his multiple force fields, felt as if it was reaping his soul away.
Even then, the attack seemed to not be at full power.
After all, it was only a bare-handed strike using no weapon.
Kpff!! The hell, there was another one......!
At this point, his composure had all but disappeared.
Yuuki changed his expression, and laughed.
Ku, kukuku, ahahaha ha haha ha! Gimme a break!
Really, I need one....... So you really were my worst enemy huh.
Fucking bravo Rimuru-san.
I really did want to end the world with my own hands.
Yeah no.......
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