Chapter 8: The Sky-Whale's Shadow and the Serious Training
The peace of the Federation was shattered by a report from the Dryads. Something ancient and mindless had been stirred. Charybdis, the ruler of the skies and a spawn of Veldora's own leaked magicules, was heading straight for Tempest.
The Warning of the Forest
Silver stood in the meeting hall, his silver hair tied back in a practical warrior's ponytail. Beside him, Rimuru sat in his human form, looking concerned. Treyni, the Dryad, appeared in a swirl of leaves, her expression unusually grim.
"Lords of Tempest," Treyni began. "The calamity known as Charybdis has been revived. It is a creature of pure destruction, accompanied by thirteen Megalodons. It is currently moving through the sky toward this city."
"Charybdis?" Rimuru asked. "Wait, you mean like the sea monster from the myths?"
"It is worse," Silver replied, his eyes glowing as [Wisdom King Solomon] fed him data. "It's a spiritual lifeform with absolute magic interference. Solomon says it possesses an 'Extra Skill' called [Magic Interference] that makes standard spells useless within a several-mile radius. Rimuru, our usual elemental attacks won't work."
"No way!" Rimuru groaned. "Then how do we hit it?"
"We hit it with physical mass and pure kinetic energy," Silver said. He turned to the Kijin and the Dwarven brothers. "Kaijin, I need the heavy cannons we discussed. I'll provide the materials. We're going to need 'Magic-Cancelling Steel' for the projectiles."
Milim's "Help"
While the city prepared for war, Milim Nava was bouncing around the plaza, clutching a jar of honey Silver had "created" for her earlier that morning.
"Hey, Silver! Rimuru!" Milim chirped. "I can just go blow that big fish up for you! It'll take like, one second! Can I? Can I please?"
Silver looked at her, his expression unreadable. He knew if Milim fought, the battle would be over instantly, but the diplomatic fallout of a Demon Lord protecting their city would be a nightmare. More importantly, he needed his people to grow.
"No, Milim," Silver said firmly. "You're our secret weapon. If we let you handle every little fish that swims by, our soldiers will get lazy. You stay here and finish your honey. Consider it an 'Emergency Reserve' mission."
Milim puffed out her cheeks, looking like a disappointed child. "Hmph! Fine! But if you guys start losing, don't blame me!"
The Battle of the Skies
As the massive, floating eye of Charybdis appeared on the horizon, the sky darkened under the wings of its Megalodon escort. The sight was terrifying—a beast the size of a mountain, surrounded by a swirling storm of magic-nullifying energy.
"All units, engage!" Rimuru commanded, flying up on his black wings.
Benimaru led the Kijin into the fray, their new weapons glowing with the power Silver had imbued into them. But even their strongest attacks were being dampened by the Charybdis's aura.
Silver didn't fly. He stood on the highest tower of the city, his hands extended.
'Solomon, initiate [Creation]. Manifestation Type: Aerial Defense Array. Material: Tungsten-Steel Composite.'
[Confirmed. Consuming Magicule reserves from [Infinite Space]. Manifesting "Heaven's Needle" Harpoons.]
Twelve massive, silver spears materialized in the air around Silver, humming with the frequency of his [Magicule Generator]. With a flick of his wrist, the spears launched, breaking the sound barrier.
BOOM!
The projectiles ignored the magic interference because they weren't magical—they were pure, heavy metal launched at hyper-sonic speeds. They slammed into the Megalodons, pinning the flying sharks to the earth.
"Nice shot, Silver!" Rimuru called out, firing a [Black Flame] at a weakened shark.
However, the main body of Charybdis was regenerating. Its scales were too thick for even the harpoons to kill it outright.
'It's not enough,' Silver thought. 'It has too much health. Solomon, I need to use [Snatch].'
[Warning: Physical contact with Charybdis is required to bypass the Magic Interference field. Probability of being consumed by the "Starved"-like aura: 34%.]
"I'll take those odds," Silver muttered.
Silver propelled himself into the sky, a streak of chrome light. He slammed into the side of the sky-whale, his silver hands sinking into the blubber.
"[Snatch]!"
The massive beast let out a psychic shriek. The aura around it vanished.
"Rimuru! Now!" Silver shouted.
Rimuru didn't hesitate. "Everyone! Combined attack!"
The Kijin, the Lizardmen, and the Goblins unleashed their full power. Without its regeneration or magic shield, Charybdis was torn apart by the sheer volume of firepower. But as the beast died, its core remained—a core that contained a piece of a certain Demon Lord's power.
The Aftermath and the "Real" Threat
As the dust settled, a new figure appeared in the sky. It was Phobio, a subordinate of the Demon Lord Carrion, who had been manipulated into becoming the host for Charybdis. Milim, seeing the mess was over, finally stepped in to give Phobio a "disciplinary" punch that sent him flying into a mountain.
Later that evening, in the central hall, Silver sat with Rimuru and the Kijin.
"We won," Rimuru said, sighing in his chair. "But that was way too close. If you hadn't taken its skills, Silver, we'd still be out there."
"We need more than just power, Rimuru," Silver said, his silver eyes cold. "We need information. That beast didn't wake up on its own. Someone pointed it at us."
Suddenly, Milim burst into the room, looking uncharacteristically serious. "Hey, guys. I have to go. The other Demon Lords are starting to gossip. If I stay here any longer, they might think you're my subordinates, and then they'll start picking fights just to annoy me."
Rimuru looked sad. "You're leaving already?"
Milim grinned, her energetic self returning. "Don't worry! We're besties! I'll be back for more of those silver-glaze parfaits! And Silver... stop being so serious all the time! You'll turn into a statue!"
As Milim streaked away into the sky, Silver turned to Solomon.
'Solomon, did you manage to [Copy] the core of Charybdis?'
[Answer: Successful. You have acquired the [Veldora-Attribute Core Fragment]. This has stabilized your [Demon Lord Seed]. Your Magicule capacity has increased by 40%.]
'Good,' Silver thought. He looked at the maps of the surrounding kingdoms—Falmuth, Lubelius, the Eastern Empire. 'The manga-fan in me knows that peace never lasts. If the Demon Lords are watching, I need to make sure this city isn't just a home. It needs to be an impregnable fortress.'
"Rimuru," Silver said aloud. "I'm going to spend the next week in the forge with Kaijin. I'm going to Create something the humans call 'Communication Crystals.' We need to know what's happening outside the forest before it arrives at our gates."
"Always working," Rimuru chuckled. "But you're right. Let's get to it, Silver Tempest."
[End of Chapter 8]