Primordial Slime: I Devour The World

The guild doors slammed open.

”Guild Master!” A deep voice barked. The scarred adventurer stepped in, flanked by three members in dented plate. ”We’ve got a problem. And we need every able body. Now.”

The guild master, a man in his early fifties came out of his office looking stressed out. His red hair was disheveled and his brown eyes seemed to bore holes into everyone. This was the guild master. His eyes had bags under them like he hadn’t slept for days.

”What is it now? You’d better have something good, Coran.”

”It is.. not good, Guild Master. A flock of wyverns are on their way here.”

”Uh uh. How many. Can’t be more than fifty, we should be able to handle them.” The guild master replied.

One of the men with Coran suddenly spoke. ”These are not ordinary wyverns. They are Greater Wyverns and they are being led by the Wyvern Lord,, Zarathiel the Storm.”

The noisy guild went dead silent. A named monster. And not just named. A monster lord.

”Impossible.” The guild master said like he just woke up. ”How’s it possible for a monster lord to appear like that. This city won’t survive. Quick give information to evacuate.”

Tanaka looked at Nira and whispered. ”What’s a monster lord?”

”I’ll tell you on the way, first evacuation.” She replied dashing for the door. Tanaka nodded and followed her. Outside there was a panic as people were running helter-sketer finding a way to leave the city.

”Is a monster lord really that scary.” Tanaka spoke up seeing how people were running in fright.

”A monster lord isn’t just strong, Tanaka,” Nira said, dragging him toward the gate as people shoved past them. ”It’s smart. Most monsters just kill. A lord thinks. It gathers. It leads. Once a monster’s magic core hits rank C or B, it’s already a disaster. Give it a name and it gets worse. But the first one to evolve and take command of its kind? That’s a lord. Not every monster can. ”

Tanaka wondered.

His soul record showed he was a Greater Devour Slime at rank C. He magic core was also rank C.

Wait. Does that mean I’m a monster lord. Well now that I think of it.

Same with Eldrin, I think he can be a monster lord, interesting, can I evolve all the monsters to monster lord.

______

Zarathiel flew at the front of the flock, his massive wings cutting through the clouds. Below him, the roads leading toward Rosen City were filled with fleeing humans.

He could smell their fear.

His golden eyes narrowed as he looked toward the distant city walls.

Humans.

Always building.

Always expanding.

Always believing the land belonged to them.

Zarathiel spread his wings wider, and the wyverns behind him followed.

He had not come here for food.

He had not come here for territory.

Something had disturbed his domain, and now he would remind the humans who truly ruled the skies.

A low growl escaped his throat.

”Advance.”

The command traveled through the flock.

Hundreds of wings beat against the sky.

The storm followed its lord.

_______

Tanaka could see it. This city would be destroyed. Even in human form, some of his slime physiology seeped into him. Due to this, he could see the flock of wyverns coming. And in front of them, was a bigger one. That must be Zarathiel.

Soon the city was nearly evacuated but adventurers and certain others remained behind. Elves, dwarves, and Rabbit beast people were waiting. Soon Zarathiel was only a few kilometers from appearing at the city and the humans began their assault.

This people, they are not even calm to find out why he’s coming. I guess all humans in this world are alike. Killing anything they consider monsters.

Tanaka growled and his aura leaked out. He was angry. Why were humans always against other races. Suddenly his monster lord aura leaked out. Everyone around him misinterpreted it as Zarathiel’s aura. Except Nari that is.

”Tanaka, what’s up with your aura.”

He quickly stopped it. ”Sorry, I released my beast tamer aura. I tried to intimidate it.”

What just happened? I’ve never done that before.

”Right.” Her tone showed she wasn’t convinced. ”Beast Tamer aura uh.”

Zarathiel also sensed it and looked towards the city. ”A fellow monster lord. Interesting.”

He suddenly increased his speed, ignoring the magic attacks and crashed into the city walls, destroying it with his descent. The army of humans, dwarves and others stared at him. He ignored them, looking for the one who emitted monster lord aura.

”Who is the monster lord here. Reveal yourself!”

Everyone looked at him strangely. The other wyverns also gradually appeared floating on the sky. Growling at the gathering. Tanaka wished the floor would open up and swallow him.

”Zarathiel. I don’t know what you are talking about. Please why are you attacking us. I thought we had a truce.” The guild master unafraid said to the angry wyvern.

”Tanaka, do you think you can tame a monster lord.” Nira whispered to Tanaka who was busy analyzing the wyvern. The creature was insanely strong. That much was obvious. Another thing he noticed was how it carried itself. The other wyverns were growling and intimidating the adventurers but none of them moved.

”Interesting.” He suddenly spoke up. Nira was confused. ”Uh Tanaka, what’s interesting?”

He finally looked at her. ”Their organization. They are angry but none of them have broken out to attack. And Zarathiel is being diplomatic. He’s asking questions, not thrashing. I can’t believe a monster can have that high intelligence.”

I was human, so I’m different. Just how intelligent must a monster be to become a lord. Although the magic core is also important.

”YOU ELVES AND OTHERS. I HAVE NO BUSINESS WITH YOU!” Zarathiel boomed. ”If any of you is the monster lord, reveal yourself and I’ll speak else, this city would be decimated.”

”Nira. Can humans be monster lords too.”

Nira stared at Tanaka as if he asked if a beastfolk could lay eggs. ”Tanaka, monster lord. The key word is monster. Oh and in the world’s classification. Elves, Spirits, Dwarves, Giants are not considered monsters but each have their own unique high rank on par with monster lords.” Tanaka frowned. ”What kind of system is that? Do everyone just go with that without questioning it. Each monster have their own life you know. They shouldn’t just be hunted for the world’s sake.”

”Are you advocating for monsters now. Beast Tamer.” Nira chuckled. ”That’s how the world works Tanaka. We just follow through.”

”WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT WAS A SELF DEFENSE!!” Zarathiel suddenly bellowed.

”Oh crap, what happened now. We were hooked on our conversation, we missed what happened.” Nira said and she looked forward and shocked.

Tanaka was also surprised.

The guild master was being squeezed by Zarathiel. Tanaka knew the guild master was strong but he was being held in one hand.

”What happened?” He asked one of the other adventurers who frowned. ”Weren’t you listening? Guild Master Ryker is probably dying today because of those bastards.”

Those bastards??

Tanaka saw and grimaced. Scar face and his friends were behind the guild master shivering. Seems he protected them. Tanaka could feel mana charged in the air.

”What did they do now?”

An adventurer who heard his question gave a brief rundown of what happened.

He didn’t look at Tanaka. He was staring at Zarathiel’s claw around the Guild Master’s chest.

He pointed at Coran the Scarface who was pale. The other three wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

”They went for crystals. Found a big vein guarded by a lesser wyvern. Young one. Barely adult.

Coran’s team ganged up on it. Said it attacked first. Tore it apart for the crystal in its chest and the hide. Brought the big piece back here to sell. They wanted to come report. Instead of giving a report. They called for an emergency.

He jerked his head toward Zarathiel.

”Looks like the lord got what happened before we could.”

Guild Master Ryker coughed. Blood dripped from his mouth. ”Please, I promise to pay reparations. But spare them and us.”

Zarathiel didn’t answer. He just tightened his grip. The elves and the others looked away. This was human problem now.

Tanaka sighed. His first human city and it was about to get erased. He didn’t want to reveal himself as a monster. What would they do if they discovered it. What would Zarathiel also do once he discovered Tanaka was a monster. Would he stop to listen.

Tanaka thoughts trailed.

What would you have me do if you were here, little slime. You’d probably nudge me to protect everyone.

Tanaka sighed again.

Nira looked at him. ”You really love sighing. That’s twice now.”

Tanaka shrugged. What was he to do? Reveal himself as a monster and risk fighting Zarathiel. Stay as human and sneak out of the city by turning to his slime form.

Protect himself or Protect everyone.

Ryker still stubbornly refused to deny Coron and his friends.

Zarathiel growled. His jaw clenched. Then he turned, and flung Ryker. He glared at all the other adventurers, dwarves, elves still standing their ground, and spoke loud enough for the whole city to hear.

”So you’ll protect human trash. Typical. Then I’ll protect my people by erasing you all. Wyverns.. Attack!”