Primordial Slime: I Devour The World

Veyra’s knees trembled. She fought to remain standing, gripping the edges of her robes as the pressure pressed against her chest. Her spirit magic flickered around her tails before collapsing, the carefully controlled mana structures failing beneath the weight of Tanaka’s presence. She had heard stories about the slime king.

She had dismissed most of them. A monster who defeated Rhazek and brought Varkesh under his authority was certainly dangerous, but Veyra had believed that careful preparation could eliminate any threat. Her people had survived by gathering information, identifying weaknesses and acting before their enemies became too powerful. She had thought Tanaka was another ambitious ruler who could be removed before his influence spread.

Now she understood the distance between her calculations and reality. Tanaka looked around the chamber. ”Anyone else?” Nobody answered. His gaze moved toward the wolf representatives, then the Lion King, and finally returned to Veyra.

”I came here peacefully. I accepted your invitation, obeyed your laws, and made no attempt to interfere with your politics.” His voice carried through the hall. ”Yet someone tried to poison me, prepared magical traps inside this building, and nearly killed Raizen.” Aldren’s expression darkened.

”No. Whoever arranged this attack has violated the authority of the Wolf Crown.” ”Then find them.” Tanaka turned toward Veyra. ”Start with her.” The Foxfolk Matriarch’s eyes widened. Several Foxfolk representatives immediately rose.

”This is outrageous!” one of them shouted. ”You cannot accuse the Matriarch without evidence!” Tanaka looked at him. ”Then explain the spirit magic used in the attacks.” The representative faltered. Tanaka pointed toward the damaged formations.

”The first attack used a poisoned projectile. The second formation was hidden beneath the assembly floor, connected to concealed channels that bypassed the defensive wards. Both attacks relied on spirit magic, and the poison was prepared to kill anyone who survived the initial strike.” He paused. ”Someone planned this carefully.”

Veyra finally spoke. ”Those techniques are used by more than the Foxfolk. You cannot conclude that I ordered the attack simply because spirit magic was involved.” Tanaka regarded her quietly. ”You’re right.” Her expression shifted slightly.

He continued. ”But you haven’t answered a single question about the attack itself.” Veyra’s ears lowered. Tanaka’s aura pressed against the chamber. ”I’m not attacking you, Lady Veyra. I don’t need to. I’m giving you an opportunity to explain why someone tried to murder me and why the evidence keeps leading back to your people.”

He turned toward Aldren. ”Your Majesty, I came here as a guest. I expect whoever is responsible to be investigated according to your laws, and I expect the people who arranged this to face the consequences.” Aldren rose from his throne. ”You have my word that the Wolf Crown will investigate this matter fully.”

Tanaka nodded. Then he looked back at Veyra. ”Now, let us try again. Did you arrange these attacks?”

For several seconds, Veyra remained silent. Her representatives watched her anxiously, while the other rulers waited. The pressure in the hall was becoming difficult to endure, and she knew that a denial would no longer make the evidence disappear. Finally, she exhaled.

”I authorized an operation against Lord Tanaka.” The assembly erupted. Several rulers shouted in disbelief, while the Foxfolk representatives surged to their feet. One demanded that she retract her words, and another accused the Wolf Crown of forcing a confession from their Matriarch. Aldren slammed his hand against the arm of his throne.

”Silence!” The chamber quieted. Veyra closed her eyes briefly. ”I believed Eldoris would become a threat to the balance of the Beastfolk Lands. A monster nation had appeared beyond the Great Verdant Forest, defeated a Monster King, absorbed Varkesh, and begun expanding its influence through trade and alliances.” Her expression tightened.

”I believed that allowing you to attend this gathering would give you an opportunity to strengthen those relationships before the other nations understood what you were becoming.” Tanaka’s voice remained cold. ”So you decided to kill me.” ”Yes.” The answer came reluctantly.

”I ordered an assassin to attack you before the assembly. When that failed, I authorized the concealed formations inside this hall as a contingency, intended to eliminate you during the gathering and prevent you from consolidating your influence.” Raizen’s claws scraped against the stone. Tanaka raised one arm slightly, stopping him from advancing.

He hadn’t forgotten the wound in Raizen’s shoulder, but he wasn’t going to let anger turn this into another battle. ”Who else knew?” Veyra hesitated. ”Two senior members of the Foxfolk council helped arrange the preparations. They believed the attack would prevent a larger conflict.” ”And the assassin?”

”He was recruited through a private network. I don’t know who supplied the poison.” Tanaka narrowed his eyes. The confession explained the attacks, but it also revealed something far more troubling. The Foxfolk Matriarch had been willing to murder a visiting ruler inside the Wolf King’s own assembly hall because she feared what his nation might become.

She had tried to prevent a future threat by creating an immediate one. Tanaka gradually withdrew his aura. The crushing pressure vanished from the hall, and the city beyond the fortress began returning to normal. He deactivated Dragon Transformation and returned to his ordinary human form.

”Well,” he said, glancing at the damaged chamber, ”that was a terrible introduction.” Nobody laughed. Tanaka turned toward Aldren. ”The attack has ended. What happens next is up to you and your laws.” The Wolf King’s expression remained hard.

”Lady Veyra Vossari, you are relieved of your authority pending a full investigation. You and every individual involved in this conspiracy will remain under the Wolf Crown’s custody until the council determines the consequences.” Foxfolk guards surrounded their former Matriarch. Veyra didn’t resist. Tanaka glanced at Raizen, whose wound had finally stopped bleeding.

”Let’s get you treated.” Then he looked toward the Wolf King. ”I still intend to attend the meeting.” Aldren studied him for a long moment before nodding. ”After what has happened, Lord Tanaka, I doubt anyone will object to your presence.” Tanaka smiled faintly.

”Good. Because I think we have quite a lot to discuss.”