The silence stretched, no sound was heard. Everyone stood frozen in place, contemplating the meaning behind the word "three" that the man had uttered. A solemn expression marked each face, their eyes fixed on the black-robed figure before them. His emotionless demeanor only intensified the tension in the room, making the atmosphere feel even heavier. Everyone, save for Nirvakal and Diablo, wore visible signs of strain. In stark contrast, Nirvakal remained as cold and indifferent as ever, while Diablo's calmness stood unshaken, a stark contrast to the palpable tension surrounding them.
Benimaru and Shion stood still, their expressions subtly shifting as they pondered the meaning behind the word "three." Both wore a mix of tension and curiosity.
Benimaru, his eyes fixed on Nirvakal, was dumbfounded. "What could 'three' mean? Why did he say that?" he wondered, lost in thought.
Shion, unable to decipher its meaning, placed her trust in her Lord Rimuru. She believed he would surely understand. With a slightly tense expression, she remained still—focused solely on Nirvakal, not even blinking.
Diablo, as calm as ever, was in no rush to uncover the meaning. Like Shion, he believed in Rimuru's judgment and didn't trouble himself too much over it. Still, a flicker of curiosity danced in his eyes as he shifted his gaze between Rimuru and Nirvakal.
Rimuru clenched his fists tightly, forcing an awkward smile toward Nirvakal as thoughts raced through his mind. "What could 'three' mean?"
With the atmosphere thick and tense, making it hard to think clearly, Rimuru sought guidance. "Raphael-sensei," he asked inwardly, "what do you think 'three' could mean?"
Raphael responded instantly:
"Answer: This man's actions have been unusual from the beginning. As there is no definite explanation available, I recommend asking him directly. It would be the most efficient and logical course of action."
Rimuru sighed softly upon hearing the answer. With determination settling in, he decided to ask Nirvakal directly.
With his usual casual and friendly tone, calm demeanor, and a faint smile, Rimuru made up his mind. He looked directly at Nirvakal and spoke, his clenched fist betraying the tension he tried to mask.
"Kaal… I was wondering~ what could that 'three' you mentioned mean? Are you accepting or…?" he asked, pausing briefly before continuing, "I'm getting kind of confused here."
Rimuru maintained his smile as he awaited Nirvakal's response, a subtle glimmer of anticipation and curiosity shining in his eyes.
Upon hearing Rimuru's question, Nirvakal looked at him for a brief moment.
Then, with his usual cold demeanor, he replied, "The 'three' I mentioned referred to three conditions..."
He paused for a moment before continuing in the same cold tone,
"Conditions that you would need to accept if you want me to join Tempest and become its ally.
Hearing Nirvakal's response,
A slight hint of joy and excitement flashed in everyone's eyes at the mention of his willingness to join Tempest.
But soon, that joy was replaced by curiosity about what the three conditions could be.
Rimuru's mind briefly danced with joy: So, he's not against the idea of joining Tempest... But that happiness was quickly overshadowed by a new question: What could these three conditions be? I should ask him.
For a moment, a fleeting thought crossed his mind: Let's hope they're not something absurd...
Finally, Rimuru spoke in a casual, comfortable tone, the atmosphere in the room having relaxed a bit after Nirvakal's earlier reply. "So, Kaal... is it alright if I ask what these three conditions are?"
After a brief pause, Rimuru continued, "We'll make our decision after hearing them."
Everyone in the room turned their curious gazes toward Nirvakal, eagerly awaiting the conditions.
Nirvakal, looking at Rimuru, thought something to himself: "It's the first time someone dared to ask me this many questions after those two..."
As the thought lingered, memories of the two figures surfaced in his mind.
He recalled the first one, a young man with red eyes like an erupting volcano, forever burning with fury and chaos. His pale white skin, like snow, froze everything it touched and brought destruction in its wake. His white and silver hair shimmered like countless meteoroids igniting in the night sky. His very presence was capable of tearing apart countless voids, and everything around him seemed to wither and crumble under his overwhelming force. Chaos and destruction followed wherever he went, leaving only annihilation in his wake.
Then, another figure appeared in his thoughts.
This one was a young man with blue eyes, calm and still like the depths of a peaceful sea. His gaze, pure and serene, exuded tranquility, while his skin shone as brightly as the light itself, carrying the essence of countless lives, eternally reborn. His golden hair glowed like the sun's first rays at dawn, heralding the birth of a new day. His presence created new voids, new universes, and new lives, a living embodiment of peace, hope, and renewal. Everything in his wake blossomed with life, light, and endless possibilities.
For a brief moment, Nirvakal's eyes focused on a distant place, far from the voids.
A dark realm, empty save for two lights shining faintly—one red, the other blue... There, two young men slumbered, their eyes closed, unmoving, yet containing strength unmatched.
The light emanating from them grew brighter with each passing day, drawing nearer to the day of their awakening.
While Nirvakal was lost in thoughts about the young men of the past, the flames of battle were rising in the present...
Far from this, we see figures standing in the distance. As we focus,
A young man appears, aged around 25 to 30. His white eyes, like frozen snow—cold, enchanting, yet capable of freezing anyone who dared to look for too long. His pale skin, reminiscent of the ashes of a burnt forest—silent, cold, yet telling the story of its destruction. His gray hair, like crumbled stardust, whispered tales of its own.
The young man was dressed in blue robes, surrounded by a quiet, commanding aura. As we draw closer, their voices become clearer...
The young man spoke in a chillingly calm voice, his face as still as a serene lake.
"There seem to be some strange fluctuations near the realm where 'The Originators' are slumbering..."
He spoke in a detached manner, narrowing his eyes on the figures before him. They were kneeling, showing respect to the man in front of them.
Upon hearing the young man's response, one of the figures kneeling chose to reply.
It was a young woman, appearing to be around 20 to 25 years old, her crimson eyes like a drowning sun in the evening sky—filled with emotions no one could decipher, yet locked away, never to surface. Her skin, as beautiful as moonlight on a still night, smooth and flawless, soft as silk. Her black hair, as dark as a moonless sky, carried an aura of quiet, serene darkness.
She was a beauty that could enchant anyone, one whose presence ruled the hearts of many. Mortals and deities alike worshipped her beauty. Her appearance alone was enough to captivate hearts and make them follow her command. To some, she was a goddess of beauty, a heavenly figure whose mere existence seemed to transcend the mundane.
She wore a white dress that hugged her body perfectly, accentuating her graceful curves. The slim sleeves delicately covered her arms, and a pair of blue, half-moon earrings adorned her soft ears. A natural redness graced her lips, complementing the soft curve of her small nose, while her long eyelashes only heightened her ethereal allure.
Known for her coldness, Celestia was regarded as a cool beauty—her icy demeanor only enhancing the allure of her mysterious, untouchable presence.
As she knelt, her crimson eyes flickered briefly, and she raised her head slightly. In a soft, respectful tone that still carried an undercurrent of authority, she spoke:
"Yes, Lord Nyxir. As time passes and the awakening of The Originators draws nearer, the space surrounding the dark realm is showing signs of crumbling. Each day, the intensity grows, and..."
She paused for a beat, her voice remaining calm and measured as ever.
"...There seem to be many devotees of The Originators gathering there. How shall we deal with them?"
Upon hearing this, Nyxir remained expressionless, his mind racing.
So the devotees have started to gather. This means the awakening of those two is approaching faster than anticipated. Only Lord Nirvakal can handle them... Hmm, the devotees could be troublesome if left unchecked...
He then replied, his voice stern and serious, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a hint of concern,
"Not a single one of you is allowed to approach the realm where The Originators slumber without permission."
The surrounding space grew heavy, and everyone's attention shifted to Nyxir as they listened. He continued, his voice steady and stern.
"As for the devotees," he paused for a moment, then resumed, "observe them for now. Do not take any rash actions. If you detect any abnormalities, report them to me immediately. And remember, as Lord Nirvakal's personally hand-picked servants, you must always bear in mind that we must be victorious when the time to clash with these savages comes. Defeat is not an option. Defeat would prove we have failed to live up to the expectations of our lord."
His tone became more intense, a fierceness building in his voice. With a heartbeat's pause, he declared,
"At all costs..."
Unlike his usual calmness, his voice rose to a commanding shout that resonated through the empty space.
"WE MUST BE VICTORIOUS!!!"
The response was immediate, filled with fiery motivation. The empty space around them seemed to resonate as they shouted in unison, with one hand up clenched as a fist.
"VICTORIOUS!!!"
They all thought just one thing in their mind with fiery eyes, "we must prove our worth as our Lord's servants."
t was Celestia, her gaze steady, her eyes flickering slightly as thoughts stirred within.
"This matter is more complex than it appears... This is the first time I've seen Lord Nyxir step out of his calm, composed demeanor. And it seems I'm not the only one who noticed it."
As the thought crossed her mind, her eyes shifted to several other servants—each of them sharing the same unspoken realization. They exchanged brief glances, silent yet telling.
Their eyes then returned to Nyxir, whose expression had returned to its usual calm. But behind that serene exterior, he seemed lost in thought—deep, quiet, and unreadable.
Thoughts stirred in Nyxir's mind as he stood upright, appearing calm and composed.
But deep within, he was undeniably concerned about the upcoming clash with The Originators.
"The Originators and their devotees seem to have grown stronger since last time. The devotees themselves are not much of a threat—they lack the power to truly challenge us... but the real danger lies in The Originators. They possess abilities beyond comprehension... even thinking about them can kill, unless one is protected by Lord Nirvakal's power, as we are..."
As this thought lingered, Nyxir unconsciously turned his gaze toward the world Nirvakal had ventured into—before shifting it back toward the servants and issuing the command to observe the devotees.
Silence returned to the voidless realm as Nyxir departed to tend to other matters...
Meanwhile, in the world where Nirvakal had gone…
Darkness loomed over the sky, the moon hidden behind thick clouds. The streets of Tempest lay empty, and the city hall radiated a heavy, pressing atmosphere.
Inside the conference room…
Rimuru and his subordinates sat in silence, their eyes fixed on Nirvakal, awaiting the answer to the mysterious "three conditions" he had mentioned earlier.
Tension hung in the air—heavy, expectant.
At last, Nirvakal spoke, his voice cold and detached as ever:
"The three conditions I mentioned earlier are..."
With a brief pause, he continued—
"First: I will not take orders from anyone."
"Second: Do not investigate my past."
"Third and last: No one in Tempest shall interfere in my affairs, nor attempt to restrict my actions."
His gaze swept over the room.
"If you want me to be Tempest's ally... these are the conditions you must accept."
Silence fell across the room.
Everyone sat in stunned disbelief, dumbfounded by the sheer absurdity of the conditions they had just heard.
It was as if Nirvakal had declared,
"I will live in your house as I please… but you can't question or stop me."
When Benimaru heard these conditions, his eyes widened in surprise. He didn't even have words—his eyes twitched as waves of thoughts surged through his mind.
"What are these absurd conditions…" he thought, glancing toward Nirvakal.
"He might be somewhat strong, but we don't know his motives. They could very well pose a threat to Tempest. And that part about not investigating his past… it clearly means there's something he doesn't want us to find out. Honestly, if someone agrees to these terms, they're either drunk, dumb, or this man is truly worth that much. But right now, I just don't see it."
As these thoughts swirled in his head, Benimaru looked at Rimuru—who was also still frozen in shock after hearing Nirvakal's conditions.
But then,
Benimaru suddenly remembered something and quickly turned to look at Shion, whose expression was a mix of anger and disbelief. Her arm was raised, fist clenched near her face—her reaction loud even in silence.
Benimaru, now visibly concerned, thought,
"She better not blurt something out now out of anger… like she usually does."
But to Benimaru's surprise,
Shion, though clearly furious, didn't say anything. Her clenched fist slowly lowered, and her expression began to ease. The flames of her anger quieted down as she thought,
"There's no reason for me to be angry… Lord Rimuru would surely not accept these conditions, right?"
She glanced at the dumbfounded Rimuru, and then, with a cheerful expression blooming on her face, she thought,
"Looking at Lord Rimuru's face, he would surely not accept these absurd conditions! And he would definitely praise me for not getting angry and keeping my calm!"
Benimaru, Shion, and Rimuru were quite surprised, which was clearly visible on their faces.
But in contrast, Diablo was only slightly taken aback. Ever since Nirvakal arrived in Tempest, his actions had been unpredictable. Diablo had expected some absurd conditions when Nirvakal mentioned the three, but hearing them in person still managed to surprise him. Yet, a faint smile crept onto his face as he looked at Nirvakal.
"Kukuku, things are getting interesting. I didn't expect Kaal to mention these kinds of conditions. I had expected some absurdity, but it exceeded my expectations…" He then glanced at the still-shocked Rimuru.
"Judging by Lord Rimuru's expression, the chances of him accepting these conditions are quite low. The first two conditions probably don't matter much to him, as he's a free-minded individual who doesn't want to control others unless necessary. He's said before—he won't dwell in someone's past unless they themselves choose to share it. But the third condition... that's the real problem. Kukuku, let's see what he does."
We see Rimuru's stunned expression, thoughts swirling like a tornado in his mind. Hearing the first two conditions from Nirvakal didn't bother him much, but after hearing the third, his eyes twitched and disbelief overtook his face as he cursed inwardly,
"Why did I even think something cliché like 'Let's hope it's nothing absurd'... I don't mind the first two conditions…" Rimuru glanced at Nirvakal.
"But the third condition is not something I can accept. If I do, he could cause harm to Tempest and its people. And what use is someone if accepting them brings more harm than benefit…?"
Rimuru pondered for a bit, readying himself to respond to Nirvakal...
But suddenly...
He heard a voice in his head saying…
"Accept the conditions..."
To be continued…