Primordial Slime: I Devour The World

Evening had settled across Varkesh. The mountain fortress had fallen silent as the day’s work neared an end. Most of the monsters had already returned to their domains, while the castle’s guards kept watch from the ramparts and towers. Inside the throne room, Rhazek lounged on his throne. Before him hovered a circle of blue light. The magical projection shimmered once before forming Karesh’s image. Behind him stood one of Varkesh’s warriors assigned to the envoy. Rhazek fixed his gaze on Karesh. "Report." Karesh bowed. "Your Majesty." "Speak."

Karesh straightened. "Eldoris is different from Varkesh." Rhazek’s ears twitched. "I expected that." "The separate races all maintain their own leadership and responsibilities. The Kijin and ogres have their leader. The Star Wolves have theirs. The Orcs have theirs. The Goblins maintain their own hierarchy." "And they obey Tanaka?" "Yes." Rhazek leaned back in his chair. "Because he is stronger?" "Not exactly." That answer caught Rhazek’s attention. Karesh went on, "Tanaka is a fair leader in my opinion. He grants authority to his various commanders over their respective domains, but he lets them make many of their own decisions. They obey him, not because he threatens them, but because they trust him." "I find that admirable," Rhazek admitted with a grunt. Karesh remained silent. "I assume you found that surprising?" "Surprising, Your Majesty, not disappointing. That is what I mean by ’admirable.’"

A sharp look came over Rhazek’s crimson eyes. "Explain." "I do not yet fully understand how strong Tanaka is, but I have seen enough to realize that he is no ordinary monster." Rhazek narrowed his eyes. "You stood before him." "I did." "And you failed to assess his power?" "I did." Rhazek glared at the magical projection for a moment before Karesh went on.

"I also learned something else of value." Rhazek waited. "Tanaka does not prove himself strongest amongst his equals. The strength of a King is not in dominating those around him alone." Rhazek’s ears twitched. Karesh continued, "Because everyone has already accepted that he is their ruler. This is what makes him strong." Rhazek rose from his throne. "And you think that makes him strong?" "I think it makes him unique." Rhazek crossed to the enormous map of the Great Verdant Forest. "A King’s power is simple to measure during combat. Karesh watched through the floating projection as Rhazek ran one of his claws along the map. "...but what defines a King is somewhat different." The Varkesh warrior stiffened as he met the monster’s gaze. "A monster can grow strong and powerful, but that does not mean a monster can build a kingdom. A true King has something else to protect." "A real kingdom," Karesh said. Rhazek’s eyes narrowed. "That is why I sent you to observe Tanaka closely."

"Sir, you think Tanaka’s power is enough to allow him to defend Eldoris?" Karesh cast his gaze downward. "Perhaps. I believe that soon we may find out." Rhazek’s eyes gleamed with interest. "And that would be when? Elaborate." "The search party is growing closer to Eldoris’ northern border."

Rhazek’s demeanor shifted. "And the Mages?" "We have yet to be able to detect the corrupted mana core." Rhazek’s claws flexed. "So why are they invading our kingdom?" "Their readings have changed." Rhazek glanced toward the map. "How so?" "The corrupted mana grows stronger the closer they get to the dungeon." That interested Rhazek. They continued, "They believe the dungeon itself is not to blame. The mages believe the corrupted mana core might actually be located somewhere in the surrounding area."

"That is unlikely," Rhazek said. "Why?" "The dungeon is within Eldoris. So it stands to reason that if the core is located near the dungeon, then the search party will soon have to enter Tanaka’s domain." Rhazek smiled. "So the dungeon is not the target?" "No." Rhazek chuckled, "Only the marker." Rhazek’s smile widened. "Excellent work, Karesh." Karesh said nothing, but Rhazek continued to watch him through the floating image. "Have you discovered whether Tanaka suspects what we are looking for?"

"He is aware we are approaching from the north. However, he does not yet seem to be aware of what we are attempting to find." "Good." Rhazek turned away from the magical projection back toward the map. "Stay in Eldoris. Speak to Tanaka more and watch him carefully. Tell me if you think Tanaka may have detected the snare we set for him." "I understand." "I would like you to discover if he manages to avoid the trap altogether."

"I see." Karesh’s expression hardened. "A trap?" Rhazek gave him a knowing smile. "You are our bait." Karesh remained silent. "The attention remains on you while our soldiers continue their search." Karesh gave the slightest nod. "And when the enemy discovers the core?" Rhazek’s expression turned serious. "Then we shall claim it for ourselves."

The magical projection shimmered again before a massive set of doors at Rhazek’s back slid open. A Varkesh warrior entered the castle and fell to his knees immediately. "Your Majesty!" Rhazek turned and regarded the warrior. "What now?" "We have received another scouting report from the northern tracking party." The warrior hesitated. "The mages have discovered something else." "Not the core?" "No, Your Majesty." Rhazek’s expression darkened. "Then speak plainly." The warrior lowered his head. "The mages have discovered they can detect a new concentration of corrupted mana beneath the forest."

"That is interesting," Rhazek said. The warrior went on, "The mages suspect the core might be somewhere near the dungeon, but they require another reading to confirm their suspicions." "How far is it from the dungeon?" "They are not yet certain, Your Majesty. The mages only know the dungeon is the nearest landmark to the core, but they also know the corrupted mana grows stronger the closer they get to the dungeon." Rhazek stared at the map. Eldoris lay just outside the Great Verdant Forest and the castle itself had been built around the dungeon, which meant that the mages’ expedition would have to enter Tanaka’s domain soon enough in order to examine any suspicious landmarks.

Rhazek smiled. "So the dungeon is not our target?" "No, Your Majesty. It is simply a marker." "Excellent work, Karesh." Karesh said nothing as the warrior returned to his king. "Have you discovered whether Tanaka suspects we are searching for something special?" Rhazek was watching his guest through the floating projection again. "The Monster King of Eldoris knows we are approaching from the north," Karesh replied, "but he does not yet appear to have deduced our true purpose." "Good. The next step is for you to continue to learn more about Tanaka," Rhazek said. "Of course, Your Majesty. I am prepared to learn as much as I can about Eldoris."

Karesh knew what he meant. "I want to know if Tanaka realizes our trap just before it is sprung." Karesh’s expression hardened, "A trap? You would use me as bait?" Rhazek’s smile widened. "His gaze will remain on you while our soldiers continue their search." "Understood, Your Majesty. And if the enemy finds the core?" Rhazek’s expression grew stony. "Then we claim it."

Karesh’s face remained tightly controlled as a new set of magical projections took shape. Just then the large doors to the throne room opened again, and another Varkesh warrior entered and immediately dropped to his knees. "Your Majesty." "You have news from the search party?" "The mages have discovered they can sense a new concentration of corrupted mana beneath the forest," the warrior reported.

Rhazek narrowed his eyes. "Where?" "They cannot locate it precisely, but the corrupted mana grows stronger the closer they get to the dungeon." Rhazek’s lips curled upward. "How far is that?" "They claimed they can sense the mana at their very feet." Rhazek smiled approvingly. "Then tell the mages to prepare the tracing ritual." The warrior bowed. "Of course, Your Majesty." Karesh’s expression hardened. "What will it do?" Rhazek turned toward him. "The Mages have been spreading the corruption throughout the forest for weeks. Every ritual they performed left behind traces which would allow this to happen."

Karesh watched Rhazek run his claw carefully over the map. "Now, the traces will lead to the source of the corruption. I want you to tell the Mages we may need more time to confirm their assumption. The ritual will cause the corrupted mana in the area to react to the trace. If the core is not far away, then the reaction will come to the mages’ aid." Karesh’s eyes narrowed. "A trap of mana?" "It certainly seems that way," Rhazek said with a satisfied nod. Karesh was already beginning to understand the plan. "So long as they know where the reaction will come from, they should be prepared to follow the trail," he muttered.

"Then everyone must wait patiently until the mages can trace the signal to its origin." "Of course, Your Majesty." Rhazek turned toward the new warrior. "Prepare every Mage able to take part in the next ritual." The warrior hesitated, for this was a request for every single mage at their disposal. "Every single one of them." Rhazek was growing impatient, prepared to make the effort. "Everyone who can participate in the next ritual." The warrior bowed and hurried out of the throne room. Karesh was watching the floating image of Rhazek’s face. "And what happens if the trail leads directly into Eldoris?" Karesh asked. Rhazek smiled, "Then we will see exactly how strong their King really is."

Again the magical projection shimmered and faded as if the view was not quite clear. Outside, the enslaved human Mages were being forced to take up positions inside a vast ritual circle, the black lines reaching out to smaller circles surrounding it, sensing the direction of the next trace of mana. The mages were tired, and most of them could barely stay on their feet, even as a monstrous red-skinned demon raised his hand to signal the beginning of the rite. The mages began to chant and the clouds of Dark Mana gathered above the large ritual circle before flowing out and down into the tainted forest.