The Greatest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Tensura

The watchtower fell into an eerie silence as we all leaned forward, eyes glued to the magical projection before us. This was the moment we had been waiting for—the first encounter between Veldora and the slime.

Inside the cave, Veldora finally lost patience and decided to make the first move.

His voice rumbled through the cave, echoing off the stone walls.

"Hey there, little one, can you hear me?"

On the screen, we saw the slime freeze mid-bounce.

Then, it suddenly started bouncing around in different directions, turning left and right as if searching for something.

Velzard chuckled. "He doesn't have eyes, yet he's still looking around."

Ultima burst out laughing. "He's like a headless chicken!"

Even Diablo smirked. "Quite the amusing sight."

Veldora, watching the confused slime, let out a deep sigh of irritation.

"I know you can hear me, little one. Come closer."

The slime hesitated but then slowly bounced toward the sound of the voice.

As he got close, we saw Veldora narrow his eyes. His golden pupils sharpened as he examined the featureless, gelatinous blob. Then, his eye twitched.

"Who are you calling baldy?!" Veldora suddenly snapped.

The entire watchtower erupted in laughter.

Carrera practically fell backward. "Wait, did the slime actually call him that?!"

Testarossa grinned. "Probably in his thoughts."

I smirked. "Great Sage must have given him some analysis, and Veldora got offended anyway."

The slime wiggled slightly, confused, but then spoke for the first time.

The slime's voice was young, soft, yet unsure.

"Uh… who are you?"

Veldora crossed his arms, smirking. "Hmph! I am Veldora, the mighty Storm Dragon!" His voice boomed proudly throughout the cave, shaking the walls slightly.

The slime wiggled again. "Storm Dragon? What's that?"

Veldora stiffened.

Diablo let out a chuckle. "Oh, that must've hurt his pride."

Veldora cleared his throat. "I am a fearsome dragon! The most powerful being in this land! …Or at least, I was, before I got sealed."

The slime bounced slightly in interest. "Sealed? How did that happen?"

Veldora sighed dramatically, looking away. "Ah, it was a mere… misunderstanding."

Velzard rolled her eyes. "A misunderstanding, huh?"

Veldora continued, his tone growing more dramatic. "I may have… accidentally destroyed a village."

The slime froze. "Accidentally?"

Veldora waved a claw dismissively. "Yes, yes, just a little fire here and there. Nothing major! But then this annoying Hero came and trapped me in here!"

The slime seemed to process this for a moment before speaking.

"Well… I don't know how I got here either. I was killed in another world, and then suddenly, I woke up here… as a slime."

Veldora raised an eyebrow. "Another world?"

The slime wiggled again. "Yeah. One moment I was a normal guy, then I got stabbed, and now I'm here. But I guess it's not so bad."

Velzard raised an eyebrow. "Huh… So the slime doesn't seem too upset about it."

I chuckled. "Well, that's Rimuru for you."

After a moment, the slime spoke again, sounding slightly unsure.

"By the way… I can't actually see you."

Veldora blinked. "…What?"

The slime wobbled in place. "Yeah, I've just been following my instinct, but I don't actually have eyes."

Veldora stared at him for a long moment before smirking.

"Then I shall bestow upon you the power of sight! But… be warned, little one."

The slime tilted slightly. "Huh? Warned about what?"

Veldora's smirk widened. He slowly stood up, straightening his form and flexing his massive wings. His golden eyes gleamed as he struck the perfect, most powerful-looking pose.

Velzard facepalmed. "Oh no, he's about to be dramatic again."

Ultima snickered. "This is gonna be good."

Veldora lifted a claw and gestured grandly.

"Do not be afraid when you see my true form, for I am the mighty, majestic, and undeniably awe-inspiring Storm Dragon, Veldora!"

Then, he activated a small burst of magic and let his aura flare dramatically, casting a shimmering light across the cave.

I smirked and whispered through Thought Communication. "Nice pose."

Veldora grinned. "I know, right?"

Then he continued.

"Now, little one, try to feel the magicules around you. Focus… and open your 'eyes' to the world."

The slime hesitated, then stilled.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then, we saw it—a faint ripple of energy around the slime's body. The air distorted slightly, and then…

The slime suddenly tensed.

A beat of silence.

Then—

"A… A FREAKING DRAGON?!!"

The slime jumped backward, screaming.

Veldora threw his head back and let out a loud, thunderous laugh. "HAHAHAHAHA! YES, BEHOLD MY GLORIOUS FORM!"

The entire watchtower exploded with laughter.

Carrera was on the floor, kicking her legs. "Oh my god, the slime FREAKED OUT!"

Ultima wiped away a tear. "That was the best reaction ever."

Testarossa smirked. "Veldora really knows how to make an entrance."

Even Velzard, despite herself, chuckled. "He's such a show-off."

Diablo gave a light chuckle. "It seems the slime will have an… interesting first companion."

I smirked, watching the projection of the two inside the cave.

The Storm Dragon and the little Slime.

The watchtower was silent once again, everyone focused on the magical projection as Veldora and the little slime continued their conversation inside the cave.

Veldora, now feeling comfortable with his new companion, continued to talk about his past, occasionally boasting about his strength and how he once terrorized the land. The slime, however, didn't seem too fazed.

After a while, the slime suddenly bounced backward slightly.

"Alright then, I guess I should get going."

Veldora froze mid-sentence.

Velzard, Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera all leaned forward, smirking.

"Oh no…" Ultima whispered. "He's gonna do it."

On the screen, Veldora suddenly dropped his wings slightly, lowered his head, and let out a long, deep sigh. His massive claws scraped the stone floor as he slumped forward.

"Ah… I see… You're leaving already… I guess… I'll just be alone again… for another few centuries… or maybe even eternity…"

His voice trembled slightly, putting on an almost comically exaggerated performance of sadness.

In the watchtower, Carrera snorted. "Damn, that's some top-tier guilt-tripping."

Back in the cave, the slime stopped bouncing and hesitated.

"Uh… well, how about… we become friends?"

Veldora's head immediately snapped up. His golden eyes widened in mock surprise.

"What? I, the mighty Storm Dragon, becoming friends… with a mere slime?"

The slime suddenly wiggled nervously.

"Oh… uh… sorry. Never mind then…"

The slime slowly turned around, preparing to leave.

Everyone in the watchtower held their breath, waiting for it.

Then—

"WAIT! I never said no!" Veldora suddenly blurted out.

The slime stopped, turning back slightly.

Veldora grumbled to himself for a second before crossing his arms and looking away.

"Fine! I shall be your friend. R-Rejoice, slime! It is a great honor to be friends with me!"

The slime wiggled slightly. "This dragon is such a tsundere…"

Velzard raised an eyebrow. "Tsundere? What is that word?"

Testarossa smirked. "Probably from his past life."

Diablo chuckled. "How amusing."

Veldora, now seeming a little more at ease, examined the slime closely.

"Wait a minute… You don't have a name, do you?"

The slime shifted in place. "Uh… my name is—"

He suddenly paused.

The slime tried again. "…I am—"

But no sound came out.

Veldora grinned knowingly. "Hah! Just as I thought. You are nameless."

The slime wiggled in confusion. "Nameless?"

Veldora nodded. "Indeed. Names hold great power in this world."** He sat up, looking somewhat proud of himself as he explained.** "It is not common for a monster to have a name. Only the strong can bestow them, and those who do must be careful, for naming a creature consumes a large portion of their magic."

The slime tilted slightly, processing the information.

"Wait… so if a weak person names someone, they could die?"

Veldora grinned. "Precisely! But worry not, little one! For I am the mighty Storm Dragon! Naming you will be but child's play for me!"

The slime wiggled excitedly. "Really? You'll name me?"

Veldora stroked his chin, acting as if he were deep in thought.

He let out a hmmmmm, glancing at the slime with a dramatic expression.

"…Yes. I shall bestow upon you a name fitting of my first friend."

The watchtower fell into silence as we all leaned in.

Veldora then grinned confidently.

"From this day forth, you shall be… Rimuru!"

The slime froze.

A moment later—

A radiant glow burst from the slime's body.

The entire cave shimmered with blue light, casting eerie yet beautiful patterns on the stone walls. The slime quivered, as if feeling something powerful engraving itself into its very being.

Rimuru felt a rush of power flow through him, his body shifting slightly as the name took root.

Veldora, watching the transformation, smirked.

"Hah! And since I already bear the last name Tempest, you shall take it as well!"

He raised a claw grandly.

"You are now Rimuru Tempest!"

Rimuru bounced up and down excitedly. "Rimuru… Tempest? Wow… I actually feel stronger!"

Veldora laughed loudly. "Of course you do! My names are powerful!"

The watchtower was filled with amused smiles.

Velzard crossed her arms. "He's so proud of himself."

Ultima smirked. "He really thinks he's some wise sage, doesn't he?"

I chuckled. "Well, it worked, didn't it?"

Back in the cave, Rimuru settled down after a moment and then hesitated.

"Hey, Veldora… I don't really want to leave you behind."

Veldora blinked in surprise.

Rimuru continued. "You're my first friend. I don't want to leave you sealed away like this."

The dragon stared at him for a long moment, then grinned. "Hah! A noble sentiment, but alas, this barrier is unbreakable."

Rimuru fell into deep thought.

Then, suddenly, his body twitched.

In the watchtower, we all watched as Rimuru suddenly turned toward Veldora with excitement.

"Wait! What if I eat you?"

The entire room fell silent.

Veldora blinked. "…What?"

Carrera burst out laughing. "Oh my god, I was not expecting that."

Testarossa smirked. "That's certainly… an interesting solution."

Back in the cave, Rimuru wiggled a little nervously.

"I mean, I have this skill called 'Predator.' If I swallow you into my stomach, maybe I can analyze the barrier from the inside and find a way to break it!"

Veldora stared at him.

Then—

He suddenly burst into laughter.

"HAHAHAHA! Swallow me, you say? Hah! Very well, do as you wish! I shall place my trust in you, my friend!"

Rimuru bounced slightly, getting ready.

Then, with a sudden surge of dark blue energy, he activated Predator.

A massive black vortex formed in front of him, swirling with an intense gravitational pull.

Veldora closed his eyes and allowed himself to be pulled in. His entire form shimmered with golden light as he vanished into the abyss of Rimuru's stomach.

The cave fell silent.

Then, Rimuru wiggled slightly, blinking.

"Huh… that actually worked."

In the watchtower, Diablo chuckled. "And thus, the legend of Rimuru Tempest begins."

I smirked. "Indeed. This… is where it all truly starts."