[D.S] Ch 1~5

1: A New World, The Voyage Begins!

— — — — — — 

"Finally, a new world..."

On a small, lonely island, space itself split open like torn fabric. From that crack, two figures slowly stepped out.

"But the question is, which world? Hope it's a cool anime."

"... I wish there was someone nearby so I could guess at least." Rimuru stretched his neck, scanning the surroundings. Other than the barren island beneath his feet, there was nothing but the endless blue ocean.

"Well, whatever. Ranga!"

The moment his voice fell, a massive wolf the size of an elephant burst out from his shadow, growling as it appeared.

"Master, why have you summoned me? Is there an enemy nearby?" the star wolf asked, standing protectively in front of Rimuru. Then, with a playful gleam, it leaned down and gave him a big lick.

"Nope, no enemies. I just felt like hanging out with you," Rimuru replied with a laugh.

Ranga—his friend, his loyal subordinate, and his occasional mount. And for some reason… his favorite pastime seemed to be licking Rimuru. Literally. Like he was ice cream.

With a light hop, Rimuru landed on Ranga's back.

"Let's just pick a random direction for now. Once we bump into someone, we can ask where we are."

"Okay!"

Ranga's paws slapped against the sea, his body shooting forward at impossible speed. To a normal person, his figure would be invisible; the only trace of his passing was the spray of white foam trailing behind.

---

(So, you might be wondering, my dear readers… what the fuck is going on? Well, I'm glad you asked, but if you'd just shut up for a sec, the MC was about to introduce himself. Honestly, why the rush? You should be ashamed for even asking something that basic. You didn't read my author's note, did you?)

(Shame on you)

---

[MC POV]

Ahem...

My name is Rimuru Tempest.

Sure, I might look like a loli right now—but in reality, I'm actually a cute slime with the soul of a man.

A part-time Demon Lord? Yes, I'm. But all things considered, I'd like to think I'm still a good man.... or good slime?

I used to be human. Satoru Mikami. Just a salaryman. Seriously, the most ordinary guy you could imagine.

But thanks to some bizarre twist of fate, I ended up in "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime".

Not only did I become Slime, I also got saddled with this weird system. Why weird? Well… because it exists solely to let me have fun.

No missions. No ultimate goal. Just… gacha rolls. And I've pulled a ton of fun stuff. The best prize? A "Dimensional Guild." Basically a cross-world club where I can invite people in and install features like abilities, Gachas, stat boosts, even a virtual battlefield.

So what's my real system? No idea.

Even though I was surprised after watching the anime, my life was unfolding right in front of me. I was super confused, but I just treated it as another cheat.

Anyway, my life went way off-script compared to the original plot. I saved the Ogres. Shizu survived thanks to a vial of Water of Life I pulled from the Gacha. And I'm way, way stronger than the Rimuru from the anime. To put it bluntly—one-on-one, I'm basically untouchable.

With my strength, Tempest's development went way smoother too. Not only did I easily win the other Demon Lords' approval, I became close friends with several of them and pulled them into the Guild. In a sense, the Dimensional Guild already rules that entire world.

…Except now, all the Demon Lords are addicted to games. Even Veldora. He spends his days teaming up with Milim, Ramiris, and the rest for dungeon raids. And after that, they jump into League of Legends—or whatever other ridiculous, time-consuming game you can imagine.

I loved it at the beginning, but lately it has been torture.

Just guess who got stuck with the paperwork for the entire nation? Yep. Me. Fucking me.

Even with Raphael helping, I nearly died at my desk. Seriously, how could they treat a slime this way?! Where are Slime rights organizations?

But by yesterday, the world had finally stabilized. Only minor issues were left, so I dumped those onto Shion and the others, then opened a space-time gate and set out to explore this new world. About time I got a vacation.

Well, that's my story.

...

A few hours later—

"Master, there's a ship ahead." Ranga's deep voice broke the calm. His golden eyes locked onto a massive vessel shaped like the head of a whale.

"A ship shaped like a whale? Weird design. What's with the whale motif?" Rimuru mumbled, still groggy from a nap.

"Wait—no way…" His eyes suddenly went wide. As a diehard fan of Whitebeard, he recognized it instantly. A whale-headed ship? That had to be the Moby Dick! Which meant… he was in the world of One Piece.

How could he miss the chance to meet the strongest man in this world? Rimuru's excitement spiked.

"Ranga, head over there. I want to meet this world's greatest man. The man I respect."

"As you command, my master!"

Ranga dashed across the waves, streaking toward the Moby Dick at lightning speed.

...

Meanwhile, aboard that colossal ship, a towering man with a body like a mountain sat upon his throne, gazing across the horizon.

"How interesting…" His booming voice rolled across the deck, reaching every corner of the ship. "Sons! Get ready—we've got a guest incoming!"

— — —

Bang!

Ranga leapt from the sea and landed hard on the deck of the Moby Dick. The impact shook the entire ship, sending the crew staggering.

"Who the hell dares to provoke the Whitebeard Pirates?!"

"Sorry! Sorry! He didn't mean it," Rimuru quickly raised both hands and scolded the wolf under him. "Ranga, don't jump that high! We came to say hi, not pick a fight. Got it?"

"Wooo…" Ranga whimpered, looking pitiful. He hadn't meant any harm.

"Alright, alright, I'm not really mad." Rimuru rubbed his head gently, soothing him.

The moment those words left Rimuru's mouth, Ranga perked up immediately, his tail wagging so fast it looked like an electric fan. "Yes, Master!"

While Rimuru was busy calming Ranga, the crew of the Whitebeard Pirates just stood there in stunned silence. Even Whitebeard himself raised his brows.

Through his Observation Haki, he could feel it clearly: that little blue-haired "girl" carried a terrifyingly powerful energy inside her. Enough to put real pressure on him. And the wolf… that wolf wasn't any less threatening.

'When did monsters this strong start showing up on the seas?' Whitebeard thought.

"Hey, kid! Do you even know where you are?" one of the grunts shouted.

"Kid?" Rimuru's eye twitched. 'Excuse me? I'm an adult.' He took a deep breath. A Demon Lord does not bicker with idiots. Then he turned to the man sitting on the throne. His eyes lit up.

"The live Whitebeard!"

He stared at the giant man with shining eyes.

"…What, have you seen me dead or something, brat?" Whitebeard chuckled.

He'd met countless people in his life, but never someone with eyes like that—so pure, so clear, so bright. Eyes like that couldn't be faked; they belonged only to children untainted by the world.

"That's not what I meant!" Rimuru waved his hands frantically. "Well… okay, technically I have seen your corpse, but that doesn't count, right? Um… how do I explain this… uh in the future—"

"Gurararara! Forget it, no need to explain." Whitebeard laughed.

"…Wait, so you don't care about your own death? I know the future, I can even prove it to you." Rimuru said in surprise.

"Brat, I said no need. Everyone has to face death someday. As a man who sails the seas—how could he ever fear it? I am Whitebeard! Not even the gods can take me down so easily!" Whitebeard roared, raising his massive sake cup and drinking deep.

"That's right! Pops will never die! We'll never be defeated!" the crew shouted in unison, fired up by his words. This was their father—the strongest man in the world!

Rimuru couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, that's exactly who you are."

"So cute," some of the crew thought, struck dumb by Rimuru's smile. 

"What's your name?" Whitebeard set down his sake cup.

"My name's Rimuru Tempest. I'm a slime! And also… a Demon Lord," Rimuru declared proudly.

"…A Demon Lord?" Whitebeard stared at him. "What, you kill enemies by making them laugh to death?"

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?! Why can't I be a Demon Lord?" Rimuru's cheeks puffed red. 

Whitebeard snorted. "Don't think I haven't read my share of stories. Demon Lords are supposed to be fierce, brutal, and terrifying in any story. You? You look more like… 'Cute Lord.'"

Rimuru instantly thought of Milim Nava, Ramiris, and the other so-called Demon Lords he knew. Okay, fine, maybe he didn't kind of fit into that group. But still!

"I am a Demon Lord!" Rimuru glared at him, gritting his teeth.

"Fine, fine. You're a Demon Lord. Of course you are." Whitebeard smirked. "So then, our adorable Demon Lord, what brings you here?"

'He is doing it on purpose! He has to be!' Rimuru was about ready to explode. Who said Whitebeard was a serious man? He was clearly just an old troll!

All around them, the crew tried—and failed—to hold back laughter. Some actually snorted out loud.

Rimuru's eye twitched furiously. "Tch… fine! Laugh if you want. But you too, Ranga?! You're supposed to be on my side!" His own wolf's muffled snicker sent him over the edge.

"…Forget it. Old man, where are you headed, anyway?" Rimuru huffed, calming himself down.

Unexpectedly, Whitebeard's expression turned grave. "We're taking a friend on his final voyage. Gol D. Roger."

"…Nani?!" Rimuru's jaw dropped, eyes wide in shock.

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2: Rimuru Vs. Whitebeard

— — — — — — 

"Why are you surprised? That news was heard around the globe!" Whitebeard muttered, looking exasperated.

"Uh… I really didn't know," Rimuru scratched his little head awkwardly. "Can I come along with you guys?"

Whitebeard stroked his chin. "Such a polite Demon Lord… that's a first." Then, with a grin, he dropped his classic line: "Hey— become my daughter?"

"I refuse!!" Rimuru shot back with a deadpan expression. 'If I didn't know what kind of guy you were, I'd think you were picking a fight. I don't even want to correct him on the daughter part. This old man will just tease me more if he knew.'

'Dammit! The truth is even worse, I'm genderless.'

"Gurararara… not interested?" Whitebeard actually looked disappointed. "Is it really that hard to have a cute daughter?" He glanced at his crew with a dissatisfied look. All he saw were a bunch of grown men. Not a single "precious little girl" among them.

Crack.

Yep, that was the sound of the Whitebeard Pirates' collective heartbreak.

'Seriously? Did we just get roasted for existing?' xN

Ignoring his crestfallen sons, Whitebeard rose from his seat and swung his massive arm. "Gurararara! Boys, to celebrate Rimuru's arrival—throw a feast!"

"Yes, Pops!" Their spirits bounced back immediately. In no time, the whole deck turned lively. Some were hauling out barrels, others were cooking, everyone busy and cheerful.

"…You guys just throw parties for anything, huh?" Rimuru asked, tugging on Marco's sleeve.

"This is nothing," Marco sighed. "Just the other day, Pops' reason was: 'We found a drowning Sea King, let's have a banquet and eat it!' Honestly, we party almost every day."

(Drowning Sea King: You just wanted to eat me (T﹏T)

Rimuru fell silent. '…Whitebeard would have been an amazing YouTuber and TikToker?'

"Marco, you haven't been slacking on training, have you?" At some point, Whitebeard appeared right behind him, wearing that deceptively kind smile.

Marco—the guy who'd once kicked around admirals—shivered uncontrollably under his "fatherly" gaze. He swallowed hard. "N-no, Pops. I've been training just fine! Actually, I suddenly remembered something I need to do, so I'll just—"

Before he could sneak away, Whitebeard grabbed him by the collar.

"Leave that to someone else. You've got time now, so let me check your training myself. I'll point out any flaws." With zero regard for Marco's protests, he dragged him off.

Moments later, the sound of pitiful screams echoed across the ship, enough to make grown men tear up. The entire crew shuddered in unison.

Rimuru folded his hands in silent prayer. 'Marco… rest in peace, buddy.'

Not long after, Whitebeard strolled back looking relaxed and cheerful. Behind him trailed Marco, pale as death, his regenerative powers seemingly unable to restore him. That was how heavy Whitebeard's "fatherly love" weighed.

"Rimuru, you're strong too, aren't you?" Whitebeard asked suddenly. "My Haki picked up something incredible inside you."

At his words, the crew froze. Their own Observation Haki wasn't nearly as refined, so to them Rimuru had felt like nothing more than a cute mascot, with maybe his wolf being the strong one. Hearing their father talk like this left them stunned.

"Even Pops says so?" Marco muttered weakly, still recovering.

"Oh…" said Diamond Jozu, squinting.

"Interesting," murmured Flower Blade Vista, stroking his mustache.

"Guess things won't be boring anymore," Thatch, the 4th division commander, grinned.

"You want to spar?" Rimuru smiled faintly. "Sure, but this place is way too cramped. We'd wreck the ship."

"There's an uninhabited island nearby!" someone shouted.

"Gurararara… perfect," Whitebeard laughed. "But don't start crying if you lose, brat."

"Ha! Just wait, old man. I'll take the title of 'Strongest Man in the World' from you and make you regret underestimating me!" Rimuru huffed, puffing his cheeks like a pouting kid.

Whitebeard fell silent, then hit him with a blunt, soul-piercing question. "...Strongest Man? You're a guy?"

'Why does that sound like a question?! Do I really look that much like a girl? I'm obviously a— …Wait. I'm a slime. Genderless, technically.'

Rimuru, who had been gearing up to argue, suddenly froze.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" The ship erupted with laughter.

'Laugh while you can. Once I'm done beating you into the ground, I'll show you what kind of Demon Lord I am.' Rimuru's aura darkened as he plotted revenge.

"Pops! We've arrived," someone called, cutting through the laughter.

"We're here, then?" Whitebeard hefted his weapon, Murakumogiri, and looked at Rimuru. "Need me to carry you over, brat?"

"Hmph." Rimuru turned his head away.

'Storm.' With just a thought, a gust of wind lifted him into the air, carrying him forward.

"…He can fly?" Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, watching Rimuru soar. Then a grin split his face. With a single jump, the Moby Dick lurched as the old man launched himself after Rimuru at breakneck speed.

— — —

On a deserted island.

Rimuru fixed his eyes on Whitebeard across from him. "I'm coming. Better be careful!"

"Bring it on!" Whitebeard stood tall, naginata Murakumogiri in hand, radiating confidence.

Rimuru focused his magic, kicked off the ground, and blasted power from behind like a jet, propelling himself straight toward Whitebeard.

"Not bad!" Whitebeard roared, swinging his weapon down in a mighty arc.

At the last instant, Rimuru twisted his magic output, narrowly dodging the slash, then drew the sword at his back and thrust at Whitebeard.

"Fast reaction!" Whitebeard muttered in surprise. His Observation Haki had locked on completely, yet Rimuru still slipped past. "Armament!" His body instantly darkened with Haki, right as Rimuru's blade came stabbing in.

The strike bounced harmlessly off. Rimuru flared magic again and tried to retreat, but Whitebeard wasn't giving an inch—his naginata was already cutting down.

The blade cleaved Rimuru's left arm clean off. But he didn't even flinch. He only leapt back and kept his distance.

Whitebeard frowned. "Rimuru, are you alright?" He hadn't meant to land a hit like that. He was sure Rimuru could block it. Maybe he had gone too far… but then he noticed something strange.

Rimuru's severed arm melted into a puddle of blue jelly, then flowed back toward him. In the blink of an eye, his arm was whole again—clothes and all.

The pirates watching from afar froze in shock.

"Was that… Logia regeneration?" someone asked.

"No," Marco shook his head grimly. "Old Man used Haki. There's no way that was fruit intangibility."

"What ability is this?" Whitebeard demanded, scowling. "Not Logia… yet it ignores Haki?"

"I'm a slime, duh!" Rimuru waved his freshly restored hand like it was nothing. "I'm immune to physical attacks, you know!"

"Immune to physical attacks?" Whitebeard's body began to hum with crackling white energy. His tone sharpened. "In this world, there's no such thing as complete immunity. If something can't be broken, that just means the attack isn't strong enough yet!"

"Naginata Rasetsu!" He swung Murakumogiri, sending a monstrous shockwave screaming across the island straight toward Rimuru.

Rimuru didn't dodge. He simply raised his left hand.

"Predator."

The quake slash hit—then melted away like water, sucked into his palm and erased.

"Thanks for the meal," Rimuru said with a cheeky smile.

"You little brat." Whitebeard growled. "Don't get cocky. Let's see if you still laugh after this!"

He tossed his weapon aside and lunged barehanded. He'd already figured it out—slashing was useless, ranged attacks pointless. If he wanted to test this slime, only fists would do.

Rimuru smirked and sheathed his sword. "Fine with me. Don't underestimate me though, Old Man—I'm plenty strong too!" He launched forward.

Their fists collided—one enormous, one tiny. The impact shattered the ground and cracked the island like glass. The sea around them erupted in towering waves.

Marco's scalp prickled. "That power… unreal. What are kids eating these days?" Then he snapped to command mode. "Everyone back! Unless you wanna get caught up in this, retreat now!"

But Whitebeard was even more shaken. In raw strength, he was being pushed back. His blows, empowered with Armament Haki and Quake-Quake Fruit, weren't overpowering Rimuru's strikes.

And Rimuru, too, was stunned. Ever since drawing the "Spatial Body" ability from the guild gacha, no one had been able to match his strength in hand-to-hand combat. Yet Whitebeard was going toe-to-toe, blow for blow.

Neither side backed down. Their fists blurred, trading endless punches, shaking the earth with every collision.

Whitebeard's body radiated Armament and the devastating quake power. Rimuru's entire frame burned with magic, condensed into shimmering armor. Every swing of his fist consumed torrents of energy, each heavier than the last.

From the Moby Dick, the commanders could barely keep up. Their Haki sensed only the vaguest shapes through the overwhelming force.

"Captain, what's happening? You can see, right?" some pirates begged, eyes wide.

Marco's face was grim. "Old Man's in trouble."

"What?"

"Rimuru's got some kind of invisible armor," Marco explained. "Every quake shock is being blocked. Not even the tremors are passing through!"

"What!? He's nullifying Old Man's Quake-Quake Fruit?" The commanders were floored. "Impossible! That power pierces everything—even intangibility. Nothing can block it!"

"That's magic armor."

The deep voice came from Ranga, finally speaking up after being ignored.

"…You can talk!?" Marco nearly fell over.

"Why wouldn't I be able to?" Ranga sniffed disdainfully. "I'm the proud leader of the Tempest Star wolves. Even lesser monsters can speak, let alone me. Humans… so ignorant."

Marco sweatdropped. "Uhh… right. Fine. Then what's this 'magic armor' thing?"

Ranga explained patiently. "It's a high-level technique created by my master, Rimuru-sama. By channeling magic outward to cancel damage, it creates an armor that nothing can pierce. Until his magic runs out, no attack can harm him."

"…Magic?" Marco blinked, brain stalling out.

Magic didn't even exist here! It was just a legend, something out of stories so people could dream… Actually, some people who didn't know anything called Haki and Devil Fruits 'magic,' 'superpowers,' and other names — but that didn't mean it was real.

So Magic? It doesn't exist.

Before Marco could argue further, a deafening explosion thundered from the battlefield.

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3: The Supreme Grudge Collector

 — — — — — — 

Whitebeard was gasping for air, staring in disbelief at Rimuru who was still bouncing around like nothing had happened. He'd just tanked hundreds of his punches, yet Rimuru looked completely untouched. What the hell was this?

His plan had been simple: wear Rimuru down until the kid ran out of stamina. But somehow, he was the one who'd hit his limit first. If he hadn't just used his strongest move to force Rimuru back, he might already have lost.

"What's wrong, Grandpa Whitebeard? Are my little fists too heavy for you? Can't handle it anymore?" Rimuru put on a wide-eyed innocent look, the kind that dripped with mockery, and even wiggled his tiny fists for emphasis. "Want me, a little kid, to go easy on the so-called strongest man in the world?"

Serves you right for laughing at me earlier. Now it's your turn to suffer.

Go easy on him? Haha, easy my ass. I'm Rimuru, the Supreme Grudge Collector, the Walking Blacklist. Every jerk who's crossed me has their name neatly filed away in Raphael's library. There's no such thing as 'done with revenge'—only 'not yet'… or 'not enough.

Whitebeard's mouth twitched hard as he looked at Rimuru's smug little face. Petty didn't even begin to cover it. This slime was the embodiment of "holding a grudge."

Wait… Rimuru was just a kid, wasn't he? Whitebeard glanced at the tiny figure again. Great. His own fault for picking this fight. Guess he'd have to see it through to the bitter end.

"One strike to decide it," Whitebeard growled. He was on his last legs anyway. All or nothing.

"Fine by me." Rimuru wasn't keen on dragging things out either.

Whitebeard gathered every last shred of Armament Haki into his right hand. The already jet-black fist darkened further, so much so it swallowed the light, like it was wrapped in liquid shadow. The sheer force of it made the air tremble.

Rimuru narrowed his eyes at the surge of power. "Guess I should get serious too."

"Black Flame!"

A jet of pitch-black fire erupted from his own hand, the heat so intense the space around it warped.

They moved at the same instant, their feet shattering the ground as they launched forward.

BOOM!

The collision ripped the island apart. Half the landmass was swallowed by tearing space rifts, the other half consumed by the raging black flames. Then, with a sickening crack, the entire island split down the middle.

"Damn it!" Marco felt the shockwave coming. "Fall back! Everyone retreat, now!"

Too late—the tidal waves came crashing in.

"All division commanders, stop the waves!" Marco barked, transforming mid-shout into his phoenix form and soaring ahead.

"Undying Thistle!" His blazing wings spread wide, holding back the bulk of the onrushing sea.

"Rose Rondo!" Bista slashed, and a storm of conjured blossoms sliced the waves apart, delicate petals carrying terrifying force.

One after another, the commanders unleashed their ultimate techniques. Together, barely, they contained the surge.

By the end of it, Marco was drenched in sweat, his flames guttering. He'd almost burned himself out completely.

"What about the island…?" he muttered, forcing his tired eyes toward the smoking ruins.

The haze slowly cleared. Rimuru's small frame came into view, standing steady. Beside him, Whitebeard lay collapsed on the ground.

"Old Man lost…?" The Whitebeard Pirates froze in disbelief. "Impossible! Pops can't lose!"

Even the commanders were struck dumb. Their invincible father figure had actually been defeated. For a moment, none of them knew how to react.

Rimuru, meanwhile, sprouted a pair of wings, grabbed Whitebeard by the collar, and casually flew him back toward the ship. From afar, the sight looked… ridiculous. Like a bat lugging a bull through the sky.

When he landed, the crew snapped out of their stupor and rushed forward.

"How's Pops?!" Marco asked urgently.

"It's a little serious, but nothing permanent. He just needs a month of rest," the ship's doctor reported after a quick check.

"Uh… sorry about that." Rimuru scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. Beating up their beloved captain wasn't exactly a great way to make friends.

"Don't apologize," Marco sighed, rolling his eyes. "It was a duel. Injuries happen. Pops isn't gonna hold it against you. He's Whitebeard, remember?"

"Yeah…" Rimuru smiled faintly, glancing at the old man. "He is Whitebeard."

"My Lord, don't you have that potion?" Ranga piped up, wagging his tail.

"Oh right! Thanks, Ranga!" Rimuru smacked his palm to his forehead. In each hand, a blob of blue jelly suddenly formed.

"What the heck is that?" Marco and the others eyed the strange substance warily.

"This?" Rimuru grinned. "Full Recovery Potion." He lobbed one onto Whitebeard, and it burst on contact, dissolving into light that seeped into his body. 

A warm glow spread across Whitebeard's massive frame. His eyes fluttered open, and he let out a long sigh. "Hah… that feels good."

The crew stared, slack-jawed. "That's insane…"

— — — 

A few moments later...

"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hoho-ho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hoho-ho."

"Gather up all of the crew! It's time to ship out Binks' Brew! Pirates we, we'll divide and conquer all the seas! With the waves to rest our heads, ship beneath us as our bed...…"

The legendary song of the Pirates drifted across the moonlit waves. Rimuru lounged on a chair, quietly sipping his drink, while a chorus of rough voices howled the tune out of sync and completely off-key.

Whitebeard's voice was by far the loudest—and also the most off-pitch. Rimuru couldn't help thinking it felt like someone had strapped a bomb to the note and launched it halfway across the Grand Line.

Still, sitting there and listening, Rimuru felt a strange peace. The wild singing reminded him of his own dad back home, who'd belt out horribly off-key songs and force the family to call it "good." And his mom… A lump rose in his throat. How long until he could see them again? Would he ever get back?

"Rimuru, you okay? Why're you crying?" Marco noticed the tears streaking down Rimuru's face and leaned over with concern.

"It's nothing." Rimuru wiped his eyes and gave him a small smile.

"Master…" Ranga seemed to pick up on Rimuru's mood. He leaned close and licked his cheek.

"Stop licking me!" Rimuru laughed, rubbing the star wolf's soft fur. The plush, fluffy texture instantly lightened his mood. Nothing beat fluff therapy.

"Rimuru…" Marco hesitated, then asked, "Do you still have… that thing?"

"What thing?" Rimuru tilted his head. "You gotta be more specific, you know."

"The blue blob you used to heal Pops," Marco explained as best he could. At his words, the entire crew stopped singing and turned to stare at Rimuru with hopeful eyes. Even Whitebeard was watching with keen interest.

Originally, he had thought his body would take ages to recover, but Rimuru had just tossed that weird blue jelly at him, and not only were his injuries gone, even his hidden ailments had vanished and his stamina fully restored. To pirates, something like that was practically a divine treasure.

Just imagine: two pirates fight to near death, and then one casually slaps a blob on themselves and is back at full strength. That's enough to make the other side die of rage.

"Yeah, I've got some," Rimuru admitted, suddenly feeling goosebumps under all those stares. He'd been just a normal high schooler, never good with attention, and even as a Demon Lord he'd rarely given speeches. Having every pirate eye on him made his chest tighten a little.

Still, he quickly composed himself and put on his best sly-merchant grin. "But what'll you trade me for it? And don't even think about offering gold or treasure. I'm not interested."

"Devil Fruits," Whitebeard said without hesitation. For something that could save lives, he wasn't about to miss the chance. With those potions, he could protect countless sons.

"Deal!" Rimuru replied instantly. "One Devil Fruit gets you ten potions. No bargaining."

The Whitebeard Pirates exchanged looks of disbelief. That price was absurdly cheap. With that merchant face Rimuru just pulled, they had thought it would cost a fortune.

Apparently, Rimuru was the worst kind of businessman: a clueless one.

In the end, though, Whitebeard's own talent for haggling came out, and he managed to renegotiate the deal, pressing Rimuru for a tougher exchange rate. They traded ten Devil Fruits on the spot: eight Zoans at ten potions apiece, and two Paramecias at twenty apiece.

That meant Whitebeard got 120 potions for 10 Devil Fruits. 

Everyone was curious about where Rimuru had pulled the items from, but no one asked. After all, every man has his secrets.

From that day on, almost every Whitebeard pirate carried at least a recovery potion. They became practically unkillable, a nightmare across the Grand Line, earning a new reputation: the crew you least wanted to fight, and the crew you most regretted meeting.

...

Time passed, and Rimuru grew close with the crew aboard the Moby Dick. Of course, that didn't stop him from beating up over a dozen of them—for the simple crime of calling him a girl. That had made him snap, aura flaring in outrage. And since everyone had potions, he didn't hold back.

Meanwhile, Ranga had his own drama. Marco had once underestimated him, and from then on, Ranga looked at him every day with the eyes of someone watching an idiot.

Marco finally snapped and challenged him—only to be thoroughly crushed. Ranga wasn't just strong in body, speed, and stamina. He commanded black lightning, and his magic power had already reached awakened Demon Lord levels. Only a Yonko like Whitebeard could fight him.

And so, the days slipped by in laughter, brawls, and drinking. After a month of traveling together, the Moby Dick finally reached Loguetown.

"Pops, we've arrived at Loguetown!" the helmsman called out.

"Loguetown, huh?" A spark lit in Rimuru's eyes. "Gol D. Roger… time to finally meet you."

.

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4: Noob Dragon Veldora

— — — — — — 

Boom!

With a shudder, the Moby Dick settled firmly against the docks.

"Hey, old man Whitebeard!" Rimuru hopped onto Whitebeard's massive chair. "When's Roger's execution?"

Whitebeard frowned. "Why do you want to know that? Don't tell me you're planning to break him out?"

Rimuru waved frantically. "No way! Do I look like that kind of person?"

"…Day after tomorrow." Whitebeard's voice dropped low. For all their battles, he and Roger had ended up respecting each other. To think that the man who became Pirate King was about to…

"So that means there's still time?" Rimuru's eyes lit up. "Old man, I want to meet him!"

Whitebeard fell silent. Roger might've turned himself in, but the World Government wasn't taking chances. The prison would be locked down tight.

"You sure you can manage it?" Whitebeard asked, staring hard at Rimuru.

"Piece of cake." Rimuru grinned.

"…Is that so? Then wait a moment. Take something to him for me."

Whitebeard rose to his feet, disappearing below deck. He returned carrying a massive sake barrel.

Rimuru tilted his head. "What's in that?"

Whitebeard broke the seal, poured out half the liquor, then resealed the rest. "A debt of mine. Give it to him, Rimuru."

"…Got it." Rimuru tucked the barrel into his slime body. "Then I'm off."

With a flap of his wings, he leapt skyward and left the Moby Dick behind.

Whitebeard stood watching the little figure disappear into the night sky, a sigh slipping out before he could stop it.

...

Up above, Rimuru flew over Loguetown, cloaked in invisibility, scanning the sprawling city for the prison holding Roger.

Then he froze. Someone was contacting him. The guild's chat feature allowed members to talk across worlds.

『Ramiris』: Rimuru! Something came up!

『Rimuru』: What's wrong?

『Milim』: Bestie! Come back right now! Veldora is a total noob! I can't carry him anymore!

『Veldora』: …I'm sorry.

『Milim』: He feeds first blood every single match! Always last place! I got roasted by Charys of all people! You know, that Charys! Ugh!

『Veldora』: …

[User "Veldora Tempest" Logged out.]

『Milim』: Tsk! Anyway, where are you, bestie?

『Rimuru』: Different world right now.

『Milim』: WHAT?! (⊙-⊙)

『Ramiris』: Since when?!

『Rimuru』: Been out for over a month now. (=_=)

『Diablo』: Lord Rimuru… it's been too long.

『Rimuru』: Diablo?! You're here too?

『Diablo』: Of course. I never log out, so I can answer you instantly should you need me. After all, I am your secretary.

『Rimuru』: Wow… talk about committed.

『Milim』: Bestieee! Can I come?

『Ramiris』: Me too!

『Rimuru』: Why?

『Milim』: I promise I won't cause trouble! On my honor as a Demon Lord! 

『Ramiris』: Same here! I swear on my Demon Lord title too!

『Rimuru』: I seriously doubt that.

『Milim』:"Bestieee~"

『Ramiris』: "Rimuru-chan~"

Rimuru sighed. There was no way these two wouldn't cause chaos. But refusing them? That would probably cause even more chaos back home.

"…Fine. But listen! No causing trouble."

"Yaaay!" Milim and Ramiris cheered in unison, already bouncing with excitement. As for those solemn "Demon Lord oaths"… yeah, they were already forgotten.

Rimuru, oblivious to their lack of shame, opened the guild interface. A shimmering screen floated before him.

[Add: Dimensional Travel Function... Confirm?]

"Yes."

[Function successfully added.]

Two glowing silhouettes appeared before him.

The first was a girl his own height, with long twin pink ponytails, deep blue eyes, and—seriously?!—just a black pair of panties and nothing else. A cowlick stuck proudly from her head like a flag.

This was Milim Nava, the Destroyer. One of the first-generation Demon Lords, bearer of the Ultimate Skill: Satanael, Lord of Wrath.

Thanks to the Dimension guild enhancements, she'd evolved into the God of Wrath. She looked frail, but her power was basically infinite and grew endlessly in battle. Even Rimuru found her terrifying. Too bad her brainpower was close to zero, and she could be tricked by a toddler. She needed supervision at all times.

The second figure was tiny—barely twenty centimeters tall—fluttering in the air on four delicate wings. Ramiris, the Fairy Queen. Sweet but tsundere, she carried the titles of both Fairy Queen and Demon Lord. Like Milim, she was one of the first-generation Demon Lords. Once immensely powerful, she had sacrificed her strength long ago to save Milim, but with the guild's support, much of that power had returned.

Now Rimuru, Milim, and Ramiris stood together in the night sky.

Anyone looking at them would never have guessed: these three fluffy, silly, adorable figures were Demon Lords. One was cuddly, one was clueless, one was tiny and cute.

Together? They didn't look threatening at all.

"Bestie!" Milim spotted Rimuru and immediately launched herself at him, wrapping him in a bear hug. Ramiris fluttered down to perch neatly on Rimuru's shoulder.

"How could you sneak off without telling us?" Milim pouted in Rimuru's arms. "We're supposed to be the strongest combo in the game!"

In their virtual battlefield—modeled after a 5v5 arena like League of Legends—the three of them, plus Veldora (their noob) and Diablo, had basically turned into an unstoppable team. With the Lord of Wisdom's, Raphael's cheat-level support, victory was practically guaranteed.

"Alright, alright!" Rimuru pried Milim off. "You're here now, aren't you? So don't stay mad."

"So this is the new world?" Ramiris asked, eyes sparkling.

"Yup. This is the world of One Piece." Rimuru folded his arms. "And listen carefully: no causing trouble."

"Relax!" Ramiris thumped her tiny chest with exaggerated bravado. "I swear it on my title as Demon Lord!"

Rimuru sighed inwardly. 'If I believed that, I might as well rename myself The Idiot Slime.'

{Request detected. Would you like to rename ability?}

"???" Rimuru blinked, then said, "No, that was a joke, Mr Lord of Wisdom."

"Oooooh~"

One Piece?" Ramiris tilted her head. "What's that supposed to mean? A new Demon Lord?"

"Not quite," Rimuru said patiently. "It's the name the world gave to all the treasure gathered by the Pirate King. And the Pirate King? He's the one who conquered the seas—the dream every pirate here chases. Funny thing is, the current Pirate King's actually locked up nearby. Wanna meet him?"

"Of course!" Milim's hand shot up like a kid in class.

"Me too!" Ramiris chimed in.

"Then let's go." Rimuru had already pinpointed the prison. With a snap, wings unfolded from his back, and he scooped up his companions, adding layers of invisibility magic. His spell didn't just hide appearances—it erased presence entirely, masking sight, sound, and even smell. Even a Marine Admiral standing face-to-face wouldn't notice a thing.

Below, thousands of Marines patrolled the port. Vice Admirals spread their forces, Admirals held their positions, and the whole fortress bristled with vigilance. Clearly, the World Government wasn't taking Gol D. Roger's execution lightly.

But all that preparation was meaningless against three Demon Lords from another world. Even if the Marines did somehow spot them, Rimuru and company could flatten the entire base before anyone blinked.

Leading the way, Rimuru drifted down toward a fortress forged from solid blocks of seastone. Inside sat a broad-shouldered man with a thick mustache and a crimson captain's coat. Gol D. Roger—the Pirate King himself.

The moment they slipped in, Roger laughed.

"Well, well. Didn't expect visitors for a man on death row. Hm? Two kids and… what, a tiny winged Dwarf?" He arched a brow. "Strange little bunch."

"Dwarf?! I'm a fairy! A fairy, you hear me!" Ramiris shouted, puffing up indignantly.

"Rimuru, he can see us?" Milim blinked in surprise. She couldn't believe anyone had pierced Rimuru's spell.

Rimuru gave a slow clap, grinning. "Impressive. As expected of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. That must be the 'Voice of All Things,' huh?"

"The… what now?" Milim scratched her head.

"Yeah," Roger admitted without hesitation. "The air itself told me you were here. But still, you're not what I expected. Who exactly are you? I'll warn you though—if you're fishing for intel on Laugh Tale, I won't say a word!"

"Laugh Tale?" Milim echoed, eyes wide. "Bestie, what's that?"

Before Rimuru could reply, Roger grinned. "The world's greatest treasure lies there. Whoever finds it… inherits the world itself!"

"Treasure?!" Milim and Ramiris' eyes lit up like children spotting candy.

For Milim, "treasure" meant anything shiny or edible, and she pursued it with single-minded glee. Ramiris, meanwhile, just loved the thrill of a hunt.

Rimuru rubbed his forehead.

"I'm Rimuru," he introduced. "This here's Milim, and the little one is Ramiris. We came to see for ourselves what the legendary Pirate King is like. Oh, and we brought you something."

He slipped a hand into the cell, and with a shimmer, a massive wine barrel materialized inside.

"Oh?" Roger's eyes widened. "What kind of Devil Fruit power is that? Storage-Storage Fruit? Space-Space Fruit?"

Rimuru shook his head. "Not a Devil Fruit. Just my own ability."

"Spatial storage!" Milim added, puffing her chest proudly. "How do you not know that? Are you really the Pirate King?"

"..." Roger stared, speechless. How the hell was he supposed to know that? Still, his eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Not a Devil Fruit…? Interesting."

"This was from Whitebeard," Rimuru said simply. "He asked me to deliver it."

"He… remembered?" For a moment Roger looked stunned, then he laughed heartily and hefted the barrel with one arm. Tilting it back, he gulped half down in one go. "Ahh! Nothing beats East Blue's sake!"

Rimuru smiled faintly. "So tell me, Roger—do you want to drink it again, in the future?"

Roger froze mid-swig, lowering the barrel.

.

.

.

5: Milim Crushes Kong

— — — — — —

"If I told you I could cure your disease, and even get you out of here—what would you choose?" Rimuru asked, meeting Roger's eyes. He genuinely admired the man, and if there was a chance to save him, then why not? As for how the story of this world was supposed to unfold… well, that wasn't his problem.

Roger fell silent. If he could live, who would really choose death?

"…Why save me?" Roger finally asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Milim butted in before Rimuru could speak. "You know where the treasure is! We break you out, you lead us there, then we dig it up together!"

"Ohhh, so that's the reason!" Ramiris nodded, as if enlightened.

Rimuru nearly fell over. 'That's not what I meant!' he thought—though, now that they mentioned it… it wasn't a bad idea. He had been kind of curious about the so-called One Piece himself.

"I see…" Roger said slowly. "But anyone who finds the treasure will be hunted down by the World Government. You really want the entire world chasing you?"

"What kind of crappy government is that?" Milim scoffed. "So what? We'll just wipe them out."

"Exactly! You're underestimating Demon Lords way too much!" Ramiris jabbed a tiny finger at Roger's nose, puffing herself up despite her small size. She might look tiny, but her power was nothing to laugh at—and she was the Fairy Queen, with her entire race behind her.

"Demon Lords…?" Roger's brows lifted in surprise.

"That's settled then!" Milim declared. "Bestie, I'm going first!" And without waiting for a reply, she shot off.

"Milim!" Rimuru twitched violently, "Don't just run off like that!" But she was already gone. Well… knowing Milim's strength, the marines outside were probably in for hell anyway.

"Ramiris," Rimuru turned quickly, "can you turn this prison into a labyrinth? I'll handle Roger's treatment."

"No problem at all! Leave it to me!" Ramiris zipped into the air proudly.

"Labyrinth Prison!" she cried. A massive magic circle flared beneath and above her, enveloping the entire prison. The walls began to writhe as if alive, stretching and twisting, until the space expanded into an endless, shifting maze.

Roger's expression kept shifting—shock, disbelief, then outright alarm. His Observation Haki… had vanished? He couldn't sense anything. This labyrinth actually suppressed perception! If even his Haki was useless, then ordinary people had no hope. They'd never escape this place alive.

Seeing Ramiris finish, Rimuru drew a blade and, with a single slash, cut through the shackles that bound Roger.

"Impressive swordsmanship," Roger muttered despite himself.

"Thanks," Rimuru grinned. "Now, let's begin the treatment."

He placed a hand on Roger, scanning his condition. "Hmm… worse than I expected. But not impossible. Let's see… heart's shot, lungs are failing, kidneys are toast… eh, might as well just replace everything except the brain!"

Roger froze. Was this… really medical treatment? 

...

Outside, Milim stood triumphantly on the body of a fallen giant vice admiral, looking down at the ring of marines surrounding her. She folded her arms and smirked. "What, this is all you've got? Way too easy."

A massive shadow suddenly crashed down from above, the ground shaking under the impact. A broad figure rose, cloak of Justice flaring behind him. The Commander-in-Chief of the Marines, Kong.

"Do you understand what you're doing?" Kong's voice was cold, heavy with authority. Picking a fight here wasn't just reckless—it was a direct challenge to the World Government. A crime they would never forgive.

"Hmph. And who do you think you are?" Milim shot back dismissively.

"Commander!" A frantic marine with an afro rushed up, shouting, "The prison's been compromised!"

"What!?" Kong's face darkened with fury. "Sengoku! Take a squad, secure Roger immediately! If he resists, execute him on the spot!"

"Yes, sir!" Sengoku barked, rallying several men as they rushed toward the prison.

Kong turned back, his killing intent flaring. "So it was you!"

"Yep! That was us," Milim said cheerfully. "So what are you gonna do about it?"

"Seize her!" Kong roared.

But before anyone could move, a small fist slammed into his chest. Kong was blasted back like a cannonball, crashing through dozens of buildings before vanishing in the rubble. Milim appeared in his place, smiling innocently.

"So fast!" Marines all around went pale. Even the ones who had charged forward froze mid-step.

Garp narrowed his eyes. He had only barely glimpsed an afterimage just now. This girl… she was monstrously strong.

"Damn it!"

Kong roared, bursting from the wreckage, arms coated in Armament Haki as he threw a punch.

Milim grinned and met it with her own tiny fist. The collision exploded into a shockwave so violent that every vice admiral staggered, and rank-and-file marines were simply blown away like leaves.

And then… the crowd watched in horror as their Commander-in-Chief was launched across the battlefield again, his arm nearly shattered, dangling uselessly at his side.

Milim hadn't even taken a scratch.

Gulp...

The marines gulped audibly.

She was terrifying.

---

"WTF?"

Meanwhile, Sengoku pushed open the prison doors—only to stop dead.

Instead of a simple cell block, there stretched a vast corridor with towering walls that seemed to climb endlessly into the sky. The prison had completely transformed.

Sengoku blinked. His men blinked. They turned back—outside, the prison was still a squat stone fortress, maybe twenty meters tall. Inside… it was a boundless maze.

For the first time in his career, Sengoku wondered if his brain had stopped working properly.

.

.

.