"You know, I feel bad knowing one of my close friends is stuck in that cave," Al said quietly; the slime bobbed on his head in agreement. Veldora's massive eyes widened as he watched them.
"Stop that," Veldora rumbled, trying to sound stern. "It's one thing when a cute girl says it… but from a dragon—"He trailed off with an awkward huff.
"If you had a way to get me out, I'd appreciate it. Th—The thing is, I don't know if I'd last another hundred years. My magic's been draining." Veldora's voice lost some of its usual thunder as he admitted it.
"So that's why this cave is so rich in magicules. And there are a lot of magical herbs and ores." The slime observed, bouncing with interest.
Al stepped closer to the barrier, curiosity pressing at him. "So what happens when your magic runs out?" he asked bluntly.
Veldora's response was immediate and blunt. "Yeah, no — that's a stupid question. Of course you die."Al smacked his forehead with a faint curse; the slime's tiny body wobbled atop his head and sent his hair into a brief flutter.
"So, after all these years of isolation, you'll just die?" Al said, half to himself, half to Veldora.
The slime—suddenly eager—slid off Al's head and approached the prison wall. He stretched a limb toward the barrier and tried to merge with it, attempting to taste or consume the seal, but it failed. The barrier resisted him.
Veldora and the slime began to speak rapidly back and forth. Al listened carefully, though much of their technical talk went over his head. He didn't have a "talking voice" inside his mind to translate everything, so half of it sounded like honorable dragon-speech and spirit-technical jargon.
"…A suggestion," the slime offered at one point.
"You want to get into my stomach?" Veldora blurted, incredulous. The slime's plan was earnest; Veldora's reaction was immediate amusement.
Al winced inwardly. That ain't a suggestion, man — that's digestion, he thought, cringing at the image. He made a face that said it all. "Yeah, not one in the good category," he muttered aloud, steadying himself.
When he looked up again, the slime had finished explaining its idea—how it could attempt to interact with the seal—while Veldora stared up at the cave ceiling and began to laugh, a sound that made the rocks tremble.
"I thought sanity didn't decay," Veldora said between chuckles. Then, easing into excitement, he added, "That sounds interesting. Please do it — I'll entrust my entirety to you!"
The slime trembled with worry. "Are you sure you want to trust me that easily?" he asked.
Veldora thumped his chest confidently. "Of course! It's more fun to break the prison together than to wait here alone until you two come back."
They reached an agreement, the air buzzing with a mixture of hope and reckless glee. Al had a question niggling at him that wouldn't leave, and he stepped forward.
"Before we do that, Veldora—can I ask something?" he said.
Both the dragon and the slime turned to him.
"What is this about—'naming'?" Al asked. "I've heard of it from the impressions people make here. What does it actually do?"
"Ah, yes, I was just about to ask that. I could name you both—or, well, you could just name each other."Veldora's booming voice filled the cave, and both Al and the slime perked up.
"Um, what's this naming thing about?" Rimuru asked, tilting slightly in confusion.
Veldora gave a grand nod. "It engraves the bond into your very soul—the fact that we are equals. Humans would call it a 'family name.' But the name I give will also grant divine protection."
"A cool name, huh…" Al muttered, thinking aloud. Then his face brightened. "How about Tempest, like the storm?"
Veldora's eyes widened. For a heartbeat, the cave trembled with his voice. "Tempest, you say?!"The sudden roar made Rimuru jolt, but Al only grinned back unfazed.
"He doesn't like it," Rimuru whispered nervously.
But the dragon burst into booming laughter. "It sounds fantastic! As of today, I am Veldora Tempest!"
While Veldora's declaration echoed through the cavern, the dragon's attention shifted to his new friends. In a deep, resonant tone, he bestowed their names. "And you—Rimuru." His claw lowered toward the slime. Then his eyes fixed on Al. "…And you—Alceus."
The moment the name left Veldora's mouth, Al felt his very soul ripple. It was as if a lock inside him had burst open. Power surged like a tidal wave through his veins. His collar flared with an eerie voice:
Ding* User has gained Z-Moves.*
Ding* User has unlocked Dynamax… Pending… Failed… Retrying… 1%... 2%... 8%... 16%... 32%... 64%... 78%... 84%... 92%... 96%... 98%... 99%... 100%.*
Ding* Complete reinstalment. User has unlocked Dynamax.*
Al dropped to one knee, steadying himself as his body adjusted. He could feel it—14.7% of his Pokémon DNA unlocked. His collar hadn't vanished; it was still regulating him. But now, strengthened by Veldora's naming, his body could safely handle more of that immense power.
Z-Moves… Dynamax… Al's lips curled into a grin. I am so looking forward to Mega Evolution.
When he finally stood tall, he glanced at Rimuru, who glowed with determination as pink light enveloped him.
"…Leave it to me," Rimuru said firmly. "I'll see you face-to-face in no time."
"All right!" Al answered, smiling as Rimuru's magic burst outward in a dazzling wave of energy. Even Veldora was caught off guard by the display—but Al only watched with calm excitement.
So this is it. This is why I chose to walk beside the main character. To witness these moments—raw adventure, the kind that reshapes worlds.
When Rimuru's glow faded, Al walked forward, scooped him up gently, and placed the slime back atop his head.
"Well, Ruru," Al said with a grin, "you can just call me Al. Now let's get out of this cave."
And with Rimuru settled comfortably above, Al strode toward the mouth of the cavern, a smile tugging at his lips.