Watching his comrades brutally devoured by the crazed Orcs, Gabil's voice trembled as he issued his command:
"Retreat! Retreat quickly!!"
But before the Lizardmen could reposition, a spear-wielding aide shouted in panic:
"Lord Gabil! We've been outflanked—front and rear!!"
"Nani?!"
Gabil's composure shattered as he whipped his head around—only to see Orcs flooding in from all directions. The encirclement tightened like a giant net.
"What… what is going on? Their movements… they're clearly faster!"
He narrowed his eyes. The Orcs' bodies were mutating—growing scales, webbing between their fingers.
"This… these traits—this is us. They're evolving into Lizardmen?!"
Another Lizardman shouted:
"Lord Gabil! After they devour someone, they become stronger! They're gaining abilities from what they eat!!"
Gabil didn't have time to be shocked. An Orc wielding a massive axe rushed toward him.
"CLANG!!"
Gabil's arms shook violently from the impact, forcing him to slide several meters back.
"All units, form a defensive circle!! Don't let them break through!!"
The Lizardmen quickly followed his order, forming a tight circular formation.
"Trample!! Trample!!"
The Orcs, showing no fear, charged into the defensive circle again and again.
Gabil jumped atop a stone and shouted with all his might:
"We are the proud Lizardmen! Fight with all your strength—hold the line!!!"
"Ohhhhhhhhh!!!" the Lizardmen roared in unison.
But their morale froze the moment a single towering figure emerged from the Orc ranks.
A massive Orc, clad in black armor, carrying an enormous axe that radiated killing intent.
Gabil's legs trembled.
"What terrifying magic power…!"
Steeling his resolve, he steadied his weapon.
"You must be the Orc Lord! I am Gabil, leader of the Lizardmen! Will you duel me?!"
The Orc replied in a chilling monotone:
"I am not His Majesty. I am the Pighead General. My power is not even one ten-thousandth of His Majesty's."
Gabil felt cold sweat trickle down his back.
This overwhelming power… and it's only one ten-thousandth?
"I accept your duel."
Gabil charged.
"Thank you!!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their weapons crashed violently, shockwaves whipping through the air.
A Faraway Forest — Shadows Behind the War
A flamboyant clown-masked figure was gesturing exaggeratedly.
"Hehehe! It's getting so interesting! Don't you agree, Lord Gelmud?"
The bird-headed demon wearing a noble suit replied while watching the magic crystal sphere:
"Everything is proceeding according to plan. My son shall soon conquer the entire forest. And when that day comes… my ambition will—"
A gentle emerald glow interrupted him.
"Tsk. You two are making yourselves too comfortable."
A dignified woman with long green hair emerged—Toreini, the Dryad guardian.
The clown flinched.
"T-Toreini! The forest administrator is here!"
Gelmud's expression hardened.
Toreini raised her hand.
"You have disturbed the peace of this forest. I shall banish you. Spirit Summon—Wind Maiden."
A graceful wind spirit materialized.
"Judgment descends. Confess your sins and beg forgiveness.Air Compression Severing Slash!"
Dozens of slicing wind blades shot toward the two conspirators.
They barely erected a barrier in time—yet still Gelmud lost an arm, screaming.
"You're too ruthless!! Ugh, but no matter… our objective has been achieved!"
The clown tossed several smoke bombs.
"Goodbye!"
Pink smoke exploded outward. When it cleared, both were gone.
Toreini frowned.
"…They escaped. This is grave. Rimuru Tempest, the subjugation of the Orc Lord now rests upon you."
She dissolved into green light.
Dimensional City — Observation Room
Takumi, watching through the water mirror, smirked.
"Heh. Toreini, you underestimate them. If Laplace wanted you dead, you'd already be fertilizer in the forest."
His golden Herrscher eyes narrowed.
"That clown… former hero, S-class. No wonder he plays dumb so well. Oscar-worthy."
He swiped his hand and shifted the water mirror's view—back to Gabil's duel.
Gabil was launched backward, tumbling through mud.
"Turbulent Lance Water Stream!!"
A whirlpool-like water attack spiraled toward the Pighead General.
The general unfazedly swung his axe.
"Wind Rend."
The two shockwaves collided—canceling each other out.
The general stepped forward.
"Chaos Devourer."
Black-red tentacles erupted from the ground, whipping toward Gabil.
Gabil dodged desperately.
"Haa… haa… I can't dodge anymore…!"
He stumbled—fell to his knees.
The Pighead General raised his axe.
"Die."
"Lord Gabil!! No!!!"
Gabil shut his eyes.
"Flame Breathing — First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
A blazing slash tore through the air.
A black-uniformed swordsman with fiery red hair burst forward—Rengoku Kyoujurou.
His katana bathed in flame.
"Stay strong, warrior of the swamp!! Your comrades still live!!"
The flaming slash crashed into the Pighead General, forcing him backward.
Kyoujurou stood tall, eyes blazing with righteous fury.
"From this moment on, the Garrison stands with you!"
Behind him, the earth rumbled.
Benimaru's army arrived.
Wolf riders howled.
Ogre warriors gripped their weapons.
Demon Slayer Pillars unsheathed their Nichirin blades.
Over a thousand troops stood ready.
Gabil looked up in disbelief.
"Re… reinforcements?"
Kyoujurou smiled brightly.
"Yes! For Lord Rimuru! For the Great Jura Forest! For the future you wish to protect—LET US BURN A PATH FORWARD!!"
The battlefield roared to life.
And far away, watching from the water mirror, Takumi whispered:
"Rimuru… your era is about to begin."