As I arrived at the docks, I landed down gently, looking around. I noticed Spider-Man hadn't arrived at the meeting place.
"This is weird. I thought he had found him..." I sighed, glancing around.
BOOM!!
I turned to see Spider-Man crashing out of a dock, smashing through crates. Octopus walked out after him, but he looked different—more powerful.
His tentacles were glowing white, crackling with lightning. I rushed to Spider-Man.
"Are you okay, dude?" I asked. Spider-Man looked at me and nodded softly.
"I'm fine... but Octopus—he's gotten stronger. Very strong," he said shakily, getting up.
Octopus walked forward with calm, collected steps. "Ha! I see your friend Rimuru Tempest has arrived. But it doesn't matter. I have grown more powerful than your small minds can comprehend," he said, his tentacles lifting and facing us.
"You and Peter can't stop my plan of changing this world for the better," Octopus continued.
Spider-Man stared at his former teacher—the man he once looked up to. "Octopus, I won't allow you to use your tech to turn people into machines!"
Octopus chuckled loudly. "As if you could stop me. Don't you understand? I am a god now! With my mind, I alone can change this world—turn it into a true utopia. Join me, Peter. With your brilliant mind, we can accomplish so much."
He offered his hand, but Spider-Man didn't take it. "No. We are going to stop you," Peter said firmly.
Octopus looked at both of us. "As if you two could stop me," he scoffed.
He slammed the ground with one of his tentacles, causing a huge explosion that sent us flying.
I landed on my feet, my mask falling off, revealing my golden eyes staring in shock.
"Great Sage, analyze him!" I ordered.
Great Sage: Notice: The individual "Octopus" possesses a nuclear energy core equivalent to four nuclear bombs.
My eyes widened in shock. I chuckled awkwardly. "Who would've thought him of all people would become this dangerous?"
Spider-Man nodded. "He's extremely smart. We need to stop him before he gets to the city."
I summoned my katana using Predator. "Well, Peter, now that you know my real face without the mask, our Spider-Team just got even more official," I joked.
Spider-Man chuckled and nodded. My katana lit up with flames, and I rushed at Octopus. I leaped up, swinging down, but he easily blocked my katana and punched me, causing an explosion that sent me crashing through crates and into buildings.
I coughed up blood. "What the hell..." I muttered, struggling up. I saw Spider-Man being flung down, smashing into the ground and then into a building, people running away in terror.
Octopus just smiled. "This could've been avoided if you'd joined me."
I got up and rushed at him again at high speed, clashing once more. He blocked me effortlessly. "You again? I have no interest in someone with a lower mind like yours," he sneered.
He sent a tentacle to punch me again, but using my Magic Sense, I saw it coming and blocked it with my sword. Even so, the explosion sent me through multiple buildings.
Great Sage: Notice: You are taking damage beyond your regeneration capacity.
I got up with a groan, coughing blood. I've never been pushed this far since arriving in this world...
Spider-Man landed next to me. "Are you okay, Rimuru? We need to destroy that nuclear core on his chest."
I looked at him and nodded, my golden eyes blazing. "I'll get you close."
Spider-Man nodded, and I rushed at Octopus again. This time, my blade was covered in black flames and lightning.
"Storm Tempest Slash!" I roared.
Octopus crossed his tentacles, blocking the slash, but it pushed him back. I rushed forward—he threw a punch, but I used Predator to eat the nuclear explosion.
"That crap won't work on me anymore!" I said, speed-blitzing him and slashing his chest, sending him flying. But he got up immediately.
Octopus looked at me, impressed. "It seems I severely underestimated you. But it won't change anything. Even if you can absorb my nuclear energy, you can't stop me!"
He combined two tentacles and unleashed a massive white nuclear blast straight into my chest, piercing me and sending me through buildings. I went unconscious immediately, losing a lot of blood.
Spider-Man's eyes widened in horror. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" he shouted.
He shot webs, but they melted before reaching Octopus, and Octopus just casually blasted him with an explosion, slamming Peter into a building and knocking him unconscious.
Octopus looked down at Peter with disappointment. "You have both disappointed me. Don't worry. I'll create a new world... ruled by me—a new God."
He turned and walked away.
Great Sage: Notice: Healing factor failed. Demon Lord Evolution necessary immediately.
While I was unconscious, Great Sage took over my body and used the Merciless unique skill to absorb the souls of the dead from the battle to speed up the Demon Lord Evolution.
She absorbed 50 souls.
Great Sage: Notice: Beginning evolution process. Unsealing Demon Lord Evolution...
I reverted to my slime form, beginning to emit a high glow.
Great Sage: Notice: New skills evolving...
Ultimate Skills:
Raphael (formerly Great Sage, evolved): Analysis, strategy, and skill creation/support.
Beelzebuth (evolved from Gluttony): Combines Predator and Gluttony; devours anything, analyzes it, and absorbs skills and properties.
Other Evolutionary Changes:
Physical body becomes a spiritual body—immortal unless completely annihilated.
Massive magicule capacity boost.
Multilayered Barrier—auto-activation defense.
Automatic Healing—instant recovery from nearly any injury.
Abilities Overview:
Demon Lord's Haki: Presence alone can suppress or kill weaker beings.
Skill Creation/Modification: Thanks to Raphael.
Ultimate Regeneration: Even if the core is damaged, Rimuru regenerates instantly.
Magic Mastery: Full mastery of almost all magic.
My slime form floated up and turned back into human form. My hair had gotten longer, and my eyes had turned a deep dark red.
Raphael: Evolution of Master Rimuru has been completed. Demon Lord Rimuru has been born.
I glanced at my reflection in a window next to me. A white cloak covered me, and my eyes gleamed dark red. "Wow... I look different, Raphael."
Raphael: That's the whole point of evolution.
Was Raphael... becoming more human and sarcastic?
I looked around. Octopus had stopped walking and was now staring at me.
"I can feel an overwhelming power..." Octopus muttered.
I landed a few feet away from him. "This is as far as you go, Octopus."
He looked at me nervously. "What have you become? Your power... it's off the charts!"
I walked forward calmly. Octopus sent a punch at me—an enormous explosion followed—but when the dust cleared, I was still standing there, completely unharmed.
My dark red eyes stared into his soul. I could see the shock on his face as he unconsciously took a step back.
"How... how is that possible...?"
I advanced. A glowing white ball of nuclear energy formed in my hand. Octopus screamed, his tentacles lashing out wildly.
"I can't fail! I refuse to fail! My plan was perfect!"
In an instant, I appeared in front of him and slammed the nuclear ball into his chest, causing a massive sonic boom that destroyed multiple buildings. Octopus was killed instantly.
The dust began to settle.
I heard someone land next to me. I immediately recognized the presence—it was Spider-Man.
"Rimuru... why..." he said shakily, horrified. "You killed him..."
End of Chapter 5