(Dragon's Den entrance)
Rimuru and Artoria appeared in front of a sealed entrance.
"So, what now, Artoria?"
"It's very simple, Rimuru. You break the seal, we go in, I do the fighting, and then you save the dragon."
"I don't even know where to begin on this, though."
"Just let Raphael do it. Use Beelzebub, or something."
"It can't be that simple. This place has been sealed for who knows how long, and you think it can be unsealed in just a few moments?"
"Yes. Now go." Artoria patted Rimuru on the back and pushed forward to the sealed entrance.
Rimuru shook his head as he put his palm on the entrance. The inscription glowed brightly in response before a purple streak covered it. A few seconds later, it disappeared, leaving the entrance open.
"See? It was that simple. Now, Rimuru, it's important that I'm the only one who fights the dragon. It has to be one-on-one." Artoria walked past Rimuru and into the den.
"Why?" Rimuru asked as he followed after her.
"To ensure maximum strength. That's why."
"Wouldn't it be better if I helped you?"
"You helped by opening up the seal. You'll help again to save the dragon and purify it from its chaotic form. Look, we have to be fast, so I'll try to be quick. It shouldn't be too hard, considering that I took down Velgrynd."
Artoria summoned Rhongymyniad. Again.
"How many times are you going to use your lance?"
"Would you prefer I use Excalibur?"
"I'm just saying that I've never seen you use Excalibur, since all the way back when you used it against Charybdis."
"Yeah, I guess, you're right. All right, I'll use Excalibur this time."
"That's crazy. You can just switch from two super overpowered weapons. Like, can it be any stronger?"
"Actually, yeah, it can. Unlike my lance, Excalibur doesn't have any seals. Not this version at least."
"Huh? What? You're telling me there's a stronger version of Excalibur?"
Artoria raised her eyebrow and looked at Rimuru. "I don't know how you arrived at that conclusion from that, but yeah, there is."
"Okay, so, uh, shouldn't you use that version?"
"Well, unless you know some ridiculous, strong fairies that can make it, then no, I can't. Oh, and make sure they aren't lazy unless you want a witch queen running around. Although some people would be attracted to that. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't either, but it would be really weird, but then there are some freaks out there, so to each their own, I guess." Artoria muttered at the end as she kept walking.
Rimuru was lost and confused at what she was saying; it was all nonsense to him. "What are you even talking about?"
Artoria waved her hand in dismissal. "Nothing, and if I tried to explain it, it would get complicated really fast, so let's just leave it as is before we go any further for what we're here for. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if she also showed up, assuming she also shows up." Artoria muttered the last part to herself.
Unfortunately for them, a sudden roar interrupted them. From beyond the mountain range in the distance, a large figure was approaching them. Even with the dark and gloomy atmosphere they were in, the figure approaching them gave them a creepy vibe. Like their surroundings, it also looked corrupted.
"Alright, Rimuru, just stay back." Artoria summoned her armor and Excalibur. Instantly, Excalibur started glowing.
'It's just like with Charybdis!' Rimuru was excited to see this again.
Suddenly, a large beam of light shot up into the sky as Artoria raised her sword. Loose pieces of earth started to float into the air. A whirlwind made everything wave back and forth. The clothes on Rimuru whipped around, and the loose pieces of cloth that stuck out from Artoria's armor also whipped around.
The dragon only got closer, undeterred by the beam of light.
"EX-CALIBUR!" Artoria brought down Excalibur with a powerful swing. As soon as it made contact, another beam of light shot up into the sky from the point of impact, which was the tip of the beam.
The dragon was pinned down, bearing the full brunt of the attack.
Rimuru, watching the spectacle, almost forgot that he was supposed to save the dragon. He moved in quickly, using the time that the dragon was pinned down to the ground to save it.
When he got closer, he could see the immense damage it was causing. The skin, scales, and limbs were disintegrating at a rapid pace visible to his eye. And this was the physical body; he had to save the spiritual and astral body and purify it as Artoria told him to do, before those also get too damaged beyond repair.
Rimuru put out his hands and used Beelzebub. A dense, purple mist entered the dragon's body. Since it was being disintegrated by Excalibur, there wasn't much resistance it could put up. Rimuru quickly absorbed the dragon's spiritual and astral bodies, and Raphael quickly started to analyze and purify them.
Soon, the attack ended, leaving behind a gaping crater and a large ravine in the land.
"So, you got it, Rimuru?"
"Yeah, I do. Since I have the astral and spiritual bodies, all I have to do is fix and repair it. After that, all I have to do is give it another physical body, or some kind of other body it can grow into again. I'll put it in an egg."
"Good, good. Get it finished before we go back. You know, just in case Milim shows up."
"Alright, yeah."
"Let's get out of here."
A magic circle appeared under them, and they teleported back to the city. Rimuru held a large egg, which had already been formed by Raphael.
"Nice. Now, we can wait for Milim to come here, or go to her. Now, even if she's mad about Guy or Velzard's death, which I bet she'll be madder about Velzard, since they're family and stuff, she'll care more about her pet dragon, since it was a gift from her dad before he died, and she'll understand why I did what I did once she knows what Velzard threatened to do."
"And what did she threaten?"
"She threatened to harm Shuna."
"Oh. I see." Everything suddenly connected in Rimuru's mind. His initial theory was right, it seems; no wonder she seemed a little more violent than usual. It was definitely those protective instincts of hers, no doubt enhanced by the part of her that is a dragon.
"Oh, look, she's on her way here, Rimuru. She must've felt the seal on the den break and something happen to the Chaos Dragon. Hand me the egg, Rimuru. Unless you want her to destroy this part of the city when she lands."
Rimuru quickly handed her the egg as his senses also picked up on Milim's rapid approach.
A bright, pink trail rapidly zoomed through the sky, coming straight at them. Artoria simply held out the egg in front of the approaching pink trail.
"Milim, I have a little gift for you."
The pink blur stopped in front of Artoria, revealing Milim, staring at the egg.
"Rimuru and I went to rescue your pet dragon. This egg will hatch when it's ready to be born again. You'll be reunited again."
Milim carefully took the egg from her. "Really?" Milim quickly forgot what she came here for as she took the egg. Her voice cracked a little bit. She sensed it; it was her pet dragon.
"Yes, really. It's a gift for all you've helped us with. And also to return someone who was taken from you unjustly in the past. You don't need to repay it in any way; it's a gratitude on our part."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you."
Rimuru just stayed silent throughout the interaction. He would let Artoria do all the talking, especially at a moment like this for Milim. The way she rubbed the egg with care, and how she seemed almost teary, was cute in a way to him.
At least another disaster was avoided this time, and Guy or Velzard wasn't even brought up either.