"From now on, you'll be called Zegion."
"And you bee, your name is Apito."
Zegion and Apito were the same Insectar saved by Rimuru in the original story.
Both possessed extraordinary potential, destined to become top-tier powerhouses under Rimuru.
Zegion, in particular, stood out.
In the original storyline, Zegion would rise to surpass even Benimaru and Shion, becoming a formidable force.
At his peak, his magicule count reached over 60 million EP, second only to the four Dragon Kings.
Excluding Veldora, the Storm Dragon, Damien considered Zegion the strongest fighter under Rimuru.
"Thank you for your gracious gift, Master!"
Zegion and Apito didn't gain any unique skills from the naming process.
Damien wasn't disappointed.
He knew Zegion's true power was still dormant.
What surprised him, though, was that Zegion inherited a trace of his bloodline power.
Even a mere trace of Veldanava's bloodline was of exceptional quality.
[Zegion]
[Race: Insectar · Beetle Type]
[Magicules: 30,000 EP]
[Special Skill: Phantom Spirit Power (A gift from the master's bloodline, a symbol of sworn loyalty)]
[Sibling Bond: Apito]
'Interesting.'
Damien recalled that in the novels, Zegion's body was damaged while protecting Apito.
Thanks to Rimuru, part of his body was used to restore Zegion, sparking his growth into a supreme powerhouse.
Now, because of Ice Empress's timely intervention, Zegion was unharmed.
Damien had worried this might limit Zegion's potential, but his talent proved exceptional regardless.
The bloodline gift also ensured Zegion's absolute loyalty to Damien.
He would obey any command from Damien without question, carrying out his will unflinchingly.
[Apito]
[Race: Insectar · Queen Bee Type]
[Magicules: 24,000 EP]
[Special Skill: Hive Power (A gift from the master's bloodline, a symbol of devoted loyalty)]
[Sibling Bond: Zegion]
"Hm?"
Damien was surprised.
Not only Zegion but Apito had also inherited a trace of his bloodline power.
Zegion's was called Phantom Spirit Power.
Apito's was Hive Power.
Phantom Spirit and Hive.
Damien wasn't sure what these special skills entailed.
But he had a hunch.
Once fully awakened, these two would become sharp blades in his arsenal, cutting down any who dared defy him.
"What's this sibling bond?"
Damien conducted a deep analysis of the term.
The feedback was quite unexpected.
[Sibling Bond]
[Description: A bond skill. When Zegion and Apito are present together, their magicules resonate, significantly boosting each other's combat strength.]
"Like that, huh?"
It was Damien's first encounter with a bond skill, and it piqued his curiosity.
"Speaking of which, isn't the fusion technique of Ice Empress and Snow Empress similar?"
Damien suspected the power of twin martial souls might also be a bond skill.
A type of ability where the more connected majin are present, the greater their collective strength becomes.
'In that case…'
'The potential of these two might even surpass the kijin.'
Damien considered contracting them as followers if he gained more slots in the future.
Shuna, Shion, Benimaru, Souei.
Damien had been selective with his followers in this world, choosing only those with the potential to awaken as Demon Lords.
'And the Insectar…'
He hadn't forgotten his three follower slots.
The Insectar were a vast race.
They typically resided in the spiritual world, rarely entering the material world.
With Zegion and Apito, Damien saw an opportunity to influence the Insectar race.
'Let's wait until they awaken,' he decided.
Thinking too far ahead was pointless.
Besides, while Damien might lack magicules now, that wouldn't always be the case.
'With the evolution speed of Insectar, full awakening might not happen until they reach True Demon Lord status.'
'By then, I'll probably have more follower slots than I know what to do with.'
"How do you feel?"
Damien gently patted the heads of the beetle and bee, who showed no outward change despite their new names, as a sign of affection.
"Thank you, Master!"
"As long as you're happy with them."
Damien genuinely liked these two, feeling like he'd welcomed new pets into his home.
"Master, please let us work in the forest." Apito said, her voice sweet and youthful like a gentle girl's. "You'll love the honey I make."
"I'll help too." Zegion added, his voice deep and magnetic, inspiring trust.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Wonderful!"
With Damien's approval, the two danced with joy.
"Work hard, and let me taste that honey soon, Apito."
"Yes, Lady Ice Empress!"
"Hey, don't exploit them." Damien teased, playfully bickering with Ice Empress to ensure she didn't bully the newcomers.
But Apito didn't see it as exploitation.
She was deeply grateful to Ice Empress for saving her and her companion and respected her as the leader of the Insectar.
Zegion felt the same.
So, under Ice Empress's smug grin, the two followed her out of Damien's home to explore the forest.
Soon, it was the afternoon of Damien's second day back.
"Is everyone here?"
"Now, let's begin the executive meeting."
Damien gathered all his key followers.
With Violet's assistance, he cast an advanced spatial magic, restructuring the entire town's layout.
The new design featured a central circle with four quadrants branching from it.
"These four areas will be designated as Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter."
"The seasonal distribution is fixed."
"But each quadrant will rotate clockwise every quarter, allowing each area to experience all four seasons."
This power stemmed from Snow Empress's ability to manifest the natural world.
"A ring-shaped street surrounds the central area, branching into four main roads: east, south, west, and north."
Shops for shopping, dining, and entertainment would line these streets for the residents.
Most importantly, the Einzbern family's castle was successfully placed in the central area.
***
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