One percent.
That was it.
That was all the system allowed me to unlock from Rimuru Tempest's template.
And yet…
It felt like swallowing a star.
The moment it activated, my body blurred—not physically collapsing, but conceptually shifting. My existence… softened. Smoothed. Became fluid around the edges.
The system flashed before me.
[Rimuru Tempest Template — 1% Unlocked]
Race Acquired: Slime
Species Skills:
Self-Regeneration
Unique Skills:
Predator
Great Sage
Resistances Acquired:
Paralysis Resistance
Pain Nullification
Thermal Fluctuation Resistance
Electric Resistance
New Authority Gained:
Naming (Empowerment of Subordinates)
I didn't look human for more than a second.
Then I did again.
My divine form stabilized—still silver-haired, still perfect, still unmistakably me—but now… I could feel it.
Something alien.
Something beautiful.
A core.
A fluid presence beneath my skin as if I had a second existence layered perfectly inside my own.
I clenched my fist.
It didn't ache.
It didn't strain.
Pain… was gone.
Not suppressed.
Deleted.
Predator activated for the first time without my command.
I felt it — a subtle, hungry pull in my chest that evaluated the world:
Living beings.Magic.Energy.Spiritual power.
Not desire to harm.
Not violence.
Just… understanding.
Everything had a structure.
And I could consume those structures.
Then—
A calm, feminine voice spoke inside my mind.
"Success. Unique Skill "Great Sage" has activated."
I froze.
"…So it really talks to me."
"Confirmed. I will remain active as a support intelligence."
I exhaled slowly.
Rimuru's template wasn't just power—it was infrastructure. A system inside my system.
And arguably… even better.
I tested it.
A small magical beast wandered into one of the outer forests of my dimension — a harmless, mana-fed creature that I normally ignored.
For once…
I didn't.
I raised my hand.
"Predator."
The world folded.
The beast didn't scream. Didn't fight.
It simply dissolved into light and was absorbed into me.
Not pain.Not blood.Not horror.
Just knowledge.
Experience.
Essence.
"Analysis complete. Minimal threat entity absorbed."
I opened my eyes.
"…That was clean," I murmured.
Then I tried something else.
I extended my will across my realm, focusing on Tom.
"Come here."
He appeared moments later, concern flashing in his eyes. "My lady—are you—"
I reached out.
"Hold still."
My hand touched his forehead.
And I spoke a single word.
"I name you… Arcturus."
The system shuddered.
Magic exploded outward.
Tom staggered as power flooded into him — not chaotic, not destructive—refined.
His aura deepened.
His soul strengthened.
His magic doubled… then stabilized.
He fell to one knee, stunned.
"My… name…" he whispered.
"It is a gift," I said quietly.
Great Sage appeared again.
"Naming successful. Target has evolved."
I stepped back.
One percent.
That was all it took to reshape someone's existence.
I looked toward the sky of my realm.
If 1% made me this dangerous…
What would 10% do?
20%?
50%?
100% Rimuru wasn't just power.
It was evolution without limits.
And I had only just begun.