When the demons were summoned on Rimuru's orders, the upper echelons of the Imperial Army certainly noticed the abnormality.
When the summoning gate for the demons appeared— "That's… impossible… A demon summoning gate that massive…"
He didn't miss the words whispered by the subordinate mage.
He immediately had a Magicule count measurement taken and grasped the reality of the situation.
The summoned demons were, every last one of them, Arch-Demons of the highest caliber or above.
"That's… there's no way. Just how much fighting power is that…?"
The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them, an unwillingness to accept the reality he'd just learned.
Gladim, who had not missed those words, turned his gaze toward Major General Zamdo.
There was no point in hiding it. Zamdo stated only the facts.
In other words, a demon legion of catastrophic proportions, one that surpassed the strength of the Imperial Army's officers and soldiers, had materialized.
Even if the Empire had numbers on its side, the difference in quality was something that could not be overcome.
At this rate, all they could do was wait to be trampled.
The upper echelons, himself included, might survive—but the rank-and-file soldiers would all be slaughtered, he said.
Gladim didn't want to believe it, but Zamdo was not the kind of man to crack jokes.
If anything, he was serious and meticulous.
(Tch. I underestimated the Demon Lord, did I…)
Regretting it now would do him no good.
All that remained was to do what he could.
With their Emperor present on the battlefield, there was no room for a disgraceful fight.
Gladim made his decision instantly and activated a teleportation magic circle to assume command of his legion, which he had stationed below to await orders.
The members of the Magical Beast Corps had been selected and trained by the Beast King Gladim himself.
They were a gathering of natural-born warriors, said to carry the blood of heroes who had been active in ancient times.
And the magical beasts they commanded were said to possess strength equivalent to A-rank or above.
Artificial composite beasts, produced through DNA analysis and cultivation of magical beasts. They were a type of weapon, engineered specifically for combat.
And the corps members who controlled and commanded them likewise possessed strength equivalent to A-rank or above, as was only natural.
Fighting alongside their partners, they would display unmatched strength on land.
However, this was out at sea, and the situation was unfavorable for them.
That was precisely why Beast King Gladim, who had hurriedly flown back, issued a single command.
"All units, listen up!! I am now issuing a classified order.
According to the measurement team, each of those demons possesses A-rank-level abilities or higher.
At this rate, we are projected to suffer catastrophic losses.
Therefore, we will counter with our final resort.
I authorize the activation of the Special Administration Ability: Beast Transformation.
Execute immediately. The enemy will not wait for us!!"
The forbidden order was activated.
The Special Administration Ability: Beast Transformation was a power developed by the Technical Bureau, which had also conducted the DNA analysis of magical beasts.
The ability enabled fusion between a magical beast and a soldier.
A forbidden power that bestowed upon a human the strength of a magical beast.
True to its designation as "forbidden," once activated, the ability could not be reversed by the subject's own power.
It required removal at the affiliated research hospital.
By synchronizing one's partner with one's own body, it became possible to create warriors who harbored power surpassing even simple command.
The drug was distributed in pill form and could be used at any time. However, its use was permitted solely by the Legion Commander under a classified order.
There was another reason it was kept classified.
Mortality rate: 10% Complete magical beast transformation due to adaptation failure: 20% Rampage rate (including both humanoid and beast forms): 30% Side effects due to bodily mutation: 20% The reason was that it produced far too many uncertain outcomes.
In practice, the true success rate was only 20%.
However, among those who underwent the process, there were those like Gladim who succeeded, absorbed the power of a magical beast, and survived.
Such individuals would continually assimilate new magical beast abilities, growing ever stronger.
Less than one percent were complete adaptors.
The Magical Beast Knights—Gladim's closest aides—were such individuals.
Beast King Gladim, even in this situation, remained composed as he ordered the Magical Beast Corps members to "die."
If they could not gain power regardless, their only option here was to become fodder for the demons.
The order was ruthless, but it was also rational.
The corps members carried out the order without hesitation.
They had been informed of its contents and were fully aware that the act carried a high probability of death.
Yet their absolute trust in Beast King Gladim compelled them to execute the order without wavering.
As a result— Of the 30,000 members of the Magical Beast Corps…
7,700 became rampaging magical beasts, and 5,800 became fully transformed magical beasts.
4,500 became rampaging beastkin, while 7,400 became magical beast soldiers.
550 became Magical Beast Knights.
Their numbers had been drastically reduced.
Those who went berserk were immediately released and had already begun rampaging on the upper deck. As a precaution, an expulsion magic circle had been laid down beforehand to deal with the rampages.
This was the responsibility of the mages stationed nearby. Without it, they would be attacked by those who had once been comrades.
The rational ones who could still fight numbered a mere 13,750—less than half the original force.
This number included those who had gained the will of a magical beast and were counted as combat-ready, so it represented a significant reduction.
Yet Beast King Gladim nodded with satisfaction.
More Magical Beast Knights had been born than anticipated.
Originally, the success rate for candidates selected as aides had been around 100.
Because they had experimentally selected only those with a high probability of success, the numbers could not easily be increased.
But thanks to this emergency situation, the birth of 450 high-quality Magical Beast Knights was nothing short of a windfall.
(With this, we can win!)
Beast King Gladim was certain of this even as he reorganized his legion and prepared for battle.
—Kill them all!
Receiving that order, the demons of the Black Corps released their power with jubilation.
And they rushed, each trying to be first, toward the ships that had retreated to the sea.
The 100 ships floating in the sky were their master's prey.
Nearly 200 airships floating on the sea behind them would be their fodder.
The subordinates of the three Great Demon Lords
They rivaled the higher Magical Beings that surpassed A-rank.
That power, freed from every constraint, was now directed toward the wretched prey below.
However— "Wait!"
A single word from
All eyes turned to Diablo at once.
Diablo raised one hand and put the demons at ease.
"Ku fu fu fu fu. Do you all understand?
That not a single one of you is permitted to die—this is Lord Rimuru's absolute command.
That your deaths would be a grave crime for which we, the executive officers, would have to offer our own heads—that is what is at stake."
That smile planted fear rather than warmth in the listener's heart.
And moreover, Diablo's words were correct, and brooked no argument.
The demons listened quietly.
"First, Testarossa. I'd like to entrust you with cleaning up the filth below. Would you take the task?"
"Mmm, very well. Even alone, it should be trivially easy."
"Wait a minute! I want to go! I'm more than capable too!"
Diablo had directed the order to Testarossa, but Ultima interjected.
To this, Diablo showed no anger.
"Ku fu fu fu fu. Indeed, you could handle it as well.
However, the ships are floating unharmed below, so it would be a shame not to capture them, wouldn't it?
I would like to present all of those ships as a tribute to Lord Rimuru—what do you think?
Ultima, you're not well-suited for fine-tuned magic control, are you?
That is why Testarossa is the right choice here."
He explained in a rare, gentle manner.
This was a sign that Diablo was in an exceptionally good mood.
If someone had interrupted him when he was in a bad mood, that person's remaining lifespan would have accelerated to zero in an instant.
Ultima seemed to accept this.
"Tch. —Fine. I suppose it's not really my thing anyway."
She gave up on throwing any more of a tantrum.
"Ufufu. Then shall we be off—"
"Wait a moment. Take
"Oh my, why?"
"Did I not say? The order this time is to kill them all to the last.
Not a single one is to escape.
Have the Demon Knights mop up anyone who survives your attacks."
"—I see. As hunting dogs, they would be useful. I'll borrow them.
Bear in mind that you are not permitted to die, and act as you see fit.
Shien, take your squad and carry out a sweep of any who attempt to flee this airspace!"
Testarossa issued orders to her subordinates and immediately moved toward her prey.
Venom looked as if he wanted to say something to Diablo for a moment, but ultimately gave a bow of resignation, then left the area and followed after Testarossa.
"So, Diablo, you're the one who kills the Emperor guy?"
"No, no. Unfortunately, that appears to be impossible."
"Oh? How so?"
Diablo's words piqued her interest, and Carrera asked the follow-up—a rare occurrence.
For Carrera, who was famous for not listening to others' words—no, for not listening at all—it was truly unusual.
"Ku fu fu fu fu. The Emperor appears to possess an absolute defense."
With that, Diablo suddenly fired a Heat Convergence Beam.
The super-long-range weapon pierced through the airship's barrier while maintaining a velocity over a dozen times the speed of sound.
And it struck the Emperor head-on without losing any momentum.
But the Emperor was unharmed. As if they already knew this would be the outcome, the Imperial Knights guarding the Emperor didn't even move.
"Did you see? The Imperial Knights guarding the Emperor didn't budge at all.
That's because they're confident their defensive barrier won't be broken.
It appears the Emperor is also a holder of an Ultimate Skill.
And that skill is of the 'Angel-type.' 'Angel-type' skills are characterized by superior defense, and the Emperor's defense appears to be among the highest grade even within that category.
According to the analysis, it's something called 'Royal Castle Walls.' It draws its energy from the loyalty of those surrounding the Emperor, and so long as the Emperor's loyal subordinates are present, he is invincible.
In short, we cannot kill the Emperor unless we kill every last soldier in the Imperial Army."
"Hmm. How'd you figure all that out?"
"Seriously. From just watching, there was no way to tell."
"Ku fu fu fu fu. It goes without saying (I asked a certain someone for help)!"
The two looked at the smug Diablo with suspicion.
He cleared his throat to deflect, then wrapped up the conversation.
"Therefore, I must ask you two to handle everyone besides the Emperor.
Carrera, the man in the military uniform is yours.
Ultima, take the rest of the notable targets.
All Demon Peers other than Moss and Shien, support Ultima!"
"By your command!!"
Receiving the order, the demons flew off.
Ultima and Carrera were about to move as well, but— "Huh? What are you going to do, Diablo?"
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