Chapter 57 - Trouble Brewing 1

It has been thousands of years after Runa and Agni's ascension as the new vessel of the power of the Great Spirits of Fire and Water. 

They have evolved into the Sun Djinn and Moon Djinn.

"What is the meaning of all of this?" Rimuru sighed as he read the report.

There has been an increase in the cryptid activity in the entire multiverse. The reasons are currently unknown and Jahil is leading the investigation.

"Seriously, that stupid Insect isn't doing his job properly."

Recalling Zelanus who was suppose to manage the numbers of the cryptids.

Rimuru leaned on his chair as he thought of what to do next. At the moment they have been increasing their numbers, not only as Rimuru's subordinates. But the followers of the so-called Silver faith.

It seems that more than half of the multiverse has already been converted to that faith. As such, they know that they are being protected by Rimuru and the other Primordials or as they are called, Cardinals.

There has been several suggested arcana members from those who are zealous.

But aside from the original ones, most of them don't have as much potential as the others.

Well not all of them, there are individuals like D (Hermit) and Lendy(Justice) that are still alive, and probably stronger than majority of them. 

D is someone that rarely leaves her world, or more like she doesn't want to cooperate. She was forced to work by Diablo though, and reluctantly help from time to time only. 

Lendy was a dragon that Carerra found, she seems to have a way with finding beasts. Unfortunately for the beasts, they were forced to be tamed by the blonde primordial. Though at first Lendy was uncooperative, once he realized the job assigned to him. He started to obey although he still has some qualms about his leader's way of doing(destroying) things. 

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In a certain universe, devoid of any celestial bodies as far as the universe expanse. A lone, extremely large planet floats, inside the planet was a land full of large snakes. Coiling with each other, performing acts to increase their numbers. 

To the deepest part of the planet, to the place where the core was suppose to be in, coils a large serpent. 

"It should be a good time," A deep voice echoed throughout the crevices of the area. "My beloved children, come and raise chaos." 

Ten figures bowed their heads as they entered a portal opened for them. 

"Kukuku how will you respond, Watcher!" The serpent sent a wave to the entire mutliverse, a few of the snakes that its planted, have all reacted to the wave. 

"Go, be of use to me." 

Several portal also opened on the surface where most of the snakes continue to increase their numbers. They all crawled into different portal and invaded the world they arrived in. 

***

Zelanus was as usual eliminating the cryptids that have increased excessively.

"Zelanus-sama!" An Insectar approached him. "There seems to be an increase of snake types in the cryptids. Also a portal appeared, and several thousands of cryptids of all kinds escaped!"

While not shown on his face, Zelanus wanted to frown. He wasn't dense to not notice the increase in the certain type of cryptid over the thousands of years.

In fact, he had his(Peliod's) children looked into it. Though, he doesn't have any plan on sharing the information.

He only nodded to the Insectar before traveling to the center of the problem.

A portal was indeed there, he ordered his subordinates to defend the gate and not let any cryptid leave anymore.

He ordered the Insectar to go to the angels to have them guard the portal while the Insects eliminate the escapees.

"Come." Zelanus with his army of elites, walked pass the portal.

Zelanus was surprised, in front of him was a world filled with hundreds if not thousands of portals.

And in between those portals the cryptids fight with each other.

Majority of them are snake types fighting the other cryptids.

One of the snakes that was 3 meters long, bit a cryptid three times its size. After biting, the snake removed its fangs from the skin and looked for a different prey.

The cryptid that was bitten started to grow dizzy and it's eyes blink several times. The eye shape changed and turned to a more snake like eyes.

The skin started harden similar to scales of a snake.

Then, it started to attack the other non-snake type cryptids. Slashing at them and biting as it roared.

Zelanus concluded, the snakes really are a unique type, similar to them.

The snakes have the ability to turn others into snake like creatures, or at least be able to turn them into allies.

"Don't let them leave through the portals. Guard them all," Zelanus ordered.

The insects started to move, they grouped themselves into hundred per portal.

Because the insects have found a safe home, they were able to reproduce and increase their numbers.

In fact, the current number of insects in their home universe is more than a billion.

Though, the number does not increase or decrease no matter how long. That is because every month, they held a battle royal of sorts that forces them to fight each other for a whole three days.

The survivors will procreate to make up for the number of death, and in the next month will fight again repeating this cycle.

It was a way to search for the best insects that hold potentials to be strong.

The insects that Zelanus brings with him to the blank universe where Ivarage was sealed, are those that survive a minimum of a hundred years.

They number only on the hundred thousands and are all A-plus insects.

***

In Citadel, the alarms were going of. The Cherufes and Aqua sprites keep on passing though the gates.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that the entire multiverse was experiencing a wave of snake monster attacks.

What's more, they increase in numbers by biting their pray until eventually they turn into a full snake as well.

"They're like zombies." Rimuru commented, as he looked through the visuals, in the new building that they added a thousand years ago.

The command center. The place where the list of universe and reports are all compiled together and shown on the several large screen made by Lilith.

"Tell the Primordials to focus on their domains." Rimuru ordered, "Have the captain-class enkis and sirens bring more than a thousand Cherufe and Aqua sprites on each universe they go to. Anyone bitten is permitted to be eliminated immediately."

"B-Boss!" Lilith who was observing one of the screen shouted. "A request on the Norse universe! Jormungandr seems to have awoken and is hundreds of times stronger than expected. The subordinates we placed there have died, and more than half of the nine worlds(realms) have been destroyed already!"

Rimuru frowned, he clicked his tongue. "Isn't that the place where we have some djinn?"

After the evolution of Agni and Runa, the best one hundred of their descendants(subordinates) all evolved into fire and water djinn.

"Yes.." Agni who was near answered shamefully.

"Rimuru-sama I'll go!" Runa suggested as she saw the large serpent devouring the residents of the world.

"Alright, you two are going to Norse Universe. Luckily it's in central, so the Primordials can focus on their own areas without worry."

Rimuru pointed to Agni and Runa who bowed and left the place with ten of their subordinates following them.

After a few minutes they can see on the visual of Runa and Agni fighting the large Serpent.

"It's quite durable." Velgrynd commented as she observed the battle. Normally, Agni only needs one swing of an axe to burn the enemies into cinders.

"The snakes are in norse too!?" Lilith's voice echoed throughout the large control room. "The Aesir residents have been infected and started to fight Agni and Runa."

"They should be able to handle them."

"Another report!" Lilith announced again. "A large Serpent has destroyed its entire universe!"

"How come we only know this now?" Rimuru questioned as they only just found out after everything was destroyed, no warning or anything.

"Luckily, it doesn't have anyway to invade other universes... What the heck!? A portal appeared in front of it!" Lilith inserted the visual to the biggest screen on the control room.

In front of everyone, a large serpent bigger than a world was passing through a portal.

The entire room went silent, it wasn't because a threat was jumping through universe. But because someone was helping it jump through universes.

"We're being tested." Rimuru gritted his teeth. "They're mocking us!"

Rimuru turned and was about to eliminate the serpent. Velgrynd held him and stopped him in his tracks.

"Wait, you said it yourself. We're being watched, we should be more vigilant with your skills." Velgrynd explained as she let go of Rimuru. "I'll go,"

"You?"

"Yeah, it should be easy. I'll make it quick that they wouldn't be able to get anything."

Velgrynd began to walk towards the gate where the snake was going.

"Wait!"

"What?"

"Pretend you haven't noticed them watching. We'll turn it into an advantage on our side." Rimuru advised Velgrynd who nodded and left.

Rimuru could only watch as the entire multiverse fight snakes.

"Emergency!"

"That better be something good!"

"Hey, I'm only announcing here! If you don't want to hear it then don't!" Lilith complained, originally she wasn't even suppose to be part of the people working on the system.

She was only suppose to be building the thing. But, the others weren't experience enough for this level of calamity.

"Another snake type monster this should be the Bakunawa, it's been swallowing up all the moons and planets and continues to grow in size."

Rimuru turned to Zegion and Apito, who both nodded and walked out the room.

"There." as much as Rimuru wants to go himself, he must remain incase someone really strong actually comes.

Zegion and Apito flew towards the the large Serpent as it swallowed another planet.

Zegion dived in with speed planning to crash his body to the large Serpent.

"Moon?"

Bakunawa noticed Zegion and opened it's mouth towards him. From it's mouth, a typhoon was created and fired at Zegion. Within the typhoon were sharp blades made of both water and wind.

Zegion dodged by moving to the side and continues his way. Then he noticed something coming from his side, the tail of Bakunawa was coming at him like a whip.

As Bakunawa was larger than an average planet, the size of the tail was large enough to be the size of a continent. And the tip of its tail to be larger than any major city.

Even with it's large size, the speed it showed was not normal.

Zegion hold up his hand to his left size, braising for the impact to come.

As the whip like tail hip him, he flew thousands of kilometers away before stopping himself.

Zegion look towards his hands and left side of his body.

"Strong."

Zegion actually felt numb from that hit, not only that he knew that he could not tank more than five of those.

As he flew back to return to the fight.

Apito could be seen flying all over space, Bakunawa has set its sight on her.

Opening it's mouth to swallow her whole.

"Moon!"

"Dumb snake, poison needle!" While flying Apito fired her attacks to try to get it of her back.

The Serpent felt discomfort from the needles that hit its face, yet other than that it took no damage at all.

"The body is too large to poison." Zegion with his fist infuse with magicules punched Bakunawa near the middle of its body. "Ripple Punch."

"Gahhh! Moooon!!!" Bakunawa screamed in pain from the impact, the attack not only punch a hole in its body. The attack was an art that cause the entire body to take damage.

It turned to find the perpetrator of the pain it felt. Then, it saw Zegion preparing another punch towards the body of Bakunawa.

"Moon! MOON!!" It rushed towards Zegion with it's mouth open, unlike before that shoots typhoon that pushes its enemies. The attack was now dragging Zegion towards its mouth, planning to swallow him whole.

Apito taking this as a sign from Zegion, turned and went towards Bakunawa's tail without its notice.

Zegion who was planning to punch his enemy's stomach again was pulled towards the mouth of the large Serpent.

What Bakunawa didn't realize was it was a trap, Zegion changed his position and used the force that was pulling him to his advantage.

In fact, he increased the speed so that he could have much more force towards Bakunawa.

"Moon!"

Zegion positioned his right fist, "Destructive Impact."

Zegion entered the mouth of Bakunawa and went out the other side of its skull. Zegion turned and saw that Bakunawa was still alive and writhing in pain.

"Mo.. On.. MOON!!" Bakunawa tried to use his whip like tail to attack Zegion. Then it felt something wrong, like its tail was lighter than usual.

"Forgetting about me?" Apito spoke as she stood beside Zegion.

Apito fired a large wing blade at Bakunawa's tail at the exact moment of Zegion's attack. And because Zegion's attack was more painful, majority of Its attention fell on that. Ignoring the injury that befall its tail.

"It's over." Zegion spoke as he stretched his arm out. It started to shine preparing to fire his best move yet.

"Dimensional Beam."

Bakunawa who was looking at the two Insectar, saw the attack coming to it. It was mesmerize by the glow and beauty of the attack. Looking exactly like the shine of a full moon.

"Moon... Beautiful.."

With those words, Bakunawa the "Moon Eating Serpent" was killed by Zegion and Apito.

"We did it Zegion-sama," Apito arrived down to where Zegion was standing. She looked happy because they were able to finish the job Rimuru gave them. They also knew that the entire fight may have been seen by Rimuru. 

and yet...

"Zegion-sama?" Apito was confuse as to why Zegion was frozen in place. 

Then a clapping sound was heard, then and only then did Apito managed to sense the arrival of multiple Insectars. And with them all was.. The Insect King Zelanus. 

"Not bad." Zelanus had four of his arms folded while one pair clapped. "That thing should have been beyond you, and yet you managed to defeat it with ease."

Zegion turned to look at him, so did Apito. And yet not one of them spoke, they were remaining vigilant. Not only at Zelanus, the two insectar behind him are both giving of some murderous auras.

"Let's test your strength now." He stopped clapping, then the Insectar behind him rushed in to Zegion. 

With its arms, it attempted to finish of Zegion in one blow. Zegion managed to defend against the attack and the two started to fight each other. 

It was Zess, Zegion's brother born from Zelanus himself. Due to Zelanus finding out about Rimuru's forceful evolution of the two insects, he named both Zess and Peliod as a precaution for the future.

"Zegion-sama!" While Apito wanted to help him, she knew that she would only get in the way. Besides...

Another Insectar came forward, this time it stop in front of her. She looked familiar to Apito, of course she was, she was the one that gave birth to her. It was Peliod, the Insect Queen.

Apito flew and backed off, she started to shoot a barrage of needles at Peliod. In response to her onslaught, Peliod fired of poisonous scales to counter the needles. She also started to fly and chase after Apito. 

"Tsk," Apito was very troubled by the situation, she knows for a fact that the Insectars that she and her brother are fighting are trying to kill them. As much as Zelanus said that he was testing them, he was really trying to kill them. 

Though if he really wanted too, he could finish us himself...

Apito thought as she caught with her eye that Zelanus hasn't left his position, with his arms cross he continues to observe. 

Zegion was getting used to fighting of his brother. Even with Zegion gaining a name and modification on his body, he mostly block and dodge and occasionally attempting to gain an upper hand by going on the offensive.

A factor was more than half of his magicules were used to eliminate Bakunawa.

Though I could receive some from Rimuru-sama if I wanted too... But I will not grow dependent!

The Insectar brother has shown signs of major injuries from his body and mostly his fists. He realized that Zegion had a very tough exoskeleton. 

With a glint on his eyes, he dashed towards Zegion with everything on one final blow. Zegion prepared to tank the attack and counter it. 

"Stop." 

Suddenly Rimuru's voice was heard. "The hell are you doing, stupid bug," Rimuru said with a glare towards Zelanus. 

Rimuru was standing nearby Zegion, his sword in his right hand placed on his shoulder.

Zelanus took note the fact that blood was in the blade.

The observer was killed. Zelanus thought to himself.

"Nothing much foolish demon," Zelanus uncross his arms and signaled the two Insectars to return to his side. While both Insectar still wanted to continue, they silently obeyed the king's order. "Just wanted to test them."

"Is that so?" Rimuru looked at the wounded Apito and Zegion. "Then what about I test your subordinates." Rimuru cracked his knuckles as he stared at the two behind him. 

"How pathetic, you'd really pick a fight with my subordinates?" Zelanus gestures with a sigh as if belittling Rimuru. 

 Rimuru could barely control his anger towards Zelanus. He was even wondering why was he even holding back. "So what you did wasn't pathetic? Talk about a hypocrite bug." 

"Hypocrite bug? Hm.. This demon does not know the meaning of such simple words." Zelanus shook his head. "I did not attack your subordinates, it was my men that did." 

"Is that so...Then" Rimuru faster than the speed of sound. "It's you I should be testing!" Rimuru with his sword and attack Zelanus. 

Not surprising, Zelanus managed to block the attack with his weapons. 

A/N: This was a long one that it became a two-parter. 

*Clears voice* The Plot Thickens!

Yes, finally introducing the antagonist of the story! (Or am I?) 

So Zegion isn't trained by Veldora and Zess has more experience in this story. I didn't like that they did not meet in the original story as Zess was trying to kill them both at their birth. The two should have gotten their revenge or at least Zess seeing them both stronger than him.