Fallen Tempest. Risen Ruler. ---Tensura/Reincarnated as a Slime Alt Verse

Rimuru Vs Eastern Empire

                                                                                   Rimuru POV

The invasion of Tempest was on our doorstep. We're holding a line right now with Geld and Gabiru out there, focused purely on holding it, but there's no telling how long they can last. King Gazel hasn't contacted me since he told me about the Empire trying to come through his Eastern Entrance, so I can only assume Dwargon has fallen. Blumund's reinforcements have been sent to help and resupply ours, but I must enter the fight. Most of our high-level soldiers, like Benimaru and Soeui, are here, heavily injured. I've ordered Shuna to stay and reinforce the barrier around Tempest, mainly because Benimaru doesn't want her out on the front lines. I've already decided I'm leaving today, and I plan to try my best to defeat the Empire to defend what I've built, no matter what.

《Notice: Through the connection to the individual known as Soeui, I've been able to gather information on the battlefield. Information shows that our forces are beginning to be pushed back. It is also surmised that the Empire isn't using its strongest cards, but is using its larger military force to throw away weak soldiers. 》

Yeah, I'm going now. I've instructed our executives that if I should fall, to retreat and bring all of our people to Blumund, Lubelius, or even Eurizania immediately; I want to prioritize our civilians' survival more than anything.

I should go say some goodbyes before I leave.

I walk into the main office building. The mood was very dark; many of the hobgoblins and human secretaries looked to me; however, Shuna and Chloe turned to me as I opened the door, their faces lighting up a bit.

"Hey everyone. I've got some news."

Everyone looked to me, a tiniest bit of hope in their eyes.

"I've decided..I'm going to join the battle now."

Silence. Then Chloe ran to me, hugging me tightly.

"No! Rimuru can't go! I won't let you!"

I ran my fingers through her hair, trying to calm her down.

"Chloe, I have to go. The others are barely holding on; if I go, I can provide lots of relief for them and let them rest some. I don't know how much longer they can hold out."

She tightens her grip around me. I remember when she was so little that I could easily get out of her grip, but now she's so much stronger. I should give her a gift, since this could be the last time I see her- at least for a while.

"Here, take this."

I give her Shizu's mask; she takes it, letting go of me but still pouting. I want her to have it for her, but also, I don't want to risk losing it or it breaking.

"I'm leaving now. Please, if on the off chance I fall, please evacuate the town. The survival of Tempest's citizens and people is way more important than its people."

Shuna and the other executives nod, Rigurd with a grim look on his face. 

I turn and walk out, growing wings and flying outside the barrier before using Spatial Movement to teleport to the battlefield, and it is as grim as one could expect. 

Up in the sky, I see the two armies clashing; ours, in numbers, is completely dwarfed by theirs. It's insane that they've got this many people despite our constant fighting.

《Notice: According to calculations, the Empire's current military is 600,000 strong. There is also a smaller but stronger force of about 5,000 that seems to be some kind of Magical Division that is resting behind the main army. 》

I don't even think this is all their military power; I know they reserved military forces to stay in their home country, along with invading Dwargon. What's the best move here, I wonder?

《Warning: High-level Spatial Magic detected. 》

Suddenly, two huge portals open in the sky, and I see what looks like airships coming through. About 100 come through before the portal closes. This is bad, like really bad; if they can fire from those things, our ground forces will be obliterated. I'll take those out first. 

《Warning: High-Level individuals aboard several of the airships. There also seems to be a device to disturb the use of magic onboard the ships. 》

I'll let you defend me then, and I'll focus on attacking. Can you resist the magic device or not?

《I can. Engaging defenses. 》