The final flicker of consciousness was not a flash, but a gentle unraveling—an unraveling of flesh, blood, and bone into an alabaster void. Joshua's perception faded into a sublime darkness, pierced only by distant echoes of a voice both mechanical and tender.
> **System Initialization Complete.**
> Welcome, User "Joshua."
> Species: **Slime**
> Affinity: **Angelic** + **Demonic**
> Core Skill: **Great Sage**
> Active Modules: **Predator**, **Black Flame**, **Divine Judgment**, **Soul Resonance**
> Starting Abilities: **Angel's Grace** (Passive Healing Aura), **Demon's Wrath** (Passive Dark Empowerment)
Joshua's consciousness, newly formed and still fragile, began to wrap around this cascade of information. He didn't understand what he was—only that he was. An amorphous, translucent being of liquid and energy, his form gently pulsed with a cerulean glow, threads of radiant gold and swirling violet coursing through his body like celestial rivers.
He had no memories. No pain. No fear. Only existence, and the System that now governed it. Then, a ripple nearby caught his attention.
A similar entity stirred—a blob of bright blue, quivering with curiosity and instinct. They approached one another, drawn by some unspoken connection. A word, unformed yet familiar, took shape within them both: brother.
"Are you... me?" the other slime inquired, their voice soft and childlike, echoing without speech.
Joshua felt warmth, recognition. "No. I'm Joshua. I think... I was just born."
The other paused. "Same. I think I'm Rimuru. The System told me that much."
> **System Notification:** Timeline divergence confirmed. Subjects "Rimuru" and "Joshua" are twin reincarnations. Genetic soul imprint: Kurama Spirit Split – Yin and Yang aspect.
That last message meant little to them in the moment. What was Yin? What was Yang? What was a Kurama? Still, an invisible thread bound them together, stronger than words.
Their moment of wonder was cut short by a sudden tremor in the fabric of their space. A gale of mana swept through the void, and then—
A booming, echoing laugh. Thunder and delight rolled in one.
A massive eye, molten gold and wide with glee, pierced through the dimensional barrier.
"So! You two finally hatched. Took you long enough!" came a voice both grand and playful.
The ground—if it could be called that—shuddered beneath the weight of the presence. A great black-scaled dragon, cosmic in majesty, thrust its head into the pocket dimension. Starlight shimmered across its body, and lightning curled around its wings like living serpents.
Joshua and Rimuru instinctively shrank back.
"Who... who are you?" Rimuru managed.
"Me? I am Veldora Tempest—the Storm Dragon! Imprisoned here for centuries, but still as magnificent as ever. And now, I finally have company! Two adorable little slimes!"
Joshua vibrated nervously. "We're... newborn. We don't know anything yet."
Veldora leaned closer. His massive head loomed like a mountain, but his voice softened. "Then that makes you perfect! Blank slates ready to be shaped. You see, Rimuru helped free me in another timeline. I owe him a debt. And you—" he stared deeply into Joshua, "—you are... unique. Angelic and demonic energy in a single vessel. A contradiction. A miracle."
Rimuru wobbled beside Joshua. "We can't even move properly yet."
"Exactly why you need training!" Veldora said with a grin. "Lesson one: Learn to control your form."
So began their surreal journey within the spiritual realm of Veldora's prison. Time was a myth here, a loop of eternal now. Days could have passed—or months—and they wouldn't have known.
Veldora, despite his wild nature, was a surprisingly patient teacher. He started with basics: how to stabilize their slime bodies, how to control their gelatinous structure, how to contract and expand, how to simulate senses through mana detection.
Rimuru, agile and sharp, adapted quickly. He was the first to form crude appendages, the first to vocalize using vibration patterns in the air. Joshua struggled more at first. His dual nature made his energy unstable—light and dark mana clashed within him, frequently sending him into tremors.
But slowly, with **Great Sage** assisting him in breaking down and analyzing every moment of imbalance, Joshua began to learn. When he stabilized his powers, the world seemed to glow. Celestial energy radiated from one side of him, soft and healing; abyssal energy throbbed on the other, fierce and searing.
Veldora was in awe. "You two… You'll surpass me one day."
He wasn't just boasting. He pushed them harder with each passing day. He taught them about magical energy, known as magicules. He explained the hierarchy of monsters in the world outside. He shared stories of demon lords and ancient battles, of heroes who could shatter continents and kings who wielded power over life and death.
During their training, the twins discovered how to use their skills.
Rimuru practiced with **Predator**, consuming magical constructs and learning their properties. He devoured simulated mana beasts conjured by Veldora and copied their traits.
Joshua, meanwhile, experimented with **Black Flame** and **Divine Judgment**, finding ways to combine light and dark spells. His attacks were raw at first—erratic explosions of black fire or blinding holy light. But eventually, he created a devastating hybrid: a white-hot flame wrapped in shadows that could melt through barriers and purify curses.
More than once, Veldora had to put out the dimensional fires they accidentally caused.
When they were tired, Veldora told them stories.
"Out there," he said one day, "there are beings like Demon Lord Milim, who could swat cities like flies. Or Guy Crimson, the ruler of the demon realm. There are holy nations that would try to imprison you… and demon cults that would try to worship you."
Joshua asked, "Would they fear us?"
"Some will," Veldora answered. "Some will try to use you. And some… will try to destroy you. That's why you need more than strength. You need wisdom. Insight. Empathy."
Joshua pondered that. He didn't know what he wanted to be yet. Hero? Monster? Something else? But he knew one thing: he wouldn't be weak.
Eventually, the void that was their training ground began to shift.
The System's voice returned.
> **Development Stage Complete.**
> Transfer to Physical World: Imminent.
> Hostile Environment Detected. Initiating Transfer at Safe Coordinates…
Veldora grew solemn.
"Our time is almost up. But don't worry. I'll still be with you, in spirit and memory. And one day, we'll meet again."
Rimuru bobbed. "Promise?"
"Promise."
Joshua vibrated beside his brother. "We won't let you down."
The space around them began to fade into light. Their forms condensed. The mana surrounding them erupted into a whirl of color.
They had been nothing. Now, they were something. No longer mere souls—they were beings, trained, tempered, and ready to face a world unknown.
From the void, two lights shot downward.
Two slimes—one blue and one glowing gold-violet—descended into a new world.
And thus, the legend began.
*End of Prologue*