Now then, the problem was Diablo.
Not just the strongest among my subordinates, but peering even my own strength.
To that effect, he was, even at present, the strongest among my subordinates.
Following Diablo in the ranks were, Benimaru, Shion, and Zegion in that order.
Zegion was a bit of a surprise, but Diablo was still many degrees stronger.
With his strength now surpassing that of mine when I first evolved, his evolution is one that I highly anticipate.
“I bestow you with the title ‘Demon Lord’. (TN: The author keeps calling everything demon lord dammit. Longer note at the end.)
“Kufufufufu, it would be my honor, Rimuru-sama!”
And the Devil was born.
With Benimaru and Shion’s evolutions being rather underwhelming, he was truly the one who could stand beside me.
I thought for a moment that it was going to be similar to Shion’s, but it wasn’t in the least.
That’s Diablo for you, only excellence. (TN: Sasuga)
With this evolution, we have gained another great asset.
Diablo’s Gift (TN: blessing, or that mechanic where your underlings can get stronger just by you getting stronger.) propagated through his lackey Venom, and the 100 demon troops subordinate to him.
But he was still weaker than the likes of Testarossa or Carrera.
Among the Demon aristocracy, there were such things as Dukes, Barons, and Knights.
The three who had held positions amongst the strongest for so long wouldn’t lose to some greenhorn like Venom.
This difference in level would create an insurmountable difference in strength.
I don’t honestly know if that’s even possible, I felt like that was the case.
Diablo seemed to have the view that one must gain strength by their own means.
For better or worse, he did become a Demon Duke.
Further, he didn’t get in over his head after becoming the same class as Testarrossa and co., and duly noted the difference in power between him and them.
Well if he did get too ambitious, Diablo would probably have ended him right there.
Besides Venom, there were others who received the Gift.
They were not as strong as Arch Demons, but surpassed the strength of Devils. (TN: Majin) They could probably finish a Greater Demon in a single hit.
Diablo exceeds common sense as usual. (TN: Sasuga)
Diablo’s priority was to be of use to me it seems.
Even after the evolution, Diablo be Diablo.
Next, would be the rewards for the guys in the Labyrinth.
They called themselves members of the 10 Lords of the Labyrinth.
But to be safe, I did their evolution one by one.
First: Kumara.
The Kumara I had picked up, yet a small silver furred fox, was now master of several Demonic Beasts.
I still remember her as a Floor Boss.
I had left her in the freshly made floor 90 where the adventurers would likely never get to, and she later asked me to name some of her friends on that floor.
It was just on a whim.
Plus, these beasts were like children, so I named them with no problem.
What’s done was done.
It was past the time when they were just kids, and the 8 of the Demonic Beasts were lined up in front of me.
Kumara successfully evolved into Demon Lord class.
Was it only her beauty that evolved?
Kumara was very strong in her original body.
Energy levels ≠ real strength, but their combined force was by no means weak.
In addition, on top of being named by me, Kumara’s Gift was also properly allocated among them.
No one could guess from her appearance as a beautiful lady, but she seemed to be the cold and calculating type.
From an Energy stand point, she now surpassed Gabil easily.
She desperately kept her senses, so as to not go berserk.
“Go back and rest!”
She was a bit frustrated at the order.
I figured that she wouldn’t lose it even without me watching, and made her go rest.
In any case, I was looking forward to her growth.
Though her new beauty would be a certain reality anyway.
With that, Kumara returned back to her own domain.
Now for Zegion.
His Energy was equal to that of Benimaru.
And the heights of his strength was shown clearly, as he beat the 7 strongest sent by the Imperial Army in the last battle.
It couldn’t be helped saying it was too much; the souls had been granted to six of them already, and 2 had even finished their evolution.
Was it really ok to grant more souls? I was thinking, but my body had been greedily absorbing all the energy flowing in without problem.
I needed to bulk down and finish the job.
How much stronger could Zegion get? The thought gave me goosebumps (TN: metaphorical) from excitement.
Let’s look forward to it without worries.
“You are strong. I never imagined you to become this strong.
Continue polishing that strength for me from here on out.
“I am eternally grateful!”
The normally stoic Zegion trembled with appreciation at my words.
He seemed to be looking to me under some strong divine lenses, (TN: metaphorical, looking at Rimuru as a god) but I appreciated his passion.
Zegion’s strength wasn’t merely a fruit of effort, but also thanks to his insane talent in handling Energy, and also, training with individuals much stronger…… well, those were just the details.
I awarded the souls.
He proved that he was in control.
To be accurate, it was not an instant transformation like that of Diablo.
His transformation was nonetheless fearsome.
His body itself, a weapon.
He had become, without a doubt, the strongest in at least melee combat.
He had acquired many other abilities, and was still in the process of evolving.
I would later slowly confirm exactly how much he had changed.
(TN: I think author is going into the future here.)
Zegion’s Gift had only one receiver: Apito.
So for Zegion, Apito was like a sister.
After eating her fill of her minion bees, Apito became a chrysalis and came out reborn.
But now she was reborn, to rule as a true queen.
The community built with these Insects would become the new image of those floors in the near future.
Diablo had suppressed the propagation of his Gift, but Zegion gave his to Apito without reserve, resulting in her extreme transformation.
But all this was a story of after the victory party.
It was an effort to show her dignity as a queen; truly a splendid sibling of Zegion. (TN: Sasuga)
After the festivities, Zegion and Apito would become chrysali inside the Labyrinth, and complete their evolution.
Apito’s ‘Queen’s Reverence’ surpassed the power of a Unique Skill and became a pseudo-Ultimate Skill, the likes of ‘Absolute Defence’.
He had acquired a true Ultimate Skill ‘Illusion King Mephisto’.
With this power, Zegion made his position in the Labyrinth unshakable.