Chapter Text
???
It was a black void with nothing in sight. The only thing visible is a large clock with a figure standing in front of it. The figure had a black hood that shielded their face from view and looked at the reader with a mysterious smile. "Why hello there, I believe I know as to why you are here. You are all here to listen as I regale you with the tale of the greatest king of all. Now you may be thinking that I am talking about Sougo Tokiwa, but you would be wrong. The story I shall tell is that of his successor, but to first understand his great tale, you must learn of his humble beginnings." The stranger opens a book in his hands with the front cover having a symbol reminiscent of a clock and the back cover having a symbol of a dragon with slime underneath it.
"Our story starts in Japan as Satoru Mikami, an everyday salaryman, went to meet his junior coworker, Tamura, along with his fiancée, Miho. However, a hooded assailant was aiming to stab Tamura, and Satoru pushed him out of the way before he was fatally wounded. One would think that would be the end, and in a way, they would be right. After his death, Satoru was reincarnated as a slime. Soon, he would meet and befriend the imprisoned Storm Dragon Veldora, who helped him gain sight. The slime also offers to aid the dragon by consuming the barrier that imprisons Veldora, and him along with it to analyze. Veldora agreed to this arrangement, but before bestowing him his new name, Rimuru Tempest."
"With a vow to free his new friend, Rimuru explores the cave he had been reincarnated into, defeating and devouring many enemy creatures along the way and gaining their skills. Eventually, Rimuru was able to exit where he was greeted by a group of goblins. The goblins begged Rimuru to protect them from the Dire Wolves. Rimuru agrees, and they all pledge their loyalty to him. When the time came for the Dire Wolves to attack, they were easily defeated by Rimuru's great plan, and he soon felled the leader of the Dire Wolves, with the rest pledging their loyalty to them afterward."
"With the entire village under his command, he then bestowed upon them names before succumbing to exhaustion. Upon his awakening, he saw the goblins had evolved into Hob Goblins and Goblinas and The Dire Wolves into Tempest Wolves. Despite their evolved state, their crafts were...lacking, to say the least. With that in mind, he ventured to the Armed Nation of Dwargon, where he met an exceptional craftsman named Kaijin as well as the Three Dwarf Brothers, Garm, Dorm, and Myrd. After some trouble with a rather unpleasant minister, Kaijin and the Three Dwarf Brothers went to live in the goblin village, providing their craft to the people."
The figure looks at the audience. "Now, then, it is time to begin the tale of the new king, and it starts during Rimuru's sleep after he names the 500 goblins that arrived during his return to the village."
Rimuru's Dream
Rimuru feels his senses return to him and looks around. "Where am I?" He questioned. He bounces around what looks like some kind of... watch shop?
(Ignore Sougo, Woz, and Tsukoyomi)
'Why am I in a clock shop? Wasn't I back in the goblin village? I named all those goblins and then passed out like what happened before.' Rimuru thought as he looked around the shop. "Ah, so you've finally arrived," an unfamiliar voice said. The small slime jumped in surprise before turning to where the voice originated from. Sitting at a table nearby was a man with auburn hair, wearing a light yellow dress shirt, khaki jeans, and bluish-gray sneakers.
"Whoa, who the heck are you and where did you come from?" Rimuru asked the stranger. The man smiled and motioned for him to sit in the chair adjacent to him, one that was tall enough so that he could actually be seen above the table rather than have the table block him do to the size of his slime body. While cautious, Rimuru didn't sense any ill will from the man, so he bounced onto the seat.
The man smiled as Rimuru accepted the offer to sit "I know you may have some questions, so let's get introductions out of the way. My name is Sougo Tokiwa, nice to meet you." The man, now identified as Sougo, introduced himself. Rimuru immediately picked up on the fact that his name sounded Japanese. "My name is Rimuru Tempest, it's nice to meet you too. Hang on, you wouldn't happen to be from-" Rimuru started before Sougo interrupted him. "Japan? Yes, I am." Sougo answered his question easily.
Rimuru was amazed to find someone who came from Japan just like him. Before he could speak, Sougo raised his hand to stop him. "I know there are things you want to ask, but before that, I must ask a question of my own," said Sougo. Rimuru paused but nodded, thinking it was fair to answer a question since Sougo had answered his. Sougo stared at Rimuru intently. "What kind of king do you want to be?" Sougo asked. The question confused Rimuru. A king? He supposed that he acted as the leader of the goblins and dire wolves, but did that make him a king?
Rimuru thought about Sougo's question before finally giving an answer. "I don't know if I really count as a king right now, but if I were one, then I would want to be a king who is fair and kind to his people. That's what I hope to be for the goblins and dire wolves, and any other people in our village. I want everyone I lead to be able to live happy and comfortable lives, and even build good relationships with humans or any other species. I know it's not a very deep answer, but it's the one I feel is right for now." Rimuru told Sougo.
Sougo was silent for a full minute before a light chuckle escaped his lips. Soon, the chuckle grew louder before turning into full-blown laughter. Rimuru stared at Sougo in confusion. Had he said something funny? Soon, Sougo's laughter died down as he stared up at the ceiling. "So this is where you started, Rimuru. So similar and yet so incredibly different, it's unbelievable." Sougo said, confusing Rimuru further. 'What's he talking about?' Rimuru thought to himself.
Sougo's attention went back to the slime in front of him. "I was already slightly convinced before, but now I know, you're more than worthy even now," Sougo stated. Sougo then placed two objects that were laid upon a red and gold pillow onto the table. Rimuru immediately noticed that both items seemed to resemble clocks.
Rimuru Tempest, I have decided to make you my successor as the next Kamen Rider Zi-O," Sougo announced proudly. Rimuru stared at the items presented before him. He hesitantly used his slime tendrils to pick up both items. "Kamen Rider... Zi-O?" Rimuru questioned. Before he could say more, the world around them seemed to be getting brighter. "Oh, it looks like you'll be waking up soon. I suppose this is where we part ways," said Sougo. Rimuru jumped in shock, his slime body producing a question mark and an exclamation point. "What?! But I have so many questions!" Rimuru exclaimed. Sougo smiled at him as the clock shop was soon overcome by the bright light. "Don't worry, you'll find all the answers you seek in time. We'll meet again someday, though it won't be the me you see before you," Sougo stated before he was enveloped in the light. "WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT EVEN MEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAANNNNN!?!?!?!?!?" Rimuru yelled before he, too, was enveloped in the bright light.
Goblin Village
Rimuru suddenly woke up inside on some bed that the goblins had made for him. He looked around him, trying to see where he was and wondering what had just happened to him. "Was all that just a dream? Wait, it couldn't be, I've never dreamt once since I became a slime. Hey, Great Sage, what I saw wasn't a dream, was it?" The slime asked his unique skill. "<Answer: Due to the items currently in possession. It is unlikely that what was experienced was a dream.>" Great Sage answered.
Rimuru nodded his...well, body in agreement, "Yeah, I figured-wai,t items?" He questioned before he felt something that was being stored within him that wasn't there before he went to sleep. He spat them out and saw that they were the Items that had been given to him by Sougo. Rimuru stared at them in shock. 'So it wasn't a dream then. What does this mean, though? What did Sougo mean by his successor?" He pondered before sighing. He stared up at the ceiling 'I guess only time will tell...'