This commotion?"

Hakurou's eyes grew serious. "A powerful magicule fluctuation, no mistake. Someone is evolving to a higher level!"

"It's an evolution?!"

The Red Ogre leader was stunned. He could sense the auras of Benimaru, Shuna, and the others within the surge of magicules.

If his perception wasn't mistaken, didn't that mean the ones evolving were them?!

"Everyone, calm down. Don't disturb Benimaru and the others."

Rin stepped out of the wooden house with Ogerpon and briefly explained what had happened inside to Hakurou and the others.

When he heard that Rin had willingly expended his own magicules to name Benimaru, Shuna, Shuna, and Souei, the Red Ogre leader's expression changed instantly.

"Thank you, Rin-sama!"

"Our Ogre village is willing to follow your lead and serve at your command!"

Once Benimaru and the others completed their evolution, they would become four new A-rank Kijin species.

The rise of the Ogres within the Great Jura Forest would be inevitable, and at a time like this, a powerful and wise leader was exactly what they needed.

Just as Benimaru and Shuna had anticipated, the Red Ogre leader chose to submit to Rin.

Not long after, as the magicule fluctuations gradually subsided, four figures stepped out of the wooden house in turn, none other than the newly evolved Benimaru and the others.

Just like in the original work, their appearances had undergone dramatic changes.

"Rin-sama!"

Benimaru and Souei dropped to one knee simultaneously, expressing their loyalty to Rin.

Shuna and Shion, as females, knelt on both knees and bowed gracefully to Rin, swearing their unwavering devotion.

Of course, such an oath had little actual meaning.

Not only had they already become Rin's subordinates and were unable to disobey his commands,

Even the naming system of the Cardinal World had its own effects, those who were named would naturally develop a dependence and loyalty toward the one who named them, much like the bond between a child and a parent.

This change was subtle.

For example, the way Shuna and Shion now looked at Rin was filled with closeness and affection.

It was completely different from the awe they'd shown before.

"Rise."

Rin allowed the four to stand, and at the same time, he used Dragon Eye to appraise their current status.

----

[Benimaru]

[Race: Ogre → Kijin]

[Magicules: A-rank (12000EP)]

[Magic: Battlewill, Mystic arts, Fire-Type Pokémon Magic]

[Extra Skills: Magic Perception, Spatial Motion, Flame Domination, Magic Flame Transformation]

[Unique Skill: Commander (Accelerated Thought, Mind Domination, Predictive Calculation, Army Morale Boost)]

[Special Skill: Magicules Solidification

Resistance: Status Ailment Nullification, Pain Nullification, Physical Attack Nullification, Natural Influence Resistance, Mental Attack Resistance, Holy-Demonic Attack Resistance.]

---

Benimaru's magicules weren't just 10,000. They were 12,000.

The additional 2,000 had nothing to do with Rin.

It was a reward granted by the Voice of the World after Benimaru completed his evolution, giving Rin an extra 1,000 magicules out of nowhere.

"Commander. So it really is this command-type Unique Skill."

The appearance of this Unique Skill proved Benimaru's potential. He had the makings of a Demon Lord Seed.

"Battlewill and Mystic arts must be inherited from the Ogre bloodline. They're combat-type magic techniques and special casting methods."

Almost all of the other abilities came from Rin, or were granted by Rin through naming and the Vassal System.

Magic Perception was common among monsters, nothing worth mentioning.

Spatial Motion seemed to have evolved from Traveler.

Based on Rin's connection with his vassals, most awakened abilities, excluding Unique Skills, could be mirrored one-to-one by Rin.

That's right, Rin now also possessed the extra skill Space Manipulation.

"Flame Domination and Magic Flame Transformation."

Rin remembered that in the original work, Benimaru had possessed similar abilities, obtained from the superior fire elemental spirit Rimuru had absorbed.

But Rin hadn't absorbed any fire spirit.

"Is it because of Explosion Magic?"

Benimaru already had fire-type sorcery, and his compatibility with Explosion Magic was unexpectedly high.

The combination of the two allowed Benimaru to awaken these two brand-new abilities.

"This extra skill, Flame Domination, is seriously strong."

Rin felt the feedback from the skill and understood its effects. "It's like my Explosion Magic. It ignites the magicules inside the body to unleash explosive power on par with a nuke."

However, unlike the long charge time of Explosion Magic, Flame Domination could control its output speed.

Short-duration fireballs. Long-duration compressed detonations.

With enough magicules, Benimaru would become a terrifying artillery unit, burning everything in his path for Rin.

"Magic Flame Transformation allows him to elementalize his body."

Its effect was similar to the Mera Mera no Mi from One Piece, except it could burn nearby matter and absorb it to replenish magicules.

Especially while in Magic Flame Transformation, combining it with Overlord's Flame turned Benimaru into something far beyond his pre-evolution self.

In the Cardinal World, magicules alone didn't determine combat power.

Benimaru's stats before evolution were very simple.

---

[Benimaru]

Race: Ogre

Magicules: B-rank (7500EP)

Magic: Battlewill, Mystic arts

Inherent Skills: Super Strength, Regeneration

---

No extra skills. No Unique Skills. At best, he relied on the passive inherent abilities of the Ogre race, living on the fringe of the forest.

With 7500 magicules, Benimaru's actual combat power could barely place him mid-tier among B-ranks.

"Magicules are the foundation, but skills are the true gap between the strong and the weak."

After receiving Rin's naming, Benimaru's combat strength was enough to annihilate tens of thousands of B-rank monsters.

Compared to his past self, he could take on a thousand versions of his old self without issue.

Not to mention the Unique Skill Commander, which allowed Benimaru to share some of his abilities with subordinates under his command, instantly boosting the entire army's combat effectiveness several levels.

"Very good."

Rin was quite pleased with Benimaru's abilities.

"Thank you for your recognition."

Benimaru bowed his head. His face remained composed, but inside, his heart was bursting with excitement.

The combination of naming and the Vassal Oath bound Benimaru, Shuna, and the others to Rin in body, heart, and soul.

Now nothing brought them more joy than Rin's approval.

(To be continued.)

***

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