The grand chamber of Walpurgis was cloaked in an eerie twilight, the very air thrumming with power. This was no mere meeting. This was a gathering of monsters, a council of absolute rulers, where whispers could shape nations and decisions could end civilizations.

My spies, hidden in the unseen corners of the realm, watched as the Demon Lords assembled.

The chamber's long table, hewn from obsidian, reflected the flickering candlelight as the Demon Lords took their seats.

Guy Crimson, the Primordial of Wrath, sat at the head, legs crossed, his predatory gaze flickering with amusement. He had seen countless centuries of war and destruction, and tonight, he expected nothing less than entertainment.
Milim Nava, the Destroyer, radiated boundless energy, her expression unreadable. But those who truly knew her understood—the dormant beast inside her was watching.

Leon Cromwell, the Platinum Demon Lord, arrived with an aura of silent authority. The man who walked the thin line between human and monster, took his seat without a word. His golden hair and armor gleamed under the dim lights.

Luminous Valentine, the Queen of the Night, exuded a refined elegance. The faint scent of blood surrounded her, a reminder that this "goddess" was far from merciful.

Draguel, the Eternal Watcher, sat in absolute silence. The power of time and judgment resided within him, making even his breathing seem measured.

Dino, the Fallen Angel, arrived last, rubbing his neck with a sigh. "Man, these things are such a hassle," he muttered, slumping into his chair.

Carrion the beastman and Frey the Harpy Queen.

Then—the doors opened once more.

Rimuru Tempest walked in.

His entrance sent a ripple of unease through the room. This was not the same Rimuru from before. His aura, once playful and light, had transformed into something darker.

His eyes glowed faintly as he took his seat, utterly unconcerned with the weight of the gathered lords.

And then, there was Clayman.

Clayman, seated across from them, wore his signature smirk, though there was a nervous glint in his eyes. He was the one who had called for this Walpurgis, believing he could manipulate the other Demon Lords into eliminating Rimuru for him.

He exhaled, then stood dramatically. "I, Clayman, the Marionette Master, have called this Walpurgis for one simple reason—to expose Rimuru Tempest for the murderous villain that he is!"

The room was silent.

Clayman took this as encouragement and continued. "This so-called 'new Demon Lord' has slaughtered thousands, has annihilated an entire kingdom, and worst of all—he killed one of my subordinates!"

Rimuru raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who might that be?"

Clayman's smirk widened. "One of my most trusted spies infiltrated your city, Tempest. He was only there to observe, yet you mercilessly had him killed. You've proven yourself nothing more than a savage beast, unworthy of the title of Demon Lord!"

Rimuru tapped his fingers on the table, looking bored. "A spy, huh?" he mused. "And here I thought I was being kind by letting some of them go. But if you insist—"

His smile turned razor-sharp.

"—you should know that those who enter my domain with ill intent... don't leave."

Clayman flinched, but quickly covered it up with a laugh. "Hah! See? He admits it!"

Leon Cromwell, who had been silent, sighed. "Is this really what you called us for, Clayman?" His piercing blue eyes met Clayman's. "You're demanding justice for a spy who got caught doing his job? That's your argument?"

Clayman hesitated. "I—"

Guy chuckled. "I gotta admit, Clayman. I expected a better performance from you." His crimson eyes gleamed as he leaned forward. "What's your real game here?"

Milim, who had remained quiet, finally spoke. "You're lying, aren't you?" Her voice was soft, yet carried absolute weight.

Clayman's face paled.

Rimuru watched him squirm, then sighed. "Alright. Enough of this nonsense." He stood up, the movement unsettlingly slow. "Clayman, we all know you're full of shit. And honestly, I don't have time for this."

His gaze darkened. "If you want to settle things, then stand up and fight."

Clayman let out a nervous laugh. "F-fight? Against you?" He quickly glanced around the table, searching for support—but found none.

Even Dino, the laziest of them all, shrugged. "Yeah, man. You kinda brought this on yourself."

"Pathetic," Luminous scoffed.

Clayman's smile cracked. "No, no, no! This isn't how it was supposed to go!" His voice became shrill as his composure crumbled. "You were supposed to believe me! You were supposed to—"

Rimuru moved.

In an instant, he was in front of Clayman. A single hand on his chest.

Clayman's eyes widened.

"Goodbye," Rimuru whispered.

A black hole of magic erupted from Rimuru's palm. Clayman screamed as his body disintegrated, his very soul being erased from existence. His final cries were swallowed by the abyss.

And then—silence.

Rimuru pulled back his hand, brushing off his sleeve. "Now that that's over," he said, turning back towards the table, "shall we continue?"

The remaining Demon Lords exchanged glances.

Leon sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Well, that was predictable."

Milim grinned. "I was kinda hoping for more of a fight, but I guess that works."

Guy laughed, shaking his head. "Rimuru… you really don't waste time, do you?"

Rimuru shrugged. "I prefer efficiency."

Luminous tapped her nails on the table, thinking. "With Clayman gone, that means there's now an empty seat among the Demon Lords."

Rimuru smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I'll be filling it."

The tension in the air had eased, the heavy atmosphere of Walpurgis now giving way to something new—a shift in power, an evolution of the Demon Lords.

With Clayman's body erased from existence, the remaining Demon Lords sat around the obsidian table, processing the new reality. Rimuru, now an undeniable force, had cemented his place among them.

Then, Carrion, his expression serious but relieved, stood from his seat. "I have something to say."

All eyes turned toward him.

Beside him, Frey gracefully adjusted her position, her golden wings shimmering faintly in the dim lighting. She gave him a small nod, signaling him to continue.

Carrion exhaled and met Guy Crimson's gaze. "I've decided to step down as a Demon Lord."

The words sent a ripple through the room. Milim's eyes widened, but there was no anger—only understanding.

Guy leaned back, amusement flickering in his crimson eyes. "Oh? Any particular reason?"

Carrion nodded. "Milim defeated me in battle. I lost fair and square. Rather than keep this title, I'd rather dedicate myself to serving her. She's strong—stronger than me. And I believe I can achieve more under her rule than I ever could alone."

Milim crossed her arms, nodding with a grin. "Yep! Carrion's a smart one!"

Frey sighed softly, then spoke. "I feel the same. I was never one for playing the role of a Demon Lord. I'd rather work alongside Milim than continue this charade." Her sharp eyes scanned the room. "Clayman's demise was a reminder—only those truly fit to be Demon Lords should hold the title."

Guy observed them, resting his chin on his hand. Then, he grinned. "Interesting. That means we'll need a new name for our group."

Leon, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "Indeed. Ten Demon Lords is meaningless now. With Clayman gone and Carrion and Frey stepping down, we're down to eight."

Guy chuckled and turned toward Rimuru. "Since you're the newcomer here, how about you come up with the name?"

I was watching all of this unfold, comfortably seated on my throne, my lovers surrounding me.

Velzard kneaded my shoulders, her fingers cold yet soothing. Testarossa was massaging one of my legs, her crimson eyes locked onto the scene with a calculating smile. Ultima giggled, working on my other leg, while Carrera stood behind me, gently running her fingers through my hair.

"I wonder what name he'll choose," Velzard mused, her voice a soft whisper against my ear.

Testarossa smirked. "He's proven to be unpredictable."

I chuckled, watching as Rimuru leaned back in his chair at Walpurgis, seemingly thinking. Then, his lips curled into a smirk.

"How about Octagram?" he suggested.

The room fell silent for a brief moment before Guy let out a low laugh. "Octagram, huh?" His grin widened. "I like it. Eight stars—eight Demon Lords."

Leon nodded in approval. "It carries weight."

Milim grinned. "Sounds cool!"

Luminous crossed her arms, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. "It has a certain elegance to it."

Dino, ever the lazy one, waved a hand. "Eh, easy to remember. Works for me."

Guy clapped his hands. "Then it's settled. From this day forth, we are Octagram—the Eight-Star Demon Lords."

I exhaled slowly, leaning back into Velzard's cold touch.

Things were about to get even more interesting.