Among Monsters (Tensura)

Chap 13.

Another week passed with James staying in the lizardmen tribe, gradually growing closer to its members. His training with the tribe became routine, each session revealing small but crucial improvements in his swordsmanship, agility, and combat awareness. He had even made two close friends among them: a male warrior and a female huntress, who each shared their unique perspectives and skills with him. Through his time with them, he gained a deeper understanding of the tribe's culture, which was simple yet rich with a fierce pride and survival instinct. James could see that, despite their primitive lifestyle, the lizardmen held a wisdom born from centuries spent adapting to the dangers of Jura.

Yet, as he immersed himself in their world, a dilemma lingered in his mind.

James had come to realize just how significant names were for monsters in this world. Names here were powerful, and they could alter a monster's very existence, instilling stronger emotions and willpower. As he reflected on this, he remembered the various forms of naming he'd seen in the anime and learned from his knowledge of the Tensura world.

James mentally went over the known methods of naming, realizing that each form of naming had different consequences and benefits:

Equal Naming: Simple and low-risk, where a name created a minimal bond with little power exchange. It seemed harmless, like a parent naming their child, but didn't lead to any drastic changes.

Master-Subordinate Naming: Far more impactful, this method established a powerful bond. The named individual gained significant strength, potentially even evolving, while the namer lost magicules in proportion to the strength of the one they named. This was the kind of naming Rimuru had done for many of his followers, creating loyal allies with enhanced abilities.

Named by the Masses: This rare form happened when a creature became known by a large group of people, like Guy Crimson. The strength and respect associated with their "name" granted power without requiring a bond.

But each method had risks. If he attempted a Master-Subordinate Naming on someone strong, like one of his lizardmen friends, the process could drain him dry, possibly even leave him without enough magicules to sustain himself. He knew his current core wouldn't handle it. And unlike Rimuru, he didn't have the skill or environment to draw external magicules to ease the burden. It was frustrating. Knowing the benefits of naming, especially the evolution it could bring, James felt the potential was there—but out of his reach.

'I can't risk wasting my magicules on something I might not survive,' he thought, frustration weighing on him. Annihilation Creator had a core that enabled him to store and produce magicules, but it was still limited. For all his studying, he hadn't figured out a way to expand it beyond its current capacity.

James couldn't ignore the thought of Veldora. The Storm Dragon was one of the most powerful beings in the Jura Forest—one who could potentially grant him a blessing. But there were so many risks tied to this idea. Veldora's magicules were immense, nearly infinite, and if even a fraction of that energy poured into James's core, would it withstand it? He didn't know.

There was also the question of whether Veldora would even grant such a blessing. Veldora was notorious for being both playful and unpredictable, sometimes even cruelly whimsical. Convincing him would be a delicate task that required caution and tact. And, if James's knowledge of future events was correct, Veldora would eventually encounter Rimuru. James knew that the alliance between Rimuru and Veldora would be critical for Jura, and he didn't want to accidentally disrupt events that were crucial to his survival later on.

On one hand, gaining a blessing from Veldora would greatly increase his power, perhaps even allowing him to match or surpass some of the more formidable monsters in Jura. But on the other, there was no guarantee he could pull it off without upsetting the future timeline.

The more he thought about it, the more torn he felt. The risks were real. A wrong move could cost him dearly, or even put him in direct conflict with powers he wasn't ready to handle. He cursed his own indecisiveness, the very trait he had worked so hard to avoid. His instincts were screaming at him to be cautious, but his sense of ambition urged him forward. Jura was a dangerous place, and there would be no second chances if he got into a situation he couldn't handle.

His two lizardmen friends had noticed his quiet mood, and one evening, the huntress asked, "Are you troubled, James?"

For a moment, he considered explaining it to her. But how could he? They couldn't know the complexities he was wrestling with. To them, he was just a human warrior with strange powers, one who was perhaps a bit lost but competent enough to keep himself safe.

With a forced smile, he replied, "I'm just trying to plan my journey. There's a lot at stake."

She nodded, her eyes bright with sympathy. "Journeys are always filled with risks, but we are strong. We fight together." She clapped him on the shoulder. "Remember, you are not alone."

Her words hit him harder than he expected. The lizardmen had grown fond of him, and he of them. He realized that whatever choice he made, he would have to do it alone, without putting them at risk. The stakes were higher than just his own survival now—if he tried to obtain a blessing, it would have to be his choice and his risk alone.

That night, as he sat alone in his Sanctuary, he resolved to delay his decision a little longer. He would continue his journey deeper into Jura. Perhaps along the way, he would find other, safer ways to grow stronger without threatening the balance of events he relied on.

'No matter what, I'll find a way to survive. But I won't throw away my future recklessly,' he decided, forcing himself to accept the risks while still holding to a cautious approach.

For now, he would remain with the lizardmen a little longer, training and preparing for the trials that lay ahead.

End of chap.