When a God of Destruction Was Reincarnated in Tensura:

As Rimuru listened to the chief, he learned that the attackers weren't Orcs as he had initially suspected but rather a band of powerful Lizardmen and a few savage ogres who had abandoned their clan and become marauders. They had been relentlessly harassing the Ogre village for weeks, pillaging supplies, destroying crops, and injuring villagers who resisted. The chief explained the dire situation, his tone grim.

"They've already attacked us three times," the chief said, his fists clenching on the table. "Each time, they've grown bolder. Last time, they even killed one of our warriors. Our people are tired, hungry, and demoralized. If this continues, our village will be wiped out."

Rimuru leaned back, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I see. And how many of them are there?"

"About thirty," the chief's son replied, his tone sharp. "They outnumber us, and they're well-coordinated. The Lizardmen seem to be the brains behind the operation, while the rogue Ogres provide brute force."

Rimuru nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'll handle it. But I'll need something in return."

The chief raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

"I want your loyalty," Rimuru said firmly, his gaze unwavering. "Once I deal with this problem, you and your people will become my subordinates. I'll name all of you, provide protection, food, and a better village for you to live in. But in return, I'll expect you to follow my orders and contribute to the community I'm building."

The room fell silent. The chief seemed to hesitate, his brows furrowed in thought. Naming was a rare and powerful gift, and the promise of food and protection was tempting. Still, the idea of pledging loyalty to someone they barely knew was a significant decision.

The chief's son, however, wasn't as composed. "Father, we can't just—"

Rimuru raised a hand, cutting him off. "I'm not asking for blind trust. I'm offering you a way to ensure your survival. Right now, you're struggling just to protect what little you have. But under my protection, you'll grow stronger. And when I name you, you'll gain power like you've never imagined."

The chief's wife, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "If what you say is true, it would indeed be a great boon to our people. But can you truly guarantee our safety?"

Rimuru met her gaze with a calm confidence. "Yes. I'm not just offering words—I'll prove my worth by taking care of these attackers. If I fail, you lose nothing. But if I succeed, you'll gain everything."

The chief let out a heavy sigh, glancing at his son, who still looked unhappy but remained silent. "Very well," the chief said. "We'll accept your terms. If you can rid us of this threat, we'll pledge ourselves to you."

"Good," Rimuru said, standing up. "Then it's settled. I'll take care of the problem and return shortly."

As he walked toward the door, the chief's son called after him. "Wait! Are you planning to go alone?"

Rimuru smirked. "I'll be fine. I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Once outside, Rimuru mentally called Ranga, who emerged from his shadow. "We've got work to do," Rimuru said. "Let's head out."

On the Road

Rimuru spoke with Great Sage, formulating a plan.

"Great Sage, analyze the enemy composition and recommend a strategy."

[Analysis complete. The Lizardmen are tacticians but lack significant magical capabilities. The rogue Ogres rely on brute strength and lack coordination. A divide-and-conquer approach is advised. Suggestion: Use Steel Thread to trap and immobilize the Lizardmen, neutralizing their strategic advantage. Then, eliminate the rogue Ogres individually, targeting their weak points with Wind Slash and Black Flame.]

"Sounds like a solid plan," Rimuru said. "What about luring them into a trap?"

[Recommendation: Use Ranga's Shadow Motion to scout their position and create an illusion to draw them into a favorable location for engagement.]

Rimuru nodded. "Perfect. Let's put it into action."

Ranga growled in agreement, his tail wagging excitedly. "I will do my best, Master Rimuru."

At the Enemy Camp

Using Ranga's scouting abilities, Rimuru located the attackers' camp in a clearing near a riverbank. The Lizardmen were gathered around a fire, while the rogue Ogres sharpened their weapons nearby. Rimuru smirked, his eyes glowing faintly as he began setting his plan into motion.

"Ranga, stay hidden and wait for my signal. Great Sage, initiate phase one."

With that, Rimuru used his Sticky Thread and Steel Thread to silently weave an intricate web around the camp's perimeter, ensuring no one could escape. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he created a glowing orb of light, using it as a decoy to lure the enemies toward the center of the clearing.

"What's that?" one of the Lizardmen hissed, pointing at the light.

"An intruder, perhaps," another muttered, standing and drawing his weapon.

The rogue Ogres grunted, rising to their feet. "Let's kill whoever it is and be done with it," one growled.

As they moved toward the light, Rimuru activated his trap. The Steel Thread snapped into place, binding the Lizardmen and rendering them immobile. The rogue Ogres roared in anger, charging blindly toward the source of the attack.

"Now, Ranga!" Rimuru called.

Ranga erupted from the shadows, his massive form barreling into the first Ogre with a deafening growl. Rimuru followed up with a swift Wind Slash, cutting through the second Ogre's weapon and forcing him to retreat.

Within minutes, the attackers were subdued, their forces scattered and disoriented.

Rimuru surveyed the aftermath of the battle, his calm gaze scanning the subdued attackers lying defeated before him. Without hesitation, he began absorbing their bodies one by one. As he did, information flooded his mind, and Great Sage began analyzing the newly acquired skills.

[Analysis complete. Newly acquired skills include: Scale Shield (from the Lizardmen), Berserker Strength (from the rogue Ogres), and a minor enhancement to physical resistance.]

"Not bad," Rimuru muttered to himself. "These will definitely come in handy later."

Once the last of the enemies was absorbed, he turned to Ranga, who was standing proudly, his tail wagging enthusiastically. Rimuru chuckled, reaching out to pat his head.

"You did great, Ranga," Rimuru said with a warm smile.

Ranga lowered his head humbly, his deep voice rumbling with happiness. "Thank you, Master Rimuru. I am honored to serve you."

Rimuru laughed lightly. "Well, you've certainly earned a treat when we get back to the village. For now, though, let's head back to the Ogre village. We've got some new subordinates to claim."

Ranga's tail wagged even harder at the praise. "I shall run swiftly, Master. Please allow me to carry you."

Rimuru nodded, hopping onto Ranga's back with ease. As Ranga sped through the forest, Rimuru mulled over his next steps.

"Great Sage," he said, his tone thoughtful. "Absorbing those attackers gave me some decent skills, but I feel like I'm still missing something big. What do you think?"

[Recommendation: Consolidate your current skills and develop synergistic strategies. Additionally, focusing on diplomatic recruitment, rather than excessive combat, will help conserve magicules and expand your influence more efficiently.]

"Fair enough," Rimuru said, leaning back and enjoying the ride. "Though I have to admit, fighting those guys wasn't too bad. They were stronger than I expected, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle."

[Affirmative. However, stronger foes are likely to appear as your influence grows. Preparing now will mitigate potential risks in the future.]

Rimuru nodded to himself. "You're always one step ahead, huh, Great Sage? I'll trust your advice, as usual."

As they approached the Ogre village, Rimuru's smile grew. He was eager to share the good news and fulfill his promise to name them. This was another step toward uniting the monsters of the forest and building the foundation of a powerful and peaceful community.