Chapter 62: The Naming Ceremony (Part 2)
Silence filled Crystal Square. Every monster was watching him. Every race was waiting. Tanaka took a deep breath. There were thousands of them. Here to receive from him their names. Tanaka turned to face Eldrin. "Eldrin." The old goblin stepped forward and placed a hand over his heart. "My Great One." Tanaka smiled. "Today, you don’t have to call me that." Eldrin blinked. "Then what should I call you?" "From today onwards I am Tanaka." The old goblin’s face softened. "Understood... Tanaka." Tanaka nodded approvingly. "You were the first monster I ever named." Eldrin chuckled. "When I met you, I knew nothing of the world, I knew nothing of names."
Tanaka gestured at the square. "But you believed in me." Eldrin lowered his head. "It was easy to believe in you." Tanaka chuckled. "Maybe for you." The crowd let out a chuckle. Tanaka raised his hand. "But everyone should know something." Tanaka turned to Eldrin again. "Eldrin, you were not only the first monster I named..." "You helped build this place." "You taught our people. "You fought when the others were afraid. You remained..." Tanaka smiled. "So I’ll always remember that." The crowd burst into applause. Slimes bounced excitedly, wolves wagged their tails, goblins cheered.
Tanaka smiled. "Next. The naming begins. Alpha." The Alpha Wolf stepped forward.
The great wolf stood proudly before Tanaka. His eyes never left Tanaka’s face. "You protected us," Tanaka said. "You led the wolves, You protected the weak. I name you... Raizen." Blue light surrounded the great wolf. His body became more muscular, his eyes more piercing. When the light around him dissipated, Raizen stood taller than before. The Alpha Wolf looked down at his paws, "Raizen..." His voice rang out in the minds of every monster there.
The wolves let out a chorus of howls, Raizen raised his head and joined in. Tanaka smiled. "Good. Raizen, your life belongs to this land." The great wolf lowered his head, "It always has."
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Next was the Rabbit Leader. The rabbit approached Tanaka with a calm smile. Tanaka looked at her. "You have healed countless injuries. You have helped ensure the food supply. You have helped protect the gardens. And you have taught us all that strength is not achieved through battle alone. I name you... Sylva." Tanaka raised his hand, and green mana mixed with the blue light surrounding the rabbit leader. The flowers surrounding Crystal Square burst into bloom, and Sylva’s white fur took on a green pattern before the magic dissipated.
She looked at herself in surprise. "Sylva, I like it." Sylva smiled.
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The Kobold Leader stepped forward, and Tanaka gestured for him to come closer. "You have protected your people. You have brought them supplies. You have stood by our side. I name you... Drakar." Blue mana surrounded the chieftain’s body, briefly changing his scales to a bronze color before dissipating. His body had also taken on a more imposing appearance, his senses sharper. Drakar bowed his head once, "My children will remember this day."
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The Moss Turtle Leader came next. The Turtle approached Tanaka calmly. Tanaka looked down at him. "You have carried our supplies. You have helped construct our roads. You have helped protect this settlement. I name you... Torga." Blue mana surrounded the Moss Turtle’s shell, pulsing a few times before disappearing. The Turtle slowly lifted his head, "So... I have a name?" Torga chuckled. Tanaka nodded. "You do."
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Tanaka wasted no time, naming both goblins and wolves, rabbits and kobolds, moss turtles and slimes. Some received their names together, and some received them individually. Tanaka did not announce each monster’s name to the square, as it took far too long. Instead, he named them in secret, and those who received their names silently rejoiced. Every time Tanaka spoke, the blue mana surrounded another monster. And every time the magic left their body. Something changed.
He was too busy naming every citizen in Crystal Square to notice anything. There were still many to go. Tanaka could not stop now.
Tanaka turned to the five Ogres.
The hammer ogre was the first to raise his hand, "Me?" Tanaka nodded. "You’re first." He smirked, "Make it a good one, then." Tanaka looked at the giant Ogre. He paused for a moment, considering what to say. "Rogan. How does that sound?" The Ogre blinked, "Rogan?" Tanaka nodded. "I’ll take it." Blue mana surrounded the Hammer Ogre, strengthening his muscles and making his spirit heavier. When the light dissipated, Rogan looked at his hands. "I feel great." The Swordsman approached. He silently waited for Tanaka to speak. Tanaka smiled, "You taught me something. My swordsmanship still needs improvement, after all." Tanaka raised his hand, "From this day forward..." He paused briefly before saying, "...you are Raishin." Blue mana surrounded the Swordsman, transforming him. His body had become more elegant, his spirit sharper. Raishin silently bowed his head.
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The Warrior Woman approached next. She crossed her arms over her chest, "Don’t give me something embarrassing." Tanaka laughed, "I wouldn’t dare." He looked at the fierce woman. A woman who could silence a room with just her gaze. Tanaka smiled, "Raveana. It suits you." She blinked, surprised. "Raveana..." Raveana repeated the name, a grin forming on her face. "I like it." Blue mana surrounded her, making her body stronger and her spirit heavier. When the light around her disappeared, Raveana cracked her knuckles and looked at Raizen.
Raizen stared right back at her, neither saying a word. Tanaka immediately knew something was up. "Please don’t destroy my settlement, Raveana." She smiled, "No promises." Raizen’s ears drooped, and Tanaka sighed.
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The Princess stepped forward next. Tanaka smiled, "You were the first of your group to understand that this land was not simply a settlement. You saw its potential. You helped your companions. You saved them. And you understand the importance of knowledge. That is why..." Tanaka raised his hand, "...your name is Relia." Tanaka gestured, and blue and green mana surrounded the Princess. Her staff glowed with light, her clothes and hair shifting slightly as the energy surrounded her. When the light dissipated, Relia looked at her hands. "Relia..." She smiled. "I like it." Tanaka nodded, "Good."
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Finally...
The Prince stepped forward. The entire square went silent as he faced Tanaka. His amber eyes locked onto Tanaka’s. Tanaka smiled, "You have earned my respect." He nodded, "And you have earned mine." Tanaka thought about their fight.
The duel.
The crimson aura.
The power.
The final blow. Tanaka thought about the moment he had surrendered. About the warrior who had accepted defeat without complaint. Tanaka smiled, "Ryuken. It suits you." The Prince’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Ryuken. Tanaka raised his hand, and blue mana surrounded the Prince, mixing with red mana. The ground trembled, and the other monsters instinctively took a step back. Even the other Ogres watched the Prince carefully. Tanaka looked at Ryuken, waiting for him to say something. But the young man’s amber eyes opened, looking directly at Tanaka. "Ryuken," Tanaka said with a smile, "welcome." Ryuken lowered his head, "My loyalty is yours." Tanaka smiled, "I know." The five Ogres now stood together, facing Tanaka.
Rogan.
Raishin.
Raveana.
Relia.
Ryuken.
Five warriors who had fought Tanaka stood now as one of his soldiers.
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Tanaka looked out at the thousands of eyes staring at him. "I’m continuing with naming all of you." The square grew even louder as everyone started talking at once."
"We’re all getting names?!" The children cried in surprise. Tanaka continued, naming everyone in the square. Hundreds and hundreds of monsters received names from Tanaka. The ceremony continued late into the day, with blue light filling the Crystal Square. Tanaka continued to name everyone. Even when his body trembled, even when his mana began to dwindle, he continued.
Half.
Forty percent.
Thirty.
Twenty.
Tanaka’s body shook as the leaders began to notice. "Great One..." Raizen whispered in his mind, "you should stop." Tanaka shook his head, "Not yet." He looked at the monsters still waiting for him. "Everyone deserves a name." Tanaka continued naming. The light, the transformations, they all continued.
Until...
Until there was only one left.
The little slime bounced toward Tanaka excitedly.
Boing.
Tanaka smiled, "Your turn." The slime stopped, "Really?" "Really," said Tanaka, who knelt in front of the little slime. "You’ve been with me the longest. You’ve annoyed me. You’ve tried to make friends with everyone. Little Slime bounced proudly, Tanaka laughing. "And somehow..." he said, resting a hand on the little slime, "...you’ve become one of the most important people in my life. Your name ..." Tanaka’s hand hovered over Sora, "...is Sora." Magic surrounded Sora, completely hiding his small body beneath a brilliant blue radiance. Tanaka looked at the slime with a smile. "Sora? This is your name?" The light then disappeared, revealing a very surprised little slime. "Tanaka," said Sora, looking at Tanaka. "Yes, Sora," said Tanaka, smiling, "that’s right." Sora bounced right to his side, "Thank you!" Tanaka laughed, "You’re welcome."
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The ceremony continued. More names, more blessings.
Eventually...
The last monster received his name. Tanaka stood in the center of the Crystal Square, his body shaking. He looked around at the square. Tanaka smiled, "We did it." Sora bounced happily next to him.
Boing.
Tanaka looked up at the Crystal Tree, watching the blue leaves shimmer. The whole settlement seemed to glow with magic. Tanaka took a deep breath, "There is something else I have to do." He looked around at the monsters. Tanaka turned to face the settlement. The place where everything had begun. The place where a nameless slime had appeared. The place where countless races had gathered to find a home. The place where monsters who had once had nowhere to go had found families. Tanaka smiled. "This place has grown too much for it to remain nameless. The Land of the Great One ... it is where everything began. But from today, this nation shall be called the Eldoris Dominion." For a moment, there was complete silence. Then the settlement exploded with cheers and applause. Goblins shouted, wolves howled, rabbits cheered, kobolds raised their weapons, moss turtles roared, and slimes bounced everywhere.
Then, suddenly, Tanaka’s body became very heavy, "Wait ..." He stumbled, and Sora immediately bounced towards him. "Tanaka?" Tanaka looked down, surprised. His eyes were hazy, a strange feeling running through his veins.
Tanaka blinked, "What?"
He felt something surge through his body. The naming, the creation of the nation, and the loyalty of his people, everything at once. His body trembled, and then another strange feeling ran through him. He tried to open his Soul Record, translucent symbols appearing on the screen.
[Soul Record Updated.]
Tanaka’s body gave out, and he fainted.
"Tanaka!" Sora cried out, his body bouncing up and down.