The dwarf king remained silent for a long time, having thoroughly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
He knew perfectly well that Rimuru was definitely a top-tier powerhouse.
His ability to casually condense Uru Divine Steel is unparalleled in the entire universe.
Furthermore, the inside story of Thor's complete tacit approval and Odin's prior entrustment of Asgard to protect it is all laid bare before our eyes.
But he simply couldn't agree to surrender on the spot.
The Dwarves have been loyal to Asgard for generations, serving the Asgard for countless ages.
The subservient mentality is ingrained in their very being; it's not something that can be changed overnight.
He raised his head, his tone sincere and steady, and gave his answer.
"My esteemed Rimuru, I am grateful that you are willing to consider the future of our Dwarf Race."
"I understand your and Prince Thor's good intentions, and I am even more aware that the Asgard may face great calamity in the future."
"But the roots of the Dwarves are always tied to Asgard."
"As long as Asgard exists, we will forever remain true to our duty and follow the Asgard."
To put it bluntly: we don't reject goodwill, but we also refuse to submit; we maintain our original state.
He neither humiliated Rimuru nor failed to uphold the Dwarf Race ' loyalty and principles.
Rimuru wasn't surprised at all after hearing this.
He could completely understand the dwarfs' choice; it made perfect sense.
After all, these guys had no idea Thanos existed.
They had no idea that they would face genocide in the future.
They only knew of Ragnarok, but were certain that the calamity would not befall the remote Nidavellir.
No one would easily betray their ancestral master, who has been passed down for thousands of years, without having witnessed the Extremis of their clan firsthand.
If it were me, I would most likely make the exact same choice.
And the most pressing issue right now is that Odin isn't dead yet. What if this is a trap?
If some powerful person just shows up and tries to scare you, and you go with them, your sincerity is clearly questionable.
What if we agree, and then the Asgard army arrives the very next day?
Rimuru smiled nonchalantly, without the slightest hint of reluctance or displeasure.
"I understand and respect your choice. There's no need for you to have any concerns."
"Your unwavering loyalty to Asgard is itself worthy of respect."
The dwarf king's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly settled down, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
I thought I would offend this big shot, but I didn't expect him to be so understanding and magnanimous.
Then Rimuru got down to business, pulling out his pre-prepared backup plan.
A delicate, small, three-dimensional crystal device gleaming with white light slowly appeared in the palm of the hand.
The patterns were simple yet profound, floating quietly in his palm, serene yet mysterious.
Rimuru carefully explained the function of the device to the Dwarf King.
"I will not force you to surrender, nor will I change your relationship with Asgard."
But I'll leave you with one last trump card to save your life in Extremis.
"This is a proprietary space activation device; only you can activate it."
"When you face a catastrophic crisis and have nowhere to retreat, just press this button."
"The device will instantly awaken my Virtual Planet Kuscia across dimensions."
"The next second, the entire Nidavellir Forging Starfield will be directly pulled in and migrated into the Virtual World."
"Whether it's war, catastrophe, or foreign invasion, all dangers are kept at bay."
"The entire Dwarves and the entire star field will be absolutely safe; no one can threaten their safety."
Thor, standing nearby, stared wide-eyed in shock at these words.
Can an entire star system be directly packaged and transferred into the Virtual World?
This ability is simply too outrageous and too heaven-defying!
The dwarf king clenched his fists slightly, his eyes filled with shock.
He has lived for countless ages and has witnessed countless Asgard techniques and cosmic supernatural powers.
But I've never seen such a domineering and reliable method of racial preservation.
Rimuru gently handed the device to the dwarf king's heavy palm.
His tone was calm yet incredibly reliable, giving the other person a strong sense of security.
"Keep it safe and don't touch it if you live a peaceful life."
"Whether it's the ravages of Ragnarok affecting this area, or encountering an unknown and powerful enemy."
"Just activate it the moment you can't hold on any longer."
"You don't need to betray Asgard, you don't need to switch sides."
"I'm simply leaving you honest blacksmiths a way out of a seemingly inescapable predicament."
The Dwarf King gripped the activation device for the virtual planet tightly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
There is both gratitude for this immense kindness and deep reverence.
"On behalf of the entire Dwarves, I thank you for your protection, sir!"
Thus, the negotiations came to a perfect conclusion.
The Dwarves neither betrayed their lord nor surrendered, and remained steadfast in Asgard.
But in secret, they already possessed a race's ultimate escape route that others could only dream of.
Rimuru failed to gain any allies, but he saved an entire race with great potential.
From both a moral and logical standpoint, it's a win-win situation.
Anyway, after Odin leaves, Asgard will be under his protection, and the Dwarf King's clan will essentially join him.
After finalizing the matter with the Dwarf King, Rimuru and Thor returned directly to Asgard.
Before leaving, the dwarf king made several promises.
They will expedite the forging of Pietro's exclusive Speed Armor, without any delay.
Once the forging is complete, notify them to come and pick up the goods as soon as possible.
Back in the familiar Asgard palace, all was peaceful and serene.
Rimuru wasn't going to drag things out any longer.
All the conditions have been met, everything is ready, only the final step is needed to break through.
Break through to the true Demon Lord Level!
He turned and briefly spoke to Thor.
They requested a secluded valley in Asgard, a place of unparalleled tranquility and pristine spiritual energy.
Rimuru specifically instructed Thor.
"Don't bother me for the next few days, and don't come near me no matter what happens."
"I'm going to attempt a very crucial, extremely important breakthrough."
Thor listened with a solemn expression and nodded seriously on the spot.
He knew very well that this level of closed-door breakthrough allowed no room for error.
Every leap in a powerful person's realm is a momentous event that jeopardizes their very foundation.
Soon, Odin and Frigga also received the news.
The two highest rulers of the Asgard made a special trip to visit them.
Odin was a man of few words, but decisive and efficient in his actions.
The God-King directly issued his order in front of everyone, completely sealing off the entire secret realm area.
All Asgardian were forbidden from approaching, and even the guards were all withdrawn from the outer perimeter.
Rimuru was provided with an absolutely quiet and safe environment for his breakthrough.
The gentle Queen Frigga stayed behind and offered a few words of quiet comfort.
Her tone was gentle and comforting, making people feel inexplicably at ease.
"Don't be nervous, relax, this breakthrough will definitely go smoothly."
Rimuru nodded obediently, feeling a great sense of relief.
He knew better than anyone that this goddess was not as weak as she appeared in the movies.
Frigga is a typical example of a severely underrated top-tier powerhouse in the Marvel Universe.
Her combat strength may not be top-tier, but her authority is terrifying.
He possessed a magical ability to foresee the future and understand destiny, which he had long since mastered to perfection.
When Thor traveled back in time, he thought he had hidden himself very well.
As soon as he landed, Frigga saw right through him.
Rimuru even secretly speculated.
This gentle diva most likely foresaw her own demise.
They foresaw the Dark Elves invasion, and they foresaw their destined demise.
But she did not run away, nor did she resist her fate.
He faced death with equanimity, protecting the child and the dignity of the Asgard.
She was truly a gentle, great, and exceptionally competent mother and goddess.
With her auspicious words of encouragement, Rimuru's mindset became incredibly stable.
After Odin, Frigga, Thor, and everyone else had all left.
The entire valley was utterly silent; even the wind had fallen still.
But Rimuru still dared not relax his vigilance in the slightest.
Breaking through to the Demon Lord Level is the biggest qualitative change he has experienced at this stage.
This level of breakthrough is absolutely not to be taken lightly!
With a thought, he instantly unleashed a large squadron of Ultimate Nullifier combat units.
The entire secret realm was surrounded by a dense array of Ultimate Nullifier, forming layers of defense.
Comprehensive vigilance, scanning, and blocking of all entry and exit routes.
Even though he knew it perfectly well.
This area is now completely sealed off by Odinforce.
Let alone enemies, not even a fly could get in.
Rimuru remained steadfast in his principles.
No champagne opening at the halfway point! No floating around! No complacency!
The more absolutely safe the environment, the easier it is to capsize unexpectedly.
A steady and methodical approach is the key to success.
After setting up all security measures and clearing my mind of all distractions.
Rimuru hovered in the center of the secret realm, slowly gathering his mind.
The massive amount of power accumulated within his body began to slowly surge.
Power of Dimensional Lords, AllSpark Energy, Rune Runes
Eternal Flame, Casket of Ancient Winters, plus Old Man Stan Lee's 20% privileges.
As for the soul sacrifices of those 20,000 people, he had already taken quite a few back in Hell's Kitchen, and picked up even more during the Battle of New York. If that wasn't enough, he just used his authority to make more.
Now all our cards are ready to be played.
His transformation into Demon Lord has officially begun!
By the way, damn Thor, I told you to shock me, but you still haven't done it. You're so slow.
" Thor, remember what I told you before?! Give me the flirtation! Give me the flirtation!"