In the world of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, fantasy creatures aren’t just powerful; the hierarchy takes it to the next level with the intricate Demon Lord system. This structure represents a significant political and power dynamic, where monsters evolve to maintain balance by controlling the human population through culling.
What Is a Demon Lord?
Monsters who evolve into Demon Lords become some of the strongest beings in existence. They command vast armies, control territories, and often rule over entire nations. As Rimuru’s journey unfolds, understanding the Demon Lord system becomes essential for fans, as it plays a central role in the series’ narrative.
The Evolution of a Demon Lord: From Seed to Supreme Power
The Strongest Monsters in the World
The concept of Demon Lords has existed for over two millennia, rooted deep in the world’s ancient history. Though their influence is immense, they rank just below the True Dragons in terms of raw power. However, the process of becoming a Demon Lord is far from simple, requiring the fulfillment of several challenging criteria.
For a monster to even be considered for Demon Lord status, it must be at least Special-A Rank or possess Calamity-class strength. In other words, it should have the potential to destroy an entire nation, command a host of powerful Majin subordinates, and only be challengeable by a country’s full military forces or a Champion-class human.
Magical Strength: What Does It Take?
Additionally, the monster must possess an « existence value » of 200,000, a measurement of their magical energy, including magicules, mana, aura, and holy power. Those who meet these strict conditions are referred to as Demon Lord Seeds, and only through the completion of the Harvest Festival can they fully evolve and unleash their potential.
The Dark Path to Becoming a True Demon Lord
The Harvest Festival: The Cost of Power
Once a Demon Lord Seed fulfills all the requirements, they must undergo the Harvest Festival, a grim ritual that demands the sacrifice of 10,000 human souls. Only after this can the Seed awaken as a True Demon Lord.
Rimuru Tempest’s own Harvest Festival was particularly memorable, as he wiped out the Kingdom of Falmuth’s 20,000-strong army in retaliation for their attack on his territory. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of many of his closest allies and citizens. Following the festival, Rimuru’s powers skyrocketed, including the evolution of his skills into Ultimate Skills, and a massive increase in his magicule capacity.
The Elite Council of True Demon Lords
The Octagram: An Organization of Supreme Beings
A True Demon Lord refers to those who have successfully awakened and earned a place on the Demon Lord Council, also known as the Octagram. There are only eight True Demon Lords in the series, and they stand above other Demon Lords who have undergone the Harvest Festival but have not joined this elite group.
True Demon Lords are classified as Disaster-class threats, possessing enough destructive power to rival entire nations. Their existence value typically ranges between 400,000 and 800,000, but the strongest among them boast an existence value of over 800,000. Only an alliance of nations or a Chosen Hero can oppose these Catastrophe-class beings.
The History and Structure of the Demon Lord Council
The council itself was founded over two thousand years ago by Guy Crimson, in collaboration with Milim Nava and Ramiris, the original Demon Lords. Known initially as the Ten Demon Lords, the council later rebranded as the Octagram, allowing only eight members, which currently includes Rimuru Tempest, Leon Cromwell, Luminous Valentine, Dino, and Draguel, alongside the three founding members.
With so many egos and powerhouses in one organization, it’s no surprise that tensions arise. To resolve disputes and form alliances, the Walpurgis Banquet was established, where council members gather to mediate through majority vote. To join this elite council, a prospective Demon Lord needs the support of three existing council members and must pass a test of strength. Those who fail face execution.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime offers fans an intricate view of power dynamics, making the Demon Lord system a central aspect of its world-building.
