Chapter 29: The Alluring Fruit
While fleeing from the Great Bear, I moved in a direction with fewer humans, deeper into the forest.
As a result, the 〖Mana〗 is dense here.
With a strong feeling that I might encounter a powerful foe, I continued deeper into the forest.
“(Hmm, it’s a bit hard to walk here.)”
Having become a 〖Dire Beast〗, I was about the size of a small elephant.
This forest wasn’t so dense that I couldn’t move, but there were a lot of obstacles, making it physically cramped.
“(Alright, let’s use my slime characteristics here.)”
I transformed my body into a long, rectangular shape and moved forward in a serpentine manner.
Since it wasn’t too far from my basic cube form, maintaining it didn’t take much effort.
After slipping through the trees for a while, I came to an open area.
The clearing was a gentle hill, rising higher towards the center.
“(That fruit looks delicious.)”
In the center stood a single fruit tree. It was a large tree, even for me after my 〖Evolution〗.
Its branches were laden with brightly colored fruits, and even from a distance, I could tell they were ripe.
It was just like another world, with each branch bearing fruits of different colors and shapes, despite being the same tree.
“(Well then, let’s try eating one.)”
Due to the increase in size from my 〖Evolution〗, my stomach (?) had expanded.
Also, my 〖Stockpile〗 had upgraded to 〖Storage〗, increasing its capacity.
It would be good to replenish my energy here.
“(Hmm… okay, I’ll go with that orange one.)”
From the countless fruits, I chose a crescent-shaped one, similar to a banana on Earth.
However, unlike bananas, they weren’t in bunches but attached to the branch individually, and their color was orange, not yellow.
It looked like a snack called Kaki〇tane.
“(Let’s dig in!)”
I took the orange banana, skin and all, into my body.
As I dissolved and absorbed it with my 〖Dissolving Liquid〗, an exquisite sweetness spread through me.
“(Delicious…)”
It was so delicious that I couldn’t help but sigh. The fruit was that good.
In terms of flavor, it was close to a melon. A soft yet strong sweetness that was comforting.
I finished it in no time and was about to extend a whip to try another when—
“(Wha, what… ?)”
I realized that my body wouldn’t move.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t move.
No, saying “how hard I tried” wasn’t accurate.
I couldn’t even exert any strength in the first place.
It was a sensation of paralysis, like after sitting seiza for a long time.
“(!?)”
Before I could even worry about what to do, the situation progressed.
Suddenly, several roots burst through the ground and wrapped around me.
“Gyaaa…!”
Then, a vertical crack appeared in the tree bark.
The jagged crack, like a lightning bolt, opened to the left and right, revealing countless fangs inside the tree.
“(Could it be… a Trent!?)”
I searched my knowledge for the enemy’s identity.
I had heard that there were Demon Beasts that mimicked trees, but this was my first time actually encountering one.
The roots wrapped around me and shot me straight into the Trent’s mouth.
It couldn’t swallow my entire body, but a part of me was inside its mouth.
The crack closed, and the fangs came closer.
Pressured by the sharp tree fangs, my body—
Clang!
—was completely unharmed.
“(Well, yeah, that’s right.)”
It would be a problem if there were monsters that could break through my 〖Toughness〗 of over 2000.
While being gnawed on a few times, I observed the inside of its mouth.
“(It doesn’t seem to have a throat. Where does it absorb from… ?)”
A new question arose, but for now, there didn’t seem to be any particularly vulnerable areas.
The inside of the mouth was probably softer than other parts, though.
But more importantly right now.
“(Alright, full recovery!)”
The fact that the paralysis had worn off was more important.
My 〖Resist〗 was enhanced by 〖Perfect Defense〗. I wouldn’t suffer from most Status Ailments, and even if I did, they would be quickly resolved.
“(Time to move, Lightning Strike!)”
“Gwigigigiiii!?”
The first strike of my counterattack was a burst of lightning.
Using a generous amount of 〖Mana〗, I unleashed multiple Lightning Strikes.
“(And now, Hedgehog Attack!)”
Furthermore, using my transformation ability, I extended spears from the part of my body that was being eaten.
Taking full advantage of the increased volume from my 〖Evolution〗, I pierced the gaps between the fangs.
~Unidentified Information Log~
…
Fue Toukouya (Jewel Armory Slime) has acquired 〖Skill: Thrust〗.
…
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“Gyuuaaa!”
“(〖Unyielding〗!)”
Roots extended from the outside, trying to pull me away, but I stood my ground with my 〖Skill〗.
Well, I wasn’t actually standing on the ground, so I don’t know if that’s the right way to put it.
In any case, by continuously dealing damage using 〖Dissolving Liquid〗 and 〖Combo〗, the Trent was in agony.
From the outside, I could hear the sound of branches shaking violently. It was as if a storm had suddenly arrived.
“(Uoooooo!)”
How long had it been?
Before I knew it, the Trent’s resistance had stopped, and my body was overflowing with power.
My 〖Level〗 had increased.
Thus, the Jewel Armory Slime’s first battle came to an end.
~Unidentified Information Log~
…
Fue Toukouya (Jewel Armory Slime)’s 〖Soul Accumulation Value (Level)〗 has increased to 62.
Fue Toukouya (Jewel Armory Slime) has acquired 〖Skill: Gluttony〗.
〖Skill: Antibody〗 has been acquired. 〖Gluttony〗 will be integrated.
…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also, since it was a waste to leave the remaining fruits from the tree, I ate them little by little, and some strange 〖Skills〗 had increased.