Episode 5: 〖Evolution〗
I stopped the activation of 〖Provoke〗, and after a little while, the Wolves turned on their heels.
They probably figured it was a waste of time to bother with me since their attacks didn’t work.
“Slaaa-slaaass! (Remember this for next time!)”
I hurled insults at their retreating backs, then took a breather.
I wasn’t damaged, but being constantly attacked by something bigger than me was a bit of a mental strain.
Especially since Slimes can’t close their eyelids.
Anyway, it seems that constantly enduring their attacks has given me a 〖Skill〗 called 〖Block〗.
It seems to increase my own or my weapon’s defense and reduce impact.
I doubt I’ll have much use for it with my 〖Toughness〗, but it’s not a bad 〖Skill〗 to have.
“(I guess I’ll call it a day and look for a place to sleep.)”
The sky is turning crimson, so it’s getting late.
I can’t go back to the Slime nest, so I have to find a place on my own.
“(And before that, dinner.)”
If there’s a corpse near my sleeping place, the smell might attract other Demon Beasts.
So, I’ll finish my meal here.
I lick my nonexistent lips in front of the Wolf corpses.
From a former human’s perspective, eating raw meat is a bit… but my experience as a Slime makes me recognize this as food.
I’ve eaten dead Demon Beasts and animals many times before.
“(Let’s eat!)”
I stretch out a part of my body, put my nonexistent hands together, and stick to the Wolf’s body, activating 〖Dissolving Liquid〗.
I slowly melt away the flesh.
“(Ugh, it smells like beast… but meat is still delicious.)”
It tastes completely different from the grilled meat I used to eat as a human, but this is delicious for a Slime.
The mana contained in the meat flows in every time I dissolve it, and the overflowing fresh blood feels like it’s moisturizing my body with every drop I absorb.
While digesting, I suddenly notice a strange sensation in my body.
“(Come to think of it, I’ve been feeling a bit tingly.)”
Looking back, I’ve had this feeling since I defeated the Wolf earlier.
I guess I’ll check my 〖Status〗 for now.
“(Oh, I can 〖Evolve〗… Seriously!?)”
It seems this sensation was a sign that I can 〖Evolve〗.
I thought I’d never be able to since I can’t defeat enemies and raise my 〖Level〗, but to think I’d reach the 〖Level〗 to 〖Evolve〗 in just one day.
~Unspecified Information Log Area~
…
Fuetou Kouya (Roughstone Slime) has acquired 〖Skill: Stockpile〗.
…
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Suppressing my excitement, I continued eating and devoured both of them in no time.
I shouldn’t have been able to eat this much before, but I guess my stomach (?) capacity has increased as my 〖Level〗 went up.
However, my body hasn’t gotten bigger or heavier. Slimes don’t excrete either.
It completely ignores the law of conservation of mass, making the ecology of Slimes complex and bizarre.
Well, putting aside the Slime analysis, next is 〖Evolution〗… but before that, I need to find a place to sleep.
I walked through the Forest for a while and found a tree that wasn’t too conspicuous.
There was a small space under the Root that was perfect, so I decided to spend the night here.
I slipped inside.
“(First, let’s check the species I can 〖Evolve〗 into!)”
I sink my consciousness into my inner self.
~Evolution Path~
Jewel Slime Beast Rank: Lesser Beast
・A rare species of the Slime family.
・Its defensive ability is the best in the Slime world, with 〖Toughness〗 that repels most attacks and outstanding 〖Resist〗.
・It also has a species 〖Skill〗 for escaping, making it fast on its feet.
Rock Slime Beast Rank: Greater Beast
・A common species of the Slime family.
・Its rocky body is incredibly solid for a Slime. And its 〖Power〗 is also high.
・It has the ability to Mimic rocks.
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It seems I can choose between these two.
The Jewel Slime is defense and speed-oriented, while the Rock Slime is defense and attack-oriented.
Out of these two, the Rock Slime is simply stronger.
After all, its 〖Beast Rank〗 is higher.
〖Beast Rank〗 is a rough rank that indicates the strength of a Demon Beast, and 〖Greater Beast〗 is one rank above 〖Lesser Beast〗.
In this Forest, it’s considered a mid-tier class.
However, I’m a bit concerned that the Rock Slime is called a common species.
Since I’ve never seen another of my kind, it’s safe to say that the Roughstone Slime is a rare species.
If my 〖Toughness〗 is a rare species ability, there’s a risk that I’ll lose that advantage by becoming a Rock Slime.
Besides, my ultimate 〖Crush〗 tactic that I came up with today doesn’t require much 〖Power〗.
In that regard, the Jewel Slime, which has complete Status Ailment countermeasures and a means of escape, is the better choice.
But still, the Rock Slime, a 〖Greater Beast〗, has higher overall stats.
Hmm… no, since I don’t have enough information, there’s no point in worrying too much.
“(…I’ve decided, I’ll 〖Evolve〗 into a Jewel Slime!)”
The moment I made that decision, the power surging within my body began to rage even more violently.
The more it raged, the more the power seemed to accelerate and expand.
It felt like a turbulent vortex of power was circulating and expanding my body.
Soon, my body became as hot as if it were boiling.
Bubbles rose from inside my body as if I had turned into carbonated water, and the increased power burst out all at once.
“Slaaaah!”
I couldn’t help but roar at the overflowing energy, and at the same time, the 〖Evolution〗 was complete.
~Unspecified Information Log Area~
…
Fuetou Kouya (Roughstone Slime) has begun 〖Evolution〗.
Species has changed to Jewel Slime.
〖Stats〗 have changed due to 〖Evolution〗.
〖Skills〗 have been added.
…
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