Chapter 50: New Technique
It seems Paula’s newly acquired 〖Space Storage〗 is a magic that creates a different dimension where non-living things can be stored.
It’s basically an item box, as they say.
In the realm of fictional spatial manipulation abilities, it’s as basic as it gets, but with this, we’ve got a grasp on the fundamentals of spatial magic.
From there, we came up with several ideas for development, tried out some prototype spells, and spent our time succeeding and failing.
Then, it got to the point where we had to start heading back, and the two of them went home.
I watched them leave and muttered to myself.
” (Chaos Spawn, huh?)”
Alone, the word I remembered was the one Ergo had told me.
While proposing magic ideas, I had been listening, and that’s when the existence of Chaos Spawn came up.
“(A race possessed and driven berserk by the seeds of chaos… It’s just like that guy.)”
The characteristics of the Chaos Spawn match the state of the Red Monster. There’s no doubt that this is the true nature of those seeds.
Through my contact with Ergo and the others, I inadvertently learned the identity of my enemy.
“(But even the humans don’t know the exact source, do they…)”
The Chaos Spawn are said to be common in the East, but the source of their creation hasn’t been discovered.
Who is scattering these seeds, and for what purpose?
Even if it’s the front lines, it seems that information hasn’t reached this area at least.
“(The East, huh… I’ll have to go there someday.)”
I have to pay them back, and more than that, I can’t leave such a nuisance alone.
Well, not right away, though.
“(It’s a continent, after all.)”
The forest where I was reincarnated is in the western part of the continent.
Even with full use of transportation like carriages and ships, it would easily take a month to reach the royal capital in the center of the continent.
And it would probably take the same amount of travel time from the royal capital to the eastern part of the continent.
To shorten that, I should get a little stronger and increase my 〖Speed〗 before starting my journey.
I haven’t even defeated the Forest Turtle yet.
“(For that, I need to acquire a 〖Skill〗 first!)”
Changing my mindset, I swung my sword blade into the air.
I activated 〖Slash〗 and simultaneously released 〖Mana〗 outward.
After trying this several times, I grasped a unique sensation on the fifth try.
On the sixth try, it took a clear form.
“(〖Wave Slash〗!)”
A silent slash flew out.
The semi-transparent slash, composed of 〖Mana〗, flew for a while before dissolving into the blue sky.
〖Wave Slash〗 is a 〖Weapon Skill〗 that Paula taught me while we were prototyping magic.
I already have several long-range attacks, but it doesn’t hurt to have more options.
After that, I also learned 〖Wave Thrust〗, which sends out thrusting attacks, and with that momentum, I went into the forest to get dinner.
There are still plenty of fruits, but that alone would probably throw off my nutritional balance. Though I don’t know what nutrients a slime needs.
“(I wonder if there are any Demon Beasts around~. I need a Demon Beast with lots of 〖Experience Points〗 and abundant 〖Mana〗—ugh!)”
As I was walking with the eight legs of my kusarigama, being greedy, I was suddenly hit by an impact.
Staggering on my eight legs, I turned my attention to the direction of the impact, but there was nothing there.
“(Tch, it moved?)”
I hurriedly looked around.
Of course, the forest has poor visibility due to the trees and bushes. I couldn’t find the one who attacked me.
Since there was no other choice, I first returned the kusarigama to my original body.
Moving with the kusarigama doesn’t tire me out, but it’s not quite refined enough for combat.
I left only two of them out for the sake of deterrence, though.
“(A slime’s vision is omnidirectional. If I know it’s coming, a surprise attack is—whoa!?)”
Another impact. I wasn’t damaged, but I was shocked.
I was sure I was paying attention to that direction, but I couldn’t see how I was attacked at all.
“(Is it incredibly fast, or…)”
While predicting the nature of the attack, I used 〖Replicant Form〗 to mimic a shield.
I arranged it to protect three sides of my cube-shaped body: the left, right, and front.
“(…Ugh)”
Then it attacked the side without a shield. It seems to have enough intelligence to avoid the shield.
I turned my body to face the direction of the attack and held up the shield, wary of the attack.
As I did, another impact hit the side without a shield.
“(〖Parry〗!)”
I dented my body surface to match it. If I can narrow down the direction it’s coming from, I can do this.
The invisible attack slid into the inside of the surface, and at that moment, I activated 〖Gnaw〗.
A part of the invisible attack was cut off by the spears that lined up in place of fangs, and yellowish blood spurted out from the air.
The cut surface where the blood was gushing out was being pulled back at high speed.
“(〖Wave Slash〗, Lightning Strike!)”
I immediately followed up with an attack in that direction.
The 〖Mana〗 slash and lightning exploded in an empty space.
“(There! 〖Leap〗, 〖Charge Thrust〗!)”
Without a pause, I jumped in and mimicked a crimson spear, thrusting it out.
The spear pierced flesh with a squishy sound, slightly behind where the slash and lightning had disappeared.
“RyeEEEeeh!?”
A high-pitched cry rang out.
Blood gushed out from the empty space where the spear had pierced, and then suddenly, the scenery warped, and a quadruped with a green, rugged body appeared.
“(A chameleon Demon Beast, huh?)”
Yes, it looked like a chameleon I had seen on TV a long time ago.
Well, the size was that of a 〖Dire Beast〗 class, big enough to swallow a human whole.
“(So, it was using a transparency 〖Skill〗 after all?)”
I thought about it based on the characteristics of a chameleon. The thing I bit off looked like a tongue, so it should be right.
If it had been a wind bullet or an attack that transcended space, 〖Gnaw〗 would have been useless.
“(But if I know the trick, it’s not scary!)”
I wrapped two kusarigama around the chameleon, which was desperately trying to escape with its leg pierced.
I restrained its legs, torso, and mouth with chains.
There was a grinding sound of metal creaking, but the chameleon didn’t have the strength to break the iron chains. With this, the restraint was complete.
Then, after thrusting and slashing it several times with the crimson spear, the chameleon died.
~Unidentified Information Log Area~
…
>> Fue Toukouya (Jewel Armory Slime) has acquired 〖Skill: Capture〗.
…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“(Well, that’s about it.)”
Judging from the power of its attacks, the chameleon was probably quite strong even among 〖Dire Beasts〗, but it’s no match for me now.
My 〖Level〗 didn’t go up, so most 〖Dire Beasts〗, including this one, are probably lower 〖Level〗 than me.
“(Even against a 〖Dire Beast〗, the sharpness is outstanding.)”
While devouring the chameleon with 〖Decomposition Fluid〗, I looked at the crimson spear I had used this time.
This is a weapon that was dropped in the slime’s nest, and for some reason, it was the only one with unusually good performance. Its basic performance surpasses even the Earth Affinity spear.
By the way, its name is Hawk Claw. As it was there, it was naturally Ergo’s acquaintance’s weapon, and he told me about it.
Like the Earth Affinity spear, the tip is a blade, so it can be used for both thrusting and slashing.
Since it’s a memento, the real (original) one was taken back by Paula’s 〖Space Storage〗, but I analyzed it with 〖Replicant Form〗, so I can mimic it whenever I need it.
It has a tasteless special ability to amplify the pain it inflicts and delay the healing of wounds, but it’s actually quite useful.
Even Demon Beasts that don’t flinch at a little pain react quite violently when this spear hits them directly.
Being able to go on a rampage might be a disadvantage in some cases, but with my 〖Toughness〗, I can almost completely ignore it.
The fact that I was able to break the chameleon’s transparency this time was largely due to the pain amplification disrupting its concentration, and I think I picked up a pretty good item, though it’s a bit inappropriate to say so.
I don’t know who the original owner was, but I have to offer my gratitude.
“(Thanks for the meal.)”
After finishing the chameleon, I returned to my flower garden home.
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