Syl

Chapter 40: Poison

Searching the updated profile with the evolved badger, I found the source of its partial immortality.

Through your rage, you will persevere.

Rapidly convert mana into health, efficiency scaling with trait level.

Upon activation, the regeneration will not stop until health is full or mana depleted.>

I wanted it.

'Damn it!'

I crawled out of the escape tunnel to the sight of so many paralyzed badgers. My [Sub-Core] suddenly started firing at their bodies, which made me realize it still had its standing order, which I canceled to stop wasting slime.

'That gives me an interesting idea. Maybe I could give it self-defense orders? It would always be waiting to jump in to help. I've definitely not been utilizing it properly except for nightshift work.'

I'd deal with the badgers later. My first priority was to check the nest. Using [Mana Sight], I found the spot and melted a path to it, revealing a very emaciated-looking purple slime.

'Huh... Was this the badgers bedtime snack?'

Now, I had to deal with the badgers, seven of them at my mercy. From an outside perspective, it might have seemed cruel, but these things showed no sympathy when they invaded the goblin cave.

I first tested out Bloodrot by making a small dagger and cutting two of the badgers. The effect was not at all pleasant to witness, as the blackened blood seemed to spread throughout the creature and leak rapidly from the open wound as if the body were trying to eject it. They both eventually died, and when I dissolved them, I noted they gave less slime mass than I was used to.

Next, I got to finally test out my [Vaporize Slime] trait. I felt a bit unsettled seeing my slime turn into a gas, and the unfortunate monster who breathed it in started coughing up blackened blood. I had to give it another dose of Bloodrot gas before it eventually died. Less effective than the open wound application, but very nasty.

I tried out an acidic gas next, and the results were horrific and ruined almost every bit of harvestable material. [Dissection] scolded me for being so wasteful. I would have vomited if I had a stomach, which was saying something since I literally melted things to eat. I'd probably need to lock this away as a last resort or invest more in [Enhanced Willpower].

Next was trying out the sleep poison on the three remaining lab rats. I tried three different delivery methods: ingestion, inhalation, and injection. Inhalation seemed to work best, and I watched the creature gradually fall asleep. Next was injection, and lastly, ingestion. I delivered three swift [Sneak Attacks] to execute the badgers.

'How much experience did that damn apex badger give me?' I wondered when I saw the notification, 'If the bear matriarch is also an apex, I will get another two levels at this rate.'

After harvesting all the badgers, I had a small net positive in slime. Although, tonight's [Defy Death] training would make that a loss, which made me consider getting the rare blue slime trait [Slime Conversion].

Spend mana to generate slime mass.

There is a daily conversion limit, scaling with trait level.>

I had three trait points and a skill point. I immediately tried to purchase [Prodigy] again.

'Annoying...'

There was a skill I saw the Blade Wolf use that I could see from its profile, [Wind Step].

Move a short distance with near-impossible speed, even in mid-air.

Skill level determines mana efficiency and maximum chained usage.>

It sounded like a must-buy to me, and having aerial mobility couldn't be understated.

'No! Gramps, why!?' I slammed a pseudopod against the cavern floor, 'What the hell is Air Affinity now?'

Stolen story; please report.

Obviously, I got no answers, so I'd need to ask one of the goblins. Before leaving, I did snack on some of the glowing mushrooms, adding to my [Mushroom] profile. I kept thinking about my traits purchases during the return trip to the goblin cave. I was feeling good, and powerful, but Gramps had still pointed out that magic was my greatest weakness. My first purchase went towards the much-delayed magic resistance.

Adds a minor amount of passive magic resistance to offensive spells and spell effects, scaling with trait level.

Resistance can be temporarily disabled to allow effects to pass.

Beneficial spells from oneself automatically overcome resistance.>

Next, I didn't want to be bleeding slime mass every day, and with [Vaporize Slime] being added to my arsenal, I needed to be able to replenish my resources. Speaking of resources, ever since I got [Elven Legacy], I don't think I've ever seen my mana level drop below Overflowing. So if elf bullshit is going to give me more mana than I know what to do with, I better spend it.

I immediately activated it and felt my mana trickling away and slime mass generating, which I routinely compressed and stored away. I spent a lot of time thinking about my next purchase. I was tempted to save it, but I knew we were fighting the bear matriarch soon, and I'd likely gain two if not more, trait points from that.

After much internal debate, I settled on purchasing a second [Sub-Core]. It felt like they had so much untapped potential, especially if I started leaving them with standby orders.

'A new [Sub-Core].' I mentally responded, and a large quantity of slime mass immediately began to compress to an impossible level until forming another small red core.

This was certainly unexpected. My cores could have their own little party amongst themselves. I was concerned that my second would never catch up to the first unless I deliberately hampered the first's growth, not to mention if I wanted to add a third and beyond.

'Yes.'

[Sub-Core Beta] will receive donated experience from [Sub-Core Alpha] until level equilibrium.>

'This trait clearly had a lot of thought put into it. I want to assume Gramps made it. Krutz did mention Gods, plural. If I assume Gods made this whole system, that might explain why some traits and skills descriptions are so wildly different. Well, whoever made it, thanks, and sorry for neglecting it for so long!'

For now, I set Beta to withdraw slime mass and Alpha to deposit it, a small loop for some passive experience gain. I also had Alpha use [Mana Reinforcement], with its spare capacity, on Beta and itself.

I made sure to turn back to my goblin form as I drew nearer. When I emerged from the tunnel, an impressive defensive perimeter had formed. I waved friendly to the goblins and got some cheers from the warriors. Apparently, I had been gone for a lot longer than I thought, and the goblins were growing worried that I had perished.

I informed them that I found the nest and cleared it out, downplaying the exact number of creatures and not mentioning the apex. I warned them that there was an unexplored fork in the tunnel, so there could be some surviving stragglers.

When I was walking home, Krutz approached and seemed a bit surprised. Before he greeted me, I thought I overheard him mutter "four more levels" to himself. I pretended not to hear, and we exchanged pleasantries.

"Do you know what Air Affinity is?" I asked.

"A-Air Affinity?" He choked, before clearing his throat and continuing, "I believe that's one of the types of mana. Why do you ask?"

"I tried to buy a skill, but it told me I lacked Air Affinity. I had never seen that before."

"S-skill? I see. That's... unfortunate for you. Some do have prerequisites to purchase."

The poor guy seemed under the weather. I had not seen him act this way before. The stress of the human attack, badgers invasion, and impending adventurers guild must be getting to him. And he was still planning our attack on the bear matriarch.

"Do you have a skill you'd recommend purchasing? I had my heart set on that one, but that seems unlikely unless I can get Air Affinity somehow."

There was a pregnant pause before he responded, "As far as I'm aware, your affinity is determined at birth. As for skill recommendations..." He paused again, "Could you give me some time to think on this? Then I can give you more optimal advice."

"That works for me. No rush." I replied with a nod, "I know a lot has been happening lately. We still need to deal with the bear matriarch."

We said our farewells, and I headed home. I relaxed and checked my updated status menu, which needed some organizing.

Name: Syl [Apex Hunter]

Race: Mimic Slime (Blue) LV 12

Class: -

Status: Healthy

Mana: Overflowing

Emblems:

[Experiment]

[Apex Hunter]*

[Elven Legacy]

Traits:

Slime:

[Mana Slime LV MAX]

[Acid Slime LV 5]

[Poison Slime LV 3]

[Adhesive Slime]

[Elastic Slime]

[Pseudopod LV 5]

[Slime Density LV 5]

[Slime Shot LV 4]

[Shape Slime LV 5]

[Slime Burst LV 3]

[Vaporize Slime]

Core:

[Core Refinement LV 4]

[Core Storage LV 4]

[Sub-Core Alpha LV 3]

[Sub-Core Beta LV 1]

[Consuming Osmosis LV 3]

Mimic:

[Shapeshifting Mimicry LV 3]

[Chroma Shift LV 2]

Mana:

[Mana Circulation LV 3]

[Mana Well LV 1]

[Mana Reinforcement LV 4]

[Mana Sight LV 1]

[Slime Conversion LV 1]

Attributes/Other:

[Enhanced Intellect LV 2]

[Enhanced Vitality LV 2]

[Enhanced Willpower LV 2]

[Magic Resistance (Lesser) LV 1]

[Dark Vision LV 3]

[Defy Death LV 1]

Trait Points remaining 0

Skills:

General:

[Universal Language]

[Dissection LV 5]

[Mapping LV 2]

[Tracking LV 1]

Combat:

[Evasion LV 3]

[Melee Weapon Proficiency (Lesser) LV 2]

[Ranged Weapon Proficiency (Lesser) LV 1]

[Improved Accuracy (Lesser) LV 2]

Sneaky Stuff:

[Stealth LV 4]

[Sneak Attack LV 3]

[Identity Block LV 3]

[Acting LV 1]

Skill Points remaining 1