Chapter 13: Substantial Improvements

Chapter 13: Substantial Improvements

I was astonished when I received a brand new trait [Acid Slime], and my newly acquired [Slime Shot] even gained a level. I wanted desperately to examine the trait, but I wanted to escape the pond before that froggy bastard showed up for round three. I grabbed the bank with some tendrils and pulled myself to shore.

I was about to journey to my tree home when I noticed my tusks lying in the dirt, which startled me since I nearly lost my prize from that monstrosity of a boar. I assumed when I rapidly decompressed to jump into the water, I had forgotten about them in my dense pockets of slime, and they fell out.

'Hopefully, I can unlock the non-slime option for [Core Storage] soon. Maybe I can try forcing it just storing and withdrawing over and over?' I mused to myself while I grabbed my tusks and headed to my pond tree home. Upon arriving, I threw my tusks into the hole and pulled up the trait details.

This slime contains a powerful acid that helps it defend itself and consume prey.

The base potency of the acid scales with trait level but can also be affected by outside factors such as dilution or concentration.

This trait also adds acid resistance to the slime core and slime mass, which scales with trait level until eventual immunity at max level.

This trait enhances the normal dissolving ability inherent to all slime and maintains the same degree of control.

Compatible with other slime traits.>

'Wow, this is just a pure upgrade in every way... My own [Mana Slime] feels like a joke in comparison. I'm also glad I won't suddenly be uncontrollably melting everything.' I thought to myself, a complicated feeling of happiness and jealousy.

'Could I get other traits from different color slime? If so, how many other slimes are there? So many questions, but I guess that can be my first real goal in this world other than surviving.'

After the crazy day, I didn't feel like venturing from my tree and opted to continue my trait training. But before that, I had to complete my shopping list.

A large quantity of slime mass suddenly began to swirl and compress down, far beyond my capabilities, until a small crimson-red orb was left floating in the slime. It was a fraction of the size of my original core, but I was glad it didn't diverge into a different color. Speaking of color, I had immense relief that [Acid Slime] did not change the color of my magnificent bright-azure blue goop.

The sub-core followed my mental commands, able to move it around freely, and I watched it zip around in my slime mass. I headed into my tree hole, sent a pseudopod outside, and then moved the sub-core to the tip. I then mentally focused and felt my perspective shift to the sub-core. It was a strangely exhilarating experience, and I raised my tendril higher like a periscope until it eventually breached the tree canopy. I took in the sights of the late afternoon sun glimmering across the endless horizon of leaves - all while my actual core was safe in my tree hole.

I returned my perspective, exited the tree, and recalled the tendril and sub-core. Needless to say, I was very satisfied with this purchase. I then gave my sub-core its first function to repeat - deposit and withdraw slime mass. From my perspective, I saw the tiny core suck in slime, then expel it moments later. I wondered if it would continue while I slept, something my primary core could not do. Up until bedtime, I continued my [Shape Slime] practice drills. Which finally paid off.

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I went to bed a very happy slime, and when I awoke, I had another surprise as it looked like my [Sub-Core] worked hard throughout the night.

Trait Points remaining 0

Skills:

[Dissection LV 2]

[Stealth LV 2]

[Mapping LV 1]

[??? LV 0]

[??? LV 0]

Skill Points remaining 0

I felt a sense of pride in what I had achieved so far, and I was apparently nearing two more skills through my actions. Those would surely be a pleasant surprise. My next goal was getting revenge on that oversized frog, which I felt I could get by leveraging [Acid Slime]. But first, I wanted to get my remaining tusks from my first home and stock up on some extra slime mass - I'd need a lot of it for my plan.

On the trip home, I kept a lookout for potential breakfast and spotted a deer grazing. I went for my old reliable pseudopod hunting trick of grabbing the rear legs and hoisting it up, then I engulfed its head to suffocate it and turned on the dissolve. It was not a pretty sight.

Before the deer could even suffocate, its flesh melted away and left only a skull - which was rapidly following. I didn't expect my [Acid Slime] to be that effective since it was only level 2 compared to the green slime's level 5, but then I recalled the description mentioning dilution and concentration.

'I usually keep my pseudopods very dense by default, especially when grabbing things... Which is powering up [Acid Slime]... Good to know, if a little horrific.'

I quickly ate my meal and continued, glad to know I no longer had to sit around for long periods of dissolving. Weirdly, I was struggling to find my tree home, even though I knew I was heading in the right direction thanks to my skill. After over an hour of circling around, I still hadn't found it but did a grayish-black wolf snacking on a jackalope. I wanted to test my [Slime Shot], so I compressed a blob and aimed for the wolf's head. Pew. The slime shot missed the head and hit the throat, which it clung to and rapidly ate away. The wolf tried to howl in pain, but with the partially missing throat, it just let out a gurgle before it collapsed.

I dropped down on the wolf's corpse and was about to eat away when [Dissection] told me to save the fangs and front claws. I directed my slime to avoid those and eat the rest, which it did with shocking precision - I didn't even need to pull to remove things anymore, as my slime just ate anything unnecessary. I also harvested the jackalope antlers and ate the wolf's leftovers. My [Core Storage] easily accepted the fangs, claws and tiny antlers.

Honestly, I felt a little shell-shocked at this new trait; it felt far more powerful than anything I had gained previously. I continued searching for my tree, and after approximately another hour, I finally found it.

And the reason it took so long to find my tree? All of my pelts were missing.