Mark's reflexes kicked in as the snake spat acid again:
He dodged closer to the water's edge, his body inches from the stream.
Without breaking eye contact with the slime snake, Mark plunged his hand into the cool water.
He splashed the water upwards, directly onto the burning acid wounds on his cheeks.
Relief washed over him as the water neutralized the acid's destructive power.
Mark's single eye remained fixed intensely on the snake-like creature:
* Its unblinking gaze locked onto him
* Its body coiled, ready to strike again
* Its jaws slightly open, acidic saliva dripping
Mark held perfectly still, hand still splashing water on his cheeks, waiting for the snake's next move.
Mark extended his arm, palm facing the snake-like creature:
A blast of flames erupted from his hand, engulfing the snake in fire.
But to Mark's surprise, the flames didn't seem to harm it –
The snake's body began to contort and shift, transforming back into a slime-like mass.
The slime slid backwards, unaffected by the fire, and then:
* Regained its shapelessness
* Began to glow with an eerie blue light
* Spat another stream of acid at Mark
Mark dodged swiftly to the left, avoiding the acid by mere inches.
He continued to dodge and weave, evading the slime's relentless acid attacks.
Mark's mind raced – fire didn't work; water only neutralized the acid –
What could defeat this creature?
He thought of:
* Using earth to suffocate it
* Freezing it with ice magic (but he didn't have that skill)
* Finding a weakness in its blue glow
Mark continued to dodge the slime's acid attacks with agile reflexes:
* Left, right, backward – he evaded each stream of corrosive liquid
* His single eye fixed intensely on the slime, analyzing its movements
Despite the danger, Mark felt a spark of fascination:
"This creature's abilities would be incredibly powerful if harnessed..."
He imagined himself possessing similar skills:
* Spitting acid to dissolve enemies' armor
* Transforming into slime to escape or sneak past foes
Mark's strategic mind kicked in – he wanted to defeat this creature without destroying it:
Perhaps he could capture or disable it, then find a way to understand and replicate its powers.
He wondered:
* Could he use magic to suppress its aggression?
* Might there be a weakness in its slime form he hadn't seen yet?
* Would it respond to certain commands or elements?
Mark quickly picked up a small stone from the ground and threw it at the slime:
The stone hit the slime's body with surprising force, causing it to:
* Splatter and rupture like a liquid-filled pouch
* Completely dissolve into a puddle of clear goo
* Release a faint hiss of defeated energy
Mark approached the remains cautiously, his single eye fixed on the puddle:
He was surprised – the stone had destroyed the slime utterly.
Mark knelt down beside the puddle, examining the remnants:
* The blue glow was gone
* The acidic properties seemed neutralized
* A faint, eerie residue remained
As he investigated, Mark noticed something intriguing:
A small, intact core – like a seed or nucleus – remained at the puddle's center.
Mark carefully picked up the core, curiosity getting the better of him:
He turned it over in his hand, studying its smooth, translucent surface.
A daring thought crossed his mind:
"What if consuming this core grants me the slime's abilities?"
But then he hesitated:
He had a passive skill - "Carnivore's Insight" - that allowed him to gain monster skills upon consumption...
However, he wasn't sure if eating the core would trigger it.
Mark wondered if he needed to consume a more... vital part of the slime to activate the skill.
He examined the puddle of goo, unsure which part would be most effective.
His single eye narrowed in thought:
Should he try consuming the core anyway, or search the remnants for something more... substantial?
Mark decided to consume the core and hope for the best:
He popped the small, translucent object into his mouth and tried to swallow.
But to his surprise, the core got stuck in his throat:
He coughed violently, his single eye watering from the sudden blockage.
Mark's face turned red as he struggled to dislodge the core:
He tried to drink from his water skin, hoping the liquid would help push it down.
After a few tense moments, Mark managed to swallow hard enough:
The core slid down his throat, leaving a strange, tingling sensation behind.
Mark gasped for air, relieved the ordeal was over...
And then, he waited – would consuming the core trigger his "Carnivore's Insight" skill?
Mark waited for a few moments, feeling nothing out of the ordinary... yet:
He took slow breaths, wondering if consuming the core had been pointless.
But then, suddenly:
A strange energy coursed through his veins like liquid fire
Mark's single eye widened as he felt his body adapting, evolving...
A mental prompt appeared in his mind:
**"Carnivore's Insight" skill triggered**
**New skill acquired: "Mimicry Skill"**
Mark's heart raced with excitement:
He had gained the power to mimic any form, ability, or trait!
The prompt in his mind updated:
"Mimicry Skill Activated.
Select target to mimic..."
Mark grinned fiercely, eager to test his new ability:
Mark read the revised skill details:
**Mimicry Skill Details**
* Transform into exact appearance of target creature or object
* Size limitation:
- Minimum: Half of original body size
- Maximum: Twice of original body size
* No abilities, traits, or powers of target are mimicked - only physical appearance
He felt a deep disappointment wash over him:
The skill was barely useful for combat or gaining new abilities.
But as he thought about his current situation - traveling alone to Elyria's King Castle -
Mark's expression changed from disappointment to curiosity:
"This skill could still be useful for stealth and deception during my journey..."
He imagined mimicking a castle guard or a traveling merchant to:
* Gather information unnoticed
* Avoid dangerous confrontations
* Blend in with castle crowds
Mark practiced mimicking different forms in front of a reflective puddle:
He focused on imagining a castle guard's armor and face...
But to his surprise, his body only shifted into the armor –
The face remained his own.
He tried again with a traveling merchant's appearance...
Same result: clothes and body mimicked perfectly, face unchanged.
Mark read the revised skill details again, feeling defeated:
**Mimicry Skill Details**
* Transform into exact appearance of target objects, animals, and creatures
* Excludes mimicking appearance of sentient beings (humans, elves, etc.)
* Size limitation:
- Minimum: Half of original body size
- Maximum: Twice of original body size
Disappointment washed over him once more.
Mark sighed, deciding to move on.
He walked to the nearby stream and washed his face and body, refreshing himself.
He glanced down at his reflection...
His expression remained calm, almost resigned.
"I've changed," he stated simply, eyes fixed on his twisted form.
His hair, once dark, now flowed like green silk down his back.
His right eye gleamed bright red, an eerie contrast to his empty left socket.
His arm was a mass of vines and wood.
Mark's gaze lingered on his reflection, accepting this new reality.
He stood up, water dripping from his chin, his expression unyielding.
Feeling slightly revitalized, Mark continued his journey to Elyria's King Castle.