Lucian sat in his workshop, surrounded by his growing collection of slimes. His Ice Slimes were doing an excellent job preserving food, his Cleaner Slimes were keeping the area clean, and his Sticky Slimes were helping reinforce the structures he had built.
But he wasn't satisfied yet. He needed something more—something that could break down tough materials for crafting and processing resources.
Lucian had been thinking about an Acid Slime for a while. It would be useful for dissolving bones, refining minerals, breaking down waste, and even fighting enemies. If successful, it would become one of the most valuable slimes in his collection.
But to create an Acid Slime, he needed the right ingredients.
Lucian knew that many monsters had acid-based abilities, but finding the right one was the challenge. After a few days of research and scouting with his Scavenger Slimes, he finally discovered a promising target:
A Venomous Swamp Toad.
This monster lurked in the marshlands to the south of his ranch. It had the ability to secrete a powerful digestive acid that could dissolve prey within minutes. Lucian figured that if he could harvest that acid and use it in his experiments, he might be able to mutate a new type of slime.
Lucian and his slimes approached the murky swamp where the Venomous Swamp Toad resided. The air was thick with the scent of rotting vegetation, and bubbles of toxic gas occasionally rose from the water's surface.
Lucian had prepared for this.
He sent his Sticky Slimes ahead to set a trap, coating the surrounding area with their adhesive mucus. The moment the Swamp Toad moved, it would get stuck.
Once everything was in place, Lucian lured the monster out by throwing a piece of monster meat near the water's edge. As expected, the massive toad leaped from its hiding place, its slimy green skin glistening with a layer of toxic sludge.
Lucian didn't hesitate.
"Now!"
His Sticky Slimes sprang into action, launching their adhesive substance at the creature's legs. The toad struggled, but its movements became sluggish as it got tangled in the sticky web.
Next, Lucian commanded his Poison Slimes to attack, releasing their venomous fluids onto the toad. The creature let out a deep, guttural croak, thrashing in pain.
Finally, Lucian approached and delivered a precise stab to its vulnerable underbelly, finishing it off.
With the Swamp Toad defeated, Lucian quickly harvested its acidic glands, carefully storing the highly corrosive liquid in reinforced containers. He also took a sample of its digestive fluids, which were known for their ability to break down organic matter.
He had everything he needed for his experiment.
Returning to his ranch, Lucian wasted no time getting to work.
Lucian gathered a few Cleaner Slimes, as they had a natural ability to absorb and process substances. He placed them in a controlled environment and began adding small amounts of the Swamp Toad's acid into their bodies.
The slimes reacted violently at first, shaking and bubbling as they struggled to adapt to the corrosive liquid. Some of them failed, dissolving into an unusable mush. But Lucian was patient.
Using his [Adaptability] skill, he carefully monitored the slimes, adjusting the acidity levels in small increments. Over time, a few slimes began to change color, shifting to a dark green with a slightly transparent texture. Their bodies became thicker and more resistant to their own acid.
Lucian grinned. "It's working."
After several hours of fine-tuning the mutation, Lucian had successfully created Acid Slimes. They had developed the ability to secrete a powerful digestive acid, similar to the Swamp Toad but even stronger.
Lucian placed a bone from a previous hunt in front of the slimes.
The moment the Acid Slimes touched it, the bone began to sizzle and melt, breaking down into a liquid state in seconds.
Next, Lucian tried a rock sample—while it didn't dissolve as quickly, the Acid Slime was still able to weaken it over time, turning it brittle.
Lucian nodded in satisfaction. "Perfect."
These slimes would help him process waste, break down monster remains, and maybe even help him extract valuable materials from ores.
The ranch was expanding, and Lucian's slimes were evolving into a powerful ecosystem.
Lucian had successfully created Acid Slimes, adding yet another valuable creature to his growing collection. With each experiment, he pushed the boundaries of what was possible.
And this was only the beginning.