Clarifications:
-"Person Talking"-
-(Person Thinking)-
-
[Skills or Magic]
(JC: Author's Notes)
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Let's start
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What he saw was a King eternally tormented. A solitary and anguished figure, with his heart reaching out toward his starving people, yet unable to do anything to help them.
The land had dried and withered, killing the crops and unleashing a massive famine. Beyond the border, other nations still prospered in abundance. But no one could go there. It was territory of the Demon Lords, and stepping into those lands would be equivalent to rebelling against the owner of this place. There would not even be time for hunger to take them. He would kill them all before that happened.
The land where they lived was surrounded by a great forest and three different territories, each under the rule of a Demon Lord. For a horde of low-class Monsters like them, invading from any direction would be impossible. That left only one option.
A little beyond the border, the forest remained intact. It was natural for the King to cling to an opportunity, any opportunity; if only to survive.
-(I'm hungry...)-
-(I need something... Anything...)-
His people were falling one by one, uttering pleas that not even the sky would hear. And their numbers did not diminish; on the contrary, they multiplied. The famine had awakened the natural instinct to preserve the species, causing an increase in the birth rate. It only made the situation worse.
They had never seen the King smile, not even when he handed out his own rations to the children who needed them most. Even so, from their fragile bodies and lifeless eyes, it was evident that they would probably be dead the next day.
Then, the King committed a truly taboo act. He gave his own flesh, his own blood, to the only child he had left. And who could blame him for trying to fulfill even such a fleeting dream? All he wished was to save, even if only, his family.
It was a crime no one could stop him from committing. Not even himself. He had seen a world where no one knew satiety. And every night he dreamed the same thing: the King, turned into a horrifying figure lying on the ground, and a child innocently chewing his entrails. He wanted someone to help, to free them from that endless hell.
That desire remained firmly settled in his chest when, today like any other day, it began.
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A gentle breeze passed over the silent hill. The wind that blew carried with it small pieces of grass and, if not for the sadness I felt, it would have been a beautiful scene to behold.
In front of me, at the top of the hill, embedded in the earth, lay a gravestone with the name of the Hero known as the Conqueror of Flames.
Shizue Izawa...
Or Shizu, as I and the people of this world knew her.
By consuming Shizu I not only acquired her Skills, but also her memories. Although to me they are nothing more than vague visions, they were enough to discover her true name.
A soft and almost inaudible sigh escaped my mouth as I looked at the gravestone…
Then the Boost Gear manifested on my left arm, and Ddraig spoke through the gem.
-"[Partner, I know it is hard for you that she died…]"-
-"It truly is, Ddraig. But Shizu is not dead..."-
-"[What do you mean?]"-
He asked with sincere curiosity.
-"Heh..."-
I smiled with a certain irony upon hearing him. The answer was simple.
-"Tell me, Ddraig... When do you think a person dies?"-
-"[Uhm?]"-
-"They say people die from wounds, from illnesses, or from inevitable old age. But the deeper truth is another"- A small sad smile appeared on my face. -"People don't die because of what happens to the body, but because of what goes out in the soul"-.
-"[....]"-
-"One does not die when the heart stops beating; it is not the wound that kills, it is not the illness that wins, it is not old age that extinguishes a life… but the forgetting of everything that once made it burn"- I continued. -"As long as there is someone who remembers you, who says your name with affection, who smiles when thinking of you, you are still alive. As long as your actions have planted goodness in others, you are still alive. As long as your story inspires, teaches, or comforts, you are still alive"-.
-"[Partner...]"-
Then I kneeled slightly to clean the grass the wind had deposited over the gravestone.
-"Shizu will never be forgotten and therefore will never die"- I said with genuine affection. -"Because she will live in our memories... In our hearts... And in the deepest part of all of us..."-
-"[Heh... Wise words, partner]"- Ddraig commented. -"[Now your nickname, Sage, makes sense]"-
-"Heh, it's not that big of a deal... I only said the truth"-
And so, after a final prayer, I left the silent hill, heading toward the Goblin Village.
There was still work to do...
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The peace had returned to the village, and the Hobgoblins behaved with surprising calm despite Ifrit's attack, which had nearly wiped it out.
The biggest surprise, I suppose, was discovering how incredibly capable Rigurd, my newly appointed Goblin King, really was; a natural-born leader, far more than I had expected. He had done a splendid job directing the work teams as they rebuilt the village, all while I took care of Shizu. Between Kaijin, the three Dwarf brothers, and the four Goblin Lords, everyone seemed to fulfill their duties with admirable efficiency.
Honestly, I didn't need to do much more than offer a few pieces of advice.
Overseeing our food supplies was Rigur, when he wasn't busy managing security. Garm, the eldest of the Dwarves, handled clothing; Dold, the next in age, made tools; and Mildo, the youngest, took care of housing construction. All production was under Kaijin's supervision, while Lilina, one of the Goblin Lords, managed our inventory of finished goods. That was how I had divided the responsibilities.
The other Goblin Lords: Rugurd, Regurd, and Rogurd, became my Ministers of Justice, Legislation, and Administration respectively, all supporting Rigurd in keeping the local government united. The Minister of Legislation sounded like a pretentious title, but in reality, it only meant taking everything I said and trying to turn it into coherent laws.
Despite having evolved, they were still Monsters. When someone stronger was around, they listened... mostly. For now, everything was going quite well. There were no major obstacles in our path toward creating a new nation. And everyone worked hard to accomplish that goal.
I, on the other hand...
-(I'm bored~)-
I spent my time wandering around my private tent. The most exciting thing I did was lie down or play with Night. But after doing it so many times, it had become repetitive and annoying.
Right now, I was sprawled in my tent with nothing to do.
-
-(Absolutely sure...)-
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-(New Skills...?)-
-"..."-
-(Ah, that's right! I have new Skills!)-
-
By consuming Shizu, I obtained her Skills: her Unique Skill [Degenerate] and the Extra Skill [Fire Manipulation]. And that wasn't all, because by consuming Ifrit, I also gained [Combustion], [Remote Barrier], and [Double Body].
Which meant I had a lot of work pending...
-(Which one do you think I should start with, Ddraig?)-
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-(Yeah, good point... How about I test the [Double Body] Skill? That's the one Ifrit used to create copies of himself)-
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-(Alright, let's get to it)-
When I activated the Skill, a black mist shot out of my body and formed a humanoid figure in front of me. Looks like it worked after all. It was completed in an instant... although with a few imperfect details.
First, my "clone" didn't have the Magic Eye or the Mechanical Arm Prosthesis. But there was something even more important...
It was completely naked...
-(Good thing I'm in a private tent...)-
I thought, grateful to have been spared a potentially embarrassing explanation.
Looking closely, everything seemed normal... until I lowered my gaze and noticed something different.
-"It's bigger..."-
I hadn't noticed it…
-(Could it be the result of evolution? I'm sure it wasn't like this before I arrived in this world. If it's because of evolution, what need is there for that part to change?)-
-
-(Ah, right, sorry...)-
Returning to the Skill, everything seemed to work well… except for the complete lack of clothing. And that was truly annoying; I didn't want anyone to see me naked in the middle of a battle.
-(Well, one Skill down, four to go...)-
-- he said. -
-(Good idea)-
If I wanted to play with my new toys in peace, I needed a place where no one would be wandering around or bothering me. Inside my tent I could barely experiment without limiting the power I released. So I left Night sleeping peacefully in the tent and informed Rigurd that I would be heading out, ordering him to make sure no one followed me, and I departed from the center of the village toward the Sealed Cave.
That was the place where I met Veldora: a vast underground space, solid, silent, and completely empty of people. Even the monsters in the cave avoided approaching, still terrified by the mere idea of Veldora.
Once there, I went straight to work. By consuming Shizu, I had obtained her Unique Skill [Degenerate] and the Extra Skill [Fire Manipulation], attacks deeply connected to her in my memories. And then there were the three Skills from Ifrit: [Double Body], [Combustion], and [Remote Barrier]. I had already tested [Double Body], so at least that one worked well.
-(So, what to test first? Maybe I'll start with Ifrit… First of all, [Combustion])-
Upon activating it, flames spread across my entire body, wrapping around me like a light aura… almost like a second skin.
-(Hm, seems like it works well)-
<
-(Hmm? So it wouldn't have been possible to use it if I had been a normal human?)-
So I had to be magical to handle it. -(But that also means I could use it more efficiently if I transform into Ifrit, right?)-
I activated my transformation and took on Ifrit's form, testing [Combustion] again. This time, the flames expanded much more and burned with greater heat.
That confirmed it. I could use it quite well in my normal form, but transformed into Ifrit I could handle it better, more efficiently, and reach temperatures above 1,200 degrees Celsius, just like the original. Also, I could concentrate the heat in specific areas to increase its power.
As an attack, it was tremendously powerful. The only drawback was that I needed to use it inside a barrier or learn to regulate it; otherwise, the energy output would be so large that it would drain my magic instantly. It was difficult to control. It would require practice.
Fortunately, I had [Fire Manipulation]; that should help me maintain balance. Spiritual beings like Ifrit couldn't remain long in the physical world because they consumed too much magic, but with my organized body and [Fire Manipulation], with some practice I could limit or unleash the flames at will.
-- Ddraig said. -
-(I won't doubt that. I'll be in your care, Ddraig)-
That brought me to [Remote Barrier]. This Skill trapped the heat of the flames inside a barrier, which, as I deduced, prevented the heat energy from leaking and, based on my theory, allowed spirits to manifest for longer without wasting magic. Another unique property was its physical durability, useful if I wanted to keep someone trapped inside.
I thought about the ways I could use it. The largest barrier I could create extended in a semicircle ninety-one meters in diameter, although it didn't affect anything below the surface of the ground. I could reduce it until it covered only my body, which didn't diminish its effect and kept the magic consumption at its minimum level. This free control allowed me to use it as a light protective layer. It also prevented magic leakage during [Combustion], although it wasn't too relevant since the flames never went beyond the barrier.
-(Umm… So losing heat is like losing energy. Was that the reason it drained my magic?)-
<
All right, I understand. If I keep the flames sealed inside, I don't need to spend extra energy, because they will remain active on their own. Very different from the physics of my world, but physicists there never had to theorize about magic.
For now, [Combustion] wasn't as important as [Remote Barrier] as a defensive method. -(Would it work if I covered only myself? Something like a shortened version of my Barrier)- I had the perfect Skill to test that.
-(Time for another clone)-
I had been somewhat cautious about testing certain parts of my repertoire, fearing I might accidentally harm myself. But [Double Body] was an efficient answer. My copies had exactly the same Skills I did, except for the Unique Skills, which were mine alone. I could make my copies use them while they were close, but once out of my sight, that was it. Except for my consumption Skills, which were tied closely enough to my identity that even my copies could use them a little.
As long as I was within half a mile of my copies, I had full control over them. Beyond that, they could only obey simple commands. Still, I could perceive their line of sight, and thanks to my [Telepathic Communication], give them new orders whenever I wanted. A perfect tool for espionage… But that wasn't the purpose of this test.
I created a clone of myself and cast a Barrier on it. Then I fired one of my [Water Blades]. Sharp as a knife, it sliced through the air with ease… and yet it shattered upon hitting my copy's barrier. A perfect block.
-(Pretty strong then. Just as I expected)-
Then I tried firing [Water Blades] while keeping the Barrier on myself. It turned out to be easier than expected. I just had to generate a small stream from my finger and shoot. Each projectile became wrapped in its own miniature barrier, like a soap bubble splitting in two. The fact that these tiny barriers increased the reach and power of the Blades was an unexpected advantage.
I continued testing with [Poison Breath] and [Paralyzing Breath], and discovered that taking damage while inside a Barrier consumed my magic. With [Paralyzing Breath] I resisted well, but [Poison Breath] drained magic almost instantly, dismantling the barrier once it was depleted. That also meant that as long as I loaded enough magic into the barrier, I could gain some temporary resistance to poison.
I applied more magic to the next barrier and placed it on my clone. A few additional shots of [Poison Breath] confirmed it: the more power I poured in, the longer it held. And it was very durable. Even more if the barrier was on me instead of a clone. To the point where attacks like [Poison Breath] stopped being a real threat. Now that was reliable armor.
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-(Next is a small experiment that just came to mind)-
The final experiment of the day involved using [Combustion] along with [Remote Barrier]. The results were… fascinating.
-(Certainly A-rank. At least)-
A [Combustion] inside a [Flame Circle] barrier exposed anything organic inside to several thousand degrees, burning it instantly. Being trapped in such a limited space amplified the attack. It cooked the air, stealing all the oxygen and burning the victims' lungs before they understood what had happened. Any creature that breathed air would have zero chance of surviving.
I didn't need to worry about breathing, and my Thermal Fluctuation Resistance EX protected me anyway. For others, however, it was an immediate death sentence. In a way, it was a relief. Without a body so adaptable to Ifrit's attacks, my chances of victory would have been very slim.
Even so, this was another overwhelming ability, and I would have to deliberate on it a bit more. Shizu had a tolerance of Fire Attack Cancellation, perhaps a side effect of merging with Ifrit. This kept her safe from fire attacks or extremely hot environments, somewhat like my Thermal Fluctuation Resistance EX, except without protection from cold, though it offered even more insulation from heat. Cancellation must have been a higher level than Resistance in this hierarchy, and considering that Thermal Fluctuation Resistance EX was already an enhanced tolerance, Fire Attack Cancellation must have provided an incredible amount of protection.
So overall, the experiments bore far more fruit than expected. Nothing I could have learned inside my own tent; I would have set the village on fire immediately.
Satisfied with the results, I returned to the village. I didn't need to sleep, but restoring my supplies of Magic Energy was vital, and resting was the best way to do it. I'd already had enough of being forced into rest mode, and it was never a good idea to overdo things anyway. No need to panic. I had all the time in the world.
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The next day, I stopped by Garm's cabin for a gear-fitting session. The one I had created was already worn out, and Garm was still sewing my outfit, but Haruna had some mass-produced armor and clothing for me to try on.
-"Oh, my! It suits you quite well indeed, my Lord"-
It felt like she was playing dress-up with me, like a little girl with her doll, but Haruna and her coworkers seemed to love it, so I let it slide. We found an outfit among their equipment that fit perfectly, so I went with that one for the time being. It was basically the same as what I wore before, but surprisingly comfortable. Garm had to be pretty good with his hands after all.
-"Hmm"- I said, moving a little. -"Not bad. Easy to move in, and it looks sturdy enough"-
-"Hahaha! Glad to hear it, boss. Just wait until your custom outfit is wrapped up!"-
I was actually starting to look forward to it. I had given him the hide of the Fang Wolf boss I dispatched a while ago, so in terms of both fashion and function, it should be top-class.
The only thing left from my previous clothing was the Levitation Cloak.
-(That reminds me I have to test this thing)-
With that thought in mind, I left Garm's Workshop and went on my way, until I ran into Rigurd.
-"Hey, Rigurd. Everything going well?"-
-"Ah, Yukimaru-sama!"- He smiled at me. -"Things could hardly be better, and we all have you to thank for it!"-
-(Don't thank me. I just give the ideas; you're the ones who do the important things)-
With that out of the way, I decided to set up another experimental session in the cave and asked Rigurd not to disturb me unless it was an emergency. That day I was working with a rather powerful offensive technique, and I didn't want to put anyone in danger.
-"Yes, my Lord! By the way, I assume you won't be needing food today?"-
The question made me give him a thoughtful look.
-(Oh! Of course! How could I forget?)-
With their newfound intelligence and my guidance, their cooking improved each day. Before, I didn't eat and relied on my Hunger Resistance, but it wouldn't hurt to try eating with them today.
-"Actually, wait. I think I'll start eating with you all from today onward"-
-"Y-You will, my Lord?!"- Another radiant smile, which always looked a bit threatening on Hobgoblins—though it wasn't their fault—crossed his face. -"Good! We shall celebrate with a feast today for the occasion! I will give Lilina instructions to prepare a plentiful spread for all of us!"-
I didn't know how, but his enthusiasm rubbed off on me. I was just as happy as he was.
A short distance from the village, I ran into Rigur, Gobuta and Night. Little Night always found a chance to join the hunting group; he seemed to want to grow stronger by facing the forest monsters.
And the group didn't seem bothered. Apparently, Night was very useful in the hunt. Somehow, the little one was just as fast as the Black Fang Wolves, and his sense of smell seemed even sharper.
--
Just another mystery about Night…
-"Hey"- I greeted them. -"There'll be a party in the village today, so try to find something tasty for Lilina. I'll be eating with you now, so let's make this an unforgettable night!"-
-"Ah, Yukimaru-sama!"- Rigur exclaimed. -"Is that so? Very well, then I shall procure the most succulent Stagcow I can find!"-
-(Stagcow? Cow… deer?)- The name made it easy to imagine the kind of creature he meant. The people around here seemed to understand it well. I was already getting excited to try it.
But our talk about the banquet was suddenly interrupted by Night, who began growling at some nearby bushes.
I didn't bother asking why. Thanks to [Magic Perception], I had already sensed a presence approaching from that direction.
And then it appeared. From between the bushes emerged a gigantic creature, walking on its four leafy, furry legs. The simplest description was that of a Monster Bear. The largest I had ever seen in my life. Its fur was brown, with white lines circling its legs and neck.
-(What kind of bear is that?)-
<
-(Frenzy Bear?)-
-"A Frenzy Bear?!"- Rigur shouted. -"What is one doing so far from its territory?"-
-"Is that unusual?"-
-"It is, Yukimaru-sama"- He replied. -"Frenzy Bears are known as the strongest and wildest monsters in the Jura Forest. They never sleep and attack any species to the death without hesitation, even other Frenzy Bears"-
-(They never sleep and even attack their own species? Yeah… the name Frenzy Bear fits)-
-(Changing the subject… This bear is B+ Rank? It's the same rank as the Evil Centipede. Could it be just as strong?)- I couldn't help thinking it. -(Only one way to find out…)-
-"Yukimaru-sama?"-
-"I'll take care of him. You three stay out of it"-
I replied to Rigur as I advanced fearlessly toward the gigantic bear. And I was sure this would be a hand-to-hand fight.
Noticing my presence, the bear rose onto its hind legs and began growling, breathing frantically as a gleam of madness lit up its eyes.
-"Come on, big guy"- I said with a smile. -"I'm ready"-
With just those words, the bear dropped back onto all fours and charged wildly, hurling itself straight at me.
-"Let's try this..."- I said, coating my right fist in a silver aura. -"[Impact]!"-
-"Wofug!"-
Just inches before reaching me, the bear took the silver blow head-on. The force of the impact sank into its face and dragged it several meters across the ground.
-(Wow, [Impact] really is powerful. That Steel Slime had an interesting Skill)-
I hate transforming into it, but its Skills are too useful.
The bear rose again on its hind legs without difficulty; the blow hadn't been enough to knock it out. In fact, it looked even more enraged.
-"GROOOOOOAAAAG!"-
Its roar shook the trees and even the ground. A red aura wrapped around it, its eyes glowed an even deeper red, and I'm sure its body grew larger.
-(What just happened?)-
<
-(Intrinsic Skill [Monstrous Strength]? I think I know what that means)-
The bear lunged at me again, even faster and more deranged than before.
Instead of striking it again, I decided to take the attack. When it reached me, it rose once more on its hind legs and attacked with its front paws. I reacted instantly and grabbed both, starting a contest of strength between us.
It was strong enough to push me back a few centimeters, but I didn't let it advance any further.
-(Nice try, but now it's my turn!)-
With that thought, I crouched down quickly, slipped behind it and wrapped my arms around its torso. My arms weren't long enough to reach around completely, but that was all I needed.
-(Let's do it, Ddraig!)-
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The gauntlet of my Sacred Gear appeared, and from it came an audible -"[Boost]!"-.
-"Take this!"- I shouted. -"[German Suplex]!"-
With my arms around it and my strength doubled, I lifted it until its back was above my head; then I let it fall backward, slamming its nape, shoulders and upper back brutally into the ground. The impact was so strong that chunks of earth flew everywhere.
-"Gufuk!"-
With that final grunt, the bear lay sprawled on the ground.
-"I win..."-
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-"Incredible, Yukimaru-sama!"-
-"That was amazing!"-
Rigur and Gobuta didn't hide their astonishment and fascination at what they had just seen. Night, meanwhile, was jumping around me in delight.
-(Heh, I know I'm amazing)- I couldn't help but smile at their praise. -(Looks like joining the Fight Club back in high school paid off)-
At first I joined that club to learn some self-defense and protect myself during the "private life" I planned to have, but in situations like this it also came in handy.
-"What kind of move was that, Yukimaru-sama?"-
-"That, Gobuta, was a wrestling move called [German Suplex]"- I said with a smile. -"An easy move to learn. Even you can do it"-
-"Amazing!"-
I laughed at Gobuta's eyes shining with excitement. I wasn't sure if he really was capable of doing it, but a little self-esteem wouldn't hurt him.
But our conversation was interrupted by the bear's pained groans. When I looked at him, he was still on the ground and conscious. Once he fixed his eyes on me, his attitude changed instantly: now he was lying face-down before me, with a fearful and submissive expression.
-(This bear... really has a strange personality)-
-"So you surrender?"-
I asked, receiving a weak nod from the trembling bear.
-(Well, that's one less problem. But there's still something left)-
-"What should I do with you?"-
-(I couldn't kill him, especially after he surrendered; that would be cruel)- I thought, refusing to be unfair to an animal that no longer posed a threat. Then an idea came to me. -(What if I name him?)-
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-(Yeah. I don't think there's an issue. Of course, I need to ask if he wants it. If not, I'll let him go with a warning not to return to our territory)-
-"Alright, big guy, what do you think about following me?"-
The bear only responded with a curious look.
-"If you follow me, you'll become stronger and gain a permanent home"- I said. -"But most importantly... you'll get a name!"-
I tried using the naming as bait, since it seemed to attract all kinds of monsters. And it worked: the bear's expression shifted from curiosity to astonishment in an instant.
-"Well? What do you say?"-
The bear changed its attitude again explosively, standing up on its hind legs and celebrating with unexpected enthusiasm.
-(This bear really does have an explosive personality...)- I thought with a tense smile. And that gave me an idea for the name. -(Wait a moment! Explosion... Explode... Baku... Yes, Baku!)-
-"From now on, your name will be Baku"-
The now-named Baku was so happy he looked like he was dancing.
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-(Ah, the Unique Skill [Beast Tamer]... I almost forgot about it)-
-
It's not that we have anything against the Skill; it just becomes unbearable after naming. That day I named over 500 Goblins, the notifications wouldn't stop ringing and it was torture. Now Ddraig holds a personal grudge; for him it was even worse.
-(What a crybaby...)-
-
-(Like I said, a crybaby...)-
-"Alright, Baku. Welcome"-
The bear responded by giving me a huge bear hug. And I was sure that if anyone else received it, their spine would be broken right now.
--
-(Ah, right. I was going to the Sealed Cave to continue testing the Skills)-
-"Alright, big guy, you can put me down now"- I said, before being released. -"I'd like to show you the village myself, but I have something to do. You can go hunt with them"-
I pointed at Night and the duo of Hobgoblins, who, not surprised at all, accepted the huge bear as their new companion.
-(Did they seriously see this coming already?)-
Baku nodded his head frantically.
-"Good"- I said, satisfied. -"Guys, I'm leaving him in your care"-
-"Of course, Yukimaru-sama"- Rigur replied, then turned to Baku. -"It'll be a pleasure to work with you"-
-"Likewise!"-
Night barked enthusiastically, and Baku answered with a couple of friendly grunts. Looks like they were already getting along.
-(Seriously? That fast? It's the same thing that happened with the Fang Wolves)- I was surprised how easily they integrated. -(I'll never understand them...)-
-"Now that there's one more in the team, I'm sure you'll bring back a good hunt"-
-"But of course! We've seen several migrating herds coming from deep within the forest, so harvests have been quite good. We won't disappoint you!"-
-"Oh? Something in the forest?"-
-"Actually, we sometimes see large-scale migrations of Magic Beasts due to habitat changes or other factors. I don't think it's anything serious, but we've been increasing our patrols"-
That struck me as odd. He was probably right; maybe that was the reason Baku ended up far from his territory. It probably wasn't anything serious, but it was always better to stay ahead of trouble. So I called Ranga and assigned him to guard duty along with Rigurd and his team. Nothing he couldn't handle, I was sure.
At that moment, Ranga emerged from my shadow. I could already summon him whenever I wanted; my pride wouldn't allow me to fail at something Gobuta did so easily. I'd been practicing in secret for a while.
-"You called, Yukimaru-sama?"-
-"That's right. I want you to join Rigurd's team in the forest. I doubt you'll find anything, but if something does come up, keep the team safe"-
-"Yes, my Lord. I will do so"-
His face was submissive and obedient, but his tail wagged vigorously, as if no task could make him happier. He had already returned to his normal size, which still meant he was over six and a half feet tall; at least now his movements didn't create gusts of wind. I was glad to see the training was paying off.
-"Stay alert, Ranga. And if you see anything, Rigur, let me know"-
-"Hahaha! There's nothing to worry about, Yukimaru-sama! I hope you have a hearty appetite, exalted one!"-
He was right. Maybe I was overthinking it. Ranga was, at minimum, a B+ in terms of strength; maybe even an A- now. His class was on the upper end of what was normally found in the Jura Forest. And now, with Baku in the group, the chances of them being in danger were even lower. They'd be fine. Just thinking about all the roasted fantasy-monster meat made my chef brain rev up.
-"I'll make sure to do so. I'll be in the cave, so let me know if anything comes up"-
I nodded at Rigur and took my leave.
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Once inside the cave, today I wanted to try my luck with some maneuvers using [Fire Manipulation].
It was, as one would expect, an Extra Skill meant to control fire. I could raise the temperature of my body, increase the ambient heat in the palm of my hand, focus it into a single finger, or simply ignite a campfire on the ground wherever I wished, without needing wood or tinder.
That, however, was all. That's why it was only an Extra Skill—nothing too powerful. I couldn't, for example, set my own finger ablaze or fire flames from my palms. I even thought I might be able to release heat from the tip of my finger like a sci-fi laser, but the disappointment was immediate. And let's not even mention firing explosions the way Shizu did so easily. She was probably fusing this with some type of her own magic.
-(Wait. Fusing it with magic...?)-
Suddenly, I remembered the [Combustion] Skill I had worked on the day before. Previously, I had infused it into my own body, but while thinking about it during the night, I realized I could try using [Combustion] on my internal magic reserves. For spiritual beings, that skill turned their "bodies" into waves of energy, but there was no rule saying I had to use it that way.
For example: what would happen if I released a bit of magic and applied [Combustion] to it? And if I could then take the results with [Fire Manipulation]...
<
-(Hehehe. Just as I thought. [YES], then)-
It was surprising to discover this hidden peculiarity of [Degenerate] even before fully analyzing it. I felt as if I had been introduced to a new fetish: something that brought a little guilt, but at the same time revealed a whole new level of possibilities in this world.
<
I gave the command, and [Great Sage] handled the rest. The results granted me a new Skill far more easily than I expected. Losing [Water Manipulation], [Wind Manipulation], and [Lightning Manipulation] was a small regret, but I imagined that with [Particle Manipulation] I could replicate something similar.
-(Time to test them)-
[Dark Flame] was a Skill that allowed me to release flames from my body whenever I focused my internal magic power. It created a field of magic, transformed it into flames as black as darkness, and fired it, materializing fire out of nothing. I could also adjust the temperature depending on how much magic power I used.
If I wanted to grab someone's head and incinerate it instantly, I could. If I wanted to concentrate the fire in my palm and shoot it out, that wasn't a problem either. It was basically like gathering magical energy in one point, igniting it, and releasing it, similar to how my [Water Blades] functioned.
I fired a shot at a nearby rock. It burst into flames instantly; its surface literally began melting. I must have reached around 1,500 degrees—almost the same as with [Combustion].
-(What a weapon I've stumbled upon...)-
I could probably make it even hotter if I gathered more magic, and even cause larger-scale explosions. I should practice it. You never knew when something like this might become necessary.
-
-(I doubt that, honestly...)-
-
-(Oh really? I'll believe it when I see it)-
-
Ignoring the grumbling dragon...
I could now manipulate these flames freely, and I owed that to [Particle Manipulation]. Controlling the Magic Energy around me allowed me to move the other molecules in the air, generate heat through friction, form water from moisture, create electricity, or manipulate the air molecules. Since I was using magic to move these particles, I could increase the temperature simply by applying more force.
I had obtained this Skill far too easily, but [Particle Manipulation] was a terrifying tool to add to my arsenal. [Great Sage] explained all its details to me for several minutes, using technical jargon and logic I barely understood, but I didn't interrupt her. It was indecipherable, yes, but also valuable information. I couldn't waste her help.
Even more interesting was that I could apparently now control the air molecules around me. My understanding of [Dark Flame] was that it transformed Magical Particles into flames using searing temperatures, but if I could make any kind of molecules rub against each other, I could achieve similar effects.
-(Now… what would happen if I linked [Black Lightning] with [Particle Manipulation]…?)-
<
-(Looks like I was right. [YES])-
I thought to myself, and with that, the Skill [Black Thunder] became mine. Overall, this granted me access to the Skills classified as [Black Lightning].
I tried summoning a bit of electricity between my thumb and index finger. An arc of black-and-whitish energy danced between them. Just like with [Black Lightning], I could freely control its size and its power using the amount of supernatural energy and Magic Energy I put into it, from a mild paralyzing shock to a thunderbolt capable of vaporizing.
Honestly, this [Particle Manipulation] stuff was becoming almost divine. It wasn't particularly exciting on its own, but when combined with other Skills… it became a monster.
Though, to be fair, it was my Unique Skill [Great Sage] that was creating all of this, along with the Unique Skill [Degenerate] that Shizu had left me. If it weren't for that, then…
-(…Hey, what kind of Skill is [Degenerate], anyway?)-
<
To summarize what [Great Sage] explained to me, the effects of [Degenerate] could be divided into two categories:
[Synthesize]: Transform two distinct targets into a single object.
[Separate]: Release the inherent properties of a target and turn them into a separate object. (The original object may disappear if it lacks a physical form).
That must have been the main engine behind Shizu's transformation. Human and spiritual forms: two entirely different existences, synthesized into a single creature. It was hard to tell whether Ifrit had possessed Shizu first, or if Shizu had created the [Degenerate] Skill to prevent Ifrit from completely taking her over. It was impossible to know for sure anymore, but what was clear was that this Skill could adapt to many things
I already knew that [Synthesize] could be applied to Skills, creating all sorts of combinations. -(Maybe I could also combine it with magic? Perhaps fuse fire and wind to create hurricanes? Or give magical effects to weapons and unleash special attacks with just a bit of magic power?)-
To be honest, this [Degenerate] Skill fit perfectly with my Skill set; even more with the Unique Skill [Creator]. A few quick experiments had already given me [Particle Manipulation] and [Dark Flame], and now I had full control over electric attacks. And I still had tons of monsters left to Predator-absorb and obtain new Skills from. I planned to make the most of it.
-(And for that matter, could I use the [Separate] function to take my enemies' Skills?)-
<
-(So it couldn't do everything)-
-(But it would work sometimes?)- I'd have to figure out what was separable from the target before attempting it.
But seriously: [Synthesize] was the biggest prize within [Degenerate]. I planned to absorb many Skills from many Monsters in the future, and the idea of creating new things from them already excited me.
I suppose it was all thanks to [Great Sage], but either way, [Predator] and [Degenerate] were a terrifying duo. Maybe they didn't have the most appealing names, but in [Degenerate], Shizu had left me an enormous parting gift.
-
-(Stop whining already. I know you're jealous)-
-
-(Sure you're not...)-
Returning to the Skills. The next session of the day would be some tests with Temperature Fluctuation Cancellation EX. The temperature covered both fire and ice, I supposed, and considering that even Temperature Fluctuation Resistance EX was enough to handle Ifrit's mega-charged fire, having an improved version should handle most attacks thrown at me. Anything, as long as I wasn't launched into the sun like a slingshot, at least.
Just as I had done yesterday, I used a considerable amount of magic to create a clone. Something about attacking a cloned, naked human made me hesitate. I could probably gather some clothes or armor once I became more skilled, but that didn't make this any less tasteless.
I knew from yesterday that I could apply a Barrier to block my own [Water Blades]. Now, let's try attacking it with [Dark Flame].
Using the same level of magic energy as before to smash [Dark Flame] against a Barrier, I found that it managed to completely block the heat. Not bad. If I could nullify Ifrit's [Flare Circle], I could handle almost anything, I suppose, not to mention [Icicle Lance].
-(So it was fine against heat and cold, then?)-
<
-(Ah, perfect)-
If Shizu possessed Flame Attack Cancel, then Ifrit must have had it as well, since it allowed them to handle such high-temperature attacks in the first place. It was the perfect tool. And now that it was combined with Temperature Fluctuation Resistance EX, I didn't have anything to worry about regarding ice either.
Removing the link for a moment, I tried [Dark Flame] once more. This time, it broke through the Barrier instantly, but my replicated clone was perfectly safe. Physical Attack Resistance must have helped absorb the aftereffects of the shockwave.
With all these resistances and my Barrier, I could rest quite easy regarding my defenses.
-(Still, better not forget to link all these things to the Barrier first)-
<
It turned out I couldn't create a single Barrier with many different effects applied to it, but I was free to create multiple Barriers, each with its own resistance effect. So it was [YES], once again, and the moment I thought it, I could feel a thin, colorless, invisible layer around me. It was a [Multilayer Barrier], composed of several layers, yet still so thin that my [Magic Perception] Skill could barely detect it. It also didn't require much Magic Energy to maintain; once summoned, it consumed almost nothing, far less than what I naturally recovered.
-(Another great success for today, then)-
There were still some potential Skill combinations I wanted to test, but for now, I had done enough. I had gained more offense and defense; I was satisfied.
But there was still one last thing to do...
A few minutes ago, I had thought: -(If [Great Sage] and [Degenerate] make a good team… what would happen if I add [Create] to the mix…? Would I be able to create more powerful Skills? Or could I even create Unique Skills by combining the Skills already obtained and created?)-
-"Heh..."-
A big smile appeared on my face as I imagined the possibilities of those Unique Skills working together.
And the only way to find out was to act...
But first, I needed inspiration. And I knew who could give it to me.
-(Ddraig?)-
-
-(Are there more Sacred Gears besides mine?)-
-
-(Ah, just curiosity. And tell me, do you know some powers of those Sacred Gears?)-
-
-(Good! Now I need you to explain them to me)-
Ddraig fell silent for a few seconds.
-
-(Yes, Ddraig. It's time to bring things from our world into this one)-
-
-(Yes?)-
-
-(Heh, what can you do. A little chaos won't hurt, it's just change. Besides, we still don't know how to return. So…)-
-(Let's cause chaos!)-
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
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Author's Notes
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Please note that this story is mostly centered around Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken and another novel that you may recognize. Please also note that Rimuru is completely replaced by my own character (Yukimaru). You are warned.
Disclaimers:
The character or story mentioned from an anime, or novel, does not belong to me. Instead, it belongs to Ichiei Ishibumi (High School DxD), Fuse, Mitz Vah (Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken) and Patora Fuyuhara (Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni)
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Upcoming chapters (Spoilers):
Chapter 20- The Ogres
Chapter 21- Evolutions and Clashes
Chapter 22- The Calm Before the Storm