I hopped around, devouring the magicules and trees and plants on my path as well.
I gained [Photosynthesis], [Fruit Creation], [Flower Creation] and [Seed Creation].
Though Sage isn't able to convert the energy gained due to photosynthesis into magicules directly, I am sure that it will come in handy someday.
And maybe with Seed Creation, I can reincarnate in case I die?
That will be cool.
Soon enough, I came across a goblin village.
So I revealed my presence, letting my immense magicules leak out a bit to show that I am strong.
As I hopped towards the village, some wolves and goblins came in front of me.
No, they are Hobgoblins and direwolves... maybe Tempest wolves? Are the others aside from Ranga really also Tempest wolves?
'Appraisal!'
[Data not found]
...Sage is really useless! It doesn't know anything that I don't know. It isn't even able to perfectly recall the memories of my previous life.
Sigh!
Finally Rigurd appeared.
So it's really Rimuru's village huh. He doesn't seem to be anywhere.
"Sir slime, are you related to Rimuru-sama?"
"Who?"
Rigurd said, "I apologise, but Rimuru-sama is currently away. Would you like to come over and wait? We will do our best to give you our best hospitality."
Seems like Slimes are very respected now because of Rimuru.
Honestly, I want to devour a wolf and hobgoblin to see if I can get Shadow movement.
But... I would rather not attract Rimuru's anger right now since he is most likely stronger than me right now. An extra Unique Skill, being named by Veldora, and having Veldora being his literal magicule battery.
Even though Devourer is more powerful than Predator, this really isn't fair!
Well, the Forest is vast. And there are plenty of prey.
This time around, the Ogre village should still be okay, right?
I am not Rimuru, who can siphon off Veldora's magicules and name monsters recklessly. But I think I should be able to get some ogres under me and name a few.
Afterall, I did devour everything in Veldora's cave.
Alright! Let's get some strong underlings!
"Can you point me towards Ogre village?"
"Ah. Of course. It's in the direction of the Sun currently. The evening sun."
"Thanks! Let's see..."
'Fruit Creation!'
'Seed Creation!'
I created a Slime fruit, with my seed in it. I tried to separate some of my soul using Devourer on myself as a way of resurrection in case something bad happens.
But, it didn't work, sadly.
I devoured back my fruit, waved at them, and headed to the direction of the Ogre village.
"Come again Slime-sama! Rimuru-sama will soon return!"
"Okay! Bye!"
I got myself bat wings, and started flying towards Ogre village. While concealing my presence using the magic I got from the idiot trio, to ensure that people interested in Veldora's appearance don't catch me.
It isn't much, and it is useless in front of even something like Magic Sense, even though I am not leaking any magicules. I am still a dense blob of magicules while being invisible as a slime.
Still, better than nothing.
While flying towards my destination, I saw Shizu heading towards Veldora's cave's direction.
Ah. It must be because I devoured Eren and her party and they didn't return.
So that's why the Champion of Flames herself is sent to investigate ahead of time from canon.
I think that Degenerate is a pretty powerful skill, especially if it gets evolved into an Ultimate Skill.
But even without evolving it, I wonder if I can create nukes with it?
Suddenly, she looked at my direction.
Ah. She noticed me, of course!
I removed my concealment and started getting down.
"What answers have you come searching for? For a price, I will answer one of your question."
I descended in front of her fully. And thankfully, she didn't attack me.
Though her flames will do nothing to me, slashing will most likely work.
"Wow... A talking slime? Your colour is unusual as well."
I stared at her, and she stared at me.
Then, she started poking me with curiousity.
I would have eaten her outright if Diablo wasn't interested in her. He will probably kill me if I did that.
Her mask... I don't think I can replicate it with just Sage to gain his interest.
Yeah. I can't kill her directly.
"Can you really answer any question?"
"It depends on the price you are willing to pay."
"...Do you know how to save summoned otherworlders? Suffering from unstable magicules?"
She must be thinking that she is an idiot, asking for such a thing from a slime of all things in the middle of the forest.
It just shows how desparate she is.
"Yes."
"Huh!? You do!?"
"Yes. But you need to first pay the price."
Getting Shizu as my underling as well will give me a lot of Firepower, literally. I don't have any subordinate right now, so getting a Champion level subordinate will be nice.
I need to get Degenerate, and if I can save her, that's just a bonus.
Hey Sage. Can I devour Shizu, separate her soul and unique skill, and give her a new body?
[Separation of soul using Devourer and placing it in a slime seed to cultivate new slime body is possible. I can't answer if it is possible to get her Unique Skill without killing her]
...What if I integrate Degenerate into Devourer? It can fuse and break down skills and such. So, if parts of her soul are also devoured, I can just fuse it back?
Afterall, Unique Skills aren't too deep in the soul, and many times, aren't even in the soul but body. Probably. I can't remember exactly.
[It might be possible.]
'Might'... Yeah. Sage is a bum, alright.
Ah fine! Let's do it!
I will think about the implications later!
I first need to become more powerful.
Shizu considered my offer, and asked, "What is the price you ask?"
"You will reincarnate in a slime body, and give me your unique skill.
In return, you will get a stronger and stable slime body, fully in your control, with a downgraded version of your unique skill. Ir maybe without it.
And you will serve as my underling for 10 years.
Though, I am not sure if it will work and you might even die."
Did I ask for too much?
Will she really agree to this?
"...First tell me the method. I promise that I won't go back on paying the price. I just want to confirm that..."
"That I am not scamming you huh? Well, I don't really mind. You are about to lose control and die anyway."
"...You really know a lot."
"I am a pretty ancient and knowledgeable guy.
Anyway, you can save the otherwolders by going to Ramiris and getting a high-class spirit for each person to fuse, and that will stabilize the magicules."
She seemed stunned. When she will look back at it, she will realise that Leon did the same thing to her.
She frowned, most likely worrying about what will happen to the kids if they ended up like her. Constantly fighting against Ifrit and suffering.
"And I can use my and your unique skills in conjunction to make the artificial high-class spirits that wouldn't harm them."
Unlike Ifrit.
She considered it, and then sighed.
She knew that the method I told her, about fusing spirits, might actually work.
But she has no way of knowing that I am going to keep my end of deal or not.
Well, I do look pretty shady.
"Don't worry. I am not a bad slime!"