Ren stared at the glowing system interface, the evolution choices hovering before him like a crossroads. Each option shimmered with possibility, promising new strengths and new weaknesses. The forest was quiet, the only sound the distant chirping of night insects and the gentle rustle of leaves overhead.
He weighed each path carefully.
Acidic Slime would give him the power to dissolve nearly anything, making him a terror to most creatures, but it might make him dangerous to approach, even for potential allies.
Mimic Slime promised stealth and adaptability, the ability to blend in or even imitate other creatures. It was tempting, but Ren wondered if he would lose his sense of self, always hiding, always pretending.
Iron Slime offered strength and defense—a bulwark against the terrors of the forest, but at the cost of speed and flexibility.
Healing Slime was the most unusual. He could become a force for life, mending wounds, perhaps even making friends or allies. But would he be able to defend himself if he focused on healing?
Ren's mind raced. He remembered the pain of the rabbit's attack, the terror of the fox, the constant threat of death. He wanted to survive, but he also wanted to grow beyond mere survival. He wanted to shape his own destiny.
After a long, silent deliberation, he made his choice.
Evolution Selected: Mimic Slime
A surge of energy swept through him, more intense than any level up. His body quivered, every molecule vibrating as if struck by lightning. The world blurred, colors swirling, sounds warping and echoing. He felt himself stretch and compress, his form shifting in ways he couldn't control.
It was agony and ecstasy all at once. For a moment, Ren thought he might dissolve entirely, but then the sensation passed. He lay still, panting in the darkness, his senses sharper than ever.
Evolution Complete
Species: Mimic Slime
Level: 5
HP: 28/28
MP: 22/22
New Skills: Advanced Camouflage (Lv.1), Minor Shapeshift (Lv.1)
Ren tested his new abilities. He focused on a fallen leaf, willing his body to change. Slowly, his outer layer shifted in color and texture, blending perfectly with the ground. He tried to mimic a small stone, and his form compressed, hardening slightly, taking on the appearance of a pebble.
The process was exhausting, but exhilarating. He could feel the boundaries of his identity stretching, but his core—the part that was truly Ren—remained intact.
He spent the next hours experimenting, pushing his new skills to their limits. He learned that he could imitate simple shapes and textures, but complex forms were beyond him for now. He could blend into the environment almost perfectly if he stayed still, but movement broke the illusion.
As dawn crept through the trees, Ren felt a cautious optimism. He was no longer just prey. He was a hunter, a shadow, a ghost in the forest.
His new abilities quickly proved their worth. A pair of wild boars wandered into his clearing, snuffling for roots. Ren froze, blending into the moss. The boars passed within inches, unaware of his presence.
Later, he used his shapeshifting to ambush a flock of small birds, imitating a patch of mud until they came close enough to strike. The hunt was a success, and Ren absorbed their energy, feeling his strength grow.
But with new power came new challenges. His senses were sharper, but also more sensitive. Loud noises made him flinch, and bright lights left him disoriented. He had to learn to control his reactions, to filter the flood of information.
He also discovered that his mimicry had limits. He could imitate the appearance of objects, but not their weight or hardness. A predator might be fooled for a moment, but a determined attacker would quickly discover the truth.
Still, the advantages outweighed the drawbacks. Ren felt a new sense of freedom, a confidence he hadn't known since his human life.
Days passed, and Ren explored farther afield. He ventured into new parts of the forest, seeking out rare materials and challenging prey. He absorbed the essence of a glowing beetle, gaining a faint bioluminescence he could turn on and off at will. He mimicked a patch of lichen to avoid a prowling lynx, his heart pounding as the big cat sniffed the air and moved on.
One afternoon, as he rested in the shade of a massive oak, Ren sensed something unusual—a presence that felt different from any animal he had encountered. It was intelligent, cautious, and moving deliberately through the undergrowth.
He focused, extending his senses. The presence drew closer, and soon a figure emerged: a goblin, small and wiry, with green skin and sharp yellow eyes. The goblin carried a crude spear and wore a patchwork cloak of animal hides.
Ren froze, blending into the roots of the oak. The goblin paused, sniffing the air, then crouched to examine a patch of disturbed earth.
For a long moment, neither moved. Ren's mind raced. Does it know I'm here? Is it hunting me?
The goblin muttered to itself in a guttural language, poking the ground with its spear. It seemed to be tracking something—perhaps the wild boars from earlier.
Ren watched, fascinated. This was the first intelligent being he had seen since his reincarnation. He wondered if the goblin was alone, or part of a group.
Suddenly, the goblin stiffened. It turned, eyes scanning the forest. Ren realized too late that his camouflage had slipped—his bioluminescence was still faintly glowing.
The goblin's eyes widened. It lunged, spear raised.
Ren reacted instinctively, shifting into the shape of a rock. The spear struck, glancing off his hardened form. The goblin cursed, stabbing again and again.
Ren felt pain, but it was manageable. He rolled away, shifting back to his natural form, then split into two smaller slimes, darting in opposite directions.
The goblin hesitated, confused by the sudden multiplication. Ren used the distraction to slip behind the goblin, reforming and striking with Acidic Touch. The goblin yelped, dropping its spear and scrambling back.
Ren hesitated. He could finish the fight, absorb the goblin's strength—but something held him back. The goblin was intelligent, frightened, and clearly not expecting a slime to fight back.
He withdrew, letting the goblin escape. It fled into the forest, glancing back with a mixture of fear and awe.
Ren felt a strange mix of emotions. He had defended himself, proven his strength—but he had also shown mercy. He wondered if the goblin would return, perhaps with others.
He spent the next days on high alert, watching for signs of goblin activity. He found tracks, broken branches, and once, the remains of a campfire. The goblins were nearby, and they knew he existed.
Ren considered his options. He could avoid them, stay hidden, and hope they lost interest. Or he could try to communicate, to learn from them, maybe even form an alliance.
He remembered his human life, the friendships and rivalries, the sense of community. He missed it, even if he had always been a loner. The thought of being truly alone in this world was terrifying.
He decided to observe the goblins, to learn their habits and language before making contact. He used his mimicry to blend into their camps, listening to their conversations, watching their rituals.
He learned that the goblins were a small tribe, struggling to survive in the hostile forest. They hunted, gathered, and fought off larger predators. They respected strength and cunning, but also valued cooperation.
Ren began to see them not as enemies, but as potential allies. He wondered if they would accept a slime into their tribe, or if they would always see him as a monster.
One evening, as he watched the goblins from the safety of a hollow tree, the system interface appeared with a new message.
Skill Points Available: 2
New Skills Unlocked: Minor Voice Mimicry (Lv.1), Sticky Grasp (Lv.1)
Ren chose Minor Voice Mimicry, eager to communicate. He practiced imitating the goblins' guttural speech, repeating phrases he had overheard. His first attempts were clumsy, but he improved quickly.
He waited for the right moment to reveal himself. One night, as the goblins gathered around their fire, he approached in the form of a mossy rock. He waited until the leader—a grizzled old goblin with a scarred face—was alone, then shifted into his natural form.
The goblin stared, eyes wide with fear. Ren spoke, using his best imitation of the goblin language.
"I… not enemy. I… want… talk."
The goblin blinked, then laughed—a harsh, barking sound. It spoke rapidly, words Ren struggled to follow.
He tried again. "Help… each other. Not fight."
The goblin considered, then nodded slowly. It gestured for Ren to follow, leading him to the fire. The other goblins recoiled in fear, but the leader spoke, calming them.
Ren spent the night with the goblins, listening, learning, and sharing what little he could. He realized that they were not so different from him—creatures struggling to survive in a world that saw them as monsters.
As dawn broke, the system interface appeared once more.
Level Up!
Level: 6
HP: 32/32
MP: 26/26
New Skill Acquired: Group Camouflage (Lv.1)
Ren felt a surge of hope. He was no longer alone. He had allies, skills, and a future.
But the world was still dangerous, and his journey was far from over.
As he rested, the system interface flickered with a new message.
Next Evolution Available Soon. Prepare for greater challenges.
Ren closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the fire and the presence of his new companions. He was ready for whatever came next.