As the sun rose to the sky announcing a new day, so did he wake up to it.
Stretching, and getting himself off the tree, his day began with a plain blank face.
"I feel… rocked…" He sighed as he looked around the now sunlit forest, and began walking.
'From here on, I'll need resources, the closest place full of them is the Veldora cave. In the canon, Rimuru took a bunch of it, but nowhere near all of it, even if there isn't that much left, the monsters there would still be a decent gain.' He thought to himself as he continued to move. 'Easy way there, find the densest magicules.'
Using magic sense to move towards the area of higher magicules concentration in Jura, allowed him to begin going where he needed to be.
After that, even moving fast with his martial arts skills did not make the path shorter.
From there, it took days of travel, during which he would have to stop to hunt and rest along the way.
Mostly facing off against more giant ants or direwolves before he finally reached the area, where the cave was.
A mountain formation with a massive metal door, akin to a final boss room entrance, the closer he got, the more pressure he felt.
Nearly stunned by how he felt instinctively, almost like his body refused to go any closer.
Looking at his trembling hand he raised an eyebrow.
"Odd... I feel it, but I don't?" He could not understand the dissonance.
[Response: Due to the resist skill Mental Attack Nullification, external effects to the mental and spiritual core are canceled. Including mental fear response. However, the physiological reflex remains due to its usefulness in survival.]
"Of course, I should have known… Regardless, I'll be fine." He headed inside, pushing through his body's condition due to his protected mind.
The metal door was opened with relative ease despite its size, and inside there was a long sprawling cave system full of monsters, minerals, and herbs.
Not that it was all good, the feeling from before only intensified as he walked inside.
Like a heavyweight he was carrying throughout his journey, each step more turbulent than the last, to an almost nauseating degree.
'Why is this happening?… It's like I'll vomit.' He put his hand on his mouth as the thought crossed his mind.
[Response: You are highly sensitive to True Dragon Veldora's remain magicules and their aura. Would you rather I stop the analysis? Y/N?]
"… No, keep it up. I just didn't think I would feel sick from it. It's good if you take initiative, like that." He shook his head and continued moving.
[Response: Extra skill Conceptual Analysis is extremely powerful, the soul of a Demi-Spiritual lifeform being would never be able to hold or withstand acquiring it, much less use it. However, due to your abnormal soul, you are able to hold such power. Even so, you still have limits, and using it to analyze a being of both quantitative and qualitative magnitudes higher than you is taking a toll. Would you like me to stop? Y/N?]
"It feels like great sage took care of that stuff..." He commented almost vomiting from the feeling.
[Response: While I am a management and analysis skill, my main functionality is to access and manage harem candidates and members according to your desires, user. I have been working outside my normal functioning to cover the general functions necessary for your success. I apologize if I am working at an unsatisfactory level. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO STOP? Y/N]
At that moment he raised an eyebrow, with a confused expression, had he just made his skill mad by comparing it to another?
Did this minor slip cause trouble?
"No, you're doing perfectly. I'm just not used to feeling so nauseous." He smiles through the feeling before having to cover his mouth again, as he almost let out all out once more.
[Response: Understood! I shall continue to work at my best!]
There was almost a tone change, the monotone feminine voice that mirrored the world's voice was still there, but there was something different growing underneath it.
After nodding to that answer, he moved on in the cave, and soon, a river of notifications came raining down, as he used great devour to take in all monsters that got in the way.
It had taken Rimuru a month to traverse this place initially because he didn't know the layout, and was moving around aimlessly.
Here things were different, and there was a clear goal, accumulate all the resources left.
That still didn't change the size of the sealed cave's tunnel system.
Black fog expanded from him and one by one, the different monsters were taken in.
[Notice: Tempest Serpent has been fully consumed.]
[Common skill Poison Breath has been acquired.]
[Poison Breath: It's a common skill that allows the user to spew a highly poisonous gas in a range of ten meters in a 120-degree radius that corrodes, and eats away at whatever it touches.]
[Extra skill Heat Source Perception has been acquired.]
[Heat Source Perception: It's an extra skill that allows the user to identify any heat reactions in the local area.]
[Notice: Black Spider has been fully consumed.]
[Common skill Sticky Thread has been acquired.]
[Sticky Thread: It's a common skill that allows the user to create sticky threads with the capacity to immobilize opponents.]
[Common skill Steel Thread has been acquired.]
[Steel Thread: It's a common skill that allows the user to create extremely durable threads that can block attacks or cut an opponent.]
[Notice: Giant Bat has been fully consumed.]
[Common skill Drain has been acquired.]
[Drain: It's a common skill that allows the user to use 70 of the target's skills for a limited amount of time by drinking their blood.]
[Common skill Drain has been integrated into Extra skill, Energy Drain.]
[Energy Drain: It is an extra skill that allows for the magicules, and stamina of the target to be fully drained as long as the user can overcome them and their will. If successful the user can now utilize 90% of the target's skills for a limited time.]
[Extra skill Ultra Sound Waves has been acquired.]
[Ultra Sound Waves: It's an extra skill that allows the user emit ultrasonic sound waves.]
[Notice: Evil Centipede has been fully consumed.]
[Common skill Paralyzing Breath has been acquired.]
[Paralyzing Breath: It's a common skill that allows the user to shoot out gas up to 10 meters away, and any target that comes into contact with it will find themselves unable to move for a long time.]
[Notice: Armorsaurus has been fully consumed.]
[No skills have been acquired. As the user already possesses the skill, body armor.]
The various consumed monsters like others, had their parts salvaged while the rest was turned into power, magicules, aura, and general sustenance, such was a the terror of predation skills.
It didn't stop there as materials were next, and while their abundance was not as high as one might expect from the place a powerful being like a True Dragon was sealed. Compared to most other locations it was a gold mine.
The hipokute grass.
[Hipokute grass: Is a type of rare herb that is used as an ingredient for making potions.]
And the Magic ore.
[Magic ore: Is the raw form of magisteel. A durable and versatile raw material with great value.]
After days of work, it was done, he managed to gather all of it.
'It was odd to be here, I could feel the nausea every day. I even vomited a few times, but in the end, it seems things worked out… I just need to do one more thing before I leave.' He walked to the last part of the cave.
There it was, the final room, a vast empty space where one of the 4 True Dragons was previously sealed, a place of legend to many, and an area where even more would never dare to set a foot.
"Finally… I'm here. I hope this works." He extended his hand, before letting the black mist spread out into the room.
It filled it up, then took in all it could, even the more minuscule bit of the room was not spared, this was a crucial move for him after all.
[Notice: Ambient magicules absorbed via Great Devourer. Analysis complete. No distinct skills or data integrated, raw energy assimilated.]
[Warning: Highly corrosive magicules belonging to the individual True Dragon of Strom, Veldora Tempest detected. It is severely diluted, as such the possibility of absorption exists, however it is still dangerous, would you like to proceed anyway? Y/N?]
'Jackpot! Do it.' He nodded rapidly.
[Notice: High-density True Dragon residue consumed. Integration and assimilation were successful. Due to the continuous analysis for days thus far, it is possible to safely complete the process…
Magic Capacity significantly increased.
Resistance acquisition successful:
Tolerance skill: Electricity Resistance... Acquired.
Tolerance skill: Wind Resistance... Acquired.
Tolerance skill: Water Resistance… Acquired.
Combined via
Infinite Talent and Unlimited Potential into Tolerance Skill: Storm Resistance.
Skill derivation successful:
Extra Skill: Lightning Manipulation... Acquired.
Extra Skill: Wind Manipulation... Acquired.
Extra skill: Water Manipulation… Acquired.
Combined via Infinite Talent and Unlimited Potential into Extra Skill: Storm Manipulation.]
Normally such a feat would be impossible without the blessing of the True Dragon in charge of that element, without their protection to gain any access to the True Dragon Factor was unfeasible, yet, due to the combination of unparalleled ability to learn, reach new heights, and even analyze far beyond the norm, for him, it was possible.
'Yes! It worked! Hahaha, great. This gives me some access to the true dragon factor, though far from enough for any major change, the elemental abilities are useful, and I will have an easier time later on when it matters.' He smiled to himself his excitement as the nausea began passing.
There was a pause to take it before he turned around ready to leave.
'It's a pity that there doesn't seem to be any bit of the infinity prison left behind… Oh well, I should focus on what comes next. Now that I have resources, I can build myself up.
'Since I want the characters from canon to gain their Rimuru buffs, I'll leave those alone, so no Ogres or Orcs… Instead, I'll talk to the Dryads. It will be a pain if they see me as a threat, and maybe I can get in their good graces.
'Regardless, I need to be at least neutral with them, and then, I'll start by talking over the rabbitfolk village. Luckily for me, aside from 16 light novel volumes, I read the manga, spin-offs, and even played some of the games. Heck, I read the whole Webnovel, but the lightnovel starts getting so different after the Hinata fight, it's mostly useless knowledge.' He had concluded with a weak sigh escaping his mouth.
Having that done, the next thing on his mind became the state of his capabilities after such a fruitful looting.
[Status screen]
[Name: None]
[Species: Majin(Demoniod) | Sub-Species: Osaphir(half-human/half-incubus)]
[Lifeform Type: Demi-Spiritual Lifeform]
[Age: 0(Physical)/19(Mental)]
[Sex: Male]
[Titles: Reincarnated Otherwolder, Calamity Of The Cave]
[Rank: Special A]
[Blessing/Protection: None]
[EP: 156,000]
[Danger Level: Calamity-class]
[Magicules Count: 144,000/144,000]
[Fighting Spirit: 12,000/12,000]
[Intrinsic Skills:
-Regeneration(Common tier)
-Magic Sense(Extra tier)
-Dual Nature(Extra tier)
-Libido Drain(Common tier)
-Runic Skin(Extra tier)]
[Common skills:
-Thought Communication
-Paralyzing Breath
-Steel Thread
-Sticky Thread
-Poison Breath]
[Extra Skills:
-Energy Drain
-Sex Mastery
-Omni-Layer Dick
-Portal Creation
-Martial Arts
-Control Magic
-Ultra Sound Waves
-Heat Source Perception
-Storm Manipulation]
[Unique skills:
-Harem System
Sub-skills: Thought Acceleration, Conceptual Appraisal, Parallel Calculation, All of creation, Chant Annulment
Harem System Functions: As a system it has special sub-skills: Statue Screen, Inventory, Gatcha, Harem healing, Management, Relationships, and Leveling System.
-Dual Cultivation: This is a unique skill, and it empowers both parties so long as they engage in intercourse.
Sub-skills: Equivalent Power growth, Intimate Copy, Growth Rush, Mutual Refinement, Bond Boost
-Unlimited Potential
Sub-skills: No Limit, Power Spike, No Stop, Last Stand, Regret, True Memory
-Infinite Talent
Sub-skills: Passive Growth, Days Lost, No requirements, Comprehend, Data Center, Insta Skill
-Great Devourer:
Sub-skills: Predation, Analysis, Stomach, Isolation, Integration]
[Arts:
-Modelwill
-Battlewill
-Spiral Fist:
Sub-Art: Aerial Spiral Fist
-OC System
-Aerial Stomp]
[Magic: None]
[Tolerances: Mental Attack Nullification, Charm Nullification, Curse Resistance, Storm Resistance(Electricity, Wind, Water).]
[Inventory(Connected to Stomach):
-Organic materials: Direwolf parts(1kg) x10, Giant Ant parts(2kg) x5, Tempest Serpent parts(1kg) x7, Black Spider parts(1kg) x17, Giant Bats parts(1/2kg) x40, Evil centepide parts(1/2kg) x21, Armosauros parts(2kg) x12
-Mineral materials: Magic Ore chunk(1kg) x2,000
-Vegetal materials: Hipokute grass stack(1kg) x3,000]
"Hmmm, that's a big jump… Was it all due to Veldora's magicules?" He questioned.
[Response: No; 39,000 magicules were gained from all the monsters consumed thus far, and from the diluted Veldora magicules, 80,000 were gained. As for your EP, it is now affected by your aura, since it is your existence value, all variables at your disposal can contribute to it, if sufficiently significant.]
"Got it. Time to leave this place." He decided.
Unlike the trip inside that had been almost half of what it took the slime to leave, this time, he extended his hand, and right before it, the folds of space parted having been pushed to open.
A hole in space that breached the gap between the deepest room of the sealed chamber, and its entrance came to be.
Taking the step outside the cave, he was ready, and quickly used his magic sense's newly expanded range to find his targets by layering it with his analysis skills, helped by Harem system to stay discreet enough.
He closed his eyes and expanded his [Magic Sense] to its absolute limit. He didn't just look for heat or movement; he looked for the "soul" of the forest. His search for the administrators, the beings connected to the very ley lines of this domain.
At first, the forest is a cacophony of noise, thousands of beasts, plants, and shifting winds. However, utilizing Harem System's All of Creation to filter the data, he isolated the specific wavelength of High Spirits.
He found them.
Far to the southwest, deep within the heart of the forest where the vegetation is thickest and the mana is purest, he detected three distinct, powerful signatures. They shine with a brilliant emerald-gold light, vastly superior to the surrounding monsters.
They are the Dryads: Treyni and her sisters. They seem to be gathered at a specific nexus point, a massive Spirit Tree that serves as a hub for the forest's energy. They are currently stationary, likely conversing or monitoring the forest's state, perhaps even discussing the sudden disappearance of the Storm Dragon a month and a half ago.
They are roughly 145 kilometers away from his current position. Just barely in range at all.
"Geez… They are far… Think positively, once you make it there once, you can portal there next time. Using a portal to go that far would dry up my reserves. Not worth it." Sighing once again, he made his way there.
Another step in a long new life ahead. Though, more eyes than he might imagine lurk in the horizon, or just under his nose.