The cave was pure chaos.
Corrosive light slashed across the darkness again and again, each beam screaming through the air fast enough to warp the stone.
I threw myself sideways—well, launched myself, since slimes don't really have sides—and barely avoided another hit.
'Sage, tell me you've got some good news for once.'
> ["Negative. Target's speed continues to increase. Energy signature unstable. Source of amplification unknown."]
'Yeah, I figured that much from the part where I can't see her anymore!'
The dark-haired elf blurred past me, trailing ribbons of molten energy. Her every motion left black fissures in the ground.
Whoever she was, she fought like someone who really, really wanted me dead.
'I don't even know this woman! Why is she trying to erase me from existence?!'
> ["Unknown. Possibility of external control: 87%. Her magicule flow displays irregular interference patterns."]
'Great. So I'm being attacked by a possessed, over-caffeinated ninja elf. Perfect.'
Another beam arced toward me. I threw up a sheet of water and pushed magicules through it—instant steam explosion. The blast kicked me backward, but it beat getting vaporized.
The elf's next attack came from above. I sensed it too late.
Boom!
Half my gel body evaporated. Infinite Regeneration flared, knitting me back together in seconds.
'This is bad. She's too fast, and those corrosion beams cut through everything!'
> ["Recommendation: maintain distance while analysis of corrosive element continues."]
'You're still analyzing it?! How far?'
> ["Forty-nine percent."]
I groaned internally. 'At this rate I'll be soup before we hit fifty-one!'
The elf moved again—a flicker, a blur—and instinct took over.
I didn't think. I just acted. For a moment I didn't even realize what I did. I just wanted to land a good hit on that elf and teach her a lesson.
A flash of white split the cave.
The air screamed. The beam tore through space itself and—crack—the elf's arm vanished, severed at the shoulder in a burst of vaporized flesh.
Both of us froze.
'What… the hell was that?'
> ["Observation: unidentified attack generated directly from your body. Cross-referencing skill registry."]
["Result: manifestation linked to Unique Skill 'Jester's Trick.'"]
'Wait a—WHAT?!'
And then it hit me.
"Wait a minute! Stupid dumb slime! How could I forget I even have a third Unique Skill?!"
> ["Explanation. Unique Skill 'Jester's Trick' contains two sub-skills:
Ignore Rules — allows temporary bypass of universal laws.
Manifestation — materializes mental visualization into reality."]
'So… I just imagined a laser and the universe said "sure"?'
> ["Affirmative."]
'That's… broken.'
> ["Caution: power output proportional to complexity of visualization. Overuse may destabilize your core."]
'Yeah, yeah, noted. Still—holy crap, I love this world.'
The elf shrieked, raw fury echoing off the walls. Her magic surged, darker and hotter than before.
> ["Warning. Host body resonance rising. Unknown external force amplifying aggression."]
'External force? You mean whoever's controlling her?'
> ["Most probable."]
'Fantastic. I get a mystery boss fight before I even meet the tutorial dragon.'
She lunged, and the cave vanished behind a wall of black energy.
I shot upward using water propulsion, leaving a streak of mist.
'Partner, how's the analysis?'
> ["Fifty-one percent."]
Her tone—was that hesitation? For the first time, it sounded almost… emotional.
'Hey,' I said between dodges, 'don't sound so worried. You focus on that analysis. I'll handle her. Partner—I'm counting on you.'
Silence. Then:
> ["…Acknowledged, Master. Commencing full analytical mode."]
A pulse rippled through my mind. The world shivered.
> ["Notice. The evolution threshold has been reached. The unique skill Great Sage will now evolve into the unique skill Wise One."]
My thoughts skipped a beat. 'Wait, right now?!'
> ["Processing… complete. Cognitive capacity expanded. Connection stabilized."]
["Wise One. Ready for operation, master..."]
Despite the chaos, I almost laughed. 'Congrats, partner. Handle the analysis; I'll keep us alive.'
> ["Understood."]
The fight restarted instantly.
She dashed in, corrosive claws gleaming. I visualized, and a spear of pure light snapped into being.
"Zoltrak!"
A white beam exploded forward—faster than thought. It pierced straight through her barrier and drilled into the far wall, carving molten glass in its wake.
She barely blocked it, spinning aside with an enraged snarl.
'So that's what real piercing power feels like!'
> ["Output efficiency 142%. Visualization stability improving."]
'Good to know!'
Dozens of black beams rained toward me. Dodging all of them wasn't happening, so I switched to defense. Magicules condensed around me, forming six shimmering plates of light.
"Hexagonal Barrier!"
The cave filled with explosions as each plate absorbed a hit. Cracks spider-webbed across the shields.
> ["Warning: Magicule consumption rising rapidly."]
'I can feel it, trust me!'
The barrier shattered. I dropped it before it could drain me dry and shot forward, water jets propelling me like a missile.
She met me mid-air, claws slashing. I visualized twin cutting arcs.
"Cleave! Dismantle!"
Our attacks collided—pure white against black corrosion—and detonated in a storm of pressure.
Chunks of rock blasted outward.
> ["Target's structural integrity: 89%. Corrosive buildup spreading to left torso."]
'She's weakening. I can push this.'
I gathered magicules into dozens of spheres. Small, dense, volatile.
'Improvised grenades, go!'
They exploded in synchronized bursts, filling the cavern with thunder. The elf darted through them, but even she flinched under the shockwaves.
> ["Observation: your attacks show increasing precision. Adrenaline equivalent rising by 38%."]
'Translation: I'm finally having fun!'
Another beam shot at me. I twisted and fired Zoltrak again, this time curving it with Magic Manipulation. The beam bent mid-flight, grazing her leg and burning through her corrosion armor.
She screamed, voice warping, eyes wild. Whoever—or whatever—was controlling her, it wasn't happy.
'Who are you?' I thought, watching her aura flicker between crimson and black.
No answer, only another attack.
> ["Progress update. Corrosion analysis 84%. Advisory: maintain defensive distance for thirty seconds."]
'Thirty seconds? I can give you ten at best!'
She vanished again. Threads—dozens—shot out, wrapping around me. They burned, slicing through my outer layer.
I expanded my body with a shockwave, snapping them apart.
'Persistent little—!'
> ["Analysis 97%..."]
Her next beam hit my side, carving a tunnel through my gel. Pain flared. Infinite Regeneration triggered instantly.
'Wise One, how close?!'
> ["Ninety-nine percent…"]
I charged a final Zoltrak. The beam of light screamed across the cavern, ripping through her barrier and detonating against the far wall.
Dust rained from the ceiling. The elf stumbled, one knee hitting the ground.
> ["Report. Analysis of corrosive attack completed."]
Everything went quiet.
Steam rose from the shattered floor. My body ached, if slimes could ache, but I was still intact.
Across the cavern, the dark elf glared, panting, eyes blazing with hate and something else—pain? I couldn't tell.
'Finally.'
I steadied my shape and looked toward the unseen sky beyond the stone.
"Alright, partner," I said, voice low but certain. "Let's end this."
…
AN: You can read 20+ advanced chapters and advanced chapters of all my other fanfictions on my p@treon AnimefanfictionIND at just 7$.