****(POV)

This is the moment of truth.

C'mon, little Bai! You can do this!

I'm encouraging myself, but I don't feel confident at all.

I don't have to wait as many rooms are available.

Well, it does help that so many of the tamers are busy betting.

From the little I saw, most of them are betting on my failure.

I can somehow understand that.

It still leaves a bad aftertaste, however.

Ah, there is one guy that does believe in me.

Perhaps more than I do in myself.

A weird man that I am getting to know more.

One that may have very well changed my life altogether.

I used to be a failure of a tamer.

I spent all I had for one last taming attempt, yet I failed it.

At first, part of me was angry at him, but really, I was angrier at myself.

And disappointed.

Just as I was despairing, he showed me hope.

Told me he would bring me somewhere to get a pet.

I was in disbelief at first.

Then that disbelief only increased when I figured out where we were heading.

He wanted me to tame a slime.

How was I supposed to accomplish something even the bests have never managed?

All of it simply madness.

I was about to give up.

But then I figured I'd try.

My situation was arguably already the worst it could be.

Would wasting a bit of time be an issue at this point?

No.

So I tried it.

Then it fucking worked.

All thanks to him!

He believed in me and he was right!

Now, a slime might not be that powerful, but it's a start.

I need to somehow accomplish a miracle in this test.

He still believes that I can do this.

As long as he believes I will too!

I reach a medium-sized room.

It is not spacious, but it is still vast enough to move around without any issue.

This will be my first time here.

I did use to have a tamed beast.

Sadly I was foolish.

It died to save my life.

My first friend died because of my ineptitude.

That's when I swore to myself that I would never commit the same mistake.

This slime of mine.

I won't just discard it after it has served its purpose.

Will that take a toll on my soul power?

Of course.

But I do not want another creature to die for my sake.

It is rather stupid I do know it.

Really dumb.

I thought I was the only one ever that would do something as ridiculous.

Turns out I might not be.

This is what I find most unbelievable about this man.

Not only is he wise, but he is odd too.

Who in their right state of mind would keep a donkey at their side?

Only him.

Who in their right state of mind would train a donkey?

Trained it until it could trash a rank 2 monster easily.

The existence of this man itself is enough to give me hope.

If a donkey can become powerful there is no way a slime can't.

I might be insane, but right at this moment I truly believe.

This test is but the first step of my career.

In the middle of the room is a floating purple cube.

It seems almost intangible yet is physical.

I'm not sure how this all works, but I do know that once I destroy it the test will start.

Then it will safely test my pet and only it.

The tamers need to remain on the sidelines watching to avoid any injury.

I give the order to my slime to go ahead.

It flies toward it with great momentum.

Then it envelops itself around it.

I am getting ready for anything.

What will come out of this?

Let me…. okay, nothing is happening at all.

Is there an issue with the mechanism?

Ah…I see…

This slime of mine is hugging it, but it doesn't seem to do anything.

I try to order it to dissolve it, but it seems it's not able to.

What am I supposed to do?!

I can't even start the test….

What can I …?

Ah, fuck it.

Let's just do this.

I come closer and I ….

*PUNCH*

The semi-physical cube cracks and disappears in many colorful lights.

I can see light coming out from the edges of the room.

It all assembles into shapes.

This seems to be the projection of a monster.

Seems like a rank 2 hound of some sort.

Gaping mouth, sturdy-looking legs, sharp fangs, and claws.

It looks oddly realistic for a magical construct!

I need to somehow defeat it!

Go slime!

It jumps on it, hugging its face!

And…nothing at all happens.

Don't tell me these things are immune to corrosion?!

How cheated!

How the hell am I supposed to clear a test like that?!

Guess we'll be disqualified soon.

That's when it happens.

The thing swipes at my slime.

I can feel it growing weaker through our link.

This shouldn't be possible?!

This training room shouldn't inflict any true damage on ….

Ah, fuck!

It probably wasn't designed for slimes.

At all.

What do I do?!

Stop this fucking test!

I don't care about it anymore!

Just fucking stop this!

The hound keeps pursuing it and swiping mercilessly at it.

The safety measures aren't activating at all!

At this rate, it will truly die!

Stop!

No fucking way!

I won't let this shit happen again!

Screw this thing!

Not again!

Not again!

Not again!

I won't watch powerlessly again!

I'd rather die!

I might actually, but so fucking what!

"This way you stupid dog! Why don't you fight someone your own size!"

I punch it as hard as I can.

It barely bulges.

It lunges at me.

It's so fucking fast!

My slime never stood a chance.

I dodge it.

Barely.

Or not.

I can distantly feel some pain.

So what if it scratched me.

Fuck this thing.

I can do this!

Stay behind me little slime!

I'll protect you no matter what!