****(POV)

I'll protect this slime of mine no matter what.

It believed in me.

I somehow felt it when I made a contract with it.

A simple mind that would believe in me.

One so pure.

One that just wants to share some meals, with a friend.

As simple as that.

Now this companion of mine is about to die.

All because I overestimated my capabilities again.

I should never have come to this place.

The test won't stop until it is over.

Once my pet is defeated this hound will disappear.

Usually, it would not be an issue.

But I can feel it.

The soul of my slime is already on the verge of collapsing.

Yet this opponent is still relentless.

This shouldn't be happening.

The only other solution is to defeat it.

It's already too late.

It's to do or die now.

Quite possibly die.

I can feel my scratched shoulder bleeding.

I can still move it.

That's all that matters.

This thing is fast.

This thing is strong.

This thing won't show pity.

So fucking what!

I won't cower.

Not anymore.

It dashes at me again.

I need to be careful.

I am but a weak human made of flesh and blood.

I sidestep it at the last second.

Then it swipes at me.

I twist my body trying to make myself smaller.

I can feel the sharp claws open then flesh on my waist.

An opportunity!

I bash its head in!

It falls to the floor!

I kick that fucking monster …or try to.

It's already back on its feet.

Eying me carefully.

Then it comes charging again.

This thing wants to end my life.

At all costs.

That's good.

I'm glad.

So fucking glad.

It is I it wants to kill now.

Try and get me, you stupid creature!

We keep fighting.

No, fighting isn't the word.

This is a one-sided slaughter.

I can feel my injuries worsen.

Little by little I am losing flesh and blood.

Growing weaker by the second.

How long can I even last?

Dodging was already close to impossible at the beginning.

I am getting somewhat used to its movements.

There is one problem, however.

My body won't follow my commands.

It is getting sluggish.

But I know.

I know for sure.

I cannot retreat.

If I do this little innocent bouncing creature will lose its life.

No way in hell.

At this rate, we will both perish.

I can't let that happen.

I swore.

No matter what.

I wish I had the strength.

I wish I could protect it.

I wish I wouldn't be such a fucking failure.

I truly wish.

But this is impossible.

I'm weak.

I'm pitiful.

I'm wasting my efforts.

Any tamer would give up the slime.

Any tamer would protect one's own life.

There are many slimes in the sewers.

Any other tamer would just get another one.

I might be dumb.

I might be foolish.

I might be wrong.

But for me, it wouldn't be the same.

I can see a way out of this.

If I prolong this, I will lose.

This thing is made of mana after all.

It won't tire.

I need to go for a decisive blow.

One extremely risky.

It comes at me.

Dodge the claws.

There comes the bite.

After this time I am getting good at dodging it.

But I don't.

Not this time.

It's going for my neck.

A hit and I'm a goner.

I twist my upper body.

*CHOMP*

It hurts like Hell.

I can feel its teeth sink into my shoulder.

But I know I can't afford to pass out.

I can't even afford to wince from the pain.

No, there is something I need to do.

I punch its head.

Again, and again, and again.

It tries to run away.

I think not!

I twist myself to make sure it remains solidly stuck in my body.

And I punch

And punch

And punch

I can feel the weak soul of my companion.

This link of ours is enough to keep me going.

This is what I need to protect.

For this, this monster needs to disappear.

I bash and I bash, and I bash.

I distantly notice that knuckles crack.

My hand is definitely broken too.

But so what!

I punch, I slam, I clobber, I strike, I smash, I whack!

I can't feel any part of my body.

I just keep going.

Before I cannot move anymore.

Before it is too late.

Before it can recover.

I keep going.

Until finally the whole thing disappears in an explosion of light.

I can vividly feel it via the soul link.

My slime is alright.

I succeeded.

Somehow.

I'm glad.

So fucking glad.

My body might be busted but I succeeded.

I crumple to the floor.

Unable to move a single muscle.

I can feel how tired this little slime is.

It had to fight with a creature league above it for a while.

All because of me.

"I'm sorry buddy.

I did not mean for anything bad to happen.

I thought this test would be safe for both of us.

That's how it was supposed to be you know.

I'm not sure why everything went so wrong.

But none of it matters.

The important thing is that you are fine. "

I can feel it bounce closer and nestle close to my broken body.

I can feel its concern.

It worries about my state.

It worries about the growing puddle of blood.

It worries about my crushed limbs.

It worries.

Which dumbass said that slimes are mindless creatures that only know how to eat?

I'll beat all these idiots up!

Haha, I can't actually.

Probably won't ever be able to.

I'm in such a state that I can't even feel the extent of my injuries.

But I know it's bad.

I know I won't make it.

Even the most skillful of healers would give up.

This is fine.

However, there is one last thing I need to do.

A tamed beast dies with its owner.

This is and has always been the case.

This is common knowledge.

But I know for a fact there is a way to avoid this.

I need to transfer the remaining of my life force to it.

That and terminate our soul contract.

This will free it.

Of course, I will die, but that is already a foregone conclusion.

I initiate the process with the last of my willpower.

"There you go buddy, go back to the sewers and live your life…."

No! Something is wrong!

This slime stopped the process on its end.

"C'mon buddy. You need to accept this. There is no need for both of us to die here! Quick accept my lifeforce!"

That's when I can feel something.

A simple mind conveying the purest sentiment there is.

It will live and die with me.

A creature that I've known for a day.

A simple slime.

All we did was eat noodles together.

Somehow in this fight, it gained consciousness.

I get its message clearly.

"Forever together, human."

My last conscious thought is how pointless this all is.

But also, how blessed I am…

****