You have defeated an [Ogre - Level 13 (Combat Power: 294)]!

You have absorbed partial Physical Essence!

You have defeated a [Dark Elf - Level 13 (Combat Power: 250)]!

You have absorbed their Physical Essence!

You have defeated a [Dark Elf - Level 10 (Combat Power: 178)]!

You have absorbed their Physical Essence!

…

You have advanced to Level 12!

- Arcane Essence +40

You have advanced to Level 13!

- Arcane Essence +40

- Special Skill [Arc Symbiosis: Fissyah] gained!

Since arriving at Fort Erkaed, I’d managed to absorb enough Physical Essence to level up twice. Apparently, as long as I defeated someone in battle, I’d still at least gain some Physical Essence. And with my most recent level advancement, I gained a Special Skill: [Arc Symbiosis].

Name: Violet [Level 13] (Host: Fissyah)

Species: Arcslime

Combat Power: 420 (+100)

Arcane Essence: 70/420

Skills:

[Appraisal - 10 Arcane Essence]

[Arc Shot - 20 Arcane Essence]

Passive Skills:

[Arcane Restoration - You restore 10 Arcane Essence for every ten minutes of rest.]

[Improved Absorption - You replenish an additional 50% of Arcane Essence from consuming bodies.]

[Morph Shape - Your body can take on complex shapes.]

Special Skills:

[Arc Symbiosis: Fissyah - 50% of Total Arcane Essence]

It cost me 50% of my total Arcane Essence, but it let me share my Combat Power with Fissyah, adding it up to 520. My body attuned itself with the girl, sticking to her skin and even letting me do more than just guide her movements. I wasn’t controlling her, per se— I was moving with her, and she was moving with me.

I looked up at the Dark Elves surrounding me, watching as a dozen arrows were loosed at once. Then I looked down at the fiery chains binding my arms together. And I moved.

* * *

Captain Rioke of the Dark Empire stared at the intruders as they were backed into a corner— trapped just before their great escape. It was unfortunate, really. He had wanted to capture that Slime and break it down into its component parts to understand what gave it the ability to speak. He’d heard of talking monsters before, of course, but never of a talking Slime— let alone one this powerful.

Nevertheless, it was looking like it’d be more costly to capture it than it was to simply kill it outright, and Rioke didn’t gain his [Titles] from being an irrational leader. He raised an arm, giving the command.

“For the death of my cousin and second-in-command, Ebsu, now you die! Fire!”

Arrows filled the hallway, zipping straight for the Slime and the Goblin. But just before the projectiles could hit their target, a ripple ran through the purple liquid.

“[Arc Symbiosis].”

For a single moment, the Slime’s entire body spiked out like it was being tugged in multiple directions at once. Then it compressed into a sphere that completely engulfed the Goblin’s body before rapidly detangling like a ball of yarn. Strips of violet liquid sewed itself over her green skin as she grew.

While previously, it looked like the Goblin had been profusely sweating the purple liquid— like she was a melting wax figure and the wax was pouring over her ragged clothes. Now, it was as though her skin and the liquid were one and the same.. From a dark green to a light purple, there was not a hint of a spill as her body was entirely covered by her clothing.

Her short white hair was longer now and tinted into an even softer mauve, and when she looked up, her sclera was entirely black. The irises themselves were no different in color— the same red eyes of any other Goblin— but now that it was laid against the sable surface with a horizontal slit-like pupil, it sent a shiver down Rioke’s spine.

Those were the eyes of a monster.

She stood a foot taller now, and moved swiftly without the sluggish, uncoordinated footsteps of before. The arrows rained around her as she danced back towards the metal gate. The last arrow whizzed straight for her head, but instead of ducking to the side, she raised her arms and caught it with her still-bound hands.

Rioke narrowed his eyes, and she smiled, revealing rows of jagged, triangle-shaped teeth.

“Whew, almost got me,” she said. “These chains are really restrictive, aren’t they?”

It was the Slime’s voice, not the Goblin’s. She raised her arm and stretched it. The [Blazing Bind] tensed under the pressure— and shattered.

“Unfortunately, I’m not really into that kind of bondage play. Also, I barely even know you. At least take me out to a fancy dinner first!”

The Dark Elf Captain stared as his spell was ripped apart without much effort. That was impossible— [Blazing Bind] couldn’t be broken by anyone with a lower Combat Power than him. Unless… that meant the Slime was stronger than him?

No, he dismissed the idea. He was Captain Rioke of Fort Erkaed! He had earned two [Titles] for his accomplishments— he didn’t spend the last ten years of his life guarding this God King forsaken backwater region just to die here to a Goblin and a Slime.

“Kill that Dungeon-cursed monster already!” he shouted, pointing at the Goblin-Slime as his soldiers nocked their bows. “[Flaming Arrows]!”

“Well, if you’re not going to take me out to a fancy dinner—” The Goblin-Slime licked her lips as a flurry of projectiles came for her. “Then I guess I’ll have to settle with this meal right here.”

And she charged straight for them, a vicious monster knowing nothing other than how to kill.

* * *

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait— are you saying you’re going to eat them?” Fissyah asked, horrified.

Her voice was an echo in my head. It was as though we shared our thoughts now. At least, while in this form. And while she and I moved as one, I seemed to exude more control than her— in the sense that I was the one who spoke for us.

“Yeah, is something wrong with that?” I dashed forward, sidestepping most of the onslaught of projectiles. Some arrows did hit me, but they bounced off my skin and left little damage behind.

Moving with a proper, solid body felt odd even though I used to be a regular Human. It was probably because I’d been so accustomed to sliding or bouncing around everywhere that it took me a moment to acclimate to this. I ran up the side of a wall, making my way to the ceiling.

“Yes… no… I don’t know. I—” Fissyah paused. “Wait, how are you running on the wall?!”

“I dunno,” I said as the Dark Elves flipped upside down before me.

“What do you mean you don’t know? And now you’re on the ceiling too!”

“Yeah! Pretty neat, right?”

I dropped straight down onto a soldier, quickly landing a one-two before rolling away from Rioke’s [Fireblast]. His attack burned two of his own soldiers, and I scowled.

“I prefer my meat medium rare, not well done, you uncultured jerk!” I leapt at the Dark Elf Captain, throwing a punch which he easily deflected with his fiery barrier.

“Behind you!” Fissyah called out.

My eyes flickered as soldiers swarmed around me. I flipped back and something grew from within me. Six tendril-like pseudopods— one for each soldier— lashed out of my mid-back. They struck the oncoming Dark Elves, knocking them down all at once.

“Good catch,” I said, landing on my tendrils and looming over the crowd of soldiers.

There were still a dozen of them left. Most of them had dropped their bows, drawing a close-ranged weapon instead.

“Just keep a look out for me, will you?” I mentally told the Goblin.

“W-will do!”

With that, I descended back into the fray, firing a quick [Arc Shot] at one soldier before crushing another with my tendrils. And as I continued to battle, I slowly felt myself growing even stronger— moving faster to the point that not a single of their attacks could touch me. My Combat Power was now 540, and it was thanks to the bonus I’d been given.

“Fissyah?”

“I leveled up,” she hurriedly explained “I’m spending my Physical Essence Points to help you as much as I can.”

“Thanks.” I grinned and spun around, taking out a group of soldiers at once. I finished them off with my tendrils before dashing off to take care of the rest.

* * *

“All of my men… dead.”

Captain Rioke dropped to his knees, his bloodshot eyes gaping open. Around him, thirty-or-so Dark Elves lay dead, all slaughtered by the Goblin-Slime and helpless to fight back. He hung his head, utterly defeated. He was exhausted— out of energy to expend. He couldn’t call upon the magic of the world anymore. Not that it mattered since none of his spells did anything in the face of the sheer power of this monster.

“H-how…?”

“The better question is: why are you just kneeling there instead of helping them?” The Goblin-Slime walked up to him and kicked in the face.

He was sent flying back, barely protected by his [Fire Shield]. He crashed into the wall, the impact causing bits of stone to break off in all directions. She strolled up to the injured man and tilted her head.

“I’d kill you right now, but Fissyah is taking a lot of pleasure doing this.” She casually tapped a finger on her chin. “I wonder if that’s a red flag.”

“You’re not going to get away with this,” Rioke said, gritting his teeth. “If my brother hears about this, you’re dead. He will hunt you down to the ends of the world. He will crush you like the puny little Slime you are.”

“Your brother?”

He sneered, hiding his hands behind his back. “Brim the Berserker. One of the elite Shadow Inquisitors— soldiers under the command of the God King Himself.”

“I don’t know why you guys keep doing this,” she sighed and picked him up. “I don’t know who this ‘Brim’ is, and I don’t care.”

“You should,” Rioke cackled as he pulled out a scroll from his belt. “Because he’s the one who’ll kill you, monster.”

“Oh really?” She narrowed her eyes.

He smiled savagely. “No.” Then in a single motion, the Dark Elf Captain produced the spell scroll. He pointed it at the Goblin-Slime. “Take this! [Greater Fire—”

And he blinked as his hand vanished. She brought her head back, spitting out the wet parchment and crunched on something in her mouth. He stumbled back, crumpling to the ground as he stared at his wrist.

“My hand— you ate my hand!”

The Goblin-Slime burped and shook her head. “Seriously, you guys just don’t know when to stop talking. I told you earlier, it’s called the element of surprise. Repeat it after me: the element of surprise.”

His entire body trembled in fear as he frantically tried to crawl away from her. “You’re a monster! Stay back! Stay away from me!”

“Now, that’s not right,” she said, stepping on his feet so he couldn’t escape. “You pronounced it wrong. It’s no wonder you find it hard to be quiet. Here, let me help you with that.”

Rioke screamed as she dragged him back, spreading her tendrils wide. Until, finally, silence.

* * *

I stood over the dead Dark Elf Captain, wiping at my forehead. I didn’t have any sweat glands, but I still felt like I worked up quite the sweat. However, I didn’t pay attention to myself right now. Instead, I focused on how Fissyah felt.

A mixture of emotions bubbled within her— some of which was extreme catharsis at killing her long-time tormentor— and I was getting worried that I might’ve just created a child supervillain. But the strongest emotion that leaked out to me was that of confusion. Shock, really.

“Did you seriously take a bite out of his arm?” the girl asked, still processing what just happened.

I nodded. “Yeah. Tastes good, right?”

She hesitated. “...I mean, kind of?”

“See?” I clapped my hands together, beaming. “Now, why don’t we dig in on the rest of the food we’ve been given today? I’m starving.”

“Why don’t you leave my body and do that by yourself?” Fissyah suggested.

“Uhm…” I scratched the back of my head.

“Please tell me you know how to separate us from this form.”

“I do! I do!” I waved my hands and sputtered. “Let me just find the ‘off’ button—”

“What is an ‘off’ button? What are you searching for? Why are you poking the back of your head?”

It took us a bit, but eventually, we did separate. It seemed like [Arc Symbios] naturally ended after a certain amount of time passed. After that, I had a feast as Fissyah watched from the side.