Chapter 11: withheld

From now on, your name is Kelsi.

“This Area should be called ‘Metatron’s Rockzone’. It is filled with Golems, Razor Eagles, and Metal Elementals. Golems are automatons with no intellect whatsoever who disguise themselves as boulders, becoming a rock-made-giant whenever any intruder approaches them” (Rize)

“Those shouldn’t be any problems to us, then” (Doraig)

“Razor Eagles should be harder to deal with. they are level 28 Flying beast with a sharp metal beak and retractable claws made of metal. They have no ranged attack but could be tricky to fight as they are about as fast as you are, but are a lot more durable” (Rize)

“Do you think Intimidating gaze will affect them?” (Doraig)

“You could try right now, to your left!” (Rize)

Oh shit.

I quickly move to my right, and after successfully dodging what was coming my way I watch back to see there’s a Bird about 1/4 of my size looking my way menacingly. Massive wings, red feathers, silver beak and claws and a look that if it could kill I would have showered the lands with my blood.

Let’s try, ‘Intimidating Gaze’

As expected, nothing happens.

He's heading this way beak-first, so I follow Rize's instruction (the pulling of my head in a certain direction) and move to the Eagle’s Right, thus avoiding a frontal confrontation.

Rize takes out his bow from his inventory, and proceeds to take aim—

“Stay steady for a second” (Rize)

“Roger!” (Doraig)

Rize takes the shot which…

Gets deflected easily by the Eagle's skin.

“Go up!” (Rize)

I move upwards and So does the eagle, but before he can get closer I turn around and—

‘Minor Destruction Breath’

My shot proves to be useful and the Eagle gets enraged, issuing a shrilling scream as it rushes madly towards us!

“He’s right below us” (Doraig)

“Stay still” (Rize)

“What!? why?” (Doraig)

And my answer quickly arrives. Rize jumps off my back, grabbing the eagle by the neck. I watch intently as Rize takes out his scythe from his backpack and JAMS it into the eagle's own back. repeatedly…

the Eagle begins to fly erratically, trying to have Rize fall, flying left and right in a quick manner to have him lose his balance and thus lead this guy to his untimely death…

The bastard tries to ram himself into the rocky side of a mountain, so as to turn Rize into meat paste, but right before Rize becomes half slime due to the attack, Rize moves around to the Eagle’s left side. The Eagle, not having responded in time to his actions, strikes himself against the rock, inflicting damage upon himself.

Holy shit.

In this manner, their conflict continues. Rize hits the Eagle whenever he can, while the Eagle can do nothing but try to catch him off guard and have him strike against the wall, to no avail.

After being hit for the twentieth time with the scythe, the Eagle finally can no longer sustain its injuries and begins to fall down. I quickly approach it flying as it freefalls towards the ground, and Rize uses its corpse as a foothold to jump towards me once I'm close enough, landing majestically on my back.

“Dude” (Doraig)

“What?” (Rize)

“What the fuck was that” (Doraig)

“?”

I… didn’t get any experience, Oh yeah— we're not in a party.

“By the way… can we party up? I didn’t get a scrap of experience…” (Doraig)

“Oh… okay” (Rize)

I think he had forgotten as well.

[Rize has sent you a party invite]

For now, I’ll take a look at my Status, it’s been a long time since the last time...

‘System status’

Name Doraig Stat Base Bonus (%) Total Skill Name Current level Max Level Evolution Race Dragon (Otherworldly) STR 12 0 12 Minor Destruction Breath 91 99 Intermediate Destruction Breath Level 15 VIT 25 5 26.25 Intimidating Gaze (Racial bonus) 2 99 +Intimidating Voice (Racial bonus) HP (+Bonus) 96.5/96.5 (+0) DEX 25 0 25 Fly 45 99 Fly HP Regen +2.125/minute Minor Destruction Ray 2 99 Intermediate Destruction Ray MP (+Bonus) 200/200 (+0) INT 48 0 48 MP Regen +5/minute Basic Red Inspect 3 999 Medium Red Inspect Skill Points Available 10 Stat Points Available 0 [1] more skill Hidden from view. Experience Points 352/22140

Hmm… Fly is leveling up quite fast, but then again, I've been flying quite a lot lately. 'Minor Red Inspect' seems to be a bit of a waste of skill points, but how would I have known Rize would be a walking dictionary… I guess if you’ve lived for about a third of a millennium in one place you have a lot of time to learn your stuff.

“Hey Rize, do you think it’s a good idea to evolve Destruction Breath? it’s 8 levels away from doing so” (Doraig)

“Don’t do it” (Rize)

“Why?” (Doraig)

“You’re damn squishy, just focus on getting the barrier” (Rize)

“Fine…” (Doraig)

25 skill points to go… I guess.

“Anyways, so that’s one way to deal with Eagles, I guess… what about Elementals?” (Doraig)

“They are silver colored misty beings, which condense their energy to shoot projectiles made of metal. as long as you spot them you should be able to avoid their attacks without much trouble” (Rize)

...without much trouble, he says

“Let’s get going, then” (Doraig)

Meanwhile, Robin’s Perspective.

I’m currently following the secret map given to me by Rize’s and Doraig’s effort. After separating from the pair and walking around for a few minutes I entered a desert zone.

The only Landmarks leading my way are some obelisks with numbers written on them—

‘0256 - 2145 - 1425’

This way, then.

I walk in a certain direction, guiding my footsteps towards the next landmark. the map denotes the usage of the Landmarks; they lead you towards the hidden castle in this way: the first number represents the X coordinate, the second number being the Y coordinate, and the last number, the Z coordinate. the last number is not as important for now since the third number’s usage is for me to know the altitude.

I can only hope the castle is not floating in the sky…

This place is a good source of experience, the only monsters I've found so far are bipedal beasts that look similar to lizardmen, but which have long fins that follow their spine, ‘Attack Drakes’. Slow and stupid, all I have to do to fight them is move around them and attack their back, easy stuff.

Here’s my third prey.

“GROOOWL” (Beast)

The beast launches a head-on attack against me. I sidestep and use my foot to have the beast lose his footing. the Drake stumbles and eats a mouthful of sand after falling down.

I use the moment he takes to stand back up and attack thrice. Because of the level difference, this will take a long time, but this guy on his own will have me level up once or twice.

“GROOOWL” (Beast#2)

A second one? crap.

Both beasts standing one at each side, this is going to be hard fight huh… one hit and I will be dead. Bring it on!

Making use of their low judgment, I place myself so that if they ram me a full speed they hit each other, I attack once after evading, ‘Hiya!’.

Whenever the beasts aim for my chest, I roll to evade, kick the ground and land two quick hits— ‘Tink Tink’. The first beast’s eyes turn red, it appears like he’s enraged now.

He uses his claws to try and land a hit on me, but while doing so he blocks his partner, so I use the force of his attack to deflect his claws into the second Drake.

The first one in front of me, the second one to his left. I make use of the time delay to draw a circle with my sword parallel to the ground, moving to the first Drake’s right flank. ‘Clank’ I land a direct hit to the back of his head. he seems stunned, for which reason I decide to land a second hit.

The second drake, let’s call it #2, has circled around #1 and charges me head on. we dance around #1 while it’s stunned, and I make use of the range a sword grants me to land direct hits to #2’s chest.

‘Tink Tink Tink’, after the third hit #1 regains his consciousness and with it, his footing. it looks like after opening his eyes once again, he is no longer enraged. He slowly stands up, watches both sides and locks his eyes on me…

In this manner, the dance continues, and 30 hits later, #1 falls. 50 hits later, #2 follows suit.

Experience Received Level up: 13 -> 14

As usual, I place 3 in strength, 3 in dexterity, and 4 in vitality.

One hour and 5 drakes later I reach my destination. There’s a statuette depicting a person wearing a robe, which doesn’t allow one to know the gender of the person. on the left hand an open book, and on the right, a sword. I examine the statuette for a moment, before turning it.

Sounds of something opening, following by an opening revealing itself on the ground, which reveals a trapdoor behind. I open the trapdoor and the first thing that greets me is the massive amounts of dust coming towards my face—

“Cough Cough”

After waving my hands to disperse the dust, I enter the opening on the floor, and once I'm inside, I close back the trapdoor.

As if Following the lock of the trapdoor, orbs of light light up, showcasing what in front of me. a long corridor, easily 1 km long in front me. in the distance, I can only see something brown.

“A door?”

I walk towards the end of the corridor. in front of me a massive stone door, as big as the city walls of Parlor town.

“There’s something written on this wall…”

‘I’ve died, of that I'm sure. I leave my treasures and teachings for the one that is worthy of being called my successor. If you only desire riches, turn around and leave from whence you came, for only death awaits you otherwise’

Shit…

now what.

Hold on, there’s something written below?

‘- Martha’

Martha? if I remember correctly the Sorcerer’s name was Sinfred… what is going on?

I examine the space around me… but can’t find any other clue as to what is going on.

I will see if I missed anything behind…

Aha!

Nearing the middle section in between the trapdoor and the stone door I find an interesting looking crevice, about the size of my hand. It has the shape of a drop of something... this is probably ‘that’, right?

Using the tip of my sword I draw a bit of blood from my finger, which I place inside the crevice…

‘CREEAK’

I hear the rumbling and turn towards the direction the sound is coming from— the stone door.

“The door is opening”

I walk towards the stone door, and after stepping through the gate closes behind me. I start to wonder, why the hell did I cross the stone door?

Doraig’s perspective.

After cruising through the Mountain range, fighting against two lone Eagles, and avoiding shots from the Elementals, we finally make it into a beautiful zone. A crystal clear lake, which surrounds a prairie... filled with a copious amount of green, pink and yellow blobs.

“I guess they really were sent here, huh” (Doraig)

“Of course they were here” (Rize)

Smartass…

“Let’s move” (Rize)

“Are you sure you want to come with me?” (Doraig)

“Well, I'm going in while invisible, so there’s no problem” (Rize)

“...” (Doraig)

We walk towards the slimes who, after gaining a proper intellect, look towards us (well, me) with confused expressions. Yes, they now have expressions, with the mouth being just a separation in the upper part of the blob, and the eyes being the color of the goo emitted as a mellow light.

“StRanGer?” (Blob #1)

“Ah, I'm here to look for your Queen” (Doraig)

“QuEen?” (Blobs #1, #2, … , #n)

After managing to have my eardrums not explode from all the slimes repeating that one word…

“Yes, your queen. tell her Doraig is looking for her” (Doraig)

“I heard the little ones calling me, I didn’t expect to see you so soon, though” (Slime Queen)

she says while beaming a smile at me.

“Ah, Hello there missy” (Doraig)

“Hello, Doraig. Did you miss me that much?” (Slime Queen)

“Well, yeah” (Doraig)

She’s… blushing? I can see the hue changing at the place where the cheeks should be.

“I missed you too! after telling the little ones how you helped us all, they all think of you as sort of their father, as well” (Slime Queen)

“FaThEr”(Blobs #1, #2, … , #n)

Ouch!

“Can we move someone a bit more... private?” (Doraig)

“Oh! o-of course, it would be my pleasure!” (Slime Queen)

...Blushing again?

The Queen leads the way, and after moving past the blobbiness that surrounded us, we enter a cave, which I assume is the Queen’s home.

“So… can you explain to me how you gained intelligence?” (Doraig)

“What do you mean? you are the one who granted it to me” (Queen)

“Wait, hold on. What did I do?” (Doraig)

Don’t… give me a puppy’s confused look.

“You… don’t know?” (Queen)

“Um… I don’t? all I did was mix into you two cores of other slimes” (Doraig)

“But… I clearly felt your love for our race when you did so. you gave me part of your mana and taught me the “Learning” Skill” (Slime Queen)

“Wait. isn’t it impossible for me to teach you skills if we’re of different races? you should have had the tutorial already, Mr. System says so there... and I didn't lose any skill points either” (Doraig)

“That… you’re right. then how…?” (Slime Queen)

I’m about as clueless as you are. I shrug my shoulders and throw the matter to the back of my head—

“You’re right, though, I do love your race, well, I guess it does count as ‘love’, at least” (Doraig)

“I know, that emotion couldn’t be hidden even if you wanted to do so” (Slime Queen)

“Well… I’m glad I could help you all. I only really came here to ask you not to engage in conflict with other people unless you reaaaaally need to do so” (Doraig)

“Umm… Doraig?” (Slime Queen)

“Yes?” (Doraig)

“That’s up to you, you’re our King” (Slime Queen)

“Your what sorry?” (Doraig)

“We owe you so much we’ve decided to have you as our King” (Slime Queen)

“...for real?” (Doraig)

She puts puppy-eyes-mode on as if saying ‘you don’t want to?’

“I guess you’re not joking… what do you want me to do?” (Doraig)

“Well… we owe you enough for you to be our King while your life lasts, it’s not like you’re immortal, nobody is” (Slime Queen)

“And so, as long as you don’t lead our race to extinction, the slimes will follow your command if you have one” (Slime Queen)

“Of course, I'm sure, with the amount of love I sensed coming from you towards us you wouldn’t do so” (Slime Queen)

…

“I… guess that okay, then?” (Doraig)

Hey! you sure like to blush— Oh.

“Was that a trap?” (Doraig)

“?” (Slime Queen)

“Nothing” (Doraig)

Hmm.. while we’re talking, I might as well ask. we had to rush here and lost the chance to get a healer.

“So… have you leveled up yet?” (Doraig)

“Uh… not yet. I’ve spent the last few days organizing everyone to make sure they can make it alive on their own… we’re a bit too many to be all in one place” (Slime Queen)

“That’s good, then” (Doraig)

“Why?” (Slime Queen)

“Come adventuring with me, then. be my companion” (Doraig)

“With pleasure!” (Slime Queen)

“Great!” (Doraig)

“But…” (Slime Queen)

“Yes?” (Doraig)

“Can you give me a few days for me to teach the rest of things from the tutorial to the little ones?” (Slime Queen)

“Ah, of course” (Doraig)

“If I may ask, what do you want me to do for you?” (Slime Queen)

“I’d like for you to be a healer, can you do that for me?” (Doraig)

“I think I can do it” (Slime Queen)

“Great! thanks, love” (Doraig)

How’d you like that direct hit!

Hit — Success.

“T-then… I will see you later, you may stay in this cave if you wish to” (Slime Queen)

“Sure. by the way, what’s your name? I’d rather call you that instead of Queen” (Doraig)

“I… don’t have a name” (Slime Queen)

“You don’t?” (Doraig)

“Slimes don’t have names, but I guess we will, now. thanks to you” (Slime Queen)

…

“Kelsi” (Doraig)

“?”

“That’s your new name” (Doraig)

“Kelsi…”

“I like it!”

Chapter 11 title: From now on, your name is Kelsi.