Chapter 2 - Laying Down a Claim

After extensive research (You mean asking the children?), I realized it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. I mean it was bad but not as hellfire death fog bad.

It wasn't impossible for me to level up. In fact there were a few clearings of low level monsters just barely out of town. The problem was if I wanted to level up even higher I had to join the army. The army that if you joined you didn't leave until you died basically.

I ain't nobody's bitch or dog. Not happening. No selling my soul for me.

There were also way too many restricted zones for my liking. I couldn't go ten feet out of the church without hearing a "You should turn back now" "I wouldn't go there if I were you" "Do I need to get the Mother?".

Heck when I asked the kids (Finally admitting you didn't do much work?) if there were any more 'Blessed' in this dear old village of ours. Can you guess it? Yeah, I'm the only one.

I'm alone. With no one to curb my boredom in a stupid closed off way too high level village.

Gahhhhhhhhhhhh.

I need to go kill something to vent my rage.

Except, I can't. Cause, lo and behold, I don't have a single weapon to my name. I don't even have any skills or spells. Plus I have this odd feeling that even the low level monsters are overpowered here. Time to go to the Library to try and learn some skills!

Which reminds me...................I still haven't looked at my status window even once, so I don't even know what kind of skills I should get.

"Status"

A blue window pops up after the simple command is spoken.

Status WindowName:Lafayette Ellywn DreizelRace:Spirit GnomeGender:FFame:0Level:0Experience:0(100)Guild:n/aSpouse:n/aJob:Chore TakerAlignmentGood:[Unknown]Neutral:[Unknown]Evil:[Unknown]TitlesNoneStatsHealth:135 / 135H. Recovery:10 per min.Magic:175 / 175M. Recovery:18 per min.Energy:165 / 165E. Recovery:21 per min.P. Attack:12M. Attack:36P. Defense:10M. Defense:8Speed:2Dexterity:5AttributesAgility:11Charisma:18Intelligence:18Luck:[Unknown]Resilience:12Stamina:9Strength:6Wisdom:5Unattributed Attributes Points:0Elemental ResistancesFire:-30%Lightning:0%Metal:0%Water:0%Wind:0%Wood:30%(+5%)Light:0%Darkness:0%Earth:0%Moon:0%Sun:0%Life:30%

Well then, I seem to be magic oriented. Seriously a 6 in strength? There goes my plans for a Berserker path. I'll have to put that plan hold it seems.

Oh well because it seems I'm gonna be a damn good magic user.

Which means time to get me some spells. Onward! To the Library we go!

It didn't take long for me to show up in front of the grandiose building. In order to get here I had to ignore a few more than happy people telling me to go back. The walls of the building made out of the very plants on the ground, weaving themselves into an intricate design. A steep staircase leading up to wide oaken doorway.

Taking the steps two or three at a time, I got to the doors within a minute. My breath a light pant as I placed my hands on the warm wood. Giving the door a slight push warranted me a stern a clear, "Stop!"

A "Huh?" is all I had to say.

A large hulking figure, decked out in a suave attire. A three piece suit hugged his body showing off his favoring body. Small glasses just barely shown peaking out of his pocket. Lean and taut, his muscles bulged as he made his way over to me. "Leave Youngling. A puny looking gnome such as yourself won't find anything of use in my Library."

My Library. Seriously? This buff guy is trying to tell me that he's a librarian. And not just any librarian, the Head Librarian. The thought sends me into stunned silence, which he seems to take as his cue to push me down the stairs.

Once we're at the bottom, I break out of my stupor. No way this guy going to prevent me from gaining skills that can either make or break my character. "Um, sir. May you please let me look in your Library. I need to get myself some skills so I can be, as you put it, not such a "puny looking gnome".

"No need. You couldn't even use the skills located in this building even if you tried. Go to the kiddy library and learn your skills there."

"Kiddy Library? I'll have you know that I am a full fledged adult! I refuse to go to some children's library when there is a perfectly good one right in front of me!"

"You are not allowed into the Library and if I get any more complaints from you I'll ban you from ever being able to go inside."

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhh. Okay then, bye."

Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. That was close I almost lost my membership to the Library. It seems I'm going to have to settle for the children's library. Which as I just realized, I didn't ask where it was located. Let's go back to the church to do some investigating.

Which was a good thing because as it turns out the church is where the children's library is situated. The books were mostly composed of picture books it seemed.

That didn't stop me though! I looked through every single picture book to try and find at least one little spell. I even nabbed a few intelligence points while I was at it.

Reading them all didn't even take me 2 hours, but time to look at my spoils.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:GlowOrange10%A low level spell that illuminates the user causing them to glow and light up their surroundings. May attract unwanted attention if caught by someone in the dark. 5 ft visibility.Cost:10 M. per minute

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Gardener's TouchOrange10%A low level version of the Ivy-Turtle's Divine ability . Plants growth speed can be sped up and controlled by wielder's thoughts. The more you force the growth though, the weaker the plant becomes.Cost:10 M. per foot of growth

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:HealingOrange10%A low level life spell that speeds up the body's natural healing process. Regenerates 10 Health per minute(lasts for 5 minutes).Cost:15 M.

Yayyyyyyyyyyyy! Spells! And such nice spells too.

Whom I kidding these spells suck. And they're the lowest of the low level Orange spells too. None of them are even combat skills. I might as well call myself a crappy cleric if I only have these to call my spells.

I don't even care anymore. I'm gonna go vent my rage on the lowest of the low monsters in the clearings. Slimes.

Finding my way to their little patch of heaven didn't take all that long. A clearing made in order to breed slimes just for us low level people. Its got some pretty views to it too. With a creak dropping down into a decent sized pond, splashing about in a little waterfall. Stones scattered about so that the slimes could relax as they waited for their fate.

The slimes being clear little tiny blobs barely able to fill my hands bounced about at a jolly pace around the field. A pair of eyes, wide with pure thoughts of the world. Gosh, they are so adorable. "Screenshot." Whew. That should curb my adwarable stomach for the day.

Awwwwwwwwww. One of the bigger slimes is rubbing against one of the smaller ones. It's probably its mamma or papa.

Nope.

Nevermind, I think I'm gonna be sick. It just ate it! Gahhhhhhhh. There goes the fuzzies as well as my breakfast.

I don't feel bad anymore about killing these wide-eyed blobs that hop around making those adorable boing boing noises. Okay, maybe I feel a little bit bad. But seriously, I just saw another slime eat another slime.

Okay, no more putting it off.

I sneak behind the unsuspecting cannibalistic blob and ,"!"

Grass blades around the slime swiftly grew and held the blob down. Preventing its squishy exterior from moving away, the strands hard making indents against its skin.

The slime didn't seem to be hurt by it though. What I assume to be discomfort caused the slime to make an adorable chain of grunting squeaks. Its body soon found its way outside the blades causing the grass to look like modern art, not an attempt at a trap.

Crap well that didn't work. Those cute eyes of its have also become slits so double crap. I've succeeded in upsetting a monster I can't injure. One that's making its tumbling way over to me. Kyahhhhhhh, so cute!

This was a bad decision. Why'd I choose to fight creatures that no matter how hard I try, I can't help but scream in my heart at their adorableness.

Ugh. Its gotten closer. Let's just try that grass thing again.

"!"

The grass once more surrounded it, resulting in the same thing happening. Now the slime just seemed even more pissed, I could even see its veins popping (in your head).

"No! Stop it! You're making too cute of a face! I'm not gonna be able to stop myself from hugging you if you keep this up!"

"! ! ! There! Now you shouldn't be able to move!" I wipe away some (non existing) sweat to emphasize my point.

-a 'few' minutes later-

A 'few' extra popping veins were added onto the slime face? and my magic was almost entirely gone. I had about enough for one more time, which caused me to kind of not be willing to use it.

Along with the fact that the pouting face dawning the face went from cute to dawwwwwwwwww. Against all reason and any sane thoughts that should have been there, I gave up resisting my baser needs.

I hugged the puppy sized ball of goop.

Which was surprisingly warm. And squishy. My god, I need one of these. I must have it. I didn't even notice its squeaks dying in my embrace.

I pull it away from my chest, holding it out to stare deep into its bulbous eyes.

"You're mine now."

In response its clear liquid turned a light cherry pink.

****************************************************

All my life, I've lived a normal life. At times I'd hand out with my friends, while at others, I'd go out with my family. I played a decent amount of video games or read a book here or there to curb some boredom.

For a few years, I played around in a variety of different sports. Soccer and Track being my favorites as well as the only ones I've continued doing. One for fall and one for spring.

At the end of the soccer season, I saw a commercial for a new kind of video game. Looking it up I decided to try it out.

When it came out, I went to the store and bought the best one I could with the amount of money I had. It wasn't the best but it'd do for killing some time and just enjoying myself.

Set up being as easy as it was, I found myself already at the character creation process.

A pleasant voice came out of nowhere, saying the Freestyle slogan and asking me if I wanted to begin to make my character.

I answered with a simple, "Yes."

"Of the twelve main races; Angels, Beastmen, Demons, Divine Beasts, Elementals, Elves, Fairies, Gnomes, Humans, Orcs, and Undead, which would to like to start as?" Twelve figures showing up as the question the voice asked. One of each race and the default form my character would look like if I chose that race.

Looking at them all together kind of overwhelmed me, so I jokingly said, "Are there any other races I could be outside of these?"

Not expecting a reply, I was surprised I got one. And a serious one at that.

"Why, yes there are. You can choose to go random and become any of the races whether or not they have become unlocked or not. It is also possible to have your personality scanned and a race assigned that would fit your personality."

Maybe due to the excitement from starting a new game, I decided to try something a little crazy. I hope I get something good.

"I'll try random please."

"Random race selected. Without knowing what your race is, do you have any preference to where your starting point is located?"

"Not really, but could you make sure it's a place I could relax at?"

A smile probably came to the voice's face because its next sentence sounded a little bit cheerful. "I'll try to find you one that fits your preference then."

"Now what would you like your name to be?"

"Hm. Let's go with something simple so that it can fit any race. How about Slash?"

"Slash it is. Would you like to have a middle name as well?"

"Not really. Do I need one?"

"No, but it helps differentiate your character from another."

"Then I don't think I need one."

"Okay. Your character generation has now begun. May you find your wings and become the person you were meant to be."

(Meanwhile Leah is still in the middle of customizing her character.)

*****

At that, the world went dark and I soon found myself standing beneath a crystalline stalactite. Liquid seemed to come from within the crystal and for some reason, I knew this piece of rock was what 'made' me.

How does that even work? My race is probably at work there.

"Squeak. (Status)"

Status WindowName:Slash SteelwaterRace:SlimeGender:MFame:0Level:0Experience:0(100)Guild:n/aSpouse:n/aJob:SlackerAlignmentGood:[Unknown]Neutral:[Unknown]Evil:[Unknown]TitlesNoneStatsHealth:195 / 195H. Recovery:46 per min.Magic:75 / 75M. Recovery:1 per min.Energy:160 / 160E. Recovery:20 per min.P. Attack:36M. Attack:2P. Defense:10M. Defense:7Speed:1Dexterity:1AttributesAgility:4Charisma:18Intelligence:1Luck:[Unknown]Resilience:8Stamina:13Strength:18Wisdom:6Unattributed Attributes Points:0Elemental ResistancesFire:10%Lightning:-10%Metal:0%Water:30%Wind:0%Wood:-10%Light:0%Darkness:0%Earth:0%Moon:0%Sun:0%Life:0%

I had to check my status twice just to be sure that I wasn't hallucinating.

"Plop. Squish. Boing Boing. Squeak Plop. Boing. (Wow. Wasn't expecting that, I'm a slime. Goes to explain the awkward birthing process. Wonder where Steelwater came from too. A town?)"

Town name’s are a secret in Freestyle. The more remote and secretive the area the greater reward. You found out the name of one of the harder to discover areas.

+1,000 fame +100 Exp.

"Squish! Plop Boing! (Shit! Wasn't really expecting that!)"

A plop happened and I found myself no longer alone in the cave.

"Squeak Squeak? (Brother, what are you still doing here?)"

"Squeak. Squeak Boing Squeak? (Sorry, I got distracted. Do you want to join me in going outside of here?)"

"Plop! (Sure!)"

We hopped our way slowly out of the cave. Bouncing is both an exhausting as well as slow method of travel. Once we did finally leave, I found out the place my slime self would call home is quite beautiful.

The two of us came out of a hole in a wall hidden behind the trinkling of a little waterfall spilling into a body of water. Slimes lounged about talking to each other about various things in our expressive language. The sun hung high in the sky highlighting the peaceful scene.

Dang, that AI knows how to choose a place. It seems like the perfect place to relax. Fluffy grass and water to cool off in after soaking up the sun.

Before I relax though, I should probably level up a little. Who knows what's around here that could harm my level 0 self. How does a slime level up anyway? I might as well ask my sister? brother? that's right next to me.

"Squeak. Boing Squeak Squeak Plop. (Hey. This is gonna seem like a weird question, but how do we get stronger?)"

"Plop? Squeak. Boing Boing Squish. (Stronger? Oh you mean leveling. It's easy you gain experience by absorbing various things.)"

"Boing! (Thanks!)"

Hhmm. Absorbing things to make us stronger? What about beating up other monsters? Maybe slimes are pacifists. Too bad from the monsters, I'm not.

During my journey to try and get to the edge of the area. I mysteriously fell causing me to roll. Doing so caused to learn that rolling makings you both move faster and uses up less energy than hopping. The only problem being that it made me dizzy.

When it took me two hour rolling to get only halfway across the field, I decided it a better idea to try and absorb things first and then try and fight things.

Problem being that, now that I made my way so far out from the water. The only things around me were rocks and other slimes.

Thinking about absorbing others slimes made me feel like it'd be a form of cannibalism, so I wasn't really so willing to try. Instead I made my way to the nearest rock.

Attempting to absorb them didn't turn out very well though. No matter how close I got, my membrane wouldn't take the shitty rock inside so I could break it down. I kept trying it over and over again. Pressing my liquid form harder against the stone to force it to work.

Success! The rock came into my body! A ding rang in my ears to confirm my accomplishment.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:BypassOrange15%Through extensive efforts, you have successfully created the skill to go around any obstacle in your path. Due to your liquid body, you do so by manipulating your membrane to allow more free control of your body.Cost:15 E.

Well, that's not what I wanted, but I think it'll come in handy some day.

I look towards another slime not even a foot away from me. Sigh, I don't really want to do this, but I guess this is the only way I'm going to get stronger.

"Squeak. Squeak. Plop Squeak. (Sorry brother. Sister. Whatever you are.)"

Getting closer to my relative, I tried to do the same thing I did with the rock. After a while it worked, much to the other's slimes dislike. Various noises echoed out as I finally finished absorbing the slime. I discovered my membrane became thicker as it absorbed my, we're going to go with brother, and my form grew slightly.

Once I was done, a ding rang in my ear. Probably giving me a new skill or something. Instead of looking at it, I went to the closest slime.

Why didn't you run? Surely you heard the screams, squeaks.

This time the process went faster and there were less protests came out. Eventually, there the squeaks ended and I became stronger once again. My feelings becoming numb to the process. Dings going off that I didn't care about as I moved on. Find a slime. Absorb. Go on to find another slime.

Around the twenty something slime, a figure broke through a hanging tree towards the area that I had planned to leave through earlier. Amazement flashed across the woman's face as she drank in the sight of the clearing. I continued to make my way over to my prey even though the figure intrigued me.

Once I started to absorb my relative, the girl started to squeal. Causing me to take longer than normal out of surprise. My victim got a few squeaks out because of it.

"Squeak. Boing Plop. (Sorry. I didn't want you to suffer.)"

I look back at the figure in rage. Except the figure was no longer by the exit.

"!"

The grass around me grew really fast all of a sudden. I look towards the figure that obviously just used an ability on me.

"Squeak! Boing Boing? Plop Squeak! (Hey! You're a 'Blessed' right? Why are you using a skill on me!)"

"Plop. Boing Squeak. Plop. Squeak! (Wait. Maybe she thinks I'm a monster. If I use a skill maybe she'll understand. !)"

As I speak and go around the grass, the girl just continues staring at me with stars in her eyes. And why'd she have to use a skill against me. Can't she tell that I'm clearly different than the other slimes.

I even have a different color of liquid, I mean it's not that obvious but my insides are a slightly darker shade than the rest.

"!"

She did it again? This is starting to get annoying. It's time to teach her a lesson. "Squeak! (Bypass!)"

Getting around the plants easily, I start to roll closer and closer to her against her continuous uses of the stupid ass skill and crazy words. No matter how much grass grows around me I continued to get closer to her.

By the time I wasn't even a foot from her, she seemed to be tired and panting a little from the exertion.

I was unable to react when she lounged toward me and scooped me up into her arms. Not knowing what to do in the woman's embrace squished up against all her soft curves.

If I didn't become pink from this, I'd be surprised. Got to calm myself down. There's nothing weird about a woman's body. Nothing at all. Not even the light pine scent rolling through her hair and the soft lumps I'm pressed up against.

Damn, now I'm jealous of my slime self. As I had this thought, the woman pulled me away from her warm embrace. Whew. Calm down self.

She then started to stare deep into my eyes. Did she finally figure out that I'm a player?

"You're mine now."

Did she just claim me? If I wasn't blushing before, I totally am now.