Al sat a midst a group of slimes. These greenish blob of encased fluid bounced and slid, caring less about the human that was in the middle of them all. He was deep in thought. Going through the list of class as he figured that it was time to make his decision.

One minute of cast time? Then that’s a big no for me. From what Jack told him, mage class carried a tremendous potential in firepower which was balanced by their long-winded casting duration. In Al’s case, a minute standing still was like a death sentence. It would be fine if it was a one hit KO, but what if he missed? Or what if the spell didn’t deal enough damage? Thus setting up the second spell would make him wide open to whatever enemy he would be facing.

He saddened a bit knowing he had to miss the mage class. Truth to be told, who wouldn’t want to wield the arcane like in one of those big-budget films. But he had to let go of his dream, prioritizing his desire to live.

Surprisingly, rogue had the worst review by Raj, Al thought. Those who chose rogue obtained a few utility-based skill, none that would help in a combat situation. Picking locks, and sleight of hand weren’t the type of skill Al was looking forward to.

While summoner and tamer shared the same idea behind the class, fighting with allies by their side. The concept was tempting for Al. For someone inflicted by a curse to stay alone, having allies did brighten his mood a bit. Yet the review from Raj was rather disheartening. The strength of the class heavily relied on the allies that fought side by side with them with both class having their own complicated way of gaining a stronger ally. In case of tamer, their level rate was rather stunted by the appearance of their beast familiar. Raj made a careful observation over the different group he was overseeing, and made a conclusion that a tamer’s experience acquisition was split between the tamer and the familiar.

This Raj is freaking incredible. How the hell did he get all of this data through a single night? Did all of these people kept on grinding on those naked mole rats through the whole night?

These people were nothing short of amazing, and it showed that when a person really dug deep in the things they liked, then anything was possible. Right now, Al was favoring the summoner and tamer class. But a big contender crept from behind. Unlike what he thought, the smith class drew his attention. After that incident with the Amazonian bra, he saw a light where he could survive in the presence of other humans especially if the human had any ill intent towards him.

A ten point boost was a lot, and if he had more equipment with such caliber then he didn’t need to fear so much when being among his fellow people. The question was whether he had the balls to take on this unknown risk. A production class would no doubt be a class without any heightened combat prowess, relying solely on the strength of a person total stats. So Al had to make a choice.

…

“Fuck it, I choose you then,” Al said. Focusing his mind at that single word on the list.

[Congratulation! You are now a Tamer.]

[Acquired Taming skill.]

[Acquired Training skill.]

His path was now set in stone, and Al was determined to make the best out of it. He looked through the new skills he obtained.

[Taming(Lv.1); Domesticating a beast to fall under the user’s banner. Successful taming allow the beast to understand the user’s command.

Success rate in taming a beast higher than the user’s level is currently at 5%.

Maximum beast slot(Wisdom + Charisma): 0/10.]

[Training(Lv.1); Enhance a beast capability in executing a complex plan from the user. Allow quick command based on training spent with the beast. Success of unlocking beast’s potential is currently at 1%.]

“Straightforward I guess,” Al said. He changed his sight at the slimes around him, and found his first potential ally. The knowledge that seemed to be embedded in the deepest part in his brain guided Al in what to do.

His hand hovered above a passing slime as an intricate rune emerged on his hand. Glowing chains erupted from his open palm as they shackled the slime in place. Yet it stayed motionless. Unnerved as if the shackles were like a warm embrace.

[You have tamed Green Slime(Lv.1)]

He opened the Green Slime’s status window.

Green Slime (Lv.1)

Rank: Common

Personality: Lax

Evolution: Not Possible

Attacking Power: 1

Defensive Power: 1

Speed: 1

Intelligence: 1

Skill: Disintegration. Physical Damage Reduction.

He did not expect much from a slime, but it was good enough for him. The important thing was, he now knew that these monsters could elevate themselves to a higher species, and right now he just needed to find the one that could evolve.

Al kept using the taming skill, building an army of green slimes under his command. Unlucky for him, none of them could evolve. But it was fine. For now he prioritized getting levels as it was the first step of his survival.

Left and right, slimes were still in a dozen. They still ignored Al’s presence and even with the slimes that sided with the human, the roaming slimes still didn’t bat an eye.

“Attack,” Al said. Giving his command as all the slimes under his wing bounced slowly towards the nearest slimes within their vicinity. He imagined a bloody battle between ferocious beasts, but slimes were a different matter. It was slow and calm as if taking a stroll in the park.

Yet the fight between slimes headed towards an unexpected direction. Two or three of his slimes jumped at a single enemy slime. They were not punching or kicking one another as the way their fight were rather unorthodox. They were assimilating with one another as their cores were clashing inside the green fluid and Al saw it all.

A few minutes later, ten slimes ended up with four, and it was not your normal slimes. “They evolve?” Al questioned. Four slimes stood before him. They were bigger and their levels showed it.

Green Slime (Lv.4)

Rank: Common

Personality: Lax

Evolution: Not Possible

Attacking Power: 1

Defensive Power: 2

Speed: 1

Intelligence: 2

Skill: Disintegration. Physical Damage Reduction.

The increase in stats weren’t much, but it showed progression. The slimes weren’t actually evolving, but rather growing. He checked his beast slot, and another six opened up once more. And it got him thinking.

“Combine,” Al said.

Two and two, and they did as told. Two big slimes stood side by side, their heights reaching Al’s waist. It went according to Al’s expectation.

Green Slime (Lv.6)

Rank: Common

Personality: Docile

Evolution: Not Possible

Attacking Power: 2

Defensive Power: 3

Speed: 1

Intelligence: 2

Skill: Disintegration. Physical Damage Reduction.

“Again,” he said. The slimes complied, gelling together. Amassing an incredible size of a slime as Al’s first ally now stood in height right above his belly button. Rather than its height, its width showed its mass.

Green Slime (Lv.7)

Rank: Common

Personality: Docile

Evolution: Not Possible

Attacking Power: 2

Defensive Power: 4

Speed: 1

Intelligence: 3

Skill: Disintegration. Physical Damage Reduction.

“Incredible,” Al said. Reaching with his hand at his sole slime. It was soft, and squishy. Reminding him about the slime toy he once had, but bigger.

Looking around, they were a few more slimes roaming, and a brilliant idea came up. He moved across the clearing, taming one slime after another with a face full of glee. But by time he tamed the fourth one, a sudden spell of dizziness assaulted, bringing him to his knees. The dizziness lasted for a second before replaced by an skull-splitting headache. Al squirmed on the ground for a few seconds, screaming without a sound, eyes rolled back.

Then he fainted.