Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 3: Wolf

Episode 3: Wolf

Crack.

“Hmm?”

I heard a sound like a twig snapping from behind. I stopped and focused my attention in that direction. Slimes use the liquid in their bodies to see all around them without moving, but if I’m not paying attention, I only perceive vague outlines.

As I looked behind me, a beast emerged from the shadow of a distant tree.

“Rrraaa…!”

“(A wolf…!?)”

I was shaken seeing the brown-furred quadruped. The wolf is a fearsome magical beast with high |Power| and |Speed|. Its already fierce face was made even wilder with one eye scarred and damaged. That single eye locked onto me with a steely gaze.

This is bad!

I instinctively started running. At the same time, the wolf began its pursuit.

Damn it, how unlucky! To be targeted by a wolf right after being alone!

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Rough Stone Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Escape].

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Is this what they call adrenaline strength? Before I knew it, I was running at a |Speed| that seemed impossible for |Speed: 1|. The scenery was rushing by faster than usual. But that wasn’t enough.

“(What should I do!? What should I do!? What should I do!?!)”

Even with my current performance, my original |Speed: 1| means I can’t shake it off! Moreover, the distance between us is shrinking rapidly.

Is there something, anything I can use── Ah!

An idea struck me, and I ran towards a nearby tree. I hugged it tightly!

“(Damn it, I’ve got to climb up fast!)”

Using the crevices and trunk to pull myself up, I began climbing the tree. In short, I was tree climbing. I hoped the wolf wouldn’t be able to climb, but the problem was that it might attack me before I reached the top.

I need to hurry!

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Rough Stone Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Climbing].

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…Phew, I managed to make it just in time. My |Power| is low, and my body is heavy, so I struggled at first. But somehow it worked out. The trick was to stretch my body flat to increase contact with the bark. Also, I might have been in a kind of “zone” due to the extreme situation.

Even without that, once I got the hang of it, climbing became surprisingly smooth.

“Rrraaa, rraaa!”

It seems the one-eyed wolf can’t climb the tree and is scratching the trunk below. I looked down at it from the branches.

“(…Now that I’m safe, I’m getting really pissed.)”

An intense feeling surged up. It was anger. Why did I have to be chased? I was just trying to be a harmless slime. How dare this mutt do this to me? As soon as my safety was assured, that thought surfaced.

“Slurr, suu-sla! Slaa! Slaasla! (Hey, you crabby bastard who can’t even climb a tree! You’re not scary at all! If you’re frustrated, come up here!)”

I taunted in slime language. I also used the bending of the branches to make small jumps as if to provoke. It felt like stretching.

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Rough Stone Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Provocation].

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“Rrraaa… Garrr!”

Though it’s unlikely it understood the words, it seemed to catch the mocking intent. The wolf bared its teeth at me with a glare.

Feeling encouraged, I jumped higher to taunt it further.

—Crack!

“(Nooo!?)”

The branch broke!

It couldn’t support my jump! Without any flight ability, I was falling naturally. Looking down, I saw the wolf with its mouth open like a hungry chick waiting for food.

Ah, no, I’m going to be eaten!

The wolf’s mouth is coming closer. What do I do, think fast, it’s bad, can’t do anything──

Caught off guard, I could only curl up and brace myself.

As I fell, the wolf’s fangs clamped down.

—Crunch, crunch, crack!

A dull sound echoed.

“Uuurrgh…”

“(…Huh?)”

I had braced myself for death, but I was still alive. The impact of something heavy falling made a loud thud. To assess the situation and ensure my safety, I crawled out from the narrow, dark confines of the wolf’s mouth and looked around.

The wolf had collapsed on the ground. Its neck was twisted in an unnatural direction, and its broken fangs were visible in its half-open mouth.

“(C-could it be that my weight broke its fangs…?)”

The Rough Stone Slime’s body is about the size and weight of a bowling ball. If something like that falls from a tree, it’s clear that it would have quite an impact. If it tried to swallow me directly, it wouldn’t be surprising if its fangs broke and its neck got twisted.

And it seems my |Toughness: 152| was enough to withstand such an impact.

…Given that, I didn’t really need to escape so desperately…

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Rough Stone Slime} has acquired the [Skill: Crushing].

>> [Best Harvest] has been activated.

>> Soul Accumulation Level has increased to 7.

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