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 51: {Evolution} 4

Episode 51: {Evolution} 4

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Skill Details

[Precision Shooting]

• • • • Enhances accuracy of long-range attacks. Improves bullet speed and hit accuracy for long-range attacks.

[Poisoned Hands]

• • • •  When in Poison status, allows you to inflict the same type of Poison on targets you directly attack..

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

After the battle with the Hydra, I obtained two new [Skills].

One is [Precision Shooting]. It seems to be an advanced version of [Sniping] and appears to be easy to use without any particular quirks.

The other is [Poisoned Hands]. This one is, well, a [Skill] with limited applications. Most beasts that use Poison attacks already have resistance to Poison. And for those who don’t, it’s necessary to first inflict Poison on yourself.

It might have some use against humans, but I don’t want to fight humans in the first place. It’s likely to become another skill that gets shelved, like [Swimming] and [Transportation].

“(Hmm, maybe I should try eating it soon.)” 

I mutter while checking my |Life|. Ahead of me lies the Hydra’s corpse. It’s been a few minutes since I defeated it, but I haven’t touched it yet. Until now, I had been focusing on [Self-Regeneration].

Even though the Hydra is dead, the Poison it inflicted is still affecting me, continuously reducing my |Life|. I had been carefully recovering to balance out the amount of reduction. As the Poison diminished and the |Life| reduction slowed down, I decided it was time to eat the Hydra. I figured that even if things got a bit worse now, the Poison wouldn’t kill me instantly.

“(Let’s eat!)” 

I advance through the muddy ground created by [Dominion: Poison Swamp] and head to the Hydra.

I attach myself to the rather grotesque cross-section of the bitten-off head and activate [Decomposition Liquid]. The flesh of the Sovereign Beast is dissolved with a sizzling sound, and I absorb it.

“(!?!)” 

A shock ran through my entire body, and my whole body trembled from the stimulation to my taste buds. The taste of Sovereign Beast meat, my first time eating it, was unlike anything I had ever experienced, even from my time as a human.

“Slaa! Slaa! Slaa!” 

I devour the Hydra eagerly. With each piece of meat and drop of bl00d absorbed, dense |Mana| flowed in. The flavors exploded like fireworks.

“(──… Did I eat too much in my excitement…?)” 

I realized I had consumed an entire head’s worth of meat. However, the Hydra still has four heads and a body remaining. I’ll think about various things while eating.

“(The poison is strong, but… for some reason, I’m okay.)” 

What struck me as odd was that I wasn’t becoming Poisoned. It’s hard to believe that the poison components evaporated after death. The bl00d dripping from the wounds immediately corrupted the plants on the ground.

Hmm, what’s going on? I shouldn’t have any [Skills] that could do that.

“(Ah, maybe it’s this…?)” 

Reviewing my |Status|, I focused on the same [Antibody] as before. It’s a convenient [Skill] that still provides Poison resistance, but the other effect is also noteworthy.

The previous [Skill], [Voracious Eater] had the ability to resist Status Ailments through eating. I think this is preventing me from getting Poisoned.

“(Could it be that absorbing the bl00d’s poison with [Decomposition Liquid] reduced it?)” 

I suddenly remembered the scene where I had bitten off the head.

Well, it’s hard to compare directly since my |Resist| level has increased with <Level Ups>, but maybe I avoided Poison back then as well.

Reflecting on my lack of understanding of [Skills], I next turned my attention to <Level>. I had finally surpassed <Level 100>, making {Evolution} possible.

According to Ergo, this {Evolution} would turn me into a Sovereign Beast like the Forest Turtle. It’s the moment I’ve been waiting for, but… I had some concerns.

“(I hope there aren’t about a hundred options this time…)”

That’s about the number of {Evolution} choices. Last time, the options increased from five to twenty, so it might explode again this time. If that happens, I definitely won’t be able to predict them all.

…Well, there’s no point in worrying. Bring on the evolution choices!

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Possible Evolutions

{The Pristine Gem of One Swing} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

{The Embodiment of Retribution} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

{The Blue Radiance Slicing Through the Dark Night} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

{The Warfire Restraining Spirit Tombstone} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

{The Weapon Born from the Fire of War} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

…Huh? Quite a few options… It feels a bit anticlimactic.

It’s a bit disappointing that there are so few choices, but… for now, let’s look at each one in detail.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Possible Evolutions

{The Pristine Gem of One Swing} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast  

• • • • An environmental type of Jewel Slime that has honed its body and skills with single-minded dedication.

• • • • The lapis lazuli blade it transforms into never breaks or warps, cutting through everything without discrimination.

• • • • Within its [Dominion], everything is subjugated to martial arts and weaponry.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

(Note:

Lapis Lazuli)

Oh, okay… The tone of the description suddenly changed. It used to be more formal.

What’s with the species name “One Swing”? Isn’t that a term for weapons?

The rest of the description is also a bit… quite difficult to understand.

Well, from what I can guess, this seems like an {Evolved} form of Weapon Slime. It transforms its body into a weapon and fights using [Weapon Skills]. It looks purely strong, and the [Dominion] effect fits my combat style quite well, so it seems like a good option.

Let’s check the next one.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Possible Evolutions

{The Embodiment of Retribution} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

• • • • An environmental type of Jewel Slime that has dispensed retribution to countless evils.

• • • • The vicious blades are judged with decapitation, the fierce bullets are countered with silver shots, and the wicked magic hands are met with righteous hammers.

• • • • Within its [Dominion], those who have sinned must be burned by their own sins.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

…Have I really judged evil so much?

Well, if I think about it seriously, this probably came up because I frequently use [Cross Counter]. Although I’m not sure about the criteria for “sinners” in the [Dominion]. If committing murder is automatically considered a sin, it would be quite effective against Sovereign Beasts.

…If killing kin is considered a sin, it might be me who gets burned…

Let’s move on.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Possible Evolutions

{ The Blue Radiance Slicing Through the Dark Night} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

• • • • An environmental type of Jewel Slime that has repeatedly soared through the sky, dazzling even starlight.

• • • • Do not be mesmerized by the blue stars. The moment you forget to escape, the brilliance of the heavens will pierce the earth.

• • • • Within its [Dominion], those who kick the ground are bound to the earth, and those who ride the wind are loved by the heavens.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Another one that’s hard to understand.

I wish the effect of the [Dominion] was explained in a bit more detail. But probably, the [Dominion] works in favor of the species. So, for this species that seems to excel in aerial movement. The [Dominion] might decrease the movement speed of ground-dwelling creatures and increase the movement speed of aerial creatures.

Well, if flying ability improves, it would expand tactical options. So this is also a viable candidate.

Now, what’s next?

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Possible Evolutions

{The Warfire Restraining Spirit Tombstone} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

• • • • An environmental type of Jewel Slime that has compassionately sealed countless weapons, weary of the endless battles of humanity.

• • • • It suppresses all malicious intent and violence, allowing only resolutions through dialogue.

• • • • Within its [Dominion], neither swords, spears, nor even fists can be wielded.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Hmm, this seems to be the legitimate {Evolution} of Jewel Armory Slime. There are elements of compassion and dialogue, which are a bit unclear.

It’s possible that this {Evolution} appeared because I refrained from killing humans and only sealed weapons. The dialogue aspect might involve [Communication] or [Understanding Intent].

Honestly, among all the options so far, this seems the least suited to me. I’m quite combative against Sovereign Beasts.

So, the next one is the last candidate. Let’s see…

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Possible Evolutions

{The Weapon Born from the Fire of War} – Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast

• • • • An environmental type of Jewel Slime that mocks humanity’s endless battles, scattering countless weapons.

• • • • It transforms all materials and resources into weapons, allowing only solutions through force.

• • • • Within its [Dominion], it does not hesitate to destroy with anything, from pens to firewood to pebbles.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

This one is the complete opposite of the previous one, with quite a harsh description. I haven’t mocked humanity.

But it’s strange. This species seems to excel in weapon crafting, but I’ve never made any weapons… Oh, wait, could it be that [Replicant Form] counts as weapon crafting?

…The truth is shrouded in mystery, but what matters is the ability. If I can create weapons myself, it would increase my freedom in the future.

Hmm, it’s tough to choose among these {Evolution} options. After much deliberation, the species I selected is──.