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 111: The Jewel Mole

Episode 111: The Jewel Mole

The Sovereign Beast below had a body that resembled a cross between a mole and an anteater.  

It seemed to be in the middle of a meal, chewing noisily.  

Its most notable feature was its unusually long claws.  

They were sharp like rapiers and easily sliced through the gems growing around it as if they were jelly. There was no doubt about their sharpness.  

After cutting a gem, it stabbed it and brought it to its mouth. Its jaws were strong enough to crush the gemstone.  

It licked up the gem fragments that fell with its long tongue and then brought another gem to its mouth.  

Perhaps because of this diet, its fur was adorned with dazzling jewels.  

As a former Jewel Slime who is now just a uniform marine blue, I felt a slight sense of defeat.  

“(──Well, that doesn’t matter right now.)”  

I switched my focus to battle.  

Then, I activated one of the newly evolved [Skills] from the three consecutive Sovereign Beast fights.  

“([Super Jump]!)”  

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~Skill Details~

[Super Jump] 

• • • • • • • • Enhances jumping power when leaping. Allows jumping in mid-air. Enables jumps with power beyond limits.

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This skill had an effect similar to [Powerful Throw]. By pouring excessive physical strength into it, it boosts performance.  

However, [Super Jump] has far better efficiency. It’s also more versatile. With [Super Jump], you can decide how much physical strength to use.  

“(Although this time it doesn’t matter; I’m going all out!)”  

RRrrrrr…..! 

I kicked the air with more force than usual

I used twice my usual physical strength, resulting in about twice the jumping power.  

Since it just evolved, this is the current limit. But as I become more proficient, the maximum output will gradually increase.  

At the moment of taking off, I activated another new [Skill].  

“([Explosive Charge]!)”  

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~Skill Details~

[Explosive Charge] 

• • • • • • • • Enhances leg strength during a charge. Increases the power of the charge. Enables explosive acceleration.  

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“Enables explosive acceleration.” Although the description is astonishingly simple, the effect is quite powerful.  

With this [Skill], you can achieve full speed from the first step.  

Now, even in close combat where there is no room for a run-up, I can launch a powerful charge.  

Combined with [Super Jump], I can instantly close the gap, as in this case.  

The shining gems turned into streaks of light as they flowed upward.  

Upon entering the [Dominion] of the Jewel Mole, a shockwave occurred. But the next moment, I had already surpassed it.  

With less than a hundred meters left to the target, I swung the mimicked forest hammer. At my current speed, this timing should be perfect.  

I didn’t use a [Weapon Skill]—partly because it’s easier to align the timing, but mainly because it wasn’t necessary.  

This last [Skill] made it so.  

“([Divine Staff]!)”  

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~Skill Details~

[Divine Staff] 

• • • • • • • • When performing a direct attack using one’s own weight, enhances the power. Increases fall speed. Upon landing, the shock received can be transferred to the collision target.  

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In that instant, the world stopped.  

The scenery that had been flowing rapidly came to a halt. And in its place, the Jewel Mole struck by the forest hammer forcefully embedded itself into the ground.  

Reverse shock. That is the power of [Divine Staff].  

The recoil that would normally be absorbed is instead directed at the enemy, effectively doubling the impact force.  

Due to the mysterious nature of the [Skill], I can’t keep falling indefinitely. But even just doubling the power of a falling attack makes it a formidable threat.  

The Jewel Mole was crushed with its upper body, at the center of a crater, with bl00d blossoming. It gives a clear idea of its devastating power.  

.   

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

>> The Weapon Born from the Fire of War (?), Fuwa Katsu’s Soul Accumulation Level has increased to 264.

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

“(Whew, one down──)”  

Then, the ground collapsed.  

“(Not again!?)”  

I screamed at the déjà vu-inducing situation. I was surprised to find that there was still more beneath us.  

However, since the same thing had just happened moments ago, I responded quickly.  

I [Super Jumped] to a nearby wall and hung from it by embedding a forest chain.  

While I was exasperated by how full of holes this area was, I noticed a light shining through the falling Jewel Mole.  

“(Huh?)”  

The light was leaking through a crack. It was stronger than the gemstones growing around here.  

Thinking there might be more strongly glowing gems below, I focused on the crumbling ground.  

“(What?)”  

For a moment, I saw a sight that left my mind blank.  

I concentrated my vision to see if it was some sort of hallucination, but the scenery remained unchanged.  

As the hole widened, the amount of visual information increased.  

Beyond the bottom of the vertical shaft, there was a vast open space.  

There was a grassland, a hill, an underground lake, and in the center where mysterious light poured down—a gigantic city.  

“(There.)”

I landed in the vast space that appeared below the vertical shaft.  

The distance from the hole to the ground was several buildings’ worth, but I mimicked about ten floating swords made from Rock Bird materials within my body, infused them with ample |Mana|, and generated enough buoyancy to descend slowly.  

“A grassland…?”

“…Yeah, unbelievably. There’s even a river, not just soil.”

I answered Fisu, who had accompanied me here.  

Low grass spread out below the hole, and a river flowed nearby, originating from the underground lake.  

And the sky—on the ceiling of the cave, something like a sun was shining brightly.  

“There’s a sun even underground…! I didn’t know…!”

“I didn’t know either…”

As Fisu marveled beside me, I collected the body of the falling Jewel Mole.  

It had ended up in a minced state, but its hard claws on its limbs were still intact. I’ll make sure to turn these into proper weapons someday.  

Though, I’m starting to have a backlog of materials waiting to be processed.  

“Katsu, what should we do? Where do we go next!?”

She asked excitedly.  

Unlike her usual calm demeanor, she now seemed more in line with her age.  

“Let’s see—”

Just as I was about to answer, feeling a sense of endearment—  

From the city built over the small hill, under the ‘sun’ (?), a |Mana| projectile was fired.