Chapter 08: Acquired Abilities
I finally came out under the sun.
It seems I don’t melt or get burned by the sunlight like a vampire.
Actually, my instincts as a monster tell me that such actions are dangerous.
Even knowing this, I often end up doing it.
I can’t smile.
I should try to improve as much as I am aware.
The cave seemed to be inside the forest.
There was a hole opened up on a hill that could be called a small rise.
Surrounded by large trees, the hill was quite noticeable.
How should I put it, only there can you see the sun. Just one step into the forest, and it would immediately turn dark.
On top of the hill, there was a suspicious shape etched.
It had an atmosphere like a magic circle.
"A gentleman does not approach danger."
I quickly moved away from that place.
I’ve been out of the cave for some time now.
It seems the day is coming to an end.
I left the cave exactly at noon.
My internal clock is so accurate that it’s surprising; I want to adjust it to tell the date.
Thinking that, it naturally changed.
It’s currently a little past 4 PM.
It’s time to prepare dinner, but unfortunately, I don’t need to eat.
I can eat, but without knowing the taste, it feels pointless.
I thought about eating.
The monsters I devoured inside the cave.
I’ve newly acquired these abilities, but I had left them unused after interpreting them.
Black snake…『Heat Detection, Poison Breath』
Centipede monster…『Paralyzing Breath』
Large spider…『Sticky Thread, Steel Thread』
Vampire bat…『Bloodsucking, Ultrasonic』
Armored lizard…『Body Armor』
The black snake’s skill, 『Poison Breath』, couldn’t be used effectively.
Actually, I used it when the armored lizard appeared, pretending to be the black snake.
When I did, the lizard’s armor melted!
The lizard started to melt and dissolve, a rare and grotesque sight. I don’t want to think about it.
I thought,
If an adventurer encountered this black snake, they would be wiped out without even having the chance to use magic.
Eh? If it was used on me?
There’s no need to think about that, and I don’t want to.
The preemptive attack was the right choice! That’s my answer.
Such a dangerous breath attack is too powerful and dangerous.
More than that, it’s grotesque, and I don’t want to think about it.
I didn’t want to see the grotesque remains of the lizard, which looked like its insides were spilled out, so I completely dissolved it with 『Poison Breath』.
What if I used it in a slime form?
The range was about half.
The range was about 7-10 meters when the snake was at its full size, but if I don’t mimic it, it’s about 1 meter.
Do you want to see your opponent melt at such close range?
This skill is sealed.
However, 『Heat Detection』 is excellent.
Most living things emit heat.
If I combine this skill with 『Magic Detection』, I can probably prevent most ambushes.
However, I can’t be complacent, as I don’t know what magic or special skills a person or a wise upper-level monster might use.
Next is the centipede.
Its appearance is something I don’t want to mimic.
The breath attack range is almost the same as the black snake, and the size is about the same.
As expected, the range was about 1 meter when used in a slime form.
However, using the paralyzing breath as a surprise attack might be good.
But, if I get close to the enemy within 1 meter, I either need to mimic or run away, or it’s a guaranteed loss.
Lizard.
Armor that can be easily melted by the poison breath.
I can’t rely on it.
To be honest, I have physical attack resistance, so it doesn’t seem very meaningful.
I tried using it without mimicking, in a slime form.
The surface hardened.
It’s like a metal slime from a popular RPG.
The thin blue body turned a blue-silver-metallic color.
I don’t want to experiment with taking damage, so I don’t know the effect.
But, the color is beautiful.
It might be useful to scare the opponent.
That’s the extent of these three monsters’ abilities.
The problem is the remaining two.
These two abilities are interesting.
What piqued my interest...
First, the spider.
Do you know the existence of a hero with spider abilities?
With a "Pew!" sound, they shoot out a thread from their wrist to support their body, leap over high-rise buildings.
That famous man.
The skill 『Sticky Thread』 is probably meant to surround prey and restrict their movement.
But, if I use it, can I replicate that movement?
I quickly experimented.
Aiming at a large tree branch...
Pew! ...Swing???
So, it was the explanation for 『Steel Thread』.
『Sticky Thread』? What is that? A skill for hanging? I don’t know.
That’s why, 『Steel Thread』.
This is used to block the opponent’s attack.
It seems to be used when making a nest to create a favorable situation (maze)...
I tried using a thin thread to whip a tree.
Snap!
It bounced off lightly.
But, with 『Magic Detection』, I can clearly see the thin thread, which is hard to detect with the naked eye.
With practice, I can probably use it as a weapon.
I decided to practice repeatedly as a future task.
Finally, the bat.
I had the most expectations for this bat.
The 『Bloodsucking』 skill? It allows me to temporarily use 10% of the abilities of the target I suck blood from.
It’s a good skill regardless.
It’s highly effective for devouring. Calling it a heat skill is a bit silly.
I don’t really want to suck blood.
I’ll collect data and leave the 『Bloodsucking』 ability unused.
My interest lies in 『Ultrasonic』.
This skill can disorient or make the target unconscious, but it’s originally a location detection skill.
Just like bats in the original world, it uses sound to locate targets.
The important thing here is the vocal organ.
The skill itself is good regardless.
I’ll start by reproducing the organ that generates 『Ultrasonic』 in my slime body.
It’s not about manipulating my body from scratch, but I’m lucky to be able to absorb a monster with a useful function as a reference.
This might allow me to obtain the method of vocalization.
I continued my research, sparing even my sleeping time.
Well, I don’t really need to sleep...
After three days and nights of continuous research without sleeping or resting...
"We are the people of the universe!"
Success!
It’s a distorted sound made by hitting my throat in front of a fan, but I definitely succeeded in vocalization!
From here, it’s just a matter of adjustment!
I calmed my eager heart and started adjusting my vocal cords.
But, the ultrasonic is quite useful.
It seems there was a weapon like a sound wave cannon.
A Sonic Buster or Sonic Blaster, perhaps?
Is it possible?
【Answer. There is a possibility of the skill 『Ultrasonic』 evolving into 『Vibration』. However, it is currently unobtainable.】
It needs to evolve or change.
The information is too limited right now, so it seems impossible.
"By emitting a vibration wave that resonates with the target's natural frequency, destroy the target" or something like that, if it were possible with a strong creature...
To be honest, I can’t understand the meaning myself, so I can’t use it.
I guess I’m too greedy.
It’s good to have many cards in hand, but there’s no need to rush.
Just obtaining the vocal organ is a satisfactory result.
Thus, I continued my journey while conducting various experiments.
There’s no reliable map or anything.
The goal is also vague.
I thought I would try talking to a kind human if I came across a village or settlement...
But, these few days have been incredibly peaceful.
Monsters attacked frequently inside the cave, but outside, they hardly attack at all.
Once, while practicing vocalization, I was attacked by wolves.
"Aaaa?"
I made a threatening sound,
"Kya????ing!!!"
and they ran away with a pitiful scream.
There were four of them, each over 2 meters long, larger than ordinary large dogs...
What can I say, they’re pitiful monsters that run away from a slime.
For me, it’s better if they don’t attack.
I might gain a sense of smell or something by eating the wolves.
But, I’ll continue observing, as it seems not just wolves.
There’s no sign of monsters entering within 100 meters of me.
Hmm? It seems they’re afraid of me...
Why?
I’m certain that the monsters in this forest are afraid of me.
Just as I was sure of this, my 『Magic Detection』 sensed a group of monsters approaching.
The problem is that they suddenly appeared.
In front of me, about 30 humanoid monsters appeared, wriggling.
Small stature.
Poor equipment.
Filthy, with no sign of intelligence in their expressions.
Still, they’re not completely mindless. Some are equipped with swords, shields, stone axes, and bows.
My gray brain cells instantly identified them.
Famous monsters that attack adventurers! Yes, goblins!!!
They’re typical.
And they’re weak, right? Am I?
But, 30 against a slime is too many.
However, for some reason, I didn’t feel fear.
My instincts don’t fear these creatures.
Their swords are rusty, and their armor is poor. Some are just wrapped in rotten cloth.
Compared to the armored lizard with tough scales and the spider with strong limbs,
I can’t imagine taking damage from their equipment.
Moreover, I could use the black snake’s breath to wipe them out...
While thinking this, the leader of the group opened his mouth.
"Th-that, strong one... Do you have any business here?"
Goblins can speak.
I’m not sure if I can understand it through the application of 『Magic Detection』.
But, "strong one" must refer to me.
To be surrounded with weapons and asked politely...
What are these guys thinking?
I became interested.
They don’t seem to attack immediately.
It might be good to see if I can communicate with them.
I decided to try talking to the goblins.
Status
Name: Rimuru Tempest
Race: Slime
Blessing: Storm’s Verse
Title: None
Magic: None
Abilities: Unique Skill 『Great Sage』
Unique Skill 『Devourer』
Slime Unique Skills 『Dissolution, Absorption, Self-Regeneration』
Extra Skill 『Water Manipulation』
Extra Skill 『Magic Detection』
Acquired Skills: Black Snake 『Heat Detection, Poison Breath』, Centipede 『Paralyzing Breath』, Spider 『Sticky Thread, Steel Thread』, Bat 『Ultrasonic』, Lizard 『Body Armor』
Resistances: Heat Resistance EX
Physical Attack Resistance
Pain Nullification
Electricity Resistance
Paralysis Resistance
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