Syl

Chapter 61: Evolution Consultation

'Interesting... So Green and Purple are no longer options, and the Parasite mutation.'

A dangerous member of the slime species, often found near sources of magma or high-rank dungeons.

Its red slime can generate temperatures equivalent to the magma it often inhabits, and even approaching one can be deadly.

Battles with this species are often compared to fighting against a Fire Mage and should be countered with Water or Ice magic.

Their cores are highly desired and sought after for their usage as Fire Mana Catalysts or inside Dwarven Forges.>

'Well, that explains my staff. I've already integrated one, so this is a skip.'

A deadly member of the slime species, often found in frosty mountains, icy tundras, frozen lakes, or high-rank dungeons.

Battles with this species are often compared to fighting against an Ice Mage and should be countered with Fire or Lava magic.

Their cores are highly desired and sought after for their usage as Ice Mana Catalysts or for creating frozen storage for alchemical reagents, monster parts, and food.>

'Is deadly better or worse than dangerous? I imagine this would give me Ice affinity and likely cold immunity. I wonder if I could purchase or trade for a catalyst. Or travel to an ice region? I wonder how rare they are.'

A deadly member of the slime species found almost exclusively in dungeons and rarely on floating islands.

Its yellow slime can generate sparks between its core and outer membrane and even discharge bolts of lightning.

Earth and Nature magic is recommended to counter this slime, and Lightning magic should never be used against it, as it only empowers it.

Avoid using metal or water near this slime, or you will be targeted by it.

Their Cores are highly desired and sought after for their usage as Lightning Mana Catalysts and experimental Mana-Tech.>

'Floating islands? As in unconnected landmass, or do they mean literally floating, like in the sky? If it's the latter, then that sounds like an amazing place to explore, and what amazing profiles would I be able to find there? Lightning sounds interesting, although I wonder if it wouldn't directly counter me due to my nature as a blue slime. I'd need to use my stealth skills to ambush one or, if possible, trade for a catalyst.'

An extremely rare form of slime species coveted by the world as its iconic slime is the primary component in superior healing potions.

They do not spawn naturally and are only scarcely found, sometimes occupying Healing Fountains inside of the largest dungeons.

Their Cores can be utilized as Healing Catalysts or ground down into a vital component in Regeneration Elixirs.

The prize for selling such a slime is untold riches from some of the most powerful nations. Some even consider it a crime to kill such a creature.>

'Nope! Never. I don't need more reasons to be harvested. What would this even give me personally? Healing magic like Evan, I suspect. I can't regenerate mana with my blue slime, so the signs point to pink slime being unable to heal me personally. However, perhaps it would increase my vitality if my assumptions that [Mana Slime] is partially responsible for my absurd mana capacity. It seems slimes and dungeons go hand in hand, so seeking them out has great potential for me.'

A somewhat dangerous and very sturdy slime, a strange characteristic amongst slime, it is often found deep underground near ore deposits or within dungeons.

This slime has the ability to harden its silvery slime into metals similar to the ores it's devoured and forms dangerous blades and spikes to attack and defend itself.

Its sturdy nature means that mundane weapons are completely ineffective, and even enchanted weapons can struggle to damage one.

Like most slimes, it retains its weakness to magic and is one of the only known ways of defeating it. Fire can weaken its form, Ice can slow it down, and Lightning is usually deadly.

Their cores can be utilized as Earth Mana Catalysts, but attempting to pry the liquid metal from the Dwarven Empire is daunting.>

'I think this is the first time I'm considering a species evolution... The benefits sound amazing, and it sounds like it has something similar to [Poison Slime], where I can sample metals. Not to mention Earth affinity, which could mean even more magic. Although exploring the Dwarven empire sounds compelling, and once again, I could go dungeon hunting instead.'

'Well. That's the end of the species evolutions. The winner is most definitely silver in my eyes, but I wonder what my mutations have to offer.'

A mutation of an existing slime species, this slime has an endless hunger it constantly seeks to end.

This mutation can efficiently turn anything into slime mass and grow to tremendous sizes; plants, animals, even rocks, this slime devours all.

Due to their ability to devour an entire ecosystem into a wasteland and lack of subtlety, they are often quickly exterminated.>

'This feels more like a comment on my eating habits than being actually worthwhile anymore. I can generate slime with mana now, so being able to get slime mass from rocks isn't appealing. The only remaining benefit would be better slime control at a tremendous size, but that's me making assumptions.'

A mutation of an existing slime species, this slime gains the ability to command bodies of water that its slime core is submerged within.

This mutation can freely traverse water and gain greater control over water as it grows.

Extremely destructive when angered, but fragile as water lacks the defensive properties of its own slime.

The largest recorded species took over a lake, and many fear what would happen if one found the ocean depths.>

'If I compare this to the bear matriarch, then I'm assuming this would have given me [Water Magic]. I already have magic now, and with so much synergy between my slime traits, I don't see regular water cutting it. I can't say I regret skipping it the first time.'

A direct evolution of a mutation is a rarity beyond measure, answering a long-standing question: if the primary species can evolve, why not the mutation itself?

The Doppelganger Slime has gone beyond simple mimicry and now steals the lives it has claimed entirely.

Levels, Class, Race, Emblems, Traits, and Skills - all are copied at the time of the prey's death and form a perfect transformation.

Doppelganger forms, however, cannot be improved beyond their originals, but who needs to grow when you can take more?

Almost no information is available for this species and rumored to be only a theoretical possibility.>

'Fuck!' I stared at the description with conflicted feelings, as it sounded immeasurably powerful and was a direct upgrade of my mimic mutation. It felt like my instincts were screaming at me to take this option immediately, others be damned, but something about it irked me.

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'Did I earn this because I stole Tarz's life? Walked around pretending to be her, fooling all her friends?' I questioned, and a dark thought bubbled in my mind.

Or because you're stealing Sylthaeryn's currently?

'No! She gave it to me!' I screamed my denial, 'She even marked me with part of her name...' I countered and continued to look through the options, praying for something more promising.

An extremely rare and highly sought-after mutation of slime that is the envy of alchemists worldwide.

Its slime can substitute for almost any alchemical ingredients, and high-level monsters of this species are said to be able to generate complex potions from scratch.

While many alchemists have tried to obtain this slime as a bonded familiar and lab assistant, its mutation condition is not entirely confirmed, and controlling non-intelligent monster evolutions is another challenge in itself - this has led many alchemists to early bankruptcy.>

'Why do so many slime options always talk about the value of us? Mana potions, health potions, liquid metal, and now alchemical reagents! I'm sure there are all sorts of crazy things I could do with this, but the risk of serving myself up on a silver platter for some mad alchemist to capture me and bond me. No thanks.'

A mutation of an existing slime species, this slime targets and hunts prey like a veteran assassin.

This mutation gains unique traits to blend into the environment and eliminate its own sounds and smells, in combination to make it nearly undetectable.

Advanced cases of this species are said to be able to detect lifeforce and conceal their own lifeforce and mana.>

'I really liked this option, and I nearly picked it before. Although now, if I wanted to be an assassin, I could simply pick the class, so I'm not sure if it's still as valuable. If I use mimicry, I can blend in, and [Vanish] at least partially hides my life and mana. I can't detect lifeforce, but perhaps there's a skill for that? It's like this was a good first evolution option, but it's now sorta outclassed by my other second evolution options.'

A mutation of an existing slime species, this slime gains the ability to command magma and lava that its slime core is submerged within.

This mutation can freely traverse the molten rock and gain greater control over it as it grows.

Extremely destructive and hard to kill due to being protected by the molten rock, the only saving grace is that they are generally small due to the inherent difficulty of controlling such a powerful element.

Commonly mutated from red slimes, they share the weakness of water and ice magic, which can trap their core in a rocky obsidian prison.>

'Another elemental branch mutation, I assume. Just like Aquatic and Earthshaker. Most likely coming from the red slime core. The question that comes to mind is, where would I even get molten rock from? Would I need to find a volcano? Could I make it myself by just blasting rocks with Fire magic? Like Aquatic, I'd be losing out on slime synergy, so I'm reluctant despite it having added protection.'

A mutation of a mutation is an infrequent but not unheard of occurrence.

The Chimeric Mimic Slime has broken the constraints of its mimicry and learned that one form does not have the adaptability required to survive.

If you are unable to find the ideal form, why not create it yourself?

Almost no information is available for this species and rumored to be only a theoretical possibility.>

'Another path from my original mimic choice, although it sounds weaker than Doppelganger. The option of making my own forms is appealing and was what I had tried to do early on. I could likely mix and match parts, and possibly even traits too.'

Unlike Doppelganger, I didn't feel the urge to pick this. But emotionally, at least, I liked the sound of this more.

'But isn't that stupid? Picking a likely inferior option over emotions. I want to survive, after all.'

I moved on to look at my final choices.

A mutation of slime that is said to only be found on floating islands.

This slime has the ability to transform and control its slime into a cloud-like substance and slowly fly around.

Its primary form of attack, suffocation, is extremely deadly and feared amongst careless adventurers.

However, due to its inability to reasonably protect its core, it often dies swiftly.>

'Floating islands again? Now I assume they do mean they actually float in the sky with all the mentions of clouds. While flying sounds tempting, swiftly dying is a no-go. I'm guessing my early kill strategy of suffocating boars and [Vaporize Slime] led to this.'

The apex of a particular slime species, this evolution is the final destination for any slime species as it turns away from self-growth to progeny.

The Queen Slime loses the detriment of decaying slime mass and instead produces new slime mass over time, which is a necessity for its new goal and ability to create entirely new slime cores.

Slime cores birthed by the Queen that become independent slimes become the base slime species, but on rare occasions, can also be born with any of her other mutations.

For this final evolution, the Queen Slime gains a boost to all its attributes and traits.>

'As tempting as it sounds, this would be my final evolution choice. I'm unsure when that is, but I'll consider it then.'

My thoughts muddled over my options, so I decided to ask the Dreadlich some questions.

"Hey... So... Would you be willing to give me your thoughts on my evolution options?"

"Oh? Slime evolutions. Fascinating. Yes, I'd gladly like to hear what has been presented to you. Your kind don't often live long out in the wild."

I went over all my options, and when we reached Alchemic, the light flared inside its skull. Instantly, I was being coerced into taking Alchemic and even threatened to choose it until the Dreadlich collapsed to the floor lifelessly again. It picked itself up again, dusting off its robe.

"Well... I've been thoroughly informed to ignore my personal interests."

We continued through the list, and then it started to scratch its chin in contemplation.

"If we ignore Alchemic, then Doppelganger and Chimeric are the winners. Doppelganger reminds me of my early necromancy days when I started with weak undead and kept finding more powerful corpses to raise. I'd take that, eat the biggest adventurer in this town, move to the next city, and repeat the process."

"Now Chimeric, on the other hand, reminds me of my later days, when I grew bored of simply resurrecting corpses as is. I started to experiment, mix parts, and create whatever I fancied. I fondly remember my first Bone Hydra with a different monster skull for each head! I think you could have a lot of potential in the future, assuming you survive that long."

"There is one obvious flaw in my thinking. I'm approaching this with reference to my accomplishments and comparing it to necromancy. Doppelganger does something my necromancy could never do - copy everything. Even if I killed and raised a legendary swordsman, there's some inherent loss, and not all the traits or skills remain, and certainly not the emblems."

"I would like to say that it is a case of guaranteed power versus potentially greater power, but there are too many unknown factors, especially if you throw creativity into the mix. Anyway. Those are my thoughts. Good luck, little slime."

I gave my thanks and looked at the notification that had appeared at some point during our conversation.

I mentally cheered at [Apex Hunter] getting the last level I wanted in Charisma.

Becomes Trait: [Soul Mastery LV 6].

This will cost 1 Trait Point.>

'Yes.'

I was tempted to fuse [Attack Mastery], but I still lacked a level in ranged weapons. The Dreadlich had said any new traits and skills obtained this recently shouldn't affect my evolutions, and I couldn't see any new options since gaining [Soul Mastery].

I also tried fusing my slime traits, but none of them in any combination led to anything. Perhaps Gramps hasn't thought of any yet? Maybe I can ask him to work on them?

"Thanks for your consultation. I guess I'll evolve now."

"Not a problem. It was a fascinating discussion, and I'm considering raising my own slime pet for research. We can speak a bit more afterward."

I nodded and opened up my menu. I hoped I was making the right choice.