The forest felt different now. Quieter. Emptier in a way that went beyond just the absence of sound.
Cid walked alongside Regulus, one hand resting occasionally on the lion's side to maintain the connection, to remind himself this was real. The Lion Emperor moved with fluid grace despite his massive size, paws barely making sound on the forest floor. Lightning still sparked across his golden white fur, and the fiery mane burned with steady radiance.
'We need to find something to fight,' Cid thought, scanning the undergrowth as they moved deeper into Delevaro Forest. 'I need to level up. Need to start building my roster with more summons. Regulus is incredible, but I can't rely on just one familiar forever. Diversification is key.'
But the forest remained stubbornly devoid of life.
They had been walking for maybe twenty minutes, following what Cid remembered as a high density spawn path from the game. This area should have been crawling with wolves, boars, maybe some goblins. Low level monsters perfect for a beginning player to cut their teeth on.
Instead, nothing. Not even the sound of small animals in the trees. Just silence and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.
'They're all hiding,' Cid realized, glancing at Regulus. 'His aura. The Thunderbound Authority ability. It forces low tier beasts to avoid attacking. They can probably sense him from a distance and they're just staying the hell away.'
It made sense from a survival perspective. What wolf or boar would willingly approach something that radiated the kind of presence Regulus put out? Even sealed at ten percent, the Lion Emperor was clearly apex predator material. Weaker creatures would instinctively give him a wide berth.
'Which is great for not getting ambushed,' Cid thought with a grimace. 'But terrible for actually finding things to fight and level up from. I need combat experience. Need to test how Regulus fights. Need to understand our capabilities before we encounter something actually dangerous.'
They continued moving, Cid keeping his eyes and ears alert for any sign of activity. The sun had shifted position in the sky, indicating they had been searching for close to an hour now. His feet were starting to hurt from walking in what amounted to thin cloth shoes. His stomach growled, reminding him he had not eaten since before logging into the game.
'Food and water,' he added to his mental checklist of problems. 'I'm going to need to figure that out soon. Can't survive on determination alone. Basic survival needs still apply even if this is technically a game world now.'
Regulus suddenly stopped, his head turning to the left, ears perked forward. A low rumble emanated from his chest, not quite a growl but a warning sound.
Cid froze immediately. 'He senses something.'
Then he heard it too.
Plop.
The sound was wet and heavy, like a water balloon hitting pavement. It came from somewhere ahead, beyond a cluster of thick bushes maybe thirty meters away.
Plop. Wiggle. Plop.
There was a rhythm to it. Movement. Something approaching or at least moving through the area. The wiggle sound reminded him of jelly shaking on a plate. Gelatinous. Viscous.
'Slime?' Cid thought, hope sparking in his chest. 'Please be a slime. Easy monster. Low threat. Perfect for my first real fight.'
He moved forward carefully, Regulus staying close to his side, the lion's muscles tense and ready. They crept around the bushes, and Cid peered through the foliage to get a look at whatever was making that sound.
It came into view, and Cid's hope died instantly, replaced by cold dread that sank through his stomach like lead.
It was a slime. Technically. But calling this thing just a slime was a catastrophic understatement.
The creature was massive. Easily fifteen feet tall and at least twenty feet wide, a quivering mountain of gelatinous mass that pulsed and rippled with each movement. Its form was semi translucent, but instead of the typical blue or green coloration of normal slimes, this one was a deep, sickly purple.
But it was not just purple. There was something else. A haze that surrounded the creature, a miasma that hung in the air like visible corruption. Purple energy that writhed and twisted, that made the very air around the slime look diseased.
Demonic energy.
The realization hit Cid like a physical blow, and suddenly everything clicked into place.
'Delevaro Forest,' he thought, his mind racing through game lore he had absorbed years ago. 'It's known for high density demonic miasma. One of the few starting zones that borders corrupted territory. Most players avoid the deeper sections because of the risk of encountering demons.'
And he had walked right into the deep section without even thinking about it.
This was not a normal slime. This was a demon slime. A creature that should not exist in a starting area. A monster that belonged in mid to high level zones where players had actual gear and skills and party compositions designed to handle threats of this magnitude.
The slime moved forward with another wet plop, and the ground beneath it shuddered. Not just from weight, but from the corruption that seeped from its body into the earth. Where it passed, grass withered and died. Small plants blackened and crumbled. The very ground looked tainted.
Cid did not need to call up its status to know this was bad. Every instinct honed by years of gaming screamed danger. But his analytical mind needed confirmation, needed data, needed to understand exactly how screwed he was.
As if responding to his thought, a display materialized before him without prompting.
━━━━
Title: DEMON SLIME
Rank: S+
ABILITIES:
Corrosive Body (Passive)
Physical contact with the slime's body inflicts severe acid damage and demonic corruption. Prolonged exposure causes flesh to dissolve and spreads corruption through the victim's system.
Miasma Emission (Passive)
Constantly releases demonic miasma in a wide radius. Extended exposure weakens stamina, reduces healing effectiveness, and inflicts Corruption status over time.
Acidic Projectile
Launches concentrated globs of demonic acid that explode on impact. High damage in area of effect. Leaves lingering acid pools that continue to damage anything within them.
Slime Division
When dealt high burst damage in a single attack, splits into two smaller demon slimes rather than dying. Each division retains significant combat capability. Can divide up to three times before becoming vulnerable.
Magic Absorption
Absorbs magical energy from spells cast against it. Converts absorbed magic into self healing. Makes pure magical damage largely ineffective without overwhelming force.
Engulfment
Attempts to surround and consume targets by expanding its body rapidly. Trapped creatures take continuous acid damage and suffocation damage. Difficult to escape without external assistance.
Tremor Slam
Compresses its body then releases force downward, creating a localized shockwave. Knocks down nearby enemies and creates cracks in the ground that release additional miasma.
━━━━
Cid read through the abilities once, his face going pale. 'S+ rank. Level thirty seven. Seven abilities, most of them passive. High magic resistance because of absorption. Splits when you hit it too hard. Passively corrupts the area around it.'
His throat went dry. 'This thing could dismantle a dragon if the dragon wasn't careful. And I'm level one with one summon and no gear.'
The slime had not noticed them yet, or at least had not reacted to their presence. It continued its slow, steady movement through the forest, leaving a trail of dead vegetation and corrupted earth in its wake.
'We need to leave,' Cid thought, taking a careful step backward. 'Right now. Quietly. Before it sees us.'
Regulus growled, low and threatening, his lightning crackling more intensely.
The slime stopped moving.
For a moment, nothing happened. The massive creature simply sat there, quivering slightly, its semi transparent form pulsing with that sickly purple light.
Then it turned.
Cid had not thought slimes could turn, exactly. They did not have faces or front sides in the traditional sense. But the creature's mass shifted, reoriented, and suddenly he could feel its attention focused directly on them.
The demon slime surged forward with shocking speed for something so massive. The ground shuddered with each impact as it moved, trees shaking, loose stones bouncing. That plop sound became a thunderous rhythm.
'Oh hell,' Cid thought, stumbling backward. 'Run. We need to run.'
But Regulus did not run. The Lion Emperor stood his ground, planting his paws wide, lightning intensifying across his entire body. The fiery mane flared brighter, and electricity arced between the strands, building charge.
The lion roared.
It was not the full world shaking roar that was currently sealed, but even this diminished version carried power. Sound crashed through the clearing like a physical wave, and Cid felt it in his chest, felt it rattle his bones.
The demon slime hesitated for just a moment, as though recognizing that what stood before it was not normal prey.
Then it launched its attack.
A glob of purple acid the size of a beach ball shot from the slime's body, hurtling toward them with deadly accuracy. Cid could see the air distorting around the projectile, could see wisps of corruption trailing behind it.
Regulus moved.
The Lion Emperor vanished in a flash of yellow lightning, the Flashstep ability activating instantly. One moment he was standing in front of Cid. The next he had teleported fifteen feet to the side, the acid projectile missing completely and slamming into the ground where they had been standing.
The impact was devastating. The acid exploded outward in a spray of corrosive liquid that hissed and steamed where it touched. The ground where it landed began to dissolve, stone and dirt melting like wax under a blowtorch. A pool of bubbling purple acid formed, three feet wide and growing.
'Holy shit,' Cid thought, his eyes wide. 'That would have killed me instantly. Dissolved me before I even knew what happened.'
Regulus reappeared beside him, and Cid felt the tug on their bond. The lion was not afraid, but there was caution there. Recognition that this was a serious threat.
The demon slime launched another projectile. Then another. Three acid globs in rapid succession, each aimed with terrifying accuracy.
Regulus grabbed Cid by the back of his shirt with surprisingly gentle jaws and pulled him sideways just as the first projectile hit where he had been standing. The lion dodged left, right, then executed another Flashstep to avoid the third, moving them both out of the impact zones.
Explosions of acid erupted across the clearing, turning the battlefield into a minefield of corrosive pools. The smell was horrific, acrid and chemical and wrong, burning Cid's nose and making his eyes water.
'I'm dead weight,' the realization hit him like a slap. 'Completely useless. I can't fight. Can't dodge fast enough. All I'm doing is making Regulus protect me while also trying to fight. I'm a liability.'
The demon slime stopped throwing projectiles and instead began to advance again, its massive body undulating as it moved forward. Regulus growled and unleashed his Static Dominion Growl, the wave of authority rippling outward.
The slime slowed. Its attack strength visibly diminished as the debuff took effect. But it did not stop. Did not retreat. The corrupted creature was either too mindless or too aggressive to be properly intimidated.
Regulus charged forward, lightning trailing behind him. He executed a Spark Pounce, launching himself through the air with explosive speed. His claws extended, electricity concentrated into points of devastating damage.
The lion struck the demon slime dead center.
Claws raked through gelatinous mass, tearing deep furrows. Lightning discharged on impact, the shock damage spreading through the slime's body in visible arcs. The creature shuddered from the impact, its form rippling violently.
But slimes did not have vitals to strike. Did not have flesh that could be torn. Regulus's attack dealt damage, yes, but the wounds simply closed back up seconds after he passed through, the slime's body flowing back together like water.
Regulus landed on the far side of the slime, spinning to face it again. His Volt Fang Strike came next, the lion lunging forward to clamp his jaws onto what might have been considered the slime's side.
Electricity surged through the bite point, and this time the damage seemed more effective. The demon slime convulsed, the Numb status effect taking hold, its movements slowing noticeably.
But then the slime retaliated.
Its body expanded rapidly, spreading outward in all directions in an attempt to Engulf. Regulus tried to dodge, but the expansion was too fast, too complete. Gelatinous mass surrounded the lion, wrapping around his body, trying to pull him in completely.
Cid's heart stopped. Through their bond, he could feel Regulus's discomfort, the burn of acid eating at fur and flesh, the struggle to breathe as the slime tried to suffocate him.
The Lion Emperor roared, muffled by the slime's body but still audible. Lightning exploded outward from his form, the Stormheart Pulse passive activating defensively. The shock traveled through the slime's body, causing it to recoil slightly.
It was enough. Regulus activated Flashstep again, teleporting out of the slime's engulfment attempt and reappearing twenty feet away. His golden white fur was smoking slightly where the acid had touched, patches of it singed and darkened.
'He's getting hurt,' Cid realized, panic rising in his chest. 'The slime is too big. Too durable. Regulus can damage it but he can't finish it quickly. And every second this fight goes on, he's taking more acid damage, more corruption buildup.'
The demon slime launched another volley of acid projectiles. Five this time. Spreading them out to cover more area and make dodging harder.
Regulus was forced to use Flashstep again. Then again. The ability seemed to have no cooldown, or at least none that had become apparent yet, but Cid could feel through their bond that each use drained energy. The lion was powerful but not infinite. This kind of sustained high intensity combat would exhaust him eventually.
'I need to do something,' Cid thought desperately, watching Regulus dodge and weave and counterattack while the demon slime just kept coming. 'I can't just stand here useless. There has to be something.'
Another acid projectile streaked toward him, the demon slime apparently deciding that the easier target might be worth pursuing. Cid tried to dodge, throwing himself sideways, but he was too slow. The projectile was going to hit. He could see it coming. Could calculate the trajectory with perfect clarity but could not move his body fast enough to escape.
Then he felt it. A pull from deep inside. The bond with Regulus flaring with information, with possibility.
The inheritance skill.
Lion Emperor's Flashstep.
'I can use it,' the realization crashed through his panic. 'The inheritance ability. I learned it when I formed the bond with Regulus. I can teleport too.'
There was no time for careful consideration. No time to think about energy costs or technique or how many times he could use it before exhausting himself. The acid projectile was seconds from impact.
Cid acted on pure instinct.
He felt for that connection, that spark of lightning that tied him to Regulus, and pulled on the technique embedded within it. Energy surged through his body, foreign and familiar all at once, electricity racing through his nervous system.
The world disappeared.
For a fraction of a second, Cid existed nowhere and everywhere. Pure energy. Pure motion. Lightning given consciousness.
Then he was ten feet to the left, stumbling as solid ground rematerialized under his feet. Behind him, the acid projectile exploded where he had been standing, the crater steaming and hissing.
'I did it,' he thought, gasping for breath, his whole body tingling with residual electricity. 'I actually did it. I teleported.'
But the cost was immediate and obvious. His energy reserves, which he had not even known how to measure until this moment, felt depleted. Not empty, but noticeably drained. Like having run a sprint. Like having used something that his body was not yet conditioned to handle efficiently.
Through their bond, he felt Regulus's surprise, quickly followed by approval. The lion had not expected his summoner to be able to use the inherited skill so soon.
The demon slime launched two more projectiles, splitting its attention between both targets now.
Cid activated Flashstep again, teleporting away from the incoming acid. His energy dropped further, the drain more noticeable this time. 'I can't use this infinitely. There's a limit. My body isn't built for this yet.'
He tried to calculate how many more times he could manage it. Five? Maybe? That felt right, though he had no idea if it was accurate or just intuition.
Five uses maximum before his energy gave out completely and he became a sitting duck again.
'Then I need to make them count,' he thought, watching Regulus engage the demon slime in close combat again. 'Use movement to stay alive. Don't waste charges. And find a way to actually contribute to this fight instead of just surviving.'
The Lion Emperor executed another Spark Pounce, slamming into the slime's mass with lightning wreathed claws. The demon slime countered with Tremor Slam, compressing its body and then releasing downward with devastating force.
The shockwave rippled outward through the ground. Regulus leaped away, but the impact still caught him, sending him tumbling. Cracks appeared in the earth, and from those cracks, more demonic miasma began to seep, purple corruption spreading across the battlefield.
'This is bad,' Cid realized, looking at the growing corruption, at the acid pools scattered everywhere, at Regulus who was strong but fighting alone against something that seemed designed to be nearly unkillable. 'This is really, really bad.'
The demon slime surged forward again, and Regulus met it head on, refusing to give ground despite the odds.
And Cid stood at the edge of the battlefield, his inherited skill active but barely understood, his energy limited, his contribution to the fight minimal at best, watching as his first real combat encounter in this new reality spiraled into a desperate struggle for survival.
'We need a strategy,' he thought, forcing himself to think past the fear, past the adrenaline, back into the analytical mindset that had made him good at this game in the first place. 'Regulus can't win through straight damage. The slime heals too fast and splits if hit too hard. We need a different approach. We need to think.'
The demon slime launched another acid barrage, and both Cid and Regulus were forced to dodge, teleporting and leaping respectively, burning energy and stamina while the creature simply continued its relentless assault.
The fight was far from over. And the outcome remained terrifyingly uncertain.