Seraphina's eyes, still closed for a moment longer as the last of her allocated points settled, finally opened, revealing the vibrant amethyst. She sat up slowly, feeling the full, undeniable power humming beneath her rapidly healing skin. Her arm was completely regrown, and the intricate patterns of her Dragon Armor had already begun to mend, though large portions of it remained shattered and missing.
She looked at Lyra, who was still kneeling beside her, her expression a mix of relief and bewildered fascination. "So," Seraphina began, her voice now fully recovered, a touch of dry amusement in its tone. "Everyone has a System, huh? And yours is nice?" She shook her head slightly, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Mine's a cynical bastard, apparently. But surprisingly useful when it decides to be."
She pushed herself to her feet, the faint crunch of remnants of the fallen guardians beneath her boots. Her gaze immediately locked onto the Heart of the Grove, pulsating golden in the center of the chamber, surrounded by the charred remains of the guardians. The path was clear.
"Well," Seraphina said, brushing a bit of ash from her partially mended armor. "That was... educational. Now, about that glowing orb." She started walking purposefully towards the altar. "That's the Heart of the Grove, isn't it? The reason we're here."
Lyra straightened up, her initial shock at Seraphina's near-mortal wounds now replaced by a profound, almost reverent awe. The revelation of multiple hearts, tied to a core, and the very mechanics of how Seraphina absorbed power and evolved, was a scholar's dream–or perhaps, a nightmare of biological complexity. This wasn't just a monster; it was a constantly shifting, self-optimizing organism unlike anything in her extensive demon archives.
"Four hearts... a core that ties them together," Lyra murmured, her eyes wide as she looked at Seraphina with renewed fascination. "That's... an entirely different level of biological architecture. It's incredibly efficient for survival, almost like a distributed system." Her voice was a hushed whisper, tinged with excitement and a touch of professional jealousy at such a groundbreaking discovery. "So, as long as your core remains, you can essentially... rebuild?"
Seraphina, now fully regenerated and feeling the deep hum of her newly enhanced stats and skills, had already pushed herself to her feet. The remaining shattered pieces of her Dragon Armor shimmered, still broken but no longer actively hindering her. She looked towards the pulsating Heart of the Grove, its golden light drawing her gaze like a moth to a flame. The air around it felt dense with ancient magic.
"Essentially," Seraphina confirmed, giving Lyra a brief nod of acknowledgment before turning fully towards the altar. "And that glowing orb is what we came for, isn't it?" Her voice was devoid of emotion, her focus purely on the objective now. "The Heart of the Grove. What do we do with it?"
Lyra pushed her spectacles further up her nose, her scholar's mind immediately shifting from biological marvels to the ancient lore she had dedicated her life to. She moved cautiously towards the altar, her eyes scanning the intricate carvings on its black stone surface, seemingly impervious to the charred remains of the guardians.
"The Heart of the Grove," Lyra began, her voice gaining a reverent, almost hushed quality as she approached the pulsing golden orb. It radiated a warmth that seemed to push back against the temple's chill. "It is the very essence of the World Tree, Seraphina. The primary conduit through which its life force flows into the world. It regulates the flow of mana, nourishes the land, and maintains the natural balance of life in our realm."
She gestured towards the shimmering orb, a deep sadness entering her eyes. "The blight that plagues my village, that withers our lands and consumes our people... it's a symptom. A direct consequence of the Heart's weakening, or perhaps, a deliberate corruption that has slowly seeped into its essence. We believe that if the Heart itself is compromised, then the entire World Tree's benevolent influence wanes, allowing the blight to fester unchecked."
Lyra turned to Seraphina, her expression earnest and solemn.
"Our purpose here, according to the ancient texts, is to reignite its full power, to cleanse it of any lingering corruption, and to channel its boundless energy to push back the blight across the land. It's not about 'taking' it, Seraphina, but about revitalizing it. The method... involves a complex ritual, described in the deepest archives – a channeling of pure mana, concentrated life essence, into the Heart itself. The guardians... they were likely a final, desperate defense against anyone disturbing its current, weakened state, whether to heal or to further corrupt it."
Lyra's brow furrowed, her gaze shifting from the glowing Heart to Seraphina. Seraphina's pragmatic question, cutting through the ancient mysticism, was a stark reminder of the cold, hard realities of their world. Lyra had focused so intently on the how of the ritual, on the immediate salvation, that the who or why of the blight's origin had taken a back seat.
"You raise a... a very valid and troubling point, Seraphina," Lyra admitted, her voice losing some of its scholarly enthusiasm, replaced by a fresh concern. "The ancient texts focus almost entirely on the nature of the blight and the ritual of purification. They speak little of its origin, beyond vague mentions of 'imbalance' or 'corruption from forgotten depths.'
" She hesitated, glancing back at the pulsing Heart. "However, the immediate priority must be to empower the Heart. If it fails, our realm will surely perish, and then any such orchestrator would have nothing left to control."
"Perhaps," Lyra continued, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, "by restoring the Heart's full power, it might not only push back the blight but also fortify itself against future incursions. A healthy, fully-powered World Tree might be able to detect and neutralize threats far more effectively than its current weakened state. It's the only path forward we know that offers a chance for salvation."
Seraphina blinked slowly, her amethyst eyes unreadable as she considered Lyra's words. "Maybe," she finally conceded, the single word carrying a weight of lingering skepticism. It wasn't a dismissal, but rather an acknowledgment that while Lyra's immediate plan was all they had, it didn't fully address the deeper, more unsettling possibility of a manipulative force behind the blight.
Without further delay, Seraphina strode forward, her boots echoing softly on the stone floor. Lyra followed closely, her gaze fixed on the pulsating golden orb. The chamber hummed with its presence, the very air vibrating with ancient, raw power. As they reached the immense, gnarled altar, the Heart of the Grove pulsed with an almost hypnotic rhythm, radiating warmth and a faint, sweet scent of growing things. It looked simultaneously fragile and infinitely powerful.
"Alright," Seraphina said, standing before the altar, her hand hovering just above the glowing orb, feeling its immense energy. "What's the 'complex ritual' part of this? And what exactly do you need me to do?"
Lyra stepped up beside her, her gaze earnest. "The texts describe it as a channeling process, Seraphina. The Heart requires a significant influx of pure mana and life essence to truly 'reignite.' We need to establish a connection, then pour energy into it, slowly and steadily. My own mana reserves are... insufficient for such a task, but with your incredible magical capacity, your inherent life force as a slime, and perhaps even the power of your core..." Lyra's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Seraphina's chest, where the four hearts now beat in powerful unison. "You are uniquely suited for this."
She pointed to several deep indentations carved into the altar's surface, forming a complex star-like pattern around the orb. "We'll need to place our hands here, and focus. The ritual requires two converging flows of energy – one to initiate the cleansing, and one to empower the Heart. I will manage the initial binding and channeling from the ancient script; you will provide the raw power."
Seraphina nodded, her expression grimly determined. The complexity of the ritual didn't deter her; the raw power of the Heart of the Grove, and the promise of a solution to the blight, was all the motivation she needed.
"Alright," she said, stepping forward. Following Lyra's instruction, she placed her right hand firmly into one of the star-shaped indentations carved into the altar's black stone. The stone was cool to the touch, but a faint, insistent thrumming vibrated through her palm, directly from the pulsating golden orb. Lyra mirrored her, placing her own hand into a corresponding indentation.
"Focus, Seraphina," Lyra murmured, her eyes closing in concentration, her brow furrowed with effort. "Draw your mana, your very life essence, and channel it. Imagine it flowing, pure and strong, into the Heart. I will attempt to guide its flow, to initiate the cleansing."
Seraphina took a deep breath, or rather, the closest thing a Humanoid Slime could.
She closed her amethyst eyes, reaching deep within her newly empowered core. Her four hearts, already beating in a powerful rhythm, seemed to accelerate, resonating with the altar. Mana, thick and golden, surged from her Golden Guardian Monster Core (Level 4), flowing through her body and out through her palm. A faint, golden luminescence began to emanate from her hand as it connected with the altar.
The Heart of the Grove pulsed brighter, its golden light intensifying, responding to Seraphina's immense power. Around the altar, shimmering wisps of dark, almost smoky energy began to bleed from the golden orb, twisting and dissipating into nothingness—the blight's corruption being drawn out. A wave of cleansing warmth spread outwards, filling the vast chamber.
The golden light intensified, blinding them for a moment, as Seraphina and Lyra poured their combined will and mana into the Heart of the Grove. They expected a surge of power, a profound shift, but what happened next was utterly unexpected.
With a final, brilliant flash, the Heart of the Grove didn't just cleanse or reignite; it simply vanished. It dissolved into pure golden light, seeming to flow not into the altar, but directly into Seraphina.
Seraphina stumbled back, releasing her hand from the altar as a wave of overwhelming energy washed over her. She barely had time to register the strange, encompassing warmth before the System's notifications barraged her mind, starting with the familiar, formal tone:
"The requirement to level up the temple to level 2 have been met."
A low, resonant rumble shook the entire temple, sending dust motes dancing in the golden light. The stone walls vibrated violently, a deep, groaning sound echoing from the very foundations. Just as quickly as it began, the shaking stopped, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.
Then, the System continued, listing the immediate changes to her temple:
"Temple Acquire: Library."
"Temple Acquire: Kitchen."
"Temple Acquire: Master Bedroom."
"Temple Acquire: Guest Bedroom."
"Temple Acquire: Spirits' Servants."
"The Temple Protection barrier has expanded thirty more feet."
"Temple acquire: Bigger Vault."
"Temple barrier acquire new skill: Monsters Ban:Monster cannot cross the Temple barrier."
Another notification immediately popped up, but this one carried the familiar, scathing tone of Seraphina's personal System.
"The idiot has acquired the Heart of the Grove. Dumbass now have five hearts."
"The Heart of the Grove cannot be linked to the Golden Guardian Monster core. Creating a core for the link to happen... World Tree Core Level 1 has been created... Creating a neutral link between the two cores for the hearts to link... Successful."
"Acquire: Skill World Tree Cleansing:A powerful skill that can get rid of blight, curse land, and Miasma. However, because it is a powerful skill, the cooldown time is two years."
"Acquire skill Nature Secrets: The user will gain the ability to access to living and dead plants memories. However, the skill is strong, and the cooldown time is one month."
"Notice: The Heart of the Grove isn't like the other hearts; it holds no combat advantages for you, idiot. However, you do acquire the World Tree Skill Tree. However, those skills are not yours, and you can only use them if you are the World Tree host. As of now, you are the World Tree Guardian of the Heart of the Grove. When it gets ready, it will dispel from your body, taking the skills, the fifth heart, and the World Tree Core."
The brilliant flash subsided, leaving the altar empty and the vast chamber filled with an oppressive silence, broken only by Lyra's soft gasp. She stared, wide-eyed, first at the now vacant space where the Heart of the Grove had pulsed, then at Seraphina. It had vanished. Into Seraphina.
Lyra stumbled back a step, her scholarly mind reeling. "Seraphina... it's gone," she whispered, pointing with a trembling hand at the empty altar. "It... it went into you! By the Gods, the legends spoke of a chosen host, but never... never like this!" Her face was a mixture of awe, terror, and dawning comprehension as she felt the subtle shift in the temple around them, the sudden expansion, the faint hum of new magic.
Seraphina, meanwhile, stood rooted to the spot, a bewildered frown creasing her brow. The System's condescending voice, usually a constant nuisance, had just unloaded an entire tome's worth of information directly into her brain. Five hearts? A World Tree Core? Skills with two-year cooldowns? And then the final, infuriating pronouncement: this wasn't permanent.
She was a "World Tree Guardian of the Heart of the Grove," a temporary custodian, and these immense powers would vanish when the Heart decided to leave.
Her jaw clenched. Temporary? After all that? The thought was infuriating. She, Seraphina, the Monster Eater, the Guardian Eater, was now a glorified, temporary incubator for a giant glowing orb. She, who valued power and permanence above all, was given a taste of ultimate World Tree magic only for it to be snatched away.
The insult from the System—"idiot," "dumbass"—barely registered amidst the sheer audacity of the situation. She had leveled up the temple, gained unheard-of abilities, but at what cost to her own goals?
She felt the dull throb of the fifth heart within her, a different, more resonant rhythm than her four core-linked ones. It pulsed with a pure, raw vitality that felt utterly alien.
"It seems," Seraphina said slowly, forcing herself to speak aloud, her voice tight with suppressed frustration, "that the ritual was... more effective than planned. Or perhaps, I'm just very unlucky." She lifted her eyes, meeting Lyra's stunned gaze. "I'm housing the damn thing. Temporarily. And apparently, the temple's quite happy about it."
Lyra's initial bewilderment slowly gave way to a surge of desperate hope. "If you are the Heart's guardian, even temporarily... does that mean you can control its power? Can you... can you use the World Tree Cleansing skill now, to save my village?"
Lyra's hopeful question hung in the air, a stark contrast to Seraphina's simmering frustration. Seraphina closed her eyes for a moment, the System's recent torrent of information still echoing in her mind. She focused on the new skills, specifically World Tree Cleansing.
A mental interface popped up, displaying the skill's details, including its devastating two-year cooldown.
Seraphina opened her eyes, a grimace on her face. "I... I have the skill," she said, her voice flat. "It's called World Tree Cleansing. And it can, theoretically, get rid of blight, cursed land, and miasma." She paused, then added, "But it has a two-year cooldown."
Lyra's face fell, hope momentarily flickering out. "Two years?" she whispered, the enormity of that delay sinking in. "Our village... it might not last two months."
Seraphina pushed herself fully upright, feeling the powerful, yet slightly alien, thrum of the fifth heart within her. "And that's not all," she continued, her gaze hardening. "The System decided to inform me that these particular skills, the fifth heart, and even this new World Tree Core... they're temporary. They'll dispel from my body when the Heart of the Grove is 'ready.'" She spat the last word with a hint of disdain. "Apparently, I'm just its temporary Guardian. A glorified incubator."
She looked around the now-larger, silent chamber, the marks of battle still fresh but the feeling of expansion palpable. "So, yes, I have the power, but it's on a timer, and the biggest one has a ridiculously long cooldown. It seems we just bought your village some time, not an instant solution. And for some reason, the temple is quite pleased about it."
Lyra's shoulders slumped. The light in her eyes, fueled by immediate hope, dimmed considerably. "Two years..." she repeated, the word a heavy sigh. "Even for World Tree Cleansing, that's an agonizing wait. And temporary?" She looked at Seraphina, her expression a mix of despair and a fresh wave of concern for her companion. "So, you are now a vessel, not just for the World Tree's power, but its very Heart? This is... unprecedented. The texts never spoke of such a thing. What does it mean for you?"
Her gaze swept around the newly expanded temple chamber, taking in the faint glow of what she now sensed as new sections: the library, the kitchen, the bedrooms. "The temple is growing around you, connected to you. But if the Heart dispels, will these changes remain? Will the blight simply return?" Lyra's mind, ever the scholar, raced through possibilities, trying to reconcile the ancient prophecies with this chaotic, living reality. She knew they had achieved something immense, but the victory felt incredibly precarious.
Seraphina's gaze was hard, her frustration palpable. Lyra's face, etched with despair over the two-year cooldown, was a mirror of her own irritation at the temporary nature of this immense power.
"It means," Seraphina stated, her voice clipped, "that I'm a glorified battery. The System confirmed it. I'm housing the Heart of the Grove, getting some of its skills for now – like this 'World Tree Cleansing' and 'Nature Secrets' – but they're not mine permanently. And the fifth heart, and even the new World Tree Core... they're all temporary. They'll go back when the Heart is 'ready' to dispel from my body."
She walked towards the edge of the altar, looking out into the expanded chamber. The air no longer felt heavy with residual magic but buzzed with a clean, revitalized energy. New sections of the temple hummed with unseen life. "As for the temple," she continued, "it leveled up because of it. It expanded, gained a library, kitchen, bedrooms, servants even. And a 'Monsters Ban' barrier around it now." She gestured vaguely. "So, no more guardian ambushes here, at least."
Seraphina turned back to Lyra, a flicker of pragmatic thought piercing through her annoyance. "The blight will still be out there. We just purified its source, but the damage is done. And the full cure has a two-year wait time. What's our next move, Lyra? We've done what you came for, mostly. What's left?"
"Oh, my God... You both are complete idiots. I swear, ya'll intelligence is wasted on you two." The System's voice cut through Seraphina's thoughts, sharp as a dagger, yet laced with a familiar, exasperation. "The World Tree Cleansing can be used at its full power, however after the initial use, you have to wait until after TWO FUCKING YEARS! to reuse it. So if the blight does come back, you cannot get rid of it until after two years."
Seraphina's jaw clenched, her head tilting slightly as she processed the insult and the crucial information. She felt Lyra's concerned gaze on her, the demon scholar watching her expression intently, wondering what internal struggle was playing out.
"Maybe there is a reason why the World Tree allows you to have access toNature's Secret, which lets you see the memories of both living and dead plants," the System continued, its voice dripping with sarcasm. "Are you smart enough to figure out why, or do I have to tell you?"
Seraphina's mind, despite her surging annoyance, latched onto the hint. Nature's Secret... memories of plants. She quickly pulled up the skill's description in her mental interface.
Nature Secrets: Lvl 1
Description: The user will gain the ability to access the memories of living and dead plants.
Cooldown: One month.
The pieces clicked. The blight was a disease, a corruption. Diseases had origins, a point of entry, a method of spread. Plants, rooted to the ground, were silent witnesses to everything that happened around them. If the blight was indeed the work of someone, or had a specific entry point, the plants would have "seen" it.
"I see," Seraphina muttered, ignoring the System's challenge, a cold logic settling over her. She turned to Lyra, whose face was a mask of confusion, waiting for Seraphina to explain her sudden change in demeanor. Seraphina accessed the image of the skill in her mind and projected it for Lyra to see, a flickering mental projection only Lyra could perceive.
"The System just... clarified some things," Seraphina said, a flicker of dark amusement in her eyes despite the gravity of the situation. "We can only use World Tree Cleansing once for the immediate crisis," Seraphina explained, pointing to the two-year cooldown on the projected skill description. "But we also have Nature Secrets." She tapped the cooldown of that skill – "One month."
"Plants remember," Seraphina stated, a chilling realization dawning on her. "They see everything that happens around them, living or dead. If this blight was introduced, or if it has a specific source... the plants would have recorded it. We use Nature Secrets to trace the blight's path, to find its origin or the perpetrator, before we use the Cleansing skill."
A predatory glint entered her amethyst eyes. "We don't just put out the fire, Lyra. We find out who lit it. So if it does come back in two years, we'll know who to blame. Or, more accurately, who to kill."
"You're finally using your brain." The system said.
Seraphina's eye twitched at the System's condescending praise, but she bit back a retort. Now wasn't the time. Lyra, however, had gone utterly still, her eyes fixed on the projected skill description of Nature Secrets and then back to Seraphina.
"Trace the blight... through plants?" Lyra whispered, a new, almost frantic energy entering her voice. The despair from moments before was replaced by a surge of intellectual excitement. "Of course! The World Tree connects all plant life. Its roots stretch across realms, and its very essence permeates the flora touched by its influence. If a blight, an external corruption, entered its network, the plants would indeed be the first, silent witnesses."
She paced a quick circle around the altar, her mind already racing. "This is far more... precise than simply a blanket cleansing. It offers a chance for true eradication, for understanding. If we can find the source, the 'patient zero' of the blight, it could lead us to the one who orchestrated this, as you suggested." Lyra stopped, her gaze sweeping around the cavernous chamber, now feeling less like a tomb and more like a potential command center.
"The practical implications..." Lyra mused, thinking aloud. "We'd need to start where the blight is most potent, where its effects are clearest. My village, the surrounding forest—they are deeply afflicted. We could use the older, larger trees, perhaps. They would have accumulated more memories, seen more over time." She then looked around the expanded temple. "And with the temple's new defenses and size, we have a secure base of operations. We can rest, research, and plan our movements. This library might even hold maps or ancient records of the surrounding lands that could aid us."
Lyra turned to Seraphina, her face alight with renewed purpose. "Seraphina, this changes everything. We don't just put out the fire; we can find the arsonist. We need to return to my village. That's where we'll find the oldest, most affected plant life to tap into. Are you ready?"
Seraphina gave a curt nod, the glint of predatory intent still in her amethyst eyes. The idea of hunting down the source of the blight, rather than just patching up its effects, appealed far more to her inherent nature. Lyra's energy was infectious, and even Seraphina felt a flicker of something akin to purpose beyond her own survival.
"The temple's changes will be useful," Seraphina conceded, glancing at the now intact ceiling. It was clear the newly acquired Monsters Ban skill on the barrier meant they no longer needed to worry about unwelcome guests within its expanded perimeter. "A secure base will be necessary if we're going to start poking into ancient plant memories."
They made their way back up through the familiar passages, the air growing progressively cooler and drier as they ascended from the deep chamber. The faint echoes of their footsteps were the only sounds in the suddenly vast and quiet temple. When they finally emerged from the descending tunnel, they found themselves back in the main, upper level of the World Tree Temple. Through the great archway leading outside, they saw the sky had deepened to an inky black, dotted with a scattering of distant, cold stars. It was late.
The weariness of the day's brutal battle, the overwhelming rush of new powers, and the sheer mental exhaustion of processing the System's updates finally began to weigh on Seraphina. Despite her newfound resilience, the day had been a relentless ordeal.
"Maybe it would be best to leave tomorrow morning, it makes it easier to travel," Lyra suggested, her voice softening with the weariness that now truly settled upon them both.
"Yeah, that would be best," Seraphina agreed, her own exhaustion finally catching up.
With a shared nod, they bid each other goodnight. Lyra, ever the respectful guest, chose one of the newly acquired guest rooms. Seraphina, however, made her way directly to the Master Bedroom. Her eyes widened in genuine surprise as she stepped inside. It was far more spacious than she'd imagined, with high ceilings and an air of quiet grandeur she hadn't expected from a temple.
She began pulling off the remnants of her Dragon Armor, piece by shattered piece, laying the broken, metallic shards gently onto a nearby dresser. The silence stretched, and for a moment, Seraphina felt a pang of unease.
"I don't hear his perverted voice," Seraphina muttered, realizing the sentient armor was eerily quiet.
"The Dragon Armor is severely damaged," the System's voice echoed in her mind, devoid of its usual snark. "He is only useful as ingredients for parts for Synthesis. You must find new armor."
Seraphina sighed, a strange mix of relief and melancholy washing over her. The perverted dragon had been annoying, but at least he'd been there. Now, just raw materials. She pushed the thought aside, noting another pleasant surprise. The Master Bedroom boasted its own private bathing room. The thought of finally washing away the dried blood, grime, and lingering phantom pains of the day was overwhelmingly appealing.
She stepped into the bathing room, already feeling the tension begin to leave her as she anticipated the warmth of the water.
Seraphina sighed in contentment as the warm water cascaded over her, washing away the grime and the lingering tension from the day's ordeal. Her body, still subtly thrumming with residual power from the Heart of the Grove, felt strangely lighter, yet more solid than before. She watched as the dried blood swirled down the drain, a symbol of the battle finally cleansed away.
Just as she was about to fully relax, a familiar, glowing blue interface shimmered into existence before her eyes, superimposed over the steam.
"Please use points to unlock. Unspent points: 500."
It was the Monster Skill Tree, specifically the Slime Skill Tree, and it was enormous. Seraphina blinked, surprised, then noticed that one of the skills was already lit up, glowing faintly. Curiosity piqued, she mentally tapped it.
"Error. Skill: Slime Points Boost is already acquired."
The System, ever efficient, immediately provided the details:
Slime Points Boost: Each time slime skills, abilities, and traits are used, the user will get a boost in points to spend in the slime skill tree.
Seraphina's amethyst eyes widened as she scrolled through the seemingly endless list of skills below the illuminated one. There were abilities she couldn't even fathom, evolutions that defied logic, and transformations that promised unimaginable power – all related to her inherent slime nature. This wasn't just a skill tree; it was a vast, branching path of potential, fueled by her very actions.
Seraphina stared at the interface, a new wave of questions bubbling up. How had she not noticed Slime Points Boost before? No notifications, no loud pronouncements from her System, nothing. Had it been there all along, silently accumulating points she'd never known about? The thought was infuriating, another example of her System's infuriating withholding of crucial information.
Her eyes, however, quickly fell on another glowing skill, one that immediately seized her attention:
Skill: Instant Transformation
Description: The user will gain the ability to instantly transform between slime and human form. However, the user has to regrow their body a total of three times before using Instant Transformation. Once the regrowth of the user's body is done, the user will not need to regrow their body again to transform. Instant Transformation will not cause a decrease in health. Instant Transformation will not cause any pain.
Seraphina's mind immediately flashed back to the agony of her initial transformation and the terror of regenerating her arm after her first encounter. The swift and complete healing of the deep torso wound she'd just endured clearly counted as her third regrowth. This skill... this promised a future free from that particular torment. No pain, no health decrease, just instant, seamless change. It was incredibly tempting.
Seraphina thought for a moment, the memory of her body tearing itself apart to heal still fresh in her mind. The sheer agony of it, the terror of feeling her very being unravel and reknit. If Instant Transformation could spare her that, permanently, then the cost of three more full body regrowths—wait.
Her thoughts snagged. The skill description said, "However, the user has to regrow their body a total of three times before using Instant Transformation."
She'd already gone through:
Her initial transformation from slime to human.
The regrowth of her arm.
The complete healing of the hole in her torso.
That was already three instances of significant body regeneration. The requirement was met. A surge of relief, sharp and potent, washed over her. She wouldn't have to suffer through more transformations; she was already done. The skill was immediately usable.
"If I never have to deal with that pain again, it's worth it," Seraphina muttered, a fierce determination in her eyes. Without hesitation, she mentally clicked on Instant Transformation.
"Would you like to spend 20 skill points on Instant Transformation?" the System asked, its voice devoid of its usual snark.
"Yes," Seraphina affirmed, a sense of profound liberation already beginning to settle over her.
Seraphina let out a low growl, the satisfaction of the warm bath instantly evaporating, replaced by pure, unadulterated rage. The System's voice, infuriatingly smug, had just shattered her brief moment of relief with its pedantic clarification: "However, you haven't met the requirement for this skill. The user only regrew her body a total of two times. The first was to gain access into the temple – must I remind you that you were almost killed by a minotaur? And the second regrowth was to get past the door in the lower chamber of the temple. Regrowing a limb, or closing a mortal wound like the wound you sustained in the fight with the Guardians doesn't count. The user has one more regrowth to go through. Please allocate the rest of your points."
It wasn't that she didn't remember those agonizing moments. She remembered every wrenching cell-tear, every gut-twisting reformation. But to have them counted, dissected, and then declared insufficient for her ultimate goal felt like a personal insult. She had suffered through transformation, through reforming her very being to crawl into this damned temple, and again to squeeze through that impossibly tight crack in the door. Now, after surviving the ancient guardians, she still needed one more complete, agonizing reconstruction.
She bit back the rest of the curse, her hands clenching into fists at her sides, sending ripples through the bathwater. The thought of deliberately putting herself through that torment again, just to fulfill some arbitrary requirement, was sickening. But the promise of never enduring it again was a powerful lure.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe, to push down the anger. It wouldn't help. She still had 480 unspent points in the vast Slime Skill Tree, and the System was waiting. She began to scroll through the endless list of slime-related evolutions, looking for anything that could either speed up this process or make the inevitable third regrowth less... catastrophic.
Seraphina scrolled through the intimidatingly vast Slime Skill Tree, her anger slowly morphing into a cold, calculating resolve. If she had to go through one more hellish regrowth, she would at least do everything in her power to make it less traumatic, or gain something significant from it. Her eyes scanned, dismissing cosmetic changes and minor boosts. She needed something impactful.
Her gaze finally snagged on a cluster of interconnected skills, all stemming from the "Slime Physiology" branch. Two, in particular, stood out, promising control and enhanced regeneration, which seemed directly applicable to her predicament.
Slime Body Control: Lvl 1 (Cost: 50 points)
Description: Grants rudimentary control over the manipulation of the user's slime form, allowing for minor shape alterations, density changes, and improved internal cohesion. Reduces the physical strain of transformation by 10%.
Upgrade Path: Leads to more advanced shapeshifting and body manipulation.
Enhanced Slime Regeneration: Lvl 1 (Cost: 100 points)
Description: Significantly boosts the rate and efficiency of the user's slime-based regeneration. Reduces the duration and pain intensity of full body regrowth by 15%.
Upgrade Path: Leads to rapid, near-instantaneous regeneration and resistance to dismemberment.
Seraphina's lips thinned. Enhanced Slime Regeneration was clearly the priority. Reducing the pain and duration of the next "full body regrowth" would be invaluable. And Slime Body Control seemed like a logical precursor, giving her more command over her own form. She wasn't just a blob that reformed; she needed to master her very essence.
There were still so many points, though. 480 remaining after those two. She continued to scroll, looking for something that would give her a lasting edge, something that resonated with her Monster Eater class and her desire for power. Her eyes landed on another, more aggressive-looking skill.
Slime Tendril Manifestation: Lvl 1 (Cost: 150 points)
Description: Allows the user to manifest controllable tendrils of hardened slime from their body, usable for grappling, striking, or enhanced mobility. Tendrils inherit user's Strength stat.
Upgrade Path: Leads to multiple tendrils, corrosive properties, and increased reach/power.
This one caught her attention. It wasn't about surviving transformations, but about fighting. It offered a new form of offense and utility, something tangible she could use immediately in combat, and it aligned with her expanding monstrous capabilities.
She had enough points for all three. She could reduce the pain of the next regrowth, gain more control over her slime form, and get a new offensive ability.
"Fine," Seraphina muttered to herself, a grim determination replacing her earlier fury. She tapped each skill in turn.
"Would you like to spend 50 skill points on Slime Body Control?""Yes.""Would you like to spend 100 skill points on Enhanced Slime Regeneration?""Yes.""Would you like to spend 150 skill points on Slime Tendril Manifestation?""Yes."
The System silently processed her choices, the displayed points reducing from 500 to 180. A faint, warm hum resonated through her body as the new skills integrated. She felt a subtle shift in her very essence, a newfound pliability and strength that wasn't there before. The next time she reformed, it would still be hell, but perhaps a slightly less agonizing one. And she'd have new tools to play with.
Seraphina felt the subtle, yet profound, changes ripple through her as the new skills integrated. A new kind of awareness settled in her very essence, a sense of her slime form being more malleable, more her own. The thought of the next regrowth still made her stomach clench, but now, it was tinged with a sliver of defiance. It wouldn't be as bad, and she'd have the Slime Tendrils to show for it.
"Would you like to use the rest of your points?" the System asked, its voice pulling her back to the glowing interface.
Seraphina glanced at the remaining 180 unspent points. She scrolled down the seemingly endless list again, her eyes now drawn to skills that promised further mastery over her unique physiology. She had dealt with pain reduction and combat; what about something more foundational? Something that built on her core identity as a slime.
Her gaze settled on two more skills that seemed to form a logical progression:
Slime Body Density Manipulation: Lvl 1 (Cost: 80 points)
Description: Allows the user to consciously increase or decrease their body density, making them heavier/lighter, or harder/softer as desired. Can affect physical defense (harder) or agility/stealth (lighter/softer).
Upgrade Path: Leads to extreme density changes, liquid/gaseous forms.
Internal Organ Recreation: Lvl 1 (Cost: 100 points)
Description: Grants the user the ability to precisely reform and control their internal organs within their slime body. Provides enhanced resistance to critical hits targeting vital areas. Allows for strategic rearrangement or duplication of organs in extreme situations.
Upgrade Path: Leads to rapid internal healing, complete organ redundancy, and advanced biological mimicry.
These weren't flashy, but they were about fundamental control and survivability. Slime Body Density Manipulation would make her incredibly versatile – able to be as hard as stone or as soft as water. And Internal Organ Recreation? That was pure, unadulterated survival. No more worries about vital spots if she could just move them, or duplicate them. This was the kind of core power she craved.
The two skills together cost exactly 180 points. It was a perfect fit.
"Yes," Seraphina muttered, tapping both skills.
"Would you like to spend 80 skill points on Slime Body Density Manipulation?""Yes.""Would you like to spend 100 skill points on Internal Organ Recreation?""Yes."
A final, deeper thrum resonated through her as the last of her points were allocated. She felt her very cells shift, a new awareness of her internal structure, a faint sense of control over her weight and solidity. The immense Slime Skill Tree interface finally vanished, leaving her alone in the now-quiet bathing room.
She finally allowed herself to truly relax, sinking deeper into the warm water. She still had one more regrowth to endure, but now, she had a host of new tools and a deeper understanding of her own monstrous nature. Tomorrow, they would begin the hunt for the blight's origin. But tonight, she would rest, a more formidable monster than ever before.
Just as Seraphina felt the last of her chosen slime skills settle into her being, and she began to truly relax into the warm bath, another glowing blue interface shimmered into existence before her. This time, it was distinctly different, its branching paths displaying a new set of abilities.
This was the Rengo Skill Tree. It wasn't as sprawling and endless as the Slime tree, but it still offered a substantial amount of choices.
"Please allocate 500 unspent points."
Like with the Slime tree, one skill was already lit, glowing faintly.
Skill: Rengo's Potential
Description: The user can accumulate points by using a skill, trait, or abilities of the Rengo.
Seraphina's eyes, now more accustomed to parsing these complex displays, immediately scanned for anything that truly stood out. Her gaze landed on a skill that was both familiar in concept and incredibly intriguing. She was almost certain she'd seen something similar or related in the Slime Skill Tree.
Skill: Fusion Transformation
Description: The user can create a hybrid transformation of two or more monsters, as long as the user has acquired and absorbed their core.
Skill Cost: 40 points.
Seraphina's eyes gleamed. Fusion Transformation. The implications were immense. She had the Golden Guardian Monster Core (Level 4) within her, and even the temporary World Tree Core. The ability to combine monstrous forms... this was the kind of power she truly craved.
Without a moment's hesitation, she mentally tapped on Fusion Transformation.
"Would you like to spend 40 skill points on Fusion Transformation?" the System asked, its voice as neutral as ever.
"Yes," Seraphina affirmed, a thrill of anticipation running through her.
A faint, golden light pulsed from the Rengo Skill Tree interface as the points were deducted. A new, powerful hum resonated within her, different from the slime-based energies, a feeling of potential, of combining disparate monstrous essences.
The System promptly updated the display:
Skill: Fusion Transformation acquired!
Description: The user can create a hybrid transformation of two or more monsters, as long as the user has acquired and absorbed their core.
Skill Cost: 40 points
Unspent Rengo points: 460
Seraphina gazed at her remaining 460 Rengo skill points. She had the powerful Fusion Transformation, but what else could solidify her command over her monstrous nature? She scrolled through the display, her eyes sharp, looking for skills that offered foundational strength, not just flashy attacks.
Her gaze landed on a trio of interconnected abilities that resonated deeply with her current state—a creature of multiple cores, constantly absorbing and evolving.
Core Synchronization: Lvl 1 (Cost: 120 points)
Description: Enhances the compatibility and synchronization between all acquired monster cores within the user. Reduces mana drain from active core abilities and improves the seamless integration of their traits.
Upgrade Path: Leads to perfect core harmony and independent core activation.
Monster Trait Assimilation: Lvl 1 (Cost: 90 points)
Description: Greatly increases the user's efficiency in adapting to and utilizing passive traits, physical attributes, and elemental resistances from absorbed monster cores, even without full transformation.
Upgrade Path: Leads to active manipulation of absorbed traits and partial physiological shifts.
Spiritual Harvest: Lvl 1 (Cost: 200 points)
Description: Grants the user the ability to absorb residual spiritual energy and fragmented consciousness from slain sentient monsters, converting it into a small amount of Rengo skill points. Can also provide minor temporary boosts related to the absorbed spirit's primary trait.
Upgrade Path: Leads to greater point generation, active spirit manipulation, and potential for temporary mimicry.
Core Synchronization would be invaluable for managing her Golden Guardian Core and the very temporary World Tree Core. Monster Trait Assimilation meant she could gain more passive benefits from everything she'd consumed. And Spiritual Harvest? That was a direct line to more points for this tree, fueling her future growth. These weren't about surviving transformation, but about becoming fundamentally stronger, more efficient, and more self-sufficient in her monstrous evolution.
The total cost was 410 points. It was almost everything, and it felt right.
"Yes," Seraphina decided, mentally tapping each skill.
"Would you like to spend 120 skill points on Core Synchronization?""Yes.""Would you like to spend 90 skill points on Monster Trait Assimilation?""Yes.""Would you like to spend 200 skill points on Spiritual Harvest?""Yes."
A powerful, complex surge of energy rippled through her, intertwining with the earlier slime-based changes. She felt her very essence expand, a new harmony among her cores, a deeper understanding of the monster traits she subconsciously held. The Rengo Skill Tree interface finally vanished, leaving her with 50 unspent points and a feeling of immense, burgeoning power.
The bathwater was starting to cool, but Seraphina barely noticed. She had acquired a formidable arsenal of abilities. Still, the long day, the intense battles, and the deluge of System information had taken their toll. With a final, satisfied sigh, she pushed herself out of the water. The new powers would wait. Tonight, rest was paramount.