The world I was born into as a slime is filled with an energy called Mana. This was something that didn’t exist on Earth. No, perhaps I simply couldn’t perceive Mana in my human days. Regardless, it’s an energy that doesn’t exist by Earth’s standards.

Mana concentration varies depending on the location. The denser the Mana, the more powerful the monsters. That’s why the rule in the slime community was to never approach such areas.

(But now, I don’t have a problem with it.)

Through evolution, I’ve grown dramatically stronger. Since yesterday, I’ve been gradually moving towards areas with higher Mana concentration, and today, I’ve decided to boldly venture further.

(Slash!)

After advancing a bit, I extended my whip and swung the blade at the end of it. I caught the fallen fruit with another whip, absorbed it into my body, and began to dissolve it. (Wow, delicious!)

The white pear-like fruit was by far the most delicious thing I’ve eaten since being born as a slime. First of all, it was sweet. The fruits around the slime village were mostly 99% sour or bitter, but this one was sweet like modern fruit, with just the right amount of tartness.

This is probably also due to the dense Mana. When exposed to strong Mana, the nutritional value increases, and the taste improves as well. And the herbivorous monsters that grow by eating these plants are also rich in Mana and taste better.

I knew this because, once, Slata and the others had pressured me into going to a high-Mana area. We were lucky enough to hunt one monster there, but we were soon attacked by a powerful beast, and I vowed never to enter that area again.

The reason why strong monsters gather in high-Mana zones might be because there’s an abundance of delicious prey. (Hmm? This is a spring?)

I found a water source in a clearing in the forest. It was a wide spring, almost like a pond.

(Come to think of it, I haven’t felt thirsty since becoming a slime.) It had become so natural that I hadn’t noticed it before, but neither I nor the other slimes ever sought water.

Maybe slimes don’t need water, or maybe the water content in plants and blood is sufficient. (It doesn’t matter, but this is a perfect spot for an ambush.)

Even if I don’t need water, other monsters do. Surely, there are quite a few that come to drink. I’ll sneak up and launch a surprise attack while they’re distracted by drinking. If I can land a heavy first strike, the rest of the battle will be much easier. It’s a flawless plan.

(Alright, this tree looks sturdy enough.)

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“Climb!” I climbed up a tree thicker than the others near the spring. Even though my weight increased due to evolution, this tree should be able to support me. Using Climb, I also spread my body out as much as possible to distribute the weight. With my increased power, climbing was easier than before.

After waiting a few minutes for an enemy to show up, two monsters appeared.

They resembled deer—one had ominous, red-black antlers, and the other had no antlers but bore intricate patterns on its body. Judging by how they were sticking close to each other, they seemed to be a pair. They stood side by side and began drinking from the spring. This was my chance. I activated Stealth and quietly descended from the tree.

I carefully approached the deer, creating a blade at the end of my whip. At that moment... (Splash!) A huge column of water shot up. In the brief moment I was distracted, the stag’s head was crushed. (What!?)

The monster that did it immediately turned to the next target. With blood dripping from its fangs, it moved with swift, efficient movements and sank its teeth into the neck of the fleeing doe. The doe let out a faint cry. It collapsed to the ground, twitched violently once, then vomited a large amount of blood and died. (It’s strong...)

The beast had instantly killed the deer, which seemed to be at the level of a "Mighty Beast." Even though that beast itself is likely a "Mighty Beast," it leveraged its strengths to achieve a one-sided victory.

“Shurururu...”

The beast glared at me, trying to intimidate me. It had an elongated body. Long fangs grew from both its upper and lower jaws, which looked like they could pierce through iron. Its slick, black skin had a glossy sheen, reflecting the light. With a growl that sounded like steam escaping, it resembled a pike fish. The main difference from an Earthly pike was the third eye on its forehead.

“Slaah!”

After a brief stare-down, I lost patience and dashed forward. As if waiting for that, the pike unleashed a small whirlpool. (Perfect, Evade!) I charged straight at the approaching whirlpool, only to change my course diagonally just before impact. Using the speed boost from Evade, I rapidly closed the distance. “Shuraa!”

But the whirlpool I thought I had dodged suddenly changed direction and continued chasing after me. It can control the whirlpool even after it’s been released! But this works out well for me.

Taking advantage of being pursued, I activated Escape to accelerate even further. “Shu, Shururua!” The pike seemed taken aback by my second burst of speed, but it quickly bared its fangs and lunged at me. Stretching its upper body from the water, it had me within range in no time.

(Block!)

I timed it perfectly and activated my defensive Weapon Skill. My body became even harder, allowing me to deflect the pike's fanged attack without a scratch.

“Slash, Compact Slash, and then Slash again!”

After parrying its fangs, I immediately retreated into the air and unleashed a flurry of Weapon Skills. I slashed at the pike's face, then slashed again, and just as I was about to deliver a third strike, I missed. The pike had retreated. With a splash, it dove back into the spring.

As I waited for it to reemerge, a whirlpool struck me from behind.

(Gurgle... Actually, I'm totally fine.)

Even so, I took no damage. I didn’t even feel short of breath. Feeling like I was being tossed around in a washing machine, I waited for about ten seconds until the whirlpool dissipated. Yet, the pike made no moves from within the water.

It just kept watching me, gauging my actions. I waited. Like an angler, I waited. Now was the time for patience. Acting rashly would only give my opponent an opening. After what felt like twenty minutes, I began to think something was off.

(...Wait a second? Hey, come out already!)

"ORA!! SUUUL! ORA!?"

I called out several times, but the pike didn’t surface from the spring. Could it be that this thing is waiting for me to leave!?

‘Uhhh…what a scaredy-cat.’