“Ugh... never again,” Arthur growled, shaking his head in disgust. But as he bit deeper, his senses tingled with anticipation. He could feel the Spirit Core of the monster deep inside its body. That was where the real value lay.

Finally, as he reached the core, the system chimed.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Congratulations, Arthur! You have defeated a First Stage Slugterra. Despite lacking a lineage, this creature had nearly reached the Second Stage through sheer will and evolution. You now have the following choices:

* Steel Tendrils: Absorb Slugterra’s ability to harden parts of your body into steel-like tendrils, capable of both offensive and defensive uses.

* Acidic Slime: Develop the ability to secrete an acidic slime from your body, allowing for defense and trapping enemies.

* Essence Absorption: Absorb Slugterra’s essence to progress your Void Core. Strengthen your connection to your elemental power, specifically the element of darkness, advancing your abilities.

Arthur paused, reading through the options carefully. His eyes lingered on the third choice—Essence Absorption. It was different from the usual choices of physical enhancements. For the first time, he wasn’t just being offered another skill or tool for his body, but something that could fuel his core directly.

"Essence absorption..." Arthur mused aloud. The very thought of advancing his Void Core intrigued him. If this slug had managed to evolve so far without any lineage, then perhaps essence was the key to not just surviving, but thriving. His Void Core was tied to his system, and growing it meant unlocking more of the system’s potential. It had been the reason he evolved so quickly, devouring the essence of those he killed.

The choice was obvious.

[Essence Absorption Selected]

As the system processed his decision, Arthur felt the familiar rush of energy. But this time, it was different. The power didn’t just fill his muscles or sharpen his claws—it flowed inward, deep into his Void Core. The sensation was almost soothing, like sinking into a deep, dark pool. His connection to the element of darkness grew stronger, and for the first time, he felt the terrain around him shift in his favor.

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The darker the environment, the stronger he would become.

Arthur grinned, flexing his claws as the energy pulsed through him. He could already sense it—the way shadows clung to him, empowering his movements. The essence was more than just power. It was a link to something far greater, something elemental and primal. The more essence he absorbed, the closer he felt to truly unlocking his Void Core’s full potential.

With the slug fully devoured, Arthur glanced at its massive body. The [Inventory] would be useful here, but as he tried to shove the slug into it, the system buzzed with a rejection message.

[Inventory Capacity Exceeded]

Arthur rolled his eyes, the annoyance creeping back in. The slug was far too big to fit. He scowled, deciding it wasn’t worth the effort of dragging the remains around. “Guess I’ll just stick with the Nooms,” he muttered, turning back toward the clearing.

As he approached the spot where the mangled Nooms had been, Arthur’s eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. The corpses were gone—every single one of them. The ground where they had once lay was now spotless, as though they had been wiped from existence. But in the center of the clearing, something new had appeared.

A small, slime-like egg.

It pulsed faintly, glowing with a soft, golden light. Arthur crouched low, studying the egg with suspicion. His instincts immediately flared, warning him that this was no ordinary monster. The system confirmed it.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

This egg belongs to a rare creature of great lineage—a direct descendant of the Titan of Light, preparing to advance to its First Stage Evolution. You have two choices:

* Absorb the Egg: Devouring this egg will grant you immense power, pushing your Void Core to the peak of the First Stage. This action will however, bring upon you a great trial.

* Imprint Your Essence: You may spare the egg and imprint your essence upon it, creating a bond between you and the creature. This will make the creature loyal to you, akin to a “child” that will obey your commands.

Arthur’s eyes widened at the revelation. A Titan of Light? The creature growing inside that egg was descended from one of the most powerful lineages in the world, a stark contrast to the slug he had just devoured. The potential of consuming such a being was immense—it would catapult him to the peak of the First Stage. Yet the second option lingered in his mind.

Imprinting his essence would allow him to control this creature, essentially making it his servant. Not a mindless beast, but a loyal companion, something that would fight for him and grow alongside him.

Arthur’s thoughts whirled as he weighed his options. The hunger in him urged him to devour the egg, to absorb the raw power that came with it. He had learned from Slugterra’s evolution how far a creature could go without lineage—how much potential lay in the sheer will to evolve. But this egg was different. Its lineage gave it an inherent advantage, a power that Arthur could use to his benefit.

He looked at the glowing egg, his mind flickering back to his previous life as a human, where dilemmas like these were usually about morals or survival. Now, it was about power—control or consumption.

Arthur's grin faded into a contemplative frown. "What would you do, slug?" he muttered to the memory of the creature he had just defeated, as if expecting an answer.

He had never thought about having companions. Everything up until now had been survival of the fittest, devouring and growing. The idea of something by his side—something loyal—was almost foreign.

His claws twitched as he made his decision.