Before the slime could notice and comment on the changes Sean had just made to his status, he decided to pull up Gel’s own status sheet. Looking it over, Sean had to admit he was impressed at how far his friend had come along since the last time he’d reviewed it. The slime was becoming a real mental powerhouse.

No wonder he was able to help me resist Bancroft.

Name: Gel

Race: Gelaton (Sentient, Slime Half)

Level: 14

Health: 19 / 19 Mana: 15 / 15

Damage Reduction: 0

Attributes: Physical (5), Mental (14), Recovery (13)

Attribute Breakdown: Might (9), Competency (2), Ego (10), Cognition (18), Toughness (2), Adaptation (25)

Abilities:

* Passive Abilities

* Flesh Bonding

* Mental Link

* Active Abilities

* Advanced Mimicry

* Absorb (Flesh)

* Momentum Shift

Traits: Slime, Flesh-Bound, Hybrid Symbiote, Symbiotic Structure II, Composite Form II, Morphic

Nodes Chosen: Mimicry, Improved Cytoskeleton, Anchor, Slime Arsenal, Knowledge Swap, Slime Whip, Flowing Structure, Pliable Form, Scent Solvent, Dual Composition, Advanced Mimicry, Ooze Echo

Active Titles: I Am Who I Am II, Family Meal, Helping Hand II, Minion Emancipator, Flesh Connoisseur, Sharing Is Caring

Inactive Titles: Unstoppable III, Merciful Executioner, Liberator III, Colony Compatriot, Profane Luck

Titles in Progress: Devourer

There’s a lot to break down here. Sean thought, looking over it all. The first thing that stuck out to him was his friend’s complete and utter lack of damage reduction. That fat ‘0’ was a stark contrast to his own 16. I know he can heal, but I can almost block his entire health pool.

Sean resolved to keep standing in the way of things as he went down the rest of his friend’s status. The slime’s stats were impressive, and the gelaton couldn’t help but notice how high Gel’s adaptation was. Sean did some quick mental math.

He’s regenerating 13.5 mana per six hours… so over 2 points per hour? Good lord. Even if we didn’t eat everything we came across, that alone would fix literally all of my mana issues. The gelaton wondered if the pair of them might be able to share their ‘adaptation’ attributes in the future. We can already share physical and mental if the time is right… so, come on universe! The time is now!

When the universe, rather rudely, did not respond, Sean moved on. There was only one new ability Gel had that the gelaton hadn’t seen before. Or rather, an advanced version of one he already knew about.

Advanced Mimicry

Description: Gain the ‘Advanced Mimicry’ ability, forfeiting the ‘mimicry’ base ability.

Effect: Advanced mimicry allows the user to manipulate their own mass in order to recreate a physical aspect from a target they have consumed. Accuracy of recreation is based on mana spent, the number of creatures with that aspect that have been consumed, and the user’s ego attribute. All prior capabilities from ‘mimicry’ remain the same, or are improved.

Mana Aspect: Chaos

Okay, this sounds amazing. But what are the limits? Sean decided to ask his friend that very question, seeing as how Auntie Ta had yet to return.

“Well, I just picked that one up so I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet.” Gel admitted, though the slime sounded more excited than upset. “But I should be able to make parts of the things we eat now!”

“Couldn’t you do that… before?” Sean asked, clearly puzzled. The very first thing he had seen Gel do was make his own eye out of nothing. Or out of the slime’s ‘mass’. How was this different?

“Well, yeah. But now I can do it even better!”

“Meaning…?”

In response, Gel abruptly wrapped Sean’s right arm in crimson red slime. Softly glowing cylinders formed in dozens of locations all over his arm, and a second later bright-red spikes erupted out of the limb. Sean jumped up with a start, pushing his arm away from his face on pure instinct.

“Hey! That’s–woah.” Sean was about to admonish his friend, but he stopped when he realized he recognized these spikes. They looked like crimson imitations of the ones the desert cacti-creatures here used. His orbs burned with sudden excitement, his irritation evaporating in an instant.

“That’s amazing!” Sean declared. “What else can you make?!”

“Amazing… and difficult.” Gel said, and the slime sounded both proud and slightly strained. “Costs a fair bit of mana, but I’d say the real question is more what I can’t make. It all depends on what I eat.”

“How long does it last?” Sean hadn’t seen a duration on the ability’s description.

“It’s a one-time cost, and lasts until I either re-consume the mass or it breaks. In the first case, I don’t get the mana back and only a portion of the mass. In the second, I don’t get anything back.”

That’s… not bad at all. Sean’s mind felt like it was exploding with the sheer possibilities now available to them. Screw having to make our own armor piece-by-piece… we could just eat something with armor and have Gel recreate that!

Then Sean noticed just how diminished his friend’s mass suddenly was. Gel had gotten far bigger thanks to the slime eating all of those ants – they both had, really – but the noticeable drop in mass brought a healthy dose of reality back into the situation.

Always checks and balances here, huh? Even so…

“This ability could change everything.” Sean said seriously. “We have got to get you some more monsters.”

“Now you’re speaking my language!” Gel said, perking up immediately at the idea of more food. “How much longer are we staying here, anyway?”

“I was planning on leaving once we finished up with Auntie Ta.” Sean had gotten the distinct feeling from the openly kind druid that she was the type of person who didn’t mind guests – but didn’t prefer them to stay after hours. Having lived most of his previous life with a low-capacity social battery, the gelaton could empathize. “No point overstaying our welcome.”

“Especially now that we know we can return!” Gel said, looking up with true fondness at the fruits above. “This place is delicious.”

Sean shook his head at his friend, then went back to looking at Gel’s status sheet. It was something he needed to make a point of being more familiar with, and there were several nodes on there he hadn’t seen before.

Pliable Form

Description: Expands the pliability of one’s natural form, improving stretch capacity as well as bond strength in all directions. Reduces strain caused by movement.

Effect: Adaptation attribute increased by 1.

Mana Aspect: Chaos

Dual Composition

Description: Further develops the elasticity of a slime’s mass and ever-shifting structure, easing the generation of new formations by blending both solid and liquid forms within the ooze. Lessens the strain inherent to such tasks.

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Effect: Adaptation attribute increased by 2.

Mana Aspect: Chaos, Nature

Ooze Echo

Description: Gain the ‘Ooze Echo’ trait.

Effect: Allows a slime to copy one of its own physical abilities at the time of use, effectively using it twice for a single, higher cost in mana and mass – even if the ability cannot normally do so. Due to the deep bond shared by this slime with its symbiotic counterpart, this trait optionally allows the slime to recreate one of its counterpart’s active physical abilities as well.

Mana Aspect: Chaos, Nature

Woah. Sean thought, reading over that last trait a second time. A duplication ability. That’s… incredibly powerful. And if he can use my physical abilities…

“Can you use ‘Slash’ now?” Sean asked his friend, excited. The idea of empowering Gel’s axe with that ability while their ‘might’ attributes were combined was too savory to ignore. “With the ‘Ooze Echo’ trait you picked up, I mean.”

“Yup!” Gel responded with equal enthusiasm. “It’s more expensive for me than it is for you, but I can do it. Also…”

Sean’s ‘Hell yeah!’ died in his non-existent throat as two crimson whips reached out in front of him and waved back-and-forth with barely-suppressed glee.

“I can make two whips now!” Gel all-but shouted in excitement. “Look at how awesome this is! It’s like we’ve got twice as many arms! And–and, we can eat twice as fast now! This might be my favorite node choice so far. Maybe ever. It’s just… so perfect. So me! I saw it on the manasphere and I just couldn’t resist.”

Sean laughed at his friend’s exuberance, and left the slime to wave his gelatinous ‘arms’ in the air as he returned back to Gel’s status. Next up were the titles, and he was surprised to find Gel had also left ‘Unstoppable III’ as ‘inactive’.

Maybe he doesn’t know? I didn’t realize it at first, either. Or does he have something better?. Sean debated on whether or not to bring the matter up to his friend as he brought up each of Gel’s unknown titles in turn. Unlike when Sean earned his own titles, these prompts did not appear with any flair. There were no fancy borders or sudden sounds, just information.

Active Title: I Am Who I Am II

There are many who lose themselves in memory, drowning in a past they can never change and wishing for a future they can no longer have – but not you! Even when faced with a flood of memories not your own, your sense of self has persisted and remained true to the core of who you are! By surviving through the memories of more than 100 other beings, you have raised this title to the second rank! Your indomitable spirit shall be rewarded!

This title lessens the strain consumed memories have upon the psyche. Be warned, this strain can never be fully eliminated.

Sean only read through this title’s description once, but the implications of what Gel had gone through in order to earn it swam through his mind for long minutes. He thought about bringing some of it up, but decided not to ruin his friend’s good mood. Instead, he pulled up the next one.

Active Title: Family Meal

As satisfying as it can be to devour another creature whole, true monsters know that consuming an entire pack adds a level of flavor that is hard to match elsewhere. The zest, the hints of comparison, the subtle differences – only a refined palate could appreciate them all!

This title grants a chance to double the experience earned when at least 3 direct familial relatives have been consumed.

Dark. Sean thought, having no intention whatsoever of bringing this particular title up to his friend. Especially given Gel’s reaction back at the cemetery. At first, he wondered why the slime would have kept this one active at all… but then he recalled how often they fought packs of the same monster. Guess the chance at extra experience is worth it to him.

Active Title: Helping Hand II

We all fall down sometimes, and the same is true of our friends! Only the foolhardy or foul-smelling go at it alone in this wide world, and you have chosen to help another along their path! By selflessly acting as the lost limb for a creature other than yourself for days on end, you have raised this title to the second rank! Your noble spirit shall be rewarded!

This title slightly increases the impact your actions have in the eyes of others when you help them, and its effect is doubled if you do so selflessly.

Is that why he’s always so willing to help out? Sean thought with amusement, even if he knew it wasn’t true. Titles seemed to reflect and/or enhance the nature of who you already were, and the slime had proven time and again to be selfless. At least, when it comes to things he cares about. Like enormous, hostile slimes trapped inside fragile glass cages. Or mushroom-enslaved ants.

Sean tried not to dwell on what it said about him that one of the first titles he had ever received in this world had called him an ‘arsonist’ as he examined the next prompt.

Active Title: Minion Emancipator

Only the tyrannical believe they have any rights over the future of others, and the crumbling foundations of their empire shall melt under your might! Freedom is the only path that makes sense, and your path continues to lead others held without choice towards liberty they have never known!

This title grants an increase in damage to all attacks made against summoners, conjurers, necromancers, and any who command minions. Increase is based on the total number of minions at the target’s command when struck.

Sean guessed Gel had earned this one by freeing the cuboid, air-purifer slime back at the mansion. It wasn’t hard to see why the slime was holding onto it. There was no way to examine just what the ‘increase’ was the title offered, but if it went up based on the number of minions…

I’ll have to make sure Gel is doing most of our damage when we fight Bancroft. Shouldn’t be hard, he’s most of our damage now anyway. Sean made a mental note to keep his role as their ‘defense’ in mind when he went about spending his next three node points. I wonder if I should hold up two shields and let Gel attack over them?

The gelaton was still wondering whether that particular idea was tactically sound when he pulled up the next prompt. He… wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

Active Title: Flesh Connoisseur

Woe to those who find sustenance merely amongst the limited options presented by vegetation! True arbiters of taste know that the real delicacies of life can only be found in the endless varieties of the flesh!

This title grants a slight increase to the mana received, and inherent understanding gained, when consuming the flesh of another. Has no effect on flesh that has been consumed more than a day after a creature’s death.

Looks like something Gel would keep up, yeah. With no other thoughts on the matter, other than a morbid curiosity about how soon it would be before the slime raised this title’s rank and how useful that might be, Sean moved on.

Active Title: Sharing Is Caring

While ‘the greedy never prosper’ has been disproven more times than anyone can count, in the end it is the simple act of sharing that brings monsters and societies together. Only the selfless know the truth inherent to the saying: “when a gift is given, two are received”.

This title grants a rare, but substantial increase to the effect of gifts that you give others.

At first, Sean wasn’t sure why the slime would keep this title at all – much less choose it over the life-saving effect of ‘Unstoppable III’. Then, it struck him.

He must be hoping this will give me more mana after we eat something. Sean realized. He’s been keeping it on in case it ever came into play.

Sean was touched. That made two separate titles he had seen that Gel was keeping in valuable slots – at least in part – because of their potential to help Sean. Sure, ‘Flesh Connoisseur’ might be for the boon it gave to ‘inherent understanding gained’, but there was no way the slime needed the mana aspect of it. Not with 25 adaptation.

Found one hell of a friend on my first day. The gelaton reflected. He’s less of a monster than most of the people I knew back home.

Sean dismissed the rest of the prompts and his friend’s status as he tuned back into the slime’s excited ramblings about his new capabilities. He listened to Gel rave about his new ‘dual whip’ stance the slime was developing, and a smile stretched its way across his skull. Soon, the pair were joking and practicing new moves together, with Warabe offering pointers from his mysteriously deep pond.

That was how Auntie Ta found them an hour later, laughing and clattering their way around the grove. With turtle-man commentary and a fair amount of half-dissolved sticks and palm leaves used for practice.

“I see you boys have kept yourselves busy.” She said with a deceptively motherly smile, as a dozen ‘floofs’ jumped down from her shoulders to run back into the overflowing garden. “Now, since you’re both clearly getting antsy… how about I give you something to do?”

“Ooh, maybe she’ll give you some chores we can trade in for more food!” Gel said brightily.

“Give me some chores?” Sean asked, lowering his arms.

Auntie Ta stepped closer to them, leaning on her staff as she walked. A subtle vibration emanated out from its base, and the dissolved vegetation in the grove began to regrow itself. Even the partially-dissolved sticks Warabe had been holding suddenly sprouted fresh leaves.

“I have a quest for the pair of you, and if you get me what I want… I’ll teach you more of those recipes you’re after.”

“Called it!” Gel shouted joyfully, raising both slime whips into the air before bringing them down before Sean in a surprisingly accurate portrayal of a bow. “How can we be of assistance… and for how much?”

Sean played along with his friend’s antics, bowing and straightening as the slime’s whips did. Beside them, he saw Warabe watching them closely. The mirth on the frog-man’s face suddenly gone.

“Nothing too difficult.” Auntie Ta admitted, holding up what looked to be a scroll in her off-hand. “Just the retrieval of my armoire, and in exchange I will give you one of my own recipe books.”

“Called it.” Sean said privately to Gel, with almost as much humor as the slime had just had. He tried to keep his inner amusement off his face as he nodded and moved forward to accept the scroll.

“Called what?” Gel asked through their mental bond, suddenly confused.

“We’ve had the ‘lion’, the ‘witch’, and now…we get the wardrobe.”