I was supposed to buy time for him, but he hasn’t done a thing since we were here, and now he wanted to give me orders?

-I’d rather deal with the problem immediately than to wait for your unreliable ass.

-I told you you just needed to buy time. Honestly, you didn’t have to attack them at all. They are pretty weak.

-Weak? Weren’t you the one brought to their knees and almost destroyed?

-They didn’t do shit to me - he retorted. - The most damage was done by my own self, remember?

Well, he wasn’t exactly wrong.

But, so what? It’s not like it changed much.

-You want a medal? Even though it might be true, it doesn't mean that I have the patience to wait. And it's a lot like you’re defending them, right…? - I asked, a bit irked that he even tried making me spare them.

-I told you, wait! Killing them is pointless! Just wait, I…

-So I was right about you defending them. And after they tried killing you? Or worse? What kind of softie are you?

-Softie? - he chuckled. - Ha, ha. Weren’t you the one who used non lethal magic up till now?

-Well…

He wasn’t wrong.

I wasn’t exactly doing that consciously… I just got used to it.

I mean, do you have to explain why you’re not keen on taking lives?

But, there was always a limit to everything.

And mine was being unsure about my own survival.

With a body like that, it was a blurry line, and had quite a bit of leeway, but it didn’t mean it was completely unreachable.

-I am not changing my mind. Don’t try to stop me.

-Ehe. But aren’t you kind of missing something?

-What?

-Like… are they attacking you any more?

-Huh…?

He was right.

I was too preoccupied with our argument that I failed to notice that the firepower was slowly dwindling and finally had stopped.

The only part of assault remaining was the slime that was sticking to me, trying to cover more and more of my body.

-The hell… - I muttered to myself and looked closer at my adversaries.

They weren’t moving.

And it’s not like they were unconscious. Sure, some of them were lying on the ground, but even those people had their eyes open.

I took a better gaze at them using my enhanced senses, but besides the fact that they were a bit weaker than before, and that was expected, since they were just a moment ago attacking me with magic, there was no change.

-What are you doing?! Attack!

The slime was still talking to the people that were just moments ago attacking.

Speaking of. How was he doing that? It’s not like he had a mouth…

Wait. It did.

It used my own body. Annoying.

But, despite his constant nagging, they weren’t moving

-I told you to wait - said Mike, stepping out of the bushes.

I immediately turned towards him.

Involuntarily, I have to add.

Despite my earlier assumptions, he had a lot more control over me than I wanted to admit.

But, there was no control over my own mind, nor any sign of that being in any danger of changing, so at least that was good.

I wanted to ask him, what the hell was he doing?

And so did the janitor, although he had a bit different priorities.

-There’s another one! Instead of sleeping, attack!

-They aren’t going to do that - simply said Mike.

-Huh…? - I heard from behind my back.

-Stand.

Just as Mike said, the people who were just moments ago laying flat on the ground stood up.

-Come.

Forming an orderly line, all of the “soldiers” had walked up and presented themselves, like some weird parade.

-Did you just…

-Control them? Well, sort of. That’s why I needed time.

Needed time…? What kind of spell was that that he was using…

I took a better look at them, but couldn’t feel anything different coming from them.

So they weren’t under any spell? What was that then?

Wait…

There wasn’t anything different in their mana… but there was something else about them… something familiar. Very, very faint, but recognizable.

-Shards…

-Of me. Yes - he confirmed my suspicions. - It took me a bit to spread those among the whole lot of them, but it worked.

-You… assimilated them? That’s why you needed time?

-Assimilated? No, not yet.

Yet, hmm?

-So what is this, then? - I gestured broadly towards the row of bodies.

-I am just helping them move. I mean, without your help it would be a lot more problematic.

-My help?

-You did drain their magic quite a bit.

-Sure…

-With most of their own mana gone, just a tiny bit of my own essence was enough for them to surrender to my will.

“Tiny bit”? I feel like it was more than that.

But besides, that was an achievement in itself.

I knew that he’s done a similar thing before, but to see this first hand? Amazing.

I did think that something like that would’ve taken a lot more time. To spread his own crystal among them and then infuse his mana into them in a way that it was barely noticeable…

Scary.

-So… Where do we go from here? - I asked, a bit thrown off by the current situation.

-We? We’re not doing anyt…

Before he was able to finish the sentence, the voice interrupted him.

-How dare you! I will be taking both of you down!

Ah.

Right.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

There was still the problem of a certain presence being stuck to my own back.

Mike seemed more annoyed than anything. Honestly, he felt more irritated than me, being the most involved one…

-Right, there’s this thing as well…

-I am not a thing! I…

He was promptly ignored.

-Mor, can’t you just kill it? - Mike asked. - I bet you have plenty of power and an idea on how to destroy this thing.

-I might, but…

The moment I commented about thinking of getting rid of it, it clearly started shaking.

He turned to a slime and tried taking me over, and now was scared of me just mentioning trying to get rid of it?

Peculiar.

-...but I feel like I don’t need to.

-Why?! It’s clearly hostile and…

-I know, that’s not it - I assured him. - Don’t you think that it’s a great chance for us to learn more about our enemies?

-MIRE? What’s there to know…?

-I don’t know about you, but I never knew about half of what I learned from just watching them for a couple of minutes.

I approached the soldiers and picked up one of the weapons that was still on the ground.

-Like this - I said. - Something like this shouldn’t exist.

-If you’re asking about the combination of magic and technology, I don’t think those ones are able to answer even the simplest of questions.

-No. But this one might.

I wanted to turn and grab the slime on my back but that was hardly possible.

He was not evading, no. Not on purpose. It was that he was already spread thin, like a very strange shirt and I’d have to literally scratch him off me.

-Leave me alone! - he protested when I reached towards him.

I, of course, didn’t care about his opinion.

-I think you do realize what kind of situation you have found yourself in - I said. - So tell us.

-Tell what?! You’re not very specific!

-For starters, tell us why are you so adamant on hunting us?

-...

-He probably wants me - chimed in Mike. - I mean, I did piss them off recently.

-To the point where they had to chase you to the middle of nowhere? - I asked. - For just one stupid building?

-Well, we did kill a couple people on our way here…

-Excuse me, I made sure to only knock people out.

-Yes. But the fire and the ruined building didn’t.

-Eh. Well, okay. But still, to send those guys…? - I gestured broadly towards the force that was waiting for Mike’s command.

-Don’t ask me.

He was right.

The janitor, realizing that he was about to be in a very unpleasant situation… or rather even more unpleasant,, started trying to avoid the subject.

-I… I am not sure. I just know what I was told…

-And you were told?

-That you are a calamity that needs to be contained.

I rolled my eyes.

It’s always been calamity this, calamity that. Can we not have some peace?

Mike, apparently agreeing with me, echoed my thoughts.

-It’s not like I wanted to do that! You are forcing me!

-Forcing to barge into our building and destroy most of it?!

-That’s what you get for not keeping the word.

-Right… that… - I mumbled. - Good that you reminded me. Did they offer you anything new or is it just still the old story?

-Old story - he simply said. - I thought the leader would keep his word. I guess not.

-Apparently thought it was cheaper to off you.

-It definitely wasn’t - he grinned. - Those toys might be dangerous, but hell if I am going to go down like this.

-Do I need to remind you that if it wasn’t for me, you’d be dead?

-I would not. But think what you will.

-Mhm.

I was not sure if he was bluffing or not.

By all means, from what I could tell, his body was on the verge of destruction before I stepped in, but that actually didn’t have to mean death for him.

Sure, it did seem like he had a much harder time repairing himself, unlike me, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t survive.

Was he really banking on that? That even destroyed he’d survive? Wouldn’t the MIRE just take his pieces for experimentation or something? Like they did to Il…

-So, what do you intend to do? - I asked, deciding not to think too much about my worries.

-Isn’t it obvious? - he said, shrugging. - I just need to get away for long enough and it all is going to resolve itself. I am pretty sure that it’s not going to be very hard trying to outlive those maniacs.

-That’s a fair point. But I was talking about those guys - I pointed to the soldiers. - Kind of conspicuous if you ask me.

-Oh, come on. You know what I intend to do.

-Assimilation?

-That’s for later, but yes, essentially that’s going to be the end point. And I recommend you do the same.

-Me?

-What, you want to spend your time having a living shirt that is serving as a tracking beacon?

-Fair point…

So far, I wasn’t really thinking about how I was going to get rid of the guy on my back.

While I was thinking about destroying him or separating him from my body, absorption was definitely an option.

I even started wondering how long it was going to take, but suddenly he started doing something, seeing as we got more interested in his existence.

-I don’t recommend trying anything - I said, focusing on his presence. - You only are shortening your lifespan.

He didn’t reply.

-I don’t know why you’re even bothering… - sighed Mike.

Yeah, I also started seeing that as pointless.

I started focusing on the presence on my back, trying to feel it out and maybe start absorbing it right now.

Even though he was obviously hearing this, he was not resisting. I don’t know if he was just stupid or he was just straight up underestimating me, but I actually managed to get hold of his essence.

-What is… Aagh…!

The layer of “slime” immediately started thinning.

It was so easy… Why didn’t I do that before?

-Stop! If you continue you only will be taken over!

-Yeah, I don’t think anyone is going to buy that bullshit - sighed Mike. - I’ve had plenty of people, never had problems.

Well, while I wasn’t worried about that, I knew that that was definitely not correct.

I think he knew I thought that, because he immediately spoke up.

-I mean, not including you, you’re a special case.

-I feel like there were more “accidents” than that, but whatever… - I mumbled, mostly to myself, but my slime-shirt heard anyway.

-See!? He’s trying to make you lose yourself.

I sighed.

-This is the stupidest defense. Why the hell would you tell me then, hm? I am your enemy. And also, weren’t you controlling me? Why not stop me if it’s so inconvenient for you.

He didn’t reply, but I think he actually tried doing exactly what I said.

I could tell that my body got strangely stiff, but that didn’t mean shit for my mind. I could still focus on absorbing and I was pretty sure it was going to work, before suddenly my contact got cut.

-The fuck…

Did he suddenly develop resistance to my advances?

Of course not.

He just gathered himself and shot out, leaving my body.

Kind of impressive, since he was pretty deeply rooted in my wounds. To the point that I actually lost my balance and fell down, seeing as parts of my body weren’t connected together.

Apparently, he was taking up more of my body than I thought.

Hm.

The ball of slime collected itself, landing right between us, just for it to bounce away and try to escape.

It was not going to happen that easily.

Both of us, almost in unison, raised our hands and tossed a spell right at the speeding ball of goo ahead of us.

Funnily enough, both of us also used the same thing: a lightning bolt.

I am not sure how much power he put into it, but it didn’t matter. Neither of us was thinking about the safety of our target, especially after seeing how durable it was.

The two jolts of lightning collided mid-air and combined together, striking the slime just as it was going to bounce once more.

I was worried for a second.

Wouldn’t he just absorb the magic and be empowered?

I mean, that’s what he did when he was stuck to me.

But, for some reason that didn’t happen.

The moment the lightning struck the ball of slime immediately fell to the ground, smoking, fried by the sudden current.

-That was more effective than I thought… - said quietly Mike, echoing my own thoughts.

I quickly approached the slime, to check its state.

I could see that he still had some mana remaining, but the lightning definitely did a number on him.

-He’s… unconscious…? - I said, approaching carefully.

I was not going to let him get stuck to me again, that stupid parasite.

-I think so - agreed Mike.

-Why… Why did this work this time…? - I mumbled, a bit perplexed. - Not like I am complaining, but…

-I assume he was borrowing your powers.

-My powers?

-Powers of the crystal. He was using it to absorb mana from spells, like we do. When he escaped, he no longer was connected to you, so…

-Yeah, okay. But how did you get him off then? You can do the same thing.

-Gher… don’t make me say it.

-Say what?

-Mgh… - he groaned, annoyed. - It’s just… that you are better at it. You are in a completely different league, with that body… And since he was using you…

-Ah… okay. But, wait… isn’t he also a piece of Crystal? I mean, he’s a slime, but didn’t they use the Crystal as the base…?

-Probably… - he admitted, unsure. - But it’s not like they were perfect… I mean, changing the form is… challenging, you know what I mean?

-I guess…

-Anyway… I still am getting rid of it.

-Wha…? The body?

-No! I mean, yes, but I meant this guy…

He raised his hand and was about to touch the slime before I stopped him.

-What?

-Won’t he just latch onto you?

-He can try. I managed to destroy him last time.

-I guess…

He did zap him to death before.

But, before he managed to reach him I felt a surge of mana behind us.

-Heads up!

It was another portal.