Chapter Five

The Warrior Slime Hungers!

Vance's stare remained petrified within ice. The snarl of the massive wolf and the young girl hovered over him with evident menace.

He tried to open his mouth. He tried to shout and scream as fat drops of drool fell from the wolf's maw, but not even a wet pop escaped his frozen lips.

"Obey," the young girl said with a sadistic glimmer to her golden eyes.

Vance tried to shake his gooey head in confusion, but the ice was absolute. This was the second time in less than a day he had been attacked. He had no idea where he was, but there seemed to be something terribly wrong with the people who lived here!

The young girl's almond face soured as she continued to look down at Vance. She was richly dressed all in black. She took several steps closer, her snarl transforming into a scowl.

"I said obeeey." His juvenile assailant's face split into another grin. "You will obey!"

The wolf added its own hungry command, growling with all the menace of an unmasked serial killer. Vance struggled to spread his gooey lips, but the cold was a prison he could not escape.

"I don't... feel anything," the young girl said with a frown. "Perhaps I need to make direct contact? It is a Graceless, after all."

Vance felt the ice recede from his phantom body. He leapt at the chance and started to squirm against the wolf's massive paw.

(Why?!) Vance howled with horror as he remained immobile. Little more than a thin gooey tentacle escaped the wolf's violence. (Why is this happening?!)

"Because you are a lowly slime," the young girl said. A flicker of unease spread across her face as she reached out with a hand as pale as snow. "Now obeeeey."

The stranger's hand wrapped around his blue tentacle. Vance felt a ticklish warmth, but he had little mind for the unusual sensation.

(You... Can you understand me?!) He was sure the young girl had answered him! But how was that possible? Even he could tell that his voice sounded like wet pops.

"Obey me, damn it!" A bratty whine filled the forest. The girl shook her head in frustration, her curly pigtails bouncing up and down. "Obey, obey, obey!"

(You're insane! You're all insane!) Vance shouted. What had he ever done to deserve this?!

"Your continued defiance is insane, you malformed blob!" the young girl hissed, and Vance was filled with vindication. She could understand him! "Why won't you- "

And the girl's words were interrupted as the wolf loosed a painful howl.

(Fascinating...)

Vance turned and watched as steam started to rise from the wolf's other paw. He remembered the Green Slime, and then he heard their voice a second time.

(Just imagine eating, Blue Vance), the Green Slime said. Steam continued to rise from the wolf's other paw. (Just imagine my favorite chocolate mayonnaise cake.)

Like a trained dog, Vance felt his stomach rumble at the very mention of Bella Italia's signature chocolate cake. The name scared most people off, but the cake was without a doubt-

< [Mangiare] activated >

"Whaaaat are youuuuu?!" the young woman screamed. Her voice underwent a confusing transformation as Vance's icy prison disappeared.

The massive wolf leapt away, its pigtailed master dangling between its massive teeth. The beast landed with all the grace of a ballerina ten feet away. The young woman was dropped unceremoniously onto the ground.

"Eh?"

Vance shook away scales of ice beside the Green Slime. The young woman rose to her own feet, her back facing them as she looked down at the wolf's wounded paws.

"Frost... You're hurt...?"

(Why...!) Vance swallowed nervously as he called out to his assailant. The bratty child twirled around to face him. (Why did you attack me?)

"How daaaare you!" the young girl hissed. "How daaaare you harm my Frosty-poodle!"

(How dare we?!) the Green Slime said beside Vance, his wet pops full of frustration. (Miss, you and your overgrown hairball- )

"Shut up!" the young girl said, and Vance could not help but worry about the strange movements of her hands. "It seems I'll have to soften you two up first."

He was not sure how he had not noticed before, but the air came alive with the chatter of a hundred violent beasts. Vance looked up into the trees and he could not find a single empty branch. Row after row of razor-beaked birds stared down at him with an almost human malice.

(Oh my...) the Green Slime said with a nervous pop.

(We... we don't want to fight!) Vance called out weakly. He had quite forgotten about Bella Italia's culinary treats as his eyes swept each and every crowded tree around them.

"This is not a fight, little slime," the young girl said, throwing back her head with laughter. "This is a hunt!"

As if her cackle was a command, the sun overhead was blotted out by the flapping of a hundred sets of wings. There were no friendly parakeets or pudgy pigeons amongst the feathery horde. Creatures of violence took to the air and then descended on Vance in a black plume of death.

He felt the first of the birds hit him like blazing arrows. He still did not fully understand his gooey body, but he could feel bits and pieces of it disappearing as the murderous flock pecked and clawed at him. He saw several burst through his body like sentient bullets.

(Please! Stop this!) Vance shouted. He had thought being crushed by a wolf was terrifying. He had thought having fireballs launched at his face was a terror. They were nothing compared to a dozen different talons raking across his phantom flesh!

And yet throughout the mayhem, he could hear the high-pitched woman's voice.

< [Tithe] activated >

< Acquired (5) SP >

A dozen birds squawked angrily in his ears.

< [Tithe] activated >

< Acquired (11) SP >

His shouts to the strange young woman went unanswered.

< [Tithe] activated >

< Acquired (7) SP >

The cloud of feathers parted for a moment, and he could see the Green Slime. They were not cowering like Vance. The birds attacked them, but... but...

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(Think with your stomach!) the Green Slime shouted. A thick green tentacle shot out and trapped some kind of mutant crow. It dissolved into their body, slowly, and the high-pitched woman's voice echoed between Vance's phantom ears.

< [Tithe] activated >

< Acquired (4) SP >

And then the cloud of feathers swallowed Vance once more. The Green Slime's wet pops were lost to the birds' interminable squawking.

(Think with my stomach?!) Vance was more inclined to empty his stomach because of all this stress.

But he quickly remembered the wolf. He had to try!

A bird with vibrant red feathers dive-bombed Vance. It slid into his goo like a javelin and started to push out the other side. It was a beautiful bird, though clearly not natural. Perhaps because of the Green Slime's shout, Vance idly wondered what it would taste like.

< [Mangiare] activated >

The red-feathered bird's beak had broken through Vance's gooey body. The bird made an almost confused expression as the rest of its body dissolved in a rush of flavors. Within another heartbeat, the red-feathered bird completely disappeared.

< [Red-breasted Killpecker] consumed >

(Wooow!) Vance exclaimed as his phantom mouth filled with an aromatic numbness. (Th-that was delicious!)

The zesty flavor was quickly replaced, however, as the feathery cloud around him seemed to get stuck and drawn into his gluttonous goo.

< [Common Twin-tailed Hawk] consumed >

< [Knife-billed Kingfisher] consumed >

< Acquired (35) SP >

The high-pitched voice rattled off name after name, but Vance's thoughts were elsewhere. He forgot some of his terror as he reached out with gooey tentacles and grabbed morsel after morsel.

(What a simple ability!)

Vance bumped into something soft and squishy as he started to chase after the tasty swarm. He turned and found the Green Slime similarly grabbing after the flying rotisseries.

(I think this really is heaven, Blue Vance!) the Green Slime said, the wet pops of his voice full of delight. Vance struggled a weak smile at its unusual words. He still did not have time to ponder this other him.

"Enough!"

The all-you-can-eat poultry buffet vanished as if like a light switch. Vance watched the black clouds land on the branches overhead.

"You rotten little slimes!" the young girl shouted, stomping her feet angrily. "How dare you gobble up all my toys! Frost!"

(You're the one who attacked us!) Vance shouted, though he could not deny the smile on his face. He could still feel the dozen different flavors battling for attention within his phantom mouth.

(Oh my...) the Green Slime said, and Vance's phantom eyes widened with surprise.

The massive wolf snapped its teeth over the young girl and threw her back like a bag of sand. Vance watched her summersault through the air and, despite everything, worried she would crack open her skull.

Instead she landed deftly on her feet. Without even a glance over her shoulder, she started to sprint away.

(I do not care for her retreat...) the Green Slime said, and the many flavors in Vance's mouth seemed to deaden.

He turned back to the wolf.

(Oh.)

The remaining birds took to the air as the massive wolf's fangs began to glow a bright blue. The beast opened its mouth wide, almost dislocating its jaw. A distant sound, like the low rumble of a generator, seemed to echo from within its belly.

(That does not look good,) the Green Slime said, and a white mist exploooded out from the wolf's gaping maw.

Vance did not have time to even shout in alarm before a white hiss of death raced across the forest all around him. Within the blink of an eye, his gooey form was petrified once more. The same prison from before threw up its bars, and he could not move.

He tried to shout. He could see the Green Slime thrashing uselessly against its own prison. Not even a wet pop escaped, however. All he could do was watch as the wolf closed its mouth, its fangs growing dimmer and dimmer. The rumble from its belly softened and died...

...and was replaced by a distant thump, thunk, thud in the far distance. It came from the same direction the bratty girl had fled.

The distant treetops shook violently as something thundered closer. The trees behind the wolf had not escaped its ice, and their canopies broke off in chunks as the distant thump, thunk, thud grew louder and more violent. The very earth shook as if with an earthquake.

And then there was a moment's silence. Vance was not allowed to enjoy it, however. He had seen a shape leap into the air and now he watched as it fell. The furry ball seemed like an errant meteor as it crashed into the Green Slime.

Vance watched the Green Slime explode into a thousand little shards. The furry monster looked like a shaggy boulder with meaty arms and legs. It raised its leathery fists and started to smash what little remained of the Green Slime into dust. It filled the air with violent hoots.

And then it turned towards Vance.

Vance tried to scream as he saw its impossible face. The creature had two black marbles for eyes, almost hidden behind its shaggy fur. More than half of its body served as its mouth. Jagged teeth crunched the Green Slime into powder as the beast stuffed the gelatinous shards inside its stomach-like torso.

The creature hooted excitedly, frosty spittle filling the air. It dragged itself towards Vance. It raised its massive hands into the air, and all Vance could remember was how the Green Slime had disappeared into a thousand little pieces, how the monster had devoured the Green Slime as if it were a... were a sour popsicle stick.

< [Mangiare] activated >

The creature's bludgeoning fists crashed into Vance, and he felt himself break. It was the most bizarre sensation as he watched himself from a distance. His partially frozen body was stuck to the creature's meaty fist. But he saw more than just himself. It was as if he had an extra pair of eyes. He could see uncomfortably close into the creature's misshapen mouth-torso, as well.

(E-eat!) Vance sputtered senselessly, and he was surprised to hear the wet pop of his voice. (Think about eating!)

He had heard the invisible woman's high-pitched voice earlier. He remembered the Green Slime's parting words. All he had to do was think about eating!

The alien creature loosed a low howl as Vance gnawed on its meaty knuckles. It tasted a little like those Chinese spareribs if the sauce was dry and flavorless.

(Whooa!) The creature started to slam him into the ground. It tried to rip him off of its slowly dissolving hand, but Vance kept thinking about food, food, food!

He had no idea what he was eating, but within no time at all he had reached down to the boulder-shaped creature's elbow. Part of him was horrified by how his food screamed in evident pain, but the other part of him replayed over and over how the Green Slime had been destroyed.

(I need to eat!) Vance shouted at himself desperately. (Boneless spare ribs! Like bad boneless spare ribs!)

Half of his body remained glued to the creature while the other half lay frozen nearby. He was therefore able to watch, as if it were a movie, as the wolf leapt forward and closed its maw around his frosty goo. Half of his world turned black as the massive wolf tore a chunk off the boulder-like creature's arm, and Vance along with it!

The wolf threw him aside. He flew through the air and quickly finished dissolving the last chunk of mystery meat. He felt dizzy as he watched the wolf from two angles at the same time. From one angle, he could see the wolf's maw dripping with slavatious fury. From the other angle, he could see the wolf standing protectively over the wailing furball... but not protective enough!

(H-he's alive!) Vance exclaimed as he watched little green globs converge on the round and wounded creature. The wolf turned from Vance to the green globs with evident wariness.

(Is this functional immortality?) the Green Slime wondered aloud with a small wet pop, and each of his hundreds of shards made the same noise. (Is this functional immortality?)

(Is this functional immortality?) (Is this functional immortality?)

(Is this functional immortality?) (Is this functional immortality?) (Is this functional immortality?)

(Is this functional immortality?)

(Is this functional immortality?) (Is this functional immortality?)

(Is this functional immortality?)

A veritable chorus of curious pops overwhelmed the beast's cries as it started to scratch the inside of its mouth-like torso. Its fur seemed to dissolve inwards as green globs appeared beneath its skin.

The wolf leapt away as the alien creature's body fell apart from the bits of Green Slime both inside and outside of its body.

"Stop it!"

Vance jumped at the high-pitched whine. He turned and found the wolf standing protectively in front of the brat from before.

"Why?! Why are you slimes breaking all my toys!?"

The last of the furry creature disappeared, and the high-pitched voice offered Vance several messages.

< [Tithe] activated >

< Acquired (76) SP >

< You have reached max (SP) >

The Green Slime reformed its body, but Vance's eyes remained glued to the wolf. Its fangs were growing bright blue just like before.

(What is wrong with you?!) Vance shouted in a sudden fury. (Breaking your toys!? You're insane! You're all insane!)

His frustration grew hotter and hotter. This pint-sized brat threw monster after monster at them all while hiding in the background. He did not care if it was cowardly, however. He was jealous! He wanted a beast of his own. He wanted someone he could send out to defeat his seemingly unending enemies.

Vance did not feel comfortable fighting himself, but if he had someone else like the Green Slime, someone who was a fighter...

< [Multiply] activated >

< 350 (SP) used >

The invisible woman's voice rang out. She almost sounded excited.

< Max (SP) increased >

Vance felt a familiar sensation. His goo had been frozen and splattered across the forest, but it rocketed back into place as if drawn by a massive magnet.

He felt something slide out from his body as the high-pitched voice sang out in praise.

< Created [Warrior Slime] >

< Class upgraded from [Slime] to [Slime Boss] >

< New Trait Acquired: [Slimey Suggestion] >

Vance shuddered with relief as the transformation finished. He puzzled over the woman's words as he turned around to face the newcomer.

The fat red slime wore a Viking's helmet. It did not have a face, but it still somehow radiated frustration. Its gooey red flesh seemed to vibrate with pent-up violence.

Before Vance could think to speak, the Red Slime loosed a riotous wet pop.

(RIIIP AND TEAAAAR!)