Her body began to tremble uncontrollably, the adrenaline crash hitting her with a vengeance. Her breath hitched, ragged and shallow, and the cold mud coating her skin suddenly felt like a suffocating shroud, slimy and foul. Every scrape and prick from the thorns now stung, and the phantom ache between her legs flared with renewed intensity, tying itself to the raw, visceral fear that had just ripped through her.
It was then, amidst the shaking and the mud, that a fresh wave of mortifying warmth spread between her legs, instantly followed by the distinct, acrid stench of urine. She had pissed herself. The sheer, primal terror of the Minotaur, the overwhelming threat of a creature so far beyond her meager strength, had utterly shattered her control. The humiliation was profound, burning hotter than any of the scrapes on her skin, but the stark, terrifying truth eclipsed it: she was a Level 0, naked, utterly defenseless. A single glance from a beast like that, a mere whiff of her, and she would have been nothing but a bloody smear on the swamp floor. The System's condescending warnings about being the "weakest thing" in this forest, about mosquitoes doing more damage than her, hadn't been insults; they had been stark, terrifying truths.
This wasn't some false reality she could escape; this was brutally real, and she had almost died before she'd even taken a proper breath, reduced to a trembling, incontinent mess. A wave of nausea washed over her, a mixture of fear, disgust, and the lingering effects of the blow to her head. The anger she'd felt at the System, while still present, was now overshadowed by a cold, hard knot of fear and a crushing sense of her own vulnerability. The urge to simply curl up and disappear was immense, but then her eyes, despite the tremors, found the persistent blue shimmer of the water icon on the map. Cleaning herself, becoming even remotely human again, was no longer just about hygiene; it was about regaining some semblance of control, some small victory in this nightmare.
Seraphina swallowed hard, the taste of bile and mud in her mouth. The humiliation still burned, but a new, fierce resolve hardened her gaze. She was a level 0, yes, a trembling, terrified creature, but she was alive. And she needed that stream. Now more than ever. She wouldn't curl up and die in this godforsaken swamp, not when a glimmer of hope, however foul the path to it, shone before her.
With a ragged breath, she slowly, cautiously, began to extract herself from the thorny vines, wincing at the renewed sting of the cuts. Her movements were still deliberate, her amethyst eyes darting into the oppressive shadows, listening for any tell-tale thuds or snorts. Speed was essential, but not at the cost of blundering into another unseen horror. She moved with a heightened sense of awareness, her naked, mud-caked form a ghost in the oppressive darkness, driven by the burning need for clean water and the desperate hope for survival.
As Seraphina took a particularly careful step, trying to avoid a submerged root, a new, translucent screen flickered into existence directly before her eyes.
"Skill: Awareness Lvl. 1 Acquired," it proclaimed.
Seraphina blinked, her forward momentum momentarily faltering. Awareness? She glanced back, her mind flashing to the colossal Minotaur, to the rapid, desperate instinct that had plunged her into the mud and vines just moments before its massive form had lumbered by. Was that what this was? A recognition of her sudden, acute hyper-vigilance? It certainly hadn't saved her from pissing herself, but perhaps... perhaps it was the reason she was still breathing at all. A grudging, almost imperceptible sliver of appreciation for the System's 'insight' mixed with her perpetual annoyance.
The screen vanished as quickly as it came, leaving her once more to the oppressive gloom and the internal map. With a renewed, if still trembling, resolve, she pressed on, every sense now more finely tuned, acutely aware of the unseen threats that lurked in the dark.
And indeed, as she pushed onward, a subtle, profound shift had occurred. The dense, cloying darkness of the forest, while still profound, no longer felt utterly impenetrable. Her amethyst eyes, already unique, now seemed to perceive faint outlines where before there was only an undifferentiated void. The murky shapes of gnarled trees and submerged logs became marginally clearer, allowing her to pick her steps with slightly more confidence.
Her ears, too, were sharper. The distant, general sounds of the swamp-forest began to break down into individual components: the faint croak of a frog, the whir of unseen insects, the drip of water from leaves, and, most importantly, the almost imperceptible rustle of creatures moving through the undergrowth, far too small to be a Minotaur, but still presences. The heavy, damp air, already pungent, now delivered a richer tapestry of scents – the bitter tang of unknown vegetation, the sweet rot of decaying leaves, and the faint, almost metallic whiff of something alive nearby, something she knew instinctively to avoid.
And the instinct that had saved her from the Minotaur? It was a cold, insistent prickle at the back of her neck, a tightening in her gut, flaring almost violently the instant a shadow so much as shifted too quickly in her peripheral vision. It wasn't a thought, but a pure, primal urge to hide, to disappear, to make herself as insignificant as possible when danger even remotely approached. It was terrifying, this raw, unfiltered fear, but it was also a shield, a vital warning system in a world that clearly wanted her dead.
This was the Awareness skill. Her mind, reeling from the sensory overload, made the connection, a stark, undeniable link between the System's message and her newfound, terrifying clarity. It was a cruel gift, sharpening her perception only to confirm the myriad ways this world could kill her, but a gift nonetheless. With every heightened sense screaming at her, she continued her desperate, mud-slicked trek towards the shimmering blue icon of the stream.
As if in response to her instinctive halt, two more translucent screens shimmered into existence directly before her, overlaying the dim reality of the swamp-forest.
The first, swift and triumphant, declared: "Skill: Awareness Level 1 --> Level 2."
Simultaneously, her senses sharpened even further, becoming almost painfully acute. The darkness peeled back another layer, revealing not just outlines but textures, the glint of moisture on distant leaves, the precise twist of gnarled branches. Her ears caught the distant, almost imperceptible scuttle of beetle legs beneath the soil, the faint, high-pitched whine of a single mosquito far off. The swamp's odors, already strong, now separated into distinct, almost overwhelming notes of musk, decay, and the faint, unsettlingly sweet tang of something venomous directly beneath her suspended foot.
The second notification then appeared, providing a stark, chilling explanation for her near-fatal mistake:
"Careful, these are Csytas, highly poisonous small monsters that pretend to be a rock. The needle on top that hides in its shell injects the poison into its victims and prey. However, they can be useful for many things, mostly assassination."
Seraphina stared at the screen, then at the 'rock' beneath her foot. It wasn't a rock. It was a small, mottled grey creature, no bigger than her palm, perfectly camouflaged, its surface indeed jagged and uneven. Somewhere within its deceptive form, a hidden, poisoned needle lay coiled. A shiver, colder than the swamp air, ran down her spine. The Minotaur had been brute force, terrifying in its scale. This... this was insidious, a silent, unseen death waiting to be stepped upon. She took a slow, trembling breath, her foot still suspended, then carefully, painstakingly, lifted it and placed it down a safe, deliberate distance away from the camouflaged Csytas.
A strange, almost morbid curiosity, fueled by her high Intelligence and the System's cryptic hint about "assassination," piqued her interest despite the lingering terror. She scanned the damp ground around her, her keen eyes, now boosted by Awareness Level 2, quickly locating a thin, broken branch long enough to keep her hand clear of the creature. Carefully, she picked it up, the rough bark feeling strange against her mud-caked fingers.
Holding the stick steady, she extended it towards the Csytas. She nudged it gently, a mere feather-light touch.
To her surprise, the "rock" shifted. Tiny, multi-jointed legs, thin and dark like spider limbs, popped out from under its jagged shell, twitching as it began to move sideways, a quick, scuttling motion. As it moved, it reacted to the stick's presence. Faster than her naked eye could have tracked moments before, two praying mantis-like arms, sharp and glinting even in the poor light, snapped out from its armored form. They swiped at the stick with incredible speed, leaving small, shallow cuts etched into the wood where they connected.
Just as Seraphina pulled the stick back, her amethyst eyes wide with a mix of awe and renewed caution, a new text box appeared from the System, almost directly on top of the scurrying creature:
"They use their scythe arms to cut chunks of meat off their prey. Glad to see you're not completely dumb."
Seraphina watched, fascinated and disgusted, as the Csytas, its brief display of predatory agility over, quickly scurried off, vanishing into the indistinguishable muck and shadows. The System's backhanded compliment stung, as always, but it also fueled a grim satisfaction. She wasn't just blindly stumbling through this nightmare; she was learning. Each close call, each painful humiliation, was also a lesson, a step towards not being completely helpless. She just wished the teacher wasn't such an insufferable, snarky void.
Her gaze hardened, the stream's shimmering blue icon once again her singular focus. The dangers were clear, but so was her resolve.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of treacherous footing and hyper-vigilant scanning, the oppressive darkness began to thin. The air grew subtly cooler, cleaner, and the faint, rhythmic sound of flowing water became a distinct, welcoming murmur. The shimmering blue icon on her internal map, which had seemed so impossibly distant, now pulsed brightly, directly ahead.
Seraphina pushed through a final curtain of drooping, moss-laden vines, and then she was there. The stream. It wasn't wide, perhaps no more than ten feet across, but the water, even in the dim light, appeared remarkably clear, glinting with a faint,
ethereal luminescence. It flowed with a gentle current over smooth, dark stones, pooling in a small, shallow basin just before her, the surface undisturbed by the swamp's usual murk. The banks were less overgrown here, a narrow strip of firmer, mossy earth before the dense forest resumed. A sense of profound relief, so potent it almost buckled her knees, washed over her. She had made it.
The System, for once, remained silent. No snarky remarks, no condescending observations. Just the soft, inviting gurgle of the water. For a moment, Seraphina simply stood, her mud-caked, trembling body bathed in the faint, cool air rising from the stream, her amethyst eyes fixed on the clean water. The humiliation, the terror, the exhaustion – it all converged into a single, overwhelming need: to be clean.
With her Awareness Level 2 humming, Seraphina performed a thorough, almost ritualistic sweep of the immediate area around the stream. Her enhanced hearing picked up nothing but the gentle flow of water and the usual, non-threatening night sounds. Her keen sight discerned no hidden shapes in the banks, no subtle ripple that would betray a lurking predator. The air, though still carrying the forest's damp, earthy scent, had no hint of the musky reek of the Minotaur or the metallic tang of the Csytas. Satisfied, as much as one could be in this brutal world, she took a hesitant step into the cool, clear water.
A gasp escaped her lips as the initial chill shocked her skin, quickly followed by a sensation of pure, exquisite relief. The current was gentle but persistent, already beginning to peel away the layers of filth. She knelt, then sat, allowing the water to envelop her. First, her face, scrubbing away the smeared mud, feeling the grit loosen and wash away. Then, her hands moved to her dark, tangled hair, patiently working out the matted leaves and stubborn clumps of earth, letting the clear water rinse it until it flowed like silk through her fingers again.
Next, with a grim set to her jaw, she turned her attention to the rest of her body. She scrubbed vigorously, the cool water a balm against her aching muscles. She worked at her breasts, her arms, her belly, watching the dark rivulets of mud, grime, and sweat stream off her skin and disappear downstream. Finally, with a deep, shuddering breath, she focused on the area between her legs. With a fierce, almost desperate determination, she washed away the last, most horrifying vestiges of her ordeal—the sticky, dried blood and the sickening traces of semen. Each swirl of water, each gentle scrub, felt like reclaiming a tiny piece of herself, washing away not just the physical grime, but some of the profound violation. She watched the dark, ugly stains dissipate into the current, carried away into the indifferent night, until her skin felt truly clean, smooth, and shockingly pristine once more.
As she emerged from the stream, the night air, though cool, felt infinitely better against her bare skin. The shame and disgust were still a dull ache, but the physical burden had lifted. She was naked, vulnerable, but she was clean. And for the first time since waking, she felt a fragile sense of self returning, a quiet, defiant spark of determination in her amethyst eyes.
The serenity of the moment was shattered. A gelatinous form burst from the water's surface, surging onto her and pinning her to the damp earth. It rapidly morphed, its translucent body extending into sinuous tentacles that coiled around her limbs, forcing her legs apart with a brutal, viscous grip. More appendages sprouted from its amorphous mass, two of them wrapping around her breasts, their slick surfaces fondling and teasing her nipples into hardened peaks. Another tentacle, glistening with a repugnant wetness, slid between her thighs, invading her most intimate place with a cold, relentless pressure. The final tentacle snaked its way into her mouth, silencing her cries as the monstrous creature began to undulate, having its vile way with her helpless form. The air filled with the sickening sounds of suction and the muffled whimpers of her despair.
The slick, sinuous tentacle plunged into her, while another, firmly lodged in her mouth, excreted a warm, viscous liquid. It flooded her senses, compelling her to swallow despite her resistance and igniting a unwanted heat between her legs. A low, guttural moan escaped her, vibrating around the invasive appendage. Suddenly, a notification screen materialized before her eyes, displaying the words "Skill: Pheromones level 1 acquired."
With each forceful ejection of the liquid, the skill escalated, climbing until it reached its zenith. The screen surfaced again, declaring "Sub-skill acquired: Pheromones Secretion."
Her body trembled, betraying her as it responded to the alien stimuli, and she could feel the heat building and building, like a molten river. Her skin flushed and her breath hitched, and she could feel every inch of her skin as it prickled with unwanted sensation.
It built with every thrust and every pulse of the slimy tentacle in her mouth, an obscene synchronization that forced her pleasure and humiliation into a single unendurable crescendo. The tentacle rammed deep, stimulating her throat in a rhythm that sent shudders through her spine. Simultaneously, the one in her sex thrashed mercilessly, stretching her inner walls, filling her with a sickening fullness that throbbed with the System's incessant updates: "Pheromones Level 2… Pheromones Level 3… Sub-skill: Heat Acquired."
By the time the gelatinous monster's core drew taut—shuddering over her, milky fluid gathering in its translucent depths—Seraphina had gone past the ragged edge of despair. Her eyes streamed wetness. The tentacles pinning her thighs spread her wider, forcing the next, impossibly larger appendage into her, pushing her to a threshold of pain and pleasure.
She felt an intense pressure building inside her, akin to the urge to urinate, but she knew it wasn't that. She was about to climax from the assault she was enduring.
Her body trembled violently, a tidal wave of sensation cresting within her, drowning every conscious thought. She wanted to scream, to resist, to claw and bite, but the tentacles clamped her limbs in an impossible embrace, and the appendage in her mouth muffled any sound to a whimper. The alien chemistry raging through her veins left her flesh hypersensitive and her mind reeling, every thrust of the creature's appendage sending fresh shudders through her core. She could feel slickness pooling between her thighs, not just from the monster's emission but her own unwilling arousal, her traitorous body responding to the obscene violation with a dark, shaming eagerness.
Everything burned: her skin, her sex, her pride, all subsumed by the monstrous rhythm. The tentacle in her mouth pumped more of the syrupy liquid down her throat, forcing her to swallow or drown.
It was too much. The Minotaur's brush had been terrifying. The Csytas a silent threat. But this... this was a violation. A cold, consuming rage, far beyond fear or humiliation, ignited deep within Seraphina. It was the straw that broke the camel's back, a dam bursting inside her soul.
The slime, having seemingly expended its initial burst of energy, began to loosen its hold, slowly, sluggishly attempting to slither away, its tendrils retracting from her body. But it had miscalculated, gravely. It hadn't accounted for the raw, primal fury it had unleashed.
With a guttural growl that sounded more animal than human, Seraphina's bound hands, somehow infused with a surge of desperate strength, clamped down on the retreating mass. Her fingers dug into its yielding flesh, surprisingly firm. Her amethyst eyes, wide and blazing with a terrifying intensity in the dim light, fixed on the creature.
"Oh, we're not done yet," she snarled, her voice a low, ragged rasp, dripping with venom. "Not by a fucking long shot. You had your fun. Now it's my turn."
Without hesitation, driven by an unknown, horrifying urge, Seraphina lunged forward. She opened her mouth wide, baring teeth that suddenly felt sharper, more predatory, and sank them deep into the slime's gelatinous body. A grotesque tearing sound filled the air, and she began to devour it, tearing off chunks, chewing with a savage, desperate hunger that bordered on madness.
The grotesque tearing sound filled the air as Seraphina's teeth sank into the slime. A repulsive, bitter taste exploded on her tongue, metallic and putrid, yet beneath it, a strange, invigorating warmth began to spread through her. Her body recoiled instinctively, but the sheer, primal rage overrode all revulsion. She continued to tear and swallow, the viscous mass sliding down her throat, burning with an unnatural energy.
As the last remnants of the slime vanished, consumed entirely, a series of blinding notifications exploded before her eyes, momentarily eclipsing the dark swamp.
Level Up!
"Congratulations: Level 0 --> Level 1!" the first notification blared, its text shimmering with triumph. "Please assign unused stats points. Total Stats points: 10."
Immediately, a new, more detailed screen materialized, dominating her vision.
Class Unlocked: Monster Eater
"Conditions have been met. Class unlock: Monster Eater."
Below this, a wealth of incredible, almost unbelievable information scrolled into view:
Monster Eater: A rare, Triple S-class that allows its users to eat monsters without suffering the life-threatening effects of monster meat. This class also allows the user to take on skills, abilities, and traits of the monsters they eat. This class can only be obtained by paying a price to the dark God Xylos. Only one Monster Eater is allowed to exist in the world. There is no limit on how much monsters you can eat, or how many skills, abilities, and traits you can acquire.
Process Slime Attributes?
A final, urgent prompt appeared, hovering expectantly:
"Would you like to process the abilities, skills, and traits of the slime? Yes or No?"
Seraphina stood, naked and mud-streaked, but now with a terrifying new power thrumming beneath her skin. The repulsive taste of the slime still lingered, but it was nothing compared to the shock and awe of the System's revelations. A Triple S-class? The dark God Xylos? The ability to devour monsters and gain their attributes? Her mind, even with its fragmented memories, struggled to comprehend the sheer magnitude of what had just transpired. The humiliation, the rage, the desperate act of vengeance—it had all culminated in this.
The question hung in the air: Yes or No?
Seraphina blinked, her mind still reeling from the sheer implications of the "Monster Eater" class. The System's final question hung in the air: "Would you like to process the abilities, skills, and traits of the slime? Yes or No?"
"Yes," she rasped, the single word a raw commitment to this terrifying new path.
The instant the word left her lips, her world exploded. A searing, unbearable agony ripped through her, far more intense than the headache that had plagued her since waking. She fell to the damp earth, body writhing uncontrollably, every muscle seizing. It felt as if something immense was clawing at her insides, trying to pull her apart from the inside out. A choked scream tore from her throat, inhuman and desperate. Her vision blurred, then faded, replaced by an agonizing kaleidoscope of pain. For the second time that night, humiliation layered over her terror as she lost control of her bladder, a hot, mortifying wetness spreading beneath her. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and white foam frothed at her lips as her hands clenched into unnatural, claw-like bunches. Unbidden, unholy screams tore from her, echoing through the silent, indifferent forest.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the torment ceased. Seraphina lay gasping, shuddering, every inch of her body screaming in protest, but the searing pain was gone. Her eyes, still wide and dilated, focused slowly on the new wave of notifications that shimmered into existence, each one a stark record of the horrifying transformation she had just endured.
Abilities, Skills, and Traits Acquired:
Acquire: Slime skill Absorption.
Acquire: Slime ability: Transformation: Slime.
Acquire: Slime skill: Water Resistance.
Acquire: Partial Transformation skill.
Acquire: Shifting abilities.
Acquire: Slime trait: Gluttony.
Acquire: Slime trait: Monster Core Level 1.
Seraphina lay there, naked and soaking wet, not just from the stream or her recent humiliation, but from the sweat and residual slime covering her. She was still in shock, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The sheer terror of the transformation lingered, a cold hand clenching her heart. Yet, amidst the lingering fear and physical exhaustion, a strange, new sensation pulsed within her – a faint, almost alien awareness of her own altered biology. She had just gained an incredible, monstrous power, at a terrible, agonizing cost.
Seraphina lay panting, the ghost of agony still clinging to her, but slowly, a new, unsettling awareness began to dawn. Her hand instinctively went to her chest, pressing against her ribs, and that's when she noticed it. Her heartbeat had doubled. It was a strange, staggered rhythm: thump... thump-thump... thump... thump-thump. Even as her breathing slowly calmed, the peculiar rhythm persisted, as if she now possessed a second heart, beating in a delayed echo of the first.
A cold prickle ran down her spine, a silent command from her heightened Awareness. Open the stat screen.
"Stats," Seraphina gasped out, the word raw and strained.
The familiar translucent screen shimmered into existence before her eyes, luminous against the dim swamp.
Name: Seraphina Brodior
Age: 22
Race: Humanoid Slime
Class: Monster Eater
Level: 1
Health: 15
Agility: 20
Charm: 30
Strength: 5
Defense: 3
MP: 30
Intelligent: 50
Luck: 1
Her eyes locked onto the "Race" line. Humanoid Slime. The words screamed at her, a stark, undeniable confirmation of the horrific change she had just undergone. She wasn't just human anymore. She was... this.
The System then flashed another prompt, waiting for her input:
"Please assign unused stats points. Total Stats points: 10."
Seraphina stared at the screen, her mind racing. What would she do with her newfound abilities and this terrifying new identity? How would she choose to allocate her precious stat points now that she was a Humanoid Slime and a Monster Eater?
"I choose Agility," Seraphina whispered, her voice still a little hoarse from the pain and the unsettling transformation, "and Health." The notion of being a swift, untouchable hunter resonated with her more than simply taking hits. Her high Intelligence likely nudged her towards leveraging her existing strengths, trusting in her ability to adapt.
As she made her decision, the translucent stat screen rippled, and the numbers visibly shifted before her eyes.
Stats Updated!
Name: Seraphina Brodior
Age: 22
Race: Humanoid Slime
Class: Monster Eater
Level: 1
Health: 20 (+5)
Agility: 25 (+5)
Charm: 30
Strength: 5
Defense: 3
MP: 30
Intelligent: 50
Luck: 1
A subtle, exhilarating hum of energy coursed through her as the points were allocated. Her muscles, though still aching from the recent ordeal, felt a newfound lightness, a latent springiness that hadn't been there before. Her very awareness of her own body's potential for speed and fluid motion seemed to sharpen, an echo of her heightened senses. She could already imagine herself moving like smoke through the trees, evading danger with effortless grace.
The wisdom of her choice felt almost instinctual. As a Monster Eater, her path was clear: consume, adapt, evolve. There would be more monsters, more opportunities to gain strength, to acquire new abilities, and surely, more skill points. This was just the beginning.
Seraphina pushed herself to her feet, her naked form shimmering faintly in the dim light. She was still exposed, still in a dangerous wilderness, but now, a chillingly confident glint entered her amethyst eyes. She was no longer just a victim; she was something new, something... more. The cold air raised goosebumps on her skin, but it also carried the invigorating scent of the forest, a challenge she now felt marginally more equipped to face.
Her next priority was clear: find something to cover herself. Then, perhaps, she could begin to truly test the limits of what it meant to be a Humanoid Slime and a Monster Eater.
Seraphina, still feeling the lingering phantom pains and the strange hum of her new stats, slid back into the cool embrace of the stream water. The initial shock of her transformation and the System's notifications had begun to settle, leaving a swirl of questions in their wake.
"Pay a price to the Dark God Xylos... When did I do that?" she mused to herself, her brow furrowed. The memory was completely absent, swallowed by the void where her past should have been.
With a mental command, she called forth the System's Encyclopedia, navigating directly to the Dark God Xylos tab. Her amethyst eyes scanned the sparse entry, but it offered little solace or information. There was no grand explanation, no detailed history, and chillingly, no image. Only the terse description: "God of Mischief and Darkness." The "price" remained a mystery, a terrifying blank in her fragmented past.
Her thoughts then drifted to the creature she had just savagely devoured. "What kind of slime was that, anyway?" she wondered, a faint, metallic taste still lingering at the back of her throat.
The System, ever present and annoyingly insightful, immediately responded. "It was a water slime. Water slimes can mimic how water moves, blend in as water, use water attacks, and cannot drown."
A flicker of interest, cold and calculating, sparked in Seraphina's eyes. "Can I use water attacks now?" she thought, a glimmer of offensive possibility igniting within her.
The System's response was swift and, as usual, laced with its characteristic disdain. "...Did you see any notification that you acquire any attacks? No, idiot, you have to unlock the skill tree, which sucks for you, that won't be unlocked until you get to Level 5. However, it is possible that you can use your slime form to drown victims."
The dismissive tone grated on Seraphina, but the last part of its message caught her attention. Drowning victims in her slime form. A grim smile, a stark contrast to her earlier fear, touched her lips. It was a dark thought, a monstrous thought, but one that resonated with the raw, vengeful power now coursing through her veins. The world had shown her its darkness, and she was learning to wield her own.
Seraphina's mind, sharp despite the lingering exhaustion, latched onto the new, darker implication of her abilities. "So, how can I turn into a slime?" she asked the System aloud, a cold curiosity replacing her earlier dread.
The System's reply was instantaneous and dripping with its usual sarcasm. "....Gee, I'm not sure, does it look like I'm a slime? Maybe you should think about it or I don't know maybe concentrate on it, but before you do anything stupid, it's best to learn more about what you acquired."
Before Seraphina could retort or even formulate a thought about concentrating, the translucent screen abruptly flickered. The familiar interface vanished, replaced by a detailed breakdown of her recently gained skills. The System, in its infinite wisdom (and apparent distrust of her decision-making), had automatically switched to the skill pages.
Skill: Awareness Level 2
Description: Be aware of your surroundings; all five senses are heightened. The sixth sense as well.
The text glowed, a stark reminder of the sharpened perceptions that had already saved her from the Minotaur and the hidden Csytas. It was her primary defense, her early warning system, and the reason she was still alive. She would need to understand it fully before she started experimenting with monstrous transformations.
The translucent screen shimmered, revealing yet another new acquisition. Seraphina's amethyst eyes widened slightly as she read the description of Skill Absorption.
Skill: Absorption
Description: The ability to absorb any being as long as the user is a higher level. This skill, once maxed out, can become an extension of the Monster Eater class. For now, it can only absorb stat points from your enemies, which can automatically boost your stats. Once fully maxed out, this can be used to eat a monster completely whole, giving you a higher chance of getting a powerful or rare skill, abilities, or trait.
A grim, almost predatory smile touched Seraphina's lips. This was it. This was the true core of her new existence. She could not only consume monsters, but literally siphon their essence, growing stronger with every victory. The thought of fully devouring a powerful beast, taking its very essence into herself, was both terrifying and exhilarating. It was a path paved in blood and monstrous appetites, but it was a path to power in a world that had shown her only vulnerability.
The stream's cool water still embraced her, a stark contrast to the burning ambition now kindled within her. She was clean, but still naked. She had newfound strength, but was still dangerously exposed. Her head throbbed, a dull echo of the agony she'd just endured, but her mind was sharper than ever, already calculating.
The System continued to unveil her new monstrous self. Another line of text shimmered into view, detailing an ability that promised a complete shift in her physical being.
Ability: Transformation: Slime
Description: The user can transform into a slime.
Seraphina stared at the words. Transform into a slime. The very creature that had just assaulted her, the one she had savagely consumed to gain this very power. A shiver, not entirely of revulsion, but of profound, unsettling potential, traced its way down her spine. The thought of abandoning her human form, even temporarily, was jarring, yet the tactical advantages were undeniable. Escape, stealth, perhaps even a new way to interact with her environment or prey.
She was a Humanoid Slime now, her very essence altered. This wasn't just a skill; it was a fundamental shift in her being. The ability to become entirely fluid, to perhaps squeeze through impossible spaces or absorb blows that would shatter bone, presented a chilling new dimension to her survival.
but her mind was ablaze with the possibilities of her new, monstrous form.
Another skill detail materialized on the translucent screen, confirming a more immediate, passive benefit of her recent consumption.
Skill: Water Resistance
Description: The user is resistant to minor water attacks and magic, and the user also cannot drown in water. The higher this level up or stacked, the user could potentially be resistant against catastrophe levels of water attacks and magic.
Seraphina let out a slow breath, the cold comfort of the stream water around her suddenly feeling less like a mere convenience and more like an extension of herself. Not drowning was a significant boon in a swamp environment, and resistance to water attacks, even minor ones, was a definite advantage. It solidified the notion that her new form, while terrifying in its acquisition, was also inherently suited to this damp, treacherous world. Every ability gained was another layer of defense, another tool for survival and dominance.
She was no longer just in the water; she was partially of it. The grim potential of drowning enemies in her slime form, combined with her own invulnerability to water, painted a vivid, chilling picture of future encounters.
As Seraphina processed the implications of her full slime transformation, yet another notification flickered onto the screen, this one perhaps even more versatile and disturbing than the last.
Skill: Partial Transformation
Description: The user can partially transform into any monster they consume. For example, if the user consumes a dragon, they can transform their hands into dragon claws. Or if they consume a slime, they can transform a part of themselves into slime-like.
Seraphina's lips curved into a slow, unsettling smile. This wasn't just about becoming a slime; it was about selectively morphing, adapting, taking on the most advantageous aspects of her prey. The thought of sprouting hardened claws from her fingertips or developing a skin that shimmered with the resilience of a monster's hide was a grim revelation. And for the immediate future, transforming a part of her body into that viscous, adaptable slime... the possibilities for defense, for offense, for manipulation, were endless.
The sheer potential of the Monster Eater class, combined with the grotesque agony of her initiation, was beginning to truly sink in. She was a biological weapon, an evolving predator, limited only by what she could hunt and consume. The nakedness, the cold, the lingering fear – it all faded slightly against this overwhelming sense of monstrous power.
Just as Seraphina absorbed the implications of Partial Transformation, another, even more startling ability unfurled on her mental screen. This one went beyond adapting monster parts; it spoke to the very core of her form.
Ability: Shifting
Description: The user can change their eyes or hair color; they can also go as far as to grow the opposite sex, sex organs, or get rid of them at will. A higher level of Shifting ability could potentially give the user the ability to change their appearance, or change anything about their body.
Seraphina's breath hitched. Her own amethyst eyes, an unnatural shade that already stood out, could be changed? Her raven hair? And then, the next line hit her with the force of a physical blow. Grow the opposite sex, sex organ. Get rid of them. At will.
A profound, almost dizzying sense of control washed over her, chilling and empowering at once. This wasn't just survival; this was mastery over her very form. Her physical identity, so brutally violated and then so terrifyingly transformed, was now fluid, mutable, entirely her own to command. The implications were staggering, stretching far beyond mere combat into the very essence of who and what she could become. The world had forced her into a monstrous shape, but now, it had given her the keys to reshape it, to become anything, or nothing, she desired.
The weight of her nakedness, her vulnerability, began to feel less oppressive, replaced by the vast, terrifying freedom of her new self. The night air was still cold, the swamp still dangerous, but Seraphina was no longer just a victim. She was a canvas, a weapon, a shapeless potential waiting to be defined by her own will.
As if to underscore the nature of her monstrous transformation, the System revealed a core trait inherent to her new form, a primal drive that resonated with her very being.
Slime Trait: Gluttony
Description: The trait of all slime, to have the unending ability to consume. It also can break down a being to nothingness, consuming every ounce of their life essence. Higher levels could potentially give the user the ability to recall anything the user consumed in perfect condition.
A shiver of dark understanding ran through Seraphina. This wasn't just a hunger; it was an innate, profound capacity for consumption, a drive to absorb, to break down, to truly devour everything in her path. The horrifying act of consuming the slime, the rage-fueled, desperate bite, wasn't just an anomaly; it was the awakening of a fundamental trait, now amplified by her Monster Eater class. The idea of recalling a consumed being in "perfect condition" was unsettlingly powerful, hinting at a future where her consumption could lead to more than just personal power.
She was an apex predator, designed by a dark god and forged by a traumatic baptism of fire and slime. The stream's cool water still flowed around her, but within, Seraphina felt a chilling, growing emptiness that only consumption could fill.
The final notification pulsed into existence, a chilling culmination of all the information Seraphina had just received. This wasn't just a trait; it was the very essence of her transformation, explaining the strange rhythm now beating within her chest.
Slime Trait: Monster Core Level 1
Description: The essence of all monsters, the Monster Core is their main factor in keeping them alive. A monster that devours another monster and obtains its core will have its life extended. They can also inherit that monster's skill tree. This can also cause the double heartbeat, as some monsters who consume another monster's core have grown another heart, making them hard to kill. Depending on how many cores are consumed, a monster can have multiple hearts.
Seraphina's hand instinctively flew back to her chest. Thump... thump-thump. The bizarre, staggered rhythm of her heartbeats resonated with the words on the screen. A second heart. Not merely a bizarre side effect, but a clear sign of increased resilience, a physical manifestation of her newfound monstrous vitality. Her life, so fragile just moments ago, had been inexplicably extended. And the implications of inheriting skill trees from consumed monsters, even beyond individual skills, were staggering. It meant entire new avenues of growth, entire new forms of power awaiting her.
She was no longer just Seraphina Brodior. She was a Humanoid Slime with a Monster Core, a Monster Eater capable of shapeshifting, absorbing, and devouring her way to unimaginable power. The horror of her past violation was still a raw wound, but the future, though terrifying, now glittered with the dark promise of vengeance and absolute dominance.
She was naked, vulnerable in the open swamp, but within her thrummed the power of a nascent apex predator. The stream's cool water was a temporary reprieve, but the wilderness still demanded action.
Seraphina finally pushed herself out of the stream, her bare feet sinking slightly into the damp earth. The cool night air now felt less like a threat and more like a canvas for her new form. Her mind was racing, a tempest of shock, fear, and a terrifying, exhilarating power. She was a Humanoid Slime with a Monster Core, a Monster Eater capable of shapeshifting and consuming to grow.
Her immediate goal solidified: learn to transform into a slime. She needed to understand this new aspect of herself, to master it. A chilling thought, however, pricked at her enhanced awareness—the possibility of higher-level monsters noticing her during such an experimental transformation. It was a risk she'd have to take, but one to be approached with extreme caution.
Before any risky experimentation, however, a more pressing, primal need reasserted itself: clothes. She was still stark naked, exposed and vulnerable in a world teeming with unimaginable horrors.
With a mental command, her map flickered into existence. Her amethyst eyes scanned the glowing display. Her pulsing white dot marked her current location by the stream. Not too far from her, a vibrant yellow exclamation mark pulsed. It stood out against the dark greens and murky blues of the swamp-forest, clearly denoting an area of interest. It could be danger, or it could be salvation. Right now, it was her best lead.
With a destination now firmly in her mind – the promising yellow exclamation mark – Seraphina decided now was the time. Naked and vulnerable, she needed a way to move through this dangerous world unseen, and her new Transformation: Slime ability offered that potential.
Closing her eyes, she focused. The System had been annoyingly vague, simply stating "concentrate on it." She envisioned her form, solid and human, dissolving, flowing, becoming something amorphous and fluid. She pictured the water slime she had devoured, its gelatinous body, its ability to shift and slide. She reached deep within, seeking that alien Monster Core now beating alongside her human heart, feeling for the essence of the creature she had consumed.
A strange, internal liquefaction began. Her skin tingled, then prickled, then began to stretch and pull in impossible ways. Her muscles vibrated, and her bones felt as if they were dissolving, softening, losing their rigidity. A wave of nausea, thankfully brief, washed over her as her human form began to contort. The sensation was profoundly unsettling, like being slowly, painfully unmade.
Her hands were the first to truly change, losing definition, becoming translucent and wobbly. Then her arms, melding into her torso. Her legs followed, her feet pooling into the ground. A soft squish sounded as her entire body collapsed inward, losing all human shape.
In moments, where Seraphina had stood naked and defiant, there was now only a shimmering, translucent puddle of viscous, amethyst-tinged slime, roughly the size of her human form. It pulsated gently, a faint, ethereal glow emanating from its depths. She was no longer breathing, yet she existed, a conscious awareness contained within the gelatinous mass. The world looked different from this new perspective, colors muted, sounds vibrating through the ground more than the air.
She had done it. She was a slime.