The third notification was slightly worrying. Why would anyone want to leave while evolving?
He soon found out why. It was painful, not the kind where you would pass out. Rather, like you were constantly moving your extremely sore body.
Akiol was able to bear through with it, considering he had already felt this pain.
The evolution took seven minutes. When the pain eventually faded a bundle of notifications appeared.
The benefits were very pleasing. Akiol had to see the boost himself and pulled up the status screen.
[ Name: Akiol ]
Level: 53
Exp: 64/100%
Race: Monster (Slime)
HP: 550/550 (Regen 10 HP per minute)
MP: 700/700 (Regen 1 MP every 5 seconds)
Stats:
45 (+10) Strength 45 (+10) Agility
45 (+10) Dexterity 45 (+10) Defense
60 (+10) Intellect Free points: 13
Equipment:
Mantis's Scarf
Skills:
[Body Manipulation] [Roll]
[Leap] [Absorb]
[Aura Boost]
[Power Sense: (passive)]
Titles:
The People's Benefactor
A fantastic improvement, the increase of stats would prove to be mighty helpful. He appreciated the removal of 'Lesser' from his race.
As Akiol left the inn another notification appeared.
Without any choice Akiol was surround by white lines and found himself in front of the Slime King.
"Ah, strange child, it seems like you finally evolved. Come let me inspect you." The Slime King stated.
Akiol walked forward and stood about a foot away from the Slime King. He was soon surrounded by a thick gray energy.
This went on for a few minutes before the gray mist quickly dispersed.
"Hmm... it isn't much different from the normal evolution. However you're much stronger than normal slimes." The King Slime murmured.
Akiol didn't speak, for he had nothing to say.
After a handful of moments the King Slime said, "Come to me after your next evolution, for I still cannot rest my curiosity."
Akiol nodded, he too was curious what the next evolution would bring.
"Since you have completed my request I suppose I could reward you. Tell me, what is it you desire?" The King Slime asked.
Akiol thought seriously, it wasn't everyday that a powerful being would grant a request. After pondering for a bit he replied, "I would like some answers to a few questions."
The Slime King wiggled a bit. Akiol assumed it might have been a chuckle or something.
"Answers to questions. . . is that right?"
Akiol nodded once more.
"Very well then, I shall give you three answers to any question I can answer."
Akiol rubbed his palms excitedly. He asked, "Where do I find a flame red flower that grows on snow?"
The Slime King was silent for a while, Akiol grew worried that the king wouldn't know the answer.
To Akiol's relief the king answered, "I think the flower you mean is the Frost Cherry. The only grow on the tallest mountain in Alevra."
Akiol made note of that. He then asked, "Where can I find a Thosiris tree? I need it's sap."
The Slime King wiggled again, "I could do you one better than an answer."
A small bottle flew out of the Slime King. Akiol picked it up and looked at the item's status.
Akiol smiled and thanked the Slime King. It saved him the trouble of fetching it himself. The king was truly gracious.
He pondered for the last question, there wasn't much he wanted to know besides the location of the two ingredients. The only thing he was curious of was... he dispelled Breaker Of Stars and asked, "What's the origin of this?"
'Woah! Hey hey hey, you can't just bring me out in the open-' Stars noticed a powerful being nearby. They believed it to be one of the strongest beings they had encountered. Quietly talking, even though it was a mental chat, he asked, 'What did you do? What is this?'
The Slime King was silent. Everything was silent. Both Stars and Akiol didn't dare make a sound. Akiol could never guess the mood of the Slime King, he feared one day this powerful being may want to slay him for speaking out of place. Or something along those lines.
The Slime King spoke slowly, "It is. . . interesting that you have such a powerful weapon. However I am afraid it's not my place to speak of the past of this weapon. Please do ask another question."
Akiol was only slightly disappointed, for he was only interested in knowing the past of Stars. If he couldn't learn then Akiol could only sigh.
He absorbed the slightly frightened sword and said, "Besides that I am afraid there is nothing else I am curious of. Can I ask for a rain check on the last question?"
The Slime King responded, "I do not owe, I shall use your last question in exchange for another payment. Since you seem to want the Frost Cherry I shall teleport you to the mountain. Your way back is up to you."
Before Akiol could say anything the white lines surrounded him. Just as Akiol vanished he heard, "Good luck."
Akiol found himself in pure white. Wind blew more snow so Akiol could barely see in front of himself. However Akiol did not feel cold, he took it as another benefit of being a slime or a game feature.
He soon marked it as a slime benefit for he realized his body was slowly being frozen.
Akiol wondered if he had offended the Slime King to be treated this way. With no warning he was abandoned in the snow like a polar bear cub. Except he didn't have fur.
He moved as fast as his feet could take him. For he needed to find shelter as fast as possible.
Akiol searched for hours, he even got a notification that he played for four hours straight. That was twelve hours in-game! He estimated that he had been in the snow for already seven hours!
Finally, after another hour of treading through the snow, he found a large cave entrance. Strangely there was no snow in a three meter distance of the cave. He didn't care however, his body was almost completely frozen.
As he entered the cave he saw that his body was being thawed extremely quickly. Akiol took this as it being hot in the cave, or extremely warm.
Akiol also noticed the light the cave had, he hoped he didn't come across some angry snow people.
He continued down the large cave, torches lined the stone walls. He noticed that the cave was heading downward instead of straight. When he finally reached the end he saw a blinding yellow light.
It was awfully familiar, he wondered if he would get another powerful sword to join him on his journey.
He was sorely mistaken, for when he walked into the light what he saw wasn't a powerful weapon sealed.
What he saw was an enormous blood red dragon resting on top of a large pile of gold.