After the quests I was taking were noted down on a separate paper. I was given instructions on where I would be going to gather the herbs and deal with the rabbits. I also received a book to look through for the proper gathering methods and information on weaknesses and points of note for the various beasts in the area.
After we left Solara walked with me to the gate that was recommended to me and closest to the locations, I needed to go for killing the Horny Devils and picking the herbs. After we reached the gate, she also handed me a coin purse with several gold coins and over one hundred silver coins. I "ate" it and placed it in my spatial storage ability. This earned another melodious chuckle from Solara and looks of pain from the guards. "What, I don't have hands to hold with and then make disappear!" I quip, which seems to startle the guards. Though based on the seemingly common opinion that slimes are low level and weak creatures this isn't too surprising.
"I'm off then, see you later." I say to Solara, then backtrack slightly, "By the way, shall I stay at an inn for now or is there specific lodging I'll be residing in at present?" Solara smiles before responding, "Currently, as you look like a slime, it would be best to stay somewhere that others won't be trying to kill you in your sleep. As such, there is a place already prepared for you to stay at. I'll be sure to meet you here again later today so I can take you there." I nod in response then take off towards my destination, surprising myself and the guards with my speed in my unpolymorphed state.
Once I'm out of sight of the walls I start to try different shapes to see what I can do and what they're capable of. Eventually, after making sharp "arms", hammers, and other things I settle on a wheel-like look. It's about the width of a mountain bikes tires but instead of being smooth, I've mimicked treads and can make the edges serrated in order to deal damage as well. Then continue travelling in my non-bladed tire look.
After I've reached my destination passing through the amazing countryside. I stop and stare at the small horde of Horny Rabbits/Devils I see. I also notice the many herbs in the area that are slowly being decimated. After thinking about it for a bit I turn serrated and charge in a straight line through 5 of the little devils before they notice I'm even there. I also realized I received exp from killing them about 5 a piece for 25 total. [Exp Needed: 25/200]
The rest of the now 25 strong horde are slowly realizing something is disturbing their mealtime. Some have already raised their heads and are looking around. I count 5 at a single horn, 6 at two horns, 9 at three horns and the remaining 5 have 4 horns. The five I first killed also had a single horn. I use my knowledge from being human and suddenly turn on a dime towards the nearest rabbit, which happens to have four horns and detach its head from its body pretty smoothly considering it's 3 levels above me and get another 20 exp. [Exp Needed: 45/200]
Due to how I've been using the section of my body connected to the ground as a kind of spinning platform when needing sharp turns, I manage to keep the rabbits guessing on which direction I'll go. Sometimes I even manage to anticipate/predict how some of them will move and can take them out mid jump in a straight line. As a result, I manage to make quick work of them. I did take some damage here and there. After all, this is a completely new experience and occasionally I second guess myself. Mostly though I took glancing blows or slight scratches. One actually pierced me; I think it was a four horned rabbit. Then got consumed, aside from its horn which is the proof of subjugation.
Once it was over, I consumed 15 of the bodies except for the horns which went to my spatial storage. Then went through the herbs to see if there were enough for the quest or not. Oh, so you know what the stats were for one of the rabbits:
[Name: --
Race: Horny Rabbit
Rank: Beginner
Level: 4
Con: 150
Mind: 50
Spirit: 50
Abilities:
Sprint: Sudden burst of speed, usually used in conjunction with the charge skill.
Agility Boost: Base movement speed is faster than other Horny Rabbits due to many life and death experiences.
Skills:
Charge: A single direction attack using the horns on its body.
Bite: Uses its teeth to attack, be careful they're actually quite sharp.
Scratch: Claws on its feet, usually to help in getting away from a close-range combatant. Tends to be used towards the face to make opponents flinch.]
This is actually the only one that punctured my body. Oh, I also reached Level 2 from killing all 30 Horny Rabbits. Single horns give 5 exp each, and the amount of exp goes up by 5 per horn they have. So, I now need 255 more exp for the next level, current stats also look like this now:
[Name: Auror Maitre
Original Species: Human/Male
Permanent Species: World Ending Slime, Statera Variant/Genderless with Male tendencies.
Rank: Beginner
Level: 2
Exp Needed: 145/400
Constitution: 300
Mind: 375
Spirit: 325
HP: 6,000
MP: 6,500]
My abilities didn't change, and I actually completed the fight without using tackle. So, I'm thinking that for my race I'm capable of taking on creatures about 3 levels higher with certainty depending on the type and possibly 4 levels higher. I'm going to avoid testing that out though unless it is unavoidable. I also by this time realized it was about mid-afternoon, so it took a few hours to get here and maybe another half-hour to kill all the Horny Rabbits. So, it seems likely I left an hour or so before noon.
Knowing this I make sure I'm quick and careful with collecting the usable herbs which luckily came out to an even 30 with 15 each of the medicinal and mana herbs. In a happy mood I started heading back towards the town. It's called Central Star, due to being the capital of the Star Kingdom located in the central area of the Yoreshan Continent. Thus, it's a pretty good hub of activity for most commerce. Slavery is illegal in the kingdom though likely still happens here and there depending on the strictness of enforcing that law.
While I'm heading back, I'm whistling a tune without a name. I see in the distance where the road is that there seems to be trouble. I'm still far enough away that my magic sense can't pick up details, but it seems pretty heated. Once I can see what's going on I notice that there are strange creatures that seem almost like shadows but solid attacking a few carriages. There's an insignia I recognize from the shared knowledge that signifies it's related to the royal family of Star Kingdom. Realizing the cliche that's about to happen I sigh. I unfortunately don't know any spells aside from knowledge transference at present and know that some sort of light spell or skill would be very helpful.
Regardless, knowing I should help even if I get mistaken for reinforcements of the strange creatures, I speed towards the nearest almost dead soldier protecting the carriages. Once I'm close enough that I will likely be heard I shout, "I'm here to help." The next moment after arriving next to the shadow creature, I spring into the air and spin viciously while aiming at the creature's neck. It was in the process of swinging its dangerously clawed arm at the unable to defend soldier so was slow to realize my target. Of course, I'd appraised each creature to get an idea of what I was rolling into.
[Name: --
Race: (*&$_@*&(
Rank: Beginner
Level: 4
Con: 250
Mind: 200
Spirit: Unknown/Hard to gauge]
The creature caught unawares loses its head, seemed the likeliest weak point based on its appearance. Instead of letting the body fall I quickly consumed the whole thing into my spatial storage, hoping that it would give me an idea of what it actually was later when my Scan and Shapeshift abilities unlocked. I noticed the notification of how much exp I gained but was more focused on helping the tired soldiers. I tried the same trick with the next creature but wasn't as successful. I took an arm from it but wasn't able to kill it outright. There were 5 of these strange creatures and 10 knights though it looked like half were near dead at least if not exhausted or worse.
After I failed to take its life, I morphed into a hammer and used Slam towards its head from above cause my angle propelled me through the arm and above its ducked head. Needless to say, it was surprised by my speed and died. The remaining creatures and soldiers were still about evenly matched, but the soldiers had regained their vigor from seeing two of the beings die fairly quickly. The remaining three creatures though were about another two levels above the two I killed. With multi-thought though I realized I'd leveled up twice more. Each level 4 creature gave me 400 exp at least with a slight variation between the two probably based on a difference in their strength. I was now Level 4 with 100/800 experience filled.
The level 6 creatures still didn't give me much information when I appraised them. So, I just went on to attack them. I was much faster than before and instead of just relying on base speed decided to roll at the next target and then hop slightly before turning into a sword with the point aimed at its side. Unexpectedly, I pierced through it completely leaving it with a shocked expression and stuck into the creature behind it. I polymorphed slightly to enable me the ability to wrap around it then dragged my still bladed portion from its side around its back and through the spine before removing the bladed section and turning it into a kind of pick that I then stabbed through the lower back of its skull. Killing it. After I slid down from the thing I noticed the last one was about to die already and so I moved away a distance that I could still help from if needed but would hopefully be perceived as non-threatening.
Then once the last one fell to a knight that managed to get behind it and stab through the heart or maybe core of it thus killing it and ending the fight. I'd also been paying attention to my new status after killing the ones before that one. It now read:
[Name: Auror Maitre
Original Species: Human/Male
Permanent Species: World Ending Slime, Statera Variant/Genderless with Male tendencies.
Rank: Beginner
Level: 5
Exp Needed: 450/1000
Constitution: 375
Mind: 450
Spirit: 400
HP: 7,500
MP: 8,000
Abilities:
Slam/Tackle: Enables quick movement in a single direction that can be used to dodge or attack an enemy. When used from an airborne position enables the fall to become more like a hammer strike causing a miniature earthquake within a 10 ft radius.
Polymorph: Can change shape to almost anything from tools, everyday objects, and weapons. Unable to change into a humanoid appearance using this skill can only look like inanimate objects.
Shapeshifting: Enables you to take on any shape, higher level polymorph skill that is an inherent trait in the world ending slime. This can also enable normal birth or sexual creation of offspring if user seeks to be fertile in any form and whenever chosen. Original Human appearance is saved, and other forms can be gained by either eating/digestion or scanning them by encasing them to begin with or another skill to be unlocked.
Consumption: Standard slime skill enabling the eating or digestion of all materials. Easier and faster digestion occurs as you are stronger. Example: Currently capable of digesting normal materials at lightning speed, unordinary materials at a few feet per second, rarer materials at a few feet per minute, and extremely rare materials in a few hours. This is due to being a world ending slime, normal slimes take much longer.
Scanning: Enables magical scanning of items, and beings at a molecular level to enable perfect mimicry when using shapeshifting down to texture and anatomy. May also be referred to as appraisal but this is incorrect.
Spatial Storage: Usable in any state, the stronger the mind the more space can be used. Current capacity is 7,000 square feet or about 0.16 acres.
Sage: Able to learn all magic and develop them to the extreme. Enables chantless magic, multi-casting, multi-thought, and greater resistance to mental/mind attacks. Unlocked by learning spells through normal or by consuming the final spell. If consuming spells start from beginner spells and increase level as rank increases otherwise it may be detrimental.
Universal Comprehension: If it can be perceived as a language or means of communication you can understand it and communicate in it. Be that through writing, reading, speaking, and gestures. You're the one to ask if an animal, beast, or non-human creature needs to be spoken to. Once a high enough rank you can even understand earthly, heavenly, and celestial bodies that communicate in a very unique way.
Slime Body: Due to having a physical body you can be sliced and injured. However, most physical damage is reduced and easily recovered from. If a piece is sliced off, you can reattach it or grow it back after time depending on the severity of damage. You also are immune to fire, while also resistant to other magics and magical damage. Will improve every rank.
Magic Sense: Enables the use of ambient mana and/or energy to view everything around you in a 360-degree manner. Unable to penetrate ground but enables accurate reading of vibrations.
Enslavement Immunity: Immune to enslavement tricks and the like, currently can be charmed if the ability or skill is strong enough but unable to be completely bent to another's will and gain stronger resistance to those skills the more, they're experienced.
Appraisal: Enables the reading of data pertaining to individual's, items, monsters, and miscellaneous things. Amount of information gleaned is based on level gap between individuals and monsters. Items are similar but based by rank.
Skills:
Knowledge Transference: Allows you to transfer knowledge to another in any way. Sage ability has made it of the highest type already so doesn't require physical contact though it is much easier that way still.
Chantless Magic: Able to cast spells by thought. A good image improves the ability of the cast spell.
Multi-Casting: Can simultaneously cast multiple spells of different types of multiple instances of one spell in a single "breath".
Multi-Thought: Higher level of parallel thought. Processing speed of learned information is faster than most people and multiple pieces of information can be thought of at the same time. No known upper limit to the skill.]