The Slime, often considered the weakest among all the monsters in the world, was underestimated to the extent that rankers viewed them as harmless creatures. Interestingly, these creatures were commonly employed by rankers to facilitate their leveling up.
Ridge burst into laughter, unable to resist collapsing onto the ground. His stomach ached from Quira's awakening, which seemed like a complete joke. If he recalled correctly, no one in history had ever possessed such an ability.
"Hahaha! I thought you were going to awaken an amazing ability, but as expected from you, it's useless."
Laughter rippled not only from Ridge but also from all the students gathered in the room. Furthermore, it was certain that this kind of story would spread throughout the entire Academy.
Alexa's eyes widened; she hadn't anticipated someone having such an ability. In her mind, despite the slime being the weakest creature in the food chain, it remained challenging to kill with just a physical attack. If a ranker aimed to eliminate it using magical skills, a substantial amount of magical power would be required.
"Who's this guy? If he learned how to wield a sword, he could be invincible," Alexa commented, eventually shrugging and reminding herself why she should even care.
Quira, on the other hand, wore a somber expression. He hadn't been hoping for an extraordinary ability; a normal one would have sufficed. However, the ability he ended up with was at the very bottom of the food chain.
He let out a sigh of disappointment but quickly regained his composure. What did I expect? I had no idea about the abilities my parents had. In truth, I'm fortunate to be a part of this Academy.
His current focus was solely on earning credits as a ranker. Beyond that, money held immense importance for him due to a child he had to support. Despite not being biologically related, he treated her as his true sister.
"It doesn't matter. I'm not aiming to become the strongest ranker or have the intention to be part of the rankings," he muttered to himself before stepping off the mana plate.
Before them stood Ridge and his companions, all wearing mocking expressions. He paid little attention to their antics, as his main concern was progressing through this Academy. His mind was clear – only awakened students could proceed, and he had passed that threshold.
"What's your plan now, Stick? No, I mean, slimy," Ridge taunted, bursting into laughter.
The other students had the same reaction.
However, Quira simply passed by him, his attention fixed on something still bothering him ahead. Yet, Ridge's companions obstructed his path, using their imposing figures. Now that they were awakened, their confidence had surged.
"Leave me alone. If you're seeking trouble, find someone who matches your caliber, not me. Or perhaps, I'm the only suitable option for you here," Quira stated gravely, then pushed the two aside.
"What's happening over there?!" the practitioner demanded loudly, surveying the scene.
"Nothing, Sir. We're just sharing our congratulations," Ridge replied, signaling for his two companions to follow Quira.
"Alright, all awakened students, return to the Academy for the official welcome. Lateness won't be tolerated; violators will be immediately expelled. Is that clear?!"
"Understood, Sir!"
They responded in unison before dispersing one by one.
Soon, Quira mounted his delivery bike. This bike helped him earn credits by delivering food to online customers. After a few minutes of pedaling, he furrowed his brows, noticing the same individuals were tailing him.
"They're incredibly bothersome. They possess so much, yet contentment eludes them."
Quira mused inwardly, then picked up his pace. Unfortunately, the awakened abilities of the pursuers now made them faster than before, easily catching up. Aware of the inevitable outcome, Quira halted and retrieved his phone. Initiating a live stream, he muttered to himself, "Might as well let the world see this."
He aimed the camera at the trio and spoke into it, "Go ahead, attack me. Let's find out if you'll still be around tomorrow without being expelled." In this era, utilizing cameras for recording was one of the ways to shield oneself from bullies.
Ridge let out an exasperated sound, annoyed that Quira had managed to outsmart him this time. "Tch! Let's go," he directed his companions, but before departing, he issued a final warning. "Don't get too comfortable, especially out on the streets. I'm always trailing you, ready to strike."
"Whatever."
Quira left the area.
The street bustled with various shops, establishments, and stalls, peddling wares procured from the portal. Among the merchandise were fruits that could only be found within the portal, believed to enhance one's magical power.
After a short while, Quira arrived at their modest home and stepped inside. Despite its small size and dated furnishings, he hurried to one of the rooms.
"Hey, Rixia! I've awakened! Look at this badge; I'm now an official student of Star Strek Academy," he exclaimed in a rush, directing his attention to the girl lying on the bed.
The 15-year-old girl possessed emerald green short hair, a light tan complexion, and blue eyes. Her name was Rixia Bloom, and she was physically disabled due to underdeveloped leg bones.
Rixia experienced a mix of shock and joy. Among everyone, she was the sole believer that Quira could awaken his ability.
"See, Brother Quira? I told you that you're special!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with cheer. "You should definitely repay the person who lent you money for the admission."
Quira wore a slightly troubled smile, well aware that this money hadn't appeared out of thin air. He had come across news stories mentioning deaths on the very street where he had found the bag of money. Contemplating this, he realized that there might have been some sort of illicit dealing involved.
"Of course, how could I forget about that good Samaritan?" he replied. "Wait, did you already eat?"
Rixia nodded, saying, "Yes, I had the food you prepared. I just felt a bit dizzy, so I'm lying down."
"Rest up for now, Rixia," he said, giving her head a gentle pat. Suddenly, he paused, his index finger pointing ahead. "Hey, do you see that?"
"See what?" she responded, perplexed.
"Ah, nothing. Just rest here for a bit, and we'll celebrate later, alright?" he said, his gaze sharply fixed on the elevated blue screen before him.
"Yes!"
As soon as Quira left the room, she remembered something important that she didn't ask. "Oh, I forgot what kind of ability he awakens. Anyway, I could ask him later."
_
The room held a desk, a wooden chair, and a bed sized for one person. Meanwhile, Quira remained perplexed by the persistent appearance of the screen that emerged after his awakening.
[You have awakened]
[You have unlocked the ability of the Legendary Slime!]
Name: Quira Finley
Level: 0
Rank: Unranked
HP: 100
MP: 20
Ability: Legendary Slime
•Strength [+]: 9
•Agility [+]: 6
•Dexterity [+]: 5
•Vitality [+]: 10
•Intelligence [+]: 8
Skill(s):
[Dissolve] Level 1 - Upon activating this skill, the user liquefies, becoming impervious to physical attacks and certain magic assaults. Additionally, speed and strength receive a +10% boost. Duration: 3 minutes. Cooldown: 5 minutes.
[Regeneration] Level 1 - Healing damage for one minute and enhancing defense by 15% for 3 minutes.
Cooldown 6 minutes
[Absorb] Level 1: absorbing one to gain a new power.
Cooldown: 1 hour
Restrictions: Absorbing a creature significantly stronger than the host may result in fatality. To minimize casualties, adherence to restrictions is imperative.
Quira was certain that the screen before his eyes was from a gaming system. This concept wasn't unfamiliar, having encountered it in certain novels and manga he'd perused. Yet, he hadn't anticipated it materializing in reality. Furthermore, he possessed substantial knowledge about the system, explaining the rapid advancements of players.
The prominent question on his mind was why he had received this kind of blessing. A regular life would have sufficed. He shook his head, determination flashing in his eyes. "No, I must distinguish myself. There's a reason I've been given this."
Beyond the quest for money, he harbored two primary objectives. Firstly, to locate an item capable of mending Rixia's bones. Secondly, to uncover information about his parents.
Ding!
Legendary Slime accepted you!
A new quest has arrived!
[Kill three monsters and absorb one power!]
Reward(s)
+120 EXP
+2 skill points
+1 to all att
+3 free att
+1 Mystery Box
Restriction(s): NA
Eh? Quest right away?