"Hoamm!" Leo yawned as he woke up, feeling like he hadn't slept in days.
His jet-black hair fell just over his forehead, contrasting sharply with his piercing golden eyes. At a glance, he looked about 17—lean but well-built, with sharp eyebrows that framed his eyes, giving him an intense, focused look. But when he smiled, it was warm and easygoing, softening his features. With flawless skin and a confident posture, he exuded a natural charm that made him undeniably handsome, the kind of person people couldn't help but notice.
His name was Leo—or at least, that's what he chose to call himself. He was the Black Ooze now, able to take on the form of his past life after consuming a human.
After devouring the old man, Leo gained his memories through his Extra Skill, [Memory Reading]. The man had lived in a nation called the Fonteau Magic Kingdom, ruled by Queen Leticia Fonteau, an elf who had once been the companion and wife of a summoned hero. The hero had defeated the Demon King, but after that, he was sent back to his own world, leaving Leticia behind with their two daughters.
What caught Leo's attention even more was the fact that the Demon King wasn't the strongest being in this world. There were many Demon Kings, each ruling over their own territories in peace, with no unifying force. The hero had been sent back because the world no longer needed him. Poor guy.
Not far from him, the Kuuderun Great Forest was full of monsters. Leo, a fan of novels and manga, quickly realized where he was based on the old man's memories. This world wasn't just one story—it was a chaotic blend of several, like the world of Inside the Cave of Obscenity, where Leo had originally been the Black Ooze. And it seemed like Re:Monster was part of this mix, since the Kuuderun Great Forest was nearby. Maybe even Jura Forest existed somewhere out there.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. This world was a mishmash of different series, and he was right in the middle of it.
What thrilled him most? The chance to meet all those protagonists and supporting characters. He couldn't wait to devour them. But, he decided to let them grow stronger first—he didn't want them to be too weak when the time came.
He wasn't about to let them outshine him. He already saw them as prey. Maybe being the Black Ooze was changing him, making him more ruthless with every passing day.
After all, in the original story, the Black Ooze killed men and impregnated the women it captured to multiply. But that wasn't for him. He had no interest in forcing himself on anyone.
"How interesting." Leo muttered with a grin. He got up from the bed, which he had taken from one of the villagers he'd eaten, and moved it back to the cave where he'd made his base.
Tonight, he'd go out again, attacking more villagers. He needed to spread his name. The [Chaos Order] skill was too tempting—his power would grow the more evil deeds he committed, and right now, he was only at 0.02%.
With that thought in mind, he set off, already planning his next move.
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Four days later, a group of adventurers arrived at the village gates: a female magician and two male swordsmen.
Three days earlier, in a nearby town's Adventurer Guild, they had accepted a quest to find the missing villagers. They thought it would be a straightforward job—nothing too dangerous. The reward wasn't huge, but it was decent enough to make the journey worth it.
The female magician stood out, her beauty hard to ignore. Her long golden hair cascaded down to her waist, and her sharp sky-blue eyes conveyed a sense of willpower and determination. She wore a sleek blue robe over a black, shoulderless tank top, revealing her toned stomach and a hint of cleavage. With her large staff and matching blue witch hat, she looked both elegant and dangerous.
The first swordsman, Carl, was about the same age as the magician. He had black hair and a small, timid frame. Despite his nervousness, there was a quiet determination in his posture. The other swordsman, Rick, was much larger, with a strong, muscular build that radiated power. Both of them wore thick clothing with leather breastplates, knee pads, and elbow pads, ready for whatever dangers might lie ahead.
The two swordsmen couldn't help but stare at Frederica as she walked in front of them. Every step she took made her chest sway, and though she noticed their gazes, she chose to ignore them. Deep down, she felt a little smug, the attention only adding to her confidence.
Her name was Frederica Leen, and her companions were Carl, the shy swordsman, and Rick, the towering one.
When they reached the village, something felt off. No one had come to greet them, even though the villagers were supposed to know they were arriving.
An uneasy silence hung in the air, and after exchanging wary glances, they decided to open the village gate themselves. What they found inside left them in shock.
"Where is everyone? Why is it so quiet?" Rick spoke first, his voice laced with confusion. The village was empty—eerily still—and looked abandoned.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Frederica called out as she stepped forward. This was the first time they had encountered something so unsettling, and the silence only added to the strangeness.
They waited for a few moments, and just as they were about to force their way into one of the nearby houses, a door creaked open. A young girl, no older than ten, stepped out.
"Y-You're late… Everyone's… everyone's dead… Father… Mother…" Her voice trembled with grief, her eyes swollen and red from endless tears. She seemed to blame them for not arriving sooner.
"Dead? What do you mean? Little one, can you tell us what happened? We're here to help, I promise." Frederica said, her voice soft with shock as she pulled the girl into an embrace.
"Wuuuwu! Everyone's dead! A monster… a monster killed them all!" The girl's voice cracked as she cried, trying to explain through her sobs.
"How could this happen… What kind of monster could do something like this in just a few days?" Carl asked, his voice shaking with fear and disbelief. He struggled to accept the grim reality before him, but the girl's sorrowful face made it hard to doubt her words.
Rick, equally disturbed, scowled and moved off to search the village, looking for any signs of the massacre.
Meanwhile, Frederica held the girl close, gently stroking her head, trying to calm her down. The child needed to release the emotions that had been building up inside her, and Frederica's presence was the only comfort she had after witnessing such horror.
Back in his cave, Leo lay on his bed, awaiting the adventurers' arrival. After consuming the village chief's memories, he knew that the village had hired adventurers to investigate the missing villagers.
"Status." Leo murmured, a slight grin curling on his lips.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Name: Leo
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True Name: -
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Level: 47/100
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Race: Slime (Black Ooze)
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Special: [Demon Lord Seed]
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Job Skill: [Job - Farmer], [Job - Fisherman], [Job - Tailor], [Job - Cook]
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Ultimate Skill: -
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Unique Skill: [Chaos Order]
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Extra Skill: [Absorption], [Self-Regeneration], [Metamorphosis], [Mana Perception], [Memory Reading], [Mineral Coating], [Mana Conduit], [Fear Eater]
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Common Skill: [Dissolve], [Self Body-Fluid Control], [Stomach], [Echolocation], [Paralysis Poison], [Aquatic Movement], [Thermal Regulation], [Ghost Cry], [Wild Charge], [Milk Generation], [Egg Incubation]
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Resist Skill: [Poison Resistance], [Physical Damage Reduction]
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Language Skill: [Human Language]
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Trait: [Enhanced Hearing], [Keen Smell]
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Item: -
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Not bad." Leo nodded to himself, satisfaction evident in his gaze. He was halfway to evolving into a superior race. So far, he had only consumed regular animals and weak humans, so his progress had been slow—but steady.
He had also picked up [Job - Tailor] and [Job - Cook] from some of the older women he'd devoured in the village. These new skills increased his chances of success in tailoring and cooking, making him more efficient at both.
In the village, Leo hadn't eaten everyone. He'd spared the young boys and girls under 30, showing a small sliver of compassion for them. His targets had mostly been teenage and adult men, as well as older women and men. The elderly didn't deserve much pity in his eyes, their lifespans short anyway.
"Hmm… why do I feel like a psychopath?" Leo muttered to himself, realizing his thoughts were far from normal. But then again, he wasn't normal anymore. He wasn't human. He was a monster now. Leo decided not to dwell on such dark thoughts. What mattered now was survival. He had to become the strongest. In this fantasy world, only the strongest would thrive.
With that in mind, he closed his eyes and waited for the adventurers to reach the cave. A few hours later, he was jolted awake by the sound of footsteps echoing through the cavern.
The adventurers had finally arrived. But how did they know he was here? He'd left a clue for the little girl and the other children, hoping they would lead the adventurers to him.
From the memories he had absorbed, he knew that the original Black Ooze's first victim had been Frederica, the young magician. He had expected her—and her two companions—to be the ones entering the cave.
Leo wasn't strong enough to face Frederica just yet, so he'd planned to take out the other two first. Her magic wasn't the most powerful, but she was skilled in Fire, Wind, and Earth magic. Fire Magic, especially, was effective against slimes, and he wasn't ready to risk a direct confrontation with her.
Without hesitation, Leo moved deeper into the cave, shifting back into his slime form. With a few agile leaps, he reached the cave's open ceiling and slipped through. He wasn't running away—he was circling around, planning to re-enter the cave through the entrance.