Chapter 2: Holy Slime Is Here!
In a grim cave where stalactites hung overhead, vast pillars connected the ceiling to the jagged ground, and cold air breezed from one end to another. A white mass bubbled on a rare clearing, one that adventurers would recognize as a slime respawn spot.
Green, blue, or even purple slimes would usually pop out from the crevices, with the purple ones being poisonous and therefore considered useless slimes meant to be exterminated. The other types of slimes sufficed for newbie training and alchemy resources.
For the first time ever, however, the white mass filled the crevices of the slime respawn spot. It bubbled until it coalesced into a round existence. Its pudgy shape rested still until two black dots appeared on its front. White light shone within those dots, signifying a clear consciousness.
'I'm alive and really a slime!' Arthur thought upon awakening in his new form.
Expecting to be born as such, he wasn't particularly surprised.
Instead, he was more bemused by the pebbles that appeared like boulders beside him and the stalagmites in the far distance, which resembled grand spears waiting to behead him.
He had seen so much of the world as a hero, yet this new perspective made it feel as though he was in an entirely new world.
Instinctively trying to move an inch, Arthur's vision rolled forward, and his eyes bumped into the ground, blinding him. In the next second, two dots popped open on the opposite side of his blob-like body, giving him a clear view behind him.
'How did I do that?' Arthur wondered.
With no one around to teach him, Arthur rolled around, discovering that his body was perfectly suited for rolling like a wheel.
At first, he couldn't see anything but blurred images and occasional darkness while rolling, but he instinctively adapted over time. Soon, he could see ahead as though his eyes were fixed in one place, which helped him immensely.
Continuing his exploration, Arthur realized he could extend a part of his amorphous shape. A clear limit stopped him from extending his makeshift hand too far, but he could form a hand with fingers to grab things.
Creating legs was also no problem, but they were short, slow, and boring compared to rolling. It didn't feel right to him—perhaps because his slime body refused to become too human-like just yet!
Still, rolling was undeniably cool.
[Arthur!]
'Oh! Goddess Lirelia!' Arthur exclaimed.
Had he possessed vocal cords, her name would have boomed throughout the cave. Fortunately, Arthur could only think, allowing him to communicate with his goddess in this way.
'I'm sorry for disrespecting you!' Arthur respectfully bowed—or rather, rolled.
[I'd never stress over that, Arthur. I wish for you to relax in this life. Have much more fun and warmth than responsibilities. I don't mind you selfishly using my light.]
'I would never do that,' Arthur firmly replied.
He heard a sigh straight from the divine mountain. A moment later, Lirelia collected her thoughts and explained her success. She had turned Arthur into a holy slime, one that could use her light in a unique way.
Her blessing would grow alongside him, raising a question about how Arthur could level up. He knew slimes couldn't become stronger.
These weak creatures devoured anything they encountered, yet no one had ever seen a slime evolve into a more powerful existence. Instead, some used slimes as trash bins.
[You'll grow stronger by exploiting our blessings. You heard me right. I stabilized my blessing within you with the help of The Beast Goddess, Valkaeth. You must have heard of her.]
'Yes! I'll offer her my thanks soon enough! I need to visit a beast tribe,' Arthur said, only to be surprised by a second voice in his heart.
Unlike Lirelia's soft tone, Valkaeth's voice boomed with authority.
[I'm right beside her. Listen, boy. My followers are either too upright or too stupid. I want you to be a bridge between them. Step out of your comfort zone and entertain me! Become wild and drown in blood!]
[Could you please not intervene like that? Since you've already chimed in, explain how your blessing works! We don't have much time!]
[You sound like my followers. If the boy hadn't prompted you to bless his soul, I'd never have agreed. Anyway, you still listening, boy? At your current level, my blessing lets you partner with beasts and understand their languages. You're naturally stronger and grow even stronger through bloodshed!]
[My blessing remains the same, Arthur. You're more resilient and can use my light for speed and healing. Anything you do with those powers will make you stronger. I don't care!]
[Love that new side of yours.]
As the two goddesses bickered, Arthur noted how their blessings had turned him into a unique slime. From what he understood, his new life would revolve around becoming friends with beasts.
There were two kinds of beasts: those who had developed the ability to speak human languages and take on human forms, and those that remained closer to their wild nature.
Becoming a bridge between them would be challenging, but challenges had never deterred Arthur.
[We have also created a special talent awakening crystal for you! All you have to do is digest it in the slime way and embrace its boons.]
A strange, golden-red crystal manifested before Arthur as Lirelia finished speaking. This divine gift had been tailored to him, rewarding him with two talents straight from the goddesses' hands.
The power brimming within it was unbelievable—and far too attractive.
So attractive that a monster hiding in the shadows acted upon seeing the shiny crystal. Emerging from the darkness, it snatched the item with its little hands. Its green back and two pointy ears betrayed its race.
'A goblin?! Is this a goblin dungeon?!' Arthur thought.
Without hesitation, Arthur gave chase, his round body rolling in place like the wheels of a supercar!
No one could steal his goddesses' gift!