[Hours passed as the slimes scoured the forest. Most stayed in safe zones, gathering berries, stones, and small fragments of mana crystals.]
[But four slimes wandered too far. Through their eyes, you saw the forest thin out, revealing a clearing with crude wooden huts and campfires.]
[A Goblin Village. The goblins were armed with crude weapons and tools, their voices rough as they moved with purpose.]
[At the center of the village stood a human male, commanding the goblins with confidence. His presence made it clear—he was a lord like you.]
[Unlike your FFF-rank Slime Village, his FF-rank Goblin Village was better equipped and organized. His goblins, while primitive, were much stronger than your slimes.]
[You clenched your fists. The difference between your territory and his was undeniable. But instead of despair, a fire lit within you. To survive and grow, you would need to outsmart and surpass lords like him.]
[The Lord of the FF-rank Goblin Village wore simple leather armor and carried a jagged sword at his side. His messy brown hair framed a sly grin, exuding confidence.]
[The goblins quickly noticed your slimes. Their guttural cries rang out as they charged forward, wielding sharpened sticks and rusted blades.]
[Your slimes attempted to retreat, but their slow, gelatinous forms were no match for the goblins' speed and aggression. One by one, the four slimes were cut down, their mental links severed instantly.]
[The loss of connection jolted you, confirming the cause of the slime's death from the day before.]
[It was the goblins. They had killed it—and now, four more slimes had fallen to them.]
[You clenched your fists, anger rising in your chest. The goblins weren't just a nuisance; they were a direct threat to your territory. But the human lord leading them posed an even greater challenge.]
[You sat back on your throne, narrowing your crimson and sapphire eyes.]
["An FF-rank Goblin Village," you muttered, your voice low. "And a lord bold enough to kill my subjects."]
[Strengthening your territory became your priority. You couldn't let this challenge go unanswered.]
[The knowledge implanted in your mind was clear: the Supreme Plane did not tolerate weakness. Lords who failed to act swiftly perished.]
[You ordered all available slimes to focus on scavenging resources like mana stones. While they lacked combat ability, they could still help accumulate materials to fortify your village.]
[Over the next day, the slimes worked tirelessly under your command, gathering mana stones, berries, and other materials from the forest.]
[Using their decomposition ability, you directed the slimes to craft basic defenses—slime-coated walls and sharpened wooden stakes. Though crude, these rudimentary structures offered some protection around the Dilapidated Lord's Hall.]
[Despite these efforts, the threat of the goblins loomed large in your mind.]
[That night, you sat on your throne, monitoring the surrounding areas through your mental link with the scouting slimes.]
[The Goblin Village remained active. Goblins sharpened their weapons and practiced crude combat drills. Through your link, you caught glimpses of the human lord directing his subjects, his every move exuding confidence.]
[He seemed to be preparing for something—and you knew it wouldn't end well for your village.]
[Hours later, the attack came.]
[In the dead of night, the mental links with your scouting slimes severed one after another. The sudden loss struck like a warning bell in your mind.]
[You shot to your feet, rushing outside. The faint glow of torches appeared in the distance, accompanied by the sound of goblins' guttural cries.]
[Goblins emerged from the forest, armed with jagged spears and rusted swords. Their crude armor gleamed faintly under the moonlight as they charged toward your village.]
[At their head was the human lord, his sword raised high as he barked orders in a language the goblins obeyed without hesitation.]
[Your slimes wobbled into formation, their small bodies quivering with anticipation. Despite their weakness, they stood ready to defend their lord and village.]
[The goblins attacked with ferocity. Your slimes fought valiantly but were no match for their enemies. The goblins quickly discovered their cores, glowing faintly inside their gelatinous forms, and targeted them with deadly precision.]
[One by one, your slimes fell, their cores shattered and their bodies dissolving into lifeless puddles.]
[You shouted commands, attempting to coordinate your slimes, but their limited intelligence made complex tactics impossible. They fought bravely but to no avail.]
[You grabbed a broken spear from the hall and joined the battle. Adrenaline surged through you as you lunged at the goblins, managing to wound a few with desperate strikes.]
[But the goblins' numbers were overwhelming, and exhaustion began to weigh on you. The human lord stepped forward, cutting through the remaining slimes with ease.]
[His sword moved with deadly precision, striking at the slimes' cores without hesitation. His calm efficiency contrasted sharply with your frantic defense.]
[Surrounded by the shattered remains of your loyal subjects, you stood alone. The ground was littered with broken cores, glinting faintly under the torchlight.]
[The human lord approached, his sly grin illuminated by the flickering flames.]
["An FFF-rank Slime Village," he said mockingly. "Did you really think you could survive here?"]
[You raised your broken spear in a final act of defiance.]
[The human lord's sword struck true, slicing through your weapon and piercing your chest.]
[Pain overwhelmed you as you collapsed to your knees. Blood pooled beneath you as your vision blurred.]
[The jeers of the goblins and the lord's triumphant laughter echoed in your ears.]
[You clenched your fists, anger and regret filling your thoughts.]
[But this was not the end. It was only a simulation.]
[You died.]
-Ding!
[The Lord Simulation has ended.]
Augustus clutched his chest, gasping for air. The phantom pain of a sword piercing his body lingered as if the fatal blow had been real.
Sweat dripped from his forehead as memories of the simulation flooded his mind. He could still see his slimes falling, the goblins' relentless assault, and the mocking grin of the enemy lord.
It took him a few minutes to steady his breathing and calm down.
"The simulation… it's too real," Augustus muttered. "The taste of food, the pain of being stabbed, the helplessness of losing my slimes—it's like I actually lived it."