After a good meal in the cave, Jotaro, Aiko, and Kira headed into the forest with a single goal: to hunt monsters. As they walked among the trees, the three chatted cheerfully about what kind of creature they might find and which one would sell for the most at the guild.
—Now that we're B-rank, we can hunt stronger monsters —said Aiko excitedly—. That means better rewards.
She began listing some of the creatures they could run into, like ogres, orcs, and even a Verdalisk, which only fired up the others even more.
—How about each of us hunts a different one? That way we'll get more rewards when we return to the guild —Kira suggested with a confident grin.
Jotaro and Aiko agreed without hesitation. They split up, agreeing to meet at the same spot in an hour.
Jotaro walked calmly, enjoying the forest atmosphere.
—I wonder what kind of monster I'll run into… Maybe rabbits. I haven't seen one in a while —he thought.
Just then, as he pushed through some bushes, he spotted something unusual—a small, rainbow-colored slime. Curious, he approached it.
—A slime? I didn't expect to see one… —he said, picking it up—. Now that I think about it… its color is really strange.
As he examined it, a familiar voice broke his concentration.
—Jotaro! —Aiko shouted, appearing from between the trees.
He turned, confused.
—Aiko? What's wrong?
—Get away from that thing, now!
—Huh? Why? It's just a slime…
But before he could finish, the slime lunged at his face with surprising speed. It latched on tightly, and Jotaro fell to the ground, struggling to pull it off. After several seconds of effort, he finally ripped it off and threw it against a tree with rage.
—What the hell is wrong with this slime?!
Aiko ran up to him, her face filled with concern.
—Are you okay? Do you… feel anything different?
—Different how? —Jotaro asked, bewildered.
Then, both of them watched as the slime began to change. Its body stretched and shifted until it took on a human form… identical to Jotaro.
—A-Aiko… what's happening to this slime?
—That slime… it's not an ordinary one. It's a Mirror Slime —she explained seriously—. It copies the appearance and abilities of whoever it touches… and uses them at full power.
Jotaro stared at his copy, stunned.
—A slime that copies abilities!? Why me of all people!?
The slime-Jotaro looked at them with cold, empty eyes.
—Is it… staring at us? —he thought.
A wild wolf leapt from the bushes toward the slime, but it dodged with ease and punched the beast so hard that the ground cracked from the force. Kira arrived shortly after, chasing the animal.
—Jotaro? —she said, surprised to see him.
She looked down and saw the wolf dead at the feet of what looked like Jotaro.
—Wasn't that the wolf I was chasing...? Jotaro's that strong? That's amazing! We'll be able to hunt even tougher monsters and earn more money —she thought excitedly.
—Hey, Jotaro! What if—?
She never finished. The slime, still in Jotaro's form, dashed toward her with a punch.
—Kira, look out! —Jotaro shouted, conjuring a magical barrier just in time. The impact shattered it, and Kira dropped to the ground, trembling from the shock.
The slime reached out toward her. Kira couldn't move from fear.
—Don't even think about it! I won't let you hurt Kira! —Jotaro roared, throwing himself at the copy.
He aimed a punch at its face, but the slime dodged and struck him directly in the stomach, hurling him into a tree, splitting it from the force.
—Jotaro! —Kira screamed.
—Now, Aiko! —he shouted, holding his stomach as he stood up through the cloud of dust.
Aiko acted instantly, conjuring a magic bubble that trapped the slime before it could move. For a moment, they thought they had won.
—Are you two okay? —Aiko asked as she approached.
—Yeah… —they both answered.
Then the bubble exploded. The slime struck instantly, slamming Aiko's head into the ground. Dust filled the air. When it cleared, Jotaro saw Aiko unconscious, bleeding from her head, the earth cracked beneath her.
The slime stared at him.
Jotaro blinked. When he opened his eyes… it was gone.
—Where is it?
—Behind you, Jotaro! —Kira shouted.
He turned just in time to see the slime's fist. He couldn't react—he was launched through several trees until he managed to conjure a barrier to stop himself. It shattered on impact, and he hit the ground hard, blood running from his head, one eye swollen shut.
The slime turned toward Kira.
She trembled… but clenched her fists and charged at it, throwing a flurry of punches. All missed. The slime dodged with ease. Kira shouted and threw one last punch… also dodged. The slime grabbed her arm and flung her into the trees.
But Kira rebounded off a trunk and shot back. Her punch was caught with one hand. A shockwave rocked the air. The slime didn't flinch.
—What…? —Kira couldn't believe her strength had no effect.
The slime countered, slamming her in the stomach and sending her flying upward.
Looking skyward, she noticed something: a growing, shining point of light. It was… a fireball.
The slime tried to conjure water, but a scream cut it off.
—Fireball!!
The magic descended at blinding speed. The slime changed spells to a barrier, but before it could finish—
—I won't let you defend yourself… —a weak voice whispered.
It was Aiko. Barely standing, bleeding, she raised her arm and disabled the slime's spell with a counter.
The fireballs hit directly. The ground shook. Smoke filled the area.
—There's no way it survived that… —Aiko whispered, dropping to her knees.
But as the smoke faded… it stood there. The slime had used its arms to shield itself, losing them in the process—but they were already regenerating.
—I won't let you regenerate! —Aiko shouted, conjuring another spell.
In an instant, the slime appeared in front of her. A kick to the face—blocked just in time by a barrier. It shattered. Another formed. Then another.
A storm of strikes. Shockwaves rippling. The slime prepared one final kick—
—Stop! —a voice commanded.
The slime froze… but the residual force obliterated the trees behind Aiko.
It slowly turned.
Jotaro stood, leaning against a tree, bloodied… but firm.
—Jotaro! Run! —Aiko pleaded.
—I won't —he replied calmly.
—What are you saying?! I told you to run!
—I already said… I'm not leaving you.
—You'll die!
—Then I'll die here.
Aiko stared at him wide-eyed, stunned.
—Why…? Why go so far for someone you barely know?
Jotaro gave her a faint smile.
—Isn't it obvious? Because you're… a friend.
He stepped forward, stopping in front of the slime. He raised his arm, pointing his finger, his gaze filled with defiance.
—I'll be your opponent now. Come… if you dare.