So, what are we going to do? I mean, it must be lonely for you, having been trapped for the past 300 years. I can't just leave my body stuck like this, I said, observing the puppy dog expression he gave me.
"Buddies."
"Can you stop that? That stuff is only cute on girls. But seriously, what are we going to do?" I asked, frustration evident.
"Well, you can come up with whatever you want at the stands right now. I only have about 100 years left before my Magicules run out; I've been leaking them recently," he responded, glancing around at the area soaked with magic, likely because of him.
"What happens when you run out of power?" I inquired.
"Nothing much. I just die," he replied calmly.
"Dude, that's horrible. I have an idea," I said, reaching out to touch part of my body beyond the barrier.
(Activate Predator—secure and safe.) I thought, activating the Predator skill, only to have it auto-fail.
(Knew that might happen. Is there anything else we can try?) I pondered internally.
"What are you doing? Why are you ignoring me to talk to your own skill?" he asked, confused.
(Here's a list of possibilities we could attempt.) The Great Sage displayed a list of options before me.
After reviewing the list, I turned back to Valdora.
"OK, we need to analyze this seal from both sides so I can break it," I said.
"That sounds good, but I can't analyze it from my side because the hero blocks me from using my powers," he explained.
"Then just give me the data now. Analyze it from my side," I replied immediately.
"That would take a long time, and I don't want you to waste your effort. Just come back and visit me once in a while before I die," he urged.
"There's one thing we can try, though. I could eat you," I suggested, causing a profound silence in the room.
"See, my Predator skill allows me to absorb you and the seal into my body. You'll try to attack it from your side, and I'll do the same on mine. You'll be safe inside me, and you won't disappear permanently once it's broken. I can release you," I explained. He hesitated, then started laughing.
"That could be interesting. Let's do it. I trust you, my friend," he said.
"Just like that?" I asked, surprised.
"OK, then, I'm about to use my skill," I announced, preparing to activate Predator.
"Wait, before you do that—I want to give you your name, and you can give me one too," he said, making me puzzled.
"It's like what humans do: give a family name and bind us by the soul. What I'm doing is giving you a Seal of Divine Protection. Currently, you're nameless, but this will mark you as a monster with power," Valdora explained.
"OK, that sounds cool," I responded.
"You better believe it. Now, pick a good name," Valdora urged.
I considered briefly. 'Storm' came to mind but dismissed it. Then 'Sea Storm' and 'Tempest' appeared."
"Your name is Valdora Tempest," I declared as he glowed with a yellow light. I felt a slight drain but nothing too severe.
"That's fantastic. From now on, I am Valdora Tempest. And for you, little one, you should be named Rimuru Tempest," he said, a light engulfing me as my soul was transformed, granting me increased power.
"OK, time to eat, yeah," I said, my body expanding outward as I activated Predator, consuming my entire body before returning to normal with him inside me.
(Would you like to analyze the unique Skill: Imprisonment?) the Great Sage asked.
(Yes, go ahead), I replied, and it began analyzing. Over the next days, I wandered, consuming whatever I encountered—plants, creatures, anything—gaining skills like Water Movement and Water Blade, perfect for my body.
I practiced my Ruler Authority, learning to move myself carefully to avoid self-harm.
At the lake, I used the Water Revelation skill. Ascending a cave, I swiftly defeated a black snake with Water Blade, then used Predator to absorb its body, even the head, but it tasted terrible.
(Skill, Poison Breath, acquired; Skill, Heat Detention, acquired), announced the Great Sage.
I turned into the severed head and platform, then declared, "Arise," summoning a shadowed black-and-blue version of the snake.
(Congratulations on your first Attraction. You have the Black Snake.)
I continued exploring—killing monsters, absorbing abilities, converting them into shadows, and enhancing myself with skills like Body Armor, Acid Breath, and Steel Thread.
With Steel Thread, I became like Spider-Man. I ate a giant bat to gain Sonar. Weeks passed, during which I reached the top floor—where multiple gates stood.
(OK, I think I found the way out—just need to...) Suddenly, three figures entered, causing me to hide behind a large boulder. They spoke in a foreign language.
(I'm not exactly sure what language they're speaking), the Great Sage noted.
(Using Sonar, you can understand them), it suggested.
(Maybe later), I decided, watching them turn invisible and enter the cave. I left, feeling the sunlight on me. I relaxed, bouncing on the road.
(Also, maybe I'll be able to talk to Valdora, but when you're inside someone, you really can't unless they're a skill), I thought, continuing to bounce until halted by a nervous goblin wielding weapons.
"Why are you stopping me?" I asked. I might have accidentally enhanced my voice to sound wave, making it louder than I intended. They immediately started retreating.
"Sorry for the interruption, but we sensed a strong monster approaching," said the lead goblin.
"Really? Were you sensing me—or another monster?" I questioned.
"Of course not, strong one. We sensed you. Very strong. We have a favor to ask," they pleaded, inviting me to their village where I was introduced as the village elder—an ancient goblin.
"Thank you for meeting me, strong one. I am the elder," he said.
"Nice to meet you, but why have you called me here?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Have you noticed monsters have been more active lately?" he inquired.
"Not really," I responded.
"The guardian who protected us has disappeared. Now the forest is unguarded, and monsters are attacking us," he explained.
(Do they mean Valdora? It makes sense. His presence alone would scare away strong monsters. Since I absorbed him, his presence is gone, and so is their fear—of him and these goblins.) I thought.
"But what can I do? I'm just a slime," I protested, realizing I lacked telekinesis and the skills I gained from solo leveling, with no strong monsters with me.
"You're honest—yet, even in slime form, your aura suggests you're a very powerful monster," the elder said.
(Great Sage, use Mana Sense on myself to see what they see), I requested.
A visualization appeared: a massive or beautiful plant emerging from my body, revealing what they perceive.
(Wow, they saw this), I thought, recalling that my presence, not my voice, initially scared them. Now I could retract my aura.
"Oh, so that's why they're impressed. I can hide it now," I said, calming my aura.
"I see you were testing us. Many of our people were scared when you first arrived," the elder admitted.
"Yes, actually, I have a question. Were you able to speak to me at all?" I lied, pretending ignorance.
(How did those three humans not notice me? Are they dumb, or did they not sense me because of the magic around? Possibly. The cave's magic soaked from Valdora's power could have masked me entirely), I reasoned.
They explained about the dire wolves—details about their strength, physical descriptions, and even how their son died, providing comprehensive information.
"Great one, we ask for your help," they pleaded.
"Do I have to ask? Is there something you can offer?" I inquired, already inclined to help, feeling sorry for them.
"We will serve you for the rest of our lives," the goblin elder promised. Suddenly, a distant howl echoed from the mountains.
The goblins panicked, afraid of being eaten.
"You have nothing to fear. We'll defeat them. I, Rimuru Tempest, will help you," I assured them.
"Thank you, great one. We vow eternal loyalty," the elder said, bowing with his people.
I had underestimated the male goblins; they lacked the strength to be formidable warriors.
"OK, for anything else, show me your wounded. I want to heal them," I said, visiting a hut filled with injured goblins. I used my potions to heal their wounds.
"Next, we need to build a fence to prevent the dire wolves from advancing," I suggested. We spent the day constructing a makeshift barrier.
At night, I stepped in front of the fence.
"Turn back now. This is your only warning," I warned.
"Do you think a dire wolf would turn back from someone as insignificant as you? Destroy the fence and stain the grass with goblin blood!" the lead wolf growled, attack ready. They fired arrows or were shot down by steel threads.
"Puny monster, I will eat you myself," roared the wolf as it charged. I prepared with Steel Thread, catching it mid-air.
"This won't hold me," said the wolf, decapitating it and absorbing its body, leaving a hand on the ground.
"Arise," I commanded. The wolf and others reanimated as my shadow soldiers.
"If you wish to continue this fight all of you will, join my army as shadow soldiers when you die, or submit now," I proclaimed, transforming into a wolf while shadow versions of the monsters appeared to back me up.
"We yield. Our pack will serve you," they said in unison. I reverted to slime form.
The next morning, we celebrated. I organized them into pairs—each pairing a goblin with a dire wolf.
"You're going to have each other's backs. For food, shelter, and clothing, we'll have teams: a hunting group, a building team, and a clothes-making group," I ordered.
"Quick question—do you have names?" I asked.
"I'll name each of you," I added, making them ecstatic.
"How about Rigurd?" I suggested. He cried happily.
"I name you Rigurd, after your brother," I said, delighting him.
I spent the day naming them. Though tired, I pushed through.
"From now on, you'll be Ranga," I declared. I think I fainted afterward, as the Great Sage concealed me in sleep mode for three days to recharge.