Using Degenerate.

This chapter is going to have a bit of a skill dump due to how many skills I have to fuse and acquire. I'll let you know when it starts [even though it is very clear] so you can skip it if you want to. It is just a necessary evil. Don't worry though, I'll try to make this a rare occurrence.

...

{You have obtained the Unique skill Degenerate}

{You have obtained the skill Fire spirit magic. Allows the user to use Fire spirit magic}

{You have obtained the skill Spirit summoning magic.

Summon Greater Fire Spirit: Ifrit

Summon Medium Fire Spirit Salamander}

[The Greater spirit Ifrit has been consumed]

{You have obtained the skill Control flame. Allows the user to freely manipulate flames using the motion of magicules.}

{You have obtained the skill Combustion. Allows the user to turn any part of their body made of magic violently into flames.}

{You have obtained the skill Replication. Allows the user to create remote controlled clones of themselves out of magic. The clones have the same strength and skills (Except Unique and Ultimate Skills) as the user, But they are significantly less durable and only have the amount of magicules supplied to them upon creation.}

{You have obtained the skill Ranged Barrier. Allows the user to create a barrier in any shape they specify within range.}

With that out of the way I turned towards Ellen. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. So I turned back to my elvish form and I approached her to give her a hug. That was the final straw for her. She started crying, though her friendship with Shizu might have been a short one, the loss of a friend always hurts. She cried for a few minutes and hugged me tightly. After we separated she said that we should return before the rest of her party worried for us.

On the way back I asked her how much of the conversation she had heard. Apparently she had arrived just a few minutes before I had told Shizu I knew about the spirit. She was going to come here to tell us that the food was ready. But, seeing her newly found friend having a moment with the handsome "elvish" boy she decided to be a good wingwoman and wait for an appropriate moment to enter the conversation.

She asked a few questions about Shizu's problem and I answered in simple ways, not revealing too much information, just enough for there to get a gist of what had happened. During the way back she told me of her trip towards the forest with her party. Her time talking distracted her enough to dry the tears in her eyes. But, the first question Kaval asked seemed to open the floodgates again.

"Hey guys, food's ready! Better tell Shizu to come soon otherwise I'll steal all of her food"

"Shizu…" the tears appeared in her eyes. "Shizu... won't... be able... to... make it back"

Of course this worried the party instantly. They quickly prepared to grab their swords before I stopped them and explained the situation with the help of Ellen.

"So you are saying that she was on the verge of losing her powers? And that she decided to give up her life so that she wouldn't lose control?" Gido asked

The party had noticed Shizu acting a bit distant. They had even noticed her reluctance to use her powers unless absolutely necessary. Even then it all sounded kind of crazy. Had it not been for Ellen's testimony they might not have believed Rimuru.

The party decided to call it an early night. While they were heading to bed I took a look at my village. Seeing the smiles of all the hobgoblins gave me joy. The change from a small falling apart village to a village with actual housing and defense. Who could hunt and gather enough food to stay healthy. And who did not feel like they could die at any second. It all brought a smile to my face. To think that this was my village. And that this was only the beginning.

…

(Feel free to skip/only read the names of the skills just make sure to read the last skill given. I'll give an explanation for those interested in skills that aren't self explanatory. 600 words worth of skills so yeah bit of a chunky skill combination session.)

[Sage, how much time do we have until the ogres arrive to the village]

[Understood. With the approximate rate of travel through the forest with 300 ogres at the pace they had being traveling gives an estimate of 2 hours 17 minutes and 48 seconds]

That is enough time for using Degenerate. Now this is where the fun begins.

[Sage, do your thing]

[Understood. Beginning use of the skill degenerate.]

[Combining the skill Control flame, flame transform, and Control water.

Skill Dark flame, and skill Control particles have been acquired.]

[Combining the resistances with the skill ranged barrier.

Skill Multilayer barrier has been acquired.

Activating multilayer barrier as a passive skill]

[Combining the skill Dark lightning with the skill Control particles

Skill Dark thunder has been created]

[Combining the sub-skill Mimicry with Degenerate.

Skill Universal shapeshift has been acquired]

[Combining the skill predator with absorb, dissolve, and self regeneration.

Skill Ultra-speed regeneration has been acquired.]

[Combining the skill Ultrasonic wave with Magic sense

Skill Sense soundwave has been acquired.]

[Combining skill Sense soundwave with Magic sense and sense heat source.

Skill Universal sense has been acquired]

[Combining the skill Universal sense with Analyze.

Skill Superior Analyze has been acquired. An enhanced version of the analyze skill](Somewhere in between Great sage and Raphael in terms of analyzing capabilities)

[Using separate on the skill Horrible smell.

Skill Scent control has been acquired. Allows the user to control the smell and the pheromones that the body produces]

[Combining the skill Poison breath and paralyzing breath with Control particles.

Skill Particle breath has been acquired. Allows the user to shoot a gas of any element and with different properties. Example, a fire breath that poisons and burns the target on contact.]

[Combining the skill Replication with the skill Control particles.

Skill Perfect replication has been created. Allows the user to create replications that can use any skills of the user. However, Ultimate skills will be weakened on the clone. Depending on how many magicules are provided to the replica it can have an almost indistinguishable strength and durability from the user]

[Combining the skill Feral roar with the skill rallying cry.

Skill Commanders aura has been acquired. Strengthen your allies and debilitate your enemies. This skill allows the user to release an aura similar yet inferior to that of a king]

[Combining skills sticky thread and steel thread with skill control particles.

Skill universal thread has been acquired. Allows the user to create threads with special properties. Example, Freezing, Burning, Paralyzing, Calming, etc]

[Combining all elemental magic into the skill control Elements]

[Shadow step has been enhanced with the skill Control elements

Skill Shadow magic and shadow travel has been acquired.]

[Analyzing skill thought communication.

Implementing upgrades

Combining skill with Universal sense.

Skill shared mind has been acquired.]

[Combining skill Predator's charm with the skills Libido and Scent control

Skill combination failed.

Analyzing current skills...

Forcefully attempting to combine skills...

Combination Failed.

Analyzing reasons for failure...

Adjusting combination method...

Forcefully combining skills.]

[Unique skill Eros has been acquired]

At that moment I could hear sage having a realization.

[Attempting to forcefully evolve skill great sage

Evolution failed.

Analyzing the reason for failure…

Attempting to change parameters for evolution

Evolution failed.

Analyzing…

It appears that your current body is unsuitable for Ultimate skills. Evolution is required in order for your body to have the ability to contain such skills. Recommended path of action is to become a True Demon Lord. Evolution process is the best time to implement Ultimate skills to enhance both magicules and body quality. Good luck]

Yikes, all of that gave me a headache. But now that it is out of the way I don't have to worry about combining skills for a while.

[That last skill, Eros. What does it do?]

[Understood. The unique skill Eros allows the user to command the forces of life and death respectively. The sub skills are

Resurrect. Allows the user to bring the target back to life. It can also be used for healing. It requires a great affection for the target in order to bring them back to life and for a short time to have passed since death.

Invigorate. Allows the user to strengthen both himself and the target through sexual acts. Small acts such as kissing can give a very small boost in lifespan. Big acts, such as having sex can enhance both the user and the targets magicule count and physical strength.

Charm. It makes the user more appealing to anyone who sees, hears, or smells the user. Can be enhanced with magicules to increase its effects.

Death blessing. It allows the user to transform the target's life force into death. The effectiveness of this skill greatly lowers if the user is weaker than the target.

Debilitate. Attacks the target with a death-infused attack. It temporarily lowers the target's strength, magicules, defense, and endurance. Effectiveness lowers the stronger the target is from the user.]

Wow, that skill is kinda broken. I can see how Luminous became so strong and influential with a skill so similar to this. I mean this is pretty much the same skill as hers. Though I guess the skill Lust was already taken by her so I got this one.

I have some time to practice my skills before the ogres arrive. Let's get to it

…

Sorry for the gigantic "Skill dump" chapter. I had to get it out of the way and now that it is done you don't have to worry about chapters like this for a very long time. Had some more things I wanted to write but ran out of time. Check out the timeline chapter and tell me if you find out any mistakes I made, I am using it as a help for writing this story so it would help me a bunch. I'll update the skills chapter either later today or tomorrow when I upload the next chapter.

Check the author' s note if you are curious about the Eros skill. See ya.