Meeting the world's strongest

After regaining my sense of sight I'm busier than before. I thought I'd be a lot more excited about this, but it turns out that living in a cave without anyone to interact with is really boring.

The reason why I'm all alone is, well, me. Monsters are born in areas with high magicule concentrations, and since I was born from a high magicule concentration, I prevented any other monsters from being born here. That's fine with me, I'm sure there are other places where monsters are being born, so I'm not going to stay here forever. The thing is, monsters that are born the way I was, usually aren't very smart, so there's a good chance they'll attack me on sight.

Now that I can see again, I can finally let loose like I used to. I've been practicing some dynamic movements in preparation for any potential fights that might come my way.

My speed is simply off the charts now. No one from Earth could even follow my movements at full speed, let alone keep up with me. My durability is no slouch either. I decided to try crashing into walls at full speed. I figured that would be a good test of my limits. Well, thanks to my Physical Attack Resistance, Pain Nullification, and Self-Regeneration, I didn't take much damage at all and I healed up very quickly... There was also the fact that Sage intervened a bit using Predator. 

After getting the hang of my newfound strength a bit, I decided to travel towards the reason for the magicule concentration while absorbing Hipokute herbs and Magic ores.

Instead of ignoring it, why am I heading towards the source, you ask? Well, I want to know who was that. Because if someone so strong is still staying in the cave then I want to know why. I don't sense any movement. Maybe this person is cultivating or something.

———————

Continuing my journey towards the mystery being, I came to a halt. There is a lake in front of me. Normally, I would go around the lake, but my senses are telling me to cross it. Crossing the lake seems safe enough since slimes don't need oxygen and Magic Sense didn't detect anything in the water.

I also want to pl— manipulate the water to see if I can get any new skills. Yep, ulterior motives. All for the sake of survival.

First of all, I stored some water in my stomach. You never know when you might need it. Secondly, my brain, which just spent 3 months chowing down on herbs and ores, gave me a good idea. If I could spit out water fast enough, maybe I could slice right through things, like a high-pressure water jet cutter or perhaps a 'water gun' from a certain turtle with sunglasses.

Here I go.

*splash*

... it seems like not all skills are easy to acquire.

(After practicing seriously for a while)

*slice*

{Confirmed: Skill Water Blade acquisition... successful.}

Nice. Let's see what else I can do.

(Sometime later)

{Confirmed: Skill Water Movement acquisition... successful.}

{Confirmed: Skill Water Pressure Propulsion acquisition... successful. The acquired skills `Water Blade´, `Water Current Movement´, and `Water Pressure Propulsion´ combine to evolve into Extra Skill, Water Manipulation.}

'Ku-Ku-Ku! Mission Accomplished.'

[...]

'A—Ahem. Let's go, Sage. We have achieved the task.'

[Error. Great Sage cannot go anywhere.]

'It's just a figure of speech. Conversations that don't make sense contain a different meaning.'

[Error. It is not a conversation. A conversation is a talk between people, to an extent living beings. Great Sage does not qualify as a living being.]

'Don't worry about boring things like that. If I say you are alive then that is that.'

[...]

Now that I think about it, Sage is just a 3-month-old baby (Apart from the processing power of a super computer). Perhaps a stimulus can help its growth.

'Why don't you go through my memories? It will be a unique experience for you.'

[...Understood.]

'J—Just not any personal memories, all right?'

[Affirmative. Great Sage will separate the information according to your preferences.]

Safe. Now my embarrassing memories won't be exposed. 

Thus unknowingly, the slime prepared a safety measure against mind control attacks.

—————————

I'm finally here. It's all been leading up to this. The magicules are so much denser around here than anywhere else, and from the readings of Magic sense, this concentration is being caused by a single entity. The source of all this magicule energy is a single monster, one from the legends. A dragon.

'Can you hear me, small one?'

'Shit! I forgot. How could I even respond to him without a mouth? Wait... He is speaking directly in my mind. Hmm... can I talk(?) this way too?'

[Report: By understanding your memories it is possible to acquire a method to converse with others. Proceed?]

The part about my memory worries me but I'll think about it later. Yes.

{Confirmed: Skill Thought Communication acquisition... successful.}

Sage strikes again.

'Yeah. I can.'

'Heh-heh-heh… Eh-ha-ha. Ahh-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! How fascinating. Unlike most slimes, you are capable of conscious thought process. Are you a named monster?'

'I don't have a name, I think. You see, this is my first time meeting an intelligent lifeform in the past 90 days I've been alive.'

'Hmm. I suppose, with your sentience, you were never destined to be merely a slime. But only 90 days? Ridiculous. Are you unique, then?'

'How do you mean?'

'A unique monster is an individual who has suddenly attained unusual abilities, akin to mutation. They are occasionally born in areas with high magical concentrations… Perhaps you were born from the mass of magicules that leaked out from me, then?'

'Before that, who are you? What are doing here?'

'Impatient one aren't you? I will let it slide since you are the first one in 300 years to approach my domain and live to tell the tale. I am of the dragon race—one of only four in the world, both unique and the most perfect of my kind. You will hereby know me as Veldora, the Storm Dragon! My life span is infinite, my flesh unfathomable! As long as my will remains intact, I shall be ever alive! Kwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!'

That was the start of a long commentary about all the things that I need to know in this new world.

—————————

(After introducing my circumstances and asking about Veldora)

'She was…quite strong. She was what the humans call a `hero´, one blessed with divine protection. Now that I recall, the hero also said she was `summoned´. Perhaps she hails from the same area as you.'

...This is karma, isn't it?

I should've known from my own situation what being alone in a cave does for a guy. He started of talking about how he got sealed by a 'hero' and all that. Since I'm new to the world I didn't understand some things so interrupted him here and there to know more. His explanations are understandable and he knows a lot. Which is a good thing, but there is one problem.

HE TALKS TOO LONG! 

I know I've talked a lot but being on the receiving end is too much. Did Sage secretly communicate with him to go on with his explanations for the sake of revenge?

[Report: No such action was taken.]

'Oi. are you even paying attention?'

'Yes. But I'm not sure if she is from my previous world. Didn't you say people from different worlds are summoned here?'

'Perhaps. Still, the—

This is getting nowhere. Why is he still... Wait. Even though he is the strongest being in the world (self-proclaimed) his patience is not what you'd expect. He is talking to a new-born slime as equal even after knowing it is a former human. Joyously explaining his defeat against a human and the random titbits about humans as well. Could it be... no... there is no way... 

— Illus or Smith or Milus, I think.'

Only one way to find out.

'Hey, how about we become friends?'

'Wh-what? A mere slime, daring to seek the friendship of the mighty beast feared worldwide as Veldora the Storm Dragon?!'

'... Is that so? A pity. Guess I'll find some friends outside then.'

'You fool! You foolish fool!! Who said anything about not wishing it?!'

'Then, would you like to?'

'—Mmm, indeed… If you insist…'

That confirms my suspicions. This guy is a—

'I suppose I could consider it…'

—go**amn tsundere.

'I insist. if you refuse then we're through. I am not coming back again'

'No!—Ah, so be it. I will become your…friend. I do hope you appreciate the gesture!'

'Heh. Just be honest dude.'

'I—I don't know w—what are you talking about.'

My life would be easier if I could just mani— befriend the other 3 True Dragons like this. I don't think it would be easy though.

'Well then, why don't we do something about the Infinite Prison? Exploring the world while my friend is locked up leaves a bad taste in my mouth.' (Not that I have any)

'Y—You...

I could feel him sneaking furtive glances at me. It would have been one thing if it had been a cute girl, but it was quite another when it was a death-dealing mythical beast.

'Let me try something'

[Invoking unique skill `Predator´ to consume unique skill `Unlimited

Imprisonment´… Failed.]

[Report: Partial Analysis of unique skill `Unlimited Imprisonment´ complete. Any escape involving a physical body is not possible. The chance of destroying the prison by physically damaging it is zero. Cannot analyze an escape route involving the annulment of imaginary space. One would need to be caught within the same Unlimited Imprisonment situation to analyze it from the inside. This is currently impossible.]

[Examining the possibilities... The chance of escaping in spiritual form is one percent. If a spiritual receptacle is prepared for the target on the outside to aid in the transition, the success rate is three percent.]

[Examining further possibilities...

'It seems we need to analyze the prison from both inside and out.'

'My skills are sealed alongside me. It is not possible.'

'Just send me the data. I'll analyze it here.'

'But that could take a lot of time.'

'... How about this?'

'Hmm?'

'I will use my unique skill to swallow you alongside the prison. While I analyze it from the outside, You will destroy it from the inside. That way you won't disappear.'

'...'

'... What do you think?'

'Kwah-hah-hah-hah-hah! Fascinating! Please, go ahead. I leave myself at your mercy!'

'I didn't think you would actually agree...'

'But of course! It'd be far more fun to break through this prison with you than sit around and await your return! With the two of us together, this Unlimited Imprisonment could fall quicker than we thought!'

'Then, let us sta—

'Ah! Wait. Allow me to give you a name. In exchange, you will give one to us both.'

'Huh? Why suddenly?'

'It shall chisel into our souls the fact that we are of the same rank. Something similar to the family names the humans use—except my name, for you, will also provide a kind of divine blessing. You are still nameless now, but through this, you will become a full-fledged named monster.'

True, not having a name would be weird.

'Fine, so be it.'

A new name for my new beginning! No, our new beginning I suppose. Let's see... Storm Dragon... storm... 

'How about Tempest?'

'Perfect! So be it! A wonderful timbre to that title, yes. From this day forward, they will call me Veldora Tempest! And you… You will be called Rimuru. Proclaim to the world that your name is Rimuru Tempest!'

'Rimuru Tempest. It sounds perfect.'

At that moment a change occurred, the name Rimuru Tempest engraved upon my soul.

'Okay. So I'm gonna consume you, all right? Hurry up and get outta there.'

'Heh-heh-heh! Right away! You shall make me wait no longer! Let us finally join together!'

[Activating unique skill `Predator´... successful.

Conduct Analysis of unique skill `Unlimited Imprisonment´?

Yes

No]

Yes.

Now then, we have already spent 3 months in this cave, it's about time we head out. Lead the way, Sage.

[Understood. Beginning mapping the cave...

—————————

As I made my way through the cave my magic sense picked up a reading. Nothing compared to Veldora though. Well, I've been practicing my abilities for a while, it is time to put that to the test.

*hiss*

'A wild encounter?'

[Report: It is a Black Snake. Possibility of elimi—

'It's battle time!'