Monthly Rule: Wise Slime Sage (Gold)

Waving his hand, Augustus summoned the interface for his SSS-rank Monthly Rules talent.

-Ding!

[You currently have 1 monthly rule draw available. You can only draw 1 monthly rule per month, and unused draws will stack. For example, if you don't use this month's draw, you can accumulate two draws next month, and so on, until you decide to use them.]

[Monthly rules are rules you can impose on your territory. Depending on the rule, it may either positively or negatively affect your subjects or the territory itself.]

[Furthermore, monthly rules are tailored to your current territory and subjects. If you acquire new creatures, structures, or resources, future monthly rules will adapt accordingly.]

[The quality of monthly rules, ranked from lowest to highest, are: White, Green, Blue, Purple, and Gold.]

[Do you want to draw a monthly rule?]

[Yes] | [No]

Faced with the two options, Augustus pressed the [Yes] button without hesitation.

-Ding!

[Drawing five monthly rules...]

[Wise Slime Sage (Gold): At the start of each month, a random slime in your village will awaken the SS-rank Wise Sage talent. With this talent, the chosen slime will have infinite potential for evolution!]

[Drunkard (White): Your villagers are twice as likely to stumble upon fermented fruit in the wild. Slimes exposed to this fruit will wobble unpredictably for a short period, reducing their effectiveness in tasks.]

[Mana Bloom (Green): A magical flower will sprout near the Slime Lake, slightly increasing the mana density of your territory. This flower can be harvested monthly for a small amount of mana crystals.]

[Stone Hide (Blue): All slimes in your territory gain a passive defense boost, reducing physical damage taken by 10%. However, their mobility decreases by 15% due to the density of their gelatinous bodies.]

[Instinctual Awareness (Purple): Your slimes gain heightened awareness of nearby threats, making them less likely to be ambushed. They will now react slightly faster in combat situations.]

Augustus's heterochromatic eyes gleamed as he read through the list of monthly rules. His gaze lingered on the Wise Slime Sage (Gold) rule, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and relief.

"This is it," he muttered, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest. "With this rule, I can turn the tide."

The potential of an SS-rank Wise Sage slime was astronomical. Infinite evolution meant that even the weakest slime could become a force to be reckoned with, given enough time and opportunity.

However, the other rules weren't entirely useless either. Stone Hide and Instinctual Awareness both provided much-needed survival advantages, while Mana Bloom offered a steady, albeit modest, resource boost.

The Drunkard rule, on the other hand, drew a sigh from Augustus. "Completely useless," he muttered. "I can't afford slimes wobbling around drunk when they're already barely functional."

The interface flickered, prompting him to make a choice.

-Ding!

[Select one rule to apply to your territory.]

Augustus didn't hesitate. His finger hovered briefly before tapping [Wise Slime Sage (Gold)].

-Ding!

[You have applied the monthly rule: Wise Slime Sage (Gold).]

A faint golden glow rippled through the air, radiating outward from the Dilapidated Lord's Hall.

Augustus watched in awe as the slimes near the Slime Lake began to quiver and shift, their gelatinous bodies rippling with energy.

Moments later, a single slime at the edge of the group began to glow brighter than the rest. Its core pulsated with golden light, and its body expanded slightly, growing more defined and structured.

The system chimed again.

-Ding!

[A slime named "Limloo" has awakened the SS-rank Wise Sage Talent.]

Augustus stood from his wooden throne, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. "Limloo," he murmured, stepping outside to observe the transformation firsthand.

The newly evolved slime quivered with purpose, its once-adorable, aimless wobbling now replaced with a deliberate, almost regal motion. Its core shone like a miniature star, radiating intelligence and potential.

"Let's see what you can do, Wise Sage," Augustus said, his voice filled with hope.

For the first time since his arrival in the Supreme Plane, Augustus felt like the scales might tip in his favor.

The glowing slime quivered in response, its movements far more deliberate than the others.

Augustus could sense its intelligence radiating from its core, even though it didn't have a mouth to speak.

Limloo wobbled forward, stopping a few feet from him, and bowed slightly—an action that almost startled Augustus.

"You understand me, don't you?" Augustus asked, narrowing his heterochromatic eyes as he observed the slime's movements.

Limloo responded with another deliberate wobble, as if to confirm his assumption.

Yet, silence lingered. The slime's lack of vocal cords prevented it from forming words, but its motions carried an almost regal elegance.

Augustus could tell this creature was vastly different from its peers. It didn't need to speak to convey its reverence.

Just as Augustus was about to issue another command, he felt a faint ripple in the air—a subtle pulse of mana.

A voice, calm and filled with reverence, echoed directly in his mind.

"My Lord, I can now communicate with you through mana-based telepathy. Please forgive my earlier silence. I had to adapt to this ability."

Augustus blinked in surprise. "Telepathy?" he muttered.

He scrutinized the glowing slime, now emanating an aura of wisdom far beyond what he expected.

"Yes, my Lord," Limloo replied, the telepathic message resonating smoothly in Augustus's mind. "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity you have bestowed upon me. Without your divine intervention, I would still be a simple, mindless slime. Please allow me to serve you and elevate this territory to greatness."

The tone of Limloo's message was rich with loyalty and reverence, almost as if he were addressing a king.

Augustus smirked slightly, the corner of his mouth curving upward. "Impressive. I wasn't expecting this level of intelligence so quickly," he said, crossing his arms. "You're already adapting faster than I anticipated."

Limloo's core glowed faintly in response, his voice filled with humility. "I owe it all to you, my Lord. It is my duty to repay your generosity by ensuring the survival and prosperity of your domain. Please command me as you see fit."