Training As a Slime(86)

"Erm Meimei, how come you can control Shanson like this?" Cori asked knowing her stats do not have such abilities.

"Hurhurhur, as Shanson always said, 'Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.'" Meimei replied, swelling with pride.

"Isn't that phrase a common phrase used in Detective Conan? How did Shanson know about it?" Cori wondered, noticing the growing amount of suggestions that the angel slime was not from this world. "So that means its Shanson's innate ability?" Cori asked shrugging off the questions to the back of his mind while they made their way across the black marbled hall.

"That's the ability of Shanson's halo. It can convert anything and anyone into a vehicle. It's a legendary item he's blessed with," Sky answered.

"And anyone can use his halo? And what do you mean by blessed with? " Cori asked.

"Well, he was born with the halo as a blessing by the God. And apparently, anyone can use it when he is in hibernation mode. But it seemed he was clueless about this particular function. So let's keep this a secret," Sky answered.

"Oh.... Can't we use it on someone else?" Cori asked excitedly.

"Well we never tried before, would you like to try?" Sky said invitingly, his eyes glinting with curiosity and his mouth grinned mischievously. Meimei who was driving Shanson like a car meekly disagreed, "I don't think you should do it..." Meimei noticed the white glowy creatures hanging around Cori were obviously protective of him and even seemed apprehensive about letting him touch the Halo.

Sky, "Come on, let him try. We can't have the fun all to ourselves."

Meimei though reluctant, was just as curious as Sky. She got off Shanson and handed the halo to Cori. Just as Cori was about to reach for the halo, the object gave off a bright light and repelled Cori across the hall. Stunned by the sudden surge of energy, Cori sustained 100 damage to his health.

"What the hell happened!?" Sky cried in shock. Meimei dashed over throwing the halo to Sky. But Sky dodged it out of fear. With no one handling it, the halo floated back above Shanson's head.

"Are you alright?" Meimei asked. "I knew something was wrong, I'm so sorry this happened." she continued in a panic.

Cori coughed and got back into his ball-like form. "I'm ok, you did warn me so don't worry about it. I guess I can't touch it at this point," Cori said while noticing his health dropped by a hundred. "Let's get some food. Maybe that will replenish my health and wake that sleeping beauty up," Cori said jumping up and down to show Meimei he was completely fine.

"Alright. It's this way I think... just follow me," said Meimei relieved and returning to her shy self. Seeing Sky distancing himself from Shanson, Meimei rolled her eyes and returned as the driver. 

Sky gulped in fear that the halo would malfunction and before Meimei touched it, he overcame his fear and volunteered, "Meimei, don't touch it just to be safe. I will carry Shanson instead." Activating his skill, his body and strength doubled. He carefully positioned the hibernating slime on his head and followed Meimei and Cori.

Meimei, "Is that your new skill? You're so big and strong."

Sky blushed, "Well, I wanted it to be a surprise. But I guess the situation called for it."

At the end of the hallway, the familiar dining hall filled with the aroma of various cuisines hinted to the squad that their goal was near. 

"Oh! I smelled my hometown food! Momo! I can't wait to have it again!" squealed Meimei in anticipation.

"I smell our famous sweet roast! This castle is magical! It even knows what we want!" Sky said excitedly.

"Hmmmm... food... food...." Shanson mumbled drowsily in his half-awaken mode. Yet a sudden hint of excrement floated in the air.

"Did someone poop?" Sky said looking at everyone.

The gang shook their heads but they soon found out at the dining table that one of the meals was a bright yellow lump of flesh that hinted of rotting meat and excrement.

"Who!" "Whose dish is that?"

Cori blushed and raised its paw... he was craving for durians- the king of fruits but he did not expect it to appear so blatantly in front of his new friends.

Meimei's face turned green. To think that her prince was served shit, he must have lived a terrible life.

"This is a delicacy from where I am from and is known as the king of fruits," he quickly elaborated.

Shanson who had woken up from his slumber ignored everyone and stuffed himself with the disturbing piece of elongated flesh.

Both Meimei and Sky looked at him with incredulity. How was he able to swallow that nasty thing without a second thought, that was nasty as hell!

"Burp! What is this? It tastes sweet with a drop of alcohol," Shanson said, his eyes shining brightly. But his eyes soon dulled when the smell assaulted him, "What in seven heavens is that smell coming from?"

"His body must have reacted even before he knew what he was doing. What a crazy survival instinct," the trio thought in unison.

"Shanson, whatever you do, don't talk to me or I will feel like throwing up," said Meimei stuffing a few Momos into his mouth.

Sky shouted, "Purify! Purify!" Yet the smell lingered, signalling that it was not a dangerous by-product of the fruit.

"Finally! I found you guys!" a familiar voice shouted at them. A new dish appeared in the middle of the table.

"Gate?" Sky said.

"How did you get here?" Cori asked.

"Well, the portal started to change colour and became smaller. Worried something bad had already happened so I dived in and was wandering around this castle searching for you all!" Gate explained. Catching the sight of her hometown drink, she delightfully joined the gang. "Look! ButterBiru! My hometown drink!" She said excitedly raising her cup but her face was soon thwarted upon smelling the stench, "What is that smell?"

The rest of the gang looked at Cori in unison. Cori felt a pang of guilt. "Of all dishes, why this?" he wondered to himself. "It's a type of fruit with a rich custard texture. The stench is there to deter predators. In my country, only brave warriors are bestowed with this fruit," Cori said while thinking that he might as well spin a story so as to market the fruit to better reflect of his taste.

The rest were easily impressed and agreed with Cori that the dish was not for the faint-hearted and only the bravest of the brave should be awarded with it. Cori breathed a sigh of relief and hoped for a different dish at the table. The dish was immediately replaced with a burnt cheesecake.