Chapter 36 – Two on One

As usual with each evolution that Resh went through there were some…..adjustment issues. Firstly, even though Resh was now an Earth Slime for some reason the time spent in the water had changed it more than other evolutions had. While Resh's body had accepted the Earth, The mind was not so easily convinced. So Resh found itself moving from soil to water and back again, body pulling it one way and mind pulling another. Resh alternated between soft soil rubbing against its body, part being absorbed, and then the cool and smooth feel of water rushing past.

In Resh's small part of the world, things were peaceful apart from the internal struggle, and that was fine with Resh, it could deal with most issues it faced if it could just face them one at a time. In more positive news, it had managed to keep strengthening its Water Adjacent ability. It took Resh more than a day and a half to fully acclimatise to the new environment and get its instincts under control.

I feel like the more my mental faculties grow the more I am struggling with my mind not keeping up with my body. I thought greater mental abilities were supposed to be a good thing. It seems like it is just constantly getting in the way! How can I make this easier for myself? Resh continued its musings while moving between river and soil.

Water Adjacent has increased to Level 24!

Resh had also not been idle while it was moving back and forth. Knowing that its next target was to evolve into a Dense Slime to boost its paltry strength further, Resh had continued to Consume at a prodigious rate. The fastest it could manage so that I could grow quickly. Being a soil-dwelling creature now was perfect for that effort. With soil around it at all times, it could Consume the soil with abandon. Over the last thirty-six hours, it had consumed a considerable amount. No creatures yet but just matter. Resh had enough to contend with at the moment.

After must internal deliberation and calming thoughts, Resh emerged from the mental limbo and settled on the Earth as its home, instincts and mental and physical all came back into alignment. It was an exhaustive and time-consuming process but it worked in the end. There were other benefits to be had:

Consume has increased to Level 19!

You have Consumed 677g of Soil and River Water including Pebbles and Soil! Your Weight has increased to 1,461.25g; your Volume has increased to 584.50cm3!

Oral Devastation has increased to Level 14!

Ears of Echo Location has increased to Level 10!

Congratulations on reaching Level 10! Your Ears of Echo Location has improved to Strong Ears of Echo Location auditory power has improved to hear sounds up to 100Hz! Hearing Distance has doubled!

Nose of the Darter Fish has increased to Level 7!

Double Wormtails has increased to Level 9!

Shell of the River Crab has increased to Level 3!

Shell of the River Crab has increased to Level 4!

Now sitting at over a kilogram in weight Resh was debating whether to Consolidate now or wait to gain more weight before Consolidating. Resh checked on the time it would take this time and what the final result would be.

You are planning to use Consolidate! This is irreversible and will take 8hrs and 7min at your current Weight of 1,461.25g and Volume of 584.50cm3 after the process is concluded you will have a Weight of 233.80g and Volume of 86.80cm3 your new Density will be 2.7g/cm3, while Consolidate is happening you will be unable to perform any further actions, you will not be able to use any passive skills related to movement or growth, only those related directly to your safety, at this time there are Strong Camouflage and Strong Odour Alteration. Do you wish to go ahead with Consolidate? Yes / No?

The only reason not to Consolidate right now is that I might lose strength which is the main thing that I want to gain in. so it would be a bad idea to do this if there is even a chance of it happening. Resh considered this for a moment and then decided that it was better to wait, it was too much of a risk at this stage to recklessly Consolidate. It knew that when starting at a larger size it had not lost strength. So, maybe a little more was not out of the question? Perhaps it was time to start hunting in the dirt for prey since it had not gained any experience yet. Levelling up would grant gains as well. Time to hunt! Nothing too big though. I am new to this underground stuff.

Fins and Flippers as well as Strong Insectoid Wings were less than useless underground. There was no point in trying them Resh already knew. The only tools it had in its arsenal at the moment were its Strong Legs of the Squitter or more specifically, the paws of the Squitter to do the heavy lifting of the soil. As before it was an imperfect solution and Resh resolved to gain some traits of underground creatures to help it move faster. The 50% Affinity with Earth that Resh had gained did help somewhat but not nearly enough to make the experience enjoyable. Resh shored up its resolve knowing what was ahead.

Paws dragging through the mud Resh carved a pathway directly away from the river, underground heading for the trees lining the river. This would be the best bet for finding underground creatures. None of them was keen on nesting too close to the river bed in case the water seeped into their burrows.

So, unsurprisingly, the first thing Resh encountered was a Grole den. Inside were two larger Adult Groles and seven smaller Juvenile Groles. The last time Resh had encountered these creatures there had been only one of the larger ones and it had chased it up a tree. Resh proceeded with the appropriate amount of caution. I am not going to take any chances with this Resh thought. Easing its way in Resh allowed its body to move into the den, there was barely enough space for Resh to squeeze its bulk in. The Adult Groles were on high alert. They shepherded their brood away from the mysterious oozing fluid that had entered from the back of their den. Once their young were away from Resh and they crouched between the intruding threat and their young they visible readied for the fight. It was clear what their priorities were. Resh manifested its primary melee weapons, Slime Club, Poison Jaws, Dual Wormtail's Stab and Tail Pole Smash. It had enough Volume to use all of them at once, another good reason not to Consolidate too quickly. With poison damage and Water and Earth damage available to it with these weapons, it did not even need Sonic Boom or Water Gun. It used them anyway.

In rapid succession, both spells slammed into the unsuspecting Groles. They have still been holding back as if to see if this could be concluded without needing to fight. Resh had no such reservations as it unloaded everything it had on these enemies. The field of battle was close and confined so there was little chance of missing with any ranged attacks. Sonic Boom hit the one on the left and Water Gun hit the other. Both recoiled from the damage before righting themselves, the left a little slower to regain its feet. As one they charged for the amorphous blob in their midst. Claws outstretched they raked at Resh with abandon, no thought was given for their safety only the lives of their young. In their small beady eyes, both would sacrifice themselves to take this monster down. Resh took a moment to angle its weapons for maximum effect and then plunged them into the fast-approaching Groles.

Tail Pole Smash hit the Adult Grole on the right first. It was half a step ahead of the one on the left. It sheared off a few HP from it, just a glancing blow. The hurt Grole countered with a claw through Resh's body, damaging it and severing part of the staff weapon Resh was using along with a chunk of health. The next exchange was the Dual Wormtail's Stab a sharp thrust into the left Adult Grole a hair slower than the first clash. Resh had to switch its attention quickly between the two foes to meet the exchange. But the stab just halted at the Adult Groles thick skin unable to pierce it. Some damage was taken but Resh's Wormtail bent and slid to the side.

By this point, the one on the right had moved further in and was going for a slash at the right side of Resh's gaping mouth and Slime Club came up to meet the blow and counter. Sliding into place in time to stop serious injury but a chunk of Slime Club fell off and disintegrated into the soil at Resh's feet. Resh roared with its open mouth and stunned the Groles momentarily with the volume of the noise before they staggered back into the action. So far both Groles were down only a third of their health but looking worse for wear. Meanwhile, Resh had chunks of slime flying off and was deeply regretting sliding headfirst into this melee. Should have snuck up on them and gained the bonus from Sneak. Too late to think about that now though.

The only melee weapon that Resh hadn't used yet was also its most powerful, Poisonous Jaws. Resh planned to use the skill to great effect. Biting down on the right arm of the left Grole, Resh heard it howl in pain. Resh tried to poison it but it didn't take. As soon as Resh opened its jaw the Grole was clawing at Resh's mouth. Both with bleeding wounds and staggering a little from the health loss attacked Resh.

From the charge to the final bite the exchange had taken no more than a second or two. Its spells had not had a chance to recover yet but Resh did not have a cooldown on its melee weapons, that was only limited to how quickly it could swing its weapons. Resh had already readied its Wormtail's Stab and Tail Pole Smash again. The two Adult Groles with their uncoordinated movements had ended up together in the middle of Resh's embrace, surrounded by Resh's arsenal, the slime had attacked them from the sides to force them together so that it could surround them and continue to attack from all sides. All four melee weapons slammed down once and then again. All the while Resh received cuts and slashed from the panicking and wild Groles. Their attacks grew more desperate even as they became weaker.

With the final bite, Resh injected poison into the one on the right. Resh was close enough to notice a patch of white fur on its head. Now they were both down to about a third of their health left. Resh would not let them escape. This was its chance. Having bitten off a chunk of its arm, Resh puckered its mouth and shot that piece straight back out at the Adult Grole.

You have gained the Ranged Skill Slingshot Level 1!

You have gained the Ranged Stat Dexterity +10!

Woah! Did I just get a ranged skill? That was so easy! This is going to be great! Resh began taking clods of dirt and firing them out of its mouth straight at the Adult Groles. Both were hit consecutively with 2 shots each. Small injuries but kept them on the back foot for a while. Resh then slammed melee weapons into them again. Rearing back Resh prepared to get them again. White patch was nearly dead and the other not far behind. Another exchange of strikes and White Patch succumbed to poison damage. The remaining Adult Grole didn't last long under the flurry of blows that Resh was able to dish out.