The Fourth Evolution

"Everyone ready?"

All nods were shown, Kan'na lifted her hands and several magic circles buzzed. As every magic circle, formation, and Concatenations began to glow she pressed her lips together, "Mira and Givale, it would be best if you enter Stars world. Something is occurring."

'Act quickly Stars, it'll be a good introduction to the area for Mira.' -Akiol

'Done!'

Akiol dropped to the ground, Stars' scabbard still attached to him. The magic formation below began to spin and Kan'na merely smiled, "Well, best of luck to everyone!"

Wrock was frowning the whole time, "What exactly do you mean."

"I may have taken a copy of the ancient runes back with the artifact and modified it to serve this teleport test. Although I never tried large scale teleportation before, so this is technically a test run."

"Oh no."

"I'm pretty sure we'll be in one piece, but we should teleport directly within our home. I used the teleport scrolls as a reference.", Kan'na made a thumbs up.

"So at least we respawn inside."

"That's the plan-"

She paused, "Scratch that, I think I just sensed the coordinates being cut off."

"Kan'na. . .", Wrock's expression saddened.

"Double good luck to everyone! I have no idea where any of us are going."

"I'm never going along with your prototype magics again!"

Everyone turned into a small glowing white dot and disappeared. Nimin watched this and sighed, "So this is what they're like without being serious all the time."

Lowering his head he whispered, "I hope you all have fun."

He then turned and walked away, steeling himself to not look back.

. . .

Akiol gently plopped onto the ground, 'Ah, that was surprisingly okay.'

Suddenly his whole body felt like it was flung. He tumbled about before slamming onto the ground.

Or rather, he bounced off the ground and landed softly again. Smugly he thought, 'Slime body for the win!'

"A nearly destroyed body that is."

Akiol's heart skipped a beat, he hasn't sensed any presences around. Turning around he spotted a giant gray wall.

A familiar gray wall at that, for it was made of slime. Akiol hurriedly greeted, 'Your majesty!'

"Hmph, you never called me as such before. What occurred?"

'I've danced with death a little too much with those who stand at the apex. Despite my increasing strength, your presence is ever domineering.'

"Care to explain what exactly happened with your body?"

'Blasted away by a hammer, then almost completely melted by some corrosive Hydra's blood.'

'Sorry about that. . .' -Mira

The Slime King remained silent for a moment. A bit of amusement came from its voice, "You have had quite an adventure whilst you were away. Let's count the differences here. Two additional links: A Dragon and a Hydra of a kind even I feel a bit intimidated by. The entering of Second Stage. And a mysterious energy lurking within you."

'Woah! Do you not feel intimidated by me?!' -Givale

"Why would I feel intimidated by you? A young Dragon? I can't be King if my fears come from such a young Dragon."

'The score is 1-0 with Givale losing to Mira.' -Stars

'Behavior you two! This is the King Slime!' -Akiol

'I am not afraid of some massive slime!' -Givale

'Are you afraid of your mother?'

'Why would I be?'

'What if you had to face her?'

'. . .'

'That is how I feel against this guy!'

"Ahem."

No one said a word.

The Slime King continued, "I had noticed your presence disappeared for a while. I had worried that you died. Imagine my surprise when it suddenly reappeared, but drastically changed."

'I have had quite an experience.' -Akiol

"Care to share?"

'It would be a long story. . .'

"That is fine, just allow me to read your memory."

'You are already reading my mind right?'

"It is not the same."

'Oh, then I don't mind.'

Akiol's body physically recoiled for a moment. He shook off the feeling and inspected his body, nothing had changed.

"What an experience you have had."

'Thank you.'

"So you've come to have your body repaired."

'If possible!'

"That isn't impossible, but it is unnecessary for me to do so."

'Why?'

"You can already regenerate your slime."

'What?! But I've never been able to before?'

"And normally you wouldn't, but the effect of the link gives you such a benefit."

'It does?!'

"Are you unaware of what the Links do?"

'They limit their strength around mine, it links our lives together. I get a bit stronger too. Also limits the distance we can split apart.'

"Don't you think that's one sided?"

'Of course! Which is why I don't usually ask to do so.'

"Well you're missing a key part of it all. The Link also allows you to share a particular attribute. The Link with the sword is excluded from this, due to that Link already being beneficial normally."

'So I gain something from the Link from Givale and Mira?'

"The Dragon gives you their unique affinity with mana, usually this would increase an affinity with a random element."

'That's kind of useless to me.'

"The Hydra gives you their powerful regenerative capabilities."

'Oh my gods it's 2-0 with Givale being brutally destroyed!' -Stars

'You're about to be brutally destroyed!' -Givale

'Wait! Akiol Sensei said to be on our best behavior!' -Mira

Akiol nearly teared up at Mira's sensibleness. It was good to have someone on your side!

'So what do they get for linking with me?' -Akiol

"Your semi immortality."

'Oh that's wonderful to hear.'

"The semi-immortals are the most beneficial when it comes to the links. They are the only ones who are granted legitimate immortality, to a degree."

'So I don't have to worry about dying?'

"You will still undergo the punishments, and so will they."

'That is relieving.'

"It's a surprise you managed to stay alive despite all you did."

'I try my best.'

"Now, in order to invoke that kind of power, try to focus on the Link between you and the Origin Hydra."

Akiol was already familiar with doing this, especially when he tapped into Aura. It took him only a second before his body fully regenerated. Morphing back into his human form he inspected his entire body, "This is sick! Thank you Mira!"

'No problem Sensei!' -Mira

Akiol felt a faint feeling of someone's pride being injured, he made a mental note to help amend that later.

The Slime King continued, "Onto the reason why I brought you here. You've long since fulfilled the requirements for your next evolution. This one I will have to supervise."

"Oh it has been a long time since I did that."

"Well it should've been longer, but since your growth is faster than I expected—some action must be taken."

"Since you need to supervise this, how long is it going to take?"

"About an hour."

"Can I ask you to watch everyone for me then?"

"I can manage that."

"Stars."

Mira and Givale appeared into the air. Their attention was immediately drawn to the giant wall of gray slime. Mira tentatively bowed, "A pleasure to meet you!"

Givale was not as polite, "So you're the one who insulted me! You look like a big wall! I can tear down walls easily you know?!"

The Slime King responded, "You're even smaller than I thought you were."

"Wha-?!"

Akiol slipped off Stars and placed his scabbard against the wall. He then warned, "Remember: Best behavior. Mira if they act up feel free to tell me."

"Yes Akiol Sensei!"

Stars object, 'I have seniority here! I should be the one to supervise.'

"Not with the way you act with Givale."

'That is not fair!'

Akiol looked at the Slime King, "If they trouble you too much I am sorry."

"Focus on your evolution."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Stand upon this pedestal in your main form."

Akiol took it that his main form was supposed to be the ball one. Forming into the ball he hopped onto the pedestal. The Slime King warned, "This may hurt for a bit, but you'll be knocked out for the majority of it."

'That's comforting.'

"Now, brace yourself."

Akiol mentally prepared himself for what was to come. After exactly one second, he felt like he was crushed by a meteor. This feeling spread across his body for two second, before his vision turned black.