Chapter 8 - Rank Up and Training

In the early morning light, Leo stirred from his sleep, his senses immediately heightened. Something felt different. His body was buzzing with an unfamiliar energy, a deep well of power he hadn't experienced before. Groggily, he sat up, rubbing his eyes and stretching. It was only when he caught a glimpse of himself in the nearby mirror that his eyes widened in shock.

His reflection had changed—drastically. Gone was the youthful face of a teenage boy. Now, staring back at him was a man, handsome with a rugged, wild charm. His once-short hair had grown longer and messier, falling in disheveled waves around his face. His eyes, sharper and more intense, gleamed with a predatory edge. His jawline had become more defined, his body lean yet muscular, with broad shoulders and a build that spoke of both speed and strength. He had grown taller too—at least 180 cm now. If he once looked like an up-and-coming adventurer, now he resembled a seasoned warrior in his prime.

"What… the hell?" Leo muttered, running a hand through his hair. The shift in his appearance was startling, but it wasn't just how he looked—it was how he felt. Every inch of him was brimming with vitality, like a coiled spring ready to explode with energy.

Out of curiosity, Leo closed his eyes and shifted back into his slime form. As his body dissolved into its familiar gelatinous state, he immediately noticed something else—his slime had turned jet-black, a deep, inky color that absorbed light rather than reflected it. He swirled around, testing the elasticity and mobility, and found it smoother, faster, more controlled.

The rank up had done more than just change his appearance. His new race, the Slime of Darkness, had brought him to Grade 6—along with a slew of new abilities that left him almost breathless with excitement.

One of the first things that caught his eye was [Complete Elemental Immunity]. Ninety percent immunity to all elemental attacks. All. Fire, water, wind, lightning—he could now shrug them off like a mild inconvenience. Leo grinned. That alone was a game-changer.

But there was more. [Shadow Assimilation] let him melt into shadows, becoming one with the darkness itself. He tested it, slipping into the shadows under his bed and found that he vanished completely, his presence erased from sight. Along with [Stealth], which cloaked his aura entirely, he was practically undetectable.

"Now that's useful." He shifted back into his human form with a chuckle.

Next, he experimented with [Nightmare Induction]. A skill that could put enemies to sleep and trap them in terrifying dreams. Just imagining it made Leo's grin widen. He could imagine the chaos it would cause in battle—enemies writhing in fear, unable to wake from their nightmarish prison.

Then came [Abyssal Fear]. He activated it in his room just to feel the weight of its power. It was a concentrated wave of pure terror, a force so overwhelming it could cripple even the bravest of foes. The air around him grew cold, oppressive, and for a brief second, even Leo felt the echo of fear reverberate back at him.

Not to be outdone, [Darkness Manipulation] allowed him control over shadows, twisting and bending them to his will. He extended a hand, and the shadows in the room stretched, swirling and dancing as if alive. He could use them to bind enemies, create barriers, or even form weapons—an extension of his will.

Finally, Leo tested his most powerful new skill—[Black Out Domain]. With a mere thought, his surroundings plunged into pitch-black darkness. It wasn't just a lack of light; this was a domain of pure, consuming blackness. Anyone caught inside would be blinded, their senses disoriented, while Leo moved freely, unaffected. He could end a battle before it even began with this.

But the skill that intrigued him the most was [Synthesis], an Extra Skill that allowed him to combine two things—skills, objects, or even abilities—into one. Leo's mind raced with possibilities. Combining skills would make him even more efficient, deadlier. Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged and began experimenting with [Synthesis].

Here's what came out of the [Synthesis] experiments he just did:

Common Skill [Poison Secretion] = [Paralysis Poison] + [Venom Secretion].

Extra Skill [Monster Haki] = Ghost Cry + Evil Eyes + Intimidation Roar + Sonic Screech + Scaled Horse Neigh + Abyssal Fear.

Extra Skill [Universal Perception] = Mana Perception + Echolocation + Thermography + Sense Presence + Expanded Field of Vision + Night Vision.

Extra Skill [Environment Adaptation] = Escape + Aquatic Movement + Thermal Regulation + Cold Blooded + Shed Skin.

Extra Skill [Ultra Regeneration] = Self-Regeneration + Rapid Recovery + Infused Liquid Restoration + Mana Regeneration + Abnormal Effect Recovery.

Extra Skill [Universal Shapeshift] = Metamorphosis + Mineral Coating + Body-Fluid Control.

Extra Skill [Language Translation] = Human Language + Orc Language + Goblin Language + Continental Letter Deciphering.

Extra Skill [Savage Charge] = Wild Charge + Horn Strike + Wild Horn Dance + Armored Scale Charge + Improved Charging Power.

Resist Skill [Complete Elemental Nullification] = Fire Resistance + Water Resistance + Lightning Resistance + Wind Resistance + Earth Resistance + Complete Elemental Immunity.

Extra Skill [Elemental Manipulation] = Fire Manipulation + Water Manipulation + Wind Manipulation + Lightning Manipulation + Earth Manipulation + Darkness Manipulation.

Extra Skill [Ultimate Physique] = Mana Conduit + Strong Jump + Endure + Poison Resistance + Physical Damage Reduction + Enhanced Hearing + Keen Smell + Enhanced Leg + Enhanced Sight + Precocious + Violation + Strong Frame + Physical Damage Resistance + Elemental Magic Resistance + Libido.

Extra Skill [Thread Creation] = Sticky Thread + Thread Manipulation + Golden Thread.

Extra Skill [True Armor] = Steel Hide + Organic Shell Armor + Horn Generation + Scale Armor Formation.

Extra Skill [Ranged Barrier] = Shell Defense + Adamantine Spider Carapace.

Unique Skill [Predator] = Absorption + Fear Eater + Dissolve + Stomach + Improved Digestion + Vampirephilia.

After finishing his skill synthesis, Leo ended up with 15 powerful new skills. The original skills weren't really lost—they just couldn't be used on their own anymore since their effects had merged. But he could still use them for further synthesis if needed.

What really thrilled him was gaining the Unique Skill [Predator]. Unique Skills were just a step below Ultimate Skills, and as the name suggested, they were one-of-a-kind—no other being could possess them, unless they had a skill that allowed them to copy others.

The fact that he obtained this skill meant Rimuru hadn't transmigrated to this world yet, so there was still a chance for Leo to acquire Great Sage. If he could get that skill, it'd be like having a 24-hour AI assistant—something he really wanted.

Interestingly, skill assimilation here didn't work exactly like it did in the original Re:Monster. For instance, he gained [Elemental Manipulation] even without having [Light Manipulation]. Now, [Elemental Manipulation] allowed him to control light as well, which was pretty amazing.

And if he did get [Light Manipulation] in the future, it would only serve to boost his existing skills even further.

"Alright, time to train the girls and get used to my new powers." Leo muttered as he stretched and got up from bed, ready to start the day. Instead of heading to a washroom, he simply used [Water Manipulation], conjuring water from the air to wash himself off in seconds.

"Convenient." He thought, feeling the cool water cleanse him effortlessly.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Leo stepped out of his room, stretching his arms as he prepared to face the day, but what he saw made him stop in his tracks. Mi's door had swung open at the same time, and the goblin girl standing in the doorway looked completely different. She was no longer the scrappy, rough-edged goblin he remembered. Instead, she had grown taller, her limbs more defined, her skin smoother, and her face... cuter. There was a distinct charm about her now—her large amber eyes were filled with curiosity, and her previously sharp features had softened, giving her a more approachable appearance.

Leo blinked, his gaze locking onto her, not out of lust or attraction, but sheer curiosity. She ranked up too. The realization hit him almost immediately.

Mi, or rather, the newly transformed goblin girl, was equally stunned by what she saw. Standing before her wasn't just Leo, the quirky slime she had met before. No, this Leo was entirely different—towering at 180 cm, his body sculpted like a warrior's, lean and muscular, his wild hair adding to his rugged charm. He was shirtless, wearing only pants, leaving his toned abs and chest exposed. The sheer presence he exuded now was overwhelming. Mi felt her breath hitch as her heart raced, her usual fiery aggression faltering.

"W-What?" she stammered, trying her best to regain her composure, though her voice wavered slightly. No one had ever looked at her like this before—so intently. It sent a strange warmth through her that she didn't know how to process.

Leo, noticing her awkwardness, softened his gaze and offered a small smile.

"Did you rank up too?" He asked casually, though he already knew the answer. It was obvious from the way her appearance had changed, but he wanted to break the tension between them.

"Yeah! Did you?" Mi's initial shock faded as her excitement began to bubble to the surface. She shot back eagerly, her earlier embarrassment fading as curiosity overtook her. She was practically bouncing on her feet now, her energy barely contained.

Leo chuckled, nodding. "Yep." He replied smoothly. "And you know what? I think you deserve a new name, as a reward for your rank up."

Mi's eyes widened in surprise. A new name? She wasn't sure why, but the idea thrilled her. She had always known that names held power in their world—names could shape destinies. Her pulse quickened with anticipation.

Leo grinned as he watched her reaction.

"From now on, you'll be Kanami." He said, the words slipping easily from his lips. It felt natural, almost as if it had always been her name. The moment he said it, he felt a subtle pull on his mana, a tiny thread of energy flowing from him into Mi—now Kanami.

Kanami gasped audibly as the change took hold. It was like a spark had been lit deep inside her, a surge of power rushing through her veins. Her body felt lighter, stronger, as though she had been reborn. She staggered slightly, bracing herself against the doorframe, her eyes wide in disbelief. The sensation was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Sure, Gobujii had given her a name once, but it had barely made a difference—he was weak, after all. But this? This was different.

"Oh?!" Kanami exclaimed, a rush of exhilaration flooding her senses. She clutched her chest as the energy swirled within her, growing and expanding. She felt… empowered. More than just physically, she felt alive in a way she had never been before, as if her very essence had been elevated.

"Alright, go wake everyone up and meet me in the Training Room." Leo said with a nod and a smile before heading off. Kanami watched him leave, still in awe of the power flowing through her.

Leo entered the Training Room, the spacious chamber echoing with the sounds of his footsteps. Without hesitation, he started his warm-up, loosening his shoulders and rotating his neck. His body was brimming with newfound power, and he needed to get a feel for it—test the limits before he could train the others properly.

He threw a few punches, his fists slicing through the air with ease, but the strength behind each punch felt different—denser, more controlled. He followed it up with some swift kicks, making sure to balance his force. His body moved fluidly, a testament to the hours he spent in his previous life watching martial arts tutorials online. Sure, he had never practiced them firsthand, but he understood the basics—the right stances, proper striking form, and the importance of footwork.

'I can't get carried away. If I'm not careful, I'll end up knocking someone out with a simple pat on the back.' He thought as he punched the air.

As Leo continued to practice, his strikes grew faster and more controlled. His punches reverberated through the room, each one more precise than the last. He followed up with a powerful roundhouse kick, the force behind it causing a gust of wind to ripple through the air. He was starting to get a feel for his strength, but there was still more he needed to master.

Just then, the door to the Training Room creaked open, and the goblin girls slowly filtered in. Kanami was the first to enter, her eyes still wide with awe, followed by Asue and the others.

Leo stopped his training, turning to face the group.

"Umm… will you give us names too?" Behind Kanami, the other goblin girls looked at Leo with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Sa asked timidly, her eyes hopeful.

Leo folded his arms, his expression stern but not unkind.

"I'll give you names when you've earned them—when you rank up, like Kanami." He said firmly.

"Names aren't just something I hand out. You need to prove your strength and potential first."

The girls nodded in understanding, their excitement tempered but still burning bright.

Leo watched them for a moment before he clapped his hands.

"Alright, before we start with the weapons, we're going to focus on your physique and instincts. It doesn't matter how sharp your sword is if you don't know how to use it properly or if your body can't handle the strain."

He guided them through basic drills—footwork, dodging, and maintaining balance.

"Keep your center of gravity low when you move." Leo instructed, correcting Kanami's stance.

"You'll lose balance if your weight's all over the place."

Kanami adjusted her posture, focusing intensely as she followed his instructions. Her movements were still clumsy, but she was improving quickly, her body responding well to the new training.

The others struggled more, but Leo patiently guided them, correcting their movements and offering advice.

After a few hours of physical training, Leo moved on to combat instincts. He set up mock scenarios where they had to react quickly to attacks, block strikes, and find openings to counterattack. It was a lot for them to take in at once, but Leo knew the importance of training both body and mind for combat.

"Don't hesitate! In a real fight, hesitation will get you killed." Leo called out as No hesitated during a mock attack.

The girls pushed themselves hard, sweat pouring down their faces as they trained, their weapons clashing against each other in mock duels. Even though they were goblins, they had strong instincts, and with proper guidance, Leo could see them becoming formidable fighters in time.

By the end of the day, the girls were exhausted, but there was a newfound determination in their eyes. They wanted to prove themselves, to grow stronger, and eventually earn their own names.

"Good work today. Rest up. We'll continue tomorrow." Leo stood at the center of the room, arms crossed as he surveyed the group.