Training as a Slime(85)

The bare land stripped of greenery lay naked with two protruding trees at opposite ends of the canyon. 

"Are they like the whipping tree at the school entrance?" Sky asked.

At this conveniently impromptu timing, Shanson's stomach rumbled marking the end of Sky's question. "Sorry, does anyone have anything to munch on? Meimei, can you bring us to the food place please?" the hungry slime pleaded.

Meimei looked around and tried to find the mysterious creatures, but none were in sight. They had seemingly vanished or were merely hiding from her. Her eyes looked confused and her body language spoke of anxiety and worries.

"Let me try," Cori consoled her and sniffed the air. "I can smell a fragrant sweet smell from both trees. I think those are fruit trees," he said. After utilising his observation skill, he noticed the system masked some information due to his low-level observation skill. After a short pause, Cori said to Shanson, "But I don't think we should eat them."

"Who cares, I'm starved! Let's go!" Shanson commanded, ignoring the warning.

"Guys I think we should go back..., "Meimei said hesitantly, "This... isn't the right place." Even Meimei's sixth sense was tingling. 

"Nothing will happen," said Shanson reassuring everyone as a shadow overcast him.

The group stared blankly at the giant smiling golden axolotl. Before Shanson could react, the monster swallowed him in one big gulp and crawled towards the gang with a satisfied friendly smile.

Cori executed his swift steps and decisively teleported to the monster's side, hoping to defeat it from its blind spot. But upon facing the humongous belly, the golden slime was taken aback by the sight.

"Hey Cori!" Shanson greeted from the window.

"What the..." the slime was stunned. "Is this like the magic school bus or the cat bus?" he wondered with a confused expression. Right at this moment, Cori's mini fireworks went off and alerted the giant lizard. The sharp creature decidedly swallowed him in one fell swoop the microsecond he showed a sign of weakness.

"Took you long enough!" Shanson greeted him from the seat.

"So... this is really a bus," Cori looked around the familiar environment.

"Cool right? So what animal is this? Is this a cat?" Shanson asked excitedly.

"Nope, it's a axolotl," Cori replied.

"Well, looks like both Meimei and Sky couldn't escape. Just look at their shocked expression after entering! Hahahaaha," Shanson commented with a hearty laughter.

Ignoring the passengers, the giant amphibian dived into the sand turning its cabin as dark as night. The only comforting light was the exit/ entrance sign inscribed onto the uvula swaying front and back over the entryway.

Just as the group thought they could not see the light of day, a blinding ray pierced through the window. The gang squinted their eyes, hoping to make sense of where they were but the light was simply too bright. Before long, the giant bus-like creature perched itself on a rock and opened its mouth.

"I think he wants everyone to leave..." said Cori.

"Do you think he will bring us back?" Sky asked.

"Anyone knows where we are?" Shanson asked, still famished.

"I can't seem to activate my skills here," said Cori as the golden sheen waned. Shadowy figures appeared from various corners and exited through the gaping mouth. Everyone except Meimei turned pale.

"Meimei, are these the creatures you are referring to?" Sky asked.

The crimson slime nodded, "Some look like them. There are others here but they told us we should get off after their stop."

Shanson no longer felt hungry as his mood switched and his ability activated fasting mode and started autophagy. "Guys, just a heads up. I will be entering the hibernation phase soon. So wake me up when we reach the restaurant alright?" Shanson informed the rest lazily.

As soon as the last shadow left the cabin, the axolotl started to swim into the skies and propelled itself into the galaxy.

"Woah, where is this?" Sky asked while Meimei marvelled at the sight.

"It's the celestial plane. We shouldn't be here, only souls and spirits ascend here," Cori answered.

This time the beast parked itself on a floating asteroid and opened its mouth for the alighting passengers. Unlike the previous dark figures that the gang saw, the creatures appeared in the form of misty bright lights of different colours and shades. 

"Woah," Sky exclaimed, deeply fascinated by the celestial beings. "What are they?" he wondered.

Before anyone could gather their thoughts, their ride took a deep dive into an active volcano, reaching the deep ocean and finally resurfacing into a crystal cave filled with rare plants and trees. It crawled its way to the front of a black castle marked with dark marble statues of incredible mystical creatures. Upon seeing the reddish-purple orb, it lazily climbed onto it, laid flat on all fours and spat out all the remaining passengers. The axolotl then slowly fossilised as if it were a mere decorative item.

"Woah," Sky exclaimed still fresh from the experience.

Meimei: "This was where I had my food. But I take any ride..."

Cori: "That's a relief I was worried we couldn't return to school."

Meimei: "Cori! You're on fire!"

"Everyone's on fire!" Sky yelled and stared at the burning angel slime deep in his slumber.

It appeared that the foursome experienced a sudden burst of flame on their body and yet no pain coursed through them. As the fire extinguished, a marbled white salamander mark was imprinted on their body.

"What is this?" Sky asked.

Meimei: "It looks like a tattoo?"

"Is it just me or does the marbling on the salamander look like '777'?" Cori wondered to himself. 

"So who's going to carry this sleepy head?" Sky asked.

Meimei blushed, raised her little paw, and said silently, "I can try."

Accustomed to Meimei's shy demeanour, no one tried to dissuade her out of fear of shaking her confidence. The slime jumped onto the sleeping Shanson and grabbed onto his halo.

"Wait, we meant to carry him, not him carry you," Cori thought.

Contrary to all expectations, Meimei began to drive Shanson like a car and his halo became a mere steering wheel. "Okay, we can go now," Meimei said beaming a satisfied smile.