Dragons, Cats, and Slimes oh My!

"The way to read a fairy tale is to throw yourself in."

-W. H. Auden

The sounds of the "Queen City" gave way to a feeling of home to his wayward soul, wearied by the travel of a vagabond. He was back from his yearly month-long trip and ready to see the bustling streets of Charlotte once more.

He took in the smell of hopes, dreams, and gasoline from his surroundings. The bustle of even seven twenty-two in the morning always energized him to such vivacious levels. A sly grin from working as an attorney made way into a soft smile as he took in his surroundings. Such a sight was nigh transcendent for the worn man.

The early morning haze was dissipating as if to make way for sunrise; warm colors overtaking his vision. He, unlike the trafficked sidewalks, did not move with worry and vigor. In fact, he didn't move at all. For his objective was making its way towards him. A young man and woman holding hands as they made their way through the crowd.

The young man held a boyish charm in his sandy-blonde hair and hopeful green eyes. His small beauty mark on his left cheek simply added to his youthful face. The young woman was a demure looking sort. She had long, straight black hair and black eyes to go along with skin the color of mocha. An almost quintessential Native American beauty.

The young man had finally spotted his mentor-father figure-friend within the faceless crowd. He lightly pulled the arm his fiancée was holding and guided her to his mentor-father figure-friend. She pouted cutely yet did not protest. Afterall, she did this to see that very man who meant so many things to her own fiancée.

When she did, it surprised her a great deal. A man appearing to be just reaching forty, a genuine smile of contentment barely reaching his laugh-lines. His chocolate brown eyes and slicked back cherry wood hair gave him a rugged look. A slight stubble on his face to go with the look. A business suit colored Burgundy and a belt buckle with an angel motif gave him swagger that oozed from himself.

The young man was instead seemingly quite eager to see this man as he emitted a megawatt smile. The young girl felt almost dragged towards this man by the hand holding her own. The pair reached the lone person whom greeted them with an easy smile and a small wave.

The man was the first to speak, "So David, who's the lovely lady you got there?" His voice came with a southern drawl that only enhanced his easy-going appearance.

The young man's face, if it even could, got even brighter at the acknowledgement, "This is my fiancée, Jane," a voice fitting the boy's youthful charm emerged, the woman started to look a bit sheepish as she gave a timid wave of her hand.

The conversation quickly became less formal as the man leaned in and teased the obviously still fresh couple. Easy laughter filling the better part of their own portion of the busy city sidewalk.

That happy atmosphere was infectious even to the rest of the crowd as their walks became less important than the spectacle of love. An almost family-esque scene that gave any who walked by wistful smiles; thinking of their own family.

There was an invasive sound then, deafening, nay, booming all across the city block.

Then there was a scream.

A shrill, piercing thing.

It echoed so loud across the street. A young man with tanned skin and a green bandana wrapped around his hip. A gun was shakily held in his hand, still smoking with the sickeningly sweet smell of gunpowder. The young man, maybe 14, maybe less, then began to run away with fear in its most primal form etched across his face.

Tears and snot ran down said face as he also screamed, never slowing all the while.

The victim was a man, seemingly just entering his early forties. With cherry wood hair and an angel for a belt buckle. An easy grin on his face.

A young man with sandy blonde hair collapsed on the pavement with the former man holding him tight.

A Young woman with long, straight black hair had fallen to her knees with tears as she was the one who screamed.

That is how his story ends, this Henry Blackman, but also…

… how his story starts.

So… this is how I die?

Pierced by a bullet meant for my son-buisness associate?

Calculating…

Confirmed.

Piercing Resistance skill added.

Invaded by some disembodied (female?) voice that cuts at my already dwindling sanity?

Calculating…

Confirmed.

Slashing Resistance skill added.

I just hope my associate- my son's head didn't hit the ground in all this. I, well, who wouldn't hate being pounded into concrete?

Calculating…

Confirmed.

Bludgeoning Resistance skill added.

Calculating…

Confirmed.

Piercing, Slashing, and Bludgeoning Resistance skills have combined.

This combination has created the extra skill, Greater Physical Resistance

"I j-just re-re-remembered, my cat… she w-won't get her treat to-today. Could you gi-give her some for me?" I tried to croak the words and end with a grin at him. My… my son.

Speaking of, I wonder what my cat will think? Maybe I'll be a cat in heaven...

Calculating…

Confirmed.

Desired form attained.

I… just this once… want to have love, romance, ya' know?

Calculating…

Confirmed.

Desired form has been altered for optimum results.

I… guess…

This…

is…

goodbye, huh?

This is quite the odd sensation I'm in.

My thoughts generally revolved around this very sentence. A feeling of being on a comfortable bed, wrapped in a nice… weighted blanket? But there is an undeniable pulling.

It's like… I'm… going somewhere?

Then my eyes opened.

A semi-dark cavern met them, filled with gray sediment and strange, uh, glowing crystals? How else would you describe it? Light seemed to emit from these strange growths in the cavern. Crystalline, definitely, natural however… who knows?

I might as well see where I've gone and died.

I stood up, my body seemed to be sluggish and almost unresponsive, but I got it moving. Once I was up and walking, in an honestly random direction, I seemed to be in almost better condition than I ever remember.

Almost like I had this youthful energy.

While I like this a lot, I don't think a forty one year-old attorney could jog this long. No matter how in shape I was. And now that I think about it, I never worked out much anyway.

Weird, and, well, unsettling are the words that best describe this.

After, and I truly believe this, hours of jogging. Never slowing down, never getting out of breath, nothing. It's almost easy. I had idly thought about halfway in, but at the end, I found something truly extraordinary.

An honest to goodness motherfucking dragon!

It was huge! Many times the size of me and much, much bigger than most houses. It had thick black scales and a white scaled underbelly.

It seemed I was the only one there when-

"Ooof!" something soft crashed into me, it didn't hurt but it pushed me away pretty easily.

I looked back to what hit me and saw-

A slime? Like, weakest monster ever, cutest thing since slime rancher's original release, just crashed into me?

I'm definitely going crazy. But did that slime start staring at me?

I started to investigate this blue blob and found that somehow, someway, this slime was staring at me. How else did its form shift to look at me as I moved to search it?

Then, the dragon in the room got a little, ah, cranky, I suppose.

Grrroooaaahhhhh!

I have no shame as I admit I don't know how I didn't pee my pants-what was I wearing anyways? I looked down only for a second to find an extravagant silk kimono. Nice. But also, dragon.

I, Mitogami Satsuki, was a slime.

It made no sense, even after three weeks of adjusting to my situation. I still can't believe this happened, I was just a middle-aged woman in a good job. A human woman.

I shook my globulous body free of such thoughts as I proceeded to aimlessly bounce along.

Great Sage, remind me, what do those herbs I found do? In response, a monotonal (female?) voice echoed in my mind.

Answer.

Hipokute herbs hold vast medicinal properties. They can only be found in magicule rich environments.

Yeah, I think if I got out of this cave I might be set for life.

Those herbs are super abundant in the cavern and my slime body has been able to consume them and store them. All due to a special ability, or well, skill in this case.

The unique skill; Predator. It allows my slime self to eat and absorb almost anything and retain its properties!

Well, back to my bouncing adventure.

As I bounced along, unable to truly see (which sucks by the way!), I accidentally jumped down a hole. And hit something…

…soft? No, soft on the outside like, uhmm, clothing of some sort. And a hard inside, kinda like a rock.

"Uhn," The thing I hit just grunted! I didn't imagine it, right? No, surely the grunt came from the victim of my assault.

I can't really see, since I am a slime, and… yeah. So I tried to follow the blurry thing's movement before a huge roar shook the cavern.

Grrroooaaahhhhh!

That doesn't sound good. Was truly the only thing I could think.

Then the thing I hit spoke! "Hello, uh, mister uhm, dragon sir," the voice it had was obviously male, a sort of soothing baritone.

Wait, did he say dragon?

My mind started racing but the thing he spoke to spoke back, "I haven't had any visitors in quite some time," an extremely deep and gravelly voice filled my, huh, do I even have ears?

The voice continued with audible amusement lining it, "And to think the visitors would be a nekomata and a slime," there was a small pause before it kept going, "I am Veldora the Storm Dragon! I have been sealed for almost two centuries at this point. So any visitor is a good one. And to answer your question slime, no, you do not have ears,"

Well that was a lot to digest- did he just say, "To answer your question"?

"Yes, I can understand your thoughts via thought transfer. It is a rather basic skill," Veldora responded with what I believe to be smugness.

Cheeky for someone sealed for two centuries aren't you?

"That- hurk!" A noise like stone shifting appeared, "what a low blow…" Veldora, pouted? "Uhm, are you two talking to yourselves or something? If so, I feel a little depressed knowing a slime could do it, but not me, a… uhh, nekomata?" The presumed nekomata sounded confident albeit annoyed until he trailed off at the end.

I want to know that too actually.

"Very well," Veldora started, "I have a proposal for the two of you, a deal of sorts," He had a devious undertone as he said this, "I shall teach both of you to converse and sense in the universal way, but, you must simply agree to not show fear of me,"

I could sense my new acquaintance's tenseness coinciding with my own. What if we were unable to do so?

I doubt it would be easy to live if I didn't have these skills…

Deal! "Deal!" We thought/said at the same time.

A small humming came from Veldora as he said, "Very well, stay still and focus on yourself, feel the thrumming of power and inject it into your surroundings!" He commanded with force and I did so instantly.

Just focus…

…

… I think…

…I got it!

The world around me filled with color, and the blurry shapes manifested themselves with great detail. The crystals were glowing with kaleidoscopic light, the walls were a matte grey, the nekomata was a hot cat boy- wait I mean! Uhhh, a, handsome individual with semi-long black hair and blue eyes. A slight look of a snout didn't detract from him; it was odd though.

He had two fluffy ears on top of his head and one long, slender tail lazily swinging behind him. A rather extravagant red and black kimono with gold accents hung off his body.

Confirmed.

Extra skill created; Magic Sense.

Allows the sensing and using of Magicules.

Extra skill? Great Sage, can you explain what that is?

Answer.

Extra skills are skills of high efficacy, increasing the power from their baser versions.

As I turned to Veldora, he was massive. Easily bigger than most houses and riddled with tough looking black and white scales.

There was something else though, it was- "Is there a reason you have a personal bubble?" The nekomata spoke before I could, because yes, there was a bubble of magicules surrounding Veldora.

Veldora sighed and untensed his body as he spoke, "That is what has sealed me here for so long. A result of the unique ultimate skill; Unlimited Imprisonment," His voice was morose and yet accepting in a way. Understanding this was his fate.

But, I thought of one way I might be able to make him feel better! It was a true stroke of genius if I do say so myself, now how do I say it? Got any ideas Great Sage?

Answer.

You can use Magic Sense to project your thoughts by utilizing your magicules.

Reason.

Magicules are present in any and all life, allowing any monster to communicate with the rest of the world if used correctly.

Okay, now I just have to think about it and it should come out right? E-hm, "HOW ABOUT WE BECOME YOUR FRIENDS!" I said with glee. Proud that I thought of such a master plan.

"Are you trying to kill me you damn slime! Stop yelling!" The nekomata groaned from his now prone position on the floor. Oh, uh, uhmm, oops?

"Sorry," I tried to project with less forceful intent in my magicules this time. "But I mean it! I know I'd be willing to be your friend Veldora, even if the nekomata doesn't want to,"

Veldora had a look of awe before he regained his composure, "M-me! Veldora the Storm Dragon, friends with a slime, even if it is a unique one…" he sounded offended and I was about to assure him it was okay before, "I suppose it doesn't sound so bad, I would even accept the nekomata as one," he got quiet and continued shyly, "If he wished of course, I wouldn't force him or anything…"

Is Veldora a tsundere!?

The nekomata then chose to speak, "I personally don't see any harm in being friends, even if I don't know how I'm here in the first place," His face became almost sad, "I was just a normal human last time I checked so I don't know much about being a, uhm, nekomata? Yeah, that was it," he began talking more to himself at the end, but his story rang in my mind for a bit.

Could it be… "Hey, would you happen to know what Japan was?" I spoke timidly towards the feline man. A hopeful tone invading my voice.

The nekomata looked at me with wide eyes and dove for me. Gripping me tightly in a hug as he quietly sobbed. I could hear various things through his tears: "Thank God I'm not alone,", "Thank you,", and much more. He slowly regained his composure as the crying stopped.

He released me and gazed up at Veldora, then looked down at me. Then, he told us his story.

I told them what happened to me and both seemed to look at me with pity. The slime was the first to speak, "So, you're just like me huh?" Her voice was high pitched yet had a certain maturity to it. The slime then told her own story.

She told of her junior at work inviting her out for lunch. Her junior also bringing her boyfriend with them. She spoke of her junior being rushed by a manic man with a knife and her instinctual protection of her junior.

Apparently the slime's name was, uhh, how do the Japanese introduce themselves again? Ah! Yes, Mitogami Satsuki. Her surname was Mitogami so it was a little difficult to understand for a bit.

Veldora explained when I asked how I was able to understand her Japanese that monsters don't actually have a language and any monster could understand each other. That's a bonus at least.

She apparently had been here about three weeks while I had been here about five hours. I have a lot of respect for someone that didn't go insane after all that.

Veldora, after being a very good sounding board, gave his own input, "I see, so that is why the two of you are unique… well I suppose I shall also tell my story. But, only after I give the two of you a gift! Yes, a gift is necessary for two friends of the Storm Dragon Veldora! I shall give you names," He spoke with such conviction I almost didn't catch what he said the gift would be.

"Why would we need names? Don't we already have them?" Satsuki said with very audible bewilderment.

Veldora merely gave a fanged grin in response, "But you don't have names as monsters, which makes you nameless monsters. Just two in a sea of nameless souls. A name granted to a monster is not only a sacred thing, but it permanently bonds the namer and the named via the soul,"

He then looked at us with a gleeful expression on his snout, "So what do you say?"

I could almost see him wriggling his nonexistent eyebrows as he said that.

"Sounds good to me, what about you Henry?" Satsuki politely asked, she probably already knew my response, "Well, what is a friendship without a little trust, yeah?" I breathed in a bit, steeling myself, "Let's do it,"

Veldora then guffawed before, "Very well, I shall name the two of you-"

"Wait!," The female slime interrupted, "What if we gave you a last name?" She said her proposal and he seemed to contemplate it before he simply laughed more.

"In all my years! In all of them! None have been so presumptuous! Yes, Yes! I shall accept the last name you deem me worthy of!" He was positively glowing with joy whilst he said those words.

Satsuki seemed also rather proud of her idea and lightly bounced over to me, "So, I had the idea to give him a surname, you got any idea on what it would be?" Now she shows her lack of planning, great. My face felt like it contorted instantly with a deadpan stare.

"Something about storms I guess? Like a tumult?" I however didn't want her to flounder so I gave my input. Her blob of a body jiggled in contemplation and she said, "What about tempest?"

That actually sounds pretty damn good. Veldora Tempest has a nice ring to it.

"Sounds good to me Satsuki," I gave her the go ahead and she turned herself towards Veldora, whom was patiently waiting, "We decided to give you the last name, Tempest!" She sounded rather hesitant but produced some faux confidence.

Veldora then screamed with what sounded like rage, "Tempest! You wish to name me, Veldora the Storm Dragon, one of only four true dragons to exist, Veldora Tempest!?" I could tell she was just as terrified as I was in that moment. That's when I think I truly realized that we were talking to an incredibly powerful monster.

Veldora then continued through my burgeoning fear, "I! love! It!" His words echoed all around us and silence pervaded in the cavern.

"Don't scare me like that! I thought you hated that name!" My voice was mirroring the livid feeling I had. You scared me half-to-death you overgrown lizard!

Then Veldora had the gall to look sheepish, "I just wanted to let you know how much I loved it…" Was he- he was! Why are you acting like an embarrassed schoolgirl! You're a millennia old dragon! He was lightly pressing two claws together as he shifted from left to right. You could almost feel his embarrassment.

He proceeded to clear his throat as he stated, "Now, I, Veldora Tempest will name the two of you! Slime, you are now Rimuru Tempest!" A strange yellow glow appeared around the newly named Rimuru. Now he's looking at me, "And you shall be Genjiro Tempest!" As he stated my name I felt strange as a glow of my own overtook me.

My name is Rimuru, huh?

That name made me feel funny as I believe I was now connected to it. Almost intrinsically.

Answer.

A name gives monsters an increase in power but also it binds the recipient and the namer through their souls. Your soul now reads as Rimuru Tempest's soul.

Thanks Great Sage. That clears a lot up for me. I then turned to Genjiro and- Oh no he's hot!

Almost all traces of being an animal are gone as he now has golden eyes with natural red eyeshadow. His hair seems to be longer and his lightly tanned face more rougeish in its looks. He still has his black fluffy ears, but he has two tails now. I wonder why?

Answer.

Huh?

By being gifted the name Genjiro Tempest by the powerful Veldora Tempest, he has evolved into a nekoshou. Nekoshou are very rare and powerful evolutions of nekomata, only five are said to exist at any one time.

Well, thanks Great Sage, for the uh, info.

The Veldora harrumphed as he began again, "Now that you, my new friends, have names, I shall begin speaking of my own story, the one of how I was sealed in my prison,"

He spoke of his "mild" rampage on a small village. He spoke of the destruction he wished he didn't cause and of a hero. A human with extraordinary powers. He spoke of this hero with awe, as she could actually fight him when he used his full power. He praised the hero for her bravery and tenacity. He cursed the hero for her unique skills, Unlimited Severance, and Unlimited Imprisonment.

And that brought us to the now as we questioned how she was so powerful. His response was as unexpected as it was welcomed, "I believe she was a summon. A human from another world brought by the force of thirty mages and granted with awe-inspiring powers. There are those that are sent here not via the summoning method but they are rather rare."

He paused, likely considering his words, then continued, "The two of you are an extremely unique case, neither human nor summoned. Instead reincarnated in some way," He snorted and scoffed, "Almost as if it were fate that brought you here,"

Fate, huh? I don't know how much stock I put into fate. I suppose I just never really considered such a mystical, guiding force real. I doubt there is any chance we could go back to our world. And if there was, what would be waiting? I'm probably already cremated and Henry- no, Genjiro, said his family promised there would be a cremation effort.

At this point I believe I had already subconsciously accepted my lot in life. As a slime in another world. What an adventure this has already been, huh?

"Well," Genjiro started, "Is there any way we could get you out of this… Unlimited Imprisonment?" Genjiro questioned with sincere desire to help. I guess in the time we've talked and bonded we were already quite close, as I felt the same.

Great Sage, can you break through it? Or can you think of anything we could do?

Calculating…

Confirmed.

Answer.

You can use the unique skill; Predator, and analyze the seal from the outside. While inside Veldora Tempest can analyze it as well. The process will be quite long. Do you wish to confirm the use of the unique skill Predator?

Hold on, I need to ask his permission first, Great Sage.

I made a noise like I was clearing my throat, "Veldora?" He looked at me and responded, "Yes Rimuru?" I let there be a pause before, "How would you like to be in my stomach?"

Veldora blinked.

Genjiro blinked.

I continued, "I have the unique skill; Predator. I can consume you and the seal and my other unique skill, Great Sage, will be able to analyze the seal from the outside as you do so from the inside. What do you say?" My voice was hopeful as I stared up at Veldora.

Genjiro got out of his trance and hummed lightly, "That might be the best option we have, I mean, is it any worse than eventually dying in the Unlimited Imprisonment anyway?" His conclusion eased my worries that my idea would be shot down.

We both turned to Veldora.

Who was crying, I mean absolutely bawling.

"Rimuru, Genjiro!" He held his fist to the air and kept going, "You two are the greatest friends I could've asked for! Yes, I accept this proposal Rimuru! I am in your care friend,"

If I could, I would've smiled. I bounced along towards the bubble of magicules surrounding Veldora. Great Sage, confirm the use of Predator.

Predator confirmed.

Commencing predation of Veldora Tempest.

I saw Rimuru's body expand and cover the bubble surrounding Veldora.

And then shrink until only Rimuru was left as a lone slime where he once stood.

"So, was he tasty?" I joked as I attempted to break the ice a bit.

"Hurk-! You-! Gahh!" Her embarrassed shrieks were music to my mischievous ears as I performed my first belly laugh in this world. It feels good to laugh again.

"Well come on, we have quite the adventure ahead of us!" I smiled with glee as I felt a weight upon me had been released. Knowing I wasn't alone, knowing I had a friend in this unknown world. It was great.

I turned around and headed in a random direction not even waiting for her to compose herself once more. I heard her slime body bounce my way and we proceeded to travel at a decent pace down the cavern.

About 2 hours of small talk later and exploration later, we saw a small lake in front of us, impeding our journey. I sigh and said, "Hey, can you store things in yourself?" Her form shifted to me and gave a nod.

I released a breath that I didn't know I was holding, "Good, cause you're gonna' need to keep my kimono in there," I then swiftly disrobed myself and dove into the water. Proceeding to swim to the other side easily. I left only my head above water as I leaned on the other side of the lake's shore. I waved over to Rimuru, "Hey come on, I wanna get out and get clothed again some time today Rimuru!"

It seemed my shout got her out of some strange sort of daze as she gently plopped into the water. Only to speed like a jet across it. getting to where I waited in almost no time!

Damn, that was fast!

She hopped out of the water and, would you call it spitting out my kimono? As her body quickly turned away from me.

I wonder why she seems so skeeved out?

That idiot! Doesn't he know I'm a perfectly healthy young lady?

My thoughts were scrambled as I thought of what I saw. A chiseled body with little, if any, fat. Long, straight, flowing black hair. A confident smirk...

At least I didn't see his-his… thing! But he has the body of an adonis, seriously!

After he put his kimono back on he called to me, "Well, that's one problem down, let's get going shall we?" An easy going grin on his face as he walked past me.

We did indeed get going and, according to Great Sage, it had been: 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds; until we came across another problem.

A giant snake was in front of us, in fact it seemed almost as big as Veldora! With black scales and a huge fanged maw. But, we had to get through this somehow, "Hey Rimuru," Genjiro spoke, oddly calm, "Let me handle this guy," He flashed me a cockshire grin and gazed back at the snake.

The sound of metal rang in the cavernous room, a katana I didn't know he held emerged from his kimono. I guess I was too flustered at him to notice. He blitzed forward, it was hard to see him as he slashed at the snake with one precise slice.

The snake's body went limp as its head was separated from its body. Genjiro turned to me and looked honestly disappointed. Like he expected something more. "That was it huh? I wonder why it was just so… easy," He seemed like he talked to himself more than anything right then.

I want to know that too, Great Sage? Got anything for me?

Answer.

Genjiro Tempest has multiple factors that make him much stronger than the Black Snake. He has the unique extra skill, Perfect Body, as well as the traits of being an evolved form of a superior monster.

Perfect Body allows Genjiro to innately understand various skills as if he has already perfected them. One such thing is swordplay.

So that's why. Thanks Great Sage! You're a great help as always.

I then remembered that I have a skill perfect for right now. If I remember correctly, I can predate the corpse and- my body expanded and engulfed the corpse of the black snake and absorbed it- I can gain its abilities!

Analyzing…

Confirmed.

Absorption of black snake is complete.

Gained skills: Poison Breath and Mimic; Black Snake.

I can become a black snake now?

Answer.

Affirmative.

Sweet! I looked back at Genjiro who was looking at me for something… oh! He wanted to know what I was doing! "My Predator skill can absorb the things I use it on and gain their abilities and skills, in case you were wondering," Pride filled my voice as I explained my awesome ability to him.

He then said, "Uhm, can I still have that for food though?" And my pride was stripped in an instant. I didn't even think about him needing to eat! I felt like apologizing before-

Answer.

Yes, you can produce the edible meat within the Black Snake for your companion to eat.

You're a lifesaver Great Sage.

"Yeah, do you want it now or later?" I responded trying to keep my relief hidden.

"Now is probably as good a time as any," He shrugged and sat down, waiting for me to give him the morsels.

My body produced a slab of meat from the black snake after I bounced to Genjiro. He picked it up and seemed to almost drool before he started eating it. He gave groans of appreciation from his food and his two tails wagged to and fro. After he was done he rubbed the juice off his face and stood up, stretching his body as he did so.

"Thanks for the food Ri," His smile was wide and grateful, wait, Ri? "Uh, I mean, I didn't mean to shorten your name I just thought it was a good nickname, heh heh," His sheepish laughter at the end only accentuated how uncomfortable he must've felt, but, "You can call me Ri," He looked relieved, "But!" The tension in his shoulders was back, "I can call you Genji! Got it mister!?" My faux anger turned into a soft laughter.

"No problem Ri, you can call me whatever you like," He smiled lightly then continued our journey, walking into the direction we were previously heading.

I giggled and lightly bounced after him and our meaningless small talk resumed once more.

It took one month, by Ri's skill's estimate, in order to find the doors leading outside of the cave.

During that long month we encountered various monsters that we took turns taking down. Although with each one she would predate them and I would get a nice snack. Pretty convenient that raw food is no problem for me in this monstrous body of mine.

One was a huge spider, the next was some kind of armoured lizard, and then a very big bat. Each one only took one hit from either of us. None of the monsters really gave any sort of challenge.

The doors we found were engraved with faded depictions of some sort of battle and seemed extremely old. Maybe two centuries in fact... But then my ears picked up on movement just outside of the door, it was faint, almost nonexistent, but there it was.

I swiftly picked up Ri and launched myself behind a rock by the left side of the cavern. She was making noises of surprise until I shushed her softly, pointing to my ears. I hope she understands what I mean.

Then, as she finally became quiet, the doors opened. A trio of humans stood at the precipice. One, a probably middle aged man with a red bandana and light armor. Another, a likely slightly younger man with somewhat heavier armor and a sword sheathed on his side. The third and final human was standing between the two men, a young girl with blond hair and green eyes. A wooden staff held in her hands.

They began talking to one another, but I didn't care to listen. I focused on my breathing. Attempting to completely become silent. It seemed it worked as they walked by, the oldest said something and their forms vanished from sight; even with me still being able to hear them.

I still held Ri as I walked out from behind the rock towards the great double doors, now open because of the humans, "Were about to leave Ri, you ready for this?" I looked down to the slime in my arms. She bounced out of my arms and looked towards me, "Ready as I'll ever be Genji,"

She said that, but she's obviously excited. Can't blame her though, so am I.

Then, we officially began our adventure.

One I hope will be carved into time as one for the ages.