Poison slime

Michael cast a 2-star spell called [Dark Vision], which allowed him to see even in absolute darkness.

Not that he needed it—he could already see the creature lurking in the distance, creeping towards him in an attempt to make a surprise attack.

Unfortunately for the monster, its efforts were futile. Michael could see its mana particles as clear as daylight.

Before Michael could even do anything, the creature suddenly shot out a ball of violet acid straight towards his body.

The attack never stood a chance. As soon as it made contact with his Absolute Unity Defense, it dissipated into nothingness.

Realizing that its attack was rendered useless, the creature finally jumped out of the darkness and threatened to smother Michael with its body.

But just like before, the invisible protective bubble surrounding Michael deflected the creature away, sending it crashing into the wall.

After a moment, the creature regained its shape and continued its assault on Michael. It didn't stop even though its attacks couldn't penetrate his defenses.

This gave Michael enough time to observe the creature's true appearance.

It looked just like the sketch, with its two blob-like hands and a lower body that resembled a snail's feet.

Its entire body was made out of a strange violet liquid that seemed to constantly ooze toxic fumes.

ChatJK2, can you analyze what kind of creature I'm facing?

[According to the Magic Library's bestiary, this creature is most likely a Mutated Poison Slime.]

[Mutated Poison Slime]

— Species: Slime

— Difficulty: ★★★

— Element: Poison

A difficulty of a three-star means that only a three-star mage can handle them. Good thing I'm a 4-star mage, Michael thought to himself.

Since his Superior Golden Nose told him that the slime had a good potential for awakening, Michael didn't want to have a hostile relationship with the creature.

If possible, he thought that it would be ideal if he could talk to the slime.

So, raising his hands, he approached the creature, trying to show that he had no intention of hurting it.

"I just want to talk," Michael said out loud, his voice calm.

Even though he knew that the creature couldn't understand his words, he held onto the hope that the slime was smart enough to know his intentions just from the tone of his voice.

GURGLE! GURGLE!

[Would you like me to translate?] ChatJK2 suggested.

You can do that?!

[A slime's physical body and consciousness are made entirely out of mana. This means that with the Supreme Skill: Mana Gathering, it is possible to discern what the slime is thinking from the vibrations in the poison mana in its body.]

This was exactly what Michael wanted. If the creature was smart enough to have its own consciousness, then it could be reasoned with.

Translate its words, please.

As the slime mumbled unintelligible noises, Michael suddenly heard another voice overlaying its sounds.

[Humans… kill… me no want… to get hurt again…] the slime said.

Michael felt pity for the creature. It didn't seem like a dangerous monster at all, unlike what the people had reported about it.

ChatJK2, can you translate my words into something the slime can understand?

[Understood. I will vibrate the poison mana in your body…]

Michael felt the poison mana in his core move up to his throat, right next to his voice box. And as his throat moved to talk, the poison mana shot out of his mouth like a visible sound wave.

"I mean you no harm," Michael said to the slime.

Upon understanding his voice, the creature jumped in shock.

[Sorcery… humans… strange… dangerous!]

The slime couldn't understand how the human was speaking its language. And this fear led it to act irrationally as it attacked Michael with a lot more intensity despite his pleas for peace.

The slime submerged itself into the water in the tunnel, absorbing all the contaminated river water in its body.

Then, its mouth morphed into a cannon-like shape, forming a long barrel that was aimed straight at Michael.

Then, a massive jet of tainted water erupted from the slime cannon, threatening to drown him in a flood of dirty water full of viruses and bacteria.

But as expected, the large stream of water splashed away from Michael as it made contact with his defensive bubble.

[Human…strong!] it uttered in complete terror.

"I don't want to hurt you," Michael said as he slowly stepped towards the slime.

But he didn't notice that his approach seemed to have resulted in the opposite effect. 

From the slime's perspective, Michael was walking towards itself with such casualness that he ignored the slime's greatest attacks as if they were nothing.

Even some humans and mages had to dodge away from this water blast. 

But not Michael.

[No… stay away… me no wanna die!] the slime screamed as Michael cornered it in the depths of the cavern.

When the slime thought death was coming, it didn't hesitate to unleash its most lethal attack.

Its slimy body started to glow with a deep violet hue as it funneled every last drop of the precious poison mana in its body for this final strike.

Slowly, thin, tiny needles made entirely out of poison mana appeared in the air, numbering only in the high single-digit number.

But as the slime continued to use up all the poison mana in its body, more and more needles appeared in the air, almost covering the entire cavern with poison needles.

The slime's body, which had been as big as a washing machine, had now shrunk to a mere basketball after sacrificing the poison mana in its body to fuel the overwhelming attack.

[Human… no move… or me kill…]

Despite the slime's warning, Michael still took a step forward.

As soon as his feet landed on the ground, the slime gave the order. Thousands of poison needles shot toward Michael, aiming to pierce and poison him in an instant.

Had it been for any other human, their body would have been skewered with ease and poisoned at the same time.

But Michael was no ordinary human.

Raising his hand, he motioned for the needles to stop.

And to the slime's horror, the needles stopped—just a few inches away from the protective bubble surrounding him.

The needles started to tremble, and the slime felt something unnatural happen. Its control over the poison needles… was slipping.

No… it was being taken away!

Michael spun a single finger in the air, and the poison needles followed, turning mid-air to aim directly at the slime instead.

This was the true power of his Supreme Skill: Mana Gathering! 

It allowed him to take control of all mana, whether it belonged to him or not.