Chapter 5

Damien rolled himself through the dense forest, his translucent gooey form shimmering as he moved. The realization that he was in a novel—the novel he had read not long before his death—kept nagging at him. "This can't be real. How am I supposed to accept this? Am I supposed to meet the protagonist? Help them? Get in their way?"

He halted, thinking back to the plot of the story. The protagonist, a human who had reincarnated as a powerful being, had gone on to unite monsters, defeat enemies, and eventually face the antagonist.

"But I'm a slime. I'm nothing," Damien grumbled to himself, his slimy body bubbling slightly in frustration. "The plot's already set. The hero's already supposed to rise to greatness. What's my role in all of this?"

The system's voice suddenly filled his mind, calm and neutral. "Host, your existence in this world is not bound to the role of the protagonist or antagonist. You may chart your own course."

Damien gave a squishy sigh. "Great, more vague advice. But hey, at least I'm not stuck with a script to follow, right?"

As he pondered his situation, something clicked. He had been devouring creatures, gaining XP, and evolving. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that perhaps he didn't have to follow the same path as the original slime in the novel. He could go beyond that.

"Alright, let's think this through. If I'm going to be a slime in this story, I better make sure I'm not just some weak background character. I need to evolve, sure, but I need to stand out," Damien muttered to himself. "If I'm going to be in the novel, I might as well make sure I'm not just a footnote. Who says the protagonist has to have all the fun?"

"Host, you are free to make your own choices. The only limit is your imagination and the strength of your will," the system replied. "Your evolution is tied to your actions, not your fate."

Damien's slime body wobbled as he thought over the system's words. He had the power to evolve and gain new skills through devouring, but he also realized that he had something even more important—freedom.

"Freedom, huh?" Damien mused. "Maybe I'll start by exploring. I've been eating creatures left and right, but I haven't really looked at what this world has to offer."

With that thought, he set off, rolling through the forest in search of something more interesting than the usual bugs and small animals. His slime form slowly glided over the ground, and he kept his eyes open for any signs of life—anything that might give him the edge he needed to evolve faster.

As he wandered deeper into the forest, he stumbled upon a clearing where a large creature was resting. It was unlike anything he had seen before—a massive, four-legged lizard-like creature with shimmering scales and glowing eyes.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Damien thought, excitement bubbling up inside him. "I need something big to devour, something with real power."

He paused for a moment, thinking through the possible consequences. This creature was no mere rabbit or bug—it could be dangerous. But, then again, he had evolved quickly so far, and his slime body had grown stronger with each devouring.

"Let's give it a shot," Damien decided. "What's the worst that could happen? I get eaten? I'm already a slime. How much worse can it get?"

Without another thought, he sped up, carefully slithering toward the creature. He waited for the right moment—when the creature was distracted by its own meal—and then he lunged, enveloping the creature's leg in one swift motion.

The creature let out a roar, trying to shake Damien off, but it was too late. The slime body gripped tightly as Damien absorbed its essence. A feeling of power surged through him. His form grew slightly larger, and the air around him felt charged.

"That... was easier than I expected," Damien said with a satisfied hum, or at least what would pass for a hum in slime form. "I guess I'm getting the hang of this whole devouring thing."

"Devouring successful. You have gained 50 XP. Evolution possible."

Damien took a moment to let the information sink in. "50 XP? Nice. I'm definitely on the right track."

But then, something unexpected happened. As he absorbed more of the creature's essence, something else entered his mind—a memory, a flicker of a scene from the novel he had read.

"Wait... hold on... I remember this!" Damien froze. "This lizard-like creature... It was one of the monsters the protagonist fought in the novel! If this thing's here, then that means..."

Damien paused, his mind racing. He hadn't expected to remember specific details about the plot just yet, but this was more than just a passing thought. He knew this creature was important in the novel, a significant battle that the protagonist had won to gain prestige and recognition.

"Oh crap... I'm really in this world now," Damien thought, a nervous feeling creeping up his slime body. "And if the monsters from the novel are showing up... does that mean the protagonist is coming too? How am I supposed to deal with that?"

The idea of encountering the protagonist made him uneasy, but then Damien shook his slime body in determination. "Alright, alright. Calm down, Damien. I'm not some minor side character. I can do this. I'll make my own destiny, even if I have to go up against the protagonist."

The system's voice echoed in his mind. "You are free to make your own path, Host. But be warned—your actions may attract the attention of those who would seek to control your destiny."

"Yeah, no kidding," Damien replied dryly. "I'm already deep in it. Let's see how things go. At least I'm stronger now."

With his new power and a clearer sense of purpose, Damien continued onward through the forest, ready to face whatever came next.

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