Chapter 101: After The Alliance

Six months had passed since Eldoris, Syrathen, Darveim, and Valeria had formed an alliance. And in those six months, Eldoris has changed so much that sometimes Tanaka forgot how small it used to be.

Tanaka was currently in his slime form. The slime form allowed for a certain amount of flexibility and freedom that the human form just didn’t have. Besides, the slime form was much easier on his nerves. Tanaka didn’t have to suffer through the constant attempts of people to clothe him properly. Not that it never happened to the slime form. Just much less frequently. Tanaka bounced up to a wooden sign.

Gorim’s Craft Shop

Tanaka bounced into the shop. The smell of metal and scorched wood filled his lungs as he looked over the shop. Dwarves and Goblins worked side by side, a few Hobgoblins inspecting the finished products before sending them off to the Markets. Gorim set the axe down on the table. "The Dwarves have taught us a lot in the past six months. Your people have picked up the techniques even faster than expected.

Tanaka looked over the Goblins at the forge.

Eldrin had done even more than the Dwarves. The Goblins weren’t just learning the craft of Smithing, they were becoming expert craftsmen themselves. Eldrin had even learned new skills such as Master Smith, Metal Appraisal, and Forge Reinforcement, and a few of the younger Hobgoblins were even awakening similar abilities. Tanaka smiled. "That’s great news."

"It gets better," said Gorim. "The Blacksmith Quarters can now create enough weapons and armor to supply the Dominion, and not rely on outside sources."

Tanaka bounced happily. The alliance had brought more visitors with it, but it also brought another product; demand. Much demand. And not the fun kind. A loud argument could be heard from outside the shop. Tanaka and Gorim exchanged looks before exiting to investigate. "Not this again," Tanaka muttered. A Valerian merchant was arguing with a Moonhare woman, who was holding a few large boxes.

"I already paid for the shipment, so I should be able to purchase what I want," the merchant said. The Moonhare shook her head. "You were already informed that the supply has been limited." "Limited? Why?"

"Because the healing supplies are for Eldoris’ use only." The merchant scoffed.

"Those are the famed gel potions, correct?"

Tanaka tensed. He knew what this was about. The merchant cast a furtive glance around before whispering, "My customers are willing to pay twice, maybe even thrice the usual price for the product. Can you not see what this could do for us?" The Moonhare’s dark eyes narrowed. "That does not change the situation." "I could make Eldoris rich," the merchant said. Tanaka bounced between them. "Or I could make your healers unemployed." The merchant paled and looked down, but then his eyes widened.

"Lord Tanaka," he said.

Tanaka looked at the boxes the Moonhare held. The healing potion business had boomed since the alliance was formed. Tanaka’s own gel potions were expensive, but they were fast and effective enough that many Adventurers were willing to pay the price. And now, some merchants were wondering if Eldoris would be willing to sell the product in larger quantities. Tanaka had refused. Not because the money wasn’t tempting. It was. The demand for the product was so great that it was a risk that the healing system of the world would change to accomodate the potions. That was the last thing he wanted.

"I wouldn’t want to put healers out of business."

The merchant’s face fell. "But your potions are much faster," he said. "For simple wounds, yes," Tanaka said, turning toward the Moonhare. "But what about poison? Curses? Mana damage? Physical trauma that requires more than a simple potion? What about patients that need more care than a single potion can provide?" The merchant had nothing to say. The Moonhare smiled. Tanaka bounced toward her. "And these people know how to fix what the potion can’t." The Moonhare bowed slightly. "Thank you, Lord Tanaka." Tanaka almost looked pleased with himself.

He wanted the Moonhares to have their own significance, as healers they had been long before Tanaka’s gel potions had been discovered, and he would rather they not feel obsolete. A shout rang out from the road. "Someone’s hurt!" Tanaka and the others turned toward the commotion.

An Adventurer was being supported down the road by two of his friends, blood staining his armor. The Moonhare was immediately at his side. "Take him to the Healing Home," she instructed. "Lady Sylva or Lady Relia will attend to him." Tanaka bounced after them.

At the Healing Home, the wounded Adventurer was placed on a treatment bed.

Sylva was quick to arrive and examine him, her expression darkening as she looked him over. "The wound isn’t the issue," she said. The Adventurer’s mana was flaring erratically. "He was attacked by a creature with corrupted mana," Sylva explained, "A healing potion would have fixed the wound, but not this." Tanaka watched as Sylva placed her hand over the Adventurer’s chest. A soft green glow surrounded the Adventurer as the corrupted mana bled out of him, his breathing evening out.

Tanaka smiled.

"That’s exactly what I need," he said. The Moonhare was right, his own potions could save lives, but so could the Moonhares. They didn’t need to rely on each other completely, but neither needed to overshadow the other. Sylva finished her treatment. Suddenly Relia scooped him up before Sylva could, and Tanaka found himself squished against her chest.

"Relia!

"You’re cute," Relia said. "I’m trying to be serious," Tanaka replied. "I know," she said, hugging him tighter. Sylva came over and took him from her, holding him at arm’s length. "Now it’s my turn," Sylva said. Tanaka stared at the two of them. "You two are impossible," he said. Sora’s voice came from the doorway. "They’ve been doing this for six months." Tanaka turned toward him.

"Do not encourage them," Tanaka said. Sora smiled. "I don’t need to,"

Sora grinned. "I have something to show you." Tanaka stared at him for a few seconds before Sora suddenly raised his hand.

Skill Theft.

The air around Sora shimmered as his mana surrounded him. Tanaka’s eyes widened. He had seen Sora perform the skill many times in the past months, but this was different.

Sora had been practicing the skill, attempting to perfect it, but this was the first time Tanaka had seen Sora use it correctly. The mana around Sora’s body stilled. Tanaka watched as the young man’s body began to change. The slimy mass of his slime body congealed into a humanoid form, bones forming along his spine, and limbs growing from his sides. After a few seconds, Sora was no longer a slime.

A human male no older than twelve stared back at Tanaka with bright blue eyes.

Sora’s skin was pale and smooth, his features delicate, and his short, slightly unkempt dark blue hair falling over his eyes.

He wore a dark t-shirt underneath a light jacket, along with simple trousers and boots. Sora looked down at his hands, then at his arms, then his legs, and finally, his face. He smiled. "I have hands," Tanaka laughed. "You finally did it," Sora bounced around the room. "I have feet," Tanaka bounced happily. "How does it feel?" Sora suddenly stopped. "Strange," He looked back at his hands.

"But good,"

Tanaka studied him carefully. "Can you maintain the form," "Yes," "How long," "As long as I want," Tanaka stared at him, surprised. "Seriously," Sora nodded. "I practiced Human Transformation for months. It wasn’t easy, that’s not a normal skill one just gets," He clenched his fist. "But I figured it out," Tanaka smiled. "That’s amazing," Sora’s smile widened. "I’m like you now. Tanaka." Tanaka stared at him.

"You’re already becoming a problem,"

Sylva smiled. "He sounds like you." "I do not sound like that." Relia picked Tanaka up again. "You absolutely do," Tanaka squirmed. "Put me down," Sora laughed.

They left the healing home. Tanaka turned toward the road. "Sora," "What," "Come with me," Sora followed as they headed toward the Eldoris Dungeon. The entrance was busier than Tanaka remembered. It wasn’t unusual to see Adventurers from the allied nations, some returning empty handed, or injured, but Malachiel’s blessing had changed the dungeon. New floors had appeared, and with them, new monsters.

Monsters that were stronger than the ones the Adventurers had originally faced. Tanaka stopped at the entrance, feeling the mana that bled from the tunnels below.

It had changed, becoming much denser over the past six months.

Something had changed again. Sora looked toward the entrance. "You can sense it,"

Tanaka bounced once. "Yes," He closed his eyes, focusing. The Endless Abyss wasn’t as taxing as it had been, now that he had grown more accustomed to using it. He could compress the field of consumption, feeding the energy directly into his core rather than expending it all at once. His Draconic Aura wasn’t as overwhelming either; instead of flooding the surrounding area with draconic energy, he could keep it all locked inside his body, only releasing it when he needed to. The same went for Dragon Transformation, he no longer needed to fully transform in order to access his draconic power; he could reinforce individual limb or muscle groups while in slime form.

Tanaka opened his eyes. "Let’s go down a floor," Sora smiled. They entered the dungeon, the first floor familiar to Tanaka, but the second was different. Tanaka walked deeper into the tunnels, the sound of a growling beast echoing through the walls. Sora stopped, sensing it too. The creature stepped out of the shadows, revealing a beast with four legs, scaled black skin, and a glowing red core nestled beneath its chin. Tanaka’s mana flared at the strange energy rolling off the creature.

It was different, stronger than anything he had faced before. The beast lunged, but Tanaka didn’t dodge.

At the last moment, he activated Draconic Aura. The creature slowed, its instincts screaming at the draconic power in front of it. Tanaka bounced forward, opening the Endless Abyss. The creature exhaled a plume of corrupted fire, but Tanaka swallowed it whole, feeling it’s power analyzed and consumed by his own.

The beast lunged again, but Tanaka had already reinforced his front limbs, his natural slime armor hardening over his body. The claws raked across his chest, but Tanaka extended the Endless Abyss outward, forcing the creature to retreat.

The darkness of his consume field wrapped around the beast, pulling it inside.

Tanaka felt the power it had contained and digested it, his slime body congealing into new muscle groups. Then, nothing. His soul record updated.

Skill Acquired: Corrupted Flame Resistance.

Tanaka’s eyes widened as he looked at his new skill. It was a minor ability, but it would serve him well. He smiled. "Now that’s more like it," Sora turned to him. "Another skill,"

"Yeah," Tanaka could feel it settling in his core. Everything was changing, growing, even Sora had changed, and Tanaka was still growing. Tanaka looked beyond the current floor, past the mana that rolled off the next level. Much more than he had anticipated. Tanaka’s body bounced once, twice. His curiosity was getting the better of him. "Sora," Tanaka looked deeper into the darkness. "I think we found something interesting,"

A great roar echoed through the dungeon, the lights above them flickering. Sora’s expression brightened. Whatever was waiting for them at the end of the tunnel was much stronger than the creature Tanaka had just devoured. Tanaka turned toward the darkness, his Endless Abyss stirring inside him. For the first time in months, Tanaka felt true hunger.