Chapter 55: Cosume~and adapt!
Defense. Speed. Power.
Everything.
The red figure’s laughter stopped.
"What... what is that light?"
Inside Pie.
The shadow creature kept attacking.
Tearing. Slashing. Destroying.
But something changed.
The tissue around it.
Hardening.
Getting tougher.
The blade cut through.
But slower.
Much slower.
Bleeding barely started before stopping.
Wounds closing almost instantly.
And the space—
It kept expanding.
Bigger. Bigger.
So much bigger.
The shadow spun around.
Tried to reach the edges.
Couldn’t.
Too far.
Too vast.
Then it felt something else.
Warmth.
No—heat.
The walls were moving.
Contracting.
Digestive fluids.
Enzymes.
Breaking it down.
Consuming it.
The shadow creature thrashed.
"MASTER!"
The red figure’s fingers twitched.
"Full power."
Voice still calm.
"Destroy everything."
The shadow obeyed.
Went berserk.
Blade multiplying.
Dozens. Hundreds.
Spinning. Cutting. Ramming.
Full assault.
Alex shouted.
"Pie! Digest faster!"
Poured more energy through the link.
Spiritual power flooding into Pie.
The slime’s eyes widened.
Body glowing brighter.
"GULUGULU!"
Strained. Focused.
Digestive power increased.
The fluids thickened.
Moved faster.
Consumed more.
The red figure paused.
Hand raised.
Then lowered.
"...Interesting."
But his eyes narrowed.
Just a fraction.
The connection.
His link to the shadow.
Weakening.
Fading.
Being... digested.
His contract beast.
Actually being consumed.
He looked at Pie.
Still standing. Still strong.
Aura weakened, yes.
But alive.
Vibrant.
Fighting.
The red figure’s jaw tightened.
"Enough."
He raised his hand.
Started pulling the shadow back.
Alex sneered.
"Pie! Hold it!"
The slime’s body clenched.
Muscles contracting.
Refusing to let go.
Pulling inward.
Trying to keep the shadow inside.
"I SAID!"
Alex’s voice louder.
"This isn’t YOUR house!"
"You dead gay!"
Tug of war.
The shadow stretched.
Half inside Pie.
Half being pulled out.
Screaming.
Dissolving at the edges.
The red figure’s eyes flashed.
Then his hand glowed.
Crimson light.
Pure power.
PULL!
The shadow ripped free.
Barely.
Aura weak. Flickering.
Nearly destroyed.
It reformed beside the red figure.
Barely holding shape.
Smoke leaking everywhere.
The red figure looked at Alex.
Then at Pie.
His expression unchanged.
But his fingers curled slightly.
"I am God."
"Gods are not defeated by stubborn mortals."
Pause.
"This changes nothing."
He turned
Red robes flowing.
"Next time you break through..."
"I will unlock more power."
"The growth from one rank to another in X-tier..."
His eyes burned brighter.
Just for a moment.
"Is beyond your comprehension."
He started fading.
Dissolving into the void.
"Wait for me, boy."
A whisper.
"We will meet again."
The shadow creature dissolved first.
Then the red figure.
Slowly.
But his eyes remained.
Locked on Alex.
Burning.
Until the very end.
"Remember this feeling."
"Next time..."
"You won’t be so fortunate."
Then gone.
Completely.
The void returned to normal.
Silent.
Empty.
Just Alex and Pie.
Pie’s body shuddered. Started shrinking. Fast.
The massive form collapsed inward. Smaller. Smaller. Back to normal size.
1.2 meters. Round. Soft. Yellow and bouncy.
"Gulu! Gulugulu!"
Pie bounced toward Alex. Excited. Eyes sparkling.
Rubbed against Alex’s Belly. Warm. Vibrating.
Alex laughed. Crouched down. Patted Pie’s head.
"Good job, buddy."
His hand rested on the soft surface. Still warm from battle.
"We fucking crushed him."
Alex grinned wider.
"X-tier contract beast." "And we’re F-tier—"
He paused.
"Wait, E-tier now."
Right. The evolution.
He pulled up Pie’s status screen.
[Contract Beast: Pie] (All attirutes+??%)]
But that is, nothing else changed.
Alex scanned the numbers.
"Huh."
"Makes sense."
He shrugged.
"F to E ain’t gonna give us superpowers."
But then something caught his eye.
A faint glow. Inside Pie’s body.
Energy. Residual. Swirling.
Purple-black wisps. Leftover from the shadow.
Alex frowned. Reached out mentally.
The energy responded. Some of it flows through the bond. Into Alex’s body.
Warm. Strange. Almost alive.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Divinity Acquired: 0.1%]
[Usage: Unknown]
Alex’s eyes lit up.
"Holy shit."
He stared at the text.
"Divinity?"
He looked at Pie. Still glowing faintly.
"You digested that X-tier bastard..." "And we got god juice?"
Pie tilted. Blinked.
"Gulu?"
Alex grinned.
"Dude, I don’t know what it does yet." "But it’s called DIVINITY."
"That’s gotta be good, right?"
He stood up. Paced a few steps.
Mind racing.
"Wait."
He stopped.
"I thought there were no gods in this world."
He searched his memory.
Nothing. No government records. No official statements. Just myths. Legends. Random forum posts from conspiracy nuts.
Alex’s frown deepened.
"That red guy..." "He called himself God."
Looked at the notification again.
[Divinity: 0.1%]
"So gods ARE real?" "Just... hidden?"
He scratched his head.
"Why would the government hide that?" "What’s the point?"
Thought for a minute. Two minutes.
Nothing made sense.
"Fuck it."
Alex shoved his phone back in his pocket.
"I’m seventeen." "I should be eating, sleeping, and flirting with hot aunties."
He looked at Pie.
"Not worrying about god conspiracies."
Pie bounced.
"Gulu!"
Alex smiled. Patted him again.
"Right?" "Let’s just enjoy the free god juice."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Mission 3: Complete!]
[You made a GOD eat shit!][Fucking legendary!]
[Rewards:][Beast Space Recovery Speed +200%][Contract Beast: HP Regen +2%/sec]
[Title Acquired: God? Just a Stray Dog on the Street!]
[Effect: Immune to mental pressure from ANY creature!]
Alex’s eyes went wide.
"HOLY SHIT!"
He punched the air.
"IMMUNE TO MENTAL PRESSURE?!"
Laughed out loud.
"That’s fucking broken!"
Paced around Pie. Grinning like crazy.
"Next time some asshole tries that intimidation bullshit—" "Won’t work!" "Not even a little!"
He looked at the other rewards.
"Recovery speed, HP regen..."
Nodded.
"Good for kiting." "Playing keep-away."
Shrugged.
"Though with Pie being this tanky—"
Glanced at the yellow slime.
"We probably won’t need it!"
Laughed again.
"My boy’s a monster!"
Pie bounced.
"Gulu!"
Alex grinned.
"Hell yeah—"
Then Pie stopped mid-bounce.
Flopped. Flat on the ground.
"...Gulu?"
Voice weak. Tired.
Eyes half-closed.
Alex blinked.
"Pie?"
His legs gave out.
THUD.
Dropped to his knees.
"Fuck!"
Breathing hard. Body heavy.
Like someone turned gravity up.
"The... the power boost..."
Two minutes. It wore off.
"There’s a SIDE EFFECT?!"
His arms shook. Could barely lift them.
Pie laying there. Barely moving.
"Gulu..."
Alex groaned.
"Okay. Okay."
Forced his hand up. Touched Pie.
"Back you go, buddy."
Yellow light. Pie dissolved. Returned to the Beast Space.
Alex exhaled.
"Time to wake up."
Closed his eyes.
"Before I pass out here."
The void faded.
Everything went black.
Alex’s eyes opened.
Ceiling. White. Bright.
He blinked.
Sat up slowly.
Body still heavy. Tired.
Then he saw them.
Three people. Sitting in front of him.
Pink hair. Twin tails. Bubble tea in hand.
Long legs. Black stockings. Watermelon slice.
And Bob. Sunflower seeds. Spitting shells into his palm.
All three staring at him.
Eyes complicated.
Alex froze.
"Uh—"
Luna spoke first.
"I didn’t think much of it before..."
Sipped her tea.
"But now I’m pretty sure he’s actually mentally ill."
Raven nodded.
Took a bite of watermelon.
"Schizophrenia, maybe?"
She tilted her head.
"Talking to himself like that..." "So realistic."
Paused.
"Kinda scary."
Luna grinned.
Leaned closer to Raven.
"You’re gonna have your hands full with this one!"
Her hand shot out.
Grabbed.
Raven’s face went red.
"LUNA!"
Slapped the hand away.
"Stop touching my chest!"
Luna laughed.
"Hehe—"
"I SAID STOP!"
Bob crunched a seed.
Spit the shell.
"Bro, you good?"
Looked at Alex.
"You were mumbling some wild shit."
Alex stared at all three.
Brain still booting up.
There is really no privacy in this world, huh?