Chapter 54: X level beast
The red figure stroked his chin.
"Such high skill levels?"
"And THREE skills?!"
Voice tinged with surprise.
"How delightful."
"I think I understand now."
"Why you advanced so quickly."
Pause.
"You’ve had quite the opportunities, haven’t you?"
He laughed.
"But..."
The laughter turned cold.
"Do you know what an X-rank contract beast means?"
He waved his hand.
The shadow creature moved.
Instant.
Dozens of blades materialized.
Floating around it.
Sharp. Glinting crimson.
Then launched.
From every direction.
Spinning toward Pie.
"Each blade carries bleeding effect!"
The red figure’s voice boomed.
"One scratch. One wound."
"And you bleed until death!"
Alex sneered.
Then text flashed.
[Option 2 Complete!]
[Reward Delivered!]
[Slime has evolved to E-rank!]
[Title Obtained: Partner (Pie)]
[Effect: Understanding with slime +500%. Mental connection established!]
Alex felt it immediately.
A link. In his mind.
Pie’s thoughts. Clear as his own.
Not words. Feelings. Intent.
Anger. Excitement. Trust.
Complete synchronization.
He could feel what Pie felt.
See what Pie saw.
Control him perfectly.
[Option 3 In Progress!]
Alex grinned wider.
"BRING IT!"
Next instant.
Pie’s body rippled.
Vines shot out.
Not two. Not three.
SIX of them.
Thick. Strong. Covered in armor-like bark.
The slime started spinning.
FAST.
Like a top.
The vines extended. Whirling.
A deadly circle.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The blades hit the vines.
Every single one.
Deflected. Sent flying.
Sparking against the hardened bark.
No cuts on the vines.
No bleeding.
Because vines aren’t the body.
Just extensions.
The red figure froze.
"What..."
"A slime..."
His voice cracked.
"Doing THAT?!"
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
The shadow creature paused.
Eyes narrowed.
Confused.
Slimes don’t move like that.
Don’t fight like that.
They’re simple. Stupid.
But this one—
Alex’s grin turned vicious.
"Impossible?"
"Watch closer."
The red figure laughed.
"That’s only the start!"
He snapped his fingers.
The deflected blades stopped mid-air.
Then flew together.
Merging. Combining.
One massive blade formed.
Huge. Gleaming crimson.
The shadow creature grabbed it.
Both hands.
Raised it high.
Then swung down.
Aimed straight at Pie.
To cut him in half.
Alex’s mind raced.
Don’t use Gigantification.
Not yet.
The opponent’s too fast.
Need to wait.
Find the opening.
"Pie! Charge! Left!"
The slime shot sideways.
WHOOSH!
The massive blade slammed down.
Missed by inches.
CRACK!
The ground shattered where it hit.
But Pie was already moving.
Circling around.
Fast.
Vines extended. Reaching.
Grabbed the shadow’s body.
Dark. Smoke-like.
But solid enough.
"NOW!"
Pie activated Charge again.
Full power.
20 meters range. +20% speed. +60% impact.
BOOM!
Launched forward.
Dragging the shadow with him.
Straight ahead.
The shadow creature’s eyes widened.
Tried to pull free.
Too late.
CRASH!
Pie slammed it into the ground.
Full force.
The void trembled.
Cracks spreading.
The shadow rolled.
Tumbling. Limbs flailing.
Finally stopped.
Smoke curling off its body.
Red eyes flickering.
The red figure paused.
Silent.
Then spoke.
"Impressive..."
"But not enough."
The red figure waved his hand.
"Adapt."
The shadow creature shifted.
Body dissolving.
Into mist.
Black smoke.
Spreading out.
Pie’s vines lashed forward.
Trying to grab.
Trying to block.
But the mist flowed through.
Like water through fingers.
Untouchable.
"Pie! Back up! Charge!"
The slime launched backward.
Creating distance.
But the mist was faster.
So much faster.
Condensed instantly.
Reformed behind Pie.
The blade materialized.
Massive. Crimson.
Swung down.
SLASH!
Hit Pie’s belly.
Direct hit.
The red figure laughed.
"DIE! INSECT!"
Alex’s heart skipped.
The bleeding effect.
If that blade wounded Pie—
The shadow retreated immediately.
Dissolved back into mist.
Didn’t give Pie any chance to counter.
Vanished.
Gone.
Alex’s brow furrowed.
X-rank contract beast.
Of course it’s broken.
Bleeding effect. Intangibility.
Perfect for drawn-out fights.
Hit and run tactics.
God-tier kiting.
This goes on...
Pie will be worn down.
Bled dry.
The red figure laughed from above.
"Give up, boy!"
"Surrender now!"
"I might let you keep a sliver of consciousness!"
"A tiny voice in the back of your mind!"
"Watching as I use your body!"
He laughed harder.
"Isn’t that generous?!"
The smoke cleared.
Pie stood there.
Alex looked.
The belly.
Where the blade hit.
No wound.
Not even a scratch.
Completely unharmed.
The red figure’s laughter stopped.
"...What?"
Pie looked up at the red figure.
"Gulu gulu gulu~"
Bounced slightly.
Then patted his own belly.
Where the blade hit.
Pat pat pat.
Like saying "right here."
Bounced again.
"Gulu~"
Then turned around.
Wiggled.
Taunting.
Alex felt Pie’s thoughts through the link.
Clear as day.
[That tickled!]
[Do it again!]
[So fun!]
Alex almost laughed.
Completely unharmed.
Didn’t even feel it.
The red figure’s body trembled.
Violently.
"NO!"
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Even X-rank beasts don’t have that kind of defense!"
He pointed frantically.
"AGAIN! ATTACK AGAIN!"
The shadow creature obeyed.
Dissolved into mist.
Attacked from every angle.
Left. Right. Above. Below.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
Blade after blade.
Hitting Pie’s body.
Over and over.
But nothing.
Not a single wound.
Not even a mark.
Pie yawned.
"Guluuu~"
Started making a rumbling sound.
Like purring.
Actually enjoying it.
Alex grinned internally.
All those stat boosts.
Every single one stacking.
Multiple +10% all attributes.
Believer system faith power.
Vine potion defense boost.
Level 10 perfection enhancement.
And slime’s natural defense.
One of the highest among contract beasts.
All of it combined.
Not a joke.
Not even close.
The red figure shook.
Rage building.
"YOU THINK..."
Voice cracking.
"X-RANK ONLY HAS THIS?!"
He screamed.
High-pitched. Furious.
The shadow creature paused.
Then changed.
Body became more translucent.
More ethereal.
Darker. Thicker.
Pure concentrated black mist.
It lunged.
Not at Pie’s outside.
But INTO him.
Diving straight in.
Merging.
Invading.
From the inside.
Pie’s body rippled.
Eyes widened.
"Gulu...?"
Started shaking slightly.
Uncomfortable.
The red figure laughed.
Manic. Triumphant.
"YES! YES!"
"You can block external attacks!"
"But from INSIDE?!"
"Your organs! Your core!"
"Everything will rot!"
"Dissolve!"
"Die from within!"
He threw his head back.
"Stupid slime!"
"Should’ve surrendered when you had the chance!"
"Now you’ll die slowly!"
"Painfully!"
"And your master will WATCH!"
More laughter.
Louder. Crueler.
"How does it feel, boy?!"
"Watching your precious pet suffer?!"
"Knowing you FAILED him?!"
Alex stood there.
Calm.
Watching Pie shake.
Then smiled.
Slightly.
"Pie."
The slime looked at him.
Through the link. Their minds connected.
Alex’s thought came through.
Clear. Strong.
[Gigantification.]
[Faith Burst.]
[NOW.]
Pie’s eyes lit up.
"GULU!"
His body flashed.
[Gigantification Lv4 Activated!]
[9x size increase!]
Pie expanded.
FAST.
1.2 meters.
3 meters.
6 meters.
9 meters.
10.8 METERS TALL.
Massive. Towering.
Then—
[Faith Burst Activated!]
[Combat Power x3!]
[Duration: 2 minutes!]
Golden light erupted.
Pouring into Pie.
From Alex’s 266 believers.
Pure faith energy.
The slime glowed.
Brighter. Stronger.
All stats tripled.
Defense. Speed. Power.
Everything.
The red figure’s laughter stopped.
"What... what is that light?!"