It Started with Slime - Part 1

Chapter 106 - Walk

"Well, nothing I can do. Maybe it will be like when I finally got all five primary senses and then gained something for the collective." It had to be; otherwise, he had just wasted his time, and this world rewarded all effort.

Should he finish the skull now? He had been secluded here for ten hours already, so a short break would not go amiss. But then again, the head was small and would be quick with the new upgrade to Greater Consume, now Supreme Consume. Who comes up with these names?

"Well, I can't do anything more now with the torso until I get bigger anyway." Five kilograms was more than he had ever been before, and in his head, that seemed inconceivably huge. He was now at 2.6kg, so just over half that, and still too big to fly. Was he ready to give up on flying again? No, of course not, but anything he did would be temporary. He didn't know how long it would be until he could fly again if he became too big.

"Resh, are you alright in there? I want you to meet someone else if you have finished the torso." Haemish's voice came in through the door.

"Uh, debating whether to finish off the skull quickly or take a break, Haemish!" Aarav replied. Their use of his old name was getting a little confusing. Aarav found he was slow to respond, his mind taking a few precious parts of a second to register that they spoke to him. I need to fix that. The two options were that he could give his actual name, Aarav, or he needed to get accustomed to working with two names quickly.

"How long will it take you to finish it?" Haemish asked the next obvious question.

"Uh, a little over an hour? Maybe an hour and a half?" If he had just moved straight on to the head without letting Consume Blorenar drop, he would have been able to finish it off in an hour, but he was starting to get tired from its constant working. He usually would not have felt the strain so keenly, but this was the longest time he had continuously used the Talent. It seemed his mental fortitude also had its limits even for background abilities like this-so many limitations. When he removed one, it appeared another took its place. It was as if the universe conspired to keep him weak for as long as possible.

"Fine then, just get it done. I need to bring the guest anyway. Maybe she can meet us here then." Haemish said in reply, still not coming to the door.

"Oh! A lady friend? Nice!" Aarav jested.

Silence. "I was only joking, Haemish!" He yelled out.

A crash and grunt, the sound of splinters. "Haemish!?" Aarav called. Perhaps he should investigate.

Aarav strained with his body to grab the door handle and turn it. Outside, a beet-red Haemish was spluttering and righting himself from where he had fallen to the floor. The chair Aarav had occupied earlier was shattered into splinters all around him. "Haemish, uh, did you fall or smash the chair?" Aarav eyed the damaged furniture sceptically.

"Huh? No, no. I just lost my balance! Nothing to be concerned about." The bulky man hopped up and started vigorously patting and brushing himself down with his hands to remove bits of wood and dust. Yeah, "lost his balance", says the guy who is bending splinters with his skin and can ride a flying gryphon. No chance, mate, you can't fool me. Interestingly, his question had flustered the man so severely that he had fallen from his chair. Aarav tucked that little nugget away for later before re-entering the room and getting started on the skull that lay on the floor by its lonesome.

Messing with Haemish is excellent stress relief; I feel ready to go! Aarav reflected with a smirk. He could focus on the final part of the skeleton now. Aarav looked at what lay on the now clean and dust-free floor. Maybe they will use me as a cleaner at some point.