Rain hammered down in relentless sheets, turning the city into a blur of neon and shadow. Ren's world had shrunk to the cold concrete beneath him, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, and the distant wail of sirens. His breath came in ragged gasps, each one more labored than the last. He tried to move, to lift his head, but his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive.
Is this the end? His thoughts were scattered, memories slipping away like water through his fingers. Faces, sounds, emotions—all fading into a dark void. He remembered his name—Ren—and nothing more. A deep loneliness settled in his chest. Was his life just a fleeting shadow?
His eyelids grew heavy. The world dimmed.
Then, a voice echoed—not from the city, nor the earth, but from somewhere beyond.
"Your journey is not over, Ren."
The voice was calm, neither male nor female, ancient yet gentle. It resonated deep within his soul.
"You have been chosen for a second chance. But it will not be as you once were. Will you accept?"
Ren tried to speak, but no words came. Instead, a warmth spread through his fading consciousness, pulling him away from the brink.
Yes.
Darkness gave way to strange sensations. Ren's mind was clear, but his body was not his own. Instead of flesh and bone, he felt fluid, malleable, and strange. Panic surged as he tried to move, but his limbs felt foreign—more like a puddle than a person.
He sensed the earth beneath him, cool and damp. The air smelled different—rich with moss, wet leaves, and something wild.
Where am I? The thought wasn't his own voice. His mind felt clearer yet disconnected from this new form.
A flicker of information appeared in his mind like a glowing beacon.
SYSTEM INITIALIZING…
Welcome, User. You have been reincarnated as: Lesser Slime
Level: 1
HP: 10/10
MP: 5/5
Skills: Absorb (Lv.1), Split (Lv.1)
Ren's thoughts raced. A slime? Like in those games? He tried to laugh, but only a wet gurgle escaped. He stretched, feeling his gelatinous body wobble. It was both fascinating and horrifying. He was alive, but no longer human.
Okay. This is real. I have to adapt.
The forest around him was alive with subtle movement: insects crawling on leaves, birds chirping faintly above. Ren slid forward, his form rippling over moss and soil. It was awkward, but he was moving.
A sharp gnawing sensation twisted inside him. Hunger—raw and urgent. He sensed a small, wriggling creature nearby. Driven by instinct, Ren lunged, enveloping the worm in his body. The creature struggled, but Ren's new form held tight.
Absorb Activated
You have consumed: Forest Worm
Gained 1 EXP
Current EXP: 1/10
A surge of warmth filled him, and his body felt a little denser, a little stronger. The hunger eased, but only slightly.
So this is how I get stronger…
He spent hours sliding through the undergrowth, absorbing worms, beetles, even roots. Each meal brought a tiny spark of energy, a flicker of progress.
Level Up!
Level: 2
HP: 12/12
MP: 7/7
New Skill Acquired: Acidic Touch (Lv.1)
Ren experimented with his new skill, dissolving a fallen leaf with a cautious touch. The sensation was strange, but he was learning.
If I keep this up, maybe I can survive.
Time blurred. Ren learned to split himself, dividing into smaller slimes to hunt more efficiently, then merging back. He grew more confident, more aware of his surroundings. But the forest was full of dangers. Shadows moved at the edge of his perception—larger creatures, predators. He avoided them, sticking to the safety of the undergrowth.
One day, as he rested beneath a patch of sunlight filtering through the trees, the ground trembled faintly. A heavy, rhythmic thumping grew louder.
From the shadows emerged a massive horned rabbit, its fur bristling, eyes glowing red. It sniffed the air, locking its gaze on Ren.
I'm prey. I'm weak.
The rabbit lunged.
Ren tried to dodge, but the rabbit was fast. Its teeth tore through his side, ripping away a chunk of his slime body. Pain—sharp and searing—shot through him. He recoiled, panic flooding his core.
I'm going to die. I'm going to die again!
Desperation took over. He activated Split, dividing into two smaller slimes. The rabbit hesitated, confused by the sudden multiplication. Ren seized the moment. One half darted behind the rabbit while the other used Acidic Touch on its leg. The rabbit shrieked, kicking wildly.
Ren's second half latched onto the rabbit's back, pouring all his energy into Absorb. The struggle was fierce—the rabbit thrashed, claws raking through Ren's form, but he held on. Slowly, the beast's movements grew sluggish, its strength fading.
With a final shudder, the rabbit collapsed, dissolving into a pool of light.
Absorb Activated
You have consumed: Horned Rabbit
Gained: 12 EXP
Current EXP: 3/20
Level Up!
Level: 3
HP: 16/16
MP: 10/10
Skill Upgraded: Absorb (Lv.2)
Ren's body trembled violently. The world tilted and spun. He tried to steady himself, but panic clawed at his mind. The memory of the rabbit's teeth, the pain, the terror—it was all too real.
This isn't a game.
He had treated this reincarnation like some virtual adventure, a chance to "level up" casually. But the sharp pain and raw fear were real.
His slime form shook harder. I'm so weak. So fragile. I almost died.
He lashed out inwardly, frustration boiling over. How could I have been so stupid? Thinking this was just a game? I'm not some player with infinite lives. This is survival. Real survival.
The system's glowing interface pulsed softly in his mind, indifferent to his turmoil. Ren forced himself to steady his form, focusing on the stats that had updated after the fight.
But the numbers were just numbers. The raw reality was that he had been on the brink of death, and his previous casual attitude could have cost him everything.
Slowly, the panic gave way to a cold, burning resolve.
I can't afford to be careless. I have to become stronger. Smarter. I have to evolve—not just for power, but for survival.
Ren's form steadied, his mind sharpening with newfound determination. The forest around him seemed less threatening now, but the memory of the rabbit's attack lingered like a scar.
This world is nothing like the games I played. And I'm no longer just a player.
He began to crawl forward, his resolve hardened by fear and pain, but also by a flicker of hope. He would grow. He would adapt. He would become more than just a slime.
He had to.