《Slime progression》 Hello slime People are cheering as streamers fly and confetti litters the central square, they gather around like this every year for one reason. It''s Awakening Day, it''s the day new legends are made. Corse not everyone makes it, some aren''t lucky enough to receive the gift of an avatar. "CLASS 5: SABRINA STARLO, CHILD OF SHADOWS. CONGRATULATIONS ON AWAKENING. NEXT!" I always figured she would get a light affinity given her nature as a social butterfly and family''s history of light users. In this world there are three known tiers, child of element, element adolescent, element elder. These tiers aren''t tied to one''s age. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "CLASS 5: ORLANDO BULE, CHILD OF AIR. CONGRATULATIONS ON AWAKENING.NEXT!" Guess it''s my turn now. I make my way over to the massive crystal with monitors attached via thick cables. I close my eyes and place my hands against the crystal''s surface allowing its currents too flow through me. I can see three paths before me, a path of earth, a path of wind, and a path of water... no not water. Is this what the ond man was talking about? What was it he said, a path mutation? Starting to feel the strain of Awakening I take the third path."CLASS 5: CHERRY ALBRIGHT, CHILD OF WATER MUTANT. CONGRATULATIONS ON AWAKENING, NEXT!" Slimy creation Hours have passed since the ceremony. I walk down the alleyway to my small two-story apartment, the old man that lives next door to me said something about condensing a skill before anything else after Awakening. I wasn''t really paying attention to him, but I have heard skill from my old teachers and how rare they are to get from Awakening. Not having anything better to do for now I knock on the old coot''s door. I''ve tried asking his name before but always called himself a "nobody" or "lost soul" what ever that means. I knock again this time louder. "Yeah yeah, I hear ya! Keep your pants on!" A deep almost scratchy voice calls out before he opens his door. "Well look who it is!" Before me stands what I can only describe as a sentient scare crow. "I assume you''ve successfully gone through the ceremony child?" I mearly nod in response to his question. He stands to the side letting me in. The inside of his apartment is a cluttered mess of the various so called treasures he amassed from the gates. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "The fact you''re here means you payed enough attention to my rants, take a seat and I''ll dig up the skill fragments for you. "Right." I find a relatively clean place to sit before he returns with a trey of nine crystals and a small orb. "Alright before i help you with your first skill place your hands on the sphere and show me your path." I do as he asked and the image of a small pond fills the orb. "A path of water huh? No wait." Just as the pond pulls itself into the shape of sphere."Oh now this is very good, a path mutation and for water no less! You lucked out here Cherry." "What do you mean by that exactly? I know you talked about it before and that they could be good or bad?" I asked "Hmm right, it really depends on how you develop your power, but if you''re able to climb passed asc------." His voice cuts out, he sighs "damned rules, anyways what you received is something that is often seen as thick water, but is so much more than that. Hold on I was going to craft you one of three basic skills but I''ve been holding on to something for such an event." Insert slime pun here There are two ways to get a skill, the first being hard work and luck, and second is to craft a skill crystal. A lucky few can start out with a skill from Awakening, but those can be hit or miss. To craft a skill crystal three things are needed. Skill fragments, these can be awarded to one who clears any level of gate. Image, you must know what kind of skill you want, and your skill must be within the bounds of your path. And lastly you must have a catalyst, this can be anything from a seed, too a jem, so long as a catalyst contains even the smallest fragment of power a skill will form. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Of course one should take extreme care when crafting a skill, just because one can create a skill crystal from literal trash, doesn''t mean you should. Just as there are grades to an avatar so to are there grades for skill fragments and catalysts. They go as such *Child: low, mid, high *Adolescent: low, mid, high *Elder: low, mid, high *Ancient$_@,''hdfaksgdkdhd Damned spirit. skill garden creation The old scarecrow returned with a arm full of hastily drawn diagrams. "Alright Albright, help me clear out some space, then we''ll get started on your skill." We basically just pushed everything off to one side of the room, old scarecrow rolled the diagrams out onto the floor. "Sit in the middle and close your eyes, I''ll set everything up for you this time." I do as he said and close my eyes. "Good now focus on your path, follow it to your center, oh and remember to breath--." His voice fades in to the background as a small island comes into view. The slime, I''ve decided on calling it, flowed around this island. A kernel of power decends in view just above the island, what do you want. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "I want to understand. I want the power to understand the world beyond my own." The kernel accepts my awnser and desends into the island planting it''s self. I watch as life blooms across my path as a small prismatic sapling sprouts at the center of the island. With in it''s young branches I understand the power I''ve been granted. With new understanding I create my avatar, a small amorphous ball of translucent slime. Feeling like something missing I recall something about animal cells. Right it needs a core. Looking to the sapling I push it to produce a fruit. A small red core drops from it''s branches and rolls into the slimey path. My avatar sensing the core, jumps at it taking the fruit into it''s body. ____ When I open my eyes, the old man is gone. I hear cluttering from his kitchen as the smell of hot food wafts through the small apartment. A cats announcement [might delete later] Hay I know this a bit early, but I wanted to talk about a few things. First up my plans for this story, or rather the lack there of. I literally write the chapters as they come out. Right now I''m mostly letting this world form it''s own rules and people as I write. So while the characters are short right now, I do plan to eventually combine and rewrite the early chapters so that they are more cohesive. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Little sneak peek into next few chapters, the city and the factions that run it. I know I know, where is the action I hear you ask. And well, let''s just... no how bout this. You tell me what you think is behind the gates that prevent human entry! Anyways thank you truly for reading something that I made. I adore each and every one of you. ---a cat made of dust Peii-pom the bronze crater I awaken to the grinding of gears. The train will be making it''s rounds soon, I speed through my morning routine and got ready. As I step outside I am greeted by the shadow of the crater and the bronze tower that powers this city''s infrastructure, and the ivory boxes belonging to the clans shining in the morning sun. I made my way to the station and waited for the train. When the gates first appeared little was known about them, they were just these weird anomalies, eventually they broke open and the world suddenly grew more hostile. The train arives, I grab a seat. Eventually some people found out that the sites of ancient volcanos some how block a gate from breaking and eventually people started moving in. The train rises over the lip of the crater, vast green field sprawl across the mountain side. Eventually miners dug up a massive crystal which at the time was dubbed the dream stone. The train eventually spirals towards the bronze tower. The few remaining scientists quickly figured out that this dream stone stabilized the gates and got to work to mine more. But the stability these stones provided weren''t permanent. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The train arrives at my destination, I get off and make my way to the registry office. One day a gate broke open inside the crater and in what I can only assume was a desperate attempt at survival six women and men awoken the power of their Avatar. These six then went on to build the three clans that guard the crater from the gates. They are the Luminox clan that represent the light and shadow paths, the Gnarlblaze clan that represent the paths of fire and nature, and lastly the Terratide clan that represent the paths of earth and water. The registry office is crowded with people, looks like I''m stuck here for now. I take a number .After Awakening their power the founders built the bronze tower to harness the magma currents sleeping beneath our feet. They reclaimed farm land, and shared how they received their powers. Eventually my number is called and I head towards the desk. "Hello are you here to register for a delving license? how may we help you today?" The man behind the counter drones. "Yes that''s correct, I need to start making some money soon." He swiftly slides me a paper forem. "Uh can i-" a pen is shoved towards me. This man has had a very long morning. "Thank you." an old friend The paper work was rather easy to fill out, it mostly asked for my information and what my path is and if I got a skill or not. The worker that gave me the form gave me a badge number and directed me towards the waiting room. Inside the waiting room is a glass wall viewing into the test chamber, and 9 other test takers. Ignoring the others I look into the test chamber in order to get an idea of what I''ll be facing.The walls of the chamber have been lined with purple-pink swirls of the dream stone. Of of it''s effects allows us to simulate the environment behind the gates. the current test is nothing more than a skirmish between a bright orange lizard and 2 goblins. The lizard pounces on the weaker of the two goblins, setting it on fire as the avatar bites down on the creature. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The second goblin takes the chance to attack the lizard only for it to slam it''s club down on it''s friend. The first goblin fades apart into motes of light. The lizard goes for the remaining goblin''s leg. The creature screeches in pain as fire crawls up it''s skin. It falls to the ground letting the lizard bite down on it''s neck killing it turning the creature into light. The test is over and the avatar fades giving way to human form. A young man with firy red hair, a black hoody with a skull decal, and a shark tooth smile I could never forget. This young man is named Nate. He looks up to where I am making eye contact causing him to frown before leaving the test chamber. At one point we were nearly inseparable, the teachers either found us cute or annoying. Then one day tragedy struck and he grew angry ever since, I wanted to be there for my friend but eventually we were forced into separate schools. Another person is called down to the test chamber, this time it''s a woman. Her skin is tan, long silver hair, and she wore the uniform of the Gnarleblaze clan. No chapter to day. Hay hay, it''s me again, I know I left you on a cliff, and I''m sorry about that. See I gots some problems with my mind. Nothing''s wrong just inspiration comes and goes like the ocean tides. And right now I''ve hit a low tide, but don''t worry you beautiful people I will return with more content as soon as I am able. But please feel free to share with me your thoughts and ideas. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Oh right I almost forgot, I''ve got character art on the way. As I am phone bound right now they will be hand drawn by yours truly. And I''m sorry to those of you that feel that Cherry isn''t as interesting as the others in my story so far, she has always been a quiet character in my mind. And with that I wish you all a very lovely day ;) Slimey Debut Of the nine testers before me, three have failed. Not everyone is cut out for combat, especially with an unfamiliar body. It''s the reason why forming a skill before creating an avatar is so important. Of course not everyone is so lucky to have the resources for a skill. I''ve made my way to the test chamber, those who passed the test were all in an interview. I stand inside the chamber, the air here feels heavy and I taste something metallic. I hear a buzzing as the test starts and I''m inside my avatar. What forms before me is a bramble wolf. I guess they want to test the limits of my mutation. The bramble wolf charges at me with baired fangs. I sink to the ground narrowly dodging it. Taking advantage of it''s confusion I attempt to smother it''s legs with my slime. Sensing the danger the bramble wolf narrowly evades my sudopods with barely a nik. That''s all I needed, now I can just stall for time This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. But that''s not what I want, what I want is to defeat this monster before me. I want to eat it whole to take its form for my own, my skill demands this tribute. With no time too think I charge at the bramble wolf, ensnaring it within my slime. It struggles, thrashing about trying break free of my hold over it. My slime slowly corrodes away the monster''s form, my apple like core feeding on light motes that parts from it. Soon enough the test is over and I return to my human form. I take a moment to have a dry heave in one of the corners. I can still taste the bitter flesh of that monster and I''m probably going to be eating more of those monsters in the future. . . . Inside Cherry''s skill garden, the prismatic skill sapling has grown into a small but otherwise proper tree. On it''s branches grows 3 brown/green fruit. One these fruits are the image of a specific bodyparts from the bramble wolf. A set of fangs, the bramble itself, and it''s claws. The interviewer "Cherry Albright, self proclaimed child of slime, awakened a mutated path of water. Recently turned 18 this year, lives in the outer ring of district Six. Is that information correct young miss?" The interviewer, a woman in her mid thirties, and standard uniform looked over the paperwork I had filled out. "Yes that''s correct." She looks me over with a slight frown. "Person of few words huh, no matter. I''ve observed your test and I have a few questions about your skill." I nod in response. "Did you awaken with it?" I respond in the negative. She raises an eyebrow at that but continues. "Can you tell me what type your skill is?." This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "It''s a tree type skull from what I''ve observed." She nods at my awnser "Trees are rather rare for a nascent skill garden, you''ll do well to nurture it. Now what exactly is the effect of your skill? Why did you... eat? Yes why did you eat your opponent during your test?" She leans over, resting her arms against the desk. "I-- yes that was a part of my skill, Chimeric understanding, it requires that eat my foe but I must do so with my own power." That bitter taste still fresh on my mind. "Are all monsters so gross tasting?" "Two restrictions as well as a tree... you must have used some quality materials too have create such a skill. How did you get your hands on such materials?" "You would need to ask my weirdo neighbor, he''s lives next door to me, I''ve never gotten his name so I just call him old scarecrow. Always rambling on about a world spirit and how it''s rules are stupid or something." The interviewer actually looks surprised at that. "Interesting, you uh said something about taste? You can taste your victims through your slime?" She quickly regains her cool, changing the topic. "Er yes infact I can still taste that bramble wolf. I really hope the other monsters don''t taste so gross." I retch at the memory once more. "Or so bitter. Bleh." "Well from what I know of, you''re basically the first person to know what a monster even tastes like, I''m almost envy you, almost." "Alright Miss Cherry, I think that''s everything. You should be receiving your Exploration license in the mail within the week. But in the meanwhile, you are free to use our training facilities." Skill types A skill garden serves A delver in multiple ways. With out one a delver will find themselves relearning how too crawl like an infant inside their Avatars. As you may imagine this is a time consuming process but not impossible. Very few have taken this challenge, and even fewer have succeeded. There are many skills one can cultivate within a garden, but not all skills are created equal. At the very bottom of the list are stalk skills. One such example of a stalk skill would be some variation on biting down on a foe. Depending on how you cultivate a stalk, it can into a more powerful variant such as flame bite or other such elements. Another skill type is the Bush type. These include a new system of sub skills. The number of sub-skills is tied directly to the number of flower nodes a bush skill has. Let''s say you create a control skill with five nodes, and you''ve chosen a path of earth, you are able too create a powerful golem that can shoot bullets made of debris with just three too four flower nodes. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Then there is the weed type, these are a dangerous skill type, while they offer a stronger power, they also run the risk of eating away your potential. Some organizations have been known to wreak havoc on their fellow cultivators by planting a weed skill seed inside of their victims bodies to feed on their potential and life-force. And finally there is the tree type, these ones are byfar the rarest type available. Unlike the weed type, tree skills can nurture the other skill types. They can grow fruit that can be used to augment your avatar, or act as fertilizer for your other skills. A tree skill can also come with a number of restrictions, and invoke certain emotions inside their host''s phychie.