But when it sensed no movement from behind, it peeked back, only to see Celeste still sitting there, unconcerned. She just shot it a glance.
"I was hoping to witness the Count’s skills for myself. Why did you stop?"
Count Brand dodged a volley of bone arrows from the Skeleton Soldier and coughed lightly. "Ahem, I was merely giving you a chance to shine. I didn’t realize Miss Celeste would fail to appreciate my humility."
Celeste couldn’t be bothered to bicker with him. She raised her Magic Staff, casually cast a spell, and launched a fist-sized Fireball that struck the Skeleton Soldier.
"BANG!"
The Skeleton Soldier was instantly blown to pieces, sending shards of bone flying everywhere.
Celeste looked up, her gaze returning to Louisa. Sensing the princess’s poor mental state, she lost all interest in teasing Count Brand.
Count Brand happily trotted back to Chen Yu’s side, then suddenly let out a curious chirp. He walked right up to Chen Yu, cocked his head, and stared intently at the glowing ball of Gel.
"Hey, Celeste, don’t you think His Majesty looks... a little dimmer?" Count Brand asked uncertainly.
Celeste’s attention was captured by his words, and she looked down to the side.
Sure enough, the Slime, once as dazzling as a small sun, had indeed dimmed considerably, its light growing much softer.
Under their watchful eyes, the light from the Gel body abruptly converged, retracting into its core in an instant.
Chen Yu returned to his original emerald-green hue. He looked even more translucent, round, and smooth than before, like a bouncy piece of jade jelly that made you want to take a bite.
He slowly opened his small, round eyes, his gaze meeting that of Count Brand, who was leaning in for a closer look.
Count Brand froze. For a moment, it was as if he saw the world reflected in Chen Yu’s eyes. A powerful pressure washed over his body, making him feel an involuntary wave of fear and awe.
However, the pressure came as quickly as it went. In the blink of an eye, his Majesty was back to his usual bouncy self, his eyes clear, as if the whole thing had been an illusion.
"Strange..." Count Brand mumbled, pecking at his feathers in confusion.
"Lord Slime, the situation is urgent." Celeste’s voice pulled Chen Yu back to reality.
Chen Yu gave a slight bounce. He subconsciously tried to observe his surroundings, but his Divine Sense spread out instantly, flowing like quicksilver.
It covered the entire battlefield in an instant.
Arthur, Yano, and Levin were desperately resisting the furious onslaught of the Iron Cavalry Demon, Yax. Louisa, her face pale, was locked in a magical duel with Vincent, each keeping the other contained. The Demon Legion was locked in a chaotic melee with other Demons. Soldiers of the Garrison Legion were fleeing through the ruins of Storm Fortress...
Every single movement of every person on the entire battlefield was presented with perfect clarity within his perception.
’Is this what Foundation Establishment feels like?’
’It’s like the whole world has changed.’
’It’s like a prophecy spell that can survey the entire battlefield.’
’I can "see" farther, in greater detail.’
’I can "hear" the faintest whispers on the wind.’
’I can perceive the flow of energy and the unique "aura" of all things with greater clarity.’
’My control over my own power has reached an unprecedented level of refinement, as if I can manipulate every single particle of my Gel body.’
’More importantly, the new microcosmic world inside me is slowly turning on its own. Yin and yang alternate, the five elements generate and overcome one another... It produces a ceaseless, pure stream of Secret Skill Energy, as if it will never run dry.’
This made Chen Yu subconsciously puff out his round, rolling chest, his heart swelling with confidence.
’But before I make my move, I need to prepare a Flying Sword.’
’A good Flying Sword is a Cultivator’s greatest asset. It’s also the best way to compensate for a Slime’s lack of long limbs.’
’Since there isn’t one ready-made, I’ll just have to forge one myself.’
With a thought, he focused his Divine Sense on a large patch of soil before him.
[Turn Mud to Stone]
[Mud Ball Sword Casting Skill]
The patch of soil was lifted into the air as if by an invisible force. It compressed and ground against itself, growing red-hot until it formed a rough, stone sword blank.
The sword blank was about three feet long and dark red, as if it had just been pulled from a forge.
Under the control of his Divine Sense, the rough Stone Sword floated lightly into the air, circling around Chen Yu with a faint hum.
Count Brand’s eyes went wide at the sight. ’I knew it! His Majesty must have gained another strange new power!’
"Let’s go," Chen Yu said, projecting his thoughts.
He hopped and bounced, landing on the levitating Stone Flying Sword.
The Flying Sword wobbled only slightly before it steadily carried his round body into the air. Then, with a WHOOSH, it shot off toward Vincent, who was casting spells in the distance.
’This is so much faster than flying with my Gel Wings.’
’Sword Flight is awesome!’
Celeste transformed into a Giant Eagle, taking to the sky with a flap of her wings. She and Count Brand, who had also taken flight, hurried to follow.
Her eyes were filled with astonishment. She couldn’t help but ask, "Count Crow, is that sword some kind of Magic Item?"
Count Brand was confused himself, but he immediately puffed out his chest and boasted, "That’s something you wouldn’t understand. This is a secret technique of the Slime race."
"And you seem to know all about it?" Celeste shot him a look.
"But of course. I am incredibly knowledgeable," Count Brand bragged without a hint of shame.
...
In the sky, Vincent waved his Magic Staff, summoning one blazing Fireball after another to hurl at Louisa.
Although the Fireballs posed almost no threat to her and were easily blocked or deflected by her shield, Vincent’s goal was clear: to completely drain the young princess’s Spiritual Power.
During his studies at the Fey City Gedun Arcane Academy, the very first lesson his teacher taught him was to never underestimate any Mage. You never knew if they might pull out a last-resort Forbidden Technique in a desperate moment to take you down with them.
He was being especially cautious with Princess Louisa, whose talent and hidden depths were so profound. He wouldn’t give her any chance to turn the tables.
Just as he was about to cast another Fireball to apply more pressure on Louisa, he caught a flash of green in his periphery, flying toward him at an astonishing speed.
Vincent’s heart jumped. He immediately opened an Arcane Gate and retreated backward, simultaneously glancing at the green shadow to get a clear look at the newcomer.
’It’s that Slime King! And even stranger, he’s... riding a flying Stone Sword?!’
’What a bizarre combination.’
’A Slime... using Sword Flight?’
The thought flashed through Vincent’s mind, but he was well aware of how terrifying and bizarre this Slime was. He didn’t dare let it get close.
He retreated quickly through the Arcane Gate to create distance, pointing his Magic Staff at Chen Yu to cast an intercepting spell.
At that very moment, however, the Stone Flying Sword carrying Chen Yu shot out from under his feet. It accelerated, becoming a streak of light as it lanced toward Vincent.
It was so fast that it let out a sharp shriek as it tore through the air.
"What?!"
’I’ve never seen such a bizarre method of attack. It’s not like a Magic Missile, nor is it a thrown weapon. It’s as if the sword itself has a life and will of its own, and it’s flying right at me.’
In his haste, he tried to raise his hand to cast an instant-cast shield to block it.
But he was too slow.
"SWOOOOOSH!!!"
The Flying Sword flashed past, a streak of light like the scythe of the Death God, and sliced through Vincent’s upraised right arm.
"SCHLICK!"
Vincent felt a searing pain in his right arm. He could only watch as his right hand, still clutching his Magic Staff, was severed along with half of his forearm. It sprayed blood as it tumbled toward the ground below.
For a Mage, losing both his Magic Staff and his casting arm was an almost fatal blow. The composure on his face vanished completely, replaced by sheer horror.
He desperately clutched the stump of his arm with his left hand, blood gushing from between his fingers. His face turned deathly pale as he plummeted toward the ground.
’A sentient weapon?’
This scene did not escape Louisa’s notice from a distance, and a look of astonishment filled her eyes.