While he moved towards the threshold, he could still hear the proctor's voice blaring from the communication device on the dragon.
He couldn't see the device, but the sound was clear like a pager in his old life.
The sound from the pager grew dimmer just as the tension and adrenaline in his body slowly unwound.
He sighed deeply as if finally coming to terms that Leona was casually standing over a creature that would have killed him if it weren't for Astrea and the slime.
'i should probably give myself more credit,' he thought, even as his eyes went to the screens by his side.
'At least the system does,' he thought while reading through the screens.
[You have completed multiple high-risk objectives.]
[You have survived being in a restricted zone - 1500 EXP]
[You have survived battle against an Ascended Threat - 3000 EXP]
[You have achieved combat Coordination with a vampire - 800 EXP]
[You have achieved increased familiar Synchrony with your familiars -1000 EXP]
[ EXP Gained: 6300EXP]
[Total EXP: 11800]
Dean read through the screens and almost pumped a fist in the air if he hadn't seen the vampire who only now crossed the threshold.
Astrea was still in front of him alongside her emotional support vampire. But what was on his mind was different.
It still bothered him that the vampire had crossed the threshold while following him.
Even till now, he didn't know what she really wanted, and truthfully, after seeing her in action. He didn't want to find out so he wouldn't disappoint that monster.
Speaking of monsters. Dean looked to his left shoulder, and there was an unusual peace and quiet about the slime.
Dean glanced at it from the corner of his eye.
"What are you plotting?"
The slime remained silent, but the faint glow beneath its surface hadn't faded yet.
It pulsed once. And a system screen opened.
[Notification]
[Familiar 3 is carrying out an unprecedented action at summoner's present rank]
[Familiar 3 has achieved Cross-evolution]
Dean's eyes narrowed as he looked back at the creature that had stopped glowing.
He couldn't wrap his head around the chaos that was this slime, but he couldn't look away either.
"What are you coo-"
Dean didn't finish when another screen popped up.
Ding!
[Evolved Skill Acquired]
[Name: Unnamed, Host is required to name the skill]
[Source: Silver scaled Armadillo and Mag-Titan]
[Description: The user can create an armor that protects and reinforces their body from any type of attack, while storing kinetic energy from each impact.
The stored kinetic energy can be released as localized thermal bursts with the output scaled based on amount of force absorbed.
[Grade: C-A]
Dean crossed the threshold of the zone and had barely read through the description when he slime shifted on his shoulder.
Its body stretched slightly… then hardened. Thin layers of dark volcanic plating spread across its surface like segmented armor with some gaps.
Dean noticed the gaps which were on its head and joints. It wasn't random, it was just like the Titan's, but there was something more.
Underneath the platesr, red energy pulsed like veins, it wasn't the slime's normal gelatinous body, it was something else. Something building and waiting.
'interesting,' Dean thought as he stopped moving.
Leaning beside a tree, he tried making sense of this as quickly as possible since he only had twenty-four hours before the slots emptied up.
This was something perfect for him as brawler and this slime was adopting things to him at its own whim.
It was sure as hell stubborn but it sure knew what was suited for him.
'if only there was no time limit to this,'
Dean shook his head, ignoring everything else as he moved to a certain system screen.
Looking through it, he picked up the slime from his shoulders onto his palms. He felt this creature had to be rewarded.
Not just for saving his life, but constantly doing most things to his best interest even if he didn't agree to all of it.
"I think its time to give you a name."
The slime looked at him with those enormous eyes as it wobbled from left to right.
Dean didn't want to rush his process, but he had to admit to himself, he wanted to stop thinking of Yuki when he thought of a name for it.
"I don't know what to call you," Dean resigned to his own lack of inspiration.
He looked at sprite on his left shoulder, and then something clicked.
"How about you name yourself," he said calmly.
After about thirty seconds, there was nothing.
"What was I thinking…" Dean rubbed his forehead.
The slime couldn't speak, and maybe he'd drew the idea of it naming itself from the other familiars who already had a name he would have to discover in time.
The little menace was definitely different from the others.
"Don't worry, I will think of so-"
'A..S..H'
The word slowly crept into Dean's mind as he stared down as the slime.
"Did you just…Speak?"
'Ash,' it rang alot clearer in his mind now.
Dean's lips curled into a bitter-sweet smile.
The slime had chosen the one name he would go back to his old life for.
The only creature he knew that picked him with no strings attached unless you counted feeding it and giving it his time.
His Dog. Ash.
"Ash then," Dean nodded as the slime bounced on his palms.
Ding!
[You have achieved True bond with Familiar 3]
[Your Bond Unique Skill has been unlocked]
[Eternal Imprint Established]
[Description: You and Ash are able to permanently store a copied or evolved skill or ability within your Verge framework for future use through channeling]
[Duration limit: N/A]
[Slot: 0/1]
[You are to pick a skill before the day elapses. What would be your first imprint?]
Dean blinked as his mouth slowly opened like he was setting up a fly trap.
"Permanent?" he blurted. He looked at Ash again as it wobbled once. Like it was waiting for his choice.
Dean hadn't thought of this in his wildest dreams. He'd made his peace that he would have to learn how to make the most of copied skills in the time frame he had and be strategic of his choices.
But this… this was unexpected.
He didn't waste a moment as he looked straight at the skill that Ash had synthesized.
The unnamed skill that was perfect for him.
"Yeah I pick Rebound Core" he spoke out loud though he knew a thought was enough.
The screen suddenly popped a gear like wheel as Dean suddenly felt a surge of energy washed through his entire body.
He felt something engraved into his very soul.
Ding!
The notification appeared.
[First Permanent Skill Acquired]
Dean exhaled.
This changed everything.
A/N: Powerstones gives this a chance at visibility. Support with Powerstones. Thank you.