Worm Chapter 2: Splitting Worm

Worm Chapter 2

Splitting Worm

I’m a slime and all I can do is dissolve things. Maybe I can make a small arm and use it to whip the monster, but I don’t think it’ll be that effective. Insects are very fast, I won’t be able to hit it with the current level of <Telekinetic Movement>.

Immobilizing it before killing it is a good strategy, but how do I do that?

Setting up traps? How do I do that if I can’t even make a single arm?

…

What if I become the trap itself?

I’ll use <Reform> to spread out myself in one spot.

I’m at an advantage since slimes doesn’t need to breathe, so when in a still state its movements cannot be detected. I’ll be disguised as a sticky liquid.

But how do I bait it to step into me?

I felt the vibrations in the air. The insect stopped and started chewing onto something. Liquid came out of the thing that it was chewing on.

Is it eating? But there are no bodies there.

This shape… a sphere fruit?

I approached the insect slowly. As I approach, I felt more fruits nearby.

So, this place has fruits near the walls… I didn’t notice them because I didn’t stick that much to the walls.

…I think the insect will eat for a while. I’ll take the opportunity and make a move while its distracted.

I spread out my body to all directions. I feel my shape changing into a thin layer of slime.

It took 30 minutes for me to do it. The insect is still eating fruits, just how much can it eat?

Well, I can a hell lot as well so it’s not surprising…

Skill Update: <Reform Lv. 3> has upgraded to <Reform Lv. 4>

Oh, I leveled up again! Is this because I put in so much effort in so little time?

I slowly moved my body that is like a thin puddle of water towards the insect.

I came into contact with its feet… did it notice me?

…No, it didn’t.

Based on the knowledge I gained from who-knows-where, most insects cannot feel pain. This insect seems to be the same.

…It’s not reacting to me dissolving it, how is this possible?

I know insects don’t react that much, but to this much?

Answer
<Worm Slime Dissolution>: Ability of the being to dissolve other beings via body contact. Health, Mana, and EXP are gained from dissolving beings. Dissolution slime cannot be felt by other beings.
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Oh, so that s it…

The panel answered my question clearly, it emphasized the last sentence… is this what that part of the improvement due to the increase in Panel Intelligence Level?

The ant is slowly being dissolved. I noticed that it doesn’t find it unusual that its body is shorter than usual. Insects have small brains so they’re pretty dumb… not that I’m one to talk.

Insects only react when danger is present. It doesn’t detect my slime as danger.

The insect is almost dissolved with only its head left.

The panel that says I had killed it and gained EXP hasn’t shown up yet… does it only die when its head is fully dissolved? Insects are tough…

Time passed and I fully digested the insect.

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[Abyth Ant] has been killed. Kill participation has been recognized. EXP has been acquired.

Level Update: Level has risen. Current level: 9.

[Abyth Ant] has been dissolved.
-Health has been recovered.
-Mana has been recovered.
-EXP has been gained.

Level Update: Level has risen. Current level: 10.

Racial Ability Update: <Reform Lv. 4> has upgraded to <Reform Lv. 5>. | <Worm Slime Dissolution Lv. 3> has upgraded to <Worm Slime Dissolution Lv. 4> | <Telekinetic Movement Lv. 3> has upgraded to <Telekinetic Movement Lv. 4>.

Skill Update: <Dualism Lv. 2> has upgraded to <Dualism Lv. 3>

Being Update: Level limit of current race has been reached. Evolution conditions are met. Evolution is available.

Evolution Process Update: [Splitting Worm] evolution has been unlocked due to evolving with the skill: <Dualism>.
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Evolution again! Wow, just by killing a monster myself, I’ve gained a lot of EXP!

Unlocked a new evolution? So, the skills I gain prior to evolution effects the evolution as well?

Okay panel, show me the evolution options.

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Evolution Options

[Elemental Slime Worm]
[Ailment Slime Worm]
[Splitting Worm]

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Elemental slime worm? Is this some kind of slime that can control things like fire?

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[Elemental Slime Worm]: A Slime Worm that has the ability to use elemental properties on their dissolving agents.
Racial Skills: <Elemental Worm Slime Dissolution>
Example: Ability to freeze beings instead of dissolving them using <Elemental Worm Slime Dissolution: Ice>.
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The panel is getting better! It’s giving me examples now…

The skills this evolution has can burn things by having them in contact with the slime?

What about Ailment Slime Worm?

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[Ailment Slime Worm]: A Slime Worm that has the ability to put ailment inducing effects into their bodies.
Racial Skills Added: <Ailment Slime>
Example: Ability to paralyze beings upon prolonged contact when using <Ailment Slime: Paralysis>.
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This evolution makes monster killing a lot easier. I can paralyze and poison monsters for as long as they don’t notice me doing it.

Dissolving will be noticed by monsters smarter than a dumb insect, but they won’t notice being poisoned or paralyzed. It’ll be too late before they notice it.

…And the last one?

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[Splitting Worm]: A Slime Worm that has the ability to separate parts of its body while still being connected to the slime.
Racial Skills Added: <Split Body>
Example: After using <Split Body> the being can still feel the sensation of vibrations around the split body part. Using skills through the split body part is also possible.
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This one was the unlocked. This enables me to operate in different locations at one time.

Being able to operate at different places… I think this is the best choice. It was unlocked as well, gives me the feeling that its better than the other choices.

Okay, I’ll choose [Splitting Worm].

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[Splitting Worm] has been chosen to be the superseding race.
-Being will be in a stasis state during evolution process.
-Being will be in full recovered status after evolution process.
-Evolution time is set to 5 seconds due to ‡Knight of Sloth‡.
-Level will not reset after evolving due to ‡Knight of Sloth‡.

Evolve to [Splitting Worm]?

Confirmation: [Yes][No]
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[Yes].

I lost consciousness.

…

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Race Update: Official race has been changed from [Slime Worm] to [Splitting Worm].

Title Update: ‡Knight of Sloth‡ has changed to ‡Baron of Sloth‡.

Evolution Level Update: Evolution Level has risen. Current Level: 2.

Panel Intelligence Level Update: Panel Intelligence Level has risen due to acquiring the ‡Baron of Sloth‡ title. Current level: 3.

Racial Ability Update: <Split Body> have been acquired due to the change in race.

Special Skill Update: {Inventory} has been acquired due to acquiring the ‡Baron of Sloth‡ title.

Excess EXP from before evolution has been acquired.
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I woke up after 5 seconds.

I feel like my body is slightly larger than before.

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Name: Worm
Being Category: [Monster]
Race: [Splitting Worm]
Racial Classification: [Formless]
Title: ‡Baron of Sloth‡
Evolution Level: 2
Panel Intelligence Level: 3

Statistics
Level: 10
EXP: 2%
Health: 172
Spirit: 159
Strength: 169
Agility: 163
Magic: 164

Racial Abilities
<Reform Lv. 5>|<Telekinetic Movement Lv. 4>|<Worm Slime Dissolution Lv. 4>|<Split Body Lv. 1>

Skills
<Dualism Lv. 3>

Special Skills
{Mind Activation}|{Inventory}
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Hmmm? My statistics has increased by a lot. Before I evolved, they are only in their 20’s. Now they are three times the amount. Leveling up increases it by a bit but evolving multiplies them.

It was said before that evolving resets levels but because I didn’t reset, my stats were just converted to the evolution counterpart of the same level. Meaning I didn’t need to level up from 0 to 10 again. I skipped 10 levels just because of the sloth title. Hooray for sloth title!

I think it upgrades upon evolution. What changes happened to it?

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‡Baron of Sloth‡
-Increase EXP gained by 50%+(Level*1%).
-Increase skill level up rate by 50%+(Level*1%).
-Increase skill acquiring rate by 50%+(Level*1%).
-Grants {Mind Activation}.
-Grants {Inventory}.
-Level reset when evolving or class advancement has been removed.
-Upon evolution or class advancement, the world average of the statistics of the superseding race will be applied. If conversion of statistics from previous race or class to the superseding race or class is above the world average, the conversion is done instead of applying the world average.
-All evolution process lasts 5 seconds.
-Increase Panel Intelligence Level.
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The only changed that happened is {Inventory}.

What does it do?

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{Inventory}: An ability to create a gate connected to a separate space.
-Activation command to open inventory: {Open Inventory}.
-Activation command to close inventory: {Close Inventory}.
-Inventory gates are locked when the being is separated by 3 meters from the gate.
-Opening or Closing with an obstruction will cause the skill to fail.
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…Hmmm? What? Does that mean I get to store anything in there? I should try it!

I created a tentacle arm using <Reform>. I can make one instantly now! Is it because I leveled it up to 5 already?

I extended the tentacle with <Reform> and moved it with <Telekinetic Movement>. I grabbed one of the fruits on the nearby wall.

Now, to open it… I can’t use vocal commands, but I can use internal monologues as commands due to {Mind Activation}.

Let’s see, I need to have the intention of using the skill in order to use it.

…{Open Inventory}!

I can feel a sudden change in airflow. It feels like there is a floating hole.

I put the fruit that I was grabbing with the tentacle into the hole. Is it stored? It probably is. But just to be sure…

I put the tentacle inside the hole. Hmmm, this dimension doesn’t seem to have anything in it. Just a floor and an endless sky.

…It works! With this, I’ll be able to store anything into the inventory!

Let’s see… to close it… {Close Inventory}!

{Close Inventory} failed due to obstruction.

Obstruction? Oh, I still have my tentacle is still inserted into it making it an obstruction.

I see, I can’t use it to cut off body parts. It should’ve been great to use it as a weapon to slice off enemies.

I removed my tentacle from the hole.

{Close Inventory}!

The change in airflow disappeared. I guess the hole is closed now.

Next to look at is the skill, <Split Body>.

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<Split Body>: Ability of the being to split its body part. The body part is still able to use skills. If a body part dies, the remaining body parts can regenerate the separated body parts.
-Splitting speed depends on level.
-Number of separate body parts is limited depending on level.
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So, this means that I won’t die unless my main body dies…

Wait, is there even a main body? but how do I know where is my body? In fact, where is my brain? Where does this consciousness come from?

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Answer
A slime worm’s main body is the whole body.

This being’s consciousness resides in spirit. Consciousness will only disappear upon disintegration of all body parts.
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The panel even answers my questions? Amazing, panel intelligence rocks!

Since you are getting intelligent, I’ll give you a name.

Since you named me painful name like “worm”, I’ll name you Pane.

As a being that has no known names, it’s all I can think of, okay!? I know the word “hero” but I don’t know specific names of any individuals to use as a reference.

Okay Pane, I’m going to ask some questions.

What was the fruit that I ate that gave me all this knowledge and gave me the ability to see… or is this think? The panel?

…

Where is this place?

……

No answer, so Pane doesn’t answer every question. Was it just a fluke?

What about… How many beings are there within this dungeon?

Answer
Unable to obtain information. Panel Intelligence Level is insufficient.

Oh? Pane didn’t ignore me this time! Does this mean that as long as it has the ability to answer a question, it will be answered? Like asking the name of this place won’t give me anything, but asking information about beings is allowed?

Okay Pane, I’m going to evolve more to make you smarter!

To do that, I need to split my body into two… how do I do that?

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Answer
Splitting Worms have the ability to split instinctively.
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…Okay? I don’t understand.

I guess I’ll try it out.

I grew a tentacle with <Reform> and tried to pull it off my body by using <Telekinetic Movement> without using <Reform>.

The tentacle was removed after some time.

So… this is what it meant by it being a part of my body. Even though it’s separated from my body, I can move it with <Telekinetic Movement>. Not only that, I can feel the vibrations around it, as if it’s part of my body. I can also move it.

It’s like having one mind and two bodies. This is probably the result of <Dualism>.

Wait, will this enable me to multiply my skill level up rate by multiple times?

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Answer
Split body does not multiply the body but splits the body. But since its using different parts of the body which takes more effort, skill level up rate will increase but will take more effort.
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It can even answer questions like this… I can’t wait to increase his intelligence more!

Okay, now I have two bodies and one mind. What is the better option, separate the two bodies or make it go together?

Hmmm, I can use skills with the both of them, so hunting monsters will feel like its two against one.

…Wait, using skills in a separate body? What if I…

I moved both bodies a few meters apart of each other.

I’ll name the one on the left, Body #1 and the one on the right, Body #2.

First, Body #1… {Open Inventory}!

I felt the changed in airflow, meaning the hole opened.

…Here goes! I made Body #1 move into inventory by using <Telekinetic Movment>.

Next, Body #2… {Open Inventory}!

I felt the airflow change from Body #2.

…But not only Body #2, I also felt the change in airflow from Body #1, which is inside the inventory.

I made Body #1 exit through the dimension gate Body #2 created.

Body #1 landed next to Body #2.

Amazing! Using this method, I can move bodies around!

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Notice
Dimension gate created by Body #1 has been locked due to exceeding the distance limit.
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Oh, I forgot about that… what does a dimension gate being locked mean anyway?

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Answer
Nothing can enter locked dimension gate. If there are any obstructions blocking the dimension gate the moment it is locked, the obstruction will get stuck into the dimension gate. The dimension gate can only be closed when there is no obstruction.
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Thank you for the information, Pane!

This means I can still close the gate even though I’m far away, as long as it has no obstructions.

{Close Inventory}.

…Hmm? Even though I used {Close Inventory} only the first gate closed, the second gate remained.

This is probably because I didn’t have the intention to close it. {Mind Activation} is amazing for knowing what I want!

{Close Inventory}.

This time I closed the second gate.

I’ve got the hang of my new skills… time to hunt for some monsters!

I made Body #1 and Body #2 go into different directions and had them dissolve each dead monster they find.