I Own the Evolution Domain

Taking his attention off the markings around the tree within his surrounding, Novus leaped away from the tree branch he was standing from as Sensory Expansion warned him of something, his hairs standing up to their ends as he felt a threat that would’ve ended his life right there and then.

’That was dangerous...’ he thought to himself as he stares up his previously location, the attack breaking the branch he was previously perched on, his senses allowing him to finally meet his aggressor, locking his attention on it.

Roundish body with a golden glint to it, towering at a height rivalling even the large, E Tier Amber Slimes, however, despite its massive size, it appears that it can continuously move at such incredible speed as even his senses can barely follow its swift figure.

Seeing the golden glint, Novus immediately recalled one of the slime types that he managed to take down with the final explosion he left behind during his third entry inside the Evolution Domain, the only kind of slime that he had yet to actually trade blows with despite already harvesting resources from them.

[Golden Slime]

[Combat Rating: E+ ~ D]

[Talent: Golden Body (D-rank Talent)]

[Strength: 400~4000]

[Agility: 400~4000]

[Vitality: 400~4000]

[Arcane: 400~4000]

[Harmony: 400~4000]

[Possible Drops: D-Tier Evolution Crystal (2~3), Slime Substrate (7~10), Slimy Gold Dust (0~3)]

[Note: The tier of the Evolution Crystal dropped will be dependent on the tier of the creature, the higher the creature’s tier is compared to the lowest tier it can have, the less Evolution Crystal acquired but the higher the quality is as well.]

’Is that... a Golden Slime?’

As he recalls the status board of the Golden Slime, Novus couldn’t help but feel that dealing with this monster will be a bit of a problem for him, after all, it appears that this monster has well balanced stats just like his.

However, knowing that the Slimy Gold Dust, a resource that can boost his Evolution Crystal absorption speed, has a chance of dropping should he take down this slime, such problem was cast out of his mind as the intent to hunt the slime down began filling him up.

’Given the speed and the strength of that attack, it shouldn’t be one of the stronger ones among the D Tier, right?’ recalling the attack that nearly took him down, Novus felt that his analysis is pretty much on point, after all, should the slime be any stronger than it shows, then he would’ve been dead after that first attack.

Of course, while he is certain that he can stand his ground against this new target, he still maintains his calm and cautious to no end, after all, after repeated entry within this domain, such doctrine is already practically etched in his being, as inside this place, foolish recklessness can only be rewarded by pain at best, and at worst, death.

Mana coating his body began to fade as his focus began to turn more towards the fight, around the air and near his arms, azure, corporeal blades of mana formed with such quick, smooth motion, showing just how much he had improved utilizing it ever since he created this method.

’That’s...’

Sharpness fills his sight as through the help of Sensory Perception, he saw several paths of attack coming for him from several directions, making him wonder whether there are other enemies out of his sight.

Still, he prompts to ignore it for now as he prioritizes avoiding, even taking opportunity of the incoming attack, pushing his senses not to detect neither further nor deeper, but rather more of the attack.

His body moves as he lets his legs loose, bringing his body forward as he finally saw the reason as to why the paths of attack coming for him begins on different locations.

The Golden Slime leaps from its previous location, but not towards the young man but circling around him, the golden sheen of its surface reflecting what little sunlight that peers through the thickness of the forest’s leaves, allowing its opponent to see something.

Several goop from its body began detaching themselves before changing form, allowing Novus to bear witness to the attack that previous came for his life, a smile appearing on his face as his eyes glows with interest watching how the Golden Slime’s detached parts changes and transform.

From goo that couldn’t even hold itself, it stretches before it twists around itself, finally, hardening as if it had finally decided to take a solid form, spiraling sticks with sharp, pointed and definitely piercing end aimed towards him as it launched, tearing through the air.

Due to the spiral that seems to be carved from the makeshift spear being twisted, it whistles as it travels quickly through the air, allowing Novus to guestimate the distance and speed of the spear possibly even without utilizing Sensory Expansion.

A couple of golden spears passes through him barely as he dodges, allowing him to take further steps forward, closing the distance between himself and the golden slime, all while taking into account the makeshift spears still aimed at his body.

He swung the Mana Blade wrapping around his arms.

And then the next moment, one of the golden spears bounced off to the distance, all while several more continues along their path.

’Are they... changing directions?’ feeling something weird, Novus couldn’t help but think to himself as he heard the spears that passes through him seemingly getting closer again, prompting him to direct some of his attention behind him.

The odd thing is that there is nothing close, the whistling sound only growing louder as it falls down the ground.

And witnessing this, the young man immediately knew.

He had been tricked.

’Sly little fucker—’ he couldn’t help but curse to himself as he returns all of his attention back to his aggressor, even his thoughts pausing as he witnesses the massive, globular figure towering over himself, the several meters of gap between the two of them now barely just a few centimeters.

Normally, this would’ve triggered anyone else’s flight response as the fact that such massive, flamboyant being can move in such swift, stealthy way might be something that can be hard enough to comprehend that some sort of primal fear will be invoked from deep inside.

Instead of running away however, Novus’ mind, sharpened by his experiences and the time he had previously spent within this Evolution Domain, knew full well that retreating in front of such opponent can only result in one outcome, his own death.

That’s why instead of taking even a single step back, the young man opted to push forward, seeing this opportunity to attack as the monster itself closes the distance between the two of them, a faint, yet nonetheless amused smile appearing on his face as he never expected that there will be a slime variant at the level of this Golden Slime.

Mana swirls around his fist as it changes from a blade to a reinforcement, his flesh, skin and bones being strengthened to such degree as he landed what something that is way beyond a normal killing blow.

And as he swung his fist, light flashes, something that he had never experienced before when he is performing a mana-enhanced punch.

Of course, it only makes sense as after all, the radiant light that flash doesn’t necessarily came from his attack, but rather, from the barrier that the Golden Slime manifested to block his offense.