Bren's eyes were wide with curiosity. "Stronger? What can it do?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the glowing blue slime.
Coker's mind raced. Could he trust Bren? The boy seemed friendly. He hadn't laughed. He'd called the slime *cool*. But the memory of the village square, the roaring laughter, made Coker's stomach twist. What if Bren was tricking him? What if the moment Coker showed him the truth, Bren would turn on him too?
He couldn't risk it. Not yet.
"It's… hard to explain," Coker said, quickly putting the slime back into his pocket. He changed the subject. "You said you're going to Ironhaven to be a blacksmith?"
Bren looked a little disappointed but nodded. "Yeah. My summon's good for finding metal ore underground. Not great for fighting, but useful for smithing." He patted his Metal-Badger on the head. The creature grunted and nuzzled his hand. "What about you? Why are you going?"
The familiar shame crept back. "I… needed work," Coker said vaguely, looking at the ground.
Bren was quiet for a moment. He seemed to understand it was a sore subject. "Well, it's better to travel together. Safer. We can share food, too. I have some extra dried meat."
Coker's heart felt lighter. He hadn't had a friend in what felt like forever. "Okay," he agreed softly. "Thanks."
They decided to set up camp for the night. Bren's badger dug a small, cozy pit for them to sleep in, keeping the wind out. As they sat by a small fire Bren made, eating dried meat and bread, Coker felt almost normal.
But his secret weighed heavily on him. Every time Bren's badger sniffed the air or grunted, Coker thought about his own slime. He could still feel the new connection in his mind, a quiet hum of power waiting to be used.
The next morning, they continued their journey. The path began to slope downward, leading into a darker part of the forest where the trees grew close together.
"We have to be careful here," Bren said, his voice low. "My dad told me this part of the woods has Rock-Tusks. Mean boars that charge anything that moves."
Coker's mouth went dry. He remembered the stories. Rock-Tusks were big, fast, and tough to take down. Even a group of hunters would be wary of one.
They walked quietly, both boys tense and listening for any sound. Bren's badger stayed close, its nose twitching nervously.
Then, they heard it. A loud snort, followed by the sound of something heavy moving through the bushes up ahead.
Bren froze, pulling Coker behind a thick tree. "Shhh," he whispered, his face pale.
Through the leaves, Coker saw it. A Rock-Tusk. It was huge, even bigger than the stories said. Its skin was like rough stone, and two sharp, curved tusks stuck out from its mouth. It was digging at the roots of a tree, looking for food.
"We have to go around," Bren whispered, already starting to back away slowly. "We can't fight that. My badger's claws can't scratch its hide. We'll have to take a longer path."
Coker's heart was pounding. This was it. This was a real monster. The dog had been one thing, but this… this was huge.
But a new feeling rose up in him—not just fear, but desire. A deep, hungry want that wasn't entirely his own. It was coming through the connection from his slime. It wanted that thing.
If his slime could become a Rock-Tusk… he would be strong. He would be safe. No one could ever laugh at him again.
"Wait," Coker said, his voice surprisingly steady.
Bren turned, confused. "What? We have to go!"
The Rock-Tusk lifted its head. It had heard them. Its small, angry eyes locked onto their hiding spot. It snorted, pawing at the ground. It was getting ready to charge.
"There's no time to run!" Bren yelled in panic. "My badger will try to distract it! You run that way!" His badger bravely stepped forward, growling, though it looked small compared to the giant boar.
The boar charged. It was terrifyingly fast, a moving wall of muscle and stone.
Coker didn't run. He stood his ground. This was his chance.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Bren screamed.
As the boar thundered toward them, Coker reached into his pocket and threw the slime onto the ground in front of him.
"EAT!" he commanded, pouring all his will into the connection in his mind.
For a terrifying second, nothing happened. The slime just sat there.
The boar was only ten steps away.
Five.
Then, the familiar blue light erupted—but it was brighter this time, so bright it hurt to look at. It wasn't a flash; it was a wave.
The light didn't just glow; it *exploded* outward, forming a massive, shimmering blue wall between them and the charging beast.
The Rock-Tusk slammed into the light with a sickening thud. But it didn't break through. The light held it, wrapping around it like water.
The boar's angry squeals were muffled. It struggled, kicking and thrashing, but the blue light swallowed it whole, pulling it inward until there was no sign of the monster left.
Then, the light vanished.
The forest was silent again.
Sitting where the giant boar had been was Coker's slime. It was now glowing even brighter, pulsing with a deep, powerful blue light. It was slightly larger, and seemed… satisfied.
Bren was on the ground, staring. His mouth was open, but no sound came out. He looked from the spot where the boar had disappeared to the slime, then to Coker's face. His expression was a mix of pure shock and utter terror.
Coker stood breathing heavily, his own hands shaking. It had worked. It had actually worked.
He turned to look at his new friend, fear and hope warring in his chest. The secret was out.
Bren finally found his voice. It was a shaky whisper.
What is that
Hey everyone! I'm excited to share this chapter with you, and I'd love to hear your thoughts! Is the story feeling engaging and exciting, or is it dragging a bit? Are there any characters or plotlines that you're particularly invested in, or any areas that feel confusing or unclear? Your feedback would be super helpful in making the story better. Let me know what you think! Do you want more action, more romance, or maybe more world-building? Your input will help me shape the direction of the story and ensure it's something you'll enjoy reading. Thanks in advance for your comments!