The transition was not like the brutal, instantaneous wrench into the Scarlet Maw. This was a gentle unraveling. The grim, metallic hues of the nursery dissolved into a cascade of shimmering, emerald light. The cacophony of infant snarls faded, replaced by a symphony of rustling leaves, chirping birds, and the distant gurgle of a stream. The oppressive, heavy Ki of Planet Vegeta vanished, and in its place, Kairo felt a new energy—lighter, more malleable, humming with a thousand different possibilities.
[World Shift Complete. Welcome to the Jura Tempest Forest, World ID: TS-001 (Slime).]
[Ambient Magicule Density: High. Compatible with Host Physiology.]
[Local Time Dilation Active. 30:1 Ratio Confirmed.]
Kairo found himself lying on a bed of soft, cool moss at the base of a giant, ancient tree. He took a deep, experimental breath. The air was clean and sweet, filled with the scent of damp earth and blooming flora. The gravity was standard, a relief that made his body feel impossibly light. After the constant struggle of Vegeta's high gravity and the nursery's harshness, this place felt like a paradise.
His first action was to assess his new environment with all the tools at his disposal. He activated [Mind's Eye], scanning for immediate threats. The forest was alive with energy signatures, but most were small, benign. A few larger auras pulsed in the distance, but none radiated immediate hostility.
Then he used [Appraisal].
[Appraising: Jura Tempest Forest - Moss Patch]
[Composition: Biologically rich soil, Magicule-saturated flora.]
[Properties: Slight regenerative effect on living beings. Minor MP recovery boost.]
[Appraising: Dire Squirrel]
[Race: Forest Squirrel (Magicule-Infused)]
[Power Level: 3]
[Skills: Nut Gather (Lv. 4), Chitter (Lv. 3)]
[Status: Curious, Non-hostile.]
Magicules. MP. The terminology of this world. His [Appraisal] skill had seamlessly adapted, translating the local mechanics. He could feel the Magicules in the air, like a fine mist he could almost taste. They were different from Ki—less about raw physical power and more about potential, about enabling skills and magic.
His objective was clear: Find Rimuru Tempest and earn a Name. But he was still an infant, physically weak and vulnerable. Charging blindly through a fantasy forest was a recipe for disaster. He needed a strategy.
Phase 1: Establish Base Camp and Gather Intel.
His current location was defensible, hidden by the giant tree's roots. He would use it as a temporary shelter. Using his enhanced Ki control, he began to subtly manipulate the local Magicules, not to cast a spell, but to create a simple [Conceal Presence] effect, a technique he theorized by combining his Ki stealth methods with the ambient magical energy. It wouldn't fool a powerful monster, but it would make him invisible to the forest's smaller predators.
Phase 2: Locate the Target.
He needed to find Rimuru. The System had said "2 Days Post-Reincarnation." According to his memories of the story, Rimuru would still be in the cave where he met Veldora. But he was a tiny slime. The cave could be anywhere.
He decided to follow the water. In most ecosystems, settlements and travel routes followed water sources. The stream he heard was his best bet. He began to crawl, his movement far more fluid and effortless in this lighter gravity. He used [Environmental Analysis] to read the forest floor, avoiding unstable ground and poisonous plants.
For hours, he moved with painstaking slowness, a tiny Saiyan infant navigating an immense, magical wood. He saw wonders that defied his scientific understanding: flowers that glowed with inner light, mushrooms that sang soft, chiming notes, and a clearing where the very air shimmered with visible magical energy.
It was during this cautious travel that he encountered his first true test. A creature emerged from the undergrowth—a wolf with matted, grey fur, glowing red eyes, and fangs that dripped with acidic saliva.
[Appraising: Fang Wolf]
[Race: Lesser Demon Beast]
[Power Level: 45]
[Skills: Pack Hunter (Lv. 2), Acidic Bite (Lv. 1)]
[Status: Hungry, Aggressive.]
Power Level 45. It was almost double his own. The wolf snarled, lowering its head, preparing to pounce. Flight was not an option. His [Conceal Presence] had failed against its keen senses.
This was it. His first real combat in this new world. He couldn't afford a prolonged fight. It had to be one strike, with everything he had.
As the wolf lunged, time seemed to slow. Kairo's [Mind's Eye] activated, highlighting the beast's trajectory and a critical weak point in its jaw. He ignored the closing fangs, focusing entirely on his own hands.
He gathered his Ki, pushing past his limits. The familiar strain burned through his channels, but he pushed harder. He visualized the Jōgen. But this time, he didn't try to form a stable sphere. He focused on pure, raw, projection.
A thin, searing line of blue energy, no thicker than a needle, shot from his palm. It wasn't a wave; it was a lance. It utilized every ounce of his 27 Power Level, compressed into a single, devastating point.
The beam pierced straight through the roof of the Fang Wolf's mouth and into its brain.
The beast crumpled mid-lunge, skidding to a halt at Kairo's feet, dead before it hit the ground.
Kairo collapsed, his body screaming in protest, his Ki reserves completely drained. He gasped for air, the scent of ozone and burnt flesh filling his nostrils.
[Power Level: 27 -> 31]
[Zenkai Boost Activated. Limit-Breaker Efficiency: 200%.]
[Skill Developed: Jōgen Lance (Lv. 1) - An offensive derivation of the Unnamed Energy Wave, sacrificing stability for piercing power.]
He had survived. More than that, he had evolved. He had created his first true combat technique.
As he lay there recovering, a new, gentle voice echoed in his mind, soft and curious, unlike the System's cold tones.
"Wow! That was amazing! For a little baby, you're super strong! I've never seen energy like that!"
Kairo froze. He looked around, but saw no one. Then, his eyes fell upon a small, blue, gelatinous sphere sitting on a nearby rock, wobbling slightly.
[Appraising: Rimuru Tempest]
[Race: Slime (Unique)]
[Power Level: ???]
[Skills: Predator, Great Sage, etc...]
[Status: Amused, Incredibly Curious.]
He had been found. Not by a threat, but by the very being he sought.
The first step into the larger world was complete. The journey toward a Name had begun.