Monster Breeder 49. Setting Out

49. Setting Out

Lazy? Lazy!?!

I should’ve known based on her personality when we t (she was lying face down in the sand like an idiot). The reason why Flou popped out almost instantly, but Olindia won’t leave my womb is because the latter is the type to sleep all day and not bother to accomplish anything unless forced to do so. In other words, a shut-in.

You might say she’s literally living in a mother’s ‘basent.’

“Are you sure about leaving Gabby and Suka behind?” Flou asks .

I’m running through Fuzzy Field toward the Misty Grove with nobody but my two Sli pets to accompany . I’ve left my armor off for a couple of reasons. First, it gives away my nature sowhat. I’m not a weak human anymore, but I want to encourage random monster attacks by seeming defenseless. More encounters an more marks.

Second is Photosynthesis. Gabby gave so snacks and veggies before I left the hut, but the underrated Forest mark is doing work today. Exposing my green skin to the sun is essential for padding my daily caloric requirents.

Third, I like looking cute. It’s a luxury, sure, but one I can better afford the more powerful I beco.

“It’s no big deal,” I say, answering Flou. “I can practically fight a tier-three monster on my own, and I’m sticking to the outskirts.”

I recall part of our conversation from this morning.

“If you feel the need to find this Harpy, then I won’t stand in your way,” Gabby said. “However, as your wife and life partner, it’s my responsibility to drill so sense into that thick, reckless skull of yours. Go to the Misty Grove first to upgrade Flou and Olindia. It shouldn’t take more than an hour or two even without delving deep into the woods.”

“Agreed,” Suka said. “You should have a real monster by your side at all tis. Since I can’t climb the mountain with you, upgrading your companion should be top priority.”

Gabby nodded. “From what we saw last ti, the threat level in the outer Grove area is minimal.”

Strangely humid air lingers perpetually in the area despite the rising sun’s heat. Only the vague shadows of trunks and canopies are visible through the fog that never dies. We’ve arrived.

I stroll through the outer edge of the Misty Grove in my underwear like a lost, vulnerable human. Last ti, I had Gabby’s Goblin Ears and her bandolier of eleven herbs and spices to protect . This ti…

A blue blur darts from the mists.

“Cottontail, I got these two new abilities from experinting with my marks this morning. Can you tell anything about a mouse’s Predator Sense?”

“Um, I’ve never heard anyone call it that, but gan has always been really good at staying one step ahead of the Harpies, Dire Wolves, and Goblins that co after us. It’s like she knows she’s being stalked even when they don’t make a sound!”

“And what about a rabbit’s Lucky Foot?”

“Oh, yeah, that’s a weird one! Sotis, my left foot goes all pins-and-needles like it’s fallen asleep. Then sothing weird happens to the predator attacking , like a Dire Wolf stepping in a hole, or a sudden updraft throwing off a Harpy’s dive. But it never happens more than once a day.”

“Wow, freaky.”

“Actually, I think I rember my foot getting all tingly right before you rescued from those Mole-n!”

I feel a hot and itchy sensation on my back like fire ant bites. Taking it as a signal, I dodge aside with Wolf Rush and Treefolk Vines. Sothing bigger than I’m used to (that’s what she said) whooshes past an instant later.

Hah! I did it! I dodged without looking!

The monster is about half my size, big, blue, and round with no discernable features. Wow, this Sli is way bigger than the one I saw on my previous trip here with Gabby. It must be fifteen gallons! That’s enough Sli to knock soone down and pin them while it dissolves their face. Scary.

More ant bites on my arms and head. The Large Sli extends several pseudopods in my direction, attempting to cut off my escape. The tentacles are long and mobile.

Ah, I see. First-tier Slis only know ‘Tackle,’ while Large Slis are ambush predators who use their tendrils to seal the deal.

Summoning an ember spear, I slice through the pseudopod on my left before extending Vines from my subcutaneous nodules. My green lifelines plunge into the dirt and pull aside while the other tentacles whiff, passing through my previous position.

“Want any help?” Flou asks from sowhere on my bralette and panties.

“Nah, I want to train here for a few minutes.” I use Predator Sense to dodge again. I was right, it’s an extrely useful ability; sothing like limited precognition. “Predator Sense needs to be a reflex for . Plus, I could use a little practice with my Vines, and morizing the Large Sli’s attack pattern with Fast Learner couldn’t hurt.”

I debate donning my armor but feel like I need the extra incentive to dodge without making a mistake. If I get hurt, Olindia will have to use her Pink Sli healing on . After wasting one of those limited uses, I’d have no choice but to retreat to the hut in humiliating defeat and wait for tomorrow to reset.

I’m not worried in the slightest since I have Flou to bail out of a bad situation as well. The little Fuzzy Sli is more than capable of wrecking the other monster’s day, no doubt.

While the Large Sli is far beneath as an opponent, it’s a good match to train my inexperience and deficiencies. It sends multiple pseudopods at from several directions at once each ti it cos in range. In these mists, one definitely would’ve eventually slipped past my notice without Predator Sense.

However, with Fast Learner accelerating my developnt, I’ve learned all I can in less than an hour. A few thrown spears to center mass are all it takes to pop the Large Sli like a water balloon. The spilled sli evaporates without the monster’s mbrane holding the stuff inside until only a core is left behind.

*Large Sli Slayer – One Sli Mark!*

I stand over the large black marble and wait for sothing to happen.

“Feel anything, Flou?”

“…Yes. There’s a certain resonance I can sense. The defeated core is submissive; willing to bond with anything compatible.”

“Ah, that’s the ‘Subjugated’ status.” I stand there, waiting. “Aren’t you going to take it?”

“Um, so,” Flou begins hesitantly, “I don’t really want to be a Large Sli. I think having multiple bodies as a Swarm-type would be more interesting, and I’m afraid I’ll bond with it if I touch the core.”

I blink in surprise. “I would’ve expected you to go for the increased size in the hopes of improving your Sli shaping. You know, to try and look more like your old self?”

“Yeah, that’s…” Flou releases a burbling sigh. “I actually think I’ve reconciled to being clothes. I’m more excited about becoming a full wardrobe for all your harem girls than returning to being a bunny.”

Huh. I guess that’s the ‘Contented’ status.

Sothing stirs within , and a pink pseudopod extends from my nethers to snatch the unguarded core.

“Wait, shit!” I scramble to grab the core away from Olindia’s tendril, but the flexible fluid tentacle evades my every attempt. It retreats inside with a schlorp while carrying the core in its pseudopod grasp. “Fuck. Oh, fucky fuck.”

I fall to my hands and knees in despair.

*Pets*

*Lazy Large Pink Jellyfish Sli Core*

*Contented Fuzzy Sli*

“Gabby is going to kill .”

I think I hear a crow in the distance calling, “Aho! Aho!”

Which is weird because most birds have been hunted to extinction by cat girls.