The ancient temple continued to collapse.
CRACK!
A huge stone pillar fell from the ceiling.
The silver-haired girl immediately raised her hand.
A blue barrier appeared above them.
BOOM!
The pillar shattered against it.
—We have to leave!
—the girl shouted.
Ryu looked back at the ruins.
His mind was filled with questions.
He had once been the King of Slimes.
He had sealed the Abyssal King.
He had sacrificed his memories to seal his own power.
But why?
And more importantly—
Who was he before becoming the weak slime he was now?
Ryu looked at the Shadow Wolf.
—You knew all of this, didn’t you?
The Shadow Wolf lowered its head.
Ryu felt a strange sadness.
—Why didn’t you tell me?
The wolf remained silent.
The silver-haired girl answered instead.
—Because you made us promise.
Ryu turned toward her.
—Promise?
She nodded.
—You ordered everyone who knew the truth to keep it from you.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—Why would I do that?
The girl looked at him.
—Because you were afraid of yourself.
Ryu became silent.
The words hurt more than he expected.
The temple shook again.
BOOM!
The girl grabbed Ryu and started running.
—We can talk later!
The Shadow Wolf followed closely behind them.
They rushed through the collapsing corridor.
Stone fell from the ceiling.
Dust filled the air.
Ryu used Shadow Step whenever the path was blocked.
SWOOSH!
He disappeared into one shadow and appeared several meters away.
—This skill is really useful!
The girl glanced at him.
—You learned it very quickly.
Ryu smiled.
—Maybe I’m a genius.
The Shadow Wolf growled.
Ryu looked at it.
—What?
The wolf turned away.
—Hey!
The girl almost smiled.
For a moment, the terrifying atmosphere disappeared.
But then—
BOOOOM!
A massive explosion came from behind them.
Ryu turned around.
A huge wave of darkness burst through the corridor.
The girl immediately created a barrier.
BOOM!
The force pushed them forward.
Ryu bounced across the floor.
—What was that?!
The girl looked behind them.
Her face became pale.
—The Abyssal King.
Ryu froze.
—He’s coming?
—No.
She shook her head.
—He’s leaving.
Ryu looked confused.
—Leaving?
The girl nodded.
—The temple was only a prison.
She looked toward the collapsing walls.
—Now that his consciousness has awakened, he doesn’t need this place anymore.
Ryu’s eyes narrowed.
—Then where is he going?
The girl looked at him.
—Into Everdark Forest.
Ryu immediately turned.
—We have to stop him.
The girl grabbed him.
—No.
—Why?!
—Because you’re not strong enough.
Ryu became silent.
He knew she was right.
Level 5.
A few skills.
And a companion who had only recently awakened part of its power.
Compared to the Abyssal King—
He was nothing.
Ryu clenched his tiny fists.
—I hate being weak.
The girl looked at him.
—Then become stronger.
Ryu looked up.
She continued—
—Your old self wasn’t powerful because of a title.
—He became powerful because he survived.
Ryu stared at her.
—Then I’ll survive.
The Shadow Wolf growled softly.
The three of them finally reached the temple entrance.
The moment they stepped outside—
CRASH!
The ancient temple collapsed behind them.
A huge cloud of dust covered the forest.
Ryu looked at the ruins.
Something inside him felt strangely empty.
He had entered the temple as a weak slime.
He had left knowing that he had once been someone else.
Someone powerful.
Someone feared.
Someone who had apparently sacrificed everything.
The girl walked toward the forest.
—We should move.
Ryu followed.
—Where are we going?
—Somewhere safe.
—Where?
The girl looked at him.
—My village.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—There’s a village inside Everdark Forest?
She nodded.
—Not far from here.
Ryu bounced happily.
—Finally!
Maybe I’ll get some food!
The girl stared at him.
—You’re a slime.
Ryu stopped.
—Oh.
He looked at his body.
—Right.
The Shadow Wolf let out a sound that almost sounded like laughter.
Ryu glared at it.
—Don’t laugh at me.
They continued walking.
After nearly an hour, the forest began changing.
The trees became smaller.
The ground became covered with glowing flowers.
Ryu looked around in amazement.
—I’ve never seen this part of the forest.
The girl smiled.
—Most creatures don’t.
They walked a little farther.
Then Ryu saw something between the trees.
Buildings.
Small wooden houses.
A stone wall.
Smoke rising from chimneys.
A village.
Ryu stared.
—People live here?
The girl nodded.
—Not people.
Ryu looked closer.
There were goblins carrying baskets.
Small beastmen walking through the streets.
Fairies flying above houses.
Even a few small dragons sleeping on rooftops.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—This place is amazing!
The moment they entered the village—
Everyone stopped.
Silence spread through the street.
Every creature looked at Ryu.
Then at the Shadow Wolf.
A small goblin dropped the basket he was carrying.
Another creature immediately ran away.
Ryu became confused.
—Why is everyone staring?
The girl sighed.
—They recognize the wolf.
Ryu looked at his companion.
—So?
She answered quietly.
—The Shadow Wolf hasn’t appeared here for three hundred years.
Ryu froze.
—Three hundred years?
She nodded.
—The last time it appeared…
She looked at Ryu.
—You were with it.
Ryu stared at the village.
Suddenly, an old goblin slowly walked toward them.
He was leaning on a wooden staff.
His body trembled with age.
He stopped in front of Ryu.
His eyes widened.
Then he fell to his knees.
—My King…
Ryu froze.
The entire village went silent.
The old goblin lowered his head.
—You’ve returned.
Ryu looked around nervously.
—You…
know me?
The old goblin began crying.
—How could I forget?
Ryu didn’t know what to say.
The silver-haired girl walked closer.
—Elder, he doesn’t remember anything.
The old goblin looked at Ryu.
His expression became filled with sadness.
—Then the seal is still intact.
Ryu immediately asked—
—Tell me what happened three hundred years ago.
The old goblin looked at the Shadow Wolf.
Then at Ryu.
—You saved this village.
Ryu froze.
—What?
—You saved all of us.
The old goblin pointed toward the forest.
—Three hundred years ago, the Abyssal King invaded Everdark Forest.
—His army destroyed countless villages.
—Monsters everywhere were forced to serve him.
Ryu listened silently.
—Then you appeared.
The old goblin smiled faintly.
—A tiny blue slime.
Ryu blinked.
—Me?
—Yes.
The old goblin nodded.
—Everyone laughed at you at first.
Ryu looked down.
The story sounded strangely familiar.
—But you became stronger.
The old goblin’s voice trembled.
—You united the monsters of Everdark Forest.
—You defeated armies far stronger than yourself.
—And finally…
He looked toward the sky.
—You fought the Abyssal King.
Ryu’s heart began beating faster.
—Did I win?
The old goblin’s smile disappeared.
—No.
Ryu froze.
—You didn’t defeat him.
—Then how did I seal him?
The old goblin looked directly at him.
—Because you couldn’t kill him.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—Why?
The old goblin’s answer was quiet.
—Because the Abyssal King was once your friend.
Silence.
Ryu stared at him.
—My…
friend?
The Shadow Wolf suddenly growled.
The silver-haired girl looked away.
Ryu felt something strange in his chest.
Another memory began forming.
A young blue slime.
A black wolf.
And a third figure.
A young boy with silver hair.
The three of them were standing together.
Laughing.
Ryu touched his head.
—Who is he?
The old goblin’s eyes filled with tears.
—His name was…
He stopped.
A dark presence suddenly appeared in the forest.
Every creature in the village froze.
The Shadow Wolf immediately stood up.
Its eyes turned crimson.
Ryu looked toward the trees.
A deep voice echoed through the forest.
—Did you really think I wouldn’t find you?
The villagers began panicking.
The old goblin trembled.
The silver-haired girl immediately raised her magic.
Ryu stared into the darkness.
Two red eyes appeared between the trees.
The Abyssal King had found them.
The creature stepped out of the shadows.
—It’s been three hundred years, little slime.
Ryu moved beside the Shadow Wolf.
The Abyssal King smiled.
—And now…
Dark energy spread across the forest.
—You will finally remember me.
Ryu’s body began glowing blue.
[Warning.]
[Memory seal destabilizing.]
[Current seal integrity: 72%.]
Ryu stared at the message.
His memories were returning.
But so was something else.
A power he had forgotten.
A power that even the Abyssal King feared.
The Shadow Wolf stood beside him.
Ryu slowly smiled.
—Then come.
The blue aura around his body grew stronger.
—Let’s remember everything together.