[+166,742 AP!]
The result of transforming both of them into Devils yielded a lot of AP. It wasn't as exaggerated as when he transformed Shizue, who alone gave him nearly 300,000 AP, but it was still a considerable amount.
Of course, in Shizue's case, there was also the fact that she had become the bearer of Ddraig.
Looking at Rimuru, he called him into his office to talk.
"Rimuru." He asked seriously while sitting in front of him, "Can you explain your ability, Devour, to me in more detail?"
Rimuru's eyes narrowed. "Are you thinking of analyzing it and creating your own version?"
"Smart. Yes, I want that, and in return, I will give you one of my abilities," Zaydas said.
"I want your ability to cultivate with those magical tools," Rimuru replied.
"All right, I accept." Zaydas agreed.
Rimuru fell silent, possibly speaking with the Great Sage.
"Touch my fist, Zaydas-kun."
Following his instructions, Zaydas extended his hand in a fist, and their fists touched.
"Close your eyes."
Closing his eyes, Zaydas began receiving vast amounts of information related to the [Devour] ability.
The information was abundant.
In an instant, his mind contained all the knowledge about the [Devour] ability.
Opening his eyes, Zaydas attempted to replicate the ability. It would cost 90,000 AP with a 99% success rate.
'Success!'
Spending 10,000 AP, he created a Card of the first version of the All-Purpose Farming Tool.
Regardless of his success in replicating the [Devour] ability, a promise is a promise.
"Here, with this, you can say 'Activate' against your chest, and you'll gain the ability: All-Purpose Farming Tool." Zaydas handed him the Card.
"Thanks~" Rimuru smiled happily.
Without hesitation, he placed the Card against his chest and said, "Activate!"
In the next moment, the Card began fusing with him.
"Ohh, so that's how it works… Not bad~" Rimuru seemed satisfied.
"Yes, it's a good ability," Zaydas said. "By the way, the option to use the spear among all the farming tools is quite special. I recommend using it carefully."
"Mm, I know." Rimuru nodded.
With that said, Zaydas took a deep breath and began replicating the [Devour] ability.
[-90,000 AP!]
[1%...]
As he did so, he had a sudden epiphany and used his Shadow Manipulation ability at the same time he was replicating, thus achieving a 100% success rate!
[99%...]
Zaydas' smile deepened when he saw it rise to 100%.
[100%!]
[Notice! Congratulations! You have successfully replicated the [Devour (Rank S-)] ability, which has evolved into the Unique Skill: [Shadow Predator (Rank S-)]. Would you like to fuse with it now?]
'Yes!'
In the next instant, the ability's information integrated into him. It was a skill different from Rimuru's, yet similar, sharing the same properties, except that he used his own shadow to devour targets.
[Shadow Predator (Rank S-)]
Sub-Skills:
[Predation]: Absorbs the target into the user's shadow. However, if the target is conscious, the success rate decreases significantly. Valid targets include, but are not limited to; organic matter, inorganic matter, skill effects, and magic.
[Analysis]: The absorbed target is studied and analyzed. Craftable items can then be produced. If the necessary materials are present, duplicates can be made. In the case of a successful analysis of a skill or magic, the same technique can be acquired.
[Shadow Space]: A metaphysical space where all 'devoured or absorbed' targets are stored. Items produced via Analysis can also be stored. Anything stored in [Shadow Space] is unaffected by the passage of time.
[Mimicry]: Replicates the form and racial traits of an analyzed target, with equal or superior capabilities to the original.
[Isolation]: Harmful or unnecessary materials for analysis can also be stored. They will be used to replace magical energy.
What to say? He felt like giving Rimuru a kiss as a thank-you...
Jokes aside, he was genuinely grateful.
"Thank you, Rimuru," Zaydas said. "I obtained a great skill thanks to you."
"Haha, don't mention it, Zaydas-san," Rimuru laughed. "I also benefited from this exchange, remember?"
Smiling, he nodded. "You're right."
Although the skill level was impressive, it wasn't always about the highest rank of a skill, but rather about what a given skill was capable of doing.
With the All-Purpose Farming Tool skill, Rimuru wouldn't have to worry about potential food shortages.
'I intended to steal the [Gluttony] skill from the Orc Lord, but... I don't feel that desire anymore.'
Thanks to Rimuru, he obtained something truly useful. Because of that, he would let him use [Devour] on the Orc Lord. Later, he could negotiate with Rimuru again and replicate the [Gluttony] skill.
───────────
While the war preparations were being made, Zaydas set out with Tia and Rurushi.
"Where are we going, Darling Husband?" Rurushi asked, flying beside him.
Tia looked at him when Rurushi asked that question.
"I want to test a new skill of mine, and I also know that you two want to do the same, right?" Zaydas replied.
Maybe because of the Orcs, but it was difficult to find monsters along their path.
"Hold my hand, we're teleporting," Zaydas said.
"Yes." Agreeing, the two held his hands, and in the blink of an eye, the scenery changed—they were inside a cave.
"This is..."
"A cave where some monsters reside," Zaydas replied. "It will be easier to hunt here."
And as soon as his words fell, a Basilisk appeared.
Basilisks were a mix between a bird and a dragon. It was approximately the size of a horse, with a body covered in dark feathers and raptor-like claws. They had two large feathered wings on their back, and their long tail formed the head of a cruel serpent.
'A Rank B+ monster,' Zaydas calmly analyzed.
"This monster is strong," Tia remained alert.
Rurushi smiled. "Yes, it would have been difficult for us to deal with before, but..."
"Yes, our strength has increased a lot," Tia smiled slightly.
"I know you're excited, but..." Zaydas took a step forward, and soon his breath turned cold as part of the left side of his face was covered in ice, and his left leg was coated in frost. When he stomped on the ground, he murmured, "Become an Ice Sculpture."
Sounds of something freezing at high speed echoed as a trail of ice, as wide as a car, extended across the ground toward the Basilisk.
The Basilisk's perception was no joke, but even when it tried to dodge, the ice pursued it. The moment it touched one of its legs, the Basilisk began freezing in real time while roaring.
In an instant, it was turned into an ice sculpture.
Zaydas turned to her. "Very well, Rurushi, try using your ability on the Basilisk in this state."
"Yes!" Approaching while murmuring "So cold" and rubbing her arms, she reached the Basilisk's side and said, "Blood Extraction."
From within the ice, the Basilisk's blood, a deep crimson red, began being drawn out until it formed a pool of blood on the ground.
Rurushi then exclaimed, "Rise, my blood soldier!"
From the pool of blood, something attempted to take shape.
On the first attempt, she failed, but Rurushi didn't give up and spoke again with more force, "Rise, my blood soldier!"
Soon, from the pool of blood, something began to take form. It was a grotesque scene, similar to a slime shifting its shape to take on the appearance of something, but without changing its essence, like a slime.
"Roar!!"
The moment it finished rising, the Blood Basilisk roared. The Basilisk's roar was loud and powerful.
Meanwhile, the original Basilisk's body began to wither away until only bones remained.
Canceling the freezing, Zaydas approached and saw that, although the Blood Basilisk's power had decreased slightly, it was still considered a Rank B monster.
"So this is your new ability, Rurushi!" Tia, who had approached, seemed a little disheartened as she murmured, "And here I was thinking I'd have the advantage..."
"Tia, what kind of ability did you get?" Rurushi asked.
At the same time, she tested sending the Blood Basilisk into the metaphysical space where her Blood Soldiers would be stored.
A pool of blood formed on the ground, and the Blood Basilisk was drawn into it, disappearing from the area.
Tia, in turn, responded, "Fufu. You'll understand as soon as..."
Her words stopped halfway when she spotted a Giant Centipede.
"It's my turn, right?" She pointed at the Giant Centipede.
'Evil Centipede... Another Rank B+ monster.' Zaydas thought and said, "Yes, your turn."
Rising as its legs moved like tentacles, the Evil Centipede was deep crimson in color, with a face that resembled a black mask.
Smiling coldly, Tia moved, and almost instantly, she appeared behind the Evil Centipede—then, its head fell.
'Not bad,' Zaydas thought.
He had seen the entire process. Although she had moved very quickly, he noticed the moment she made her angel wings appear. At the same instant, she shaped her hand into a blade and created a blade of light, swiftly severing the Evil Centipede's head. With a push from her wings, she descended rapidly, appearing behind the Evil Centipede while casually waving her hand toward the ground, scattering its green blood.
"Life Light Extraction," she murmured calmly, extending her hand toward the Evil Centipede.
Soon, a sphere of light formed in the air, resembling a gathering of fluorescent milk.
When she finished, the Evil Centipede withered.
"Rise!" she exclaimed.
From the sphere of light, tearing sounds echoed as a centipede head emerged, resembling that of the Evil Centipede but white. Its body followed, dancing in the air until it touched the ground and crawled toward Tia in submission.
'It also became Rank B,' Zaydas analyzed.
Smiling, Tia turned to Rurushi without saying a single word.
"What is it?" Rurushi went on the defensive. "If you have something to say, just say it!"
"Nothing much." Tia continued smiling. "I was just thinking that I succeeded on the first try, even though our abilities are similar."
"Damn it…!" Rurushi stomped her foot on the ground. "Just wait, I'll get it on the first try next time!"
"Ara? Good luck then~" Tia laughed.
"Tia!!" Rurushi lunged at her.
"Calm down, girls." Zaydas intervened when he saw they were about to fight, especially since Rurushi had already summoned the Blood Basilisk. "After we return, you two can have a friendly duel, but for now, put your rivalry aside, okay?"
"If Darling Husband is asking…" Rurushi murmured, stepping back.
"I'll listen to you." Tia made a white light appear on the ground, and her Radiant Soldier, the Evil Centipede, was sucked into it.
Like Rurushi, she also had a metaphysical space where her Radiant Soldiers were kept.
Walking side by side, with Zaydas in the middle, they stopped when they saw a Carapace Lizard.
'Oh? Unfortunately, I already have its ability...'
He had already replicated it from Rimuru before, so he saw little point in using this monster as a target, even though it was a good one as a Rank B-.
…
Two hours later…
Tia and Rurushi had each gained a total of 11 soldiers. However, there was a 'problem.'
Soldiers below Rank B- had become generic soldiers with no significant battle power, ranking at C+.
Each of them had obtained nine of these soldiers. Additionally, each had acquired a Carapace Lizard.
In other words, their power was evenly matched.
Well, Zaydas wanted to be fair when increasing their soldiers, which was why things ended up so balanced.
And for the first time, Zaydas was about to test his unique ability: Shadow Predator.
In front of him was a Giant Bat trapped in silk threads.
Pointing his finger, he murmured, "Thread Shot."
"Bang!"
From his hand, a steel-threaded ball shot toward the struggling Giant Bat, piercing its head. Fresh blood immediately began to flow.
Then, he thought, 'Shadow Predator.'
His shadow, which lay before him, expanded, coming to life as it rose from the ground. Like a spear, it enveloped the Giant Bat, forming a sphere of shadow before falling back into his own shadow.
[Analysis complete.]
[Skills: [Vampirism (Rank C+)] and [Ultrasonic Wave (Rank C+)] acquired!]
[Announcement. It is now possible to mimic the [Vampire Bat]!]