8 Chapter 8: Blood Core Slime

"It's time we begin the preparations for the elixir."

"What kind of preparations are we talking about? Because there isn't much that you can do in this lab."

"I don't need much. Just the mana insulator." 

He then asked Alexi to take the slimes out and restrain them using his gravity skill. Alexi understood the importance of what he was about to witness so he did as he was told. 

He put the slimes on the floor. They looked like blobs of colourless jelly about the size of a small bicycle. He put them under 2Gs because any more would kill them. That's how weak slimes are.

Zeke began, "Who here can tell me the characteristics of a slime?" 

Katherine noticed Cass and Alexi staring at her and sighed. She answered, "Slimes are one of the weakest creatures-"

"Wrong. I asked about their characteristics."

"I was stating their characteristics."

"You were not. You were telling me assumptions, wrong assumptions by the way, because you haven't studied them. And why would you? You believe that they are one of the weakest in the food chain and belong at the very bottom."

"They are not assumptions. They are conclusions based on the data gained by observing slimes."

"Wrong again. I will also correct my statement, they are conclusions based on misinterpreted data gained by observing slimes."

"How so?"

Zeke smiled after hearing Katherine's response. This was one of the most important traits of a scientist. The ability to think objectively, without letting emotions cloud their judgement.

At the same time, Cass whispered into Alexi's ear, "What is going on here?"

Alexi whispered back, "I believe this is what they call a scientific debate."

"Then why are we here?"

Alexi replied with helplessness evident in his voice, "Because we have no other choice."

[I wonder how Cass would have reacted if Uncle Alexi had replied, 'Just to suffer.']

Back to the debate, Zeke answered while pointing at the slimes, "If I had to choose a single word to describe these 'weaklings', I would choose the word catastrophic."

"Huh?"

"Let me explain. Null Slimes are one of the most dangerous existences in the universe. Emphasis on the null or attributeless if it sounds better. I don't care about the elemental ones.

They have three innate traits. Pseudo immortality, absolute adaptability, and mana devour. The reason why slimes are so weak despite having these overpowered traits is because they also have a lot of restrictions.

1. Pseudo Immortality: A slime can survive as long as its core is intact and it has access to even the smallest amounts of mana. Theoretically, if these conditions are fulfilled, a slime can have an infinite lifespan. 

2. Absolute Adaptability: As long as a slime has access to mana, it can adapt to any environment. It is a passive ability, and the process takes a long time. Most slimes die before it is over. Elemental slimes are a result of this trait.

3. Mana Devour: This is arguably the most important trait as it is the basis on which the other traits work. It allows a slime to passively devour the surrounding mana. As it is also a passive trait, very minute amounts of mana are devoured. 

If you separate a slime core from its body, its levels will fall but with enough mana, it can regenerate another body for itself. In fact, at Lvl. 150 and 300, slimes devour their bodies to breakthrough through Lvl.151 and 301. After that, they form new and better bodies that are as big as their original size at Lvl.1.

Their innate traits strengthen each time they go through this process. I have never seen or heard about an Lvl.451 Null Slime but I believe, that once they reach that stage and have gone through three transformations, their passive abilities turn into active ones. Any questions?"

Katherine was stunned by the information she had just received. If it was true, she shuddered at the thought.

Cass raised his hand. Zeke was happy to see his brother actively try to participate and said, "Yes Cass?"

"Does this count as today's study session?"

"...Sure."

He then looked at Alexi and said, "Please separate their cores from their bodies. Make sure that the cores are intact and put them in the mana insulation cages. As for the bodies, collect them separately and put them in the freezer. I will need them later."

He put the two slimes into a glass container each. He then proceeded to use his mana to locate the cores in their bodies. The cores looked like transparent glass tennis balls. He took them out and put them in the mana insulation cages. Their bodies became liquid jello without the core. He put the containers in the freezer and returned 

Zeke took the two cages into the mana insulator. A mana insulator was like a room that scientists used when they wanted to avoid the atmospheric mana from interfering with their experiments. He also took Cass inside with him. He then looked at Alexi and said, "I need you to bring the blood and bone soup, two healing potions and four blood regeneration potions here."

Alexi got a tray of the freeze-dried blood and bone soup and took them to the mana insulator. He saw that Zeke and Cass were standing facing each other. There was a table with the two mana insulation cages on it.

He went towards them and kept the tray on the table. Then he took out the potions from his space ring. Zeke placed 1 healing potion, two blood regenerating potions and two blood and bone soup cubes in front of Cass. He did the same for himself. 

Zeke said, "Hey Cass, you remember that thing Dad used to say about power?"

"Of course, he always used to say that power always comes with a price. And the cheapest prices are your blood, sweat, and tears."

Katherine glared at Alexi. Just what in hell's name had Magnus been teaching these kids? They were kids! At the same time, Alexi was thinking, 'How is that my fault?' His best friend had always been crazy that way. It wasn't his fault that he passed it on to his children.

Zeke ignored them and continued, "Well, this the blood part, or at least some of it. Although this will hurt a lot, it is the only way to unlock all of our potential."

"Ezekiel Ashbourne, you better tell me what your plans are."

Zeke knew that Katherine was agitated because that was the only time she used their full names like this. He also knew that it would only get worse if she knew the requirements of the elixir.

"I won't do that because you'll know...eventually. Just trust me on this. You know I won't hurt Cass. I have made all the preparations for this scenario so just wait and watch. After all, you don't get to witness the brewing of an EX grade elixir, even if it is just the preparation of the ingredients every day.

And as a bonus, I will be explaining everything step by step. Just carefully observe what I'm doing with Cass because you will have to do the same to me. And no matter what, do not interrupt me."

He then took a sterile scalpel and walked towards Cass. He said, "Cass just remember not to struggle."

"Why would I struggle?"

"Because this will hurt like a bitch." As soon as he said that, he took Cass's forearm and made a vertical slit in his wrist. He then held the forearm just above the slime core with the cut facing towards it and pulled the skin back. 

The wound instantly started bleeding. The blood fell directly on the slime core. Cass started becoming paler and paler as he lost more blood. He wanted to break free from his brother's grasp but then remembered his words and decided to trust him. 

Just when he felt that he was about to die, Zeke fed him a potion. His body started producing blood at faster speeds but it was useless. All the new blood was flowing out of the wound. He had started losing consciousness when Zeke let go of his arm and fed him two cubes and the rest of the potions. His condition started getting better but he needed rest. 

Alexi picked him up and took him to his room so that he could rest. 

In the mana insulator, Katherine shouted, "Why did you do that? Your brother could have died."

"No, he wouldn't have. I made sure of it."

"But why did you do it?"

"Let me tell you a trait that both Angels and Demons share; Mana Blood. Unlike us who gain access to mana after unlocking the System, these races have mana present in their very blood and don't need the System to wield it. 

Although dormant, we both have these bloodlines, therefore we also have inherent mana in our blood but it is so suppressed that we also need to unlock the System before we can use it. 

I told you the characteristics of Null Slimes. These slime cores without their bodies are only Lvl.51 right now. They lost 49 levels when they were separated from their bodies. So, they will instinctively search for mana to rebuild their bodies but they are inside mana insulation cages.

So the only option they have left is the mana present in our blood. With the mana, they will also absorb the blood which will start mutating them. After two days, they will have formed bodies the size of a football. Their new bodies will have a slight red hue to them. 

Then we will repeat the process. Separate the cores from the bodies and store the bodies. Put the cores in mana insulation cages and bleed on them until we're on death's door and wait for new bodies to form. The red hue in its body will become stronger.

We need to repeat this process until their bodies resemble blood rubies. By the time that happens, the slimes will have completed their mutation into a Blood Core Slime. Now help do the same for my slime."

[I wonder if I could also write a novel series, 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Blood Core Slime'? Something worth thinking about.]

Although reluctant, Katherine still helped him by holding his forearm and feeding him all the potions and the cubes at the right times. Then she picked him up and took him to his room. 

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Author's Note:

Hey guys, I hope you like the novel.

Fortunately, I had some free time today. So, I wrote this chapter because I am a nice person and I love you guys.

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