The days passed in the quarry and the nights were getting even colder. Winter was approaching and the depressed atmopshere became even more pronounced.

I continued training and my progress remained shocking. I had surpassed my old strength in around a month's time of training. I had also made a surprising discovery about my soul energy, it is quite sharp. A flicker of energy had come off my body during training and it had cut a nearby rock in half. Sweet.

It was morning and I returned to my post at the hole in the wall, which was now around three meters wide and three meters deep. I looked at my pickaxe with a faint sense of loss. My pickaxe, you have been with me for a short time and have served me well, but now I must abandon you. Forgive me!

I took a deep breath before dropping my pickaxe on the ground. I felt the calm but potent energy that had welled up within me before it all exploded out at once. I leaped up to the top of the quarry and sprinted off with amazing speed. I set multiple nonexistent blob skirts fluttering about and all they saw was an indistinct blur. In ten seconds flat I was out of the town and into the farm land outside of the walls.

I continued sprinting, heading in the direction of the town that was burnt down. The wind blowing past my face felt amazing after being incapacitated for so long. Around four hours later, I had gotten myself completely lost in a forest. I wouldn't really count it as being lost, seeing as how I had no idea where I was in the first place in this entire damn world!

After a bit of wandering around...

Suddenly, the sound of armor being struck drew my attention. I found a clearing and within it seven light green blobs were duking it out with a significantly larger party of black blobs. The light green blobs were fighting valiantly, but they were being bogged down by the numbers of their enemy. They whipped each other violently, the missing blows shattering stones and blowing away earth. The strength of these blobs were quite evident!

One green blob stood out from the rest, it flowed like water to dodge and whipped out with astonishing speed. How interesting. In the end, it could not dodge all of the blows of its numerous enemy and was injured, a purplish color replacing the green. A short amount of time passed and the green blobs were now surrounded. All of the dead had turned gray and solid. The situation looked dire.

Hissing noises came from all around as the black blobs closed in for the kill. I got there first, my new soul sword energy slashing out and returning before they had a time to react. They had all disintegrated, scattering into the wind in tiny pieces. I faced the extremely surprised band of green warriors and put my hands into the air.

They remained on guard as the interesting one came foward. It cautiously extended a tendril foward. Could it be they have a tradition for handshakes? In a bid for peace, I took the tendril and shook it up and down. The interesting one and all of the green warriors simultaneously relaxed.

Bouncy, my new name for the skilled one, made a waving motion with his tendril before moving away. A bit of time passed as we navigated the forest and we came upon an outpost of sorts with a rough palisade. We were greeted with a few respectful hisses and curious looks at me.

There were a few wooden lodges for warriors and watch towers set up all around, the outpost overall was covered in foilage which helped in concealing it. Kind of like a fort guerillas would use, around thirty warriors were stationed here. Bouncy led me to the largest lodge.

Inside was small circular cushion, a table, and a few chairs; it was rather spacious. Bouncy took a seat at the table and indicated for me to sit at the opposite side. I don't like where this is going.

When I sat at the other side, we began our conversation.

"Hiss?"

"What?"

"Hisssssssss?"

Sigh....

Bouncy somehow looked thoughtful for a moment before calling for one of the soldiers. He hissed at it a few times, then it left. We sat there and looked at each other for a bit. Then the door opened and a rune engraved blob came in and looked at me.

Bouncy and Runy hissed at each other for a bit before Runy came over to me. Bouncy hissed calmingly to me before Runy shot a lightning bolt at my head. I tilted my head a bit foward, dodging the bolt, and looked at Bouncy with a bit of killing intent. Were they trying to harm me? It shook a little bit and pointed a tendril at Runy, then at my head. Apparently it wanted me to get hit.

They probably couldn't hurt me even if I took it head on, so I shrug and nod at Runy. Another bolt is discharged and flies into my head.

Knowledge and comprehension flooded into my mind, an entire new language was stuffed into my head in but a moment's notice. Runy slid on out while I tried to make sense of what just happened.

"Now do you understand me?" Bouncy said in a gruff, masculine voice.

"What the hell was that bolt? How could it make me understand your language?" I'm very surprised, nothing like this had existed in my old world.

"That was the most ancient magic in all of Roseberth, a language comprehension spell. It was created a very long time ago so the humans and slimes could communicate with one another. Thank you for saving me and my men, I give you my utmost gratitude. People call me Peery. Forgive me for intruding, but who are you?"

I smile, "You can call me Fang, I just happened to pass by." From what I saw, this 'magic' seems much like what the eastern shamans used in my old world.

Peery continued happily, "Fang, aye? If there is anything I can do to help you, please ask. You can stay in any of the lodges here for as long as you need." Evidently, he was wise enough not to question his savior's background or powers.

Shifting my arms onto the table I go straight to the heart of matters.

"This might sound weird, but tell me everything. Why do the black slimes enslave humans? What is the geography of Roseberth like? What countries are there?"

Peery seemed a bit surprised, but he began answering my questions in detail. Lets make this quick.

Roseberth is the name of the world and it is divided into three countries that had gained dominion over all else. Land covered most of the world and the largest bodies of water consisted of lakes, with creeks and rivers being much more common. There is a variety of plains, mountains and forests decorating the landscape.

Dreed Empire in the north, black coloring and the enslaving of humans. Blooey Kingdom in the south, green coloring and toleration of humans. Humans don't have a country and are scattered about, any attempts to seriously unify were crushed by both slime sovereignties. I was currently at an outpost on the border of the two slime powers.

Their country's names are hilarious. Anyways, the slimes need humans for a variety of craftsman jobs that they would find difficulty performing, such as blacksmithing. The slimes discriminated against most humans as lesser beings, based on the human's relatively weaker defenses, attacks, and apparently looks.

After absorbing all of this information I was presented with a startling not so new problem. What should I do now? What is my goal? In my old life I had obtained all of my desires, barring being killed by the last deity beast. A sect to continue my father's memory, power and respect, anything and everything I desired has already been satisfied. Except for one thing.

Swordsmanship. Swordsmanship is ever changing, there are always improvements to be made and insights to be learned. The four deity beasts had gifted me with a variety of rewards for slaying them. The Dragon had given me a powerful soul, the Phoenix a profound movement technique, the Turtle insights on defense and a stubborn will, and finally the Tiger gave insights on offense and a tyrannical aura.

There is no name for my swordsmanship which has been refined through years of battle and enlightenment, you might as well call it 'Fang's Style'. I will strive for perfection in my style, a road that may not even have an end. I would have to search for enlightenment and insights through various experiences, the technical side has already been mastered.

The best way to get enlightenment and insights was through experience! Experiences were best gained by going with the flow! Dying of old age is not a problem, the cultivation of the body essentially gives one immortality against age! I get to improve my swordsmanship and live freely, a double benefit!

All of these thoughts crossed my mind in but a moment after Peery finished his lecture of the world. Time to get started.

"Peery, I'll be taking you up on your offer to stay here, just call for me if you need anything!"