Neo placed the dozen red slime corpses around him and began the synthesis, using himself as the target.

​[ Synthesis Initiated: Neo + Fire Slimes x10 ]

​As soon as the notification rang, radiant energy surrounded him in a cocoon, just like last time.

Pain exploded as his very being began to decompose and recompose with the genetic material of the red slimes.

He couldn’t even scream, as he no longer had a vocal system. He was now a kind of murky titanium liquid, trying to assimilate the fire essence within him.

​[ Progress: 2%... 5%... 18%... 34%... ]

The agony was excruciating, like a searing heat that felt as though his very soul was being reforged in a celestial furnace.

His consciousness began drifting between the void and the blistering reality of the synthesis.

​[ Progress: 52%... 78%... 91%... 100% ]

​[ Synthesis Complete! ]

​[ Your Species Mutated: Eragon → Blazing Eragon (E+) ]

​After the series of notifications, the cocoon of energy shattered with the force of a detonating star, sending a wave of heat through the clearing.

Huff, hufff, hufff.

Neo fell to his knees, gasping as his physical form solidified once more. His skin now held a faint, metallic sheen with glowing, ember-like veins pulsing beneath the surface.

His hair had shifted to a deeper shade, occasionally shimmering with a dull crimson light.

​He quickly opened his system interface, noticing a new addition glowing with a fiery aura.

​[ System Update: [Skills] Tab Unlocked ]

​[ New Skills Acquired: ]

​[ Ignited Blades (E)]: A passive skill that Infuses his titanium weaponry with high-temperature fire essence, increasing cutting power and cauterizing wounds on impact.

​[Heat-Signature Perception (E)]: Upon activation, it allows Neo to track living beings through solid obstacles by detecting their thermal radiation.

​[Cinder Dash (E)]: It is a high-speed movement technique that leaves a trail of scorching embers, momentarily boosting his velocity to near-blur levels.

Seeing this, Neo couldn’t help but smile.

​"So I have unlocked skills like those in games and novels? Interesting. Until now, I only used the power of my physique, but with these skills added to the equation, I should be much more powerful," he muttered.

​"Let’s see if my other stats have updated as well."

​"Status."

​General Index:

​[ Name: Neo Godson ]

​[ Age: 20 ]

​[ Race: Human ]

​[ Species: Blazing Eragon (Variant) ]

​[ Lifespan: 100 ]

​[ Affiliation: Apex Nebula Mercenary Group, Sol-III ]

​[ Biological Modifications: Spirit-Iron + Mystic Wolf + Titanium + Slime ]

​[ Wealth: $10,600,200 FD (Federal Dollars) | 0.00 UC (Universal Credits) ]

​Physical Index: (Average: 5)

​[ Strength: 15.5 → 17.0 (Rocketing) ]

​[ Agility: 13.0 → 14.0 ]

​[ Vitality: 17.0 → 17.5 ]

​[ Endurance: 18.0 → 18.5 ]

​[ Reaction Speed: 12.2 → 12.5 ]

​[ Recovery Rate: 10.0 → 11.0 ]

​Magical Index:

​[ Physiques: Titanium Tempest Body (E) ]

​[ Cosmic Force: 20.0 → 22.0 ]

​[ Skills: Ignited Blades (E), Heat-Signature Perception (E), Cinder Dash (E) ]

​[ Unique Talents: Universal Synthesis (Supreme), Godsmith (Legendary), Necromancy (Legendary) ]

__

​"Hum, the physical stats had received a barely noticeable upgrade."

​"Well, what can I expect from a bunch of low-tier fire slimes? But if I can somehow get my hands on powerful Red Slimes, I might be able to boost my physical stats further. I should also try to get some water skills from Blue Slimes, too."

Just then, a shout was heard.

​"Neo, help!"

​It undoubtedly came from Elena. Neo snapped into focus at once.

​He hurriedly picked up the slime and started sprinting toward the spot using [Cinder Dash], which increased his speed so much that he became a fiery blur.

However, the energy cost of this dash skill was high; approximately 1.0 point of Cosmic Force was consumed with every activation, and there was a cooldown period of 15 seconds.

He had to use it carefully to make the best use of it. The feeling of this power was exhilarating, but the urgency of the situation kept him focused.

​Quickly arriving at the spot where he had left Elena, he saw several men in sharp red suits standing around her, weapons raised.

​"Come with us, little Elena. Your mother is worried about you," one man with a crafty face said in a tone as if he were coaxing a child.

​"No, I won’t," Elena said defiantly, standing in her battle-angel form. "You guys should leave if you don’t want to die needlessly."

​"Um captain... this girl doesn’t look ordinary to me. Did we receive the right quest?"

​"Of course we have," the captain with long red hair barked. "She is the target. Since she is resisting, we must capture her. Those hundreds millions of dollars shouldn’t go to anyone but us, the Redhawk Mercenaries."

"Haha, right boss. Come on, pretty Princess. All these uncles will take good care of you," one swiney man said as he stepped forward, holding a plasma sword.

​Elena hissed like a cat and swung her highly advanced phasing blade downward.

The man intercepted her attack, laughing arrogantly.

​"Hehe! So you want to play, little girl? Uncle will teach you!"

​Her phasing blade and his plasma sword connected.

The result was a deafening screech of clashing energy.

Buzzz!

​The man’s arrogant laughter died instantly as his plasma sword dimmed and sputtered.

Elena’s phasing blade lived up to its name. It didn’t just strike his weapon, it vibrated at a frequency that began to bypass the plasma field entirely.

​"What the...?" the man stammered with wide eyes.

Humm!

​With a mechanical hum, Elena increased the output of her arm blade.

The silver metal now glowed with an intense neon blue light, slicing through the hilt of the plasma sword as if it were soft butter.

The man barely had time to leap back, leaving the severed remains of his expensive weapon sparking on the ground.

​"Captain! Her tech is way above ours!" he yelled, clutching his wounded hand.

​The red haired captain’s eyes narrowed with greed.

"That’s even better, motherfucker. That gear alone is worth a fortune. Surround her! Use the paralysis nets!"

Buzzz! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

​Just as the mercenaries began to close their circle, a wave of scorching heat washed over the clearing.

The air felt burned and murkier.

​"I don’t remember giving you permission to touch one of my founding members," a cold voice echoed from the treeline.

​Before the captain could turn his head, a fiery blur erupted from the shadows.

Woosh!

Neo appeared in the center of the group while his body still emitting the fading embers of his [Cinder Dash].

His skin glowed with the internal light of his new evolved species, and his eyes held a predatory glint.

​"Founding member? Who the fuck are you, kid?" the captain growled, drawing a heavy duty pulse rifle.

​Neo didn’t answer with words. He simply extended his hand, and his titanium blades slid out from his forearms, instantly igniting with a fierce crimson flame.

​"Atlas," Neo whispered.

​The moment Neo gave command, from behind of the mercenaries, the Triple Elemental Cursed Slime bounced out of the darkness.

"Boink! Grrr!"

Its dark red and violet mass bubbled with necrotic energy.

Alongside that, a low ominous growl, something a slime shouldn’t be able to produce, rang through the air.

​The mercenaries looked back and forth between the flaming young man and the cursed creature behind them.

The "easy" rescuing mission had just turned into a fight for their lives.