My attributes are increasing infinitely Chapter 443: Sanctuary of Gods

The clone of Ethan, serving as his "Master" in this realm, occupied a plain wooden seat, offering an unusual steadiness to the young lad. To all others, this figure remained an enigma, yet for the junior Ethan, he represented endless insight. He linked a youth hailing from a distant backwater world to the immense fate awaiting a God-Race originator.

"Sit," the clone directed, his words carrying a faint echo that hummed through the atmosphere.

Ethan took a seat, with the purple slime still resting atop his head like a gelatinous tiara.

"Master, I sensed it. The 9th Sky. Yet I followed your instructions; I concealed the Fox and revealed only the Slime. They view me as a laughingstock. They believe I'm bound for menial cleanup duties."

A wry, perceptive grin formed on the clone's mouth.

"Allow their mockery. Scorn serves as the finest shield for a budding predator. Should they see you as feeble, they won't keep an eye on you. And without their vigilance, they won't witness you transforming into their worst fear. However, the charade concludes tomorrow. Tomorrow, you step into the Sanctuary of Gods."

Ethan bent closer, his gaze alight with an intense craving for understanding.

"The teacher spoke of it, but he described it like a casual outing. What's its true nature?"

"The Sanctuary of Gods isn't some casual outing," the Master started, his voice shifting to gravity. "It's a boundless pocket realm of vast proportions. Gateways to it exist on every inhabited world across the cosmos. It functions as a trial arena, a battlefield of death, and a sacred site simultaneously. Upon entry, you cease being a mere city dweller. You become a predator."

With a wave of his hand, the Master conjured a glowing projection that shaped into an aerial chart.

"The Sanctuary stretches endlessly. It's structured in layers. You'll be transported to the First Sanctuary, the safer zone meant for newcomers who've just forged their initial pacts. Human outposts exist there, secure havens serving as central points for beast tamers."

Ethan inclined his head, taking in each detail.

"Your advancement's foundation there boils down to this: Pursue. Slay. Nourish," the Master went on. "Whenever your beast defeats a creature within the Sanctuary, it draws in that foe's core energy. This grants your beast Gene Points. Such points fuel the process of advancement."

The Master's digit pressed against the empty space, summoning a display of classifications.

"Pay close attention, as this knowledge is key to your endurance. Four tiers of beasts roam there.

Basic Monsters: The everyday variety. They yield Basic Gene Points.

Rare Monsters: More formidable, frequently bearing affinity features. They yield Rare Gene Points.

Elite Monsters: Leaders of the untamed lands. They yield Elite Gene Points.

Royal Monsters: Sovereigns of their domains. They yield Royal Gene Points."

Ethan glanced at his purple slime. The being emitted a small, joyful chirp.

"Upon stepping inside, a mental display will appear," the Master clarified. "It'll monitor the points required for your next progression. My counsel to you: Avoid haste. Countless novices fill their Basic points to the brim and rush the upgrade.

They reach 'Emperor' tier masters in time, yet they're fragile. One who advances solely on Elite points gets overwhelmed by a Lord-rank Royal beast. To claim true divinity, you need to fully accumulate all four gene point varieties prior to considering the ascent to the Second layer."

"I get it," Ethan murmured. "Absolute completion at each phase."

"Precisely," the Master affirmed. "And keep your Slime in mind. It's an Emperor Slime. Its ability is 'Devour' alongside spatial control. It doesn't merely collect points; it acquires the characteristics of its prey. Nourish it properly, yet steer clear of rash actions."

Come morning, the academy buzzed with frantic tension. The atmosphere rang with pupils bragging over their 2nd and 3rd Sky companions.

"Look over there! The Slime Kid really came!" a youth yelled, jabbing a finger toward Ethan. Chuckles spread across the yard.

"Ethan, got a pail with you? Might need it to gather your pet if something squashes it flat!"

Ethan ignored them entirely. He lingered in a secluded spot, his thoughts drifting far beyond. Gene points, growth routes, and the immense scope of the realm ahead filled his head.

Teacher Griffin emerged, appearing more warrior than academic this day. Clad in supple hide protection and wielding a rod that pulsed with power.

The group was guided aboard a enormous flying vessel. The journey lasted just half an hour, though the mood hung thick.

They touched down in a secured defense area, facing a colossal, throbbing azure gateway. It resembled a rift in existence itself, churning with cosmic specks and timeless might.

"Each vibrant world holds such a passage," Griffin declared, positioned at the gateway's front. "Past this awaits either ascension to godhood or a path to oblivion. You'll scatter to different outposts. You'll emerge in an isolated chamber. Beyond that, decisions are yours. Band together, remain in the settlement, or venture into the wilderness. Advance!"

Students entered the azure glow sequentially and disappeared. When Ethan's moment arrived, he moved without pause. He crossed into the chilly, prickling embrace of the gateway.

Ethan blinked his eyes open to find himself in a compact chamber of stone walls. It held only a cot and a storage box. He approached the pane and slid it aside.

A settlement sprawled beneath, as if drawn from a tale of wonder. Structures rose from pale, sun-faded rock and robust timber. Pathways gleamed with pale granules mirroring the radiant pair of suns overhead.

"White Sand Shelter," Ethan deciphered the banner above the central plaza. A spark of familiarity hit him. Tales of this spot echoed even on his origin world. Legends among humanity's top beast handlers began right here in White Sand.

He descended the steps and entered the avenue. The breeze tasted briny and warm. The place teemed with motion.

Vendors hawked wares, peddling "Monster-Hide Armor" and "Hardened Steel Swords." Packs of trackers lounged at open-air benches, sipping brews and recounting close calls against Elite foes.

"Oi, fresh face!"

Ethan pivoted to spot a burly, broad-shouldered figure in metal-reinforced gear. He sought guild members.

"What's your companion? We're short a spotter or a defender. Which Sky tier?"

Ethan shifted the purple slime upon his crown.

"It's a Slime," he replied plainly. "Of the 1st Sky."

The fellow's expression flipped from curiosity to revulsion in an instant. He cut Ethan off mid-thought. He spun and strode off, hawking onto the ground.

"Tch. Yet another useless drifter. How do these sorry weaklings even pass through the gate? Revolting. Total drag on my schedule."

Ethan observed his departure, a faint, icy smirk touching his features. This suited him ideally. Amid realms of advanced companions and dazzling affinity beasts, a lad with a slime blended into nothing.

He strolled amid the settlement, surveying the commerce. A "Gene Exchange" caught his eye, where trackers bartered beast remnants for funds or gear. A "Training Hall" bustled, folks honing their bonds with their allies.

The vibe pulsed with cheer, akin to an endless fairground. Each flicker from the central town's archway brought fresh "Newbies," whom seasoned trackers eyed like livestock.

"Seeking a 2nd Sky ally! Top rewards for Fire affinity!"

"Require support! Any tier!"

Nobody spared Ethan a second glance. He marked the "dud" of the group. He drifted to the settlement's border, where pale dunes kissed the sharp, towering blades of the fields.

The Emperor Slime throbbed against his scalp. It craved sustenance. Intensely so.

"Master advised easing in," Ethan confided to the slime. "Start with Basics. We must gauge your boundaries."

He passed beyond the outpost's barriers. The twin suns scorched down, while gusts bore the aroma of feral creatures.

Yet for the moment, the Slime claimed priority.

Ethan arrived at the lofty foliage and spotted his initial quarry. A "Sand Rat," dog-sized with razor fangs and a tough, scaly skin. It epitomized the Basic Monster.

The rodent snarled, its stare crimson with fury.

Ethan lifted the slime from his head and cradled it between his hands.

"Forward, Emperor. Time for our initial gene points."

The purple slime flowed rather than bounded. It offered no roar. It poured from Ethan's grasp like liquid.

Ere the Sand Rat could lunge, the slime surged ahead at startling velocity, swelling its form in flight. It morphed into a vast, shadowy veil that enveloped the rodent.

The rodent thrashed, its stifled cries resounding from within the slime's bulk. Yet the slime acted as corrosive fluid fused with suction. In mere moments, the fight ceased. The tough skin, the skeleton, the meat—all dissolved and integrated.

Within Ethan's thoughts, an icy, robotic tone echoed.

[Basic Sand Rat consumed. +1 Basic Gene Point.]

[Evolution Progress: 1/100 Basic Gene Points.]