[ —Masteries—

—Water Magic Rune—

—Tier Two—

—Proficiency: 1/100—

—Increases water-type spells' power moderately.

—Reduces the mana cost of water spells by 7%. ]

---

[ —Masteries—

—Lightning Magic Rune—

—Tier Two—

—Proficiency: 1/100—

—Increases lightning-type spells' power moderately.

—Reduces the mana cost of lightning spells by 7%. ]

---

[ —Masteries—

—Earth Magic Rune—

—Tier Two—

—Proficiency: 1/100—

—Increases earth-type spells' power moderately.

—Reduces the mana cost of earth spells by 7%. ]

---

[ —Masteries—

—Wind Magic Rune—

—Tier Two—

—Proficiency: 1/100—

—Increases wind-type spells' power moderately.

—Reduces the mana cost of wind spells by 7%. ]

---

[ Ding! You have leveled up to Lv.40! ]

'Phew… all basic elemental magic rune masteries are Tier Two.' Slime#47 grinned, a rare surge of joy rising in him. 'But I would never suffer torture like that again, even if masteries skyrocket like this.'

He finally allowed himself to sleep. He'd skipped sleep for days because he wanted all the basic elemental masteries to reach Tier Two.

----

Under the dark black rays of the early rising Black Sun…

"Elder… you said sealed artifacts can only be overpowered, or countered with water against their dark flames, in my previous life," Slime#47 said, frustration creeping into his voice. "Are there no other ways?"

Old Slime stared at him for a few moments, then replied, "I think I need to tell you why sealed artifacts are the trump cards of living beings against unholy creatures."

After a pause, he asked, "Just how many powers have you seen corrupted beings use?"

Slime#47 answered one by one, "Black flames. Very powerful black energy…"

"That's all?" Elder Slime tilted his body slightly, seeking confirmation.

"Yes…" Slime#47 nodded.

"You haven't witnessed their full capacity," Old Slime said sternly. "One—Regeneration. Two—Unique Ability. Three—Black flames. Four—Outer magic… and—"

"Outer magic?" Young Slime cut in.

Old Slime's eyes twitched. "I was coming to it."

He continued, "The most dangerous thing about sealed artifacts is their regeneration." He paused, then asked, "Did you manage to heavily injure those vessels?"

'I dismantled them… but I used my FutureSelf's power,' Slime#47 thought bitterly. Then he said, "No… I couldn't."

Whenever he hurt them, they healed back to normal. Only in the last loop did he slaughter them with overwhelming strength.

"So that's the regeneration granted by sealed artifacts," Elder Slime said, stressing the point. "That's the most dangerous part."

Before he could continue, Young Slime asked, "Then don't people use them for their unique abilities?"

"Many researchers and scholars debated whether abilities or healing came first," Elder Slime replied. "In the end, healing came first—because abilities can only be used if the sealed artifact awakens or an uncorrupted being unleashes them. Otherwise, the corrupted creature can rampage with just healing power."

'I didn't get any regeneration power when using Vael…' Slime#47 mused, then asked, "Do only corrupted beings get healing?"

"No. Any bonded user can use it," Elder Slime replied. "Sealed artifacts are cunning, after all."

'Vael was holding back from lending me power,' Young Slime thought, irritation simmering at how thoroughly he'd been fooled.

"Outer magic…" he pressed again after a deep breath. 'Is it true magic?' he wondered.

Old Slime's eyes twitched as he said sharply, "This regeneration can be used by the bonded user—but artifacts won't just lend it. They're cunning. Users have to train to use it."

"Train to use sealed artifacts?" Young Slime exclaimed. 'And he still isn't answering my question…'

"Well, in my era, people trained before using them, or else…" Old Slime narrowed his eyes. "An idiot would get fooled by a sealed artifact and lose all Will in one shot."

'Is he calling me an idiot?' Slime#47 thought, narrowing his eyes at the old slime. 'He's right. I *was* an idiot.'

"Just how does he know all this?" Vael exclaimed, manifesting and floating near Young Slime.

"Let's get back to the topic," Old Slime pressed sharply. "Watch out mainly for regeneration, if corrupted; Or ability, if you're fighting a person wielding a sealed artifact…"

Then he continued with a playful grin, "Three—Black flames and Four—Outer magic are connected. They are run by outer magic, which is true magic. Unlike the dark element used for demonic magic, outer magic uses the unholy element."

"Unholy element…" Slime#47 muttered. 'It should be like fire, water… and so on.'

"Yes. Unholy element." Elder Slime nodded. "And it's a superior element—like light, dark, space, and time."

"Unholy element + mana + aura becomes that black energy you witnessed," Elder Slime explained patiently. "Outer magic uses that energy. The black flame that burned your demonic magic was the Grade 1 spell—{Unholy Flames}—cast with outer magic."

"No wonder… water element…" Young Slime understood. "Outer magic is true magic, but far stronger than demonic magic?"

Old Slime agreed bitterly. "Yes. Outer magic is stronger than all other true magic. This is why unholy creatures are so powerful."

"Then what about light-element true magic?" Young Slime asked, finally realizing the level of power that Eldritch wielded.

"Saint magic is on par with demonic magic," Elder Slime replied bitterly. "So it also can't go against outer magic at the same level."

"Hahaha, he knows the details very well," Vael laughed grimly, mocking Slime#47. "You can't go against unholy creatures! Did you get it now?"

Young Slime's eyes widened. 'At the same level, no one can defeat corrupted vessels… and true unholy creatures would be even more troublesome.'

"Why don't you stop resisting and let me devour your soul?" Vael pressed with a small grin. "At least that way you'll be freed from the pain of living."

Just as Slime#47 was shaken by the information, Elder Slime grinned.

"Don't worry. Didn't I say 'overpower'?" He patted Slime#47 playfully. "Where do you think overpowering strength comes from?"

"Where?" Young Slime raised his eyes, hope returning.

"Masteries. They grant extraordinary power," Elder Slime said, pointing at him. "Didn't you see it? At the Lv.20 you can wield the power of level 50 with just tier 2 Mastery."

'Yes… even higher tier masteries and loops…' Young Slime regained his confidence.

"And you don't have to worry," Old Slime continued, still grinning. "Outer magic is stronger because unholy element carries authority within itself."

"Authority…" Young Slime muttered. He'd heard of that kind of power before.

"Authority is power wielded by gods," Elder Slime said with a wide grin. "Unholy creatures toy with us because we are mortals. If you reach godhood and use authority with true magic… outer magic will be equivalent."

"So they're just bullying us with higher power?" Young Slime simplified.

"Yes, you got it," Old Slime burst into laughter. "Train your masteries and focus on multiple elements to defeat sealed artifacts."

"Damn it…" Vael roared, glaring at Elder Slime. Even the big eye on his chest stared furiously.

"By the way…the fifth is bewitching voice," Old Slime stopped his playfulness, and said sharply, "It's dangerous only for the user of the sealed artifact. Sealed artifacts tempt their users and deceive them with this skill…"

Young Slime nodded. After all, it was due to the bewitching voice that he had reached this point.

----

"I…" Slime#47 grinned as—Ding!—a notification flashed in his vision.

'It's time…' he mused as Thud! Thud! echoed nearby.

End of the chapter…

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