Lucy's body stiffened. She felt uncomfortable, but Bora half-pushed, half-pulled her towards the sailboat.
Christian sensed Lucy's tension.
Omni-Perception transmitted negative emotions (Bora: greed, lust).
[Alert. Carrier in contact with target: Bora. Individual analysis: Magic Power (moderate). Emotional fluctuations (extremely lecherous, false friendliness, strong possessiveness). Warning: Carrier is in a potentially dangerous environment.]
Lucy was led onto the ship.
Entering the cabin, the interior was dazzling with light and shadow, and lavishly decorated. Several scantily clad women and sailors were drinking. The atmosphere was ambiguous.
Bora poured a glass of wine. "Come, Miss Lucy. A toast to our meeting!"
Lucy demurred. "No… no need, I don't drink."
"Don't be shy!" Bora forced the wine glass into her hand, his eyes signaling two sailors to block the cabin door.
Lucy realized something was wrong. "I… I think I'll just go!" She slowly stood up.
Bora grabbed her wrist. "What's the rush? The real show has just begun!" His smile turned dangerous. "Such a cute Celestial Spirit Mage's key. It'll fetch a good price!"
Lucy's face turned pale. "You… you're not a good person!"
"Only just realizing it? Too late!" Bora laughed loudly. His magic power fluctuated. Pink smoke emanated from his fingers. "Just sleep peacefully! My Dear Kiss!"
The pink mist surged towards Lucy.
"No!" Lucy screamed, reaching for the key ring at her waist. But she was too slow.
The pink mist enveloped her. A dizzying sensation washed over her. Lucy's body went limp, her consciousness blurring.
Bora was triumphant. "Tie her up! Lock her in the cargo hold! Wait for the buyer!"
The sailors grabbed Lucy's arms. Ropes were tightly secured around her hands.
Christian's core rapidly processed.
"Lucy is in danger, action is required. But the mimicry form will restrict mobility."
Should he release the mimicry? Exposing his Slime identity. The risks are unknown.
Should he maintain the mimicry? How to intervene? Christian was anxious.
[Solution: Localized deformation. Minimal intervention. Target: Ropes.]
Feasible.
The pendant was pressed against Lucy's skin. He sensed the rope's location: Lucy's wrist.
Water Blade. Miniaturized. Highly compressed. Target: Ropes.
On the surface of the mimicked pendant, a tiny blue core flickered.
Whoosh!
An extremely thin stream of water shot out. Silently. Precisely.
Snap!
The rope on Lucy's wrist snapped instantly.
The sailor was stunned. "How did the rope break?"
Lucy also felt the restraint disappear. The dizziness persisted, but her will to survive erupted. She violently pushed away the sailor who was holding her and rushed towards the cabin door!
"Grab her!" Bora roared.
The cabin door was blocked by another sailor. Lucy gritted her teeth. Her hand found a golden key.
"Open, gate of taurus! Taurus!"
Taurus, one of the twelve Zodiac Celestial Spirits, is summoned by a rare golden key of the Zodiac. His main ability is skillfully wielding a double-bladed axe for attack (imposing stance, moderate power, sufficient for dealing with minor henchmen). He is often used by Lucy as a main force, but is usually defeated instantly or seduced by beauty. Lucy rated him as the strongest Celestial Spirit.
Golden light shone. A magic circle appeared. A giant figure emerged. A Minotaur. His muscles were bulging, and he carried a huge axe.
"Moo—! Miss Lucy! What are your orders?" Taurus's voice was booming.
"Taurus! Save me!" Lucy pointed at the sailors.
"Understood!" Taurus swept his giant axe. The sailors screamed as they were sent flying. The cabin door was knocked open.
Lucy rushed out of the cabin. Taurus followed close behind.
Chaos erupted on the deck. The sailors surrounded them.
"Get rid of that Minotaur!" Bora was furious.
Taurus wielded his giant axe to fend off the sailors. But there were many sailors. Fireballs and Ice Cone magic attacks came at him.
Taurus precisely defended with his giant axe, while Lucy ran towards the stern of the ship, intending to jump overboard.
Bora laughed wildly, his face contorted with malice.
Magic power condensed at his fingertips, forming a huge pink heart-shaped energy. "Don't even think about running! My Dear Ultimate Embrace!"
A powerful magical impact shot towards Lucy's back!
Taurus was entangled with the sailors and couldn't rescue her in time.
"Miss Lucy!" Taurus exclaimed in alarm!!!
Lucy turned around, a huge pink energy rushing towards her. A sense of despair welled up within her.
At this moment, the pendant was pressed against Lucy's chest. Christian sensed the destructive energy.
Carrier destruction = information loss = risk of self-exposure.
Intervention is necessary. "Initiate maximum output."
Mimicry Release!Localized Release!
The "pendant" on Lucy's chest instantly liquefied. A mass of blue gelatinous substance rapidly expanded! Forming a blue Water Shield! Blocking in front of Lucy!
Bang—!!!
The pink energy violently struck the Water Shield!
The Water Shield intensely rippled, then began to indent, instantly splashing water everywhere! It successfully neutralized the energy.
Lucy was knocked to the ground. She was stunned, looking at the suddenly appearing blue Water Shield.
Bora and the sailors were also stunned. "What is that?!"
The splashes of water began to contract. It reverted to a small mass of blue gelatinous substance, suspended in the air, its core glowing ethereal blue.
"A… Slime?" Lucy recognized it.
Bora snapped back to his senses, seething with rage. "Just a mere Slime! You're courting death! Destroy it for me!"
The sailors unleashed a volley of magic! Fireballs! Wind Blades! Ice Spikes! Covering the blue gelatinous substance.
Christian's core remained calm. 'Physical Attack Resistance'. 'Magic Power Perception (Skill)' locked onto the attack trajectories.
Water Flow Movement.
The gelatinous substance instantly liquefied, dispersed, and merged into the puddles on the deck. The magic attacks missed, hitting the deck.
The dispersed water streams condensed behind Bora. Water Blade continuous fire!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Compressed water droplets precisely struck the sailors' wrists and ankles. The sailors cried out in pain, their weapons flying from their hands, and they fell to the ground.
Bora was greatly alarmed. He turned around, gathering pink magic power in his hands again. "Damn it!"
Predator activated. Target: Bora's magic power.
An invisible suction enveloped Bora.
Bora felt his magic power stall! The condensed magic power uncontrollably flowed towards the blue Slime!
"My magic power?!" he said in horror.