[ Congratulations! Death Awakening was successful. ]

[ Congratulations! Soul-binding was successful ]

​[ You have awakened an Undead Slime. ]

​[ Status ]

​[ Name: Atlas ]

​[ Species: Undead Mountain Slime ]

​[ Power Rank: Type-9 (Low) ]

​[ Abilities: Heavy Hydro Jet, Undead Regeneration ]

​Note: Unless the master dies, this creature cannot be killed. However, be warned of: sunlight, holy items, and exorcists.

​As the notifications flashed before his eyes, the color of the slime began to change. Instead of its original bluish-green hue, its surface turned a dark, reddish-black. All of its other physical features remained the same.

​Soon, it started twitching in his hands. Neo let go, and it bounced onto the ground. After steadying itself, it stared blankly at Neo, as if waiting for its master’s orders. The usual liveliness did not return.

​Neo’s heart sank.

​"So, it didn’t work..." he mumbled, his lips trembling.

​He had already guessed as much. Necromancy was not a complete resurrection that would grant a second life; it was about summoning the soul of the dead and making the body functional again. The undead do not possess full biology or complete sentience; they are often merely mindless.

​But perhaps there was a chance in the future. If he could upgrade Atlas multiple times using [Universal Synthesis], the slime’s personality and memories might eventually return.

So, even though this effort had not been completely fruitful, Neo felt a small spark of hope.

​"Little one... I mean, Atlas. It looks like we both have a lot of hard work ahead of us," he said to the undead creature.

The slime simply nodded with a serious demeanor. There was no cheerful bounce, no happy resonance.

​Neo missed the old Atlas already.

​He sighed and signaled for the creature to hop onto his shoulder. Then, he began to leave, his destination unknown. Perhaps he was headed somewhere quiet, somewhere he could forget this tragic incident.

​Somewhere far away, Moon suddenly paused mid-battle. Her heart felt heavy for a reason she couldn’t explain.

​"Is it that idiot again? What did he do this time?" she muttered, placing her hands over her chest. "Ah, this is getting unbearable. How much longer will I have to keep acting cold and emotionless?" she mumbled, her cheeks flushing an adorable shade of red.

Boink. Boink.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

​A group of red slimes attacked with fire breath and spears, but she froze them with her ice without even moving a finger.

​Suddenly, all the red slimes, numbering around a hundred, froze in their positions. It wasn’t ice, but something even colder. Even their fire breath looked frozen in time.

​In this absolute frozen domain, a spatial crack appeared. Moon’s eyes narrowed as a figure stepped through.

​The man was clad in imperial white and gold, with long white hair that cascaded down to his waist. His eyes were as boundless as the ocean, and he radiated an aura so domineering that the very planet seemed to stop breathing.

He smiled a gentle smile, but to Moon, it was infuriating.

​"Long time no see, little Moon," he said, his voice as smooth as water.

​"Uncle Zen, why are you here?" Moon asked, completely disregarding his gentle approach.

The man didn’t seem to mind her attitude at all.

​"What are you saying, my dear niece? How can I not check on our Princess when you are in some kind of foul, dirty, backwater sector of the Infinite Realm?"

​"No, you cannot," Moon retorted sharply. "I have my own will regarding where I should go. Whether it is some kind of dirty backwater sector or not, it is entirely up to me. You cannot decide that, especially when your heart is black with pride and arrogance."

​Uncle Zen’s eyes twitched. "You’re still that sharp-tongued brat, I see. Can you at least tell me what you are doing here? This planet is so weak that if I were to even lift a finger, it might break. This place really doesn’t suit your status as the Princess of the Dark-Moon Empire. Really!"

​Moon’s eyes narrowed. "Again, I have my own life. Don’t pry into it."

​Uncle Zen smirked knowingly. "Did you find something we didn’t, oh Enlightened One?"

​"Humph, that title is very old and was made up by some stupid priest. I know of nothing that justifies calling me that. Now, leave before I call my father!" Moon said, turning away.

​"Very well, but remember to be back before your Baptism Ceremony. Otherwise, even your dear father will be furious."

​With that, Zen was about to leave. But then, suddenly, something caught his eye.

His gaze zoomed across thousands of miles, spotting the crimson thunderstrikes falling from the dark clouds.

​"Smells like death... interesting. Just who has fallen to the forbidden side?"

​His gaze traveled further and further, chasing the trail of darkness until it led to the undead slime and the young man with dark hair.

​"Huh, so young, yet so spirited. I never thought this insignificant planet could produce such a genius. I must keep an eye on that one."

​Moon turned back instantly, her eyes as sharp as a hawk’s.

"What did you just say, Uncle?"

​Zen shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing." He then threw a small gadget, opening a spatial crack that created a tunnel to the unknown.

​As he disappeared with a mysterious smile, Moon’s gaze lingered on the spot he had been watching.

"Did he figure out Neo somehow?" she questioned herself. "If so, I must give him that as soon as possible."

---

​Meanwhile, Neo traveled for hours yet found no sign of his crewmates. Helpless, he decided to find shelter atop a tree.

It was a banyan tree, massive in size. He climbed up like a monkey while Atlas hung onto his suit as if his life depended on it.

​Neo expected to spend the night in peace and quiet. However, when he reached a particularly expansive branch, he saw a massive bird’s nest.

The shocking thing was that instead of birds or eggs, there was a human girl sleeping there.

​"Huh! Who is this? Doesn’t she fear death?"

​The little girl was about eight to ten years old, sleeping as if she were in a cradle, snoring as if she didn’t have a care in the world.