Rimuru: The Beastketeer

Leaving the forest.

"How long has it been since I even ate Veldora? I think I forgot how boring this place was while talking to him!"

<It has only been 2 hours since you absorbed Veldora.>

"Only 2 hours? Are you joking? This place is going to drive me insane!"

The silence and solitude of the cave pressed down on me, amplifying the emptiness I felt without Veldora's booming voice and presence. The walls seemed to close in, and the dark, empty expanse stretched endlessly in every direction. Every second felt like an eternity, and the thought of being trapped here, alone and with nothing to do, was suffocating.

I wandered around aimlessly, kicking at stray rocks and looking for anything to break the monotony. The Hipokute Grass and Magic Ore were scattered around, but their novelty had worn off. I had already gathered plenty of those, and without any new discoveries, the cave felt like a prison.

"Great Sage, is there anything interesting or exciting around here?" I asked, hoping for some relief from the boredom.

<There are no significant changes or new discoveries in the immediate vicinity.>

"Great, just great," I muttered to myself. "This place is going to be the end of me."

The oppressive silence of the cave continued to weigh on me as I trudged along, searching for anything that might spark some interest. I picked up a few more pieces of Magic Ore and gathered some Hipokute Grass, but it all felt so pointless. I needed something more, something that would break the monotony and give me a sense of purpose.

I plopped down on a rock, letting out a deep sigh. 

"There has to be something," I said to myself. "Anything."

The thought of Veldora's booming laughter echoed in my mind. Even though his presence had been overwhelming at times, it had also been a comfort. I missed our banter, his stories, and the feeling that I wasn't completely alone in this vast, empty cave.

"Great Sage, do you have any suggestions on how to pass the time? Maybe a way to improve my skills or learn something new?"

<You could practice and refine your existing skills or attempt to develop new ones through experimentation.>

"Alright, I guess that's better than nothing," I said, standing up and brushing the dust off my clothes. "Let's see what I can do."

I began to focus on my abilities, trying to push their limits and discover new ways to utilize them. I practised with my Magic Sense, attempting to map out the cave in more detail. I experimented with my Predator skill, trying to understand its full potential. It wasn't as exciting as finding an exit or encountering something new, but it kept me occupied and gave me a sense of progress.

Hours turned into days as I continued my training. The cave still felt like a prison, but at least I was keeping myself busy. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, all this practice would come in handy when I finally found a way out of this place. For now, I would keep pushing forward, 

determined not to let the cave break me.

"Great Sage..." I said, sounding like a child asking for something, "are you sure there isn't an exit nearby?"

<There are no significant changes or new discoveries in the immediate vicinity.>

"Wow, that's cold, Great Sage. Not even a new line to let me down with."

I sighed deeply, the weight of the cave's monotony pressing down on me. The silence was almost deafening, broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing through the cavern. I glanced around at the familiar surroundings—stalagmites, stalactites, and the scattered patches of Hipokute Grass and Magic Ore. It was all so painfully familiar.