Floor 1: Harsh Reality (edited)

"Tsk."

In my previous life, I was quite the handsome man, on top of my status. I did not enjoy suddenly entering the cute category. I decided to ignore his obvious interest and ask for details. He returned to his lackluster demeanor and gave quick responses. I had changed considerably from my past appearance. Deep brown hair, and honey-colored eyes. To add to my lack of muscles and short skinny frame, I was indeed 'cute.'

"Tsk."

Ren found my annoyance amusing, a smirk he didn't bother to hide. He was of average height, slender yet muscular build. His confidence irked me. It was even justified! It'd be nice if he got knocked down a peg or two.

Dangerous thoughts trailed across my mind, and a sinister grin slipped past me. A scream snapped me out of it. The party froze, unsure of what to do. Laren took charge.

"We should investigate, but not get involved if it's too dangerous." He gave a shaky smile, clearly nervous about possible combat.

The group shared that sentiment, all new to violence. Only Ren seemed oddly calm, perhaps he wasn't as sheltered as the rest of us. We moved forward, toward the direction of the screams. Till the sounds stopped. We slipped behind trees to observe, Ren tested out his skill. He turned into darkness itself and slithered in a tree's shadow. We locked our gazes to a vile sight.

A gelatinous moving green mass was feasting on a fallen sinner. Blood splattered on the forest floor, bones and disintegrating flesh, floated inside the giant slime. It was the size of a taller man. It didn't move even after Meril puked up bile at the human soup.

I shivered, it was not what I hoped. Slimes would not be simple starting enemies. We had to kill fifty of those things! I breathed to calm myself. I took another look to find any clues. Logic would always lead to victory. There was no weapon, either the slime ate it, or the person was defenseless.

"Meril. Use your spell on it." Laren spoke up but sounded shaken up.

The party didn't argue over the change of plan. No one wanted to go near that thing. Meril moved around the tree, gulping down her nerves, but still shook. Her right hand lifted palm up at the creature.

A luminous red hot flame shot out of her palm, hitting the creature dead on. It didn't make a sound, or move. The flame snaked up and spread across the slime. It seemed to shrink a tad, then it began to sway, and convulse, and finally, a wave of slime fell off to the floor. The fire fell with it, leaving the slime barely smaller. It then curved forward and formed a bridge with its own body over the fire. It converged its mass on the other side of the fire and slime ring. It began to flow towards its attacker.

A mad laugh escaped me. Meril was visibly shaking at this point. The group was frozen for a few precious seconds. The slime was getting dangerously close to Meril.

"Ahh!" She fled back, nearly tripping on her own feet.

Laren and Reaver finally snapped out of it. Laren swiped at the blob with his sword. Reaver took position in front of Meril shielding her. The sword seemingly did nothing. The group could only move back, fear growing steadily. I ran off in Ren's direction, screaming to the others as I went.

"Forget it, our attacks aren't working!"

Ren slips out of the shadows and the others rush to follow. Thankfully, the slime turns out to be a slow being. We lose it quickly. We gather to catch our breaths, the adrenaline still pumping.

"This is floor one! How are we supposed to fight those things!" Laren gasps out.

The others don't respond for some time.

"We should find water and a safe place to rest. We can think clearly about it then." I responded monotone, this was not the time to be in tune with everyone. Survival, logic, that would lead to success.

I don't bother to look for responses and use every sense I have to locate water, but I don't have survival skills for such a thing. Ren calls out to me from the opposing direction.

"Hey! This way, the vegetation is a bit thicker. We have better odds this way."

I don't argue, and follow. It takes about a half hour before we locate a river. We have no supplies other than our weapons, so we drink as much as possible.

"They could have at least given us a canteen." Reaver mumbles.

We follow the river up a tad locating a rocky formation. It formed a sort of U with the river. Meril is the first to crumble to the ground, curling into herself. The others allocate themselves to their spots. I back up to one of the rocky walls.

No one speaks, absorbing their situations. We all died and were reborn in this version of hell. At only floor one of who knows how many, we may die.

My mind can't help but think. What kind of test could this be? Is there a trick to the slimes? I refused to believe floor one is a no-win situation. There is always a solution. They must have a weakness.

We rest for an hour or two, occasionally hearing screams in the distance. Leaving shivers in the group. We have water, we have shelter, sort of, we need food next. Slimes are slow so as long as a person is careful they should be safe.

"We need to find food if we are going to survive here. Someone needs to go looking for some."

"I'll go." Ren lifts himself from the ground. "I can hide if I need to and I can find my way back. I'm the best choice."

No one argues with him. He heads out into the woods alone. Hours go by and the sun starts setting. People are becoming restless.

"Someone should check on him!" Meril pipes up.

I sigh.

"Meril. There's no way to find him." Laren keeps an even-toned voice. "If he doesn't come back tomorrow, someone else will have to go find food."

Meril visibly deflates, her face losing hope.

Darkness overtakes the floor. We agree to take shifts to watch out for slimes.

I volunteer to take the first watch of the night.