Pitfall Trap

22 of Alaric's slimes were hard at work. Their efficiency was increased largely, as Alaric fed the remaining slime cores to 2 of the slimes.

In order to prepare for a tier-3 magic beast's arrival, he had to put multiple contingencies in place. In the Great Forest of Neuling, most of the known tier-3 magical beasts were storm wolves.

Alaric, feeling a bit troubled, thought that storm wolves would be a strong enemy, 'Troublesome tier-3s, the kingdom let them thrive here in order to train their soldiers. storm wolves have a few noteworthy attributes. They're extremely speedy, their running speed being almost 15 times faster than the strongest of horses. Most magical beasts obtain some sort of long-distance capabilities at tier-3, but they don't. They use their speed to ram into their prey.'

Storm wolves could only use ramming as their primary method of attack because of the unicorn-like horn on the very center of their head, and their green fur was thick enough to resist the recoil.

'Of course, I need to prepare for the appearance of other types of monsters. No matter what, the storm wolves are only the most likely.'

By Alaric's estimation, the slip slime he had sent on the mission was quick enough to outrun the storm wolves. Although the stats of the slime were relatively unknown, its mobility was probably the best of the best, even when compared to tier-3s.

While the slimes acted on Alaric's orders, he had been thinking about the worst case scenario. A flying-type tier-3 magical beast. They were rare, especially in the Neuling Kingdom, but it wasn't an impossibility.

With flight, you immediately became a dominant force in the world. In fact, flight talents were more sought after than some weaker lord talents!

'I'm sure that slip slime is dead if it ran into a flying magical beast anyways. I'll just wait for it to bring the prey over.'

Alaric looked around the perimeter of the grove, watching slimes dig holes.

'I guess it's time for me to help...'

...

He is the king of the great forest. No beast, large, small, poisonous, tough, or soft would dare to attack him.

"Of the 2,000 beasts under my command... you are the first that I respect."

He was called, "Grander," a ground dragon whose ancestor was a mighty true dragon.

'Kri!'

"Yes, you definitely get it, slime! I didn't know one of your species could become so intellectual. What say you? Want to become my right hand man?!" Grander roared.

'Kri!'

Grander shook. This slime had just rejected his magnanimity! He thought, this slime who understood his ambition to attack the human settlement, would definitely have an ounce of respect!

"Storm Wolves! Bring me this slime's dead body!"

The slime was gone. And then were the wolves.

...

Alaric had adjusted the positions of his slimes. There were a multitude of slime-sized holes surrounding the grove, about 5 meters deep, and in each one was a slime waiting for Alaric's prey.

"If anything comes near you, eat!"

This command was a bit lengthy, but since the content was basically "attack close targets," the 22 slimes would understand.

At the moment, Alaric wanted to continue meditating, but it wasn't time yet.

"The average storm wolf can run at speeds of 130 kilometers per hour, without losing its stamina unless it continued running for 24 hours straight. Assuming the slip slime is faster, and able to lure them over, I reckon a storm wolf or 2 should be coming within another 5 hours.

The preparations are in place, and I even left a way out of the grove for myself. Although I, as an unranked talent wielder have neither the strength nor the methods to defeat them, a slime does.

There are legends of a rank 10 wielder being trapped within the strongest of quick sand, sinking away quickly, and although wielders at that level can easily survive without breathing for weeks, he died an hour after sinking in.

Puzzled, researchers dug up the sand to find the cause. At the bottom? A slime colony. Slimes are deadly if you cannot move, their acidic bodies will eat at you quicker and quicker until you die. Still, rats and cockroaches can also kill you in certain circumstances; this story didn't make people fear slimes at all. It was bad luck."

This was the reason Alaric was confident in dealing with land-based beasts. They couldn't escape the pitfalls he had created. They would die within an hour of falling in. The only thing he had to worry about, was whether the slip slime was actually faster.

After formulating his thoughts aloud, Alaric had one more task to do. Covering the holes. Afterall, any beast was intelligent enough to jump over holes when they saw them.

He had gathered twigs from the trees surrounding the grove, long enough to stretch across the hole, four sticks for each hole.

Quickly and simply, he laid the sticks out over the holes, and made his way over to a pile of leaves and grass he had collected.

"Dump these on the twigs and I'm done!"

Suddenly, Alaric heard something.

'Kri!'

"Shit, already?!"

That was the slip slime's voice! Although Alaric didn't know the range of the slime's telepathy skill, it meant they were pretty close!

'I have to hurry!'

He grabbed piles of leaves and grass, and rushed to lay them over the pitfalls, 'This DIY project of life was delayed because I took my damn time! Never again!'

While he had only gotten half of the 22 holes covered, Alaric heard a sound in the distance. A loud, doleful cry.

"Aru!"

He scrambled, 'The slip slime attracted storm wolves!'

Then, he heard the same cry from three different locations.

'Am I surrounded?'

'Kri!'

Alaric turned around, somehow sensing the direction of the slip slime's cry. Leaves rustled and trees shook, coming in the direction of the half of the encirclement he had already completed.

"Aru!"

And then, there was only a crash. Just less than half of the pitfalls had lost their branches, and green flashes entered them.

A small, blue object fell from above Alaric, onto his shoulder.

'Kri!'