Burning...

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***

Interlude. Ram and Rem are loving sisters.

Action time is in search of food.

*Bonk, bonk, bonk.

Two different slimes were hopping around the caves in a friendly manner, occasionally stopping in place and listening to something.

*♪ Bonk, bonk, bonk ♪

Driven by their hunger, the slimes left the nest they were born in at the same time - together. Two such different slimes - blue and pink. Born at the same time, the slimes knew they were twins. They had no affection for each other, they just knew it was better to stick together, because it was easier to survive. While one was being devoured, the other could escape. Both slimes understood that.

*♪ Bonk, bonk, bonk ♪

And when the time came, they left the lake. No, not out of resentment or anything. It's just that on top of everything else, they were pretty weird. When all the other newborns are already getting to work, given their position in the hierarchy, they were doing nothing and watching curiously, which is why they got kicked out, frankly.

Nobody likes a slacker, especially when all the other slimes are almost a single organism.

*♪ Bonk, bonk, bonk ♪

And now, starving from the injustice, they were looking for food to survive.

*Kap* There was a faint echo of a falling drop of water, almost inaudible in the cluttered cave, but they cheerfully jumped onwards, towards where the sound had come from.

*♪ Bonk, bonk, bonk ♪

They were lucky. They found food, but it was so scarce that they had to soak up any moisture by jumping on the wall, hoping that it would be absorbed by them... However, they quietly shared it amongst themselves....

*♪ Bonk, bonk, bonk ♪

As time went on, they kept jumping and jumping until a strange creature came into their field of vision. It didn't have the body that slimes were used to, and it was tall and scary. Its four armoured paws were not dangerous in appearance, but they froze with indecision. It was the first time they had met someone other than their kin.

Their instincts were silent, but they remained vigilant. They were ready to flee at any moment, leaping across the ground. But that strange beast was very strange indeed....

In its paw, it held a sweet food, so sweet that their minds gradually became weak before the temptation. The aroma was so enticing that the younger one, unable to withstand the temptation, pounced on it.

Pink froze in place, watching carefully. She didn't blame the younger one, but it was quite possible that the younger one would be devoured now, and then it would be her turn. A quick death, considering the size of the unknown monster.

'Junior... reckless...'

But... something happened that she didn't expect at all. The younger one glowed with pleasure as she absorbed the available food from the unknown monster and began to paw at it. Quick change, she noted to herself.

'Delicious... delicious... very delicious... senior...'

Could this monster be trapping them? Just by walking over and tasting this sweet food, they'll be devoured? - Those were roughly the thoughts of the eldest.

But looking at the contented younger one, and feeling her hunger, she thought that she'd better eat before she died, after all, it's much better than starving all her short life, isn't it? She was sure it was the monster's trap.

But she still kept her guard up and cautiously approached the monster. And he noticed her, not knowing how, but she could feel his attention on her.

The one even showed the food in its other paw, and she couldn't watch any longer. Pouncing on the food, she enjoyed...wrapped her arms around the 'hand'. Unknown emotions began to fill her quickly. She didn't understand what or where, however the food... the delicious food... she realised she loved being fed!

'I... don't understand... but... delicious... loves it!'

Loves... unknowable feelings, but so pleasant. So pleasant that she gave herself to them completely and wrapped her arms around the unknown creature's hand with tenderness. At least she would be killed by the 'beloved', whatever that word meant.

A minute passed like that, but the monster was in no hurry to devour them. Maybe he was curious? Or maybe he just left them for later, but the older and younger didn't care. They were caressing, radiating love and tenderness, they had found a 'master' for themselves, whatever that word meant.

Then he spoke, which surprised them. They didn't understand what he was growling about, but his growl was gentle and kind! But... from somewhere they realised that the older one's name was now Ram and the younger one's name was Rem.

'I'm Rem! I am Rem! Master! I like it, is Rem delicious?'

'Ram...I like it! Master is the best!'

Ram and Rem were happy and tried to make their master happy by repaying him with their emotions and deeds. They started petting with great eagerness.

'Master...to love...what is to love...' - Ram had a strange feeling.

'Master! Master!!! I will help you master!' - Rem was delighted to find a master.

And the one surprised them even more. His shell - the defence of any monster - opened up to them, allowing them to move under his protection. It might be a foolish thing for a human to do, but not for monsters. It was the very, very highest sign of trust! The master accepted them! He wouldn't devour them!

'Master... kind... Rem, is master to protect us?'

'Rem... he is our master... of course... he protect us! To love and protect...'

'Delicious... master is delicious!'

'Rem... don't hurt master!'

'Understood... senior. Rem won't hurt master... she'll be careful!'

They were happy. With unusual eagerness for them, Ram and Rem began to explore the new shelter and noted that his body was nice and gentle. The warmth emanating from it warmed them, and the mana, the thing they were feeding on, was even more than on his hand!

'Master... warm... Ram love master!'

'Also tasty... very tasty! Rem love master's 'secretions'!'

Embracing their master with their whole body, they tried to repay his gentle touch, feeling love and joy along with curiosity. On top of that, they began to realise how their master felt about them and they felt good....

'Master is happy... Ram is happy for Master!'

'Master... love master, Ram love!'

So imperceptibly a time passed in which they became much stronger than before. They no longer resembled the weak ones their master thought they were, but they dared not cross him and were grateful that he cared for them.

If he fought, they tried to support him with their feelings and bodies. Ram and Rem were sure that their master was very strong, and if he felt fear or anxiety, they supported him as best they could. And while Rem could only express emotions, Ram couldn't just stand idly by.

She was smart enough for her kind of slime and knew how she could help her master. Using her skills-magic, she began to infuse him with the life of a slime. Alas, only that for now, but in the future, she was sure it would help her master a great deal. But, for the master to praise Ram, it would take more effort!

Ram would do anything to make master happy! And when it was already too bad for her, an unexpected rescue came. The master gave them food - their former kin. Ram was very happy, for her strength was running out, and when she regained her strength, her knowledge increased! Now she saw her mistakes that had almost cost her life!

What would the master think then? If he knew that she almost died? She had also done him harm, because the effects of magic could not be interrupted for long!

She was careful now and didn't rush to act at random. In addition, she looked at the world from a new perspective and began to notice that she had become attached to her little sister! She had become smarter, learnt new emotions and increased in strength!

'Master! Joy! We are...glad master! We love you! You are strong!'

'Rem! Master is very strong! Not... just strong!'

'Sister? I... understand! Master is very strong! Also master... love master very much! I want to be as... as strong as master!'

'Junior! Master is the same! We are sisters! We must... help master!'

'I understand... Ram... junior... loves... sister and master! Help... master... protect master!

'Protect!' - Ram and Rem mentally said, wrapping their bodies tighter around master when they felt master's fear and running....

***

Upon reaching the cave with the lake, I noticed a commotion among the slimes, though I had seen the same thing on the way here. The slimes were running back and forth, well running as in crawling and jumping, and there was a small mess of sparse rocks in the room.

*♪ Bonk, bonk, bonk ♪

There weren't many dead, almost no one was dead if you looked at it that way... fuck, did I almost kill myself? - a sudden realisation occurred to me.

*♪ Bonk, bonk, bonk ♪

The collapse could have been a lot worse! And I was stupidly lucky that the vault didn't collapse on my head right away... or not and everything I made up was just bullshit?

Shit... I don't know! Maybe this place is fortified with earth magic and I'm just screwing with myself? I don't know, I don't know again. I don't know...' I nervously clenched my hands on my sword, gritting my teeth in frustration. The conclusion was disappointing.

I'd rather not use all five Runes of Fire together, just two. Of course, it wouldn't kill or even vaporise a black slime to zero, but it would scare them and make them panic! Just... practice, when will I ever get a chance to fight this kind of opponent with a sword again? - Just the mere thought of stringing them on my favourite, the excitement and lust for battle awakens in me....

Wow... unexpectedly, I've never seen this before. How much is left to the second level of fencing... - I looked at my stats, and noted 46%.

Eh... something is obviously happening to me... although the fear hasn't gone away, and that's the main thing. I don't want to jump on my enemies with a naked saber, without a sense of self-preservation.

And apparently sensing something like that in me, Ram and Rem wrapped themselves around me tighter and clung to me, as if to show their support. From them I caught an emotion of calm and confidence in me... or was it just me getting myself worked up? Damn, it's hard to figure out when you're being crushed by two cuties at once... when there's empathy to the second one,' I glanced again, '11% total left, a little more to go.

'Thank you cuties, it feels good to have your confidence!' - I tried to emotionally convey my thoughts to them and I guess I did it. The girls responded with emotion, ahem, joy, and a wave of love....

Wait... what's that crawling on the ceiling? - I wondered as I examined the ceiling... eight sharp paws... big belly... black matte shell or something, scary fucking face.

Fuck... I hate spiders... I just hate them! And when they're bigger than usual, I hate them even more! The abomination... two... three... six... ten spiders of strange black colouring, were slowly crawling along the ceiling....

Their height was simply enormous, a metre and forty probably, and they... were now crawling, scattering to different corners.

Brrr! Damn, and the slimes don't even notice them! Where did the spiders come from anyway? This is my experience! How the fuck do I fuck you guys up? Hmm, right... I hope no one notices the spear suddenly appearing in the air?

*Hop*

A spear shaft appeared in my hand.

We'll stab you like a butterfly... heh-heh-heh.

* Bang*

Under the usual amplification, the spear quickly reached the first spider and... hit its belly.

Hey, I was aiming for the head... well that'll do.

With a loud screech, the spider fell right into the crowd of slimes, and they quickly swarmed it with their bodies, followed by a few black fatties and began to digest it... er, digest it alive....

God, in a matter of seconds he was swarmed from all sides as if the spider was a wizard girl and the local slimes were tentacle monsters... although, they do have tentacles, yes... Meanwhile, despite the spider's attempt to fight back by clanking its chelicerae, it was quickly crushed by several black slime tentacles and they quickly split it into pieces, the smaller ones even soaking up the blood.

Yep... fast... very fast. The spider parts were now digesting in the black bodies and those had noticeably gained in size.

I was so caught up in the quick fight that I didn't notice the spiders had grown by... nine big ones... and fifty more small ones... The ceiling was covered with just an infinite number of red eyes....

Elvina's holy tits...

Thousands of small eyes were shining from the ceiling, making my goggle clench in a way it couldn't anymore...

Beast instinct skill enhanced.

I think my experience is about to be eaten... though - I looked at HAY, who twitched suspiciously, and after him all the other slimes twitched, the spiders started to act.

Even my girls were suspiciously quiet, occasionally conveying their excitement to me.

Someone dropped a huge amount of webbing on Black and HAY, and while Black had a hard time, HAY simply tore the webbing on their bodies with three tentacles. The small spiders, like some kind of space troopers, began to land on the ground, firing their webs at the slimes. If they had a parachute made of spider webs, then it would be definitely... ahem.

The slimes in turn began to scatter, and some began to chop the web with their metre long tentacles, but apparently these spiders were a distraction, as the slimes did no good. The smaller spiders quickly reached the ground and engaged the defenseless and web-covered slimes in battle.

Bitch... I'd get the hell out of here already, but... there was hope in me that those two HAYs would tear apart the disgraced spider army and I'd finish off the already surviving slimes.

The two HAYs, along with the black ones, began to chop down the smaller spiders, but those were nimble and quickly webbed the slow enemies. So did the huge spiders above that continued to fire, and some even came down and started working their chelicerae!

A battle of two sides ensued. Small ones fought with small ones, big ones with big ones - occasionally big ones with small ones, but if the small spiders had an advantage with long-range weapons, the slimes with their metre-long tentacles could not jump to their enemies. They were simply tied up on the spot.

The big ones fought the big ones, and this is where the two HAIs showed their full glory. Cutting all the small spiders, they calmly tore the web binding them, and visibly helped their brothers. And when one HAY got hold of a big spider, he left large holes in it!

But there were only two of them, and the big ones were much bigger. While one HAY was fighting, two big spiders attacked him from the back and quickly began to cut the seemingly strong tentacles. They were helped by the smaller spiders that kept coming from some passageway!

At this rate, the slimes would be devoured, and even reinforcements in the form of small ones and black ones would not save them. The black ones were just crushed by the cobwebs and were hobbling around with two tentacles trying to do something....

The smaller slimes jumped into a suicidal attack, but kept losing. From top to bottom - they were just being crushed!

And me - standing at the entrance to the cave, dumbfounded by the battle in front of me....

I'm... even scared of attracting such a huge attention of spiders... I'm kind of without much defence against the web too... the sword might cut it, but... how long can I last?

However, I can't run away either, leaving so much experience behind...

I must prepare to run for my life. I'll fuck it up with six or more Runes of fire magic, and the slimes will win... but I won't know that, at least not right away.

Stepping behind a boulder where it would be hard to see me, I began to weave a spell. This time I had to fuckin' hit it hard, and I didn't give a fuck that it might collapse! I hate spiders!

The first Runes... the third and fifth... the cloak of darkness had long since fallen away, and my lips were almost silently uttering some nonsense. All for the sake of reinforcement! Mana was already running low - [150], but I persisted! Seven! - At [66] points, I finally stopped reinforcing the spell.

- Akterrta mahala... - this time instead of a fireball, the spell was completely different. Something like a huge fire shield that levitated next to my hand and scorched me hard with its outgoing light.

*♪ Stomp, stomp, stomp ♪

Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it! The spiders got me?

Spirit +1

- Redius ogennus! - Quickly jumping out of my hiding place, with my sword and fire shield flying webs at me, I saw a shitload of small spiders and one big one that were interested in me. They were now three metres away from me and kept coming.

- Fuck you, arthropods! - I shouted like a madman, launching a wall of fire towards the battlefield and the spiders.

The huge wall of fire, which looked like a shield, got a push and unleashed all its power, and the further it flew, the bigger it got, expanding in all directions.

- Khhhhhyayyyyyyyyyyyy!!! - A nasty howl of spiders hit my ears, but those quickly charred to a crisp.

Experience +1600

New level gained!

Experience +3682

Experience +4354

New level gained!

Experience +6546

New level gained!

There was very little power left... the reinforcements weren't working, and I... seemed to have attracted the attention of both sides of the conflict... at least the slimes took advantage of the spiders' hiccup and began to crowd them!

However... those found a tastier target... or is it just me? It's just their eyes... the red eyes are really so distinctive looking at me....

Well, fucked... - I thought, giving a dash from the spiders that came at me... no mana yet, and the dash didn't help me much... glancing round, I noticed a bunch of spiders and among them two big ones....

Why do I have to do this? Why aren't you fighting slimes?!