Chapter 18 The Bronze

Jacko held onto the egg, playing with it even by summoning it and resummoning it by pulling it out of his chest and in again. "Jacko, I know you're bored but that's kinda... disturbing" Rift said.

The two are sitting by a rock at the moment, waiting for someone. "When is he coming?" Jacko asked. "Depends, we're just hoping for him to come soon...can I have some water?" Rift said, as Jacko summons a Water Slime and then hands it to Rift, drinking from it. "That tastes so damn fresh." He said with relief.

The two then looks at a dust cloud with wooden boat being dragged by large lizard creatures. "Nice!" Rift said, he stretches his arms and back. Jacko watched the wooden boat stop by him, seeing a short man with a dark black cloak and a skull mask. "Rift? Are you sure this is the guy?" Jacko asked. "Yep, Sup Dune Rider!" Rift greeted. The short man nodded in response, then he holds out his hand. "It's 2 thousand for the trip to Grayhold." Rift told Jacko. The Dune Rider shook his head and held up three fingers. "Oh damn, apparently it's 3k now." Rift groaned. Jacko simply placed some coin pouches at the Dune Rider's glove.

He then motioned his head to get them to hop in the boat. They do so while Jacko summons a slime and then leans his head on the boat walls. The Dune Rider then cracks his whips at the Lizards, making the boat move.

"You never told me me why you suddenly wanted to come." Jacko said, looking at Rift with tired but curious eyes. "I did,it's cuz we homies." Rift said. "And I have nothing else to lose, my stash was at the tavern and it got smooshed by the fucking dragon." He continued. "Oh, I'm just going to talk to the Grayhold people and ask for help." Jacko said. "Dude, this is also another reason why I'm coming. You have no idea what's in store for you at Grayhold." Rift said. Jacko looked up and then sighed. "That's a good reason...My map is pretty outdated to be fair, not much information." Jacko told. "May I see it?" Rift asked, while being handed the map Petal gave to him. "It's pretty much the same actually." Rift said. "It just lacks some details." He returned it. "So, how do I ask for help from Grayhold? Will they even talk to me?" Jacko asked. "If you're important enough. Which in sure you can easily prove. I once spoke to the King once, he ignored me actually..." Rift said. "I did see some A rank adventurers being awarded by King Steel after they cleared the 10th floor of the Dragon Dungeons." Rift told. "Dragon Dungeons, so I just have to go there and clear it right...?" Jacko asked, recalling how powerful the Dragon from before was. Like the Flame Elemental, they only beat it because of its weakness, but he is aware that such true dragons don't have that weakness. "Can I even clear it?" Jacko asked himself. "Well, we couldn't have beaten the dragon from before without your slimes. Not only that, you need to be at least C rank to be allowed to entered the Dragon Dungeons." Rift said. "You keep talking about ranks, does that mean I have to apply for a Guild too?" Jacko asked. "Yep, I don't know if I can tho. I'm still a wanted killer." Rift casually said. "Right..." Jacko said. Then he realized something. "Remember the Steel Slime that fused with you?" Jacko asked. "Yeah, what about it?" Rift looked at him. "Well, his name is Mark...and it's actually erm...from a human named Mark." Jacko said. "Wait hold up, what?" Rift widened his eyes. Jacko then calls out Mark, waving it's hammer around. "You mean Mark, the Steelsmith!? You've met the dude!?" Rift asked. "Yeah, it's kind of a long story..." Jacko told. The Steel Slime then transforms it's hammer to form a fist. "Yooo." Rift gave it a fist bump. "So you sayin' you killed my boy Mark and he turned into a slime?" Rift asked, tho a bit upset. "Well, he asked for it cuz he was dying at the time...he wanted me to end his suffering...and then hear he is." Jacko then lifted the slime up. "Daamn, you gotta tell me what fucking happened." Rift asked. "We got captured by fairies." Jacko said.

"I'm sorry what." Rift said, as Jacko tells him the long story...

The Dune Rider's boat reaches to a halt, in front of a small town with houses made out of bronze. He was then approached by some guards with bronze armor and bronze spears. "Good Evening Rider, it's been a while since you brought some passengers." The Bronze Guard said. The Rider nodded and looks at his passengers. Jacko waved at him, while Rift puts on a mask made out of steel. "Hey, state your names and business here?" The Guards asked."I'm Jacko, erm...and this here is...Reeves Wanker. We're both headed to Grayhold." Jacko said, saying what Rift told him to say before they arrived. "Hmm, do you not have a last time, Jacko?" The Guard asked, snickering at his silly name. "I don't." Jacko said. "Well come up with one, You'll need them in Grayhold." The guard advised. Jacko thought for a bit. "Jacko Slime?" He said, thinking it was a very clever one. "Jacko Slime?" The other guard let out a laugh. "Yep, I'm Jacko Slime." He said once more with confidence. "Oh gods, alright. The bridge to Grayhold is closed right now, we're having Whelp problems, stay here in Bronze Town for a bit while we take care of them. Good luck, Reeves Wanker...and Haha...Jacko Slime." The Bronze Guards then leave them alone.

The two hopped off the boat. "I told you to say Rick James! Where did that Reeves Wanker come from?" Rift scolded playfully. "I forgot, sorry." Jacko apologized. "Nah, I'm kidding, you good." He pats his back, as they both walk into the town.

It's a very small town with a town hall, a small market place, inn and the smith. There are also houses here, only four of them.

"That will be 2000 Gold" The vendor said with a smile, looking at the lime haired man and the masked dude each carrying food, consisting of candies and meat. "That's such a good deal!" Jacko said, taking his pouch out of his bag and places the amount on the counter. They then walked away, eating away at their purchases. "Have you ever thought of buying yourself a staff?" Rift asked. "No, I don't think there will be a situation I'll need it for, I have slimes you know." Jacko said, while chewing on some chicken. "Well, that's true, but you need at least a wand if there is a situation you can't use your slimes, remember what you told me about that fairy thing?" Rift said. "Ohh, you're right...I don't think I have the guts to kill fairies tho, and I think I've already killed enough people." Jacko said. "Eh, two is good." Rift said.

Suddenly, an explosion was heard outside the market, followed by screaming. "Aw Hell!" Rift threw his pack of food to Jacko. "Rift!" Jacko yelled, following him with his hands full.

Three Flame Whelps, the size of small dragons themselves, are seen battling against the Bronze Guards. One of them jumped up towards the head of a whelp and stabbed it right at its skull, holding his legs down at the it's jaws. The help screeches as it opens it's jaws and was about to chomp on the soldier. Until he was wrapped around by a Sandworm Spine and pulled to the ground before being unwrapped again. "It's my turn!" Rift then charges at the Fire Whelp, while dodging fire balls easily and blocking one with his blade. Then he whipped up his blade to clasp its mouth shut in the middle of shooting a fireball, causing it to combust within it's head and collapsing immediately.

Meanwhile, Jacko packed all the food down his bag, then summoned good ol' Grom. Jacko then shoved a Water Slime down Grom's mouth, causing him to shoot out the water from it directly at a Fire Whelp's chest, killing it instantly.

The final fire whelp saw what had happened and attempted to escape, before another Water Cannon shoots at its behind, piercing through its body and gets it's head blown off as well.

"Great job, Grom!" He gave the Golem Slime a rub on its rough head before unsummoning it like so.

"What is that?"

"Did that guy just sucked the slime in his hand?"

"I wish that slime was me."

"Shut the fuck up Barbara."

Jacko heard the many voices of the townspeople, seeing them disturbed by his power. "You guys are pretty good for newcomers!" The Bronze Guards approached the two, holding out their hands for a shake. Rift firmly took it. "It's been a pleasure!" He laughed. "Reeves and Jacko, are you two guild adventurers?" The guard asked. "Nah, we're about to." Rift boasted. "Great, that's also all the Fire Whelps remaining in the bridge, they were getting desperate so they attacked the town. We'll put in a good word for you two on the guild."

The guard said. "So we can go now?" Jacko asked. "Yeah, if there were any Whelps left, you two can pretty much handle it all." The guard told. "Do we also get a ride?" Jacko asked. "Sorry, the carriages are being upgraded at the moment so walking is the best bet." The guard told. "Damn, welp, let's get a room." Rift turned, with Jacko following. He looked back at the guards, they were friendly to Rift, their stares to Jacko were menacing.

"Ahhh! You see what I did there?" Rift lied on the soft white bed in their large cozy room with bronze furniture. "Well, you could have died, Rift." Jacko told, sitting by the other bed petting his Water Slime. "No, did you not get it? They're going to endorse us to the guild!" Rift said. "Oh...Oh!" Jacko's eyes widened. "That's so clever..." Jacko told. "Yeah, you always gotta think of the benefits of helping someone, especially the cons. If you're gonna help, you gotta make sure you know who you helping." Rift told. "You gotta remember that, dude. I know you're the kind of guy to do that. Naive as hell." Rift teased.

Jacko nodded. "Then...why did you kill those people before?" He asked. Rift turned away and sighed. "That's something I don't wanna talk about right now. I'm tired too." He then removes his armor, just laying them down on the floor and slept with only a shirt and underpants. Jacko lied with his robes on, they were conveniently comfy in the inside too.

"Grayhold...Dragon Dungeons... the guild...gosh, there's so muchni haven't seen...and I'm already scared." Jacko laughed.