First Dungeon Part 4

After dealing with the <Fire Slime>, Mark didn't take a break but continued his search for the next opponent. The reason was that the moment he leveled up, any SP and HP got filled instantly.

He hadn't noticed at the previous level-ups since he had taken no damage to his HP or needed to use much of his SP by using his Skills. However, this time, with all the running, he had lost quite a bit of his SP, and that one punch when the Slime was in attack mode had also cost him a few HP. At first, he looked around where the Slime was, in case it dropped something as monsters tended to do in games, but there was nothing there as his disappointment.

This time he didn't use his <Stat Points>, as he was confident he could handle more of those <Slimes> or even escape them if things turned out too much for him. So he once more focused on his Skills to detect his next opponent.

It didn't take him long to find one, but it wasn't a <Fire Slime> this time. It looked similar but was blue, but Mark could tell it wasn't a <Blue Blob>.

Mark could feel the surrounding temperature change again, but instead of going up, it went down. That way, he was sure about his opponent's capabilities and kept moving.

Since it was clear it should be an <Ice Slime>, if it would attack the same way as the <Fire Slime>, just with a different Element, Mark should be able to use the same tactic.

But fortunately, it wasn't the case, as instead of transforming itself into a cannon-like form, it formed a ball. The ball kept increasing, like someone was inflating it with air, and reached double its starting size. Now it was just a bit taller than Mark himself.

Mark didn't like the look and started making more distance between himself and the <Ice Slime>. And he was glad he did so, as the <Ice Slime> released its attack.

It released the air inside it from different openings it created in different directions, all pointing toward the ground. It released the air inside it at great speed, and because of the <Ice Slime's> nature or some ability, the air froze as icicles formed and kept moving at great speed.

As those icicles hit the ground, they didn't just break into pieces but froze the ground they hit, and more ice at that space. That ice formed other icicles extended at different angles, widths, and heights.

If Mark hadn't moved when he did, he would have been hit by many of them and maybe even trapped by them.

Also, unlike the <Fire Slime>, the <Ice Slime> didn't seem to have entered a weakened state after its attack, as it kept moving towards Mark. It ignored the ice spikes it created as its amorphous body got quickly past them, as it also separated its body and combined it again when needed.

Mark doubted he could handle this opponent that easily, so he started the retreat without a second thought.

'Could Truck-kun have known that there was that much of a difference between the foes it hit and those Slimes? '

Even if Mark hadn't fought personally, any of the <Blobs> that Truck-kun had slammed, since each gave not even half the EXPS a <Fire Slime> gave, should be of a much lower level. Of course, a higher level shouldn't necessarily mean that a creature was more powerful, but since <Blobs> and <Slimes> were similar creatures, it should be the case.

As Mark moved away, he kept his attention on what the <Ice Slime> did, which unfortunately seemed to go after him. It even started shooting icicles toward him, even if they were faster than the previous attack; since it was shooting one at a time, he could avoid them as long as he was zigzagging.

Even if it looked like the <Ice Slime>, for whatever reason, was faster than the rest of the <Blobs> and the <Fire Slime>, Mark could keep the distance between them. Still, because he was zigzagging, and the <Ice Slime> moved with no worries of any obstacles, the distance between them was getting smaller slowly.

But then Mark noticed something, and he quickly formed a plan.

'Hopefully, they don't hang out with each other. '

What he barely noticed in the direction he ran towards was a dark crimson rock, which he was sure was another <Fire Slime>. Ice and Fire were two Elements that didn't mix together well, so he wanted to see what would happen when the two <Slimes> encountered each other.

It started moving as he headed that way and was just a bit less than two meters from the 'hidden 'Slime. Mark recognized its movements almost identical to the ones the other <Fire Slime> did when he first found it.

This one looked a little bigger, and it took less time to enter its 'flamethrower mode, 'as Mark had decided to call it. An icicle also was reaching Mark at that point, and he ducked out of its way. And without even planning it, the icicle hit the <Fire Slime> as it entered its 'cannon's mouth. '

Mark quickly moved sideways as flames were released from the <Fire Slime>, but their reach was much smaller than usual, just barely two meters. It also didn't last as much, and the <Fire Slime> didn't look to have entered a weakened state.

'It seems like it didn't like our friend's gift.'

As Mark finished that thought, he noticed that the <Fire Slime> didn't turn toward him but kept moving toward the <Ice Slime>. The <Ice Slime> saw the new target, seemed to have given up on its pursuit of Mark, and threw its icicles at the <Fire Slime>.

A grind appeared on Mark's face as his plan worked better than he had hoped. He didn't know if any of them would ignore him to fight the other, but in the end, it seemed that the two of them genuinely had forgotten about him.

Still, it wasn't safe, as the <Ice Slime> kept throwing its icicles, this time at a more rapid rate. The <Fire Slime> avoided most of them, making you doubt how you could defeat the same creature just a few moments ago.

'Could I have just found a weak <Fire Slime> before, or is that a freak one?'

Mark couldn't tell which was the case, but he was confident that this <Fire Slime> was much more powerful than the previous one he beat. This one didn't keep using the same attack repeatedly, and it seemed like it knew not to go all out with it when it did.

In the end, the <Ice Slime> seemed at a disadvantage, as its icicles, which were more or less a piercing attack, wasn't as effective in another creature like it. Still, since it was an Ice-related attack, it should more or less have some extra effect on it, but the <Fire Slime> melted it using smaller flame attacks on them.

Mark didn't just stay a spectator, but he didn't continue running away, as here. Instead, while keeping his attention on the battle to the best of his abilities, he started picking up small stones like the ones he used before.

In the end, he found five of them and threw one toward the <Ice Slime>. It barely hit it, and Mark didn't see any ripples on its body, as it seemed more solid than the <Fire Slime> in its weakened state. Still, from how it moved, it didn't seem as solid as when the <Fire Slime> was in its 'flamethrower mode. '

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You dealt 2 Damage to <Ice Slime>

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Mark smiled as he was correct at the naming of his foe. Fortunately, the damage didn't seem enough to make it turn its attention toward you. He was ready to throw another rock toward it, but the <Fire Slime> made its move first.

It extended itself once more, taking its 'flamethrower mode ', which Mark had to admit was closer to a cannon than of the previous <Fire Slime>. Unfortunately, the tip of the cannon was right in front of the <Ice Slime>, which didn't move away as the flames surrounded it and started consuming it.

That fire continued getting released for more time than any of the previous attacks this <Fire Slime> did.

'It seems the two of them were not friendly towards each other. I guess the icicle in the face didn't help, either. '

As the flames were getting weaker, showing the attack was coming to its end, Mark was ready to charge if the <Fire Slime> entered a weakened state this time.

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The <Ice Slime> you had damaged got killed, but since your support was minimal, you gained 14 EXPS

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The notification surprised Mark, as he didn't expect to get any EXPS. He was trying to see if it could take the last hit, but it seemed like he didn't need to do so. Still, since he had dealt so little damage, the EXPS he earned was just a drop of what he could generally take if he beat the monster himself.

But he snapped out of his thought as he noticed that the <Fire Slime> was indeed in the familiar weakened state. And so, with a grin on his face, Mark charged to finish his EPXs' meal'.