Raid: Toxic Slime Cavern (Final)

The spear had penetrated the hand and spine… completely crumbling the long bone into pieces.

ROOOOOOOAAAAAAR

Each passing second, a bone in the skeleton would crumble into dust, dispersing into the red slime, which began to slowly drip down to the floor.

"HUFF HUFF HUFF HUFF,"

The leader had twisted his ankle upon landing back down next to me, and parts of his skin had been burned as some of the slime had splashed on him.

"Damn, I should retire," He mutters while limping over to me.

"Sure," I responded before giving him a shoulder as we walked over to the center of the room, where the corpse of the giant skeleton was trying to fight for survival.

It's over… It's finally over.

"You can cry if you want," The leader says as he pats my back, and I realize tears flowed from my eyes.

"It's the adrenaline," I responded, wiping the tears from my face.

I really thought I was going to die… Shit… I really, really thought I was going to die. Like really, really, really, really, thought I was going to die.

You'd think I'd be used to it and wouldn't mind dying again, but after having a second chance at life, I feel like living a bit more.

"*sigh*... Finally," The leader muttered before staring up at the panels in front of him.

.

[You have killed the Dungeon Boss: Giant Toxic Skeleton]

[Member Count When Entering: 24]

[Members Remaining: 2]

[Prize is being calculated…]

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[Achievements]

[1. [A Dangerous Duo]

[2. [Slime Slaughterer]

.

[You discovered a Hidden Achievement]

[1. [Slime Orb Discoverer]

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[Prize has absorbed your achievements]

[Proceed to the Treasure Room for your Prize]

.

"Damn, that's a lot," I muttered, and the leader nodded in agreement as he had never seen some of these achievements.

I mean, obviously, he hadn't seen the dangerous duo one but also the slime orb discoverer, which I guess transferred over to him as well.

"I'm gonna take the hardest nap once I get back," I heard the leader mutter as I glanced over at the pretty much-broken stone throne and realized a large opening had appeared.

Inside was a giant treasure chest and a few bags of coins spread out across the room.

The leader was pretty excited, so he hooked his arm off my shoulder and proceeded ahead of me.

But, just as we were about to enter the opening and receive our rewards, a panel appeared in my vision.

.

[You have completed the Quest: Complete your First Dungeon]

[Time remaining: 50 Minutes]

[Reward has been granted]

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All of a sudden, I felt something wrap around my right hand's ring finger, and it squirmed like the slime I had encountered.

When I actually took a look at my finger, I noticed gray tentacles were wrapping around it.

"Boy, what's wrong?" The leader asks, and just as he was about to turn around, I hid my right hand behind my back.

"Nothin'," I responded bluntly.

What the hell is this thing?

But, just as I brought my hand back in front of me, the gray tentacles were gone, and a silver ring with engraved patterns replaced the disgusting things.

And, a tiny gray gem was embedded into the ring itself, seemingly filling it with power… but how come I didn't feel any of that power?

"Wait, didn't it say it was tattered or something?" I muttered to myself but decided to shove all these thoughts away and bask in the sweet glory of victory.

It has been a while since I've experienced this intoxicating feeling, so I'll drink and bathe in it as much as possible.

Crack

The leader broke the stone lock on the massive wooden treasure chest and slowly pulled the top up, revealing all kinds of things.

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[Rewards]

[1. [Toxic Coated Slime Dagger]

[2. [Berserker Slime Magic Orb]

[3. [Bone Shards (x99)]

[4. [Large Potions (x10)]

[5. [Jar of Berserker Slime]

[6. [Skill Book - Berserker Coating]

.

"Holy… Shit," The leader muttered, surprised at the sheer amount of rewards we obtained.

After sorting through all of the rewards, I wanted only two things as they were things I could actually use.

The dagger I was most likely selling as the leader will probably give it to me.

I was most likely going to sell the magic orb, and I'm sure the leader would give it to me without hesitation.

The bone shards… I honestly don't know what they do.

The potions, I'm sure we'll split halfway.

And finally, the jar and skill book… I wanted these two for myself.

"Hmmmmm… That skill book is enticing," The leader muttered, the only words I desperately didn't want to hear.

If the leader wanted it, I wouldn't be able to do anything about it because I'm so exhausted, and even in his weakened state, he'll probably kill me.

I could potentially try and take it back later somehow, but without a doubt, I'm sure he'll use it as soon as he grabs it.

Suddenly, he changes his mind after glancing at me.

"*sigh*... You can have it," He sighs before grabbing the book and tossing it directly at me.

Tump

I caught the slim and leathery book, which smelled just like a library.

"I can have it?"

"I mean if you want? I won't have any qualms on taking it," He shrugs before picking up the orb and dagger.

"You want them?" I asked as it looked like he really wanted both of them.

"Yeah, I'm thinking of selling them," He says, and all of a sudden, I paused.

Sell? Why would he NEED to sell them when we have all these bags of gold and silver coins?

"Oh, these bags are just for show. People just don't talk about them because it brings in more dungeon runners who are money-hungry," He says, thoroughly reading my face before tossing me the orb, which sold for more.

"I see… and what do these bone shards do?"

"They're for alchemy, and let me take them as I have an alchemist friend. She doesn't necessarily need them, but I also do owe her a favor…."

"Go ahead, but I'm taking the jar of slime,"

"Hmm… Why do you need it?"

"Stuff,"

"Are you planning on reforming your eyes?" He asked, and I flinched slightly.

"No,"

"..."

"..."

"Well, whatever, just take it. I didn't need it for anything anyway, but I must warn you that reforming your eyes is a risky process, especially for somebody so young,"

"That's fine. I have multiple backup plans just in case I go blind," I responded before feeling a weightless feather graze my neck.

FWOOSH

And, we reappeared in front of the dungeon.