Dungeon Wars

Book 2: Inner War

(The Slime Dungeon Universe)

Jeffrey “Falcon” Logue

Acknowledgements

For my fans who stuck with me

Cover and Design by:

Amelia Parris

Editing by Ellen Klowden.

●●●

All work within this novel is fictional.  All characters, places, and adventures were born within the mind of the author and have no relation to anything in real life.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; no copies should be made without the consent of the author. Thank you for respecting the author’s hard work.

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Inner War

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Epilogue

Prologue

There was a hole in the sea, a plunging, dark vortex of nothing, around which swirled an endless deluge of water and air. Nothing dared approach the maelstrom, neither ship nor creature nor monster roaming the vast waters surrounding the continent. That did not mean, however, that this strange and dangerous place was uninhabited.

A group of floating islands hovered above the endlessly churning seas, anchored by mountain-sized chains that stretched down into the waters around the vortex, preventing the islands from ever leaving. Strange and wondrous birds flew up and down from the islands, diving for the rich ocean bounty that ringed the dead zone of the vortex, in the rich coral reefs that marked the boundary between life and death.

Of these birds, there were those as small as mice, and those as large as a copse of trees. Some of these massive birds who came down from the islands were not alone, but mounted with great saddles on their backs. Humans, elves, devil-kin, and a few orcs, all dressed in adventurer gear, descended into the vortex, intent on some great adventure to be found in the great dungeon known as World’s End, the Great Ocean Dungeon...

A vast, abandoned city filled with treasure and aquatic creatures, this ocean dungeon was among the greatest in the world. Submerged so far below the roiling waves of the sundered sea, of which no reason could be given nor what power known could accomplish such a feat, the sole light to reach it fell distorted and tenuous, as at the bottom of a well, onto the half thereof that jutted into the void. There were few, if any, more imposing locations in the world. For the unprepared, it was a truly hostile environment.

Far within the ruins, in a place no normal being could reach without permission, a male pixie sat, comforted by soft ocean moss and a warm whale blubber blanket, upon a chair decorated with sea pearls, bright shells, and the scales of dead fish, though some of this ostentation had been worn away by age. Two rainbow-colored pieces of coral stretched out to serve as armrests, glowing in the dimly lit room. He snored away, his blue beard buzzing with every exhalation. His skin slightly wrinkled and pale like whale bone, dressed in a robe of dried whale skin and ornaments of pearls and other sea jewels, it would be easy to confuse such a sight with that of a king of the sea.

A layer of dust covered the ground and various decorations, even as the pixie snored away, giving the once prestigious and grand room a decrepit feel, even as the finery continued to glisten under the blue stone lamps. Soon, however, a quiet “ding” inside the room disturbed the peaceful air. The pixie, rather than awakening suddenly, continued to snore peacefully, despite the noise. The situation changed when a sudden deluge of water poured down onto his head, startling the pixie.

Vigorously and ungracefully ejecting water out of his nose, he raised his green eyes and shook his fist. “It’s rude to treat the elderly in such a way, you know!” While the old pixie may have appeared senile to the untrained observer, the room seemed to rumble in response, as if the structure were responding to the protest.

“Visitors, you say?” With a flick of his fingers, a flat, moving image appeared in front of the pixie, showing the far-off image of giant birds landing at the entrance to the town. The pixie rolled his eyes. “Pish! Just a few adventurers,” he scoffed. “What, can’t handle them yourself? Fine, fine, let me get my robes in order.”

The room rumbled a second time, somehow communicating a sense of disgust to the pixie. A second rumble and the wall across from the chair began to glow, revealing a hidden door embedded in the stone.

“That entrance, is it?” The pixie turned solemn and snapped his fingers. A hidden door in the wall in front of him opened, revealing a stone portal comprised of magically etched ocean granite, ensconcing an incredibly large sapphire. As the flagstone began to glow, it revealed a rapidly expanding vortex, through which stepped a figure.

It was another elderly pixie, dressed in a thick robe made of woven bark. The way the garment moved stiffly made its wearer look like a wooden bell as he walked across the chamber. He used a living branch carved with magical symbols as a cane, and his long, elegant wings fluttered quietly behind him. With a bald head and a short, thick, brown beard interwoven with tangled, leafy vines, the elder gave the drenched pixie a once-over.

“Having a bad day?” he mocked.

“As a matter of fact, no -- at least, I wasn’t, until you showed up,” the blue pixie snorted. “I was remembering some of the adventurers of my youth. I’d almost finished filling the memory coral with the war against the crabs when you arrived. I can’t recall if I left off at the Battle of Eel Hill, or when we used whale dung to cover our approach from above the waves. Now I’ll need to start over.”

“In that case, I offer my apologies,” the wood pixie bowed respectfully. “Memory coral; is it coming soon to be that time for you?”

The blue pixie snorted again, eyeing the staff in the other’s hand. “As if it weren’t for you, as well. My eyes are still well enough to recognize heartwood when I see it. How much have you managed to save?”

“Almost enough to pass,” the wood pixie sighed. “To think the time would come so soon for us both. Remember the first conference we fought against each other? I beat you black and blue—well, bluer at least—with my ivy golem. I made sure that the heartwood recorded that memory.”

“You had a year’s worth of experience and growth over me, and you know it,” the blue pixie grumbled. “And I got you back with the uni-seahorse; which was quite troublesome to breed. Do you know how much effort I had to put in to breed the coral-blasted thing from normal, magical seahorses?” As the memories of hard work played through his mind, the blue pixie let a look of nostalgia dance across his face. He looked over at the other pixie, noting the wrinkles and tinge of almost hidden grey in his beard. “You still have the scar on your hand, I see,” the blue pixie noted, “We were so shocked when the horn kept going through your golem and caused you to bleed; such a ruckus we made trying to find a healer.” The two shared a chuckle as the memories flowed through each of their minds, causing the coral around the chair and the staff to glow momentarily. They both waited until the glow subsided before continuing.

“In any case, what brings you by?” inquired the blue pixie. “It can’t be to muse about the past with this old fossil of a pixie. Need some more shells for your family?”

“While I’m not here to reminisce, we should take some time to do so later. The young ones always seem so eager to unlock new evolutions,” the wood pixie said. “No, old friend, this is about the coming pixie conference.”

“That time already?” the blue pixie muttered, surprised. “How long have I been asleep?”

The dungeon rumbled in response. The green pixie nodded in agreement, reacting to some voice only the two of them could hear...

“You’ve been snoring away for five years, Coralbeard. Not the longest nap I’ve ever heard of, but you seem to have neglected your duties, as well.” The visiting pixie stared hard at the thick covering of dust in the room.

“Oof,” The blue pixie, Coralbeard, winced. “Good thing you came by, then. This old ruin would have disposed of me, had I slept any longer. And, yes, sadly” he cocked his head, his eyes narrowing, “it does appear I have been neglecting my duties. Did my snores wake the dead again?”

With a wave of his hand, another image appeared in front of the two pixies. The image itself appeared from an orb of water that dripped down from the ceiling, forming a mirror that showed a vision of another space, a reflection of the world within the ruins. The adventurers who had just landed were currently fighting off a large wave of what appeared to be skeletal mermaids, with horrifying fish-like skulls. Coralbeard grimaced in annoyance. “These skeletal mermaids are more numerous than ever, tarnation. I swear, just because we took over their city and butchered them all, can’t these restless spirits pass on in peace without causing so much trouble? It and I do not like undead, and do not need undead even if they are aquatic!” The blue pixie turned a pleading eye onto the green pixie and begged, “Woodbeard, old friend, mind tapping that stick of yours? If I must use the saltwater to clear them away, I’ll have dead adventurers and wasted mana.”

The wood pixie, Woodbeard, let out a snort at the mention of undead. Raising his staff, he slammed it onto the ground, sending a green wave through the ground that quickly vanished. High above in the first floors, the adventurers taking on the unexpected undead were startled as their opponents turned to dust, leaving the entrance to the dungeon itself clear.

“I told you, didn’t I? I told you mass genocide would lead to this issue,” Woodbeard lectured. “You were much too foolish in your youth, thinking that the anti-spiritual properties of salt would eliminate any undead from here. Look at you now, forced to take the time to cleanse your own dungeon because they reform their bones from the very ground where they died. How many adventurers unknowingly were wasted while you napped?”

Coralbeard blushed, an unbecoming expression on his wizened face. “Yeah, well, we all made mistakes in our youth. I with the location move of the dungeon, you cursing yourself to that abysmal skirt—”

“It’s a toga!”

“—toga, whatever, forced to wear it until you die. And old Skeleton face having that daughter of his kill him and murder his dungeon. She’s a real nasty piece of work, that one.”

“Considering how he raised her, I’m not surprised how it turned out,” Woodbeard sighed. “Still, it’s she that I came to talk to you about, as it relates to the conference. It’s her family’s turn, you remember.”

“Hm, yes,” Coralbeard nodded. “Old Puffy Clouds Beard oversaw the last one, so her turn is next. Has she been warned about choosing the main event? I don’t want another... spectacle like the last time she organized it.”

“Oh, call it how it was,” Woodbeard snapped. “It was a bloodbath of unbelievable nightmares. So many young pixies wasted, so many dungeons lost. We should have just had them devoured honestly; it would have been less gruesome.”

“And yet,” the blue pixie pointed out. “Neither of us had any complaints once she divided up the spoils evenly between the families. Still, it’s not good to have such an event too often, otherwise our families would lose the respect we are due. The middle and lower families wouldn’t bother showing up if they expected to lose their most promising stars every conference.”

“Yes, which is why she has agreed, by her own admission, to ‘tone the fun down.’” The green pixie grimaced. “I had the unfortunate privilege of listening to her plans in full detail….” He trailed off dramatically, taking a comical posture.

“Don’t keep me sitting here in suspense,” Coralbeard snorted. “Spit it out already, old man.”

“You know I can’t completely spoil the surprise,” Woodbeard murmured happily, enjoying the atmosphere. “Organizers are magically bound to secrecy. I’d lose my wings if I spoke out of turn; she, as well.”

“Doesn’t mean you haven’t given your descendants close hints.”

“Of course not. Being an organizer is a privilege and offers that benefit,” the green pixie grinned evilly. “So, about those shells for my cute little ones.”

“Fine, fine, you old thieving codger,” Coralbeard groaned. With a wave of his hand, the entrance to an astral bag appeared overhead. From within this tear in the fabric of space-time, bags upon bags of seashells appeared, ranging in size from the normal sizes to gigantic, monster versions. Woodbeard waved his hand, sending the bags through the portal behind them as they magically shrank to fit.

“It’s a force-type bout,” he revealed, satisfied with the payment.

Coralbeard raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. Haven’t had that type in a while. I wonder, is it an army, strike force, or small squad?”

“That would be telling, now, wouldn’t it?” Woodbeard chuckled, stroking his beard in amusement. “Still, I did what I came here to do. I must be off.”

“To extort the others, I bet,” the blue pixie surmised.

“Naturally,” the wood pixie grinned happily. “As I mentioned, organizers earn perks. As you, too, shall when the role returns to you. If you live long enough, anyway.”

“I’ll be here as long as you, skirt-bearer.”

“It’s a toga!” Grimacing, Woodbeard stepped back into the portal and vanished, the door closing behind him and the wall hiding the structure from sight once more.

Coralbeard twiddled his thumbs, thinking to himself.

“I’ll be going out, family meeting,” he announced suddenly. “When I’m back, I’ll make up for the five years of neglect.”

The room rumbled slowly, satisfied. Coralbeard inwardly let out a sigh of relief. It would have been troublesome if permission had not been given to leave. Afterall, his time was almost up, and he didn’t need to provide any more reasons to make that end come sooner. The memory coral for the next generation wasn’t full yet, and he still had so much left to pass down before his final duty.

With a flick of his wrist, the blue pixie vanished, chair and all. Stillness returned to the room, even as the cries of dying adventurers rang out from high above, having found the true denizens of the Great Ocean Dungeon and all their strength.

Chapter 1

Eyes narrowed, ears flattened, the forest lion padded silently along the undergrowth of the forest. With each step it took, its paws would effortlessly mold to the shape of the ground, covering stone and twig without breaking them. To an observer, the great hunter looked more akin to a ghost than a hungry feline, as it left no trace of its presence behind it, not even a wisp of scent. And yet, a glimmer of hunger and determination twinkled in its eyes, a clear sign of life, as its attention remained locked on the view before it.

There, just ahead on the sloped ground surrounding an uprooted tree, two furry slimes with ears and tails were pacing. If the forest lion had witnessed these abominations a few months ago, it would have avoided them at all cost. A gigantic maw of sharp, slime-hardened teeth and a lack of face and bones rendered these slimes into threatening monstrosities. These slimes were new additions to the forest, having appeared sometime within the last week or so, after the great battle of food. In fact, the lion’s den was filled to the brim with enough meat to last the coming winter, a welcome relief given its previous strict diet of slime cores.

Though it had enough food hidden away, the forest lion did not allow itself to rest on its laurels. This strange forest had changed, and the primal hunter had to learn to adapt to survive, not only for itself, but also for the three female forest lions who had joined it.

After the great battle of food, the ground and sky had shaken once again, causing things to change. For one, the forest had finished its growing phase. No longer would trees suddenly appear overnight in places once bare. Not only that, but now trails were left through the brush and fallen leaves, as slimes carved out permanent territories and paths, where before they had vanished after a day from the rapid growth.

The appearance of these trails changed the behavior of the slime prey, making their daily movements predictable and their surprise attacks more deadly. The lion had witnessed a patrol of grey slimes easily ambushing a bug slime horde by hiding magic slimes off the path. Since witnessing this tactic, the forest lion had taken to examining the surroundings of prey before making an attack, saving itself from dealing with unexpected prey.

Still, the changes in the high forest were not as dangerous as the ones below. Where once pitfalls and broken caves littered the forest, now there were only five entrances to the lower cave, each located in different parts of the forest: central, north, south, east and west. Down there, the light from the luminous slimes did not reach, and all was covered in a sinking darkness, ruled by the echoes of creatures beyond sight. The forest lion had explored out of curiosity, finding below a never-ending maze of corridors, broken buildings, and dilapidated ruins, strewn around as though a great beast had moved through the tunnels.

Even with its improved hearing and sense of smell, the lion had found it difficult to hunt the slimes that lived in the darkness, fully adapted to their world. Strange slimes seemingly made of wood and slime were the most common, coexisting with plants that somehow had grown to resemble them and produce sweet-smelling fruit loved by all slime creatures, even the lion. The furry slimes in front also had their lairs in the darkness, filling the corridors with yips and growls as they hunted for prey. Worst of all, however, were the small ones. The forest lion shivered at the memory, causing a small stick to break by accident. The lion froze and stopped breathing, lowering its core temperature as well. The furry slimes ahead perked up at the noise but appeared to return to their task after witnessing nothing of interest.

The forest lion stifled the urge to breathe, knowing the furry slimes were only pretending to have lost interest. It watched as their ears twitched, every few moments, toward its direction, a clear sign of alertness the lion had witnessed in the past from deer.

Returning to its thoughts, the forest lion felt little need or desire to venture down into the depths after its last encounter with the residents, though the fruit did tempt it, from time to time. While the strange, wood-like slime ambush tactics seemed out of place as they kept stationary, they proved to be strong fighters for the lion to practice against. Not that their square, wooden bodies provided any decent taste once killed; even their slime core tasted wooden.

The forest lion paused once more, as its prey began to loudly yip, indicating the uncovering of a scent trail.  The patient hunter allowed its body to disappear into the trees surrounding it, not needing to breathe, to blink, or to do anything else that might give away its position. Even the slight smell its body would normally give off vanished as the forest lion’s newest ability came into play: perfect mimicry, a tool best used to hide during an unexpected situation.

Indeed, the lion had made the correct decision, for answering yips soon echoed around it, as a small mass of furry slimes joined the other two in the clearing above. The forest lion let out a mental sigh of annoyance. It only had the slightest confidence against two furry slimes, but this number was much too strong for it to face—at least alone.

With a twinkle in its eye, the forest lion raised its tail and stretched it slowly into the air. With the slightest of movements, the tail twitched left, then right, and left one more time. As if materializing from thin air, the three female forest lions appeared beside it, the lead female wrapping her tail intimately around the forest lion’s. The two let their heads touch, but never let their eyes waver from the prey before them.

Like the forest lion, the three female lions were using perfect mimicry, though a tiny hair seemed to connect each of them to the forest lion. The forest lion’s tail and the three hairs retracted before splitting into three and separating to touch each female’s back. Not making a sound, the tail tapped each back uniquely, sending instructions as if the lion had growled and spoke them aloud.

The four split up, moving like phantoms into the trees surrounding the furry slimes, who had fallen into a state of confusion from the scent trail leading them in circles around the clearing. They fell over each other in an effort to backtrack and sniff ahead at the same time, leading to a pileup of boneless fur. Unknown to these powerful tier three slimes, however, the trail they had been following was that of the forest lion’s tail, which had long retracted back into the surrounding forest while hiding its scent. The furry slimes were quite literally being dragged around by the nose, though only a few individuals possessed noses.

The four lions, waiting in ambush position, began their silent massacre. As the mass passed near each of them, the forest lions used their tails to impale the stragglers, killing them before the furry slime could make a noise. Like a fishing line attached to a spear, the tails retracted back up into the trees, carrying the slain prey with them. While the furry slimes were on high alert for anything suspicious, their lack of sight played against them as their brethren were comically hoisted above their heads like trophies, which conveniently did not bleed, smell dead, or make any noise to attract attention. Only after half the mass had been killed did the remaining furry slimes notice something amiss.

Whining, fur flattening in panic, the remaining furry slimes vamoosed back into the woods toward the nearest entrance to the caves, unwilling to stay anywhere near an invisible killer. The forest lions let them escape, though one of the females did spear one straggler that had been run over by its brethren.

With a snarl of declaration, the forest lion sank its teeth into one of the furry slime trophies. Instantly, the delicious taste of meat filled its mouth as teeth sank into flesh. The furry slime’s slime was close to that of real meat, but due to its elasticity and flexibility, it achieved incredible tenderness and flavor. Naturally, this was accompanied by an incredibly potent acid that would render most creatures into bone upon prolonged contact, but the forest lion’s new body chemistry rendered it immune. Now, it could indulge in the luxurious taste of slime flesh, which it relished slowly with each bite.

The lead female poked the forest lion in the shoulder, drawing its attention. It turned its head, seeing the three females staring pitifully at it. Though they had gained the perfect mimicry ability like it had, their bodies were still amid their evolution, and they were, thus, unable to handle the acid in the furry slimes.

Embarrassed at its selfishness, the forest lion quickly pierced three of the furry slimes with its tail and handed over the non-acidic slime cores to the females, who pounced and gnawed on the hard tier three cores. It would take some time to pierce through with their teeth, but all three females were capable of this much, now. The forest lion remembered their first experience with cores, as well as its own, each having swallowed them whole. It had learned later that it was much safer—and delicious—to break the core with their teeth and swallow it in parts, to avoid exploding. Indeed, in the aftermath of the food war, the group had borne witness to several new creatures in the forest overindulging in slime cores and exploding into gooey, magically charged bits, which the slimes enjoyed eating in a somewhat ironic circle of life.

Still, the female forest lions would, by its estimate, be completing their transformations soon. They would become like it, a part of this strange new world, unable and unwilling to leave. Perhaps, the forest lion wondered ruefully, it would even possibly have offspring in its near future. It had been experimenting late at night with its tail, and—

A shudder ran through the minds of the four of them. They turned, together, toward the large hill in the distance that led up out of the dungeon. A singular understanding had entered their minds, a single, unifying feeling that they knew every slime shared in the forest and caves. Something was coming, something that threatened them and their home.

This feeling, while not forceful or invasive, was persistent and ever-present.

“Repel the invasion.”

Chapter 2

In a dimly lit room of stone and earth, four creatures sat on the floor, consumed by worry and unease.

“Is it true, Doc?” one of the furry, wolf-like creatures asked. “To have another one so soon....”

Above her head glowed a shining, purple crystal. Doc, the dungeon crystal, took a moment to verify, once again, before speaking. “There’s no mistake, Ayla. I can sense another dungeon moving towards us. Its aim is clear, and I can feel its hostile intent even from this distance.” The crystal seemingly turned to look down at one of the slimes. “Rowen, how are we looking in terms of combat power?”

“From a tactical standpoint, the dungeon’s forces have only just recovered to the number before the mutant animal dungeon attack,” Rowen determined, his grey and white slime body jiggling as he drew numbers and shapes into the dust with a tentacle. “Your powers still haven’t quite returned, Doc, but thankfully, your dungeon can now support tier 3 slimes. All four of us here have increased in strength, as a result, and the furry slimes will listen to Ayla and Aisha’s commands without question. However, the other tier 3 slimes are either ambush types that are unwilling to move, or leaders of some of the various families in the forest. Their instincts won’t let them leave their home vulnerable to ambush.”

He inclined his slime in a rather human manner. “Given that an attack will have to appear on the forest floor and/or the cavern floor, we can expect them to take action once their territory has been violated.” The slime shrugged. “Still, all of this analysis and planning is rather worthless without knowing the enemy’s strength, numbers, weaknesses—”

The blue slime next to Rowen raised a tentacle and smacked him, causing his body to wobble uselessly. “Rowen,” she said, “stick to the positives. Even the best-made plans are held in reserve, because it is expected that the enemy has some form of counterespionage. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dragon dungeon or a worm dungeon. We will fight well, and we will fight purposefully. Make the best you can—”

“With what you got.” Rowen finished, a small, rueful smile appearing on his face. “Fine. In that case,” he turned back up to face the crystal, “Doc, our forces are as strong as they’ve ever been. All that’s left is to meet the enemy in battle and adjust the strategy from there.”

“That’s the most I can hope for,” Doc murmured as he expanded his view, taking in every sight in the dungeon at once. “My slimes have recovered, you all have gotten stronger, and the dungeon is growing. If only Claire were awake, then I wouldn’t have any fear toward this dungeon.”

“Doc, question.” Aisha spoke up. “Other dungeon, arrive quick?”

Doc let the question sink in as he considered it. “It’s moving at the speed of an adventurer, though taking a pause every few moments.”

Rowen and Anadine bent their bodies into upside-down ‘u’ shapes. “Hey, Doc,” Anadine pondered, “How much of the forest is getting displaced by the other dungeon? I imagine there must be a large crack in the ground heading our way.”

“No, no cracks as far as I can sense,” Doc reported a moment later. “In fact, none of the birds or creatures in the area seem to be particularly disturbed by the dungeon’s coming.”

The five of them all shared confused looks.

“I really wish Claire were awake now,” Doc muttered. “She always has the answers to strange situations. Is it an invisible dungeon, like what the forest lions can do with their mimicry?”

“There would be some kind of displacement, even if it were invisible,” Rowen countered. “And since you can sense it, it isn’t hiding from your mana sense. Perhaps it is invisible and intangible.”

“What, like a ghost?” Anadine queried. The two worgs’ fur immediately stood on end, turning them into fluffed- up balls at the word “ghost.”

“Ghosts are bad!” Ayla squeaked.

“Can’t bite, too cold,” Aisha agreed.

“What’s a ghost?” Doc asked.

The four creatures suppressed the urge to smack the floor in surprise.

“You don’t know what a ghost is, Doc?” Rowen asked. “How? Didn’t you deal with the undead dungeon I was hidden in?” Getting a blank feeling from Doc, Rowen continued. “Ghosts, you know, spirits of the dead? Take the form of a dead person, inflict fear, pain, suffering on the living most of the time? Type of undead only hurt by mana, see-through?”

“I don’t recall facing any of that from the undead dungeon,” Doc tapped his crystal figuratively. “I just remember the vast horde of skeletons. Little skeletons, big skeletons, two-legged skeletons, four-legged skeletons….”

“Right, got it,” Anadine interrupted. “You’ve never met a ghost. Point is, ghosts are scary to living things -- and very dangerous. Powerful ghosts can do nasty things to a human body, such as causing your guts to come out of your mouth, or ripping you limb from limb, or even possessing you and using your body like a meat puppet against your allies. Weapons are useless against them, too, and weaker mages can’t even touch them.” The two worgs nodded vigorously in agreement.

“And how is any of that relevant to this dungeon and its creatures?” Doc wondered out loud.

In a strange revelation, the four creatures realized that slime, such as themselves, could easily recreate organs (not that they needed them) and limbs; couldn’t really be possessed into puppets because, without conscious control, they turned into puddles; and naturally wielded magic as a weapon. Suddenly, a ghost dungeon didn’t seem quite so scary.

Anadine let out an awkward cough. “W-well, a ghost dungeon is only one of the possibilities. Perhaps the dungeon is teleporting in some strange, slow... manner?”

“At its current speed, I should be able to see it soon,” Doc said matter-of-factly. “In fact, it should be just about here.”

Doc faded off as he projected a moving image onto the far wall. The five of them watched together a serene forest with leaves dancing in the breeze.

“I don’t see anything, Doc,” Rowen averred.

“Well, it’s right there,” Doc gently, yet urgently countered. “Look, it’s moving again -- toward us.”

Anadine formed two tentacles into a makeshift pair of binoculars and stared through them, before snorting. “Doc, Rowen and I can’t ‘see,’ remember? Give us some mana or vibrations, not light.”

“There isn’t anything to see,” Ayla muttered, her canine eyes locked onto the image as it slowly panned backwards, following the invisible dungeon. “Doc, are you sure—”

“There, movement!” Aisha barked, extending her paw to point. The two worgs and Doc leaned forward to stare closely as the image shifted focus. Silence pervaded the room.

“Well, what is it?” Rowen asked, exasperated.

“It’s a frog,” Doc noted, with a hint of curiosity.

“Toad,” Aisha gently corrected.

“What, did the dungeon make a frog move? So, is it displacing things?” Rowen asked.

“No, it’s a frog.” Ayla explained.

“Toad,” Aisha corrected.

“The dungeon, is in the shape of a frog?” Anadine asked, hesitantly. Aisha closed her eyes and let it pass.

“If I’m seeing this correctly,” Doc spoke up. “Then the dungeon is actually a part of the frog.” On the projected image, a fist-sized frog was hopping toward Doc’s dungeon. It paused every few hops to rest before continuing, and its eyes seemed unusually focused and determined for a frog.

“What kind of dungeon ability is this?” Anadine wondered out loud. “Did the dungeon shrink down and get swallowed by the frog, or maybe the frog is actually a well-constructed puppet?”

“No idea,” Doc answered honestly. “Still, perhaps, at this distance, I can get into contact with it.”

His crystal darkening in purple hue, Doc shuddered and released a beam of purple light that shot through the dungeon walls and out into the open forest clearing. The four creatures watched, with the slimes able to see the transmission of mana, as the beam hit the frog. The frog stopped moving, opting to croak as Doc’s magic interacted with it.

“Ha ha ha! Tremble in fear as—I—have—arrived!” A loud, obnoxiously croaking voice echoed in the heart room, making the listeners wince.

“Hello, my name is Doc, and—”

“The name of the dead means nothing to me!” The voice interrupted. “I, the hunter dungeon Frelgard, have smelled you out, new meat! A pity, for surely, if given the time, you would have grown into a more delicious meal. How unfortunate; but since I have found you, there will be no escape from death as I devour your crystal and subjugate your monsters!”

Doc’s crystal gained a slight red undertone as he struggled to control his temper. “I see. Tell me, how are you able to move around?”

The voice snorted arrogantly. “Foolish dungeon, the ability to move is essential to any experienced dungeon in this wilderness. I shall not waste my time explaining to you. Prepare to die!”

Suddenly, the image projected on the wall blurred as the frog vanished. Startled, Doc refocused the image back, only to find the frog had somehow arrived in the clearing surrounding and separating his dungeon from the forest. With a shudder, the frog suddenly let out a loud, echoing croak. Its tiny body ballooned up, expanding in size until the frog had become a behemoth of a monster that stood as tall as the trees. Opening its mouth, its tongue shot out and covered Doc’s entrance, pulling itself in and engulfing the mound with its mouth.

“Gross.” Anadine shuddered. “It’s sticking its tongue through the first floor.”

Doc turned his attention down to his four trusted monsters. “Ayla, Aisha, prepare the furry slimes and the other mimic slimes. You’ll oversee the ambush. Rowen, Anadine, take your groups to meet the enemy at the tree line.”

“Have you detected the enemy’s numbers, Doc?” Rowen pressed quickly.

“Yes. They are using the frog tongue as a bridge to enter from the top floor.” Doc replied. “I can sense a few thousand at this point, and more are coming. They do not appear to be moving in formation, but as a horde of individual fighters.

“The slime tactics we have developed should allow us to overcome their initial push, if they don’t drown us in numbers,” Anadine reasoned. “Doc, what kind of monsters does this dungeon have?”

“It seems to be frogs,” Doc answered. “We have been invaded by a frog dungeon.”

“Toad,” Aisha corrected with an annoyed face. “Taste bad.”

Chapter 3

High above the forest floor, the hill leading to the tunnel entrance remained as bare as ever. Even after the dungeon had finished assorting itself, the hill still resembled a collapsed mine, with old bits of mining equipment, shining ores, and broken stone walls peeking out. However, the hill had gained a new addition, a trickling of water. It started as a few drops, paving a small path down to the clearing before the dungeon forest, strengthening more and more until it formed a small stream.

The stream continued to grow, covering an increasing segment of the hill until it resembled a small waterfall. The forest began to flood as the water spread, leaving a thin, but growing layer of water across the forest floor. A few wild herb slimes shuddered at the feeling of the cold water and climbed the trees, instinctually avoiding the foreign mana carried by the flood.

Then, a soft echo emanated from the dungeon entrance. It was followed by another, and another, slowly growing in volume until the cavern was filled with the croaking of a thousand toads. They came in waves with the water, leaping through the air like great blobs of rain. Unlike ordinary toads, the smallest toads were the size of cats, while the largest were half as tall as a grown tree. They ranged in appearance as well, some bearing a vibrant color; others armed with tough, stone skin; a few with wings and a tail; and the large varieties having two heads.

The hill was their first obstacle, causing the first wave of toads to tumble helplessly down the pseudo-waterfall and land fatally at the bottom. The corpses piled up quickly, until they formed a soft cushion for the rest of the horde. Sickening squelching trailed the croaks as the toads flattened their brethren with nary a worry. As they neared the forest edge, the slimes made themselves known.

Anadine and Rowen, leading their posse of lesser mimic slimes and grey slimes, led the charge with waving tentacles and crashed into the first group of toads. The two leader slimes formed an unbeatable team, Anadine with her close-range combat slicing through toad guts with ease, Rowen covering her blind spot with explosive balls of magical darkness, sending toads flying away and into little pieces.

The toads were no pushovers, however. Their main form of attack was with their tongues, which acted like a spear as it shot forth with incredible bursting speed, easily piercing trees and stone. The colorful toads lobbed poisonous projectiles through the air, poison strong enough to damage even the naturally acidic slimes. The stone toads were like siege machines, shrugging off attacks and crushing everything in their paths. Finally, the large two-headed toads used their tongues to devour slimes at a breakneck speed, crushing both slime and toad alike as they relentlessly charged forward.

The slimes responded in kind, not backing down an inch as they defended their home. The slimes following Anadine were mimics and lesser mimics. They formed a team, with the mimic slimes copying the stone toad skin and piercing tongues while the lesser mimics lobbed poison acid from their bodies from behind. Being the same rank, the stone toads were unable to bypass the mimic slimes and were slowly whittled down by the combination of attacks.

The bone and blood slimes following Rowen were insidious in their form of attack. With the large number of dead toads scattered about, the two types of slime had an incredible advantage on the battlefield.

The blood slimes soaked up so much they doubled in size, allowing them to cast their body-debilitating curses on the bones and increasing their tentacles’ penetrative strength to pierce their skin and suck away blood. The bone slimes absorbed the toad bones to form a nigh-impregnable shell around their bodies, allowing them to stop the large toads in their tracks, working together to form a giant mass of bones. Once stopped, the bones were turned into controlled projectiles, thousands upon thousands of bone shards being flung through the air into mouths, skin, and eyes.

One large toad let out a terrible wail, having just ingested many of the bone slime balls. It fell backwards, dead, as bones shot out through its stomach, revealing the bone slimes in pristine condition.

“At this rate, we won’t need the furry slimes to finish this,” Anadine laughed as she bisected a toad.

Rowen grunted, unleashing four dark orbs that blasted away a line of poison toads. “It’s easy, sure; but toads are a high release type of creature?”

“What?”

Rowen pointed a free tentacle at the top of the hill, where more toads were making their way down or falling. “There are two types of creatures. One has few young and takes care of them. The other has many—hordes’ worth of young, with the goal being that at least a few survive their weakness. Toads are one of the latter type.”

“What are you saying? That this is just the tip of the mountain?” Anadine asked, as her tentacles rapidly pierced another three toads.

“Well, consider that all these toads, except for the big ones, are tier one monsters,” Rowen pointed out.

Anadine frowned. The toads were rather easy to kill, for the most part, and the ground was literally paved with corpses, now. However, they seemed to only serve the rising water, their blood pooling with it and turning it red. The blue slime raised a tentacle and used it to survey the battlefield and hill.

“Retreat,” she declared decisively. “There is something wrong with the water here. Climb the trees!”

“Understood,” Rowen said. The two slimes, mentally communing with their respective slimes, retreated as a group back into the forest and up into the trees. The toads, no longer impeded by the slime mass, continued to croak and move ahead into the forest.

“Rowen and Anadine,” Doc’s voice echoed in their minds, “the water, it is covering up the dungeon, preventing my mana and influence from entering the area. New slimes won’t be able to form, if it reaches the nests; and if it reaches the heart room, I think it may cut me off from the dungeon completely.”

“Interesting strategy,” Rowen marveled, as he watched the toads hop past him. “If we concentrate on the endless horde of toads, then the true danger would reach Doc and win the fight. If this toad dungeon allows natural reproduction, it may have millions of toads waiting to enter.”

“Too bad for them that they picked the wrong strategy to take us on,” Anadine gloated. “Look, the water has reached the northern herb garden.”

The northern herb garden was the dominating slime faction in the northern part of the forest. It consisted of the herb slime family, who tended to their plants like mothers to their children; the bee slimes; and the pesky leaf-muncher slimes. As the mana-rich water reached the garden, a sudden change overtook it. Instantly, the plant slimes charged into the flood and unleashed their nature-based powers to change the ground. Large roots carved troughs into the ground, guiding the water in and leading it like a prized cow into the garden, where the many magical plants, including Dream Flowers, grew in comfort.

After the previous incident with the plant, Doc had made sure the Dream Flowers were locked out of the mana he supplied the dungeon. Tasting the sweet mana of the invading dungeon, the flowers sprouted into action.

Moving like fire, the Dream Flowers grew quickly and rapidly spread into the water troughs. Drinking in the sweet mana, they continued to grow exponentially and easily followed the trail of water into the woods. As the roots and stems encountered the toads, the monsters were horribly ensnared and drained of their mana into hollow husks of skin. Not a single toad could escape, as the flower had locked onto the toad dungeon mana and would not let a single bit evade their grasp. From the back of the woods, Ayla and Aisha shivered at the sight, their furry slime followers whining and bunching themselves into small balls.

“Starving the Dream Flowers seems to be a poor strategy for long-term dealings,” Doc observed, feeling nothing as thousands of creatures died inside him. “I’ll create a small mana trail to supply them with sufficient mana in the future. Still, it appears to be a valid tactic against this type of invasion.”

He watched as the vines extended up the hill, ignoring the corpses, and up toward the entrance where the toad dungeon had its tongue out.

“Yield! I yield!” The toad dungeon’s voice screamed within the heart room. “Curse you, why do you have that devil weed inside? Are you looking to kill yourself! Don’t drag me down with you!”

Doc didn’t bother to answer the screeching dungeon. “Keeping the flower after the trouble it caused Claire and I; is there a part of me that might not want to survive?” Doc pondered to himself. “Seeing her lying there, this feeling seems to stem from that. Is this pain? I wonder how she would answer if I asked her.” Doc’s background thoughts continued as he watched the Dream Flower surge closer to his entrance.

With a loud screech, the large toad released the dungeon entrance from its mouth, leaving behind a trail of mucous that covered the ground and left a salty-scented vestige. The tongue retracted just in time, as the Dream Flower vines burst out of the entrance only to be left hanging. The giant toad turned and crazily leapt away, causing trees to crash as it fled. Without the mana sustaining them, the Dream Flowers quickly began to wilt.

The flooding around the forest subsided, as the vines desiccated the last of the foreign mana, sending it back to the main plant in the herb garden. The newly grown vines and roots quickly wilted into mana-rich plant material, a treat for the slimes who had taken part in the fight. The plant slimes, ever-diligent guardians of the garden, seemed to fuss over the loss of the mana-rich water and the Dream Flower for a time, before smoothing the land back to normal and pruning the Dream Flower back to its original form.

“Well, the day is won,” Doc let out a sigh of relief. With a quick thought, the four monsters were summoned into the heart room with a slight ‘poof’.

“We didn’t get to show off our strength,” Ayla whined, disappointed. “Next time, Aisha and I lead the attack. Right, Aisha?”

Aisha let out a very bestial grunt of agreement, letting her annoyance be known in her own quiet manner.

“We shall see how the next invasion goes,” Doc responded. “Still, I would prefer not fighting any more dungeons until Claire has awakened. After all, we don’t know all the various abilities a dungeon can have, nor any offensive strategies suitable to my current abilities.”

“On that note,” piped in Anadine. “Hey, Doc, can you send us back to the forest entrance? The Dream Flower left behind the toad corpses, and my minions really seem to want to sink their slime into them.”

“Each toad possesses a monster core, after all,” Rowen pointed out. “While it isn’t any use to us, the weaker slimes could certainly use the mana for evolving. I concur with Anadine, Doc. Send us back.”

“Fresh meat,” Aisha drooled.

Ayla whacked her sister with her tail. “Save some for me, you glutton! I barely got any mutant animal meat after you were done with our share.”

“First come, first served,” Aisha taunted.

With a chuckle, Doc unsummoned the four, sending them back to the forest. He turned his attention to the dungeon, concentrating on the newly acquired mana the Dream Flowers had released upon death. He wondered what he could unlock with this new power.

Meanwhile, the various masses of slime descended onto the corpse pile, acting as natural garbage cleaners. Flesh and cores were ingested quickly, filling the slimes with immense satisfaction. Back in the forest, the members of other slime factions who had not fought looked on with a trace of envy, including the forest lions. Nonetheless, they distinctly understood that the figure in their ‘heart’, Doc’s limited influence over every natural slime, would not allow them to participate.

What none of the slimes noticed, however, was that some of the toad cores were glowing with a faint trace of unknown mana. They were eaten and devoured just as easily as the other cores, and the foreign mana vanished without a trace. Ayla swallowed the last of the cores by accident, licking her lips happily as she enjoyed the delicious taste of fresh kill, even if it was marred by the poison floating around the area. She mentally gave a quick apology to the trees at the edge of the forest, all of which had died.

Chapter 4

The forest found within Doc’s dungeon had seen a great many changes over the past few months, starting with its birth. It had grown quickly, from shrubs and bushes to small trees and ferns, finally settling on tall trees with thick limbs who, together, formed a network of leaves over the shadowy forest floor. The slimes of the forest, too, had settled into a form of normality.

Where once there were a number of herb slime gardens, now only three remained: the North Garden, where the Dream Flower was kept; the East Garden, where the majority of the bee slimes lived; and the small Northeast Garden, which specialized in poisonous plants. The herb slime family, as well, had grown as Doc’s power had stabilized. Besides the worker herb slimes, caretaker plant slimes, silent guardian poison slimes, and protector jungle slimes, three new types of slimes had come into being.

One of the new tier 3 types of slime was the flower slime, an interesting evolutionary twist on the plant slime, as it had evolved specifically from a plant slime so enamored with a particular plant that it had moved the plant from the soil to its own body. The subsequent flower slime, as a result, was actually a hybrid of slime and vegetation, with the flowering plant’s roots joined with the slime core and the upper part of the plant on top of the slime, as if it were wearing a hat of flowers and leaves.

As a class, their plant-based magic had greatly improved, as a result, allowing them to commune directly with all plants as if they were other slimes, and wielding their symbiotic partners’ power. For instance, a belladonna flower slime could cast nightshade, a debilitating spell that paralyzed opponents. Another tier 3 slime evolved from the poison slimes, thanks to the toad invasion and subsequent devouring of the poison toads: the acid slimes. Acid slimes could lob their poison through the air, now, as a proper projectile magic, whereas before, as poison slimes, they were forced to sacrifice pieces of their bodies to achieve the same effect. Finally, heal slimes, the clerical type of slime, had evolved from some of the herb slimes and formed medical centers for injured slimes, both in the garden and in the central part of the forest.

The booze slimes had also returned, but only by Doc’s direct control, as without alcohol, there would be no natural evolution. The booze slimes hung out in the heart room, serving as rewards for Doc’s lieutenants.

At the southern herb slime garden, the herb slimes were hard at work, harvesting the mana-rich honey produced by the bee slimes. The beehives sat in the center of the garden, having grown into a large network of hives and wax roads for the herb slimes to travel on, to serve as pest killers against the leaf muncher slimes. Outside the garden, however, beady eyes stared in deep concentration at the inner comings and goings of the herb slimes. A low trill began to echo in the woods, a sound that caused the patrolling plant slimes to perk up in alertness and wobble aggressively.

The trilling suddenly crescendoed into a loud cry, and the forest came alive as chitinous forms burst out of the undergrowth toward the garden. It was the bug slime hive, which had consolidated into a single hive in the southern part of the forest. Its ranks were led by the lesser mimic slimes copying bugs and their evolution: the bug slimes, each of whom were composed of a variety of bug parts. For example, a beetle and ant amalgamation led the charge as battering rams.

Unlike the herb slime family, however, the only new evolution in the bug slime family were odd, black slimes, who ripped off parts of their body and threw them into the air. These were swarm slimes, and the bits of pieces thrown from the slime changed into copies of flying insects that obeyed the original body. The plant slimes, jungle slimes, and poison slimes leaped to the garden’s defense, and the battlefield raged.

From the shadows of the forest, the source of the trilling made itself known. A strange bug slime with cricket legs, cicada wings, and ant body emerged, staring intently ahead at the battlefield. Interestingly enough, its eyes gleamed with an odd light, as if a slime could use such foreign organs. It used its body to create different sounds, directing the attack bug slimes into formations to counter the garden’s defenses. Curiously enough, this leader bug had no guards near it.

Seemingly noticing this, one of the jungle slimes had skirted around the battlefield and hid behind this leader bug slime. The acid-dripping spikes on its body swirled in anticipation as it prepared to attack.

Just as it lunged forward, a beetle head suddenly emerged on the back of the nightmare slime, staring, somehow, disdainfully at the jungle slime. Without warning, a scorpion tail shot out of the head like a ballista bolt, impaling the jungle slime before it had a chance to react to the change. The leader bug now looked like a monstrosity, as various other bug parts grew out of its body while it reformed itself. It settled on a titan beetle body, with the heads of an ant, a beetle, and a wasp, two pairs of dragonfly wings, and a scorpion stinger.

This was the sole nightmare slime in the entire forest, a tier 3 slime evolved from a normal bug slime, with the ability to freely change out its body for various bug parts whenever it desired. It had once been the leader of the southern bug hive, before evolving and conquering the other, surviving bug hives.

With the rapid beating of its wings, it took to the air and flew over the battlefield. It effortlessly ignored, blocked, or destroyed the attacks sent up by the garden slime defenders, proving its strength over all bug slime-kind. Flying high over the garden entrance, it instantly changed its form into that of a pill bug, and it curled up. The resulting impact destroyed the garden’s pitiful defenses, obliterating most of the defenders and severely injuring the rest. The herb slimes inside panicked and fled, carrying as many hives as they could into the forest.

With a hum, the nightmare slime sent the horde mass after them, before turning its attention to the hives in the middle of the garden. The lesser mimics were extracting the hives forcefully when the leader let out a snap, causing them to freeze. The nightmare slime watched the bee slimes buzz about angrily, but it focused only on how they flew to the flowers and then back to the hives. Within its black, beady eyes, something appeared to be happening. It whistled out instructions, and the bug horde mass had their new orders: capture—but do not kill—the herb slimes and bring them back.

While waiting for the orders to be followed, the nightmare slime directed the rest of the horde to remove the store of slime cores and harvested mana honey left behind and deliver them back to the hive. Once finished, the leader took over the delivery of loot itself and left some of the swarm slimes behind to follow its orders. It had learned to be more cautious when delivering loot, since its close relatives, the mimic slimes, had more than once snuck their way in and robbed the hive.

As the mass moved back toward the hive, the leader kept many sharp “eyes” out, but it still failed to notice a few odd stones placed next to a tree along the trail. As the mass passed by, the rocks swiftly morphed into bug slimes and mixed into the group, before any of the slimes noticed. They followed along, though subtly moving closer to the slimes carrying the mana honey.

Once next to the bug slimes, the disguised mimic slimes leaked out an obnoxious scent, reminiscent of the stink bug. This caused all the surrounding slimes to reel back in pain, as their sense of smell was overwhelmed. Even the leader at the front of the group winced, forced to withdraw its noses, limiting its perception. The mimic slimes, acting as disgusted as the surrounding slimes, picked up some of the dropped mana honey, but they did not leave.

As the smell passed, the leader slime took a quick inventory of its group and their loot. Finding nothing out of place or missing, it turned its attention back to the trail ahead and led the mass further toward the south. The mimic slimes followed obediently, not giving a single sign they were spies.

Further ahead, a single mimic slime was fleeing at top speed, a single tier 2 core in its tentacle. It was followed by an outraged troop of grey slimes. The grey slime family, based in the southeast caves dug into the dungeon wall, was a robust group of warrior slimes. They, too, had undergone strange and powerful evolutions since the food wars, evinced by the two leaders of this troop, a blade slime and barricade slime, new tier 3 slimes. While sharp slimes carried a vast amount of whole and broken sharp implements inside their body that they could use as projectiles or parrying defense, blade slimes had evolved the ability to manipulate their shards into forming actual swords and shields. While severely less powerful than a typical swordsman adventurer, these slimes had the advantage of multiple, extendable limbs and the ability to form their swords whenever they wanted, making for devastating surprise attacks.

Barricade slimes, as the evolved form of armor slimes, also shared the latter’s ability to hold abandoned adventurer armor inside their slime. However, the evolution had caused the armor to meld together into a liquid version of the armor’s type—leather, iron, copper. The slimes could manipulate this melted armor into forming a kind of “slime armor” on the outside of their bodies, which would stretch along their tentacles, or which could be used to create a nearly impenetrable wall around their core. They were quite versatile fighters, themselves, and every fight between blade slimes and barricade slimes had ended in a draw.

The mimic slime had ambushed the troop and killed a grey slime before fleeing, drawing the entire troop of more than thirty slimes after it. It had taken a few hits from the magic slimes, but it was still healthy enough to flee at top speed. Detecting the hive mass ahead of it, the mimic slime increased its pace, heading on a direct collision course.

The nightmare slime sensed the mimic slime at about the same time. It raised its legs aggressively and let out warning trills. The mimic slime ignored the trills telling it to leave, instead shifting its path slightly to avoid the mass by a small margin. Under the nightmare slime’s watchful glare, the mimic slime skirted the group. Then, the troop of grey slimes appeared.

The two large troops stared at each other for a long moment. The grey slime troop noticed the mana-rich honey and slime cores. The nightmare slime just stared at the grey slime troops. Then the nightmare slime let out a cacophony of wrathful screeches that echoed through the forest, alerting every bug family slime within calling distance to come and slaughter. The grey family troop responded in kind, charging directly into the horde to steal the loot. A huge melee erupted, with slimes and projectiles flying this way and that. The nightmare slime took on the blade slime and the barricade slime itself, morphing rapidly as it clashed with an ever-changing array of weapons and armor. Mage slimes launched spells into the bug slime horde, while swarm slimes overran the grey slimes with countless slime-made bugs.

While all this occurred, the disguised mimic slimes quietly made their escape into the forest, escaping with half of the honey and slime cores, along with any cores they picked up from the dying slimes. They made their escape swiftly, once out of mana-sight of the two armies, dashing down the center toward where their hidden home was.

While they fled, two different sets of eyes kept a close watch on the approaching mimics. Casually, silently, a tail speared two stragglers, dragging them and their loot into the tree. The forest lion licked its lips as it collected the mana honey, thinking of the amorous night ahead when it shared this prize with the others. They would knead the walls of the nest for hours with this honey. It then turned its attention to the other predators further ahead.

From behind the trees, stealthy forms released arrows into the mass of mimic slimes. Five mimics died, and the rest fled in all different directions. A group of odd beings emerged from behind the trees, wearing clothing sewn from dried slime and furry slime fur. Their scales reflected the light above but seemed to jiggle slightly with each step they took. Reptilian hands took hold of their prey and dragged them deeper into the woods. One kept a close eye on the lion, but seeing it passive and with its own share, it soon turned away to help with the dragging. The forest lion waited patiently for the group to leave before swinging back home.

In the end, only half of the mimic slimes made it back, for there were other threats in the forest. The natural order of the slimes had begun in full, with the dungeon forest consolidating its own natural chain of predation and prey. Time would only tell though if this cycle would last as individuals evolved. Not even Doc could predict who would wind up on top, in the end.

Chapter 5

“Things have been going quite well in the dungeon, Claire,” Doc offered, reassuringly. “I managed to fix all the rough edges, and the forest finished growing, too. I know you like flowers and plants, so I really focused on that part. Oh, and you’ll love the new herb slime gardens. They have all sorts of colors I’ve never seen before in flowers: yellows, reds, oranges, purples... Actually, I think those are normal flower colors, now that I think about it. But I haven’t seen them before, so they still count.”

Doc paused, collecting his thoughts. “The cavern level is doing good, too. It’s so interesting how the slimes have evolved in that lightless place. You would love experimenting with them, like, the treasure slimes and the chest slimes—they’ve taken to growing a kind of slime fruit, to lure in other slimes. The furry slimes are just as fluffy as ever. Perhaps one would make a good bed for you. And the mini-slimes...” Doc trailed off. “Well, maybe not those….

“Anyway, yes, the dungeon is doing well, now. We even fought off another dungeon that came to invade. The children fought them off quite valiantly, even if the twins didn’t get to show off too much, this time. It was a stressful time, though, leading up to the fight…. It would have been nice to have you explain things to me, like how a dungeon could be inside a frog. That’s a form of movement you never mentioned before. Did you forget, or was it a power not available to me? I really hope it wasn’t something you had chosen to hide from me again.”

Doc waited another minute before his voice emerged once more, soft and sorrowful. “I really miss hearing your voice. It’s not the same without you around, teaching me more about the world. Why are you just lying there? Why won’t you get up and talk again?”

Claire’s prone form said nothing. Her body lay, as it ever did, gracing a soft bed of flowers, wrapped in her pale, purple dress, existing without ever making herself known. The faintest of breaths were the only sign she still lived, as her body was colder than ice. Every day, Doc would enter her room and speak of the comings and goings of the dungeon, in an effort to keep her up to date.

On rare occasions, the faintest sliver of a smile seemed to dance on Claire’s face, though Doc was never quite sure if the light were playing tricks on him. Her most frequent expression was that of nothingness, coupled with moments of appearing to experience extreme fear. When the fear set in, Claire would break into a cold sweat as her hands twitched, reacting to some arcane horror dwelling solely within the mindscape of her dreams.

All Doc could do for her was wipe her body down with a slime and magically replace her clothes when they became soaked. He even set aside a slime just to keep her room free of dust.

“At least today isn’t a nightmare,” Doc murmured thankfully as he exited Claire’s room, making sure to despawn the slime once it finished cleaning. His morning rendezvous complete, Doc turned his attention back to the dungeon.

Precious little had changed over the last few days, since the toad attack. Doc noted the bug slimes’ takeover of another small herb slime garden and subsequent enslavement of the herb slimes. They would be put to work with the others, harvesting mana honey for the hive’s growth. The nightmare slime had done a great job at becoming sole ruler over all bug slime, but it was reaching its limit.

“Even though it’s in charge, that’s due to it killing any other tier 3 slime in the family who could threaten it,” Doc noted. “Useful in the short run, but this means the bug slimes will only have the advantage when it comes to numbers, not with overall strength. Both the herb slime and grey slime families have a number of tier 3s who could take it one-on-one, if not a good chunk of the army. It’s an excellent example of how selfishness can reduce one’s abilities.”

Doc turned his attention. “The mimic slimes, on the other hand, are really quite pitiful. They finally unlock two tier 3 slimes, but then they go off to form their own small communities. I suppose that makes sense, given the bug slimes did the same. Still, if I hadn’t given them a mimic slime tier 2 nest, they probably would have become extinct.”

The mimic slimes lacked the gardening ability of the herb slimes, the coordination and nest-making abilities of the bug slimes, and the ability to mine the dungeon surfaces found in the grey slime family. All they could do was hide out in hollow trees and steal from the other slimes, a risky prospect with their strength not rising as swiftly as the strength of members of the other families.

One of the new tier 3 mimic slime types was the slimy slime, a direct result of the ingestion of toad meat. These slimes actually took on more of their namesake, as their slime became more viscous, to the point that if they were unable to find water fast enough, they would dry out and die. The previous flooding had formed a few natural pools in the forest, which had become these slimes’ sole new habitat, in which they were content, living off of the dungeon’s ambient mana. They were terrifying fighters, however, as they possessed the ability to leap through the air and cover other slimes with their bodies, which could easily penetrate slime and eliminate the core.

The other type of tier 3 mimic slime was a bit special in Doc’s eyes. They operated in the dark, only answering to the direct authority of Doc’s lieutenants and himself. Though they were technically a regression, in terms of their origin, Doc had high hopes for this slime and their future evolution. The new skull at the entrance to the dungeon stood in testament to this.

“Now, let’s see how things have changed,” Doc murmured. Mentally, he called up his mana to form the familiar blue box in front of his crystal.

Ability

Description

Teleporting Glyph

Tier 1 Ability (Acquired)

Locked

Inscribe a glyph on every floor that allows adventurers to move from one floor to another easily. Must have cleared the previous floor to be able to move to the next floor. Groups are restricted to the lowest level conquered by a member.

Additional Race

Tier 1 Ability

Able to create a race in addition to the one held. Increases dungeon diversity.

Upgrade Monsters III

Tier 1 Ability (Acquired)

Grants the ability to improve monsters by unlocking the next evolution level.
Current Monster levels: Slime tier 3.

Instances

Tier 1 Ability (Acquired)

Locked

Able to create parallel realities within the dungeon, allowing for more adventurers to enter the dungeon at the same time.

Environments

Tier 1 Ability (Acquired)

Able to create new obstacles in the form of environmental hazards.

Trap Knowledge II

Tier 1 Ability (Acquired)

Able to improve and add to existing traps by using mana. Current trap types available: pitfall, aerial, launch, ceiling-fall. New trap types: spear trap, trigger trap.

Mana Stones

Tier 1 Ability (Acquired)

Locked

Throughout the dungeon, places naturally fill with ambient mana. Now, those places will condense into mana stones, which can be mined.

Puzzle Knowledge

Tier 1 Ability (Acquired)

Able to create simple puzzles, on floors, which test knowledge, imagination, and intuition.

Dungeon Aesthetics

Tier 2 Ability

Able to change dungeon tunnels and rooms into new forms. Current form: Underground Labyrinth.

New form: Dilapidated temple.

Requires Environments to unlock.

Dungeon Room of Traps

Tier 2 Ability (Acquired)

Locked

Unlocks the ability to create a room filled with moving parts with set requirements on how to leave. Requires Trap Knowledge II and Puzzle Knowledge to unlock.

Dungeon Room of Worship

Tier 3 Ability

Locked

Unlocks the ability to create a shrine room on any floor. Shrine rooms are a safe place from monsters, and they hold altars for a particular deity. Requires Dungeon Aesthetics, religious icon, and approval of chosen deity.

Note: The Dungeon will receive a small percentage of faith magic created in the shrine.

Dungeon Nursery Room

Tier 3 Ability

Locked

Unlocks the ability to grow new plants not seen before in the world. Requires Environments III to unlock.

Locked

Locked

“Tier 3 slimes had been my first goal,” Doc reminded himself. “After that, I acquired Dungeon Aesthetics to finish reshaping the dungeon into proper form, and I unlocked trap knowledge to fix the cavern floor traps. Hm, but what should I do next? Add a floor, unlock Mana stones, or save up for tier 4 slimes? Hard question to answer.”

Taking a glance at his mana pool, Doc put the blue box away with a sigh. Even with the small boost from the toad dungeon, it wasn’t enough for him to accomplish anything new with it, yet. He needed more time for slimes to live and die naturally, returning to him the mana they had gained through their experiences.

Ironically, Doc was a bit torn on this new form of feeding. On the one hand, he needed his slimes to live long, fruitful lives, to best benefit him. On the other hand, each slime death filled him with a faint sadness, as if watching his children die.

“They, technically, are my children, I suppose,” Doc considered. “Adventurers and other living things seem to not want their children to die, but is that nature speaking, or something else? Perhaps these feelings prove I am alive?”

The tier 3 slimes were a good example of this issue. Slimes didn’t have short lifespans. In fact, Doc wasn’t sure they could die naturally, and thus these stronger slimes were unlikely to contribute to his development as a dungeon, due to their natural caution. However, they were also, in Doc’s mind, the most fun to watch, as these slimes displayed the most interesting of behaviors, from basic tactics to forming emotional bonds with others. The flower slimes, for instance, had true emotional bonds toward their flowers, and they would work diligently to keep them bright and colorful. The blade slimes and the barricade slimes worked hard to keep their family members well-trained for combat. The nightmare slimes worked hard to grow the hive.

Still, the relative peace wasn’t helping Doc.

“Perhaps... I should start a conflict?” he wondered out loud. “If I create some slimes and have them attack the various factions, I could easily incite battles between them. It wouldn’t be hard, considering how simple-minded these slimes are.”

Doc took a long moment to consider the plan before sighing in defeat. “No, that wouldn’t be me if I did that. A selfish plan, precipitated on the idea of mass violence in the hope of slaughter... Isn’t that what I used to be? I’ve had enough of that with the adventurers.”

“Besides,” he smiled ruefully, “I’m almost as simple-minded as my slimes, heh. I’m not good with complicated plots. That was more Claire’s area of expertise.”

He let out another sigh.

“Well, I suppose patience is the name of the game, here. And, I shouldn’t deplete my slimes, in case another dungeon comes calling.” Doc formed a spectral set of hands and examined them. “After all, it was rather difficult to see anything in the dungeon, once that frog stuck its mouth over me. Perhaps the same rules apply during invasions as had applied with adventurers; doing things costs more in times of battle.”

“Doc, we are almost fully prepared for the expedition,” Ayla reported mentally, breaking Doc’s concentration.

“Ah, right,” Doc remembered. “Good job, Ayla. Aisha, you with her?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“Good,” Doc nodded. “Now, I want you both to be careful out there. You can respawn here if you die, but it will take more time, the further you are from the dungeon. Your main objective is to follow the scent trail of that frog—”

“Toad,”

“—toad dungeon,” Doc continued, “and see where it went. If it’s gone for good, return. If it isn’t, scout out it and the surrounding area, without alerting anyone to your presence. I want to know if it still represents a threat to us and the dungeon. We could use the power boost from its death, if that’s possible, and it could answer questions for me I can’t currently ask Claire. A moving dungeon like that should have a dungeon pixie, after all.”

“Understood, Doc,” Ayla confirmed.

“Will follow. Scout out,” Aisha said.

“Well then, good luck out there, girls,” Doc smiled. “Enjoy the sunlight while you can.”

Chapter 6

Ayla squinted her eyes as the harsh sunlight shone down from on high and blinded her. Her obvious discomfort aside, her tail could not help wagging joyfully as the endless aroma of smells drifted into her nose from the forest around her. She took a deep breath, appreciating that which she had not been able to the last time she had been on the surface. With a playful thought, her tail whacked Aisha’s nose, interrupting Aisha’s reverie and causing her to sneeze. Ayla snickered as her sister gave her an annoyed glare.

“Need bath,” Aisha said curtly.

Now it was Ayla’s turn to give her sister an annoyed glare.

“Girls, stay focused, and remember your task,” Doc’s paternal voice chided them in their minds. “This won’t be like when you faced the treant dungeon boss. The forest is no longer corrupted, which means the both of you and your furry slimes have a time limit before my mana inside you dries up and you all perish. A fourth of the day is your maximum allotted time. It won’t be the end for you, but it will take quite some time to reform you properly, not to mention the drop in mana I’ll experience. So, be careful.”

“We understand, Doc,” Ayla reassured him. “Track the toad until we reach the halfway limit, then come back. Don’t engage anything if we don’t need to. Don’t waste time exploring.”

“Also,” Doc continued, “once you leave the clearing, we won’t be able to communicate with each other. The mental bond would only drain your inner mana faster. Only use it in extreme emergencies, though I’d prefer if you just returned to the dungeon and told me yourself.”

“Yes, Doc,” Aisha said.

“One more thing: don’t try to eat anything colorful or odd—”

“We get it, Doc!” belted out the two worgs, exasperated. Doc’s voice chuckled faintly and disappeared, and the two led their pack of furry slimes into the forest proper. The group sniffed the air, constantly searching for the wet, salty scent the toad dungeon had left behind.

“This way,” Aisha pointed her nose.

“Yes, it seems so.” Ayla rolled her eyes as the group entered an area of flattened trees. “Seems the toad was in quite a rush to escape. It didn’t even take the time to shrink down to normal size.” The pack let out their hunting howls as they descended onto the clearing, before one of the furry slimes let out a yip leading to the continuing trail. The pack ran on, following the scent to more clearings, each clearing decreasing in size.

“No more,” Aisha observed, as they entered a small clearing with a single downed tree. She sniffed her nose over it and nodded. “Slime size and shrinking. Smell hides now.”

“I agree. I don’t think we’ll be able to continue for too much longer,” Ayla sighed. “Once it reaches a normal toad size, its scent will blend in with the others. I haven’t had any luck tracking its mana, either. Have you?”

“No.” Aisha shook her head. “No leakage. Perhaps real toad.”

“You mean the dungeon actually fused with a living toad?” Ayla cocked her head and speculated. “That seems very unlikely, from our experience; but, maybe it’s one of those things Doc doesn’t know yet. Makes you wonder, though. Maybe we could become dungeons, too.”

“Indigestion,” Aisha disagreed.

“Yeah, I imagine living with a forest inside you would be quite the uncomfortable experience,” Ayla replied. “Well, then, shall we return?”

Aisha, taking one last sniff of their surroundings, gave a reluctant nod. Both twins let out hard yelps, and the pack turned to return to Doc. As they ran, Ayla let out a grimace.

“Ooh, speak of the wolf devil,” she moaned. “Indigestion. Ow, what a pain. Must have been the frog legs.”

“Toad,” Aisha reminded her.

“Whatever. Still hurts. Think if I off myself here, the pain will be gone when Doc rebuilds my body?” Ayla asked seriously.

“Waste,” Aisha scolded. “More pain for punishment.”

“Guess you’re right,” Ayla muttered sorrowfully. “Blegh! Let’s just hurry back.”

As the pack vanished, a toad appeared from behind a stone. It croaked peacefully, eyes wandering around the woods as it searched for flies and other insects. Only for the briefest moments did its eyes settle on the worg-led pack of furry slimes as it vanished into the shadows, a hint of magical malevolence dancing in its gaze. The spark vanished just as quickly as it appeared, just in time for a swooping falcon to cover the distance and take hold of its next meal.

*****

In the grey slime family halls, the sounds of fighting constantly echoed. As slimes required nothing to achieve rest, the dug-out tunnels connected the outside only to food storage areas and fighting arenas. In these arenas, the members of the grey slime family fought each other in practice from dawn to dusk, falling asleep whenever they required rest, only to resume the fight when they awoke.

Such sights were ever present in the middle arena room, the largest of the practice fighting halls. Puddles of slime rested haphazardly against the wall, one-on-ones and two-on-twos duked it out on the periphery, and a large melee erupted in the middle of the floor. Armor slime slammed into sharp slimes, magic slimes took on the few gelatinous slimes, and overseeing it all were the few blade and barricade slimes. These tier 3 slimes were the de facto leaders of the family and made every decision when it came to food collection and patrolling.

Typical slime evolution was an interesting topic for scholars. Slimes in the wild either evolved into stronger forms or grew up within their current species. For instance, a normal slime could grow into an overslime, which had a similar strength to a tier 1 slime evolution. The next stage of growth, lord slime, would be slightly weaker than a tier 2 slime evolution, and so on and so forth. A grown slime would enjoy small benefits to its intelligence and wisdom, which would carry over if the slime evolved into a higher tier. Because of this, such legends as “The Slime Who Became King” or “The Slime Dragon” came into being, special slimes who had followed a harder path, reaching heights few other slimes would attain.

Of course, the boosts to intelligence and wisdom were still small for the brainless creatures, and normal slimes never spent too much time growing if the chance to evolve was presented to them. They were a species that prioritized immediate gains over delayed gratification, for the concept of delaying gratification was a sign of wisdom.

Doc’s slimes, however, were pushed toward this direction. Due to Doc’s lack of mana immediately after the teleporting episode, a number of slimes had been forced into stages of growth, instead of evolving into tier 3 slimes, even though they’d long met the requirements. The leader of the bug slimes was the most significant example, a slime who had reached the peak of

lord slime without Doc’s knowledge (as that would have required more attention than Doc allotted to each slime), before evolving into a nightmare slime. It could now plan, coordinate, and direct simple tactics to its hive, giving its hive a clear advantage over the other slime families. However, this was balanced by the herb slime family’s magical advantages in the forest terrain, and by the quality of training from the grey slime family members.

The two families also had slimes who had grown, but none had reached the nightmare slime’s level before their evolution. The result was an interesting split in the emotional evolution for each family. Where the nightmare slime had learned tactics and cunning, the flower slimes had, instead, learned emotions and empathy, though solely with plants, while the blade and barricade slimes had gained an understanding of discipline. Each family had gained a new aspect, reflected in their homes.

Nowhere was the discipline in the grey slime family more apparent than in the training rooms. Simple as they were, slimes were rather creative when it came to hunting their prey. Forced into these mock battles, with the winning prize being the mana honey collected from others, the slimes found new and interesting ways to defeat their opponents. A common trick, for example, was for slimes to trick the mana sight of their opponent by hiding their core in a tentacle. As the core was the brightest source of mana, the opponent would lock on to it as the center of incoming attacks, unaware that the main body was actually to the right or left, ready to unleash itself.

Above these common tricks, however, stood abilities not easily copied by other slimes. For example, a particular sharp slime had taken to using its bits and pieces of sharpened stone and iron as legs, raising them above its opponent and allowing for an easy win, with piercing

attacks from above. Any retaliating attack from below was met with easy resistance, with the sharp slime forming a stinger-like end and dropping onto the below slime’s core.

Separately, an armor slime condensed its pieces of armor into densely packed fists on the ends of its tentacles, giving up its natural defense in favor of an overwhelming offense. These fists even overpowered their way through the sharp slime’s shard-filled tentacles, leaving opponents struggling to reform their appendages before getting pummeled into defeat. The punches could even be used to push the slime off the ground, easily dodging attacks and moving swiftly into a convenient attack angle.

As the huge slime battle in the middle of the room wound down, leaving the magic slime side as the winner, the one-on-one fights took center stage, forming a tournament bout. Though one-on-one fights in real combat were rare, given the pack nature of the slimes, it was still a valid form of strength within the group. Slime fights consisted of fighting until one was unable to fight anymore, with death only rarely the reason for inability to continue; and the winner would waste no time finding another opponent, rendering the tournament into little more than a mindless brawl, testing endurance as much as raw strength or agility. Magic slimes were by far the most unfortunate, as they were easily mowed down by their kin specializing in close combat.

With each fight complete, the number of slimes shared an inverse relationship with the number of puddles. The fighting in the training room wound down slowly, until only three slimes were left in the middle, a showdown watched by every slime in the room. While the legged sharp slime and the fisted armor slime were to be expected, a third participant made a surprise addition. A lone grey slime stood atop the puddles of defeated slime, a broken sword point in one tentacle and a cracked shield in another.

Wasting no time, the armor slime lunged forward, first throwing two fist-tipped tentacles at both the sharp slime and the grey slime. The sharp slime dodged, using its metal legs, scurrying around in a crab-like motion. The grey slime held up its shield firmly, only to be easily knocked back by the force of the fists. It bounced backwards like a skipping stone, leaving the armor slime to focus fully on the sharp slime.

Six fisted tentacles shot out, this time, each at a different angle. The sharp slime forsook its legs and formed six answering sword-tipped tentacles. The two slimes entered into a tentacle brawl, with each mixing a careful blend of forceful attacks with solid defense, using the elasticity of their slime. The fight of fist against sword resembled a large rubber band fight, with each tentacle forced back, gaining momentum until they were once again unleashed.

Slime scholars, the few who existed, had dubbed this type of a fight a “Contest of Tensile Strength.” Their assistants called them “slap fights.” Regardless, it was agreed that this was the most traditional type of slime fight, to measure the abilities of their slime against one another. Different from the brutish methods of the bug slimes and from the magical focus of the herb slimes, it was here in the grey slime family that the tradition of raw slime strength was measured. Strength, flexibility, elasticity, acidity, reach: the basis of what it meant to use slime! In this moment, all of this played out in a cavern, in a dungeon, in a forest, under a mountain, on the east side of the continent, and only Doc was truly witness to it.

“Nice fight,” was his sole remark. If the scholars of the world could hear him, they would weep tears of blood and regret.

As the fight went on, the sharp slime couldn’t help but slowly buckle back. Its forte was in attack from odd angles at a relative distance, using unexpected attacks as the final blow. It could not counter the overwhelming offense of the armor slime who had given up its defense. All it could do was slowly shave down its opponent, the strategy of outlasting. The armor slime, picking up on this, formed another tentacle fist, forcing the sharp slime into an even more passive position.

The grey slime reappeared on the battlefield suddenly, having recovered from its bouncing ordeal. It took a position equidistant from both slimes, recognizing, instinctually, that any closer would leave it vulnerable to counterattacks from the both of them.

While the grey slime was ordinary, its equipment was not. Grey slimes were physical attackers, primarily using their bodies as weapons to charge their prey, or their tentacles to fight opponents. Only after evolving into a tier 2 form did they resort to other forms of attack, including equipment. This grey slime did not follow the norm, instead wielding forgotten arms left over from Doc’s burning of equipment. It was unknown how or when this slime picked up the broken sword and shield; even Doc wouldn’t be able to say. Perhaps they were the remnants of adventurers long since buried in the dungeon, or perhaps the slime had picked them off during one of the times Doc had unleashed slimes in the adventurer town.

No matter their origin, the broken sword and cracked shield were worthless, now, to any adventurer. However, they were not so worthless to the grey slime.

As it watched the two powerful tier 2 slimes fight, something seemed to move within the grey slime. Similar to the aspects the other slimes had picked in their growth period—cunning, empathy, and discipline—so, too, did this meager grey slime pick up such a change in its simple existence. A burning, silent, yet ever-encroaching desire burned within its core, a desire for strength. This fire burned metaphorically, and yet, red threads appeared from within the grey slime’s core. They traveled up, through the slime, into the tentacles, rooting their way all the way up until they touched the broken sword and cracked shield. The threads dove deep into the broken pieces, bringing with them the fire, the warmth, the mana of the grey slime. The two shone and shook as fiery lines wove into being the missing pieces of the artifacts, reforming them anew from destruction with slime magic. The grey slime now shone brightly in mana, attracting the gaze of every slime in the room, including the two combatants.

Reacting to the new threat, both tier 2 slimes ceased their mutual attack and turned their offense onto the little grey slime. This time, when the grey slime held up its shield, it did not budge.

With flaming sword and flaming shield, the grey slime parried each tentacle, breaking the flow of combat as each one floundered in an attempt to regain momentum. The grey slime paid the parried tentacles no mind as it rushed in, sword whipping about in sporadic cuts. The magic of the sword sliced cleanly through each tentacle, leaving both slimes vulnerable as they attempted to regrow their arms. But it was too late, and both sharp slime and armor slime were sent smashing into the ground as their cores were cut. Had the grey slime sliced just a bit deeper, they both would have perished.

As the fight had finished, the magic around the broken items faded, and the red lines vanished. The grey slime was left alone in the middle of the room, examining its tentacles in a curious attempt to locate the mana that had vanished. Its wisdom was too low to comprehend what had just occurred. However, it had a distinct feeling that something had changed within its body, and that a new path had opened for it.

Doc, watching overhead as usual, observed this curious little slime with no small measure of delight. “Fascinating,” he evinced, happily. “To think that a slime could wield mana in such a fashion. Reminds me a bit of the adventurers who wielded magic to augment their bodies and equipment... martial artists and... enchanters, yes. The fire magic obviously came from the weapons, even if the slime started the process... perhaps? I’d need to see it wield cold, enchanted weapons to be certain, but my astral bag is still empty. Maybe if I get the mana stone unlocked next...”

Doc continued to muse to himself, even as the grey slime left the battlefield and squirmed deeper into the nest. In his absentmindedness, he failed to notice the grey slime vanishing into a small hall in one of the outer tunnels, entering into the outer fringes of Doc’s dungeon, where his awareness was weakest. There, mostly embedded in the wall, the shattered remains of an adventurer building stood silent. Its hulking form loomed over the slime, which skillfully climbed the rock-infused timber and entered through the one open window. The room it entered was like the building, half-fused with the surrounding stone; only here, small holes had been dug into the stone, revealing treasures. The grey slime, in practiced motions, used its acidic tentacles to dig into the stone, just as its brethren had done in carving out the tunnels. It would continue to dig, for that’s what all grey slimes did.

Chapter 7

Doc watched patiently as Ayla, Aisha, and their furry slime minions re-entered the clearing surrounding the dungeon. The two worgs paused only at the dungeon entrance, to bow to the skull serving as the headpiece before entering, their furry slime minions despawning behind them back into dungeon mana for Doc to absorb. He felt the mana flow into him, bringing with it the memories of each furry slime.

By the time the twins had made it to Doc’s heart room, he had somewhat understood the events that had occurred during their trip.

“So, you couldn’t find the frog dungeon?” Doc asked, confirming the information he had acquired.

“Toad,” Aisha corrected.

“Right, toad dungeon,” Doc corrected himself. “No trace of it then?

Ayla shook her head. “We chased the scent down to a far distance from the dungeon, but whatever kind of creature that large toad was, it was not inherently magical. Once it shrunk back down to normal toad size and hid, we couldn’t separate its smell from the many others littering the forest floor. There’s a good chance it left or doubled back to observe us.”

“It seems we’ll have to remain at a heightened alert for some time,” Doc nodded. “Right then, I’ll create a few slimes to serve as fro—toad,” he quickly corrected himself, “toad observers. They’ll spawn underground at the edge of the clearing.”

“What difference made?” Aisha asked curiously. “Senses, improved?

“My powers of observation are limited outside the dungeon,” Doc explained. “Thus, I can only use base senses, such as visual sight, mana sense, smell, and auditory feedback from the center of the clearing. Only tremor sense works at a distance. The slimes, on the other hand, each can freely use their powers of observation in a large sphere around their bodies. When they are on the edge of my power, they’ll extend it out beyond the clearing for me.”

“Good idea, Doc,” Ayla complimented. “And what about us? Anything you want us to do, perhaps patrol the perimeter?”

“No, let’s still keep an open dungeon policy,” Doc decided. “The beasts who enter the dungeon every once in a while provide good sport and variation to the lives of the slimes. Perhaps one could spark another evolution, such as the toads and the slimy slimes. Your scent trail from the earlier scouting has already made the creatures I can see nervous, and I imagine a long-term patrol would stop any creature from entering the dungeon.”

“For now,” Doc continued. “I think it would be best if you two took the time to make a proper den.”

“A den?" Aisha asked. “Why?”

“Well, that’s what both Anadine and Rowen are up to right now,” Doc revealed. “After watching the other slimes form their own homes, I realized that none of you have a proper place of rest that could be considered your own. You all just come to the heart room and sleep or listen to me when you have nothing else to do. It’s about time you all have your own beds and places of residence.”

Ayla and Aisha pondered the implications. “Well, it would be nice not having to sleep on the floor,” Ayla said.

“Place to hang skulls of prey good,” Aisha nodded.

“That is what I was thinking,” Doc nodded. “Not the skull part, though. While I thought Anadine and Rowen would need more time to choose their rooms, it seems they already had some idea before I brought it up. They’ve both claimed the rooms I used previously for their character tests, up near the ceiling of the forest cavern. I’ll admit, I don’t understand why it was such an easy choice to pick rooms they should associate with pain and suffering.”

“Place of pain, and rebirth,” Aisha pointed out, wisely. “Birthplace of new them, comforting and familiar. Spirit rests, body remembers, and mind relaxes, as weary rest comforted by experience.”

“That’s the most you’ve ever said, and I still don’t quite understand what you’re saying,” Doc groaned good-naturedly.

“She means they’re familiar with the rooms,” Ayla summarized, much to the chagrin of Aisha, who had privately been proud of her explanation.

“To each their own, I suppose,” Doc relented. “But back to you girls. Have you any idea where to place your lair?”

Aisha nodded and pointed with her tail toward the staircase. “Dark floor familiar, home of minions.”

“Aisha and I have put some thought into this, Doc,” Ayla continued, “and we both agreed that the labyrinth floor, above, is the best place for us. Lightless corridors let us maximize our abilities, and we can take time to conquer the furry slime packs.”

“Packs, as in little groups like the other slime families?” Doc asked curiously. “I hadn’t noticed the furry slimes forming such complicated interfamilial bonds. How many packs are there on the third floor?”

The two worgs lets out a snorted chuckle. “Considering your reliance on visual and mana sight, it’s no wonder you didn’t notice, Doc,” Ayla smiled. “The furry packs are all based around smell, so you wouldn’t have been able to tell one group member from another. The mid-north pack, for instance, has a nutty smell, mixed with dirt, while the third southern beta pack relies on a citrus mix of blood and fruit—oh, and the third of the second west pack has a very nice hazel pine nut—”

“Going to stop you right there,” Doc interrupted. “I don’t understand heads or tails of what you’re saying. Smells are not my thing, unless I’m occupying a body, and I still can barely distinguish cooked flesh from rotten flesh. I’ll take you at your word that the furry slime packs smell different.”

Doc’s crystal flashed blue as he suddenly realized something. “You said earlier that you two are going to conquer the furry slime packs?”

The worg twins nodded together.

“Currently, we, Anadine, and Rowen, are able to create slime minions to serve and follow us into battle,” Ayla explained. “However, they only exist because of the mana you or we give to them; and they cannot absorb it efficiently. Once their purpose is done, they dissolve back into dungeon mana for you to absorb, much like the old version of slimes you had back at the adventurer town, though a lesser version.”

“That means they can’t grow stronger,” Ayla continued. “Even as my sister and I grow into the power meant for us, our minions will only ever be weaker than us. However, if we take over the various furry slime packs in the darkness of the tunnels, we’ll have a group that will grow in strength with us. Like those special slimes you keep an eye on in the various groups. We want capable followers, too.”

“Hm,” Doc considered. “Well, I understand the need for good followers. You both, and Anadine and Rowen, are all very capable lieutenants, which helps me delegate tasks and keep the dungeon work efficient. All right, you have my blessing on your conquest. I’m sure these new followers of yours will be quite useful if that hunter dungeon comes back.”

“Let down, will not,” Aisha vowed solemnly. “But—”

“Home first,” Ayla finished. “Follow me, Aisha. I’ve marked a few spots already.” With happy yips, the worgs scrambled out of the heart room and up the stairs into the foreboding darkness of the labyrinth floor. Doc let out a chuckle.

“Ah Claire, if you could see them now,” Doc said wistfully. “Our little girls are picking out their own rooms and beating up slimes into being their followers…. Ah, I should have told them to keep the killing down to a minimum. Tier 3 slimes don’t repopulate nearly as fast, after all.”

*****

Above the forest floor in the northern part of the cavern, Anadine crowed happily, “Finally done!” as she examined her new home. The previously sparse cave illuminated by two torches now had everything a proper slime needed: a false door, enterable only by a slime through a crack at its base; a hole for delicious slime cores; a bed made of moss she could sleep on and sleep-digest; a couple of decently made wooden dummies, in the forms of a slime, a human, a wolf, and a kobold; a small pool of water she could warm with her mana; some grass knit dolls; and a weapon stand. Anadine nodded in satisfaction.

“Part old me, part new me, all comfort,” she said sagely. “It’s too bad slimes can’t read normal books, otherwise I’d have installed the bookshelf... but maybe a firing range would be a better decision?”

As the blue slime muttered to herself, considering the possibilities for room expansion, her grey- and-white slime neighbor slid in from under the door and re-formed.

“I see you’ve finished,” Rowen observed, as he glanced around, haphazardly. “Nothing in here that is surprising to see.”

“Really, not even my private handyworks?” Anadine asked, a bit proudly, as she pointed toward the dummies and dolls. “Come on, tell me: Did you expect my skills in crafting to be this high?”

Rowen shrugged. “My sister was a princess, like you, and she was quite the master at embroidery. Given your more rambunctious nature, I wouldn’t be too surprised to see you pick up a hammer over a needle.”

“Fine, then; you’ve got me figured out,” Anadine groaned, giving Rowen the tentacle. “I’m an open book. But I bet you’re not any better.”

“Oh?” Rowen raised a figurative eyebrow, “And you expect me to be as easy to read as you?”

“Of course,” Anadine grinned confidently. “Your room is going to be one of three types: bone-filled, nobility, or a war room.” She pointed at him. “Am I wrong?”

“Well, let’s see, shall we?” Rowen teased, neutrally, leading Anadine out of her room under the door. Rowen’s room was directly across from Anadine’s, but his dwelling had a proper door made of thick wood, iron, and a handle. The blue slime nodded in appreciation at the sight.

“Well-made door. Did you have Doc make it for you?” she asked.

“Actually, no,” Rowen responded, thoughtfully. “I found it down in the labyrinth layer, one of the times I explored for fun. It was fused with a stone wall, if you’ll believe it. I had to dig it out, myself, before having Doc teleport it up here. Notice anything familiar about it?”

“Now that you mention it,” Anadine muttered, as she used her many sights to examine the door, “I’m fairly certain... Aren’t those the scratches I left when we got drunk with booze slime? Is this a door from the Knifed Zombie?”

“You are correct,” Rowen nodded in praise of her memory.

“But how?” Anadine sputtered in surprise. “How could a door from the town far from Doc appear inside the dungeon?”

“I’m not sure,” Rowen admitted. “But I discussed this with Doc. Wonder why the dark floor is known as the labyrinth floor?”

“For obvious reasons?” Anadine rolled her eyes snarkily.

“True, but not the only reason,” Rowen explained. “See, there is quite a lot of dilapidated architecture in this dungeon, though Doc removed most of it from the forest floor. After examining it with him, we found that several structures were actually familiar, parts of the adventurer town. Strictly speaking, the parts of the adventurer town in the vicinity of Doc’s ‘spy holes’.”

“You mean the small network of tunnels Doc made for us to be able to enter the town in secret?” Anadine asked. “So, what, when Doc was teleported, the town came with him?”

“Not all of it,” Rowen corrected, “just the portions of town near the tunnels. This includes the buildings that were on top of the tunnels but that were nowhere near the openings. I identified as many as

I could, but most were horribly destroyed by the force of the teleportation, to say nothing of that last invasion.”

“If that’s true, then where is the rest of it?” Anadine asked. “No way we have half the town in both floors.”

“That’s where the door comes in.” Rowen pointed at the door. “It was half-stuck within the stone wall of the labyrinth floor, but rather than fusing with the stone, the door displaced the stone, allowing me to dig it out in this condition.

“I think,” offered Rowen, with a glint in his eyes, “that Doc’s dungeon didn’t actually shrink, the way he thought it did. Remember, he had over twenty-five floors at his peak size. All of that teleported with him, and then became impossible to reach, after arriving here, due to the loss of his strength. The floors didn’t just vanish with their contents; they must have been filled up with the stone originally here in this place.”

“Some of that seems to violate some law of magic and matter, or something like that,” Anadine pointed out. “But we aren’t magical researchers, and it doesn’t matter, beyond the results. You’re telling me there is half a town’s worth of property buried in the stone around Doc’s dungeon. You’re speaking of real, buried treasure.”

“That’s exactly it,” Rowen laughed. “Isn't it exciting? We could go dig out treasure right now, just by digging around in the walls.”

“Open the door, first,” Anadine smirked.

Rowen twitched but obediently opened the door to his room. Anadine peered in. A luxurious room lined with furs, a proper bed with sheets and canopy made out of bones, a chandelier made of bones, a war table with a model of the land around Doc’s dungeon, sitting in front of a wall covered in notes on each type of slime; Rowen’s taste was plain to see.

“So, I was all right.”

“Yup.”

Chapter 8

The forest lion let out a long yawn and stretched, as the morning light from the luminous slimes broke over the tree line and into its eyes. Rearing back and forth, he made sure every muscle was pulled, before licking his lips and standing up. The three female forest lions were still asleep, tuckered out from the long hunt the previous day. The forest lion eyed the newly refilled stash of cores from both the herb slime and bug slime families. The two groups had once again entered into a long siege, with the forest lions scooping up as many stragglers as they could.

Unfortunately, one of the female forest lion followers had accidently pulled up two bug slimes at the same time, by an odd fluke, unable to kill both before they’d let out a screech that alerted the other slimes to the forest lions’ presence. The bug slimes had quickly retreated at the prospect of fighting two enemies, but not before chasing the forest lions through the treetops in revenge. The forest lion and the female leader had been forced to cover the escape.

While the forest lion preferred using his newfound slime abilities to turn his tail into a deadly weapon, the female leader had opted for a different route. Where he impaled and sliced away, she dove right into the fight, using her new slime-based abilities to augment her claws and teeth. The hardened slime covering had glistened under the fading light the previous day, giving her a horrifying appearance as she massacred the bug slimes. Still, her powers were being drained, and she had tired much faster than the forest lion. When she collapsed, he had to use his tail to scoop her out of danger and bring her to safety.  They used their stealth ability to successfully hide from the remaining groups of bug slimes, though not before the forest lion took

a few venomous bites to his flank and legs. He’d only just barely made it back to the safety of the nest before collapsing himself into a deep slumber.

Thankfully, his new body had easily freed him of the venom after a good night’s sleep. The forest lion sat on his butt as his tail brought a delicious herb core up to his mouth for breakfast. Chewing softly, he scratched his head with his tail and considered the needs of the day.

Food storage, refilled.

Hunting need, satisfied.

Curiosity, not invoked.

Sleepiness, non-existent.

Physical intimacy, warmed.

The forest lion let out a sigh as he realized all his core needs had been satisfied... except for a new one. Looking between his legs, the forest lion let out a purr of satisfaction as the youthful powers of the cavern had finally hit him where he was most concerned. He was no longer an it! A joyous day indeed, though now he was faced with the cripplingly difficult dilemma of approaching this new need. After all, in his species, and experience, the males had no choice in the matter and never initiated courtship. Even with his increased intelligence and wisdom, this was an ingrained instinct he was unable to overcome, no matter how impressive he may have become for one of his species.

Considering his options, the forest lion’s thoughts were broken by his ear twitching. He’d heard something, and it was below the tree nest. Letting out a low growl, the forest lion willed himself into his camouflaged form and stealthily walked over to the edge of the nest. He poked his eye over the edge and observed.

Nothing could be seen from his high vantage point, and the light cast long shadows along the forest floor. The forest lion made no move and blinked, keeping his left eye closed. With a gut-wrenching squelching sound, his right eye burst out of its socket on the end of a new tentacle and slowly wrapped around the tree to get a full view of the surroundings. This was an ability the forest lion hated to use, because unlike the others, this one caused him physical pain, both extending and retracting. Still, it was useful for scouting, though he wasn’t sure what would happen if his eye got injured.

The eye tentacle completed its loop around the tree but saw no sign of any life. It did, however, pick up a faint heat signature left behind by something long gone, likely fleeing as soon as it made a sound. Grunting with annoyance, the forest lion retracted his eye back into his skull, wincing as it popped into place. Giving it an experimental wiggle to confirm nothing was wrong, the forest lion turned around and froze.

The female forest lions were staring at him in shock, unfortunate witnesses to his stomach-churning display. Sheepishly, the forest lion chose to turn back to stare over the forest stoically and without comment. He couldn’t help but overhear the whispers and growls behind him. He almost fell out of the tree when one of the female followers suggested using his new appendage for things eyes were not meant for.

The sudden lurch, however, was to the forest lion’s benefit. An arrow shot through the space his head had just occupied, lodging firmly in the ceiling of the nest. All four forest lions jumped up, alert and wary. The lead female jumped onto the ceiling and sniffed the arrow. She let out a low growl of apprehension and knocked the arrow down to the forest lion for him to smell.

He recognized the smell, though old and changed. He also noted that the arrow itself was not pointed, instead tipped with slime that had stuck to the ceiling rather than being impaled. It wasn’t an attack as much as a provocation. A familiar one at that, as the females shivered.

The forest lion let out a sharp snort, before using its teeth to break the arrow and throwing it out of the nest to the ground below. He would accept no challenge to his authority. A new need had been added to his list of daily activities.

Payback, needed.

*****

At the home base of the mimic family, morale was low. Yet another group of mimics and lesser mimics had returned from their stealing expedition, with less than half surviving the ordeal. As if to make matters worse, the survivors had been waylaid by a patrol of grey slimes and had been forced to submit half their spoils before being allowed to leave. Though no words were exchanged, no words were needed, as each slime felt the dire situation their family was facing.

The mimic slime family had always gotten by as thieves, using their natural talent at disguise to easily pilfer food from the other families. This had been easy when everything was still chaotic. The forest would grow over their trails, the guarding of food was simpler, and a firm leadership had not existed, beyond a loose collective consciousness toward the family. With the fall of such chaos, and with leaders rising in each group, the mimic family found themselves at the low end of the totem pole.

Beyond their natural disguise abilities, they lacked in both offensive engagement and tactical talent. Their only tier 3 slime evolution was relegated to guarding the home base. This was a small blessing, though, as none of the other slimes could rob them, in return. It did mean, however, that they could no longer move their base of operations, due to the need for a sizable body of water.

But worst of all, the mimic slime family only possessed a single slime hive for lesser mimics. They couldn’t replenish their numbers as fast as the other families, and they could not wait for their lower members to grow before evolving, stopping any wiser slimes from developing. The mimic family was facing extinction—or full integration into their bug slime cousins.

Doc, observing this overhead, let out a sigh for the family. “It’s quite a shame,” he lamented, “that the lesser mimic family is so split, due to their distinguishing characteristics. The treasure and chest slimes wouldn’t help matters, as they’re ambush types for adventurers. Neither would they be willing to leave the lower labyrinth layer. The bug slimes were so strong they made their own family from their branch, and the furry slimes don’t play well with any other type of slime. The slimy slimes may be helping for now, but I bet once they evolve further, they, too, will leave, to form their own branch. I suppose the adventurer phrase of “jack of all trades, master of none” really does apply to the main branch of the lesser mimics.”

Doc took a few minutes to watch the pitiful slimes breaking out the daily shares of cores to their remaining members.

“I can’t interfere,” he resolved himself. “If they are not able to overcome this challenge to their species, then the mimic slime branch is doomed to fail. This dungeon is natural, and I can’t play favorites if they can’t show their worth.” Still, knowing Anadine’s placement in the mimic slime branch of the family, Doc privately hoped the mimic slimes would pull through.

“Hm?” Doc noticed shadows moving in the forest near the mimic slime base. He watched quietly.

It was a squad of tier 2 bug slimes, deadly assassin types, including praying mantis scythes, ant mandibles, scorpion stingers, and poison-filled fangs. The small mass of ten slimes were quietly making their way through the forest on the opposite side of the lake, where the slimy slimes lived. This raid appeared to be planned properly, a likely revenge attack by the nightmare slime for once again praying on his family’s hardships. While ten slimes weren’t enough to destroy the family, it would be enough, in a surprise attack, to devastate the remainder into a number too small to conduct another raid for a long time.

Frowning, Doc watched on as the nine-slime assassination squad inched closer and closer to the mimic slime hideout in the hollowed tree. The bugs used dried slime to cover their bodies and hide their mana and moved slowly enough to minimize the environmental disturbance. The mimic slimes were completely unaware, and had all entered the hollow tree to enjoy a rest and a meal. There were no guards to keep watch on the surrounding forest. The eight bug slimes inched ever closer, nearing the end of the foliage cover. The lead bug, an ant head with a scorpion tail, turned its head back and let out a soft trill to the six other slimes to prepare to attack.

It blinked its bulbous, fake, ant-like eyes. Why were there only five slimes behind it? Five? It blinked again, a pointless maneuver, but in the time it took to do so there were no four slimes behind it.

Acting quickly, the lead bug slime chose to forgo any form and stealth and retreated at full speed, its three remaining slimes right behind it, on its heels. It was unfortunate for the leader bug slime and its two companions that their bodies lacked wings, for it felt no matter how fast their legs moved, they were unable to escape the sightless danger around it. The leader bug slime was searching with all its visual prowess, but detected no sound, mana, or tremor from anything besides it and its one companion.

And then, it was alone. Slimes were normally incapable of feeling fear, under normal circumstances, but survival instinct combined with unknown terror caused the bug slime to explode with unprecedented speed, as it forcibly grew grasshopper legs and bounded away with a screech. Its further evolution would likely be affected, due to this irregular growth, but at least it would survive . . . for another ten seconds. With a flash of shadow, all that was left were pieces of desiccated slime, which wafted in the gentle breeze before landing on the forest floor, absorbed by the vegetation.

Doc watched all this play out from above, the mimic slime family none the wiser. His ever-present sight rested on the ambushers, and he nodded encouragingly.

“Nature plays out in different ways, but in the end, luck and past good deeds will always be a species’ advantage. The mimic slime family will not fall today, I suppose.”

The shadows retreated into the ground, the only sign of their existence being oddly dug holes in the ground, and a shining scale layered with slime.

Chapter 9

While Doc and his dungeon inhabitants were hard at work with their lives, the world around them continued to move forward. Summertime was in full bloom, and previously empty forest areas had finally been refilled with creatures and monsters after the decimation caused by the mutant tree dungeon. Every living thing, however, made sure to keep a long distance away from the clearing surrounding Doc, for the scent of blood and death from the battle still lingered in the soil and leaves from the toad dungeon’s attack. Doc himself was unaware of this, and thus did not associate the lack of creatures in his sensing range with normality. This left a blind spot, as any creature not possessing mana would be ignored.

This included a strangely calm toad sitting in a small puddle from the previous day’s rain. Its throat moved back and forth rapidly, letting out the occasional croak. It also moved swiftly whenever a larger creature appeared, especially large birds flying overhead. Ironically, the strangest thing wasn’t that the toad was in a normally dead zone of life, but that it lived near a body of water. Doc, naturally, wasn’t aware of this difference that separated frogs from toads; that one required a watery home, and the other didn’t.

Thus, the toad dungeon remained hidden in plain sight, watching the Doc’s dungeon ever since the worgs had returned to it. Even with nothing exiting or entering the dungeon, the toad continued its stakeout, never wavering.

The situation on the inside, however, was a bit less dynamic.

“So annoying, so annoying!” it, Frelgard, roared out loud, its voice echoing within the toad’s body. “Hateful, this bastard dungeon thinks it can out-smart me? Adventurer fodder, slimy waste, damnation to hells and back! I’ll kill it, I’ll kill it if it’s the last thing I do!”

“Master Frelgard, please calm yourself,” a voice suddenly whispered out in the darkness. With a grunt, the slimy room of the toad stomach was illuminated, revealing a blue and black crystal embedded in the wall of flesh and a timid, male dungeon pixie, dressed in torn rags and scars. The illumination from the heart crystal focused onto the pixie, who winced and whimpered pitifully.

“What was that, slave!” Frelgard roared, and the pixie fell to his knees.

“Master, I beg of you, calm your anger,” the pixie cried, “Please, I only wish to serve and assist you!” He wailed in pain as stomach acid churned around him, melting bits of his flesh only for the injuries to heal a moment after.

“Your words are worthless to me, slave!” Frelgard roared. “I am the mighty Frelgard, hunter of dungeons both young and old! It was by your magic that we found this prey, only to be embarrassingly defeated and driven away by a dungeon so ignorant and weak it doesn’t even possess a dungeon pixie! My magic was drained by the retreat, thus forcing me to remain here until I devour the dungeon or starve to death! Damn it all, why did I listen to you and become a mobile dungeon?”

“Well, Master, after getting swallowed by the toad monster you created, you were eager to utilize the ability to move, and-” the pixie began.

“It’s all your fault!” Frelgard screamed, his crystal churning with black. The pixie wailed as his leg was burned away, only to painfully regrow after several moments. “Your fault, all your fault! You should have guided me better!”

“But, Master, you didn’t listen-”

“You should have spoken louder! Like you did back when we killed our first dungeon! Did you forget how-” Frelgard’s voice was cut off suddenly, and the room was filled only with the sound of moving flesh. The pixie’s pitiful face vanished, and he stood up in a strangely confident manner.

“Slave, how goes the plan to defeat this slime dungeon?” Frelgard’s voice suddenly returned, even and composed. “Have you analyzed their battle potential?”

“The forces we met were about even with the strike force,” the pixie said. “Perhaps even slightly above ours, as they appeared to be led by capable dungeon lieutenants in the form of a blue slime and white/grey slime. The scout water managed to map out half of the cavern before the counterattack, revealing the two worg lieutenants and their followers lying in wait. From this, it stands to reason this slime dungeon is able to repel three of our five waves of fighters from just this alone. It is still unknown the level of dungeon it has reached, and whether there are stronger creatures than tier 3.”

“And what of the counter to the dream flower?” Frelgard asked.

“If we retain the scout water, it will be unable to take action against us, unless the enemy dungeon can create a trail of mana leading up to the entrance,” advised the under-appreciated pixie. “A risky move, however; for, any usage of mana could potentially lead the Dream Flower back to its own slime core. Even if it did follow that form of action, we could easily counter this by removing your mana from the entrance temporarily, denying any chance for the flower to reach us.”

“So, this dungeon can repel three, possibly all five of the toad waves, could deny me the ability to use the scout water, and possesses several capable dungeon lieutenants. I fail to see how it can be taken without . . . drastic measures,” Frelgard said sourly.

“Master, there is an advantage here for us,” the pixie spoke up. “Capable lieutenants mean monsters taken in by the dungeon; free spirits, with their own thoughts and desires. Exploitable, like any other living thing.”

“Yes, yes; I see,” Frelgard chuckled. “To take the mountain, lure the tiger from its home. This dungeon has already shown a willingness to allow the worgs to exit for long distances for the purpose of scouting. I shall use this to my advantage and remove those obstacles.

“And finally take revenge,” Frelgard’s voice cracked suddenly, the maniacal tone returning to him. “Yes, rip them to shreds, stomp on the crystal, ruin them, and break them! Ha ha ha, I’ll kill them all, isn’t that right, slave? I’ll kill them all! I am Frelgard, the hunter dungeon! I am unstoppable!”

The pixie, blank faced and stoic, bowed deeply. “There is none greater than Master Frelgard. All shall fall before Master Frelgard.”

“Hmph,” Frelgard snorted. “Too weak. Burn!”

Instantly, the stomach was filled with acid, and the pixie shirked and screamed as his flesh slowly burned away to the bare bone, only to regenerate for the process to start over. Frelgard laughed evilly, and the blackness in his crystal swirled.

*****

“It seems your suspicions were correct, Rowen,” Doc noted, eagerly. “It does appear that this is, indeed, The Knifed Zombie in all its wooden glory . . . what remains of it, anyway.”

Rowen wiped the slimy sweat off his brow as he beheld the sight in front of him. Starting at the spot where he had found his door, he, Doc, and the bone slime minions had been hard at work excavating the rock, in the hopes of confirming Rowen’s suspicions. After two cycles of the luminous slimes, they had finally uncovered the outside shell of the former tavern where Rowen had spent the last of his human days. It had taken a lot of delicate work, as the tavern had suffered greatly from the demon attack, serving as a bastion before the retreat of the populace to the Elvin quarter. The front was a mess of shattered holes leftover by magic, and the roof had caved in almost entirely. Of course, the two cycles of work had only removed the building from the surrounding stone, and it was still filled entirely, on the inside, with stone covering every surface, table, chair, mug, and bathroom hole. It would be a long, painstakingly delicate task to preserve the insides, while making sure the building didn’t collapse.

“Yes, thank you for your help, Doc,” Rowen smiled, happily. “I must say, you’re more talented at delicate exaction work then I gave you credit for.”

“It’s all in the practice I do maintaining the dungeon,” Doc said modestly, though unable to hide the pride in his tone. “A very delicate touch is required to maintain the balance of mana, air, humidity, light, reproduction-”

“Yes, yes, you’re a talented dungeon, I get it,” Rowen formed eyes and rolled them.

“As long as you understand,” Doc nodded. “So, this will be your off-time project?”

“Yes,” Rowen acknowledged. “I may have accepted my past as a human and moved on, but that doesn’t mean I should ignore it. This place, it gave me some of the best memories of my human existence. Many things happened here that directly relate to your history, as well.”

“Besides,” Rowen continued, slime glistening. “Once this play is up and running again, you’ll be able to experiment with slime evolution using adventurer-made items, again. The booze slime being the best example; imagine what else we could discover! The tavern had more than just alcohol, after all; there’s a fully stocked kitchen, a butcher station in the back, and a safe, containing adventurer treasures used to pay off their debts. Well, so long as no one emptied it during the rush to escape, anyway.”

“I’ll leave it to you, Rowen,” Doc offered. The dungeon mind left the labyrinth floor and moved up into the forest, toward the bedrooms. Anadine was waiting as he flowed in.

“So, he really found it, then?” she asked.

“Indeed, sign and all,” Doc said. “Seems like Rowen had a passion project to keep him occupied in his down time. What about you?”

“I’ve been following your recordings of all the different slimes,” Anadine said, pointing to a crystal Doc had enchanted with his memories. “It’s amazing how different and varied each unique slime family has become. I was thinking of taking a more in-the-field presence, to observe their behavior, up-close and personal.”

“Is that wise?” Doc cautioned, concerned. “After all, the forest is much more dangerous now, than when you and Rowen were tested. I can’t stop the slimes from attacking you, only deter them. Enter their territory -- which is quite easy to do unintentionally, mind you -- and they are very viable to engage you to the death. Though I can easily bring you back to life in the dungeon, you will feel quite a bit of pain in the process. Especially with the bug slimes; that nightmare slime really slows down the dying process when it comes to grey slime prisoners.”

“I won’t be that close, Doc,” Anadine countered, strongly. “I’ll keep to the trees and observe from a distance farther than what they can sense. I am stronger than every slime out there, even if I don’t yet have the strength to show it; but my powers of observation, at least, outclass every other slime. I won’t be seen.”

“Well, if that’s what you want to do,” Doc smiled. “I wish you luck. Who will you be following first?”

“The mimic family, of course,” she declared. “They are my family, after all. Their evolution concerns me the most, and I will be sure to document every moment it takes until they reach my level of power.”

“Or, you could just conquer them, like Ayla and Aisha are doing with the worgs,” Doc said. “Really, it wouldn’t be hard, seeing how beat-up they are. The twins have only conquered a single pack, on the other hand; it’s really quite surprising, how effectively the furry slimes can fight on their home turf.”

But to Doc’s chagrin, Anadine had already left while he’d been talking. Grunting in annoyance, Doc widened his conscious gaze and watched the eager, blue slime entering the forest below, on route directly for the mimic family hideout.

“And with that, everyone has a hobby,” he chuckled. “I suppose I should go check on Claire again. . . hm?”

Pausing, Doc turned his attention up to the surface. Eyes narrowing, he zoomed up through the dirt to the dungeon entrance and stared out into the distance. He detected foreign mana taking root nearby, a disgusting, familiar mana.

“So, you’ve finally decided to make a move,” Doc said. “But what are you up to?” Returning to his heart room, Doc summoned Ayla and Aisha back from their fight.

“The toad dungeon has reappeared somewhere nearby,” he informed the two worgs. “I need you both to scout out exactly what it’s up to. Verify its intentions, then return to the dungeon. No confrontation, understood?”

“Understood, Doc!” they chorused together. Howling, they formed the furry slime minions and set out for the dungeon entrance, opting to leave their conquered pack of furry slimes behind to watch the territory. Doc watched them leave, a frown on his face. He couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“Claire, why won’t you wake up?” he pleaded.

Chapter 10

“Bright,” Aisha groaned, as she squinted her eyes in the bright summer sun. “Hot.”

“Let’s finish this in a hurry,” Ayla agreed with her sister. “My fur is cooking under the sun . . . ah, that’s the slime.” She looked back sadly as her glistening fur slowly evaporated into normal, mangy, fur. “This dungeon sure picked a bad day to pick a fight.”

“Girls,” Doc’s voice echoed in their head. “I can’t pin down the toad dungeon’s exact location, but it’s somewhere north and/or west of here. Remember, your only task is to locate the dungeon and return; something strange is happening with the air.”

“What do you mean, Doc?” Ayla asked, alarmed.

“The dungeon entrance, along with everything else under the sun, is leaking more mana than usual. While it isn’t a problem for me, you and your minions don’t have nearly as much time outside the dungeon compared to before. Your fur is de-sliming is the first stage, and I think you’ll lose all your slime powers, over time, if you aren’t careful. It also will take me longer to regenerate you, if you perish; so, stay safe.”

“Understood: Scout and leave; be quick!” Aisha acknowledged. “Going.”

Howling, the two worgs led their created furry slime minions into the forest. Following Doc’s directions, they flew across the greenery and shrubs lining the forest floor, while keeping a sharp nose out for the enemy’s mana.

“Not here, not here,” Ayla muttered, as her head tilted back and forth. “Doc can sense it, but why can’t we? The only mana I smell is our own.”

“Strange sun, mana dissipating,” Aisha observed, eyeing the cloud-hidden sun. “Perhaps, hiding trail as well?”

“That must be it, then,” Ayla snarled. “I bet that other dungeon was aware of this as some kind of natural event and acted on it. We won’t be able to track the toad dungeon down, at this rate.”

“Senses fail, instinct rely,” Aisha suggested.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt,” Ayla sighed. Stopping in a clearing, the two worg sisters moved close together, each facing the opposite direction. They turned themselves slowly, moving like a clock through several rotations, before stopping with Ayla pointing north and Aisha pointing south. They held their breath and let the atmosphere of the forest fill their minds: scents, sounds, the breeze, and the song of the trees.

Ayla, cocking her head to the right and staring into the distance, shook imperceptibly. Unseen by her sister or the furry slimes, who had no eyes, a strange black color danced, for the briefest of moments, in Ayla’s eyes.

“The toad dungeon is this way,” she revealed with confidence, reopening her eyes. “I can smell a trace of its mana in the ground. It’s guiding the forest mana; it must have been hurt rushing away from Doc and is healing.”

“Smell mana, where?” Aisha asked, confused. She turned her body to stare questioningly at her sister. “Mana not smelled by me.”

Ayla blinked, slightly taken aback. “It must be a new ability; you’ll gain it soon enough I guess. In any case, the toad dungeon is most assuredly that way.”

Aisha gave her sister a long stare before nodding. “All right, investigate.”

Having the furry slimes be silent, the pack moved ahead like shadowy ghosts in the forest shade. After ten minutes of walking, the twins’ noses picked up the faintest scent of mana coming from the ground. They stopped to bend down and investigate the smell.

“Corruption?” Aisha asked Ayla to confirm.

She sniffed, then pawed the ground. “Seems to be; it smells just like the forest did when that mutating tree dungeon was rampaging around. Still, not the same somehow ….” She trailed off.

“Lighter,” Aisha finally observed. “Surface-level only.”

“Right, it’s a light corruption,” Ayla agreed. “Maybe, because the dungeon doesn’t stick to a single place with that toad body, it can’t actively corrupt the ground like a stationary dungeon can. But, what’s the purpose of this; is this really just for healing?”

Aisha turned around to face the furry slime and barked out some orders. Instantly, the furry slimes climbed up the nearest and tallest tree. Upon reaching the top, they hopped on top of each other until a tower of fur and slime was created. Aisha walked over to the tree and shed.

In a strange, nauseating, and gore-resembling process, the worg deformed her bones and shrunk down into a pseudo-furry slime with four limbs, a tail, and a head body. Ayla squirmed uncomfortably during the process and gagged at the sight of the finished result.

“I’m never going to get used to seeing you do that,” she groaned. “and don’t expect me to ever learn it, either! Don’t take too long, or you’ll run out of mana!”

“Loss for you; mana, no worries.” Aisha’s head/body shrugged unnaturally. Following that, the misshapen worg climbed the tree and tower slimes to perch at the very top, overlooking the entire forest. Aisha stared out into the distance, scanning the horizon.

“Eating,” she called up from up above.

“What?” Ayla asked, confused.

“EATING!” Aisha yelled down at Ayla.

“I don’t understand!” Ayla replied.

Rolling her eyes, Aisha took a deep breath in. Her tail extended into the furry slime on top of her, which froze and connected its tail to furry slime below it, and so on and so forth, until the very last furry slime extended its tail down to meet Ayla. Ayla accepted the tail as it descended onto her head, and she closed her eyes. Just as she did, Aisha opened hers and the two’s vision became one.

Before them stood the vast sea of trees that covered the world from horizon to horizon, distant mountains to the north the only sign of direction. A few minutes of running away, they could see a faintly obvious circle of decay that slowly grew wider as time passed. Sharpening their vision with mana sense, they could see the slow trickle of mana being drained from the land into a small creature, likely the toad dungeon. While the devouring, itself, was large, it didn’t seem overly destructive to the surrounding land, suggesting that, with enough time, the forest would recover naturally. A few creatures hadn’t even fled from the commotion.

“What a strange process,” Ayla murmured. “That must be how it grows when not eating dungeons. Do you think Doc could do something like this, as well?”

“Still corruption, though smaller,” Aisha reminded her. “Dangerous in temptation, scares monster potential.”

“Still, I think maybe he could invest in . . . Uh oh,” Ayla broke off. Through her combined sight with Aisha, she abruptly noticed the state of decay suddenly lengthening toward where they were, risking covering the pack in the dungeon’s foreign mana. “Aisha, we need to move! NOW!”

Tails disconnecting all around, the furry slimes tumbled down the tree, Aisha following them, enlarging into her normal form. Just as they were preparing to leave, the ground shook as toad monsters rose up from the ground, surrounding them. Their dirt-covered bodies showed they had been placed in the ground, not spawned, which meant Doc’s creatures’ presence had been expected. The decay soon covered the ground, and the slimes twisted uncomfortably under the feeling of mana drain.

Ayla and Aisha stood their ground, raising their hackles and growling at the toads. Seventeen slimes verse around thirty-five toads; the odds were about even, given the toads appeared to be tier 1 monsters. One of the toads hopped forward, evidently the leader. It shuddered as raw mana rose up from the ground and flowed into its head.

“You’re from that insane dungeon,” it said wordlessly, eyes blank as a different intelligence took over. “I’m surprised to see you’re still alive, but then I suppose a dungeon foolish enough to have Dream Flower would have some method of controlling it. Good, it would be a shame to have lost such a fine morsel to the petty weed. It would have left nothing for me.”

“You’re pretty talkative for a dungeon,” Ayla observed, “For that matter, how are we hearing you? And, why are we talking?”

“I’m a dungeon; mentally talking to other creatures is second nature, no matter what vessel I inhabit. And I’m not attacking you, because I’m sick and tired of the company I currently have,” the toad snorted. “My pixie slave is always whining about how I’m not a ‘proper’ dungeon, and how he’s the ‘shame’ of his family.” It scoffed, “Please, what a wimp. I’d have killed him, if it weren’t for that stupid contract he made me sign all those years ago . . . how many years has it been again?”

“Anyway,” it continued, snapping back to attention, “I can tell you two aren’t natural monsters to that dungeon; you’re clearly invited monsters, given that degree of intelligence and autonomy. I’m here to invite the both of you to join my dungeon.”

The two twins exchanged a confused look.

“Possible?” Aisha asked curiously.

“Light talker, aren’t you?” the dungeon observed. “Good, I need that type, and the answer is yes. An invited monster is, at the end of the day, a guest of the dungeon, exchanging a limited form of immortality for their strength or wisdom. Kind of like a human refugee camp becoming a country’s town . . . ah, you’ve likely never met a human, so that’s worthless for an example.”

The toad appeared to mumble for a moment. Aisha listened carefully.

“Yes, yes I know slave, they might know, but we’re so far out in the boonies,” it muttered. “What? Yes, I did mean it when I called you a wimp. Oh boohoo, your feelings; it’s the truth. Hurry up and give me a proper forest creature example or its more acid . . . yeah, that’ll work.”

“Invited monsters are to dungeons as birds are to croc-o-bears,” it explained. “They help each other out but can leave for other croc-o-bears whenever they want to. Not quite as easy, but the point is it's possible.”

“I doubt we could just leave D-, our dungeon at the drop of a hat,” Ayla snorted.

“Oh, it’s quite simple really,” the toad explained. “All I have to do is devour your current dungeon, and then I get everything from it including the slav- I mean invited monsters.” The toad took on a cunning and devious look. “I’ll admit, in my few hundred years of hunting, you both are the smartest monsters I’ve ever seen. I watched what you did with that slime tower to scout: foresight, tactics, planning ahead, you show all these, and great initiative. With you both working with me, I could take on stronger dungeons to slaughter them. Killing, blood, it will be glorious!

“Maybe even, one day, we’d take on one of the great dungeons,” the toad smiled wistfully, or at least that’s what the worgs assumed it was doing as its mouth contorted unnaturally. Seeing their grossed-out faces, the toad frowned.

“They aren’t listening, better kill them,” it murmured. “Quiet, slave! No, I will murder them . . . fine, that’s a good idea I’ve come up with on my own. Yes, I am a genius aren’t I, heh heh heh, ha ha ha!”

The toad refocused on the worgs. “I don’t make this offer to every monster I see, you know. I mean look at you two; beauty and brains. That fur glistens beautifully in the sunlight, how magnificent! What a waste to keep in a dingy, slimy dungeon like that. A waste, no, a crime I declare!”

The two worgs shot each other a look. As twins, they had a good instinct as to what the other was thinking at any given moment.

“It’s insane,” Ayla thought. “Has it no empathy, or is it just that foolish?”

“It’s likely that this might be the very base nature of a dungeon,” Aisha thought back. “After all, Mother Claire always said dungeons were selfish things.”

“Still,” she continued, “it’s quite obvious that something has gone wrong somewhere with its education or its mind. The lack of empathy is obvious, but I can clearly sense a split in personality from its words. This level of cunning, though poor and bland, shows that at some point, this dungeon was smarter.”

“So, what should we do?” Ayla asked.

“Play along,” Aisha thought. Nodding, Ayla turned to the talking toad.

“Oh, this old fur,” Ayla scoffed, purposely taking a pose. “I was just thinking it needed a bit of cleaning. Nasty thing, dust. And our dungeon is chock full of it, too.”

“I could barely even see such a thing over the glistening of such fine fur,” the toad continued to flatter. “The sunlight brings out the glistening.”

“You’re such a flatterer,” Ayla smiled. “Well then, how do you propose to kill our current dungeon? It’s a real slave driver you know, and slimes aren’t much for conversation.”

“Neither are toads,” the toad nodded sagely. “Now, I’ll give you this shiny stone here. See, pretty, ooh ahh.” It spat out a blue and black gem-sliver onto its edge and dropped it in front of the worgs. “Now, if you beautiful dears could just touch your dungeon core with this, then all would be well. No pain, no fuss, and we’d be partners! Easy right? Simple enough for you?”

Ayla winked at Aisha, who bent down to pick up the gem with her mouth.

“What this?” Aisha asked.

“Oh, just a part of my crystal,” the toad waved with a foot. “With my current strength, all I need is a piece of me to touch its crystal to mentally devour it. I’ll admit, first time doing it this way, but it should work just as well as invading, slaughtering everything, and crushing the core beneath a toad foot.”

“Isn’t this risky of you to give us a part of your dungeon crystal?” Ayla asked, confused.

The toad paused. “. . . Why am I giving you a part of my crystal? I'd be badly hurt if anything happened to it.” For the life of it, the dungeon Frelgard seemed honestly confused by its own actions.

“Great to hear,” Ayla muttered. Then, Aisha crunched the shard into little pieces, spitting out the remnants.

The toads let out horrid screeches as the forest shuddered. The toad mouthpiece gargled out white foam and collapsed, but not before they heard, “SEIZE THEM!”

“Flee!” Aisha ordered, and the pack fled while the toad horde chased them, croaking angrily. The forest burst into life as they heard the real dungeon toad crying out in rage. The level of decay exploded around the pack as all focus was placed onto them. Out of the corner of their eyes, they could see the beginnings of new toads sprouting up from the corrupted ground.

“Almost to the edge of the corrupted area,” Ayla observed. “They won’t be able to chase us farther.”

“Too late,” Aisha said, staring ahead.

A new group of toads suddenly appeared ahead of them, all stone toads, intent on stopping the fleeing slimes. The two worgs grimaced at the sight.

“We break through together!” Ayla cried.

Roaring out, the two worgs activated their innate shadow magic. The shadows of trees all around them solidified and shot forth, skewering the toads from behind in a successful sneak attack. The toads could do nothing but watch as they died, the slimes running over their dissolving bodies.

“We’re home free,” Ayla announced happily with a bark.

“No, run faster,” Aisha screamed. She had turned her head back and was confronted with the sight of a giant toad lording over the forest, its eyes locked evilly on the two worgs. It croaked and let out a giant leap that shook the forest. The toad dungeon was chasing them.

“Doc, help! It’s coming, the toad dungeon is coming!” Ayla cried out.

*****

50 nuts are cracked in tune, served on a dish and presented to the room.

Some are thin and some are fat, all are dark, and all are black.

Small and cute they all can be, until they age and grow moldy.

Then one egg is brought in too, cooked perfect through and through.

And all the walnuts are set aside, left to rot and left to die.

Still they don’t despair inside, instead seeking to rectify.

They all seek the egg and play; one gives gifts the others take away.

And soon the egg finds it cannot stay, so long as the walnuts come to play.

And so, the egg hatches forth and flies away to the next day.

Leaving the walnuts all cut and dry, to ploy and ply and forever lie.

Chapter 11

Doc grimaced as he felt the forest shake around him. He didn’t need Ayla’s warning to tell him that the toad dungeon was on its way. Though unable to witness the event himself, the two worgs had communicated what had happened well enough for him to form a picture in his mind.

“So, monsters can be taken from conquered dungeons? That’s interesting to learn, though Claire did mention something about taking a dungeon pixie, before, I believe,” he mused to himself. “Still, it’s best to not merely assume this to be the truth, coming from an obviously off-hinged dungeon with severe anger issues.”

“Rowen, Anadine, I summon you,” Doc called out. The two slimes immediately arose from the heart room floor, still in a fighting stance.

“What’s happening, Doc?” asked the blue slime, worried. “Are we under attack?”

“Not now, but soon,” Doc answered. “Ayla and Aisha seem to have gravely injured the toad dungeon and are currently leading it here. It is enraged, and it will likely use all its power to attack, this time. I need you both to summon your minions and prepare an ambush at the forest entrance.”

“Same as last time, Doc?” Rowen asked, pragmatically.

“Well,” Doc seemed to gain a sadistic air around his crystal. “Actually, Rowen, I had an idea regarding you and your forces.”

*****

“Aisha, pick up the pace!” Ayla taunted, hurriedly, as she sped through the forest. “You don’t want to get squashed into a worg patty, do you?”

“Obvious stated!” Aisha grunted in annoyance. With a casual increase in speed, she passed her twin by with a smirk. “Falling behind?”

“No way!” Ayla grinned.

The two worgs and their 15 furry slime minions were running/sliding away at full speed, the ever-present thumps of the giant toad dungeon chasing them, as it covered miles with every hop. Though the two worgs were joking as they raced each other, both were aware that they were in a serious predicament. No matter how fast they ran, the distance between them and the toad was growing ever smaller, even with them increasing their speed. Worse still, they were running out of the mana needed to maintain their bodies.

“Why haven’t we exited the range of its corruption?” Ayla complained loudly.

Aisha raised her nose and sniffed. “Toad dungeon, leaking? Unstable mana, spreading around it, like odor or magic aura. Need to out-pace to escape, or reach Doc.”

“We can make it, then,” Ayla cried out. “Doc is just a little farther!” As she said this, however, a huge tongue shot out and slammed into the group of slimes behind them, engulfing seven. The manufactured minions vanished into the giant toad’s mouth as they were forcibly eaten. With a loud croak, the toad shot out seven shattered slime cores like shrapnel, killing another two furry slimes and hobbling a third.

“Darn it!” Ayla said. “Now it’s close enough to attack us!” The remaining slimes leaped out of the way as the tongue was shot out again. The worg scowled at the sun above their heads. “This accursed, mana-draining sun is making it worse. We can barely focus on running; we’ll be dead if we waste any time dodging!”

“Mana low, easy targets,” Aisha panted. “Minions, banish for mana, but only us.”

“Making us bigger targets,” Ayla muttered angrily, “But we have no choice.” At her mental command, the furry slimes dissolved into mana and returned to the bodies of the two worgs, presenting a sweet relief to them. The two worgs were able to pick up speed and leap out of the way of the next tongue attack, gaining some more headway from the toad. It screamed angrily at them, having lost the distance needed to attack with its tongue.

“Doc’s clearing is just ahead; we’re going to make it!” Ayla cried out triumphantly. Then, the loudest screech of fury bellowed out of the giant toad dungeon. The forest floor shook

violently, and the two worgs watched as a massive shadow enveloped them and the surrounding trees. Aisha looked up.

“Uh oh,” she whimpered. Above them, the massive belly of the toad loomed, its body stretched out fully and soon to fall atop their heads. They had no time and no places to leap out of the way.

“We need to reach the slime perimeter,” Ayla said. “Doc can retrieve us if we can make it there!” Her eyes locked onto the slimes hiding below the ground, guarding the edge of the clearing. “Doc, extend the field toward us, hurry!”

“Understood!” Doc’s voice rang out in their minds, “I need a few seconds!”

“Not enough time,” Aisha said, her eyes having remained locked on the falling toad. She saw what her sister and Doc did not and could not; the toad was magically accelerating toward them. With her mana sense, she saw the field of Doc’s mana stretching out from the closest slime. Her mind quickly understood Doc’s speed was no match for magically enforced acceleration. With a resolute look in her eyes, the worg summoned up her remaining mana and cast a force spell on her sister. Ayla flew forward at the unexpected spell, tumbling head over tail into Doc’s range. Her body quickly began to dissolve as Doc latched onto her for retrieval. Ayla looked back, horrified, at the satisfied smile on Aisha’s face. The last thing she saw was Aisha winking when the darkness of the toad covered her vision.

“Aisha!” Ayla screamed, only to find herself in Doc’s heart room, alone.

“I didn’t make it,” Doc whispered, “Damn.”

Ayla turned quickly to look up at Doc’s crystal. “Is she okay, Doc?! How is she?!” she begged, fretfully.

“Her spirit is intact,” Doc said quickly, his crystal shining and fading in varying intervals. “She’s suffered quite the shock, however, and I am unable to reform her body until I have time to concentrate properly, and until she has time to recover properly. That means after the battle.”

“Idiot,” Ayla sighed. “We could have made it, together.”

“Put aside those thoughts, Ayla; we don’t have time for them,” Doc ordered. “That toad dungeon seems to have gone insane, and it is attacking the dungeon with full force, this time. I need you to join Rowen and Anadine on the forest floor to repel the toads.”

“Fighting, killing, yes, I can do that, I can do that,” Ayla muttered and calmed down. “In, out, okay; alright Doc, I’m okay now. What’s going on right now?”

“After crushing Aisha, the toad dungeon has stopped moving. I’m not sure whether this is some form of shock, or if it’s thinking of ways to crush us. Maybe it’s even thinking I’ll surrender.” Doc wondered out loud. “I had Rowen and Anadine prepare for a fight after receiving your message, so they’re up in the forest near the entrance. They’ve summoned their minion slimes and are in full ambush mode.”

“Can you show me a live moving image of the toad dungeon?” Ayla asked calmly.

“Yes, one moment.” Doc’s crystal glowed, and one of the heart room walls became covered in a moving image of the outside of the dungeon. The huge toad loomed over the clearing and Doc’s entrance, even towering over the adult trees. A small pool of red leaked out from under it, a chilling reminder of the death Ayla had just narrowly avoided. Her hackles raised as she growled hatefully.

“Save it for the fight, Ayla,” Doc said. “The sunlight makes an above-ground battle risky; what a strange environmental effect this place has.” He shook his head figuratively. “I suspect this toad dungeon . . . Frelgard, right, is preparing its toads for a full underground invasion. I won’t be able to use the Dream Flowers, if it doesn’t use that water attack again; so, you’ll need to work with Anadine and Rowen to repel the attack and lead it into the slime territories. If they didn’t join in last time, then this time, we’ll just have to take the fight to them; I’ll teleport a few toads directly into their bases. We should expect a tactically difficult fight, since it knows what to expect on the forest floor and-”

With a ghoulish and squelching shriek, the giant toad’s belly exploded outwards as a huge wave of toads charged forth into the clearing toward the dungeon entrance. Doc and Ayla

stared in shock as the toad dungeon body was completely destroyed, and at the flood of toads hopping rapidly under the sun.

“What in the world; what is Frelgard doing?” Doc gapped. “It destroyed its dungeon and is subjugating its troops to the mana draining sun before a battle? And . . . is that its heart crystal?! What the hell, this is suicide!”

In the middle of the toad wave, a black toad rode on high with a black crystal embedded in its forehead. The power emanating from it filled the surrounding toads with blood-thirsty looks and aggressive croaks.

“Alright, this has gone too far,” Doc announced angrily, “I haven’t killed his family or butchered its good name, why is it going so far?” Opening up his voice, Doc called out mentally, “Frelgard! Retreat! Taking your heart crystal into me, another dungeon, this is madness! No one will win this fight!”

“Kill, maim, I’ll kill you,” Frelgard’s warped and mangled reply came through. “No retreat, no going back, slaughter the children, I am Frelgard! I am Frelgard! NO RETREAT! KILL THEM ALL!”

“It’s lost any semblance of sanity,” Doc groaned. “There’s no stopping this, now; Ayla, go forth and bring this dungeon down!”

“Yes, Doc!” Under Doc’s control, Ayla teleported up into the forest next to Anadine. The blue slime wiggled in greeting.

“Aisha isn’t gone, but don’t let her sacrifice be in vain,” she cautioned the worg. “This battle would have been very difficult if both of you had been taken out.”

Ayla’s eye twitched at the sudden lecturing by her former student. Her tail whacked the blue slime, causing Anadine to jiggle helplessly. “It’s still too soon to think to lecture me yet, you cheeky brat . . .” she broke off, then chuckled. “Well, In the scheme of things, I suppose I’m only slightly older than you. You ready for this?”

“Of course,” Anadine announced, eagerly. “Let’s show this toad what real slime is!”

“Oh, where’s Rowen?” Ayla asked, realizing the familiar grey and white slime was missing.

Anadine snickered and used a tentacle to point up. Ayla tilted her head far back and stared. The ceiling was the sole ground for the luminous and light-eater slimes who controlled night and day in the forest cavern, and the ceiling, thus, was usually rendered unimportant in the daily lives of the dungeon occupants. Yet, on this day, a number of slimes were found to be hanging on for dear life to the smooth surface of the ceiling. Rowen’s figure could be faintly seen in the front, shivering. Ayla wasn’t quite sure if the source of the shiver was Rowen, himself, or the vibrations coming from the surface as the toad wave approached.

“As it turns out, little Rowen is a tiny bit afraid of heights,” Anadine giggled. “I always wondered, since he protested so much against traveling on the ceiling during our test; but now, we can see it for ourselves.”

“I’m not scared!” Rowen’s voice protested in their minds. “I just don’t look forward to the splattering mess I’ll make when I land. Accepting my existence as a slime doesn’t make it feel any better having to pull myself back together from a puddle stain on the floor! Hey, Anadine, why have me do this instead of you, again?”

“Because you and your slimes are better at area-of-effect-type damage,” Anadine reminded him smugly. “The bones will shatter outwards, and the blood will cover and burn the toads. All my slimes can do is copy other living things.”

“Yeah, but your slimes can copy those stone toads and turn into boulders! That makes them better siege weapons!” Rowen countered. “If humans can throw rocks, so can we!”

“Doc’s made his decision, already,” Anadine preened, “So no point talking your way out of-”

Ayla blinked, and Anadine had vanished. A shriek easily located the blue slime, who was now hanging for dear life next to Rowen, who now wore the smug look.

“Guess Doc thinks we both belong up here, now,” he observed, chuckling. Anadine gave Rowen a withering look, one Ayla could see all the way from the ground and without any facial features of any kind. The worg let out a laugh, feeling the tension bleed away.

“I’ll lead the ground forces, then,” she declared. “Rowen, Anadine, are you ready?”

“Unwilling, but ready to fall!” Rowen announced.

“Ditto,” Anadine grumbled, but couldn’t help but chuckle with the mood.

“Good,” Ayla smiled. “Then let’s start a proper slaughter.”

Chapter 12

The toad wave came quickly, pouring over itself and squashing any toad unfortunate enough to be on the bottom. Any semblance of reason was gone, now, each toad glaring and screaming, with bloodshot eyes. A few toads were even bleeding from their eyes and noses, as if they, themselves, were the injured party. When they reached the drop off into the forest, the toads went over as a wave and brutally crashed into the bottom, sending many toads to their death; and still they came. Doc and his lieutenants looked on solemnly and with a strange sense of horror and shock.

“Doc,” Ayla spoke up as she watched, “this reminds me of when Anadine’s human form died in your dungeon. You went completely crazy, just like this, and your slimes destroyed everything in their path to sate your rage.”

“Was I this bad?” Doc asked, quietly.

“No, you still held back,” the worg revealed. “Only those who needed to be punished were punished, and you didn’t recklessly waste your slimes. This, this is just raw fury incarnate; no matter the cost, attempting to accomplish anything to soothe the pain.”

“Time to end those petty thoughts,” Rowen snorted from the ceiling. “An enemy with no tactics, charging like a blind boar? This is just the kind of fight I enjoy taking!” Howling with laughter, Rowen let go of the ceiling. With him, large orbs of bone and red blobs of blood fell like droplets of rain, and the forest sky glistened.

“Let it rain blood and bone!”

With a chilling roar, Rowen slammed into the torrent of toads, dark magic shooting out around him as he became a literal bomb of magic. The toads screamed out as the dark magic blasted holes through their bodies, displacing both flesh and bone alike. Before they could take a moment to recover from the surprise attack, the followers of Rowen landed. Bone cages packed with dense bone exploded out as shrapnel, and blood slimes exploded into flesh-melting, red goo that quickly dissolved anything it touched. Doc had called for the slimes to release their true abilities without care for the forest, and the damage was grotesque.

Even a recurring flood of toad flesh was forced to stop as magic, bone, and acid blood melted through their front lines like a hot knife through butter. They could not progress through the storm, which only got worse as the dead toads became the source of ammunition for the bone and blood slimes who survived the fall. Rowen laughed and roared in happiness as he completely let loose, his body rapidly shrinking from the huge expenditure of mana, only for Doc to rapidly refill him with dungeon mana. The orbs of darkness thus continued, taking out a minimum of ten toads before dying out.

“Anadine, we’ve stopped the horde!” Rowen announced. “Let loose the second volley!”

“Aye, aye, little brother!” Anadine cheered, and she, too, let go of the ceiling. She had repositioned herself and her slimes once Rowen had fallen, and now they were above the continuing flood of toads. She saluted to her slime minions. “Let loose, my brethren, and fall as stones upon the castle of our enemy!” The intelligence-lacking slimes copied her and let go. Anadine let loose her own battle cry as she joined them, filling the sky once again with the twinkles of glistening of slimy bodies. As they fell, the lesser mimic slimes transformed their bodies into stone toads, focusing all their transformative energy solely into the weight and density of the toads. Anadine herself began to rotate, sprouting sharp tentacles all over her body. She spun faster, and faster, until her body could only be seen as a furious tornado of blades.

“Take this!”

Anadine collided with the stream of toads falling off the drop, and she moved through them as if they were merely liquid. The torrent of toads exploded out in a gory mix of flesh as she ran through them at falling speed, leaving none the wiser as to how they died. Her rock-solid minions landed all around her, smashing through and throwing toads into the air. The rain of blood soon began, and the blood slimes engorged themselves and grew. When each reached the size of a small elephant, they began shooting out their acidic blood at high pressure, coating the newly arriving toads in body-melting red, which they soon joined. And still the blood rain fell.

“Come, my pack,” Ayla howled, as the furry slimes, both those made by her and those from the packs conquered down below, appeared behind her. “We will feast on toad flesh and take revenge for Aisha’s sacrifice!” The furry slimes joined her howl, and they charged forward into the fray, tooth and nail plastering their way through any toad unlucky enough to survive the two initial slime attacks.

The toads, having been led initially by blind rage and savagery, were in complete panic as the sight and scents of their brethren melting, dying, and exploding around them filled their minds. Doc watched on mercilessly as his lieutenants cut through the waves of toads with relative ease. The sheer number of toads, however, meant that the slimes were forced back into the clearing separating the cliff from the forest, allowing for more toads to safely make the drop. However, the fight appeared to be taking an odd turn, as the toads appeared to be breaking off from their mindless rage.

“Frelgard’s control is weakening,” the purple crystal muttered to himself. “Is this what happens after giving up your dungeon?” As more toads died, Doc noted how more and more survivors displayed individual qualities, such as the will to live. A few toads had even gone against the tide of toads to flee the dungeon, while others appeared to be fighting with an animalistic savagery found only in desperate situations.

A surge of mana caught Doc’s attention as he focused on the middle of the toad horde that had managed to stabilize at the base of the drop-off. “There you are,” Doc growled. A singular black and blue toad arose from the group, letting out a deep and rumbling croak infused with mana. The toads lost all sense of individuality at the sound, reforming their ranks and surging forth as an unstoppable, unflinching wave once again. Rowen and the others were forced back further towards the forest, and the slime casualties increased.

“Doc, their sheer numbers are pushing our backs to the wall,” Ayla reported mentally. “We’ve lost the element of surprise; what should we do?”

“Send three slime strike squads to attack that black toad,” Doc ordered. “I want to see what capabilities that boss body holds. Also, have Rowen and Anadine prepare for spatial displacement.”

“Hear you loud and clear, Doc!” Anadine announced.

“Ready when you are,” Rowen echoed.

Doc’s crystal flashed, and the two slimes reappeared on the ceiling. Grabbing hold of the rough surface, they once again budded off slime minions in preparation for the next attack. Meanwhile, on the ground, Anadine sent forth three groups of furry slime through the left, center, and right flanks respectively, all focused on reaching the black toad in the middle. The furry slime brayed and howled as they slashed through toads they could easily kill, while avoiding the stronger toads who would waste their time. Three furry streams converged at the black toad, teeth flashing.

The black toad croaked loudly, so loudly that the air itself vibrated and formed what appeared to be walls of sound. The furry slime slammed into the walls and bounced off, all incapable of penetrating the mana-infused sound. The black toad didn’t stop there, as it croaked at a different pitch soon after.

Sound once again solidified, this time forming pointed spikes. The furry slimes squealed and whined as they were quickly killed, sending their slime blood everywhere.

“Tier 4 toad,” Doc quickly analyzed. “I don’t know what it’s called, but clearly it works with sound magic. Powers seen: sound-based mind control over the toads, and solidification for attack and defense. A strong opponent, one we haven’t faced before. The good news is that I do not sense any tier 3 toads in the group, meaning Frelgard has likely focused most of his strength into this boss body.”

“The defensive uses of its sound are something none of the slimes can pierce through,” Ayla pointed out, tearing through another toad and eating its heart. “Perhaps with enough magical bombardment through Rowen, but he’d be a sitting slime without any defensive measures of his own.”

“Since it’s sound magic, I believe the toad needs to open its mouth and produce the sound before activating its magic,” Doc reasoned. “A well-timed sneak attack could make short work of it, and perhaps the black toad can’t handle attacking and defending at the same time.” Plan in mind, he turned his attention up to the ceiling. “You two, begin your second run. Anadine, when they fall, lead your furry slimes directly against the black toad.”

“Understood, Doc,” Rowen said. “Anadine, ready to go?”

“Slimes away, again!” Anadine announced as she and Rowen, alongside their minions, let go of the ceiling and fell towards the battlefield. The air whistled as bone cages and stone-heavy mimicked toads filled the air once more, barreling straight for the toad horde.

This time, sound of falling slime alerted the toads to the incoming danger. The black toad screeched and croaked, forming transparent barriers across the toad army, intending to block the incoming slimes. The toads turned their attention up to deal with the slimes, revealing a fatal opening.

“That’s our cue, pack mates! Charge!” Ayla roared. The remaining slimes on the ground, Rowen and Anadine’s included, all charged forward. Without the attention of the black toad, the army of toads was unable to quickly react to the attack, and the slime weaved through the invaders’ bodies like exploding needles. The blood slimes once again made their presence known, their bodies, bloated on toad blood, exploding outwards onto whole sections of toads, dissolving them into puddles of gore and bone. The bone slimes swooped in immediately after, rolling in increasingly larger bone balls that squashed the weaker toads with ease.

The black toad let out a shrieking croak, and half of the barriers were placed in front of the slime. However, it did not attack.

“A fatal weakness,” Doc shook his head. “That toad must be meant to be a pack creature, with some focusing on attack, and the others, on defense. It can’t handle this fight on its own.”

The reduction in barriers allowed for more falling slimes to make their mark, exploding onto the battlefield just as before, while the unlucky ones were splattered across the transparent barriers, dyeing them various colors of slime. The light across the battlefield was soon turned into a multi-colored spread, as the light traveled through the slime. The lights danced over the toad corpses, as the army was reduced down to half its original size.

“It’s almost done,” Doc let out a deep sigh, followed by a mocking chuckle.

“Honestly, I don’t understand this Frelgard,” he muttered. “What has possessed him into launching such a foolhardy attack, without even scouting? Would I be so foolish one day?”

“Doc?” Anadine asked, confused.

Doc clicked his imaginary tongue in annoyance. He hadn’t meant for his thoughts to leak out into the mental bond. “Anadine, have Rowen and Ayla advance from the sides, while you persist cutting through the central area. Frelgard can’t make any more toads, but don’t underestimate its boss body. It could be hiding some tricks, still.”

“Understood, Doc!” Anadine confirmed.

Doc watched the scenes of the battle from his crystal. It was a strange feeling, for he witnessed the perspective of one not participating; and yet, it occurred inside him. Frelgard was through; there was nothing left for the dungeon to do. It couldn’t create with a dungeon body, and there was nothing in Doc’s dungeon for it to possess into a new dungeon. The toads were dying more quickly, now; there were too many bones and pools of blood to stop Rowen’s minions from rolling through the fight.

The black toad, Frelgard, fought. In the end, it took on all three of Doc’s lieutenants single- handedly, dispatching any other slime that got too close. Doc had been wrong, as it turned out: The black toad could certainly wield attack and defense at the same time, if it used its shields as bludgeoning weapons. The battle was amazing, long, and exhilarating to watch; and yet, Doc could not find it within himself to truly view the battle in the moment. When Anadine was slammed into Ayla, only for Rowen to break off a toad leg and watch it regenerate, Doc had no special feelings. Rather, Doc wished he could stop watching.

A strong dungeon, a dungeon that infused Doc with a sense of fear and trepidation, had been reduced to this: a monster fighting on its last legs, with no allies, no home, and no hope. Instead of an enemy, all Doc could see was a vision of his own possible future. When Frelgard screamed in pain and fury, Doc trembled. When his monsters were forced back, Doc sighed. And when all three slimes pierced through Frelgard’s body, locking him in place and destroying his throat, it was over.

Silently, Doc summoned a simple slime body and possessed it, appearing on the battlefield. All around him, slimes bled slime and feasted on the corpses of toads. Surviving toads were being skewered slowly by wandering bone slimes, silent sentinels eliminating the survivors. He moved his body up the piles of bodies to reach the black toad, impaled on hardened slime in the air. He locked eyes with the black toad.

“Let him regenerate his throat,” Doc ordered.

Anadine raised an eyebrow. “Doc, it could attack you.”

He shook his head. “No, I can see inside it. Frelgard is dying and can’t even muster up the mana to communicate mentally. I need to hear the answers to my questions.”

Nodding, Anadine removed the bard slime stuck in the toad’s throat. When she did so, the injury slowly vanished, and the toad spit up black blood. Its face contorted into a wicked smile.

“Heh, heh, heh” it wheezed. “You’ve won.”

“Why fight me like this?” Doc asked seriously. “With enough time, you could have overcome me.”

The toad let out another wheezing laugh. “I had to kill you, there was no other choice.”

“Why?”

The toad blinked. “I had to kill you, there was no other choice. You’ve won, so eat me.”

Doc crossed his tentacles.

“The strong devours the weak, it is the rule of this world,” the toad croaked. “I was born to it, I lived by it, and now, I die by it. Eat me, and become stronger.”

Doc took a hard look at the black toad.

“I refuse,” he said simply.

At once, the toad’s eyes blazed with black fury, and it screamed at Doc. Anadine and the other slimes raised their tentacles to attack, but Doc waved them down. He waited until the black toad had finished screaming.

“My last question,” Doc said evenly. “What happened to your dungeon pixie?”

A silence permeated the battlefield. A toad and slime looked at each other. The black toad, for the first time, looked lost, and sad. “My . . . pixie?” it whispered. “Yes, my partner? Where have you gone? Where . . . have you . . . gone?” Confused, the black toad let out a sigh, and died. Through flesh and bone, Doc watched the small dungeon core inside crack, and lose its shine. With a snap of his tentacles, the black toad was banished from the dungeon, alongside every bit of toad. Doc moved everything to the giant toad corpse lying still on the edge of his territory.

“Farewell, Frelgard,” Doc muttered, twisting a tentacle in the air. The entire dungeon shuddered and shook, causing the slime to wobble and shake uncontrollably.

“Doc, what just happened?” Ayla asked, concerned and worried.

“Just cleaning house,” Doc said simply. “You three, dispel your minions and retire. I’ll be working on Aisha’s body, if you need me.” With that said, Doc dissolved his body and returned his spirit to his heart crystal, leaving his slime minions confused.

Outside the dungeon, the toad corpse was engulfed in magical flames preventing anything from coming close. Within the burning wreckage, a small and broken figure was embracing the black toad corpse. A malevolent expression danced across the pixie’s face.

“Damn it, I failed,” he whispered.

As the fire burned, the pixie’s flesh began to melt away, when unexpectedly, his face turned gentle and kind.

“Freedom at last,” he whispered, his final words soon consumed by fire and flame.

Chapter 13

Doc watched disinterestedly as the last of the battlefield was cleaned of toad flesh by the slimes. Unlike the previous invasion, he took no steps to prevent any of the slimes from harvesting the cores and toad flesh. His lieutenants had collected the most, followed by the nearby forest lions and herb slimes, and lastly by the grey, bug, and mimic slime families. As for the mess of blood, gore, and environmental damage, all it took was a single thought for the dungeon to repair itself and absorb the excess away.

“A single thought,” Doc mused to himself. “That’s all it takes to wipe away the traces of those who came before us. And when the past is lost, does that leave the future more certain, or less? Can the present not be thrown into flames, thinking about everything it isn’t?”

“I didn’t know you were a poet, Doc,” Anadine praised Doc, interrupting his thoughts. The blue slime wiggled around the floor of the heart room, seemingly intent on carving a path into the floor.

“I don’t know what that is,” the dungeon commented, his attention not wavering from the image of the battlefield on which he was focused. “I just spoke my thoughts.”

“That’s basically a poet,” Anadine nodded. “It’s a human . . . hm, I mean a type of person. They write thoughts into flowing words that inspire more thoughts and inspire emotion. Not every person is born with the ability to become a poet, though; it’s an art.”

“Art,” Doc blinked. “Art! That’s what Claire liked to go on about. The art of killing, the art of being a dungeon, and the art look of her room. What an odd thing to use to describe the act of creation, and destruction. I didn’t know I could make art....” With a forlorn sigh, Doc gazed again at the battlefield. “I thought I could only destroy it.”

“What’s with all the negative thoughts, Doc?” Rowen piped up from the ceiling. “We just won a great victory, didn’t we? Usually you’d be over the moon with the upgrades and new slime evolutions to be unlocked. Well, I guess, not much of an upgrade, considering you destroyed the other dungeon core instead of eating it. But still.” Rowen gestured questioningly. “What’s on your mind?”

“The pointlessness of everything,” Doc sighed. “Look, that dungeon had it all; the ability to move, a powerful army with many interesting evolutions, and strategies obviously made by its dungeon pixie. And yet, it threw it all away so easily. Why? In order to protect what? Its pride? Didn’t Frelgard want to live? What about its pixie; if it even had one. It seems like Frelgard found everything I strived for since I met Claire, worthless. If it is...what am I truly existing for?”

“You sound like an old veteran unable to enter war again,” Anadine pointed out. “Geez, Doc; you’re barely . . . 2 years old, I think. What the heck is with all this doom and gloom about life? Shouldn’t you be happy about your accomplishments and looking forward to future endeavors? You haven’t lost anything yet, not even time!”

Doc said nothing.

Anadine threw up her tentacles. “Fine, you’re in the cow pits. We’ll let you stew around. Come on, Rowen, let’s go help Ayla and Aisha sort and eat the dead.” With a jiggle, Anadine dissolved into the heart room floor, teleporting up to the forest entrance.

Rowen wiggled in place for a few moments, thinking. “You sound a lot like me from a few weeks ago Doc,” he finally said. “I understand the impact of watching another dungeon with everything you’ve strived to achieve throw it all away. But you shouldn’t dwell on it too much. Perhaps there were circumstances we are unaware of.  And just because someone threw something away, that doesn’t make it worthless. If you throw things away so simply, then you become just as bad as Frelgard. Think about that for a bit.” With a pop, Rowen too vanished from the heart room, leaving Doc’s crystal alone, floating in the middle of the room, casting dark purple shadows on the cold stone walls.

“What would you say to me, Claire, if you could see me now?” Doc wondered out loud. “Would you call me an idiot again, foolish for thinking too much on worthless things? Would you agree with me? Claire . . . I miss your advice.”

Inside her room, the sleeping pixie said nothing. But her eyebrows twitched and furrowed for just the smallest of moments.

*****

“I wonder what Doc has on his mind,” Anadine muttered, lowering her body to dodge a slime tentacle. She lightly slapped the intruding grey slime away, causing it to flee. “He’s really down, after this toad dungeon fight. I thought he’d be over the moon, killing another dungeon; but he didn’t even bother devouring its dungeon crystal. Seriously, isn’t that a normal thing for dungeons to do?” The two were sorting toad corpses on the battlefield for Doc to distribute or absorb later. Part of their job was to guard the spoils from intruding slimes who hadn’t helped in the war.

“Maybe he thought it was dirty,” Rowen grunted, spinning in place to deflect two tentacles coming for him. A quick shot of an orb of darkness sent the lesser mimic bug slime flying away. “After all, it is a toad dungeon; nasty creatures; cause disease, too, like warts.”

“That’s a silly superstition,” Anadine chuckled. “Everyone knows that diseases are demon god curses sent from below to torment the living.”

Rowen raised a quickly formed slime eyebrow in her direction. “You can’t be serious.” She paused. “Right?”

“Heh, I bet you believed me for a second, there, you 500-year-old fart,” Anadine laughed, groaning a second later as Rowen’s tentacle slapped her in her distraction. “Ow! Ha, not really. Anyway, cleanliness is likely something Doc doesn’t understand, let alone disease. After all, you need a body to get sick, and he lacks a proper one. I’ve never heard about crystals getting sick, anyway.”

“Crystals can get dirty and cracked, though,” Rowen pointed out. “Do you think that, perhaps, Doc’s crystal is cracked from recent events?”

“I don’t know,” Anadine admitted, slapping a toad corpse into a pile. “But I wouldn’t put that possibility past us. After all, Claire’s snafu is still ongoing, let alone this dungeon attack. Perhaps a broken heart for humans is like a cracked crystal for a dungeon.”

“Maybe,” Rowen shrugged. As he picked up a different toad corpse, its belly ruptured and spilled over Anadine. She responded quickly, with Rowen getting slapped twice for his efforts. “Ow! Dang!  Really, with the mana-infused slaps?!”

“You’re lucky I can absorb this,” Anadine continued coldly, the toad guts vanishing into her body. “Anyway, your thoughts?”

Rowen shrugged with his tentacles. “I can’t think of any other reason to ignore a prize like that. Dungeon crystals are desired by everyone and everything that can use mana. Heck, even you got smarter after eating bits of a fake dungeon crystal, and yet Doc decides to get rid of this one. It has to be a mind issue.” The grey and white slime paused for a moment. “Or, what about indigestion? Think dungeons can feel that?”

Anadine laughed so hard, she was unable to dodge a bug slime strike to her body, sending her smashing into the forest floor. She continued to laugh as her body helplessly was smashed over and over into the small crater, the enemy slime believing it had the advantage. “Indigestion, ha, that’s a good one. If he can stomach slimes, I doubt there is anything in the world he can’t digest, if he so chooses. He even took us in, after all.” Unable to control her strength properly with the giggles, she accidentally punched the bug slime high enough to splat into the ceiling, where it met its prompt end from the territorial luminous slimes. Rowen clapped respectfully.

“Guess so,” he nodded. “Maybe Doc’ll tell us when he feels better. Shall we continue over there in the poison toad section, or perhaps the really eviscerated area?”

“No, thanks,” Anadine waved a tentacle. “As much as I enjoy taking a beating from other slimes while handicapping myself with work, I think it’s about time we did something more constructive for the dungeon. Give me a moment to finish here, and let’s go scouting.”

“Sure, take your time,” Rowen laughed. “And it was your idea to work without minions to help us out. Feeling tired already, Princess?”

“It isn’t a challenge, otherwise,” Anadine taunted, pulling herself back into her round slime form. “Now, I’m off to investigate the forest and see how the battle affected the slimes. Are you coming?”

“Sure, I suppose,” Rowen shrugged. “Where to first?”

“The plant slime garden.”

*****

“Poor choice, very poor choice!” Rowen announced as he and Anadine fled through the forest floor. “Getting that close was a very poor choice!”

“They aren’t normally so attentive!” Anadine explained, as she dodged poisonous spittle, “They must have expanded their patrol perimeter in response to the fight, or maybe they’ve had some bad luck with the bug slimes!”

“I don’t care, just keep running!” The two boss slimes were forced to flee from a very angry group of poison and jungle slimes, led by a group of Tier-3 flower slimes. The herb family group chased the two unfortunate lieutenants around the entire Northern forest, with Rowen and Anadine unable to respond to the strength of the flower slimes, nor to the sheer numbers. They would finally escape as the luminous slimes set for the day, dragging their exhausted bodies into their rooms.

“We leave dungeon observation to Doc, from now on,” Rowen swore. “Or we go up another tier in strength. This dungeon is crazy sometimes.”

Anadine rolled her imaginary eyes. “Rowen, brother, this dungeon is crazy all the time.”

*****

With an annoyed grunt, the forest lion spat out another spit orb of slime and used its paws to press it against a hole. Taking a step back to study his handiwork, he shook his head and spat out another orb and rubbed it in, finally satisfied. His nest had been injured by the large battle, a few days ago, and then again, earlier today, when he was out hunting with the females. The nest had been the unfortunate recipients of collateral damage, as a group of herb family slimes had been slinging magic around, chasing two other slimes. With tremor cracks and poison-eating holes through the hardened slime, the forest lion had to waste the rest of the day fixing the nest, as the females had refused to return with the smell of poison in the air.

The lion examined the hole once again, this time poking it with a slime-hardened claw. To his annoyance, the claw easily pierced the two layers of new slime, exposing the hole to the forest once again. With a resounding grunt, the forest lion understood that the holes were not as easy to fix as the cracks had been. Even with the poison removed by him earlier, the edges of the hole were still too fresh to work with. It would be a few days until it aired out naturally for him to finish patching the holes up; after all, he wasn’t a bug slime who could produce slime goo quickly for construction purposes.

At the very least, the holes had helped to rid the smell of poison from the air. The forest lion let out a roar, signaling the nest was safe. From the treetops, three figures appeared, each with a swollen stomach. The much-larger females were just as limber, easily making their way across the branches and into the nest. They growled their discontent at the large holes around the nest but were otherwise content. Gazing at the enlarged bellies, the forest lion let out a grunt of satisfaction, only to be whipped harshly by three sets of slime-hardened tails.

With a growl, the lead female forest lion directed the male forest lion to bring them some of the fresh meat to help feed their pregnant bodies. While normal circumstances would see the female forest lions, larger and more aggressive than males, hunt for fresh meat, the four were unsure how their pregnancies would go, with their bodies changing into more of a slime form. Thus, the male forest lion was chosen to do the hunting, to allow the females to rest.

The male forest lion was happy to help his mates. He, who had never been a true father before, was as excited as a forest lion could be about his progeny, especially considering his mates weren’t planning on killing him to feed their young. An uncommon issue to run into, but certainly one made more likely by the males sticking too close to the females. So, the forest lion quickly made his way out of the nest and through the forest toward the battlefield. When he arrived, he found the toads had been mostly stacked and allocated into species-specific piles, allowing for him to pick and choose as he pleased.

A scent wafted through his nose, causing the forest lion to growl in annoyance. From the forest near him, the slimy, scaled figures he hated to deal with appeared, holding spears attached to a rope. With unnatural speed, the spears landed in various corpses and dragged them into the forest before the guarding slimes could notice. Annoyed, the forest lion couldn’t help but notice how similar this method was to his tail spear, which he had been planning to use. His pride guiding him, the lion used its tail to, instead, wrap around the bodies and whip them up to the treetops. He uttered a smug growl, as if to show that copying him was useless.

However, the scaled slime figures were ignoring him. Oddly enough, they appeared to be making a small commotion around one of the corpses dragged from the pile. They fled quickly, soon after, as their noise had attracted the guards. They left behind the corpse.

Curious, the forest lion waited until the guards had left before hopping over the limbs and landing next to the corpse, examining it. It was a seemingly normal toad, but it was dripping a strange, black goo with its blood. The forest lion wrinkled its nose at the smell. It was foreign, a smell not of the dungeon nor the forest above. Oddly enough, only the blood smelled, and not the rest of the corpse. If it hadn’t been bleeding, the forest lion wouldn’t have even realized something was wrong. Yet, the older blood-exuding injuries on the body also possessed no trace of the blackness, either.

A thought, and the forest lion’s tail quickly pierced through the seven toads’ bodies it had snatched, still resting in the trees. Two of the corpses began to leak blackness, dripping down onto the leaves and tree branches. Grunting, the forest lion took its good corpses and left. It made sure to inform the female forest lions about the strange goo later, warning them to inspect each body they kill before eating it.

The smell truly was foreign.

*****

There once was a pixie born to death.

Among hundreds of siblings she was born, raised to fight for the throne.

Above them reigned their father, their lord,

who ordered them to fight for his favor.

The pixie was partnered with a dungeon, and together they fought a war.

Against brother and sister and dungeon aplenty,

Until death was all they ever knew.

And so it came she was the only survivor,

and her father lauded her with gifts and love.

And when his time had come, he gave the order:

to sacrifice her dungeon and replace him.

Yet, surrounded by death, the dungeon her only friend,

the pixie made a terrible choice.

And slew her father in single combat, decapitating him.

And as the lord dungeon quailed at the act, thinking she a worthy partner,

she instead with her dungeon slaughtered the lord, and devoured it.

Thus, birthed the new lord. Thus, birthed the horror of broken love.

The skull of her father resting above, she reigns as the queen she was born to be.

Chapter 14

A few days had passed since the deaths of Frelgard and his toad monster army. The slime dungeon forest had returned to its previous relative peace, with only the usual, ongoing territorial and resource feuds and raids. On the former battlefield, the toad corpses were finally sorted properly. Anadine let out a groan and fell into her puddle form.

“I didn’t want it to be true, but slimes can get sore,” she complained. “How is this possible? Even worse, my entire body is sore! As if I were nothing but a living muscle!”

“Well, you aren’t completely wrong,” Rowen groaned, collapsing next to her. “I imagine what you and I are feeling is actually the slime equivalent of a headache. It takes passive concentration to maintain our round forms, and even more to form tentacles to do things. I guess our cores are taxed from all this activity; we did go from actively battling straight into continuous work for three full days, after all.”

“Pain, proof of life,” Aisha said solemnly, an image ruined by the constant panting and drooling betraying her shared exhaustion. “Life, also pain. Sucks.”

“Can’t agree more, Aisha,” Ayla murmured from her prone form, spread as far as possible to better appreciate the cool dungeon floor. “Whose idea was it to do this, anyway? Couldn’t Doc have taken a couple of minutes to do this himself?”

The four of them looked at each other.

“Actually, I think we just did it without thinking,” Rowen piped up, after a moment’s thought. “Anadine and I were just avoiding Doc so he could think, and you two were already sorting the toads based on taste, which ended up equivalent to separating them by type. And here we are, I guess.”

“That’s a good point, though,” Anadine continued. “Doc could have done this in a few minutes. What takes 4 creatures 3 sleepless days to complete; how much mana do you think that requires from him to do?”

“Erm,” Ayla hummed. “Maybe it’s a cost per toad? Like, a human spell for moving things . . . what’s it called again, Rowen?”

“Telekinesis, or a Move Object spell,” he answered. “And I doubt it. Even at minimal cost to a Mage or Wizard, just look at all these corpses. Some of them are so torn up we had to spend time figuring them out. This might even exhaust a Grand Mage. I imagine he would have just absorbed them directly, by turning the bodies back into mana or placing them in his astral bag. He would have barely noticed the usage.”

“We really forget sometimes that Doc controls everything in this dungeon, constantly.” Anadine observed, watching the luminous slimes moving overhead toward the end of the ceiling. “I can’t imagine a person would be able to constantly maintain this dungeon and all its facets. They’d go mad.”

“We’ve seen that before,” Ayla reminded her. “That happened in the Tomb of the Undead King with . . . I'm sorry, Rowen.”

“It’s fine,” the white-grey slime waved her off. “My father’s soul obviously couldn’t bear that strain; otherwise, he would have never murdered so many innocents over the years. Still, I’ve always wondered who made such an artificial dungeon. It was old when we found it, 500 years ago, yet it still functioned perfectly. Only the royal family had any idea it existed, and that was due to ancient tomes my grandfather followed. I never got to ask Claire how it compared to her mother’s dungeon; never the right moment to ask.”

“You mentioned it once to me, before I got my human memories back,” Anadine sighed. “Back when I was training to be a proper wandering dungeon boss. She said The Tomb was artificial; the undead it wielded were more magical automatons powered by magic, similar to those made by mages, instead of by true necromancers. Real undead, and those made by dungeons, are reflections of the living, which she didn’t elaborate on. I suppose she meant a kind of liveliness or personality?” The blue slime looked over at her friends. “Any of you met a real undead before?”

The three shook their heads. “Technically, I suppose I’m the closest to that,” Rowen pointed out. “Or, I would have been if Doc had allowed my undead transformation to continue. As a lich slime, I wonder sometimes whether I’m a slime who wields the undead, or if I’m an undead slime. I guess we’ll figure that out once Doc reaches a strength capable of allowing me to use my true powers.”

“One day, hm,” Aisha said. The four of them lay on the floor and closed their eyes/senses. Surrounded by bloody ground and corpses, the lieutenants fell into a well-deserved, restful sleep. Doc watched them, a small smile playing within his spirit.

“Good work,” he celebrated, quietly. “Enjoy your rest.” With but a thought, the toad corpses slowly dissolved back into the mana of which they were composed, seeping down into the floor as Doc absorbed it all. His peaceful moment was ruined, causing a frown to surface, when he encountered an odd bit of mana he was hesitant to absorb. It was black in nature, very much like the crystal Doc has destroyed, and felt wrong. The feeling it gave Doc was that of a rotting carcass to an adventurer, as if something was fundamentally nasty to deal with.

“Must be Frelgard’s last bit of self,” Doc muttered. “No point taking it, since I didn’t even use his crystal. I don’t know how to destroy mana, hm. Guess I’ll just get rid of it.” With another thought, the black mana was erased from the dungeon. Specifically, the black mana reappeared thousands of miles in the sky, a feat easy for Doc to accomplish without too much thought. Up there in the cold, bright sky, the black mana vanished under the forces of nature, disintegrating back into natural mana. Doc put the incident out of his mind, turning back to watch the peaceful slumber of his only friends.

He barely acknowledged the theft of several toad corpses between the time the lieutenants fell asleep and his acting on the bodies.

*****

The nightmare slime, tier 3 leader of the southern bug slime hive, found itself in an odd predicament. Well aware of both of the toad slime invasions, it had sent out lesser mimic bug slimes to seize a few bodies to be fed to its stronger followers in the hope of triggering an evolution. That had been the instinct, anyway; and it, itself, had possessed enough curiosity to attempt eat the bodies to see if it would evolve again. Lo and behold, the nightmare slime had found the toads not especially to its taste and allowed its underlings to gorge themselves on the rest of the bodies. The nightmare slime permanently placed toad flesh in its memories as an undesirable thing to eat, though the slime followers that ate the corpses appeared to become noticeably stronger.

Rather, they had become too strong, leading to the current predicament. The nightmare slime, alongside a few of its trusted underlings, was currently trussed up in the air like a hanging sack of slime. Those newly fortified former underlings had risen up in a very odd, non-slime-like manner, and they had overthrown his rule, an unexpected coup, which the nightmare slime had accepted. After all, it had been in charge because of its greater strength and its slightly more cunning instincts. It would have gladly -- after a fight for dominance, of course -- given away its position as leader, had they proven themselves more capable.

However, as mentioned previously, the slimes had acted with very non-slime-like behavior. They ambushed the nightmare slime and turned him into their personal piñata. tied him up using hive slime building material, strung him onto the highest branch of the tree around which the hive was centered, and then gathered all the lesser mimics and bug slimes to each hit the nightmare slime. Needless to say, every slime, including the nightmare slime, was very confused by this behavior. The few still-loyal strong underlings who protested were also strung up and used as punching bags.

While these rebelling former underlings appeared to be acting out some sort of plan, none of the slimes could understand it. The nightmare slime felt no pain nor humiliation at the feeble attempts to hit it, and the slimes made to hit it felt no sense of revenge nor elation -- which, oddly enough, frustrated the rebel slimes.

After allowing the farce to play out for a bit, the nightmare slime grew bored and let out a shrill whistle. In a quick instant, the rebel slimes were attacked by every single non-rebel member of the hive and quickly killed. Their slime bodies were ripped to shreds, and their cores were pounded into dust. They suffered the fate of those no longer part of the hive. A couple of tier 2 bug slimes released the nightmare slime and the underlings, and the hive went back to work as if nothing happened. Of course, the nightmare slime didn’t forget. But he remained puzzled as to the cause of or reason for the rebellion. He did destroy any remaining toad flesh, of course, but that was more a matter of personal preference than intuition.

Unbeknownst to the nightmare slime, however, one rebel slime had hidden himself in the back while all this nonsense was going down. After the hive went back to work, it rolled its way over to one of the lesser mimic spawn nests. Spawning a tentacle, it moved its core from its center to the very tip of the tentacle. With a quick jab, it threw the core into the nest, where it promptly dissolved. The slime, itself, also dissolved following the destruction of its core, and no one was around to see the hint of black mana in the nest before it, too, vanished.

A similar event happened in the grey slime family halls, where the toad corpses were used as a form of reward for the best and strongest fighters in training or those who won a great victory against the bug slimes. Some of the slimes who ate these awarded toad corpses underwent personality changes; rather, they had gained a personality. These slimes demonstrated arrogance, attempting to stomp on weaker slimes and show off their superiority. As slimes possess neither pride nor humility, the weaker slime treated the behavior as a form of training, which irritated the arrogant slimes. Taking their impudence a step higher, they attempted to turn training matches into fights to the death. Ironically, their newfound arrogance led them to highly underestimate their opponents, as the grey slime family treated each fight with extreme seriousness. The arrogant slimes were quickly killed, as a result, with their remains being thrown into the garbage pits under the new identity as ‘trash slime’. The event was largely ignored, as it occurred and resolved itself within the span of a single day. The slimes who ate the toad bodies and suffered no ill effect continued to train, including the little grey slime wielding the sword and shield. He had sampled a body, but hadn’t found it to his liking and ignored it. He continued to train even now, swinging his sword tentacle repeatedly and bashing ahead with its shield. When he was done, the little grey slime would return to his hidden hole, to mine some more for hidden treasures.

Meanwhile, at the herb slime family, they largely ignored the bodies, instead using them as high-quality fertilizer for the plants reliant on mana, such as the Dream Flower. This was limited to the two larger gardens near the North, however, as only they possessed plants reliant on mana. Because the herb slimes ground up the bodies first, the black goo was noted and ignored, as the flowers appeared to gleefully absorb it alongside the rest of the mana-rich body parts. Strangely enough, the less-hardy flowers that ingested the goo soon turned black, themselves, as did their pollen and nectar collected by the bee slimes. The honey produced by these bees turned an ugly black color and was mostly destroyed in haste by the bees and tending herb slimes, after it was found that the mana was too foreign compared to normal mana honey. Before the herb slimes could properly realize the cause of the black honey, however, the garden was raided, once again, by bug slimes. In the midst of the battle, a portion of the remaining black honey was stolen, and it was distributed along the pipeline of enterprising slimes from all around: from herb slime to bug slime to mimic slime and finally grey slime. After the battle, the black flowers were found to be the problem, and they were eliminated, stopping the production of black honey for good. No member of the herb slime family had eaten the black honey. A few bug slimes and lesser mimic bug slimes, alongside some lesser mimics and grey slimes, were the only recipients.

The lesser mimic family, still weak, was able to acquire a few pieces of the blackened honey after the usual grey slime extortion. The odd nature of this honey, rich in mana and yet foreign, was passed around for examination before the leader decided to consult the other members of the family. The slimy slimes ignored the honey, and when presented to a group of furry slimes on the hunt, they devoured the honey before chasing the mimic slimes into the trees. Seeing the general air of disinterest, the mimics decided to also ignore the honey, leaving it, instead, for the remaining lesser mimic slime to consume. As the lesser mimics gathered around to eat the honey, arrows were shot from the forest, striking the honey. The acid-tipped arrows sizzled as the mana honey dissolved into nothingness, absorbed by the dungeon soon after. The arrows sent the mimic family into a small frenzy, searching for the intruders who dared attack them on their own territory. They were unable to find any trace of the arrow shooters, though they did find a single scale made of slime.

Watching from the treetops, the forest lion snorted and left. It had been planning on destroying the black honey itself. With newfound free time, it decided to attempt hunting outside the underground forest, in the real forest, outside.

Chapter 15

After finishing their nap, Ayla and Aisha returned to the labyrinth floor to continue their fight to conquer the various furry slime packs. The three packs they had already taken over were gleeful at their return, howling and yipping and running around the floor of the room that was their base of operation in a frenzy, sending slime fur flying all around. A couple of strong barks from the worg twins, however, and the rowdy group of slimes gathered around in a somewhat orderly lineup.

“Dumb as a slime, trainable as a dog,” Ayla observed with a chuckle. “Compared to the rest of the slimes in this dungeon, these furry slimes are pretty cute as subordinates, don’t you think, Aisha?”

“Could be worse,” Aisha responded mentally, using their twin connection. “They are technically our descendants, if you really wish to dwell on the matter. So, it’s expected that they are both cute and well-behaved. Still, to see them act like such fools at our mere appearance is a little off-putting.”

“They’re only like this because they’ve had free rein for a while,” Ayla explained evenly. “Just like dogs who haven’t seen their owner all day. That’s what makes them cute.”

“If you say so,” Aisha shrugged. “To admire the dog, I feel, is to look down on our wolf heritage.” Aisha paused as her sister gave her an odd look. “What?”

“And who, between the two of us, will go crazy over a thrown bone, again?” Ayla asked.

Aisha blushed under her fur and stayed silent.

The three furry slime packs they had taken over waited patiently as the two twins bickered with each other. The slimes were used to this from the bosses (as they understood them to be). To the casual observer, it was quite clear that there were three different furry slime packs in the room, due to the three different sets of fur colors.

The first pack that Ayla and Aisha conquered had been the weakest pack. Unable to compete in hunting grounds with the other packs, the furry slimes were forced to exclusively hunt the treasure and chest slimes in the labyrinth, wooden slime bodies and all. As a result, their fur had taken on a lighter yellow shade, like untreated wood, which, ironically, made them more easily identifiable in the darkness of the labyrinth floor. They were the most loyal pack, as working for the twins had resulted in a more comfortable lifestyle, including prey that didn’t fill their mouth with hardened slime splinters.

The second pack was a bit of an oddball, with streaks of what appeared to be flame color through their fur. This pack had discovered a magic tool buried in one of the town remnants in the labyrinth, a tool that could create a small flame. Though such a tool normally wouldn’t last long, due to its limited supply of mana, the furry slimes had found that touching their slime core to the “fire stick” would make the fire come back. The “fire stick” became the main source of enjoyment for the slimes, with their favorite game being jumping over the flame, with the one jumping closest to fire winning. As slime-made fur didn’t burn, they suffered no ill effects, as long as the fire didn’t touch their ‘slime skin’. This did have the interesting effect, however, of causing the slime fur touched by the fire to absorb a small bit of the flame mana, thus creating the fiery streaks. Of course, a couple had managed to burn off patches of fur as well, exposing the “slime skin” and raising odd questions in Doc over the nature of slime fur and its similarities to real fur.

The third pack was relatively normal in comparison to the other two. They had normal black or brown fur and hunted in the forest layer above. Their diet consisted of whatever slime they could find, from lesser mimic, herb, and grey slimes to their tier 2 evolutions. They had no preference when it came to food or prey, and they had put up a decent struggle against the two worgs when they came calling. While they harbored no actual thoughts of leaving or rebelling, Ayla and Aisha were sure that these slimes would be the first to leave, if they were defeated by a pack of furry slimes. In fact, if the worgs ever failed to keep the furry slimes full, the twins would be unable to control them.

The three packs watched on as the two twins’ bickering came to an end. “Anyway, now that we’re back (cough), it’s time that we resume (cough) our taking over of the other furry slime territories, heh, geh, blegh,” Ayla choked as her words were marbled by a cough.

“Are you alright Ayla?” Aisha quickly asked, startled. “Something you eat go down the wrong pipe?”

“Yeah, (heh) I think so,” Ayla muttered, rubbing her snout. “Cough, woah, it’s been awhile since I had a cough. Heck, I don’t think I’ve coughed since joining this dungeon. Erm, can we still get sick?”

The two worgs sat back on their haunches and thought it over. “Well, since we’re turning into slime, maybe not?” Aisha ventured. “I’ve never heard of a slime falling prey to illness or disease, not that anyone I imagine has taken the time to check for any. What could infect a blob of mana anyway?”

“True, and I,” Ayla began, before being taken over by a coughing fit. Aisha patted her sister’s back with her tail, sympathetically.

“Wrong-pipe cough will last a while,” she said, with empathy. “Maybe after a couple of battles, you’ll feel better. I’ll take care of the first, all right?” Ayla waved her paw as a signal to go ahead. With Ayla out of commission for the moment, Aisha turned her attention to the waiting furry slimes.

“Hunt!” she cried out, letting the feeling of the hunt emanate from her words into the furry slimes, conveying her meaning. The furry slimes let out a collective howl that echoed through the labyrinth floor, causing the other furry slime packs to cower in fear or respond in kind with their own collective howls of challenge.

A flick of her tail, and Aisha teleported to the cave entrance connecting to the rest of the dark-covered floor. With a howl, she dashed into the darkness, her pack on her tail as they ran toward the closest pack. This pack of furry slimes had a preference for bug slimes, resulting in a darker fur complexion similar to the hardened slime carapaces they ate. Her howl served not only a warning, but also a challenge to this pack, a strange sentiment for one who specialized in ambush tactics.

The enemy pack soon appeared in her vision. Drooling maws of hardened slime teeth, menacing claws, and flickering tails danced in her vision, all eager to tear into her for daring to challenge them. As Aisha dove headfirst into the enemy, her mind couldn’t help but consider how much easier it would be to ambush the furry slimes and slaughter them to the last member standing. She was good at that, she and her sister. They had killed so many adventurers this way as bosses. Every nook, cranny, and shadow always caught her eye and made her consider the best method to utilize such a spot for ambushes in the park.

And yet, here she was, being the vanguard of a full-frontal assault, taking in injuries and giving out blows in equal measure. Under Doc’s power, her blood never spilled, and all her injuries healed; but she still felt the pain. She accepted it all: the desperate claws of protest, the last bite from a dying slime, the teeth broken off from the force used to knock them away. As a worg, her world had always been in shadow, and she had always held reverence for the light that was life. Even the hated adventurers who murdered her kin; she forgave them as she beheld the flickering embers of life, lashing out desperately to live on or to strike one final blow. It was beautiful to her, though her sister could not understand why. Her fangs ripped through fur and slime, smashing cores, while her claws sent her enemies flying into the air and walls, leaving them easy targets for the eager slime minions following her into battle. She loved this feeling more than anything else.

And then it was over. The remaining furry slime whimpered in surrender, and she stood by herself in front of their nest. With a snort, she touched her nose against the archway of the nest, marking it as her own. All further furry slimes from this nest would follow her, so long as she was a suitable leader. The remaining furry slimes and those she brought with her yipped as they began to repair the room. Aisha sat back on her haunches and panted, the fatigue of battle settling over her now that the rush had left.

“Eager much?” Ayla asked sarcastically as she entered the room a few minutes later. “Geez, you could have left some for me.” She kicked one of the new slimes out of the way, expressing her annoyance.

“Feel, better?” Aisha asked out loud, too tired to think properly.

“More or less,” Ayla admitted. “Must have been a toad bone or something from this morning. Anyway, how are you feeling? You get your whole ‘fire of life’ session done?”

“Respect, all life,” Aisha admonished her. “No humor, in death.”

“As you always say,” Ayla rolled her eyes. “I’ll lead the next attack, all right? You take a break and join me for the last one of the day. I’ll take the next two.”

“Four, one day?” Aisha asked, curious. “Doc heal, not fatigue. Sure?”

“Don’t worry about me,” Ayla laughed, patting her chest with her paw. “I have a bit of a hankering for some violence. Just need to get it out of my system, you know?”

“Alright. Rest, now.” Aisha said, lying on the ground, letting herself revel in the echo of life’s last light.

Rolling her eyes, Ayla let out a few quick yips and barks, calling the furry slimes to her. As she left the room, her eyes narrowed as she faced the direction of the next pack. With a bark, she sent the slimes ahead of her, holding back until they were all gone. Activating her shadow magic, she vanished from sight, including her pupils, which danced with a faint black light.

Chapter 16

The world was a sea of blue with no end. Petals flowed through like currents, wisping along the thoughts and dreams of those neither here nor there. It was neither magical, nor intrusive, merely natural for one in such a place to drift in place, as there was no spatial or temporal evidence that anything had changed.

Claire sighed once again, trapped in this world as she floated around.

“When my mother spoke of the dream world that only dungeons and pixies could enter, I never expected it to be quite like this,” she muttered. It wasn’t so much the lack of anything solid that bothered her, so much as the talkative sea mates she seemed to possess here.

“Oh look, she’s talking again!” A very odd hibiscus flower celebrated the news, its petals serving as the lips and its pistils the tongue. “I thought we’d be stuck doing all the talking again, right?”

“Shh, you,” a dandelion quieted. “It was your obnoxious voice that caused her to shut up in the first place. Don’t you even have an inkling of considering the time and place, when opening your big mouth?

“We aren’t in a time or place though,” the hibiscus pointed out.

“Very true,” the dandelion agreed. “Point to you, then.”

Claire groaned and covered her ears. “Alright, be quiet already. Haven’t you talked enough?”

“Let’s see,” the hibiscus flower considered. “We talked about your childhood, and how wonderful and miserable it was. Points to the other flower, there, for reexamining the relationship with your father.”

“He loved you for the freedom you represented to him, while he resented you as another chain to hold him down,” the dandelion nodded. “Not that he’d ever hurt you or hate you; just that you caused him pain, every time he looked at you.”

“Stop it,” Claire begged, hands still covering her ears.

“We also went over your sibling situation,” the hibiscus said.

“Must be hard having 50 brothers, all looking to use you to one-up the other,” the dandelion observed. “Who would have thought being mother’s only daughter would bring such trouble. All your favorite things being broken and replaced by generous siblings until nothing was truly, permanently yours. Just things waiting to be replaced at the stab of a knife.”

“Be quiet,” Claire growled, her hands turning red from the force used to press against her ears.

“And of course, we covered your mother,” the hibiscus recalled. “What an ...interesting story she is.”

“A true rebel, through and through,” the dandelion agreed. “Able to break all the chains life placed on her -- except the burden of childhood education. Just as murderous and sadistic as her father, but equally loving, naïve, and scared. It’s no wonder her dungeon is her only true companion; though having it see you as a threat to its special relationship with her certainly didn’t make your childhood better.”

“Shut up!” Claire yelled, her head feeling like it was being pressed between two mountains. “No more!”

“And finally, your father’s true death,” the hibiscus concluded. “We were just about to go over that, when you shut yourself off.”

“SHUT UP!” Claire screamed, her body undulating and writhing around in a vain effort of somehow escaping the voices.

“Hiding won’t change the truth,” the dandelion scolded. “Hiding will only prolong the pain. And us, really. Might as well get it over with.”

“I don’t want to hear you talk anymore! I don’t want to hear it!” the pixie screamed.

The hibiscus shrugged. “We can’t stop. Our voices come from you; our forms come from you; you’re the oddity here remember? I can’t wait for you to leave so my existence is ended.”

“Speak for yourself!” the dandelion retorted.

“I am!” The hibiscus argued.

“I want out, let me out!” Claire screamed once more, her hands leaving her head to claw the space around her. She neither moved nor caused movement, her efforts fruitless in this place of blue petals. Failing, she broke into sobs and curled up into a ball. “Someone,” she whimpered. “Anyone, save me, please. I want to leave, I want to go back to Doc. I want all this to end!”

“See, look what you did,” the dandelion scolded. “You broke her again. I always say it, you talk too much! If she can’t hear us, then nothing is going to get done here. It’s just a continuous endless cycle of us disagreeing with each other.”

“Though I can’t agree with you, the situation is not ideal,” the hibiscus said offhandedly. “What a troublesome one this pixie is. Nothing like the last denizen, not that we would know. It was a different, yet same pair of us and not us.”

“Don’t make this conversation any more confusing than it already has become.” The dandelion groaned. “If she wasn’t here, and we were-but-weren’t there, then no one should know about the previous denizen. Or would tenant be the better word to describe our visitors?”

“Why don’t we just call them visitors?” The hibiscus asked.

“Because that implies they’re welcome!”

“Back to the topic at hand,” the hibiscus turned back to face Claire. “Little pixie, I know you’re still listening, though you might not want to. You’re confused and scared, fine. That’s life; fear of everything that can kill you or cause you pain, especially the unknown. Your life has not been pleasant, fine; but it’s your life, and that’s all that matters. The way you’re living right now-”

The flower suddenly turned into many pulsating eyeballs, circling around a grotesque and pulsing mouth. “You’re a burden!” Just as quickly, it was a normal, talking hibiscus flower again.

Claire’s body twitched but remained curled into a ball.

The dandelion, for once, said nothing and watched on.

“Your memories should almost all be recovered, right?” The hibiscus questioned her. “You know where we are: the dreamworld, the space between life and death, the plane separating your world from The Void, the place of nothing and everything. Dungeons, pixies, dragons, and every other supreme magic lifeform can come here in their sleep. It takes special circumstances to get here awake like you are; a spiritual awakening or a broken spirit. Want to guess which one you are?”

“We exist, because of you, as opposing viewpoints, forever in conflict, until you leave,” it continued, “if that wasn’t clear from our bickering. You gave us form; you gave us reason for existence; even the appearance of this place is a reflection of you. When your spirit is fixed, you leave. That’s it.”

“Well, that and when you’ve ameliorated whatever burdens and pain with which you’re going to have to come to terms, too,” the dandelion couldn’t help but interject. “Not all of life is pain, though; just the bits that are unpleasant. Like what you need to remember.”

Claire slowly lifted her head, staring into the face of the flowers.

“Good, you’re still here,” the hibiscus nodded. “Honestly, we don’t care too much about your feelings-”

“Yes, we do!”

“But we have to, to finish up our role,” the hibiscus continued, unabated.

Claire shook her head, hiding her face once again.

“Do you care about anyone?” the dandelion suddenly asked. “You know, perhaps someone you may have left in a time-sensitive situation?”

Claire’s head tilted so one eye peeked out.

The dandelion wiggled a root at her. “Just because time isn’t passing here, doesn’t mean it isn’t passing out there. The fluidity of such temporal differences changes at any moment’s notice, of course; meaning you being here could last a few hours . . . or a few years somewhere else.”

Claire’s head rose all the way, her tears glistening on a stronger expression than she had ever in this place.

“Even if your body perishes out there, as long as you’re here, you won’t truly die, just change,” the flower continued. “Of course, given that you’re a dungeon pixie, I doubt your death would come at an easy price for those who care about you, right? It’s not like you left anyone in a tense and possibly lethal situation, right?”

“Doc,” Claire whispered. “I put him in danger. . .”

“Maybe, maybe not,” the dandelion shrugged. “But you won’t really know that until you leave here. And to do that -- to leave the dreamworld, and to return to Doc -- you must be willing to remember everything, and you must align your mind and spirit in harmony. That will bring you pain -- but also relief. Are you willing to hear the last memory?”

Claire bit her lips. She trembled. And finally, she nodded her head.

“I’ll begin then,” the hibiscus spoke up. “Your father, how did you describe his death to Doc, back when you two were still new friends?”

“My father was killed by adventurers after the dungeon core . . . he was near? Was visiting?” Claire struggled to recall.

“Correct,” the hibiscus nodded. “Now, what did you remember later?”

“My father was an earth pixie, and he was killed by the undead of my mother’s dungeon,” Claire shivered.

“Now, how did he really die?” the hibiscus asked.

And Claire remembered.

Her father and mother had been arguing that day. Her father had taken Claire out of the dungeon, again, to observe the rain, and Claire’s mother had been terrified something could have happened to Claire. Words were getting heated; things were said that should not have been said, especially in front of a little girl who loved both parents deeply. Claire had cried and fled out of the dungeon before either of them could notice. At sheer coincidence, a strong team of adventurers had appeared before the entrance of the dungeon just as she was leaving, and they saw her. They captured her just inside the dungeon entrance, and her mother had appeared. Seeing Claire in a cage, Claire’s mother went berserk with magic, and her dungeon had followed her example. In the ensuing chaos, Claire’s father broke Claire free. However, a spell from an undead mage was off target, aiming for the two of them. Claire’s father threw her out the way and was killed. He died protecting her. Claire’s mother could not save him, instead turning him into an undead in front of Claire. Seeing her father rise as undead flesh and bone was too much for her. And her mother cast her memory spell. And Claire became the perfect adventurer-killing daughter.

Claire cried out in anguish, and the flowers were finally silent.

Chapter 17

In the western part of the forest, Rowen found himself once again hiding from a patrol of grey slimes. A curious act from a boss-level slime, except poor Rowen, like the other lieutenants, was limited by Doc’s current strength to be just on par with a tier 3 slime- of which each patrol seemed to have at least one, today.

It had taken quite a few mistakes for Rowen, and Anadine, to realize that simply trying to hide out of sight was worthless against slimes that (1) had no eyes, and (2) could easily “see” mana in all directions, even through solid objects. The resulting chases had, at least, helped Rowen get even better at manipulating his body.

Not dissuaded, Rowen had experimented until he finally found the best way to hide from these slimes. In the slime dungeon, Doc’s mana was everywhere and in everything, from the floor and ceiling to the trees and slimes. The difference was that each slime had a slightly different color, depending on their family; and the stronger the color, the stronger the slime. Rowen found that, by hiding in or behind living trees and displacing his body around the bark, he would easily blend into Doc’s mana. Any slime that did ‘see’ him would only see a slightly discolored tree, which could also be damage from an attack or lichen growing on the bark. It helped that, as a stronger slime, Rowen had a much longer sensing range than the other slimes, even the tier 3s. He’d see them long before they could get close to him.

The one exception, of course was the forest lion, which Rowen failed to detect before it attempted to hunt him. He’d barely managed to avoid the sneak attack, and the lion had vanished after its failed attack, wisely deciding to avoid continuing the hunt with alerted prey.

Rowen let out a sigh as the patrol passed on, ignoring him. “Anadine, why are we doing this, again?” he mentally asked his fellow slime, who was in a different part of the forest.

“We’re doing this to better connect with our slime families,” Anadine answered a moment later. “Doc is having the twins take over the furry slime packs, and we need to take over the lesser mimic and grey slime families. This way, we can summon these slimes to battle without having to expend our own mana to create temporary followers. None of the big slime families helped when were invaded -- twice -- so this is a step to make sure our forces are better prepared for next time.”

“Because there will be a next time, right?” Rowen sighed. “Expect the best, prepare for the worst; that really our motto, isn’t it?”

“That’s it, exactly!” Anadine agreed. Rowen could just imagine the blue slime nodding her entire body with her words. “In any case, why aren’t you using your grey slime heritage to get closer? For that matter, why are they even treating you like an intruder?”

“Comparing my color to theirs, I have a lot more undead mana,” Rowen explained with an annoyed tone. “Given my original high tier, that isn’t much of a surprise. The bone slimes and blood slimes I produce are tier 2s, directly evolved from the grey slime, and thus, they have only a small amount of undead mana to differentiate themselves. It’s a similar case with the gelatinous slimes and the mage slimes; I’m just too advanced for their experience.”

“Ha, too bad, little brother,” Anadine teased. “A lich slime like you might have trouble, but I’m a dopple lord slime of the direct lesser mimic heritage . . . at least according to Claire. That means I’ll have no trouble fitting in with my fellow slimes. Looks like I’ll be the winner of this race!”

“This isn’t a competition,” Rowen groaned good-naturedly. “Is everything between us supposed to be a competition?”

“Yes, because we are close siblings,” Anadine said seriously.

“Fine,” Rowen shrugged. “In that case, I’d better get a bit more serious. Next time you hear from me, I’ll be overseeing the grey slimes.”

“Heh heh, good luck,” Anadine giggled, their mental conversation finished.

Rowen sighed, recondensing back into his normal, blob-like appearance. A quick check to ensure he didn’t leave part of himself behind (which would be a nuisance, for various reasons), he resumed his journey toward the western grey slime hall carved into the cavern wall. He’d seen the hall plenty of times, through Doc’s image sharing, but this lieutenant had never visited it himself. It was an odd feeling, like visiting a part of one’s family you never knew you had. Despite his intentions, however, he still hid from every grey slime patrol that came near him.

After another hour of travel and hiding time, Rowen found himself at the edge of the tree line in front of the grey slime family entrance. There was a single large archway entrance leading into the main base, and a number of smaller-sized slime entrances scattered around, connecting to Doc-knows-where in the small maze that was the grey slime family home. Each smaller entrance had two tier 2 slimes guarding it, including: gelatinous slime, sharp slime, armor slime, and mage slime. The large entrance had four tier 2 slimes and two tier 3 slimes: a blade slime and a barricade slime.

“The grey slime family really is the strongest family in the dungeon,” Rowen muttered to himself. “The bug slimes may have the numbers, but only the leader of the South had lived long enough to evolve into a tier 3. The herb slime family might have an equal amount of tier 3s, but they are split between the gardens, and the gardens don’t work together. The mimic slimes have no coordination with their tier 3s, the furries and the slimies, so their power is weakest. I bet Anadine showing up to take control will be considered a Doc-send to them. But how do I get in?”

Rowen formed a slime tentacle to rub the top of his body while he thought about the grey slimes. The grey slime family was seemingly obsessed with training and fighting, thus leading to their status as the strongest family, because the slimes who trained grew stronger faster. Perhaps this could be his way in?

With a confident nod, Rowen used his tentacles to twist his body around, both clockwise and counterclockwise, slap the ‘front’ of his body, and flick some leaves off himself. Taking a deep breath, which did nothing, he jumped out from the trees into the empty space before the entrance.

Instantly, the guards were alerted and took positions around him. Rowen examined each slime, noting how their positions, while threatening, were not yet hostile. In human terms, they were highly trained, professional guards doing their duty. Rowen couldn’t help but be impressed by the level of discipline shown by these slimes, though he did note that if he had been of a different slime family, they would have likely attacked him in full force. His mana color was obviously confusing the guards, uncertain whether he was an enemy or an ally. One of the guard slimes, the tier 3 blade slime, waved a tentacle at Rowen.

Rowen copied the slime, waving a tentacle back. The guard slimes all bobbled in place.

With a swing, the blade slime’s tentacle turned into a real blade; a mix of hardened slime and iron formed by the pressure of mana from its core. The blade gleamed in the luminous slime light, deadly and serious. Rowen tensed (his mind) in preparation for a fight, but the blade slime did not move. The barricade slime formed a tentacle next, covered in armor. Rowen held out another tentacle again in response. Next, the gelatinous slime approached, but quickly jiggled and backed back into the circle. Curious, Rowen turned his attention to the last branch, the mage slime. This slime, too, formed a tentacle, summoning a ball of fire on its tip. This time when Rowen formed a tentacle, he conjured a ball of darkness at its tip.

Instantly, the mage slime jiggled in apparent happiness. Rowen realized he thought he was an evolved form of mage slime; a member of the family. “I get it, the slimes in Doc’s dungeon sometimes evolved outside the family, especially in the early days,” Rowen realized. “Even these primitive slimes with their familial values must have each come up with a test to ensure all related slimes could be identified.” Rowen sent this report to Doc, who happily stored it away.

The mage slime quickly zoomed over to Rowen and patted him down, trying to find a better view of his mana to show their relation. Thinking about it for a moment, Rowen decided to clarify things. With but a thought, he formed a bone slime and blood slime on either side of himself.

The surroundings took on a deathly silence. Even the slimes coming and going from the grey slime family cave froze in place, not even wiggling. The bone slime and blood slime were clearly evolved from grey slimes, and their possession of undead mana linked them to Rowen, as well. It was very clear, very obvious. Rowen watched the slimes, waiting.

He was caught completely unaware, however, when every single slime in the vicinity charged him and the minion slimes. Before he could even react properly, he was hoisted into the air alongside the bone and blood slimes and carried by a slime mob into the main corridor. The slimes moved swiftly, and Rowen quickly found himself in the most important and well-protected room in the maze: the spawn room. There were four grey slimes nests here, producing grey slimes every time mana was added to a nest. The four nests represented the four branches of grey slime, though that didn’t mean each nest was assigned to a particular branch. Rowen and the two minion slimes were gently placed in the center of the room, and the mass of slimes backed out. Rowen looked around, curious at the slimes huddling in the corridor.

He was shocked, then, when a single slime seemingly appeared out of nowhere in front of him. “A new slime!” Rowen was shocked, having never seen this slime before. Similar to the blade slime, this slime appeared to be a tier 3 slime. However, unlike the upfront and powerful aura of a blade slime, this new slime gave off an air of danger and cunning. In fact, it reminded Rowen of how Ayla and Aisha used to be. “This must be some sort of assassin-like slime,” he considered. “No, not quite that strong.” He noted that interestingly, this slime actually carried a pair of human-made, or at least a close replica of, daggers embedded in its head. Its coloration was that of a darker grey, almost black. “Let’s call it a shadow dagger slime, then,” Rowen decided, making a note to tell Doc about this new slime once he had spare time.

The shadow dagger slime appeared to be appraising Rowen and the two minion slimes. It circled them twice, before poking the bone and blood slimes curiously. It appeared to somehow understand that the minion slimes were different from itself and Rowen, as well as the other grey slime family members. It turned its attention to Rowen, taking a longer time to poke him all over. It seemed satisfied.

With a flourish, it ‘unsheathed’ the two daggers from its body and pointed them at Rowen, signaling its intention to fight. The nests suddenly sprouted magical barriers; an automatic protection becomes added to them when near a fight. In response, Rowen sprouted 15 tentacles, his current limit, each with a glowing ball of darkness at the tip. The shadow dagger slime seemed perturbed at the amount of magic, but then vanished from Rowen’s sight.

“That’s wrong!” he realized. “It hasn’t vanished, just turned invisible from my mana sight. But,” he muttered, turning his head. “I can still use tremor sense to track it.” With a flourish, the balls of darkness were flung out toward the noises he picked up. They exploded on contact, but not with the slime.

“It can trick tremor sense, too,” Rowen grimaced. “Dodge!” Flattening into a pancake, Rowen barely dodged the descending thrust of the shadow dagger slime’s attack from above. It leaped out of the way of his counterattack and vanished once again.

“I see: So, this is the secret, last-resort weapon of the grey slime family,” Rowen said seriously. “I get it, a slime strong enough to defend the spawn nests on its own, in case of emergency, thus preserving the family’s future even in total defeat. It can even hide from Doc’s view. But that doesn’t mean it’s invincible.”

With a sneaky grin unbecoming of his slime body, Rowen formed a pair of eyeballs. It had taken some practice -- most of his free time, in fact -- but Rowen had finally managed to create a pair of eyeballs that function like normal human eyeballs. Originally, he did this so he could continue to enjoy the sights of the world as he remembered them. However, they had also brought an unexpected benefit. Using his eyes, Rowen locked onto the shadow dagger slime.

“You might be great at hiding from other slimes, but that’s a different story when it comes to other living things.” Rowen laughed out loud. “Even if you can hide your mana and your movement, you still haven’t hidden your visible form.” Eyes firmly locked on the sneaky slime; it only took Rowen a few hits to knock the other slime down.

Defeated, the shadow dagger slime sheathed the daggers back into its body and wiggled in defeat. The other slimes, still watching from outside the room, all wiggled and jiggled, their version of cheering. The shadow dagger slime pointed two tentacles at the minion slimes, then at the nests.

“You want me to send them into the nests?” Rowen asked curiously. The shadow dagger slime didn’t understand Rowen’s words, merely pointing again at the nests and slimes. With a mental shrug, Rowen had the bone and blood slimes each enter a nest. When they entered, there was a quick burst of mana, and the two minion slimes dissolved into the nest. The room shook, and Rowen watched, fascinated, as a new nest formed out of the wall and ground. A grey slime was almost immediately formed and popped out, examining the world curiously. Rowen found that it had the slightest trace of undead mana.

“My minions have officially become part of the family,” Rowen blinked in surprise. “Which means-”

Without hesitation, the white and grey slime summoned a small pile of bones and fed them to the grey slime. It quickly evolved into a new bone slime, and the other slimes all cheered, showing deference, or as much as a slime could, to Rowen. He smiled happily.

“Well, they seem to have accepted me,” he chuckled. “That’s one step done. I wonder how Anadine is doing?”

Chapter 18

“Heh heh, good luck,” Anadine giggled, their mental conversation finished. As soon as the connection with Rowen dropped, Anadine’s cheerful face turned serious. “Now, how do I get out of this mess?”

She was currently in a tree, surrounded by barking furry slimes. They were running and rolling around, tracking her scent on the ground excitedly. It would only be a short time before they realized she was in the tree, which, unfortunately, was situated in a clearing by itself, the rest of the forest too far to reach by jumping or stretching. Anadine recalled how she ended up in this situation.

After Anadine had sorted the bodies with the other three lieutenants, Ayla and Aisha had departed for the labyrinth to continue working on their subjugation of the furry slime packs. Feeling inspired by their example, and remembering Doc’s suggestion from earlier, Anadine had convinced Rowen that they, too, needed to subjugate their respective slime families. Rowen had taken some persuading, especially given his memories of getting killed over and over again by the grey slimes back during their trial, but he had eventually consented to her ideas. They both decided to travel by foot, metaphorically speaking, from the northern part of the forest to their respective destinations. Anadine had figured she’d have an easier time, given the straight shot to the central forest mimic slime family tree. Unfortunately for her, upon entering the central area, she had almost immediately run into a pack of furry slimes from the third level on the hunt. Though she attempted to hide, the furry slimes, with their special smelling ability, had managed to track her down. Worse still, they apparently understood the flanking tactic, and she was forced to flee without a set destination until she made it to this tree. By the time she realized the awkwardness of her hiding spot, she’d been surrounded. And then Rowen called.

“Well isn’t this bad luck,” she sighed. “Of all the times to encounter a furry slime hunting party. Moreover, a pack that Ayla and Aisha haven’t conquered yet. How unfortunate.” She gazed around for any opening she could use to escape, but the furry slimes were too many. “Now what should I do now?” She watched as the furry slimes continued their cute, but serious antics below.

“Oh,” she remembered. “I forgot about the decoy strategy.”

Shaking her head at her foolishness, Anadine summoned up as many lesser mimic slime minions as possible. A quick command, and the unexpected mass of slimes fell like rain from the tree onto the furry slimes, taking them by surprise. Knowing her weak tier 1 slimes wouldn’t last long against a pack of tier 3 slimes, Anadine leaped as far as she could away from the tree and darted back into the forest. The furry slimes were too distracted to chase after, excitedly barking at the unexpected discovery of new prey. Anadine smirked, knowing full well that her artificial minions would not drop any real slime cores and that the pack would soon be disappointed.

“Like taking bread from a drunk,” she chuckled. “Now, where am I?” She looked around, attempting to take in her bearings. Unfortunately, there didn’t appear to be any mile markers of landmarks for her to use. She could have asked Doc, but Anadine and the rest had decided to give him some more time to dwell on his problems. Besides, she couldn’t depend on the dungeon crystal for everything, nor was she the kind of person who relied heavily on others to get things done.

“I guess I’ll use Master Mary’s training,” the blue slime reflected. “It’s been some time, hasn’t it?” Memories of her human life played through her: training with a sword, as a Ranger, and fighting with and against magical opponents. She focused on the Ranger training. Her senses expanding, Anadine examined the ground all around her, with both mana sense and tremor sense. The most recent slimes to pass through here were grey slime types and furry slimes; there were no traces of the lesser mimic family around her. Peeking up at the ceiling, she noted the direction the light-eater slimes were heading, west, and figured her relative position.

“I must still be too far north,” she reasoned. “The lesser mimic family relies on stealing from the other families to survive, and there aren’t any good targets in the northern part of the forest. They aren’t foolish enough to sneak into the north garden, which is the largest and most well-protected herb family group. So, I’ll head south some more and see if I can find some traces.”

Moving up to the trees to avoid any more encounters with furry slimes or grey slime family patrols, the blue slime leaped and swung from tree to tree, keeping her senses locked firmly on the ground below her. More often than not, there were no traces of any slime, made more obvious by the somewhat abundant growth. Still, she didn’t focus solely on the cut paths through the forest made by slimes, because she was well aware that the sneaky lesser mimic family was more likely to avoid making any trail that could be used to reach their home. Bad enough they were strong-slimed by patrols into giving away part of their earnings; they didn’t need slimes coming to their base to rob them. Of course, Anadine understood the slimes didn’t really plan this strategy; it was merely good instincts.

“Found it,” she murmured, finally locating a trace of mana from a mimic slime. “Strange, was it wounded?” She hopped down to inspect a small bit of quivering slime left on a stick. The slime was from a mimic but had evidently been discarded as it had traces of poison on it. “Did it get injured by a poison slime at a garden?” she wondered. “How curious, is this how slimes bleed?” She’d never seen a slime bleed, but that was mainly because her battles as a slime usually resulted in short, heavy-damage-inflicting fights. She wasn’t too familiar with a prolonged fight between slimes, but it appeared, from this bit of discarded slime, that slimes did bleed, in a sense.

“It must have discarded the poisoned part of its body after fleeing,” she reasoned. “Once it escaped far enough, it began to eliminate the trace remaining bits of poison. That should make it easier to track.”

True enough, she quickly found where the trail continued, further south west, presumably toward the center part of the central area. The trail was quite interesting to Anadine; it was random and had quite a few back-tracks and dead ends, if one didn’t pay attention. The slime didn’t appear to have stayed on the ground or in the trees for a long period of time. If this were a human, Anadine would have labeled them as extremely paranoid. Enjoying the chase, Anadine followed the trail for two hours before finding herself in a tree, looking down on a smaller tree with a hole in the roots. The trail ended here. “It’s hiding here,” she reasoned. “It must have lost too much slime to continue. Unlike humans who have bled too much blood, I doubt the slime itself is in any real, mortal danger. It just lacks the slime to make any meaningful movement, thus making it an easy target.”

She tapped her body. “Should I approach it?” she wondered out loud. “Hm, I suppose this is a good opportunity to see if I’m recognized as being part of the family or not.” Her decision made, Anadine rolled down the tree she was in to ground level. She peeked into the hole.

As expected, a smaller-than-normal slime was shivering in the roots. It only possessed enough slime to form a small, one-inch radius of slime around its core, not even enough slime to form a tentacle. It leaned back away from Anadine, seemingly frightened. Anadine could clearly see it preparing mana for a last-ditch attack, however.

“It’s alright,” she said reassuringly, using two tentacles to wiggle friendly intentions toward the slime (at least, she assumed she was acting friendly). As the slime continued to charge its final spell, Anadine assumed she had failed.

“Fine then,” she huffed in annoyance. “But I’m not letting you waste your life on me.” A single tentacle was all it took, wrapping around the weakened slime and allowing her to use her own mana to smother the spell it was attempting to cast. The slime struggled against her grip, futile as it was.

“I’m an ally, you see, an ally,” she repeated to the slime. “We are from the same family, yes? No need to fight me. Let’s be friends.” The mimic slime ignored her and continued to struggle. Anadine would have rolled her eyes if she had any. “Fine, I guess I’ll take you back to your family then. Maybe they will accept your rescue as a token of goodwill.” She plopped the little slime on top of her body, grasping it so it wouldn’t escape or attack, and continued to head in the direction the mimic slime had been heading. It continued to struggle in vain.

“Little fellow, you’re surprisingly stubborn aren’t you,” Anadine observed, hopping over some roots. “Even strays can pick up on kind intentions, you know. I know slimes aren’t intelligent, but I assumed they, at least, were somewhat comparable with animals. Your instincts and actions seemed to suggest that, anyway. Perhaps you are a new slime to this world? Or maybe the mimic slime family situation is bad enough to worsen your opinion of all other slimes.” She got no answer, not that she was honestly expecting any.

“Ah, I think I can see your house from here,” Anadine declared after a while. Her senses had picked a much larger than normal tree in the distance, with multiple sources of lesser mimic family mana traces around it. “Interesting, that tree sure is big, isn’t it? Much bigger than the surrounding trees . . . did your family do something to it?” she wondered. “That means it’s serving as your main base, huh. But why the need for such a large tree? Doesn’t that make your family an easier target to locate? If it gets much bigger, then any slime atop a tree could find your base.”

Ignoring the continuing struggles of the slime atop her body, Anadine hopped and slid her way over the forest floor toward the tree, opting to refrain from hiding her presence from the mimic slimes.

“Hm, is there a fight happening?” she paused. Ahead of her, she had detected a number of bug slimes rapidly moving toward the tree. She shook her body. “See, making such an obvious landmark is sure to bring in enemies. What were you guys thinking- oh right.” She blinked, “Poor choice of words on my part. Best I go help out.”

Hurrying ahead, she soon entered the normal detection range of the other slimes. The slime atop her head had stopped struggling upon sensing the bug slimes, which had begun their fight with the tier 2 mimic slime defenders. The strategy of the mimic slimes was to copy the strongest slime they’d seen and use its powers to overcome their enemy. This included tier 3 slimes, such as the nightmare and blade slime; but as tier 2 slimes, themselves, the mimics were unable to fully utilize the powers of the original. Worse still for them, they required some level of familiarity with the strength that didn’t belong to them; but unlike the grey slime family, the mimics did not train regularly, and thus, they were unable to fully use their abilities to the limit. The bug slimes, on the other hand, were comfortable in their bodies, and thus able to go all out. Oddly enough, the bug slimes didn’t appear to be using any strategy or coordination, instead opting for a full-frontal attack without any reinforcements.

“Hm?” Anadine muttered as she got closer. “Wait, what’s wrong with those bug slimes?” A screech suddenly alerted her to a bug slime that had been using a tree as cover from her senses. She managed to knock back its surprise attack, jumping back to better observe her opponent. It was a normal bug slime, with a mostly ant body, grasshopper back legs and beetle wings. But it was strange: An odd substance dripped down from its maw; its body was marred with black streaks, and the ant eyes were red. Whatever the substance was, it hissed upon hitting ground, sizzling as if it were hot oil.

“What’s up with this bug slime? Acid spit; that’s not an ability it should have,” Anadine grumbled. “Seems like my visit here was fortuitous for the mimics. Time to take you down.” The bug slime merely screeched at her again, using its grasshopper leg to leap at her, closing the distance between them in an instance. Anadine was not perturbed, and she effortlessly slapped the bug slime into the ground before it reached her. She quickly retracted her tentacle before the bug slime could bite her, which it attempted only to get slapped away.

Out of the corner of her eye, Anadine noted one of the heavily injured mimic slimes was beginning to drip acid out of its copied mouth. “Oh crap, is this contagious?” Instantly, her mind played through the tactics when facing Lycan- inflicted, a highly contagious magical ailment. Her tentacles were instantly covered in hardened slime, and she wasted no time piercing through the bug slime in front of her, tearing it to pieces.

“As I thought, the core had been manipulated,” she muttered worryingly as she examined the core on the tip of a tentacle spear. “Better end this quick.” Using two of her tentacles as a spring, she threw herself into the main battle, landing between the mimics and the bug slimes. Not wasting a beat, her tentacles lashed out into the bug slimes, shredding them to pieces before they could properly react. The remaining bug slimes didn’t retreat, instead charging her with screeches. They, too, were easily cut down; their behavior exhibited none of the traits or tactics that would have given Anadine trouble. The situation resolved, Anadine turned her attention to the injured mimic slimes. Only two were drooling acid, but this appeared to be only temporary as Anadine noted this acid was only a copy created by their mimic abilities. She sighed in relief; this wasn’t the start of a zombie slime invasion.

“I’d still better inspect each injured slime here,” she resolved. “Oh, right.” She removed the injured slime from the top of her body and placed it on the ground. It wiggled in greeting to the other slimes, who jiggled back happily. Two of the mimic slimes slid over to Anadine and patted her down, seemingly curious over her relation to them. Upon confirming her lineage, all the slimes waved their tentacles in the air happily.

“Guess that means introductions are out of the way,” she said happily, being led by the slimes into the tree. “This is much more efficient than human formality.” To her surprise, the inside the tree was very hollow; it was as if it had been intentionally grown this way. There were rooms, a storage area, and even a training field in the center, surrounded by a winding staircase that led up into the tree and below into the ground.

“No way these slimes did all this,” Anadine realized. “But then-”

She was interrupted by the sudden entrance of three hooded figures who arose from the lower staircase. The mimic slimes around Anadine all puddled respectfully as they approached. Anadine examined them curiously.

“Wait a moment, I know you,” she realized.

Chapter 19

“Doc, there is a problem.” Anadine’s voice rang in the dungeon crystal’s mind.

Doc blinked, or the mental equivalent of the action. He really hated hearing those words. “What’s the matter?” he asked, nervously.

“Well, you remember how you mentioned to Rowen and I about the issues with summoning minions, and how we should copy Ayla and Aisha in subjugating the slime family most related to us, in order to better increase our forces, in case of another enemy dungeon attack, so we won’t face a similar, awkward situation as we did before with the toad dungeon and the mutant dungeon?” Anadine rambled.

“Yes,” Doc answered.

“Oh, good,” Anadine sighed. “Right, sorry for the rant. Anyway, I have successfully assimilated myself into the mimic slime family, and they seem to have accepted me as a boss of sorts. I’m not sure yet about my position, but at least my commands appear to be heeded.”

“Congratulations!” Doc commented, with a small sense of pride. “You’ve gotten ahead of Ayla, Aisha, and Rowen. Well done!”

“Ah thanks, Doc,” he could hear the blue slime blushing. “Ah, but that’s not the emergency! When I got the mimic slime family tree, they were under attack from a group of bug slimes. Not ordinary bug slimes, either; these were ...strange.”

“Strange, how?” Doc asked, curious.

“Well, for one: They dribbled a concentrated, acidic substance from their mouths,” Anadine explained. “And I don’t mean like the poison slime; this stuff melts even through the ground, your mana- hardened ground.”

“That doesn’t sound too serious,” Doc reasoned. “Perhaps they were merely a new form of bug slime. Or maybe that’s an ability unlocked by going through the slime growth stages.”

“Doc, these slimes were more ferocious and less wise than what they should have been,” Anadine argued. “They reminded me of rabid beasts, really, much like those crazed mutants from the treant dungeon.”

“I really don’t see the cause for concern-”

“Doc, I’ve encountered something unusual,” Rowen suddenly interrupted. “A few of the grey slimes are exhibiting traits not normally found in their family: ambition, greed, and acidic drool. It is extremely unusual, but they’ve been mostly taken care of by the other slimes before causing too much of a ruckus.”

Doc paused. A similar issue occurring in the grey slime family. Was this a coincidence?

“Doc,” Aisha called. “Is problem, here. Need assistance!”

“What, are the furry slimes drooling all over the place?” Doc asked sarcastically. “Well, they aren’t the first, but I really think that’s a normal thing for them.”

“Not furry, is Ayla!”

*****

“Send help, soon!” Aisha finished her call, before being forced to dodge out of the way of a huge blast of magical energy. She and her furry slime pack members were in the fight of their lives, and it was against her own sister and the pack she had just conquered. “Sister, explain?” Aisha begged. “Problem, solve together!”

Ayla ignored her, or perhaps she couldn’t hear the words coming out of Ayla’s mouth. The slime-attributed worg had undergone a somewhat abrupt physical change, growing half a size larger, with her fur blackening and turning into spikes. Her eyes glowed red and black as she growled, acidic drool dripping down her teeth and lips onto the ground. Beside her, the furry slimes she’d just recruited were similarly mutated, with more aggressive features and acidic drool. Aisha had just rejoined her sister after Ayla had won against the fifth pack. Oddly, the worg had opted to slay every last member of the pack before touching her nose against the nest, marking it as her own. It was then that things abruptly changed. Ayla’s body quickly mutated, and the nest began to birth these mutated furry slimes to aid her. Aisha managed to send out a call for help before being forced to devote all her attention into this fight and sudden magical blast her sister had emitted.

With a howl, Ayla’s mouth opened and began to absorb mana from the surroundings. Aisha’s eyes widened, quickly barking to her furry slimes to take cover, which they swiftly did, knowing a deadly attack was coming. Her charging complete, Ayla unleashed a beam of compressed magical darkness that sliced through the rock like a knife through butter. Her beam slashed through everything, severing both mutant and normal furry slime. Aisha, herself, barely dodged out of the way, forced to use her old shadow magic to dive into the shadows. Poking her head out, Aisha could only describe the scene in front of her as hell.

The beam had completely destroyed the floor, ceilings, and walls. Light from the luminous slimes peaked in from above, illuminating a mess of destroyed stone, wrecked ruins, and dead slimes. A couple of trees had even fallen from above, roots and all. The mutated worg howled, and more mutant furry slimes quickly appeared by her side. She turned to leave, but Aisha threw herself in the way of her sister.

“No leave, stay!” she barked. “Want more nest? Over death in body!”

Ayla answered this ultimatum by rushing her sister, mouth wide open with the intent of biting through her neck. Aisha’s eyes narrowed, and whirled around, using her slime hardened tail to smack her sister into the ground with enough force to crack the ground. Not pausing for a moment, Ayla’s claws rapidly extended in an attempt to stab through Aisha, but the worg had already backed away with a leap. Countering, Aisha shattered the claws with her teeth and kicked them toward Ayla, who was forced to run back to avoid the splintered claw fragments. Her mutated furry slimes cried out in pain as they took most of the deadly shrapnel. Seeing the number of minions decreasing, Ayla howled again to summon more from the nest.

But no one showed up.

“I’ve cut the nest off from my mana,” Doc’s voice rang in Aisha’s head. “Whatever is affecting Ayla has also disturbed our mental connection; I can’t speak to her, nor issue any commands. I’m shocked to find something that’s capable of disturbing the control I have over my creatures and dungeon proper.”

“Doc, plan?” Aisha implored. Ayla, having noticed that no new slimes were joining her, threw herself immediately at Aisha, trying to get past her to reach another nest. Aisha blocked her, countering her frontal assault with well-timed parries and knockbacks.

“Hm, one moment,” Doc contemplated.

Roaring, Ayla’s mouth began to once again absorb mass quantities of mana from the surroundings. Her minions got in front of her, using their bodies to prevent Aisha from reaching her twin in time to stop her.

“Doc!” Aisha warned.

“I’ve got it,” Doc declared suddenly. As Ayla’s spell reached maximum capacity, Doc forced more mana into the spell. Even in her crazed state, Ayla’s eyes widened in horror as her spell quickly became bloated and uncontrollable. With a bang that shook the dungeon, her spell backfired and exploded outwards like a magical bomb, destroying all the mutant furry slimes and seriously injuring Ayla. Had she not instinctively used her shadow magic to mitigate part of the damage, she would have likely perished, as well (albeit, naturally, not permanently).

Still, the force of the explosion was enough to render the crazed worg unconscious, and she fell to the ground in a rage, covered in injuries. Aisha padded closer, seeking to nudge her sister.

“Don’t touch her!” Doc ordered, causing the worg to freeze in place. “Whatever is affecting your sister seems to have made its way to other slimes, somehow. That means there is a method of spreading this condition, somehow; and I can’t risk both of my worg lieutenants falling victim to this. Retreat to the Heart Room, Aisha.”

“And Ayla?” She asked, carefully.

“I’ll take care of her,” Doc reassured the despondent twin. “Have no fear; I’m merely quarantining her in a section of the wall around the Heart Room. It took a moment observing your fight to create the proper parameters: a room with strong, stone surfaces, and with zero mana to absorb; a dead zone, if you will. Without me providing mana, and with her being unable to take from the environment, Ayla will be unable to use any of her magic. As she will be in an enclosed room of darkness, her shadow abilities will be removed, as well.”

“Kill her?” Aisha inquired, seriously.

“If it comes to it,” Doc admitted. “We first need to identify exactly what happened to her, though. No point regenerating her body, if the problem will persist over lifetimes. I’ve already summoned back Rowen and Anadine, so hurry up, yourself.”

Aisha gazed sadly at her sister as the ground moved like water and absorbed the fallen worg into it. Sighing, she turned around and ran back toward the secret entrance to the Heart Room.

*****

Upon arriving, she found Rowen and Anadine waiting below Doc’s crystal. All over the walls, Doc was reflecting images of various slimes in the dungeon.

“There, that’s one,” Anadine suddenly pointed at one of the moving images. “Look, it’s starting to drool a little bit, and that’s a grey slime. They don’t even have mouths.”

“All slimes can make a mouth to engulf prey,” Rowen argued. “But . . . yeah, see there? It’s starting to form slime-hardened teeth. Now, that’s unusual for a grey slime. And look, a couple of lesser mimic bug slimes, all growing similar body parts. Is ant/scorpion really the most useful type to become? Ah, there is the drool.”

“Common things, found?” Aisha asked.

“Well,” Anadine began. “We’ve come to the consensus that this is some kind of disease, illness, or induced magical effect, at least. Whatever it really is, it can spread, and it possesses a common set of symptoms.”

Rowen nodded. “Yeah, with Doc’s help, we’ve quickly gone through his visual memories and current events to locate the symptoms. The acid drool is actually a late symptom; meaning that the slime is already compromised, by that point. It’s the changes in coloration and behavior that occur first, followed by the physical changes, including the drool. Based on what we’ve found, your sister is actually the patient whose symptoms have become the most exacerbated; and it appears that mental deterioration is the main part of that stage. Not that slimes are the best at displaying this,” Rowen shrugged.

“Interestingly, the initial symptoms, in the form of changes in personality, are far more striking,” Anadine pointed out. “Slimes normally don’t possess enough individuality to have a personality, which means this . . . disease is somehow changing them at the level of their very cores.”

“Disease, like in not-slimes?” Aisha asked, confused. “Possible?”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Rowen shook his body.

“Neither have I,” Anadine echoed. “But who’s to say that this isn’t a normal thing for slimes? After all, not much is known about them, and we are in the middle of unexplored wilderness. Maybe it was picked up from all the fights in the dungeon from outside guests. Maybe Doc sneezed funny one night, who knows?”

“I don’t sneeze,” Doc corrected. “And whatever this ‘disease’ is, it has nothing to do with me or my powers.” With a shine, the images vanished, replaced by a 3-D slime image created by light. The slime rotated slowly, before the image focused in on the core. “This is a normal slime,” Doc lectured. “And this,” -- the core changed from a solid ball into a version covered in black veins -- “is the core of slime exhibiting the strange behaviors and drooling. As you can see, it’s been taken over by a foreign mana of some sort.”

“Foreign mana?” Rowen questioned. “Can you not isolate it and remove it from the dungeon?”

“Not currently,” Doc shook his head, metaphorically speaking. “The mana is too drenched in the core; it is easier to just destroy the slime. I was able to previously remove this stuff from the original source. But now, I am unable to take this action.”

“Why not?” Anadine asked. “And, original source? You knew about this, Doc?”

“This foreign mana is somewhat dangerous,” Doc admitted. “I was examining the many slain, mutated furry slimes from Ayla’s massacre, and I found that the black mana had an oddly sticky property. It attempted to latch onto my consciousness, much like the adhesive property of water. I was able to easily avoid it by retreating into the walls, where it could not follow. Unfortunately, it is still there.”

“That means you are unable to take too direct of an action, here,” Rowen grimaced. “Formidable, but a disease. Is it dangerous to us?”

“For the most part, no,” Doc revealed. “From what I’ve seen, like the walls, this foreign mana is unable to penetrate matter on its own, only mana. However, it can be ingested.” A quick series of images showed the toads and the black ooze.

“What, what is that?” Rowen asked, shocked.

“This disease appears to have come from the toads that entered the dungeon,” Doc said. “This ooze actually only appeared after the victim’s death from new injuries. A couple of the infected toads were stolen and eaten by various members of the slime families. Near as I can tell, however, most of the initial infected slimes were killed, due to the actions their new, corrupted personality traits drove them to perform.”

“However,” he continued. “The survivors of the first group all did something in common.” His crystal displayed the past view of slimes committing suicide next to nests, their core being absorbed by the nests. “They allowed their infected cores to be taken in by the nests, thus ensuring that every slime born from the nest, from the moment of their sacrifice forward, would be born infected. From there, direct core-to-core exposure continued the infection. As it has been about 2 days since this began, I estimate about a third of all our slimes are infected.”

“You aren’t sure, Doc? Are you not aware of everything that happens in the dungeon?” Anadine pressed. “For that matter, why did you not take action when the slimes began to change? You’re the one who throws himself at every change and discovery, aren’t you?”

Doc was silent.

Rowen sighed. “In any case, they have become a problem and must be eliminated. Before we can take action, however, is there any good way to eliminate the foreign mana once it has been released?”

“The Dream Flowers can do it,” Doc said evenly. “They are the strongest plant in this dungeon, and they can even absorb my mana without any ill effects. This has been proven already from fertilizer made from infected toad corpses; it didn’t bat a petal at it.”

“Then that’s what we are going to need to do,” Rowen nodded. “Are the plant slimes capable of using the Dream Flowers without being eaten?”

“Perhaps,” Doc shrugged metaphorically. “They have shown they are capable of uprooting and moving the flowers to different parts of the garden. Their innate connection to vegetation must allow them to coexist with the flowers without provoking their hunger.”

Anadine stared up at Doc, her body emotionless. “Hey Doc,” she suddenly asked. “Is your crystal cracked?”

“What?” Doc said, startled. “Um, I don’t think it is? Regaining mana has made my body stronger and less prone to physical injury.”

“I mean the mental kind of broken,” Anadine suddenly pressed. Surprising everyone, she leapt up and wrapped herself around Doc’s crystal.

“Anadine, what are you doing?” Doc shouted. “Get off!”

“I refuse!” she yelled back. “Look at yourself, Doc! Look! You are off your game and endangering the lives of yourself and your dungeon inhabitants!” Rowen and Aisha, who had been preparing to interfere, paused. “This situation wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been so passive in your observation!” she continued, savagely. “You saw trouble, you dealt with trouble, but you didn’t inform us; nor did you take steps to prevent it from getting worse. Ayla, your adopted daughter, is suffering because of you! How do you think Claire-”

“Be silent!” Doc ordered, mentally flinging the blue slime off him. “Don’t bring her up-”

“Why not?” she demanded, picking herself back up. “That’s all you seem to talk about these days. Claire this and Claire that, as if she were your only important family. You pine for her like a poor love-sick bard in front of a whorehouse! You don’t think we haven’t noticed? You don’t think we haven’t tried to accommodate you? And look, we are ONCE AGAIN IN DANGER! We haven’t even been in this forest for little more than half a year, and we’ve all almost all died, now, three times! You can’t be letting yourself get dragged around by your feelings, Doc. YOU -- AREN’T --HUMAN!”

Doc’s words were caught in his throat. Anadine’s stinging condemnation rang through his head like an earworm on repeat.

Huffing, Anadine turned to leave. “Come on, Rowen and Aisha. Let the core just float there; all it needs to do is exist.”

“But, Ayla?” Aisha asked, worried.

Anadine waved her hand dismissively. “He’ll just kill her current body and remake her away from that foreign mana. Nothing for us to worry about.”

Doc didn’t attempt to stop them, and he was once again left alone in his Heart Room by himself. And yet, the room had never felt quite as lonely as it did now.

Unbeknownst to Doc, the conversation had carried over through the walls to where Ayla rested, trapped in a prison of cold stone at least 10 feet thick. Her eyes turned completely black, and her maw morphed into the best rendition of a grimace that it could.

“Things aren’t going to plan at all, here,” she muttered, though the voice that came out of her mouth was not hers. “I can’t afford to lose this body here. It’s time to accelerate the timetable on this mess and get it over with.” The foreign mana within all slimes, diagnosed and undiagnosed, suddenly began to shiver. Each infected slime suddenly had a clear purpose and goal: infect, spread, and rescue the main host body.

The parasite dungeon had begun its assault.

Chapter 20

The nightmare slime instantly knew something was wrong. It had been making a fairly basic plan of attack on the Western herb slime garden, when it suddenly felt a strong sense of loss and foreboding. In the room with it were several strong bug slimes; not wise, but capable enough in following orders. One of the bug slimes was drooling acid and no longer paying attention to the room. In fact, it was starting to puddle from lack of attention.

Snarling, the nightmare slime acted on instinct and attacked the drooling slime, using its sharp pincers and appendages. The bug slime put up no fight as it was slashed into pieces, revealing an ugly core covered in black veins. Feeling the foreign mana, the nightmare slime was strongly repulsed, as were the other slimes in the room. As it inspected the black mana, a commotion was heard outside. In the mana sense vision of the nightmare slime, it saw a number of bug slimes and a good deal of lesser mimic bug slimes suddenly gain a similarly black mana. These infected slimes immediately turned on the non-infected slimes, attacking in a sudden onslaught that took all the other slimes by surprise. The nightmare slime let out its shrill, taking command of the bug slimes and ordering them to eliminate the intruders. It then led the bug slimes out of the room, down the column hall that connected to the ground floor.

The fighting was everywhere in the bug slimes’ base: slimes against slimes, fighting on the ceiling, walls, floors, and even in the air, using bug wings. Unfortunately for the defending slimes, they had two major disadvantages. The first was that these infected slimes each had a sudden growth in stretch and lethality. The acidic drool also dripped from such appendages as pincers, stringers, claws, and leg bristles. Worse still, each infected slime was growing more of these appendages, forming a limited kind of uniformity in their appearance. The second issue was that these infected slimes actually could infect others. A dying slime caused its core to self-destruct, causing it to splinter and shoot out like a shrapnel bomb. Any slime core hit by a bit of infected core was instantly infected, and the other injured were forced to spend time fighting against the black mana, and thus, losing their fighting ability. Other infected used their core as a weapon, seeking to pierce into other slimes with it and striking the core. Thankfully, the tier 2 bug slimes were mostly armored in hardened slime chitin. But the lesser mimics were devastated by these attacks, and they had begun to fall victim quickly. By the time the nightmare slime had fought its way to the bottom of the nest, the fight had already swung in the lesser mimics’ favor.

Sensing that the flow of mana had been cut off from the spawn nests, the nightmare slime put two and two together (a remarkable feat for any slime!) and understood the infected to have come from the nests. Knowing it wasn’t going to receive any reinforcements, the nightmare slime made the decision to tactically withdraw. It ordered the remaining lesser mimic slimes to form a living slime wall and guard the retreat of the bug slimes and itself, as it recognized that they were already too vulnerable to infection. It made sure to communicate to the lesser mimics that they were to suicide before being taken over as well. The lesser mimics, mindless as ever and obedient, quickly obeyed and gathered together into a large barrier against the infected. The nightmare slime didn’t look back as it ran into the woods, its sole intent: making as much distance as possible between its group and the infected. It didn’t look back, not even when a large explosion shook the forest, not when it heard the screams of dying slimes, and not when the forest became deadly silent. It saw the flow of mana in the dungeon and watched as the larger flows meant for nests were slowly cut off: the grey slime family, the herb gardens, and the furry slime packs below. Only a single, active flow remained, heading into the central part of the forest: the hidden mimic slime tree (now with less hiding). Acting decisively, it led the bug slimes toward the family, in order to regroup. It would need more lesser mimics, after all.

*****

The grey slime family was hard at work training when the attack began. Unlike the bug slime attack, the nests in the grey slime family were better protected. So, instead the attack came from the training grounds. The infected slimes quickly spread under the guise of ‘training injuries’, thus not alerting the uninfected until an infected grey slime failed to pierce a barricade slime. Taking the attack as a fatal attempt, the barricade slime had casually slaughtered the grey slime, only to reveal the foreign mana. At the sudden revelation, and before the other slimes could react, the infected attacked en masse, causing mass confusion in the tunnels of the grey slime family home. At first, it appeared the uninfected slimes had the advantage, especially as the gelatinous slimes did not possess any core to infect. The large clear-grey slimes quickly used their bodies to block the infected slimes, allowing for the others to regroup behind them. However, they were unable to maintain this shield, as a number of the magic slimes were infected, as well. Under the control of the foreign mana, the magic slimes began to wreak havoc on the low magic-resistant gelatinous slimes, thus ending the advantage with their deaths. Still, the remaining gelatinous family members did not hesitate to throw themselves in the path of infected, earning precious time with their sacrifice.

With the loss of their greatest advantage, it would have appeared that the grey slime family would soon fall to the infection. However, unlike the bug slime family, the grey slimes were fully prepared to deal with such a conflict, especially after being given the precious time to regroup. Using their training and limited tactics, they quickly formed ranks, with the barricade and armor slimes in front and the blade slimes and sharp slimes mixed in, protecting the tier 1 grey slimes and magic slimes in the back. The superior armor of the barricade and armor slimes meant that the infected tier 1 greys and infected tier 2 sharp, armor, and magic slimes had a difficult time spreading the infection, let alone hurting the defending slimes. Their attacks were shrugged off by the slimes, and those injured quickly swapped with a partner in order to heal. The blade and sharp slimes throughout the formation executed any infected in their path in quick strikes before retreating into the defense line. They were supported from the back by the magic slimes, who unleashed their magic to counter their infected brethren.

With the battle starting to move in the defender’s direction, the infected changed tactics. A group split off to rush toward the nests, seeking to take them over for reinforcements. The rest began to use suicide by core explosion in an attempt to penetrate and infect the defenders. Unfortunately for the grey slimes, they had no defense against this kind of attack. The shrapnel-like pieces of infected slime core scattered like rain through the ranks, with only the armor and barricade slimes able to mitigate the damage. Instantly, the formation was broken up by infected grey, sharp, and even a few of the blade slimes unleashing devastating attacks from within.

The grey family was on the brink of destruction, when a single grey slime stood forth. Emotionless, even compared to the normal slime, this slime atypically wielded a sword and shield made from the fused remnants of magic weaponry it had dug out. It swung the sword in front of it slowly, pointing it at the infected. A sudden burst of magic, and a sword made of flame swung outwards in a giant arc, slicing through and destroying the infected slimes and their cores, releasing the foreign black mana into the air. It was that point, however, that the flaming sword magic behaved oddly --and absorbed the black mana. This was due to the usage of human magic, which was fundamentally different from the magic wielded by the slimes, and even distinct from the magic wielded by Doc, himself.

While Doc was capable of wielding mana with ease to create amazing things, he was unable to actually use magic or cast spells. These actions required the usage of symbols or language to expend mana to achieve an effect. This, while similar and equivalent in effect to what Doc could do, was fundamentally different, as Doc merely used the mana he’d absorbed from the environment to change and adjust things within his body. The mana he absorbed took on his properties, becoming a part of him as his nature of being a dungeon crystal. The cost of using this dungeon mana was that it would return to the environment, requiring him to absorb it again. Of course, all the slimes living inside him were a part of him and followed the same rules.

This meant he never actually required the expenditure of mana to achieve his desires.

Thus, Doc was unable to properly get rid of the foreign mana without absorbing it himself; a fatal action if taken.

Human magic and spells, on the other hand, required the usage and expenditure of mana to achieve effects, reducing it from a denser form, such as mana crystals, mana found in the human, or others into less-dense mana found in the air.

Fire used mana as fuel just as easily as wood.

The foreign mana was unprotected, and thus, easily absorbed into the spell, the flame sword which increased its power at the destruction of the black mana. This also meant the resulting explosion was far beyond that of what the little grey slime had intended, with each resulting dead infected slime feeding the coming result.

The sudden influx of air into the larger-than-expected fire caused a back-draft implosion, followed by the burning of mana to achieve a fixed point of detonation and igniting an explosion. The resulting blast blanketed the entire room and spread quickly through the entire grey family hall. The mage slimes guarding the nest rooms with the shadow dagger slime barely had enough time to react in sealing the room before the blast reached them. The entire dungeon shook as the explosion overtook the dungeon’s natural defensive strength and caused the dugout home of the grey slime family in the western wall to burst outwards, sending a hell of stone rubble flying out into the forest. The damage was unmatched in destruction, as trees literally exploded into splinters before catching fire in the spreading cloud of flame. The entire western forest was immediately destroyed, with not a single denizen surviving, infected or not.

This was the death of practically every member of the grey slime family. The only survivors were the few magic slimes who had managed to seal the room in; the lead shadow dagger slime; and the small grey slime. It, alone, remained in the rubble of the training room, surrounded by burning slime corpses and dust. The shield it held was glowing, having also cast a defensive magic spell that absorbed the foreign mana to increase its strength. However, it could only protect itself. The little grey slime picked itself up and moved its body to look around. The sword and shield fell to the ground as it used its two tentacles to shakily grasp at pieces of burning slime and cores. Its touch caused them to turn to dust, their mana long since absorbed by Doc following their deaths.

The little grey slime was alone, and its small bit of wisdom was enough to let it understand what it had done. The tentacles drooped onto the ground as it vibrated in a rapid fashion. As it shook, small orbs of slime with a large concentration of water bled from its body; the first-ever recording of slime tears. Though it was incapable of wailing, the heavy vibration of its body caused the slime tears to vaporize, making tiny bursts of air ring out in the room. As more tears vaporized, they created a sound akin to the steam whistle from a kettle of tea. And it cried out in pain at what it had done.

The shadow dagger slime entered the room, the mage slimes having created a small opening in the rocks for it to pass through. It did not bring comfort nor reprimand to the grieving little grey slime. Instead, it poked at the sword and shield, at which point both cracked audibly. They had been forcibly used beyond their limits, especially in their makeshift state. The shadow dagger slime grasped the broken pieces and thrust them into the grey slime, causing it to stop vibrating. Its small stature had visibly shrunk from the lost slime, and it was still liable to evaporate into just its core at any moment. The shadow dagger slime poked the grey slime in the front, and then pointed out of the rubble toward the forest. Its pointing tentacle turned into a pointed spear, which it then stabbed into the ground.

The little grey slime followed the tentacle’s direction with its senses, and it could feel the rising presence of foreign mana in the dungeon. Its grief stopped, replaced by another new feeling; a burning rage to match the flames still burning around it. From the nest room, the nests quickly birthed a small squad of new grey slimes, who got to work repairing the area. The shadow dagger slime joined them, but not before patting the little grey slime on the back. The little grey slime shivered, and then glowed, startling the other slimes.

Instantly regaining slime mass, the slime was no longer little nor grey. It was now a clear blue color, with the broken pieces of the many swords and shield it had collected swirling inside of it. Forming two tentacles, fragments travelled up both to form a makeshift sword and shield with the rest enclosing its core in a layer of protection. It was no longer a little grey slime. It was now a shard warrior slime. It would seek penance by taking revenge.

Chapter 21

Going back a bit, the other slime dungeon lieutenants had followed Anadine’s lead and teleported up to the forest floor, into what appeared to be a room made from wood. Anadine’s body was cutely inflated, much like a pouting child with puffed-out cheeks. “I can’t believe that Doc! Moping like that; he needs to get over Claire and move on,” she ranted. “She’s still alive, after all. It’s not like he lost his entire family like we did; right, you guys?” She turned to look at Rowen and Aisha, who both glared at her, annoyed.

“Kind of a sensitive topic to bring up so suddenly,” Rowen grunted. “Might I remind you: Your human self has some surviving siblings, and Ayla is in a critical state, while I’m the only one here whose family are deceased” He paused for a moment. “Except for you. You’re my family, now.”

Anadine rubbed her body awkwardly. “Right. I apologize,” she acknowledged. “In any case, what do you both think about the way Doc is acting?”

“Tired, alone,” Aisha reflected. “Claire: moral, mental support. Frelgard attack: opposite of dreams. Horror. Example: possible future. Many pillars lost; view us, children in eyes, unable to replace.”

“I agree with Aisha,” Rowen said. “We might view his behavior as over-the-top, childish drama; but technically, Doc, as a dungeon, is still a child of not even 2 years. Hells, you and I, Anadine, were acting just as bad only weeks ago. It’s no wonder Doc still considers us children of his. He’s lived his whole life listening to Claire’s advice and following the dream she showed him. Then she implodes in depression and self-indulgence, leaving him alone and confused. Imagine if your parents just one day decided to become alcoholics and let you down. Then, Frelgard and its insane suicide attack. Even if this disease was actually the cause, seeing a dungeon who had achieved so much -- everything that Claire ever suggested, everything that Doc ever wanted -- waste itself over petty pride; it just devastated him -- another ‘lie’ in Doc’s life.”

“I suppose so,” Anadine murmured. As the blue slime pondered, Rowen and Aisha examined their surroundings.

“By the way, Anadine, where are we?” Rowen asked, curiously. “I don’t recognize the surroundings.”

“Oh, right,” she started. “Rowen, Aisha, welcome to the mimic slime home base, and my new room. We are in the central tree.” The room was bare except for a few oddly burning torches; they resembled animal skulls with no clear source of fuel for their flames.

“Looks like your last room,” Rowen observed. “Wait, they got you a room? The grey slimes only sectioned a part of their training area for me.”

“Generous, for slimes,” Aisha agreed.

“Well,” Anadine wiggled herself smugly. “It is a small perk of being a direct line evolution of the lesser mimic slimes family. Of course, I also have some old friends to thank for this treatment.”

“Friends?” Aisha quoted, wondering.

“You guys will see in a bit,” the blue slime winked at them. “For now, let’s go ahead and get settled in. Rowen, can you summon your grey slimes? Aisha, your furry slimes?”

“I can’t summon the grey slimes, yet,” Rowen shook his body. “If the training area comment didn’t register with you, I’m not particularly relevant, right now, in their hierarchy. Well, not enough to summon slimes into enemy territory, I guess.”

“Summon, but need location,” Aisha said. “Entrance, nearby?”

“I had the mimics dig out an entrance, below,” Anadine revealed. “If you go down the central staircase, you’ll find it easily. It’s hidden from the other side, of course, to prevent intrusions from down there; but you can direct them to your location and open it from here. Keep in mind,” she continued, a pointed tentacle waving at the worg. “That entrance will be closed as soon as this mess is over. I trust you, but I have no doubt in my mind your furries would devour every last lesser mimic and mimic in this tree if given the chance.”

“Is true,” Aisha nodded. “I go. Stay safe.” With that, the worg twin walked calmly out of the room, to the central staircase.

“So, nice digs,” Rowen said evenly, when Aisha was gone. “Are we going to talk about your little episode with Doc, now?”

“I don’t want to,” Anadine grumbled.

“I know, but we’re still going to,” Rowen pointed out. “Don’t think you can play the big sister card, or whatever else you’re considering using as an excuse. I wonder if there has ever been another dungeon, in which a minion leader assaulted --physically and verbally -- their dungeon core -- their leader, creator, and source of life. I know Doc is friendly with us, more so, perhaps, than most in our lives past and present would be; but still, that was risky. Was it worth it?”

“It has to be,” Anadine sighed. “He’s a mess, just like we were. Why should he think it is ok to treat us like children, to leave us in persistent death traps to teach us a lesson, and to be forcibly trained by two worgs, who are mentally younger than either of us? Not that I truly mind, at this point, since structures that Doc imposed on us fixed us and made our lives better; but he deserves a taste of his own medicine, from time to time, don’t ya think?

Rowen shrugged. “It’s not like he can go through trials like we did; even possessing a slime won’t afford him the same level of pain or exhaustion needed for a mental re-molding. So, assaulting him was your answer?”

“I admit, I may have been overzealous,” Anadine owned, sheepishly. “His attitude finally flipped my anger, and it’s been building for a while. So, I thought a stern talking to, coupled with a physical threat, would get through to him . . . well, at least my angry self thought that. In retrospect, perhaps not?”

“Well, you certainly pissed him off,” the white and grey slime offered supportively. “It’s at least a newer emotion for him; and hey, you’re still alive, so plus to that. All and all, you only damaged your relationship with him, at worst.”

Anadine groaned. “Fine, I get it. I’ll apologize to him-”

The two were interrupted by a massive explosion sounding in the distance, followed by an intense shaking of the tree, which caused their bodies to vibrate wildly.

“What in the….”  Anadine was left speechless when the after force of a shockwave slammed into the tree, sending both slimes hurtling into the far wall, smashing them into puddles. Thankfully, the force vanished after a moment, and the two slimes reformed themselves.

“Rowen, what was that?” Anadine asked quickly. “Did Doc?” she broke off.

“No, that wasn’t him,” Rowen responded quickly, moving to the outer wall. Sharpening a tentacle, he slashed a square-shaped hole into it, revealing the outside to them. The two slimes were met with an enormous cloud of smoke and flame in the distance, coming from the western part of the forest. The intense heat was visible to them even from here, and Rowen’s human-formed eyes only confirmed his sights.

“That was the grey slime family home,” Rowen dropped, shocked. “My gods above, it’s all gone. Everything is gone, I can’t sense them: the slimes, the family, the caves. And the forest, the forest is burning, Anadine. My gods.”

“Rowen, calm down!” Anadine said, rushing over to grab the rapidly deforming slime. “Rowen, you hear me? We need you alert; this is likely an enemy attack!”

“Alert, enemies? Right, right, you’re right,” Rowen blinked, his body reforming into his normal grey and white blob. “Okay; so, first: Let’s analyze the situation. The grey slimes are down; what of the other family groups? Anadine, can we connect our senses to this tree to extend our mana sight?”

“We can,” Anadine agreed. “Due to the machinations of my new friends, the roots extend out over the entire central area and even stretch into the four quadrants. Just pierce into the floor and follow the mana.”

“Understood,” Rowen nodded, and poked a tentacle into the wooden floor. His body went slightly limp as his spirit spread through the tree.

“Anadine, report!” Aisha’s voice echoed in her head.

“Explosion in the western region. Grey slime family presumed dead,” Anadine answered quickly. “Rowen is trying to assess the overall situation. Are your slimes with you?”

“Furry, all here,” the worg reported. “Leaving below, very nervous all. Staying with, until needed.”

“Understood,” Anadine responded. “Rowen should be about-”

“Rowen, give me a status report!” Doc’s called through the mental bond, echoing in both Anadine and Aisha’s head as well. “Are you and the others alright?”

Rowen’s body stirred as his spirit reaccumulated in his body to answer. “We are okay. But it’s bad, Doc,” Rowen’s voice echoed seriously in the dungeon crystal’s head. “The infected slimes all attacked at the same time, causing chaos in the forest. The worst hit, that I saw, were the bug slimes; the nest has completely fallen, from what I saw. The grey slimes, though, I think they’ve been completely wiped out. I don’t know what happened, but the western forest is either gone or an inferno. At the very least, there are no more infected from over there.”

“What about the other slimes, and where are you?” Doc asked.

“Anadine led Aisha and I to the mimic slime tree base,” Rowen explained. “The northeast herb slime garden fell to the infected, but it was quickly destroyed by Dream Flowers brought over from the northern garden by the flower slimes. You were right, at least, Doc; the Dream Flowers are the nemeses of the foreign mana, and the flower slimes are fully capable of using them as weapons.”

As Rowen was talking to Doc, Anadine took advantage of his inactivity to spread herself through the tree network, herself. A non-slime would be unable to handle this, spreading her mind and senses over many miles and witnessing every sight and sound at the same time. She could confirm Rowen’s every word; she saw the devastation in the west, and the fallen bug slime nest to the south. The nightmare slime was leading a troop of bug slimes toward them. Meanwhile, a single, new-looking slime was rapidly moving toward their position from the west; some kind of grey slime survivor, likely evolved in response to the disaster. In the north and east, she could see the herb slime groups gathering their stronger members and sending them toward the central area; likely in response to the fire and threat it posed to their gardens.

“Rowen,” Anadine reported. “The bugs are on their way, a new type of grey slime is almost here, and the herb slimes family is on their way.”

“What of the forest lions?” Rowen asked.

Anadine concentrated. “Already here, as it turns out; but three are heavily pregnant.”

“Understood,” Rowen said. He turned his attention back to speaking with Doc; only a few seconds had passed. “The survivors are all gathering here, Doc,” the white and grey slime continued. “The nightmare slime and a number of bug slimes arrived earlier; they tried to take the slime nests, but were fought off by the mimic slimes. A host of herb family slimes have appeared from both the northern and eastern gardens; the only two left in the forest. The forest lions made it here safely, but the three females look to be too heavily pregnant to be of much help. Finally, one member of the grey slimes is here. I don’t know what kind of slime it is.”

“I see,” Doc said.

Rowen waited for a moment. “How are you feeling, Doc? That explosion did quite a bit of damage, after all.”

“I’m, I’m fine, Rowen,” Doc offered, resolutely. “You, Anadine, and Aisha should gather the slimes and prepare for this fight. I’m going to work on this infection of foreign mana; see if there is a method I can use to cure the slimes of this disease before it gets farther. I have disabled the spawn nests taken by the infected slimes and sealed the furry slime packs in the labyrinth. The enemy has no other source of reinforcements.”

“Understood, Doc,” Rowen nodded. “Good luck.” The conversation finished; Rowen turned back to face Anadine. “So, it appears we are in another predicament, but this time it’s against our former allies.”

“A fight within oneself, how ironic,” Anadine said dryly. “Well, this infection is quite the problem, as none of us are immune. Though it’s limited to the bug slimes right now, who knows where else it could be. Maybe even some of the slimes travelling towards us could be infected without showing any visible symptoms yet. That unknown grey slime, for instance, is very suspicious.”

Rowen turned around, examining the room. “Perhaps it is time to introduce me to your new friends, Anadine. After all, it does seem that this tree is free of any infection; which makes the mimic slime family the only one free of it.”

“Perhaps it is, indeed,” Anadine agreed. “Alright, follow me.” The blue slimes led Rowen out of the room and up the central staircase toward the top, where they entered the highest floor, surrounded by rooms separated by door flaps made of dried slime with interesting patterns. Rowen examined the room curiously, as it was filled with many un-slime things, such as tables, chairs, and storage tools. In fact, he could make out the smell of cooking from one of the open rooms, which also held a large window, resembling a place to serve food.

“Is this, a cafeteria?” Rowen realized, quite surprised. “Anadine, these aren’t just normal friends, are they?”

“They are quite special,” she agreed. “A little shy, though. The leaders are coming out to meet you; be polite.” As she finished speaking, one of the door flaps opened, and three hooded figures emerged. They approached the two lieutenants and removed the hoods obscuring their faces. Rowen almost puddled in surprise.

“The kobolds?” he asked, shocked. “Anadine, your friends are the kobolds? I, I hadn’t realized they’d survived the mutant invasion.”

“Not quite,” she corrected him. “Look closer.”

Rowen more closely examined the three in front of him, finally noticing the differences. The kobolds he had seen before were normal, half fur and half scales, dressed in basic tribal garments and covered in ornaments made from bone, bark, and shiny rocks. These kobolds were quite different.

For one, the only visible fur was hair atop their head, leaving their faces, neck, and the parts of their arms and legs that Rowen could see scaled. In addition, their robes were simple leather, and they wore no ornaments. Perhaps most important of all:  These kobolds appeared to be completely formed by slime.

“Specifically, these are scaled slimes,” Anadine explained. “A tier 3 type of mimic slime, similar to the slimy slimes, caused by eating toads. Remember how the former leader of the kobolds sacrificed itself so Doc could preserve the kobolds? Well, when the battle was over, he assigned the surviving babies and mothers to me. I took it upon myself to train them and invoke a feeling of loyalty to the dungeon. A bit of torture was required, unfortunately; but they were smart enough to fall in line quickly.” She shrugged. “After I was done, Doc released them back into the dungeon proper. I kept track of them for a little bit; most of the surviving adults left, even with my teachings; but most of the babies were left behind. I guess they viewed this place as safer than the outside.”

“Anyway,” she continued. “Doc kept his promise and used his mana to keep the babies alive, and to forcibly grow them up, similar to what he did with the twins. The few elders that stayed behind, the three here, took over leadership, and that was the last I saw them. From what they’ve told me after our reunion, it appears they fully transformed into slimes, after using slime cores as their main source of sustenance, which I’m guessing has to do with Doc’s larger-than-usual imbuement of mana into their bodies. It’s very similar to what the forest lions and Ayla and Aisha are going through, just much faster.”

“So, they became mimics slime types,” Rowen nodded in understanding. “I understand; so that’s how the mimic slimes managed to maintain and grow this tree. Did you ask them about the infection?”

In response, one of the elders waved an arm and chittered in an odd language. Anadine nodded.

“Ah, don’t mind them,” Anadine explained. “The loss of vocal cord changed their language. They’re actually quite smart for monsters, likely due to their draconic heritage. Anyway, the elder said that, due to the mana corruption incident that drove them into the dungeon in the first place, they’ve made great strides in detecting and classifying mana. Combine their natural intuition, keen senses, new slime-based detection abilities, and magical prowess, they are easily able to detect the infectious mana, even in things not displaying the symptoms.”

“Their wisdom still needs some work,” Anadine admitted. “He also said they realized the threat of this black mana some time ago, but none of them thought about warning anyone else. They only made preparations to protect themselves and the tree.”

“We all make mistakes,” Rowen shrugged. “More importantly, we have our detection system. Have them follow us down, and we can begin to work on examining all the slimes coming our way.”

“Mm, about that,” Anadine hesitated. “They are actually a bit shy.”

Rowen raised a figurative eyebrow. “Why? We need their help.”

“Well, you know how you and I have actual bodies meant for our greater status as high-level monsters? They are similar . . .”

With a shudder, the three elders grimaced. Rowen recognized a failure in concentration when he saw it, and watched with some interest as the elders were unable to maintain their appearance. The three collapsed into their robes, covered by their size. When they finally popped out, Rowen twitched.

Unlike their previous humanoid appearance, the scaled slimes were anything but. Different from all other slimes, the three elders had a head atop their bodies, and nothing else. Green and brown in color, reptilian heads seemingly blushed in embarrassment atop limbless bodies.

“Um, well they don’t have to be in sight,” Rowen finally managed to say. “Just have them in range of the entrance.”

“They can do that.”

Chapter 22

Within her stone-wall prison, Ayla, the corrupted worg, paced endlessly, growling in anger. She resembled a feral animal, now; and her body had followed suit, using her slime abilities to remake her body into that of a much larger, deadly creature. She howled, though the noise failed to pierce the stone.

Ayla, like Aisha, the forest lions, and the kobolds, was a natural monster, born outside the dungeon, with a monster core. Unlike the latter two groups, however, both worgs no longer retained their cores, as they had used them to pledge allegiance to Doc, their cores having been absorbed by the dungeon. As the cores would never break, the two worgs could be revived endlessly. The forest lions and kobolds, on the other hand, retained their monster cores, which, over a long enough period of living off Doc’s mana, had begun or completed their transition from monster core to slime core, granting them new abilities and bodies, while also reducing other capacities, such as sight and pain. As Ayla shouldn’t have a core in her body, Doc hadn’t bothered to scan her, beyond a physical examination. If he had, however, he might have noticed a tiny sliver of something in Ayla’s head.

A black shard, no thicker than a hair, had embedded itself in the worg’s head. It was a dungeon crystal, of a type not well-known in the world. It had no name, for it had never had enough of a proper conversation with another intelligent being to receive one. It referred to itself as ‘Blacklight,’ however, a name it had picked using its qualities.

Blacklight was a parasite dungeon, an unusually rare type of dungeon that focused, not on size or strength, but on mana control and stealth. In fact, parasite dungeons were among the strongest masters of mana in Palos, though only few knew this. Their control was so strong that they could even manipulate mana within other living beings, using it to manipulate them and modify their actions to the dungeon’s every need. The cost was a vulnerable body, as one might expect; one that even a small child could snap, if given the opportunity; but Blacklight never bothered to worry. It was smart enough to always stay one step ahead; an advantage of copying all knowledge from its hosts. At least, until now.

“What an unconventional dungeon,” it muttered to itself, hiding within Ayla’s body. “This has been highly irregular and troublesome. I thought finding any dungeon, while that frog dungeon was dying, was a blessing; but I’ve had to expend a great deal of mana to even reach this point, with no returns. Troublesome, indeed.”

Blacklight reflected on its most current host. Frelgard has certainly been the most useful dungeon, lasting a full fifty years before his mind and body began to fail from Blacklight’s innate pollution. Though a parasite dungeon could control the mana of others, that did not mean it was safe. As all living things require mana to live and function, a disruption to their inner mana would inevitably lead to mental breakdowns, delirium, and finally, death. The time varied from individual to individual, as Blacklight had once lived an entire life of several monsters before from birth to death, but fifty years was near the record for it.

“I likely could have maintained the host for a few more years, if the dungeon pixie hadn’t caught on,” Blacklight muttered angrily. “Even after moving myself into his body, the fool still managed to alert adventurers to Frelgard’s existence, forcing us to flee into the wilderness, away from the next dungeon I had planned to use as a host. Nothing goes to plan; curses.”

“And now,” it continued its annoyed monologue, “I find a dungeon with the most inconvenient abilities, and followers that repeatedly ruin my plans. Initial infiltration failed due to the presence of that accursed plant, and secondary infiltration was rushed, because this mongrel shattered Frelgard’s personality core, with most of my mana residing therein. I only barely managed to slip into its mouth, in case of emergency; which I needed, after the final, tertiary infiltration failed, costing the previous host to perish. To make matters their absolute worst, this host body reacted so negatively to my initial control it went rabid and put the entire dungeon on lockdown. If I hadn’t forced my infected minions to attack, this body, with me in it, might have perished.”

“And then the whole freaking dungeon explodes,” it groaned. “This entire dungeon is one travesty after another. Still, at least there are enough usable parts for me to take advantage of. Though I can’t have this host use its magical abilities without mana, this other dungeon can’t sense me, either. It thinks of me as a mere illness, to be treated with time and care? Then it shall die not knowing the truth.” Blacklight allowed a spark of gleeful sadism to play across its mind. “These slimes are perfect vessels: malleable, lacking minds to clash with, and full of so much potential. Perhaps, after I take over this dungeon, I shall use it as a permanent base to expand and grow myself.”

Within the stone room, Ayla’s eyes shone and illuminated the wall. An image resembling a tree appeared, starting at the ‘roots’ and moving up the tree, with interconnected points and line travelling up. Most of the points at the bottom appeared to be filled, though a number were greyed out. In the middle, Blacklight focused on a point that appeared to be in the midst of being filled.

It read ‘Clone self I’.

*****

The mimic slime tree, standing taller than every other structure and plant in the dungeon and possessing a strong mana presence, unwittingly became the gathering point for the remaining un-infected slimes, including the other members of the lesser mimic slime family. Aisha’s furry slimes were allowed to come up to the first floor, but not higher. The barking slimes were cowed into submission by the arrival of the slimy slimes from their pond, not enjoying the smell or taste of their toad-derived cousins, and the unseen intimidation of the kobold/scaled slimes. With the kobolds’ hidden help, Rowen and Anadine stood at the entrance as guards, awaiting the arriving slimes.

The former little grey slime was first, somehow possessing a much greater speed than the other, closer families on their way to the tree. Anadine eagerly volunteered to test the new slime, and the two engaged in a quick sparring while Rowen and the hidden scaled slimes (kobolds) watched on. In the end, the two were forced to admit a tie, and the shard warrior slime, as Anadine named it, entered the tree. It was not infected.

The nightmare slime’s arrival was a bit more hectic. As a side branch of the orthodox lesser mimic family, it and the other types of mimic slimes did not get along. It was all Rowen and Anadine could do to keep the two sides separated before a huge fight started. The nightmare slime and its bug slime followers showed no fear when put up against the combined threat of mimic, lesser mimic, scaled, furry, and slimy slimes present at the tree. It wasn’t until Aisha and Anadine unleashed a portion of their true presence, as high-evolved lesser mimic slimes, that the nightmare slime was subdued, reluctantly behaving itself and settling into a makeshift nest on the outside of the tree.

The herb slimes arrived last, though in greater numbers compared to the rest. A group of plant slimes led the family, covered in rich and fragrant floral colors and smells. Following them were poison slimes, jungle slimes, plant slimes, booze slimes, and even the elusive heal slimes. Heal slimes were so few in number that they were well-hidden, sallying forth from the garden solely for emergencies. So, to see them here truly outlined the concern the herb family had about the infection, the fire, and the explosion. However, the flower slimes did not bring the Dream Flowers.

“I guess distance is an issue,” Rowen muttered reluctantly as the herb slimes slowly entered the tree. “The Dream Flowers must require mana sooner than the flower slimes are able to cope with.”

“We are going to need another method to eliminate the foreign mana disease, then,” Anadine agreed. “Any ideas?”

“Nothing good,” Rowen admitted, “But then-”

He was interrupted by a sudden alert from one of the scaled slime lookouts. A plant slime had diverted to the impromptu bug slime nest, instead of entering, and was touching one of the bug slimes. It was not an innocuous touch.

“Infected! Get out of the way!” Rowen roared, barreling through the incoming group of herb slimes, flustering them. Naturally, none of the slimes understood his word, but the sense of danger he conveyed alerted the slimes to the disturbance. Its cover blown, the infected plant slime revealed a maw of acid and lobbed it toward Rowen, with the bug slime vibrating angrily as it fought the infection within itself. Rowen slid across the ground in puddle form, dodging the acid spit as he summoned and unleashed a ball of darkness at the plant slime. It dodged, too, and attempted to take control of the plant life around it. But nothing happened, and as it attempted to try again, it had unwittingly allowed Rowen ample time to close the distance between them. Rowen’s magic lashed out, and the plant slime’s core was bisected, ending its life. Turning his attention to the struggling bug slime, Rowen only saw a flash as the nightmare easily slaughtered the defenseless slime. It chittered and backed away quickly as the black mana was exposed to the air. Rowen backed away himself, cautious in dealing with the mana.

While thinking of what steps to take to destroy this infectious disease, the grey and white slime was surprised to find a booze slime approach him. Without much warning, it sprayed out a small torrent of alcohol at the mana, which harmlessly passed through and landed on the ground. Interestingly enough, the black mana appeared to be attracted to the booze and descended as if magnetized. On Rowen’s other side, a flower slime approached now, with an odd-looking flower embedded in its head. The flower was a beautiful mix of red, orange, and white, and shaped like a drooping dragon’s head.

“Fire Lily?” Rowen questioned himself.

As if answering his question, at the flower slime’s request, the fire lily unleashed a thin burst of flame into the booze. The result was as expected, with the booze instantly igniting and exploding, startling every slime except the shard warrior and herb family slimes. Rowen watched in fascination as the black mana vanished with the blast, consumed by the explosion and flames.

“Loose mana is inherently unstable,” Anadine piped up in Rowen’s head, having observed the disturbance from the entrance, ensuring no other infected slimes entered while they were distracted. “The alcohol made by the booze slimes is enriched with mana, making it a natural catalyst for natural fire magic. That flower igniting it must have made a similar condition as the grey slime family’s explosion, consuming the infection with it.”

“It’s a double-edged weapon, though,” Rowen grimaced in response, “Look, the flames are spreading quickly.”

Indeed, the magical explosion had caused a small forest fire in the area, threatening the mimic slime tree and the much-closer bug slime nest. The surrounding slimes were frantically throwing dirt and slime onto the fire to try to smother it, succeeding after a few minutes. Rowen watched in silence.

“Can we only beat this infection by burning ourselves to death?” Rowen questioned. “How much more do we have to sacrifice, here?”

“Well, human bodies fought disease with fevers,” Anadine pointed out. “So, to say that this dungeon infection requires a similar type of defense is kind of poetic. Makes sense, in a cyclic kind of way, as we are the defenders of Doc’s dungeon and must cause fiery destruction to win.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better,” Rowen groaned. “After all, a high-enough fever kills the patient!”

“At least this isn’t a phlegmy cough type of infection,” Anadine joked. “We’d be swimming in Doc’s tears.”

“Bad idea,” Aisha admonished from within the tree. “Now, all checked. No infected. But, can sense with tree. All, coming.”

“Looks like we have our solution, and just in time.” Rowen said, turning his attention to the woods. He could hear them now, the sounds of falling vegetation from irrational destruction. Even his mana sight without the tree’s help could see them now, balls of moving black darkness coming closer. He frowned soon after.

“Do my senses deceive me, or are these slimes larger than they should be,” he asked.

“No,” Anadine said seriously. “You’re not mistaken. I spy . . . several nightmare slimes, among other tier 3s that should not exist. The cores must be absorbing the black mana to evolve. This is not good.”

“Not good, to start,” Aisha reminded them. “Doesn’t change. Must kill, all.”

Rowen nodded. “Get the slimes ready in as best formation as we can manage. It’s time to go.”

Chapter 23

Aisha looked on from the entrance to the tree, gazing out at the approaching mass of infected slimes. Even mutated, she could still recognize the family tree each slime came from. Most were lesser mimic and bug slimes from the southern nest, twisted into a sinister conformity of purple with deadly looking appendages: spider fang maws, scorpion pincers and tails, grasshopper legs, and ant mandibles. Worst of all, at least seven of them were newly evolved tier 3 nightmare slimes, leading the way. Among the rest, she could make out a few jungle slimes, likely evolved herb slimes, with thinner and more numerous spikes covering their bodies. She’d go so far as to refer to them as needles. Finally, only a couple of grey slimes in the back, all carrying stones and small boulders on their back.

Observing her own allies, Aisha couldn’t help but compare their much greater numbers. The herb slime group alone outnumbered the infected, and adding the many mimic family members, the surviving bug slimes, and the few others made it quite the uneven fight. Still, a tingling in her tail told her that things would not be so easy.

A sudden growl alerted her to a presence who managed to sneak up on her while she’d been distracted. She cocked her head to the side and observed the forest lion; rather, the male forest lion, as he was now. This was her first-ever proper meeting with the lion, and she couldn’t help but give him a once- over. The creature stood larger and longer than her, a lion versus a wolf, with greater muscle definition and shorter fur. His fur was still a subtle mix of greens and browns, assisting him in hiding within the trees. His tail wagged side-to-side; not only an expression of emotion, but also used as a sensory organ, courtesy of his new slime abilities. Most curious were the faint traces of blood on his lips, something not found in the dungeon.

He growled at her again, retaking her attention. He gestured behind it toward its three mates, all heavily pregnant and panting softly. What appeared to be an actual deer corpse, or the remainder of one, lay on the ground floor of the tree, being poked curiously by a couple of lesser mimic slimes. The forest lion cocked his eyes back to look at Aisha, waiting for something.

“Protection?” she asked, remembering that Anadine’s and Rowen’s previous meeting with the beast had shown he possessed enough wisdom to understand language, or at least basic meanings. The forest lion nodded his head, a pleased smile on his face as the worg had understood it.

Aisha nodded back at him, and the lion left, returning to his mates and growling at the hidden scaled slimes, who Aisha noticed were putting away what looked like saddles meant for the lions. She chuckled at the sight and the comical image of slimes riding lions into battle. Her revelry ended in a sigh, though; because she’d lied to the forest lion. There was very little chance Doc would prioritize any of their lives, if the worst occurred. They had to make do with what they had, make the best of it, and die trying.

She let out a few barks, getting the furry slimes into their disorganized ranks within the tree. They’d be the equivalent of cavalry in this fight, and she planned on having them move out once the two sides met. Ahead of her, Rowen was summoning blood and bone slimes to serve under him and the shard warrior slime. Anadine was the busiest, putting the many different types of lesser mimics in an ideal order. The nightmare slime and its cohort reluctantly followed her orders, taking their spot in the vanguard position, followed by the mimic slimes and lesser mimics. The slimy slimes would stay in back, using their ability to lob sticky slime from long distance. The scaled slimes were in reserve, but with their propensity toward tools, the three lieutenants had no doubt the reptilian slimes would be key in this fight.

“Furry slimes, ready!” Aisha called to Rowen.

“Understood!” he called back. Rowen turned his attention to Anadine, who appeared to have settled her slimes. “Anadine, are your slimes ready?”

“As ready as a bunch of brainless fools can be for a fight,” she answered. “I can’t promise much besides basic tactics.”

“It’ll be enough,” Rowen answered solemnly. “It’ll have to be.” The white and grey slime took up position in front of his bone and blood slimes. The infected would soon be coming into visible range.

“Good, then let’s begin,” he muttered. Extending a tentacle out quickly, Rowen slapped the ‘lead’ booze slime. “Do your thing, booze slimes!”

At his signal, the booze slime released a small torrent of their alcoholic content, coating the tree line ahead, and a good amount of the forest floor and clearing, separating the defending slimes from the approaching infected.

“Plant slimes, get ready!” Rowen called out. Of course, the plant slimes failed to understand his word and were waiting on his tentacle slap to spur them into action. Anadine couldn’t help but roll her imaginary eyes at the sight of her brother playing army commander.

“Almost there,” Rowen muttered, watching as the infected slimes surged closer and closer. He could now see the dripping acid from their toothed maws. The first line of infected entered the zone.

“Ignite!” he slapped. The plant slimes with fire lilies responded, and an explosion of fire erupted into the infected horde.

“We got them!” Rowen cried out.

“No,” Aisha muttered from the back, “Look out!” Despite her warning, Rowen was only barely able to move aside before a massive blast of wind and water surged out from the inferno, creating a small hurricane that not only stopped the inferno, but also decimated an entire column of the slime defense line. The three lieutenants focused, and there on the backline were a small mass of magic slimes. Unlike the normal-looking magic slimes, which were of the neutral tone of colors, these were an odd mix of blue and white, only recognizable as magic slimes by the markings on their slime.

“What the hell are those?!” Rowen asked, sharply.

“Mutations, most likely,” Anadine gasped. “In response to the fire that wiped out the others, these must have become specialized in water and wind magic. Does that make them tier 3 slimes?”

“Irrelevant,” Aisha growled. “However, countered. Destroy first!”

“I’ll take the lead. Aisha, try to take them out when you can. Charge!” Rowen ordered, leading his minion slimes into the fray. The infected bug slimes met him and his straight away, their acid-dripping maws and claws sinking into the slimes. Rowen parried and countered, using his magic to blast away the slimes that got too close, in order to avoid the black mana. His minion slimes, lacking a ‘true’ core, were able to avoid the infection, but were still destroyable.

“I’ll be leading the bug slimes, next,” Anadine communicated to Aisha, “I’ll take the right flank to distract them, so try to take out the mage slimes from the left.”

“Understood, then-” the worg began.

Suddenly, the dungeon seemed to shake, and every slime felt a sudden and intimate loss. Anadine was shocked as she looked within herself.

“The, the connection with Doc, it’s broken,” she wept. “We, we can’t replenish our mana.”

The sudden loss caught Rowen off guard, and he was unable to maintain magical attacks and his minions at the same time. He instantly fell into a disadvantage, which prompted Anadine to hurry into the fight to save him. Aisha, caught up in sheer bewilderment, could not help but look down.

“Doc, abandon, us?”

*****

The explosion shocked Doc out of his thoughts. Rather, the pain of the explosion had shattered Doc’s melancholy and filled him with an agony he was completely unprepared to deal with. The amount of mana being drained from him was over his limits, causing physical damage to his crystal. He let out a groan as the feeling spread through his mind, followed by the rush of mana that accompanied the death of many slimes. The sudden influx of mana alleviated half of the pain, allowing him to focus once again. He did not yet fully absorb the mana and all the memories they contained; he put them aside for the moment. As Doc’s mana increased, he forced himself to ignore the remaining pain and concentrate on the source of his sudden mana drainage.

“What is this?!” Doc gasped out. “Damn it, what is happening to me?!” Instantly, his sense spread through the dungeon and actively perceived the world within him, focusing in on the previous moments that had occurred in the grey slime family and beyond. The defeat of the bug slimes and the destruction of the grey slime family instantly played through his mind. Shock played through his mind, leaving Doc speechless.

“It hasn’t even been half an hour since Anadine and the rest left,” he murmured. Doc’s attention locked onto the western part of the forest; rather, what had once been the western part of the forest. There was only debris now, covered in a spreading fire that was slowly making its way to the northern, central, and southern parts of the forest. The western wall of the dungeon was even worse, having become a huge, gaping hole in the dungeon that breached outside his bubble-like influence sphere that formed the outer limits of his dungeon body. While the catastrophic damage, thankfully, had been focused more inward than outward, enough of it had broken through the limits of his dungeon like a popped balloon, which had caused the resulting pain from extreme and sudden loss of mana. His crystal had been damaged by such a large expenditure of mana, leaving him in a weakened state as he was forced to deal with the dungeon’s rising issues while repairing the hole. Changing his main focus from maintenance to emergency repair, Doc took stock of his current situation.

“I can’t repair my crystal,” Doc muttered as he inspected his physical form. It was covered in several surface-level cracks, but otherwise undamaged, from what he could tell. Still, from the cracks he could feel his dungeon mana slowly bleeding out and changing back into environmental mana. “If I repair myself, I’ll be unable to react to anything else. But if I don’t repair the cracks, I’ll bleed mana and possibly cause irrevocable damage to myself.” Doc found himself in a severe situation, but experience had taught him to assess the situation before taking action. Doc quickly went over his body and functions to see what he could do.

Most of his mana was still being drained to fix the hole in the dungeon, but the quick repair had already reached a point that had drastically lowered how much mana he was hemorrhaging. The sudden death of so many slimes had also replenished his stores of mana, though he was still a small level lower than before the explosion. He could not produce more slimes artificially without wasting more mana, but the nests were still usable. Doc had set the nests to be closed, if taken by the infected slimes, at least before the explosion; he wasn’t sure how many automatic functions were still working. A quick thought, loss of mana, and all nests were disabled. His omnipresent sense, which allowed him to be constantly aware of his dungeon, was off; the first ability he could relinquish, to save mana; albeit that it cost him sight and situational clarity. He could still see, but it required direct focus. His dungeon-modification abilities were also mostly disabled; yet, Doc had retained enough to engage one last movement before causing damage. After that, Doc found himself limited to conversation and calculation. It was time to check up on the situation at hand.

“Rowen, give me a status report!” Doc beckoned, through the mental bond. “Are you and the others all right?”

“We are okay; but it’s bad, Doc,” Rowen’s voice echoed seriously in the dungeon crystal’s head. “The infected slimes all attacked at the same time, causing chaos in the forest. The worst hit were the bug slimes; the nest has completely fallen, from what I saw. The grey slimes, though... I think they’ve been completely wiped out. I don’t know what happened, but the western forest is either gone, or an inferno. At the very least, there are no more infected from over there.”

“What about the other slimes? And where are you?” Doc tried to focus.

“Anadine led Aisha and I to the mimic slime tree base,” Rowen explained. “The northeast herb slime garden fell to the infected, but it was quickly destroyed by Dream Flowers brought over from the northern garden by the flower slimes. You were right, at least, Doc; the Dream Flowers are the nemesis of the foreign mana, and the flower slimes are fully capable of using them as weapons.”

“The survivors are all gathering here, Doc,” the white and grey slime continued. “The nightmare slime and a number of bug slimes arrived earlier; they tried to take the slime nests but were fought off by the mimic slimes. A host of herb family slimes have appeared from both the northern and eastern gardens; the only two left in the forest. The forest lions made it here safely, but the three females look to be too heavily pregnant to be of much help. Finally, one member of the grey slimes is here. I don’t know what kind of slime it is.”

“I see.” Doc pondered the magnitude of the unprecedented occurrences.

Rowen waited for a moment. “How are you feeling, Doc? That explosion did quite a bit of damage, after all.”

“I’m, I’m fine, Rowen,” Doc asserted, resolutely. “You, Anadine, and Aisha should gather the slimes and prepare for this fight. I’m going to work on this infection of foreign mana; to see if there is a method I can use to cure the slimes of this disease before it gets farther. I have disabled the spawn nests taken by the infected slimes, and I have sealed the furry slime packs in the labyrinth. The enemy has no other source of reinforcements.”

“Understood, Doc,” Rowen nodded. “Good luck.”

After Doc ended the mental conversation with Rowen, he turned his attention back to his crystal body. It was still bleeding mana slowly into the Heart Room, the result of damage from such intense usage and expelling of mana; but he sensed that the hole in the dungeon was completely fixed. He would no longer experience any more major hemorrhaging of mana from the dungeon. If he took the time to heal, then he’d be able to work back up to full strength in a reasonable amount of time. He’d neglected to tell Rowen that his last act of dungeon modification would be to take the entire labyrinth floor and seal it up into individual, unconnected rooms, preventing any chance of infection reaching him. Like Claire had told him so long ago, though: Without a clear flow of air from the entrance to his crystal, environmental mana was unable to reach him, akin to an adventurer holding one’s breath, and preventing him from regulating the level of dungeon mana throughout the dungeon. Given enough time, he’d starve and be forced into hibernation. Of course, he still had more than enough time to take care of the infected slimes, after fixing himself, without the dangers of hibernation.

“But if I wait,” he muttered to himself. “There won’t be any survivors. Even if they survive the attack and defeat the infected slimes, they are unable to receive my mana, either, with the tunnels closed. The more they fight, the less time they’ll have before dissolving back into dungeon mana.”

As he worked, his sight remained locked onto the mimic slime tree. He watched everything, as his lieutenants worked to organize the slimes and prevent disorder. He noted the discovery of magical fire being a weakness to the black mana, though he himself could not use it. He watched as the slimes appeared to be ready to fight. He watched the infected group gather together and move ever closer to the mimic slime tree.

“The more slimes die, the more of my dungeon mana will be released into the air,” he considered. “Which will help lengthen the lives of other slimes. Even the death of the infected will help them to continue to fight and live. So, I don’t need to worry. They will be fine. They don’t need me.” The sentient dungeon crystal tried to reassure himself.

Then, he saw the infected’s countermeasure to the fire, and Doc’s crystal lost its shine.

“They can handle this,” he murmured. “I can bring them back. Yeah, I just need to keep myself safe. Right, Claire? Yeah, the dungeon is the most important thing to preserve. Yeah. Yeah; yeah . . .”

With that, the labyrinth closed. And Doc was truly alone.

Chapter 24

The battlefield had devolved into a brawl-filled mess of slimantic proportions. There was no clear line of separation between the two sides, especially as the infection took hold in the defeated members of the defense force. Anadine’s rushed entrance into the battlefield had propagated the chaos, but she’d at least been able to rescue Rowen before he was eliminated -- or worse, infected. The white and grey slime had cursed everything as she dragged him away, the blood slimes covering their escape and paying for it with their lives.

“Damn this infection, damn this dungeon, and damn it, Doc!” Rowen screamed angrily, his slime body dripping away slime from the acid-etched injuries. “Ah gods, this actually hurts! Really frickin’ hurts!”

“You’re fighting the little bits of infection,” Anadine growled out as she slew two infected bug slimes. “Focus on dealing with it; you’ll feel better.”

“Rawr, let me go!” Rowen roared, struggling to break free. “I want to fight; I want to kill!”

“That’s the infection talking, you idiot brother!”

Throwing the resisting Rowen into the backlines where he was restrained by the scaled slime -- “Let me go, you scaled bastards!” -- Anadine returned her view to the battlefield. It was oddly even, though the spreading infections, combined with the defenders’ loss of mana replenishment, seemed likely to overrun the resistance.

On the battlefield, two slimes were most notable.

The nightmare slime was the first, being the long-time leader of the bug slimes, with many bits of fighting experience under its wings. Its shrill calls and whistles directed its bug slimes into continuously advantageous positions, forcing a wedge into the enemy’s backline before retreating and following up with a volley of sticky slime spit. Its fury was quite evident, as it aimed specifically at the largest groups of infected bug slimes. Anadine noticed quickly that three of the new, infected nightmare slimes were barreling their way toward it, however, squashing their allies and enemies alike in their haste.

The second notable slime was the new shard warrior slime, who, in an odd twist, was leading the herb slime family. It wielded a spike sword and shield made of many interconnected shards, which glowed as they released the occasional burst of magic. It was these bursts that eliminated the worst of the infectious black mana littering the battlefield, freeing up space for the defending slimes to fight without fear. The flower slimes were scattered around, leading small groups of lesser herb slime family members, but all followed the lead of the shard slime as it created fighting space for them. The forest burst with life as roots and limbs under the control of the flower and plant slimes pierced through the enemy slimes, barely countered by the few infected plant slimes on the other side. The jungle and poison slimes assisted as strong aggressive supports, lobbing poisonous slime and piercing spikes into the enemy forces that got too close.

This did not mean the enemy was taking the punishment lying down. As expected, the infected jungle slimes were proving the worst nuisance, hiding behind the infected bug slime shock troops. From their position in the midlines, they continuously released large volleys of needle-sized spikes into the fight, each carrying trace amounts of infection. While a single needle could be ignored, enough of them caused each attacked slime to resort to fighting the infection within itself, leaving them all wide open to counters from the infected enemy. This is what had happened to Rowen, with the scaled slimes using tools to remove and burn the needles. For the deeper needles, it required cutting out the surrounding slime; which already had shrunk Rowen by a fourth.

In addition, the description of ‘shock troop’ was quite apt for the infected bug slimes. Any part of their body that wasn’t useful as a weapon was covered in a thicker layer of slime chiton than normal, allowing them to tank through hits that would incapacitate normal slime. Combined with the new, acidic nature of their attacks, they were proving to be most effective against the other slimes. The nightmare slimes were even worse.

The nightmare slime leader was a mess of bug body parts, but each served an important function and worked together to create a terrifying monster. The infected nightmares were just as efficient, but they sacrificed troop tactics and the original’s rudimentary wisdom for single-combat slaughter. One such example was covered in scorpion pincers, which it used to launch itself and lash out at the same time, in tornado-like fashion. Another resembled an ant hydra, with many mandible-covered tentacles throwing slimes every which-way if not slicing them in half outright. The worst-looking one was covered in insect eyes and mouths, dripping acid from every opening, and choosing to devour everything within reach. And these three were the ones attacking the nightmare slime proper; the other seven were just as horrifying and causing damage all along the battlefield.

Anadine focused on the backline of the enemy, where the infected mage slimes were being protected. Their magic wasn’t used to fight, but instead to counter any signs of fire that popped up on the battlefield. The blue slime noted that their protectors, while numerous, were all still just tier 2 slimes from different families.

“Aisha, the fight can’t go on like this. Are your furry slimes ready?”

“Prepared, give signal,” the worg replied, watching from within the tree.

“Okay,” Anadine grimaced, avoiding a volley of infected needles by hardening. “The original plan failed; but still, go for the left flank; it’s not as congested.”

“Going, going!” Aisha howled, and the furry slimes took to the field. Their woofs and howls filled the air, as five packs’ worth of slime raced across the field into the left flank, led by the voracious worg filled with righteous anger toward the infection. The infected slimes were caught off-guard and quickly slashed to death by the slime-hardened fangs and claws of the running slimes. The furry slimes avoided the infectious black mana by leaping over it, forming an interesting spectacle that gave them the far- away appearance of a moving stream of fur-covered water.

They were almost to the backline. Just a few more moments.

“Come on, get them!” Anadine roared, her spirit willing up with determination as she slaughtered five more infected slimes. “Go!”

Aisha howled as the mage slimes came into view. Her eyes darted around, staring with both sight, mana sense, and tremor sense; no traps. They were going to make it. She leaped from side to side, avoiding the counter attacks from the mage slimes. One more push.

And the ground erupted with needles.

Aisha howled in pain as her body was pierced from below. What was once grass had hardened into needle spikes from infected jungle slimes, which had stretched themselves over the ground like a carpet. Just like how Rowen had once hidden himself by blending in with the mana-rich surroundings, so, too, did these slime ambush the furry slimes. Pierced slimes fell over in painful yips, even as their comrades ripped the cores of the jungle slime to shreds; but it was too late. Already, a few of the furry slimes fell to the infection and lashed out against their former packmates. Aisha was sprawled on her side, shuddering as she, too, fought off the infection, unable to communicate orders to the packs. Instantly, the left flank fell into internal chaos as the other infected slimes reacted and joined the fight.

“No, Aisha!” Anadine cried out, horrified. “I’m coming-” she was stopped at the sudden appearance of two infected nightmare slimes, who forced her back. Her senses whirled; she was cut off from allies. She roared in defiance, forming tentacles weapons and fighting back as the number of enemies increased around her.

“Let me go, I need to save them!” Rowen roared from the back, held back by the scaled slimes. He struggled in vain to break free. “Damnations! Anadine, Aisha! Hold on!”

*****

Having decided his course of action, Doc settled in to begin his repairs. Aside from roughly half the mana -- the portion holding the slime’s memories-- that he avoided, Doc was fully devoted to repairing himself. And yet, even with all his attention and power focused on healing the cracks on his crystal, new ones seemed to appear.

The shuddering of the floor above his head told him the fighting had begun. He made himself ignore it. They’d be fine, he insisted to himself.  He could regenerate them, if they fell on the battlefield. Whereas, if the sentient dungeon crystal, himself, failed and perished, nothing would exist here. He had to do this, for everyone’s sake. The cracks on his crystal grew.

“Is your crystal cracked, Doc?” Anadine’s voice echoed in his mind.

“No, I’m fine; nothing’s wrong,” Doc fibbed.

“If you throw things away so simply, then you become just as bad as Frelgard.” Rowen’s voice now came unbidden from Doc’s memories.

“No, not true,” Doc said. The cracks seemed to expand once again, eluding his concentration. They were growing worse, not better. He redoubled his efforts.

“Ayla, be fine?” Aisha’s voice rang out.

“She will be, she will be, once I remake her body,” Doc grimaced. “Just need to . . . kill her. I can bring her back, I can bring them all back.”

“The strong devours the weak, it is the rule of this world” rang the voice of the insane dungeon, Frelgard. “The weak have no place. You’re just like me!”

“I’m nothing like you!” Doc screamed out; his concentration completely broken. “I value what I have! I won’t waste my . . . I won’t sacrifice my . . . my family.” Doc shuddered again, as the thoughts and memories in his mind fought against each other. All of Claire’s lessons rang loudest of all.

“‘You are a dungeon, a being whose main body is that of a crystal. Your magic allows you to control the territory around you and change it to suit your needs. This territory will then become an extension of your will and serve as a shell to protect your core. The reason why those like you are called dungeons is because of your tendency to create great caves and labyrinths in the earth which hide countless treasures and monsters.’” The first time he learned what he was, one of the first things he’d ever learned from his pixie partner.

“Right, that’s right,” he muttered. “Everything is an extension of me, to protect me. There is nothing wrong with what I’m doing. It’s all me, it’s all mine. I can’t waste it, any of it.” The cracks grew once more, extending deeper into him, causing him pain, this time.

He screamed out. “Why isn’t it working! I need it, my mana! I can’t afford to give it to them, I can’t! I, I-”

“The reluctance you felt is actually one of your dungeon instincts kicking in. Crystals naturally hoard their mana, so it’s a hard lesson to teach new dungeons how to overcome their instincts.” This single memory echoed suddenly in his head, and Doc focused on the doorway leading into Claire’s bedroom.

“Claire?” he asked quietly.

"I'll be your new mother, and Doc will be your father." Claire had promised Ayla and Aisha after their mother’s death.

“Mr. Slime, are you saying it’s okay for me to live? Will you take me in, when no one else wants me?” Anadine had pleaded to Doc when she was a broken human, and he had accepted her.

“As the son of the King, I, Prince Rowen, will repay this honor!” Rowen had pledged fealty to Doc, after being awakened from his 500-year forced slumber.

“Remember, Doc: We are a family,” Claire’s voice seemed to echo in his head. “Remember that.”

Time seemed to freeze as Doc reexamined himself: what he had been doing, what he had decided, what he was becoming. Treating his monsters as little more than tools. Treating the lives of those who cared about him as expendable. With an anguished feeling of regret, Doc’s senses fell on the mass of mana and memories waiting to be absorbed. They floated around the crystal, waiting for their final destination.

“I’m nothing like you. Frelgard,” Doc growled, as he allowed the memories and mana to enter him.

The image of the explosion played through Doc’s mind again. The moment when all the grey slimes vanished, he was still unable to see. It had been too fast, a mere moment in time, to which he was blind. Their mana, however -- those memories -- still existed. Doc used the lives of his slimes to fill the emptiness in him. As their mana returned to him, so did the memories of their entire existence, from start to finish. He’d forestalled immersing in their life histories, to repair the dungeon; but he could no longer do so, if he wanted to properly absorb the mana back into his body.

Tightening his spirit, Doc let the memories flow through him as he focused the slime mana into beginning the repairs on his cracks. The last of the mana gained from all the deaths of his slimes trickled through his mind, before growing into a deluge of images and sensation.

He was born a grey slime before evolving into a gelatinous slime. He protected the smaller slimes but wasn’t much use for anything besides guarding the littler slimes and the occasional patrol. The faintest feeling of dissatisfaction and ambition toward strength, to stand tall with the tier 3 slimes. The attack, he was useful again! No, the weakness to magic. Knowing the slimes needed time, he didn’t move out of the way. Fire burned him, destroying the slime he relied on to live. Last image, the little slimes had made it. Satisfaction.

He was born a lesser mimic slime. He was infiltrating the bug slimes after a successful garden raid but was caught. With no choice, he became a lesser mimic on the bug slime’s side. He worked hard, fighting in a number of garden raids, and being one of the first to enter the southern garden as they took it. In the celebration, he was able to ‘lose’ some supplies to the mimic family. He was reprimanded and demoted to nest guard. Dreams of returning to the mimics dashed after evolving into a proper bug slime. Sadness. A sneak attack from behind, an infected. Regrets.

He was a plant slime on the hunt for new plants to bring to the garden. He’d been born in the western garden before its destruction, escaping to the northern garden before the war of food. He fit in but took every chance he could to revisit the western forest. There was no obvious answer as to why he did so. He was hunting in the western forest, having dodged a couple of grey slime patrols on the run back to their home. It made his job easier. A flash of light, followed by the strongest wind he’d ever felt, sending him rolling and crashing into a tree. Only a few moments to watch as a wall of fire that encompassed the entire world moved toward him. He buried the gathered plants quickly and covered them with his body, before nothing. Acceptance.

More and more memories played in Doc’s head. A poison slime, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, dying in annoyance, having not watered its favorite flower today. A sharp slime, infected by a piece of shrapnel and forced to attack his comrades; it died in fire and appreciation. A bug slime combatant, taking on ten infected bug slimes at the same time, and killing them all before taking its own life, filled with bloodlust. A grey slime fleeing with all its might, a coward to the end as flames took it. A flower slime, crushed. A furry slime, smashed. A bug muncher, collateral damage.

Any normal being would have lost its mind in the confusing cacophony of memories, emotions, and death; yet, Doc merely absorbed the images, one after another. As he did so, Doc was filled with the memories of many lives with many experiences, filling the void within him for just a few moments. And in those few moments, Doc remembered who he was.

“I am Doc, the dungeon crystal -- nay, the dungeon!” he growled. “I am this one, and I am all things within it!” He roared out. “I shall not hide in fear from danger! I shall run toward it! I will not abandon those that serve me. This is my dungeon, and this disease is-- not-- welcome!”

With a crack, the labyrinth floor cracked open and released a single tunnel up into the mimic slime tree. The cracks on Doc’s crystal slowly shrank, as it patched up by the many slimes and their memories. Throwing caution to the wind, Doc used his remaining mana to reinforce his slimes and to release an ability he had long since unlocked but never used.

Upgrade Monsters IV

Tier 1 Ability (Acquired)

Grants the ability to improve monsters by unlocking next evolution level.
Current Monster levels: Slime tier 4

“Let you slimes evolve and retake the forest! Come forth, my tier 4 slimes!”

Chapter 25

The sudden ambush against the furry slimes eliminated the last hope for the defenders. While hope and despair sentiments beyond what the fighting slimes could feel, and while they were not subject to any form of moral boost or fall; nonetheless, they began to tire. Without the dungeon’s constant renewal of mana, each slime was running out of the ability to fight. On the field, the bug slimes and lesser mimic vanguard were taking more hits, compared to their infected brethren. Though the infected slimes were also subject to this loss of mana, they could last longer by using up the black mana. More and more slimes were dying; the infection, itself, was unable to satisfy the mana needs of the weaker slimes. The chaotic battlefield was quickly changing from a slime-soaked bastion of nightmares into a hellhole of death.

Rowen wheezed as he dragged himself back into mostly ally territory, dragging with him the trembling body of his sister-lieutenant, Anadine. The blue slime had amazingly fought so long and so hard that she personally slew two of the nightmare slime leaders, though at the cost of her strength. She could barely keep her body together as a slime as Rowen rescued her.

“I got you, I got you,” Rowen lovingly comforted her, as he moved. An infected lesser mimic leaped from the left, and Rowen smacked it back. “Almost there, almost there, almost . . . there.” Groaning, he collapsed, his body unable to keep up with fighting the infectious mana and fighting the invading slimes at the same time. He could still see the world around him.

A scaled slime suddenly appeared by his side, a younger looking member. Using its mouth, it grabbed ahold of Rowen’s body and dragged him back, using a tentacle to pull Anadine with them. Rowen kept the difference in treatment to himself; not that being dragged like prey was a new experience for him.

“If you tribe is going to act, now is the time,” Rowen said hoarsely. “It is no longer a luxury we can afford to spend waiting.” Unsure if the reptilian slime could understand him, unconsciousness finally took hold of the white and grey slime.

The scaled slime chittered in its language-less voice, seemingly responding to Rowen’s words. Forming a third tentacle behind its head, the slime let loose a series of complicated tentacle-gestures to the others of its kind hiding in the trees.

The scout responded by letting loose a series of whistles, and the scaled slimes finally made their move. Wielding bows and slime-hardened arrows, the small group of reptilian slime fighters poured out of the openings in the tree and took every available space on the branches, becoming a stream of green and brown. They unleashed their volley of arrows into the melee, accurately striking the enemy infected slimes. It was unfortunate, however, that the slime chiton found on the majority of the infected bug slimes was dense enough to deflect most arrows, and that the backline where the mage slimes were was too far away. Thankfully, the arrows were able to finally destroy the remainder of the infected jungle slimes, eliminating their corrupting threat on the slime defenders.

The enemy was too quick to react, however. The infected mage slimes released magical torrents of wind and water, sending their magic hurtling into the tree. The scaled slimes archers were mercilessly flung into the forest beyond, their fates unknown. This sacrifice, though, was part of the defenders’ grand plan, as the magic covered the sudden intrusion of scaled slime spearmen into the backline. They split into 2 groups, with a small portion of young and weak scaled slimes breaking away to save Aisha, who still remained prone and fighting off the infection. The rest of the spear-wielding slimes let loose raucous cries as they threw themselves toward the mage slimes. Caught off-guard, the other infected slimes were only able to react defensively after most of the infected magic slimes were killed.

Even in the face of overwhelming enemies, the scaled slimes did not back down. Wielding their tier 3 strength, they screeched and tore through the infected like magical wind blades, sacrificing defense for overwhelming offense. A scaled slime was bit several times by acid-ridden bug slime maws, only to slay the enemies and continue even as their bodies bled off slime. One of the scaled slimes, pierced by an infected slime core, boldly committed suicide, before the infection took hold, by stabbing itself in the core. A cadre of only 10 tier 3 scaled slimes was able to eliminate over 50 enemy slimes, including three more nightmare slimes, before dying glorious deaths. The last of them was able to see Aisha taken into the tree base, letting out such a roar it could have been from a dragon. With its last breath, it struck down the last remaining infected mage slime, finally ridding the battlefield of its countering threat.

The sacrifice of the scaled slimes was witnessed by every defending slime, though most were unable to understand the significance. For those that did, their minuscule understanding burst forth a form of anger atypical of slime. The nightmare slime, in particular, unleashed a roar in response to that of the last scaled slime warrior and redoubled its attacks, slaying an enemy nightmare slime in three moves and ripping its core in half. It leaped into the air with grasshopper legs, then sprouted praying mantis scythes as it landed, whirling them around in a tornado of death and flying slime. It screeched at the infected bug slimes, a command to gather, which the enemy obeyed. Its follower bug slimes were unable to immediately join it, leaving the lead bug slime to face innumerable enemies, just as it wanted.

The shard warrior slime, too, felt the mana rushing through its slime at the sight of the dead scaled slimes. Unlike the nightmare slime, it retained a level head and led the herb slime family back into the fray. The remainder of the booze slimes let loose their mana-laden alcohol, now, finally able to act without the fear of magical blowback from the infected mage slimes. The fire lily-wielding flower slimes followed up with their fire, releasing the inferno that had been in waiting for too long. Instantly, the infected slimes were forced back into more defensive positions as the infectious black mana was quickly removed from the battlefield, freeing up more space for the defending slimes to maneuver in.

However, this change in pace had come too late for the defenders. Their mana had been whittled away, and now, at this point, it was almost completely drained. If this had been a battlefield of humans, or elves, or any other intelligent race, then the soldiers would have been replaced by reserve forces, or they would have possessed a mana-rejuvenating potion to make up for the loss. The slimes neither understood supply chains or tactics, nor held even a basic thought that perhaps carrying mana honey would be the perfect thing to take to replenish lost mana. Without such replenishment, the slimes were on their last legs, even as the inferno blazed around them.

The three dungeon lieutenants were unconscious, the nightmare slime was tiring even as its fury grew, the shard warrior slime was running out of enchanted shards, the booze slimes were on empty, and the scaled slimes able to fight were dead or scattered. And still the slime fought on, unable to understand the concept of inevitable defeat; the perfect army.

It started with a rumble. It started with a shake or two. It, the beginning of the end, came as quickly as it had left.

The dungeon trembled and shook as a great, tumultuous eruption of power exploded outwards from the ground. Like a wave of nourishing rain on a drought-soaked ground, it filled the slimes with mana as Doc’s power returned with a vengeance, refilling their strength and then some. The mana was pure, and the slimes were returned to full fighting prowess.

The nightmare slime shone in brilliant colors as it evolved on the battlefield, becoming the first tier 4 terror slime. Previously a round blob of ever-growing and retracting bug parts, now it was a true ‘terror’ in name and appearance, as entire bodies of various insects formed and attacked, resembling a hydra more than a slime. The infected slimes around it were sliced, chomped, munched, pierced, clawed, and dissected, even as the infection continued to attack the terror’s slime core. It fought through the pain, even as its wounds grew ever more dire and fatal.

In the herb slime family, a small portion of the poison slimes evolved into acid slimes, thanks to exposure from the enemy infected slimes. The acid of which their body had become composed was incredibly potent, strong enough to melt even the infectious black mana back into less-dense environmental mana. When spat upon in globs, nothing was able to resist melting, with even the ground sizzling as small holes were created.

Finally, the remaining, older scaled slimes finally evolved into their destined form, tier 4 reptilian slimes. These slimes lost all regular appearance of slime-hood, possessing a body, four limbs, a tail, and a head. Their tongues were long and sharp, and their backs were covered in slime-hardened bone spikes they could rip out to use as spears. Regaining their familiar bodies, these reptilian slimes returned to the fight, wielding their spears with greater finesse and flexibility. They let out sonorous cries, making full use of their returned vocal cords to sing a song of honor and vengeance for their fallen brethren.

Meanwhile, the infected slimes were still left cut off from Doc’s mana, meaning that, now, it was their strength waning, even as they began to commit suicide in an effort to infect more of the defending slimes. The presence of the acid slimes, however, reduced the attackers’ effectiveness, as the acid slimes acted as battlefield surgeons and used their corrosive slime to burn away any part of their allied slimes that held black mana.

Below, in the tomb, the parasite dungeon watched all of this occur through the shared senses it possessed with every infected slime. It felt rage, resentment, and a very odd feeling of rivalry.

“So, I am defeated, once more, by this chaotic, nonsense-filled dungeon,” it grumbled. “Well, this is neither ideal, nor foreseen. I admit my defeat, slime dungeon; but you have only won the battle, not the war. We shall continue this fight in the future, I promise you that.” With that said to no one in particular, the small trace of crystal within Ayla’s head shattered into environmental mana, and the worg fell unconscious into the ground. In the meantime, a single nightmare slime that had stayed hidden in the woods retreated from the battlefield, silent and stealthy, making its way toward the northern dungeon exit.

Meanwhile, the three lieutenants within the mimic tree slowly awoke, as strength reinvigorated their bodies, each paired with an acid slime surgeon, expertly excising the black mana from their bodies.

“I felt him!” Rowen exclaimed. “Am I dreaming?”

“Only if we’re dreaming the same dream, little brother,” Anadine murmured next to him. “No, I think we are awake, alive, and safe. Right, Doc?”

“I’m sorry,” Doc’s voice rang out in their minds. “I forgot what I was, and what I was fighting for. But, I remember both now, and I hope you all will continue being my family.”

“We never stopped,” Anadine pointed out. “You just became focused on what you lost, instead of what you still had. Well, this is neither the time for lessons nor the moment for ruminations. Let us return to the fight!”

“For Doc!” Aisha let loose a cry, and the three dashed out of the tree, much to the annoyance of the acid slimes, who wiggled their tentacles in a most dissatisfied manner. With the three returning, coupled with their newfound tier 4 strength, the infected slimes were wiped out. The dungeon was free once more.

In the aftermath the terror slime let out a cry of victory, standing tall and full of pride. This was the last sound it would ever make as it grew silent, cold, and still. The remaining bug slimes surrounded it, paying an unspoken vigil as slowly, surely, the body of their leader turned into dust and mana. A low song of grief was heard even as the rest of the slimes threw themselves up into the air in victory.

Only the shard warrior slime moved to join the bugs in their vigil. It stayed silent, perhaps praying for its own fallen brethren.

*****

Light twinkled in from above, a warm and soft light. So different from what she was used to seeing, yet so familiar. Claire blinked once, then twice, and a third time, each slower than the last. As she did so, feeling and sensation began to arrive from around her body. First her neck, then her chest, and her arms, and her legs, hands and feet, and finally toes and fingers. A strange fatigue seemed to hang over her, making it difficult to move her body in any meaningful way. She twitched her fingers and toes, and slowly bent her knees and elbows. A small frown dancing on her lips, the dungeon pixie slowly, excruciatingly, worked her way up into a sitting posture, leaning against her pillows and wall.

She turned her head from side to side, examining her surroundings. Her room was messy, with the remainder of plant refuse covering the floor from the encounter with the Dream Flower. A layer of dust coated everything, as well, though it was clear someone had, at some point, attempted a cleaning from the inconsistency of the dust. With more slow movements, she turned her body so that her legs fell out of the bed, dangling uselessly above the floor. With a small grunt, she forced herself further off the bed until her feet touched the cold floor. With novel feelings, she maneuvered herself into a standing posture, and stood.

Her first steps were hesitant, like a foal after birth. One step, second step, third-no, stumbling back onto the wall. With a firm determination, she forced herself back and continued her way. One step, two steps, three steps; she continued. Past the bedroom, past the small living room, and past the kitchen to the door; the door was waiting for her. They were waiting for her. It, no -- he, was waiting for her. Another stumble, but this time she caught herself on the door. Her hand moved down to the knob and turned it. With the help of her weight, the door opened outwards, letting in the cool, familiar purple light she had so dearly missed. Strength returning quickly, she flung the door open farther and stepped out into the light. She stood on the precipice, her precipice, and looked up. A floating, familiar purple crystal floated, shining its light down on her. Three figures awaited on the ground, staring up at her.

“I’m home, Doc!” Claire rejoiced, tears on her face.

“Welcome back, Claire.”

Epilogue

The reunion revelry complete, Claire found herself reluctantly back in her room. Doc and the others had been extremely adamant that she continue to rest and recover her strength, before resuming her duties proper as Doc’s dungeon pixie partner. She protested, but in the end, she gracefully allowed herself to be overruled by her family. Yes, the family she had been lacking for so long would be fine without her for a little bit longer; but she was restless. After her experience, her eyes were finally wide open again, with no magic or trauma to hold her back. She wanted to do something, anything.

Her eyes fell on a familiar book, shrunk down to fit her hands. She walked over and picked it up, flipping it open. ‘The Journal of Magus Falcon.’ Its simple title heralded the tome as the prized journal of the enigmatic magus-ranked mage and researcher who had once assisted her and Doc against the machinations of the Tomb of the Forgotten King. He’d given this copy of his notes and experiences to the two of them as payment, before leaving, forgetting to mention he’d magically encrypted the entire book, rendering it impossible to read without the proper language and magical passwords. Claire had worked on it, allowing the dungeon duo to uncover certain combinations of slime and items to encourage evolutions. Since then however, the journal had remained untouched.

Tapping her head, the dungeon pixie walked over to her work desk, cleansing it of dust with a simple spell.   As she secured her chair and sat, the amateur decryptor pulled a pen out of an ink well. Tapping the ink to a manageable level, she wrote across the cover: ‘With Claire’s Notes’. She smiled and flipped the journal open to the first page.

“What are you up to, Claire?” Doc’s voice echoed softly in her head.

She chuckled. “Since I’m being confined here, I’ve decided to immerse myself anew in an old project. Do you remember Magus Falcon, who gave us the journal, Doc?”

“Yes, I do,” he answered. “Tall adventurer, bit weird, and knew a lot about dungeons. His journal helped us unlock the, um, what slime again?”

“It encouraged you to play around with the slimes to form a magic slime, remember?” Claire reminded him. “There was much exploding of slime, of course, until you got it right.”

“Ah, right,” Doc sighed. “So, are you thinking of continuing the translation?”

“Yes, and I’ll add to it my own notes,” Claire revealed. “After all, I remember so much more about me, my people, and other facts about the world. In case I or we should suffer issues with our memories, this journal will be here, filled with all the facts and knowledge about the world, and about the monsters in it. If we discover more things, I’ll add our discoveries and epiphanies to the journal, as well. Maybe, someday, I’ll put some pictures in it, too.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Claire,” Doc encouraged. “I can’t wait to see what you will accomplish with it!”

“Thanks, Doc!” The pixie positively beamed.

A sudden tremor shook Claire’s home, causing a small bit of dust to fall from the ceiling. Claire looked up, curious.

“Is something occurring in the dungeon, Doc?” Claire asked, protectively.

Doc hummed for a bit. “Well, yes. But nothing you need to worry about. Just taking out the trash, as the adventurers like to call it.”

*****

“Wolf packs destroy this slime dungeon!” called out the voice of the dungeon. Outside, within Doc’s perimeter, a large, white wolf stood, possessing a single crystal, instead of eyes. It commanded several hundred wolves and two dozen dire wolves to enter Doc. On the back of the white wolf sat a dungeon pixie, covered in stitched pelts and wearing a wild look on its face.

“Who would have thought we’d be so lucky to find the slime dungeon!” The pixie giggled crazily. “As soon we confirm the kill, then we’ll be able to join his pixie faction and be safe! No more roaming the forest, no more raw meat. We will have cooked meat!”

“Cooked meat!” the dungeon boss wolf barked. “Cooked meat for us, cooked meat! Go wolf packs; form of wolf arrow!”

At the dungeon crystal’s command, its legion of wolves entered the slime dungeon in several arrow-shaped formations. The white wolf stayed outside to coordinate the fight, sharing the senses of every member of its pack.

Oddly, only a single slime was there to meet them in the entrance, quite sickly and dying. The lead wolves easily ripped through it and devoured its flesh before continuing.

“This dungeon is weak prey, weak!” the dungeon wolf boss barked. “Charge!”

It was quickly startled, then, when the floor dropped away from under its wolves as they crossed the cliff. Howling, the wolf packs skidded across the ground as they attempted to slow down, only to be bumped by the wolves behind them and tumbling down the cliff. Only a few wolves died from the fall, though most ended up injured in various ways. Unfortunately, waiting for them at the bottom was a large mass of slimes, led by tier 4 Rowen, Anadine, and Aisha. Rowen slapped its tentacle against the ground mockingly.

“Seems you mutts came to the wrong dungeon,” he taunted. Aisha growled at him, cowering the white and grey slime for just a moment. He coughed in a vain attempt to cover his embarrassment. “Anyway, time to die.”

The wolves yipped and howled in pain as the slimes fell upon them.  The invaders turned to flee.

“Run away, run away!” The white wolf screeched in panic, not possessing the forces to counter tie 3 monsters, let alone tier 4. The remaining wolves all turned tail and fled the dungeon. Only a few from the initial attack survived. The white wolf boss led the retreat into the forest, aiming to get as far away as they could from the fighting.

“Lies, slander!” the pixie howled. “They lied about the strength! Too scary, let’s run away. Come back later after getting stronger.”

“No cooked meat,” the white wolf whined sadly.

“It’s all right,” the dungeon pixie comforted. “If we can’t get strong enough, we’ll just report it. Still get some reward, hopefully.”

At the very back of the pack, the wolves began to lick each other’s injuries to speed up healing. One of the wolves licked broken slime off the fur of its brethren, before pausing. Its eyes danced as a streak of blackness came into being, before disappearing as if it had never been there to begin with. The wolf continued to lick the open wounds of its allies. They would always be a close-knit pack.

*****

Meanwhile, a certain worg sat in a stone room, looking around.

“Hey, is anyone out there? Doc, Aisha, hello? Let me out already!”