Steel Slime's Debut

Drip, drip~ Drip, drip~

In the dim passageway, the many adventurers proceeded cautiously. Dripping sounds echoed continuously from deep within the cave. When they followed the sound to its end, a cavern several hundred meters wide came into view.

Mushrooms of all sizes filled the enormous cavern. Several round figures bustled around the edge of the central pool, while the mycelium hanging from the ceiling gave off a faint glow like strips of lights.

"Careful, there's movement over there!"

Suddenly, the archer in the party called out a warning, staring fixedly at the dark figures moving along the edge of the pool. They had red mushroom caps and round bodies, making puchi-puchi sounds as they walked.

"Those are Ground Mushrooms, commonly known as Puchi. They're a type of monster commonly found in southern dungeons."

The mage in the party poked his head out for a look, curiosity in his eyes. As he explained to everyone present, he secretly planned to catch a few Ground Mushrooms for research once they left. Some alchemical potions required materials harvested from them.

"So they're low-level monsters?" The warrior in the party stepped forward to the edge of the pool and looked at the Puchi before him. Less than a meter separated them, yet the monster did not attack him and continued planting mushrooms.

"Interesting."

It was the young warrior's first time seeing a monster that did not actively attack humans. He drew the longsword at his waist and poked Puchi's round head twice with its scabbard.

Puchi.

"Cough, cough!"

A thick cloud of spores sprayed across the warrior's face. His irritated nose made him cough forcefully several times. Embarrassed and enraged, he swiftly drew his longsword, about to kill the Puchi in front of him.

"Hake, what the hell are you doing?"

Not far away, the adventurers searching the surroundings for cover noticed the frozen figure by the pool. Their expressions immediately turned tense as they shouted in his direction.

"Save... save me..."

The warrior named Hake turned around bit by bit, his eyes filled with terror as he begged his companions for help. Veins bulged beneath his exposed skin, as though countless insects were crawling inside him.

Pfft!

The next second, dense mycelium grew from Hake's eyes. Bright-red mushrooms also sprouted from the mouth he still had open in plea for help. Then, before the horrified eyes of the adventurers, the skin all over Hake's body burst apart, and mushrooms grew beneath it.

The newborn mushrooms were plump and tender, growing at a visible rate as they fed on flesh and blood.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!"

"Don't get close to those Ground Mushrooms."

Almost the instant Hake died, the adventurers in the cavern readied themselves for combat and assumed battle stances. At the same time, rustling sounds rose from the dim cave.

"Sola!"

"Got it."

After Sola the mage gave a brief response, he raised his staff. A ball of light instantly rose into the air, thoroughly illuminating the previously dark cavern. Only then did everyone realize that they had somehow been surrounded by monsters.

"Gugu gaga!"

An Orc Goblin, far larger than its kind and carrying a wooden club, let out a roar. Dozens of goblins charged forward with shrill cries, pitch-black wolf beasts sprang from the corners, and ugly Gnomes clutching crude stone daggers dropped from above.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, the archer at the center of the crowd had his throat pierced by a Gnome falling from overhead. Disbelief still filled his eyes. He had actually died at the hands of low-level monsters he had always looked down on.

"Damned monsters, look at me!"

John, standing at the very front of the party with a massive shield in hand, noticed the commotion behind him. Powerful battle aura erupted from his body as he drew a deep breath and roared.

The instant his roar rang out, every monster attacking from all directions turned toward him. Anger and hatred filled their bloodthirsty eyes. This was Forced Taunt, the skill of John, an Iron Guard.

One monster after another instantly abandoned the adventurers within reach and charged at John.

"Nice one, John."

"Go! Kill these monsters!"

Taking advantage of the monsters being completely drawn to John, the remaining adventurers unleashed their strength. Having lost the advantage of their ambush, these low-level monsters were almost powerless against Margery Town's strongest adventurers.

The only thing that could cause them trouble was the sheer number of monsters.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

While the adventurers slaughtered monsters, no one noticed the many iron-black slimes the size of basketballs appearing among the horde.

Whoosh!

The next second, the warrior who had just beheaded an Orc Goblin suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. He was sent flying like a cannonball, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"What is that? A slime?"

The archer at the rear noticed the newly appeared monsters. Their round bodies and adorably vacant eyes were completely at odds with the power they displayed, unlike the harmless slimes they had known before.

"Careful! They should be monsters unique to this dungeon!"

Sola, the mage at the center of the party, looked at the pitch-black slimes that seemed to have been forged from steel and hurriedly shouted a warning.

But it was already too late. The moment the first warrior was sent flying, dozens of Steel Slimes shot toward the adventurers like cannonballs. Several adventurers who failed to react in time suffered heavy blows.

The unluckiest one was struck in the head by two Steel Slimes at once. His head burst like a watermelon under the pincer attack.

"Damn it."

Sean, another professional in the party, cursed under his breath. If not for the powerful agility and reaction speed granted by his assassin profession, he would have nearly fallen victim to the Steel Slimes' sneak attack as well.

Instant Kill!

Sean lowered his body and shot forward in an instant. The matte dagger in his hand flashed and spun, and wherever he passed, blood sprayed from the throats of goblins and Gnomes alike.

Clang!

But when his dagger stabbed a Steel Slime, a burst of sparks erupted. The attacked Steel Slime was knocked away by the powerful impact, but after a few seconds, it came bouncing back. It had only suffered a wound that was far from fatal.

"Careful! These slimes are practically made of steel!"

Sean retreated to the others' side and glanced down at his still-trembling hand, hurriedly warning them. For that instant, he had thought he had stabbed a solid steel plate. The most absurd part was that the steel plate was fluid, dispersing most of the force of his attack.

"Sola, try magic."

John, the Iron Guard, shouted without looking back. His hands gripped his shield tightly as his body was steadily pushed backward by the unceasing impacts. At that moment, nearly ten Steel Slimes were repeatedly slamming into his shield like cannonballs.

Dents had already appeared across its surface.

"Move aside!"

Almost at the same time, Sola's voice rang out from the center of the party. The muscles in John's arms bulged as he swept the giant shield, taller than a man, forward. As he knocked the monsters away, he darted to one side.

Boom!

The next second, a fireball flew into the monsters ahead and exploded, blasting away goblins and Steel Slimes that failed to dodge in time.