Chapter 15. Fire Slime
In the slime hierarchy, the absence of a core signifies the highest rank.
Typically, coreless slimes are classified as beings surpassing S-rank, and some people even consider them to be an entirely different species from regular slimes.
But the one in front of me was only at a B-rank level.
If I were still ignorant, I might have thought, “Is this a special slime that only inhabits this area?” and left it at that, but not now.
‘It seems that the guess I made earlier is close to the truth.’
My suspicion was gradually turning into certainty.
Like the monsters I first encountered, like the Jellyfish beside me, and like the Poison Apple that escaped through the dark portal.
That slime was also likely S-rank in actual danger.
‘These monsters must be under some kind of suppression.’
In simpler terms, they were nerfed.
And not just by one stage, but by two.
If this assumption was correct, then the expression “the phenomenon of increasing danger” was inaccurate.
It wasn’t an increase but rather a restoration of their original power.
If I traced the root cause of this phenomenon, the center of it was likely ‘me,’ or more precisely, the ‘Explorer.’
When Min Hyeong-seok perished, the monsters’ danger levels increased, which attested to this.
This was some kind of Explorer buff…
No, more like a safety mechanism for the Explorer.
If monsters above S-rank fought with their original strength, the Explorer nearby would likely get caught up and die.
The Labyrinth could also be destroyed, though it seemed sturdier than I thought.
‘The reason why even monsters that have become my companions remain in their nerfed state is probably to prevent a collapse in balance.’
At this point, a new question branched into two directions.
Is this suppression phenomenon only applied within a limited range around me, or does the very presence of the Explorer affect the entire Labyrinth?
At the moment, there was no way to definitively determine this.
I would have to gradually uncover it as I continued exploring the Labyrinth.
For now, I decided to focus on the slime in front of me.
***
【Pururu】─A slime with a core is F-rank, but without a core, it’s B-rank? That’s a huge gap.
“It’s usually an even bigger gap. That kind of slime is usually S-rank.”
【Pururu】─But why is it B-rank?
“I’ll explain later. First, let’s catch that slime.”
The tension in the cave was palpable.
The Dog Spider, having received my command, shot out its web as if it had been waiting.
As I watched the web fly through the air toward the slime, I held my breath.
Would the nullification web work?
The fire of the slime wasn’t magic.
It wasn’t ordinary fire either.
If I had to categorize it, it was closer to a power akin to a superpower.
The Dog Spider’s web could nullify magic, but whether it could nullify superpowers was still unknown.
So this was a time for testing.
Shiiik-!
The web touched the surface of the slime.
At that moment, I saw part of the flames extinguish.
【Pururu】─Oh! It works a little!
【Mysticism】─🫠
【003】─How does the web extinguish fire?
It seemed like it could also nullify superpowers.
But the effect was minimal.
Only the flames in the areas touched by the web were briefly extinguished.
Although the nullification worked, it didn’t have the same impact as when it nullified magic.
The nullification web failed to bind the slime and fell uselessly to the ground.
“The nullification web won’t work.”
It was as futile an attempt as trying to extinguish a massive wildfire with a handful of sand.
But at least I confirmed one thing.
The nullification web was effective even against superpowers.
However, it was only minimally effective against a monster of the same rank.
This was the conclusion.
In other words, the Dog Spider’s counter was superpowers.
【Pururu】─What a shame. Is it because it’s fire that it can’t be bound?
“It’s not the fire that’s the problem. If the fire were made of magic, it could be bound. But since it’s more like a superpower, it’s different.”
【Pururu】─Superpower. ㄷㄷ
【003】─Wow. So there’s even something like superpowers?
【Pururu】─So that means the natural enemy of the little one is that slime.
“You could say that.”
The slime, having been attacked, attempted to retaliate.
Its flames surged toward us.
I calmly glanced to the side and spoke in a composed tone.
“Jellyfish, block it.”
[Pii!]
A transparent barrier spread out in the air.
Boom!
The fierce flames that were rushing toward us were blocked by the barrier, and a large crack formed on the surface.
[Piii…!]
The Jellyfish dispelled the barrier and immediately created an explosive orb to hurl at the slime.
Boom-!
The orb exploded upon contact with the flames.
But it inflicted no damage.
【Pururu】─ㄷㄷ Are we not going to win this?
【Mysticism】─😨
【003】─That’s why I said we should run away!!
【Pururu】─Shut up.
It seemed there was no way to win this battle.
My monsters weren’t a good match for that slime.
‘If only I wasn’t sealed, I could have killed it with just a gust of wind.’
Well, I didn’t intend to kill it from the start.
Nor did I intend to win.
My goal was to tame it.
It seemed like it would be quite helpful to have that slime on my side.
【Pururu】─Geon-ah, what do we do? Our attacks aren’t working.
【003】─Let’s run away now!
I had no intention of running away.
I couldn’t win, but I had a way to tame it.
“Dog Spider, wrap some web around my hand.”
[Shii!]
I wrapped my left hand with the web imbued with nullification effects.
Naturally, I made sure it wouldn’t affect me.
With this, I should be able to peel off some of the slime’s flames.
“Jellyfish, can you strengthen the speed and protection magic a bit more?”
[Pii!]
“Then, strengthen it as much as you can.”
[Piii!]
The magical power that had been granted to me was amplified.
The protective magic on my skin solidified like a silver armor, and the speed magic was enhanced, making it feel as though lightning was coursing through my veins.
I was also regranted the levitation magic that allowed me to break free from the binds of gravity.
The preparations were complete.
“Alright. Now, you two stay here and wait.”
[Shii?]
[Pii?]
【Pururu】─Geon-ah, you’re not planning to fight it yourself, are you?
【003】─It’s reckless! Let’s just run away!
【Pururu】─Right. You said your powers are sealed. How can you win…?
【Mysticism】─😟
“I’m not planning to fight it. I’m not crazy enough to fight that thing.”
【Pururu】─Then what are you planning to do?
“I’m going to steal.”
【Pururu】─?? Steal what?
“You’ll see.”
I took a deep breath.
Then, I kicked off the ground and dashed forward.
The distance between the slime and me shortened.
As I got closer, the heat emanating from its body intensified, piercing through my entire body and into my bones.
Without the protective magic, my flesh would have already melted away.
The flames of the slime constantly shifted their shape at will, lunging toward me.
Shiiik-!
A whip made of flames lashed out at me.
I barely dodged it, but the scorching heat penetrated through the barrier and grazed my skin.
‘It would have been dangerous if it hit me directly.’
I lifted my body into the air.
The levitation magic made my body as light as a feather, allowing me to soar toward the ceiling of the cave.
From there, I quickly observed the slime.
It had no weak points.
Unlike regular slimes, this one didn’t have a core.
But there was something akin to a weak point.
Something that wasn’t visible to others but only to my eyes.
‘There it is.’
I could see it.
A spot marked on the slime’s body was clearly visible to my eyes.
I kicked off the ceiling and swiftly descended.
Then, running through the air, I reached out toward the marked spot on the slime.
Whoosh!
Just as my hand was about to touch it, the slime’s flames flickered like a wave.
It quickly pulled back and widened the distance, soon forming a barrier of intense heat around itself.
‘Close, but I’m still faster.’
As soon as I landed, I charged at the slime again.
I forced my way through the barrier of heat with brute strength.
And once again, I reached out with my hand.
Whoosh!
I missed by a hair’s breadth again.
But I didn’t give up and moved even faster.
Whoosh!
I missed again.
But there was progress.
My fingertips managed to graze it a little.
Again.
Once, twice, three times.
I relentlessly closed the distance and reached out toward the spot.
【Pururu】─I don’t know what you’re doing, but please touch it!!!
【Mysticism】─😠/!!!
【003】─Isn’t it dangerous if you touch it?
【003】─But more than that, magic is truly amazing. To think it can enhance physical abilities like that…
Thwack-
I did it.
After countless attempts, I finally managed to touch the spot with my left hand.
The hand wrapped in the web could touch the slime and pull apart the flames.
After successfully gouging out the marked area, I quickly retreated and rushed over to the Jellyfish and Dog Spider.
“Guys!”
[Shii?]
[Pii?]
“Run!”
[Shii!]
[Piii!]
【Pururu】─Doom Hwangchya!!!
【Mysticism】─🏃💨
Without looking back, we bolted towards our hideout.
***
To prepare for the possibility of the slime pursuing us, I set up barriers along the way to block its path. It didn’t seem like it was chasing us, but better safe than sorry.
Once we returned to the hideout, I pulled out a notebook from a box and sat down.
Then I looked down at the flame in my left hand.
The flame’s surface was dimmed by the nullification web.
But the flame wouldn’t give in and reignited.
This cycle of extinction and regeneration continued endlessly.
【Pururu】─Isn’t it hot?
“It is.”
【Pururu】─Your expression didn’t change, so I thought it wasn’t hot.
Even with the barrier, it was hot.
It wasn’t unbearable, but I’d have to endure a bit of burning.
【Pururu】─That spot you mentioned is there, right? How far along is the discoloration?
“About a quarter of the way? It’s going faster than I expected.”
【Pururu】─ㅋㅋ It’ll be tamed soon. Once that slime is tamed, I wonder if the flames won’t be hot anymore.
“I’ll have to check that later.”
【003】─That spot? Are you talking about the taming ability you mentioned earlier?
【Pururu】─ㅇ
【003】─But I couldn’t see the spot.
【Pururu】─Losers can’t see it.
【003】─Don’t lie. I remember everything you said about how only Geon can see the spot.
【Pururu】─If you know, why are you asking? Do you have a mental illness?
【003】─Hmph.
【003】─But more importantly, Geon, don’t do anything dangerous in the future. What if you get hurt?
【Pururu】─Ah. I was going to say that too.
I understood their concern.
It was indeed a bit dangerous for an ordinary human.
While it wasn’t life-threatening, there was a chance I could get injured.
But I had judged it was worth the risk.
That’s how much I trusted the Jellyfish’s buff magic. Also, since the spot was only visible to me, I couldn’t have ordered the monsters to do it.
【003】─Geon, okay?
【Pururu】─Be careful.
【Mysticism】─😟
“Yes, I will.”
After giving a short reply, I waited for the spot to completely turn green, and while doing so, I made some adjustments to the monster compendium and started drawing a new picture.
I had to keep up with the compendium work.
‘Flame Slime doesn’t sound quite right, so let’s go with Fire Slime.’
■Fire Slime
─Actual danger level: S-rank.
─Current (nerfed) danger level: B-rank.
─Ability: Fire.