Slime—a creature universally beloved.
Not only does this being appear frequently in movies, novels, and games from the previous world, but in this world as well, it is widely distributed.
As a simple structure purely composed of magical energy, their power floor is extremely low.
The ceiling… isn’t very high either.
The most ordinary and common slimes can hardly be called monsters; their magical energy is so faint that even if one is right in front of you, you wouldn’t notice it unless you focused carefully.
They have no aggression or threat, no intelligence, no limbs, no vocal organs, and the whole blob looks like an oversized jelly. Their only method of attack is to jump up and bump into you, covering you in sticky slime.
In daily life, they’re content with nibbling on roots or scraps, and even if there’s nothing to eat, they can survive for a long time by simply clinging to trees and “drinking the wind.”
This explains why they can be found almost everywhere across the continent. Their population far surpasses that of goblins.
Based on slime’s general reputation, they should be the kind of harmless creatures you see by the roadside and don’t bother with.
Even those few that mutate naturally and gain elemental abilities usually only reach the lower end of First-Tier power, some up to Second-Tier, and Third-Tier large slimes are extremely rare.
However, the one Krexia saw clearly exceeded her expectations.
A slime with a dark red body was bouncing out from the mine, its intense, overflowing fire element magic scorching the surrounding cave walls black.
Though the two round eyes on the spherical creature still looked as dumb and cute as ever, the fierce and dense magical energy radiating from it didn’t match its expression or appearance at all.
A quick sensing revealed it was another Fourth-Tier monster.
No wonder Fana and the others were struggling a bit.
Lower-tier slimes might be insignificant, but once their level rises, their pure magical energy nature shows its advantage.
A typical example is their extremely high resistance to physical attacks.
This soft and slippery creature, whether struck with a knife, sword, or hammer, can only take limited damage unless the weapon is specially enchanted by a mage or contains magical properties.
Simply put, even a Third-Tier slime standing still is impossible to kill by Falco’s strikes alone, no matter how hard he tries, and sword techniques won’t deal any fatal damage.
If monsters of the same tier can’t be harmed, it’s even more hopeless against those one tier above.
On top of that, being elemental in nature, using fire magic against a fire slime is obviously useless.
“Fana.”
“Yes, Miss Krexia.”
“Don’t you have any water elemental magic?”
Krexia’s expression was a little odd.
Though this fire-element slime was Fourth-Tier, it was easy to counter by exploiting elemental weaknesses.
For example, the Fractured Water spell—a highly offensive magic—only dealt superficial wounds to the nearly Fifth-Tier Greater Goblin, but that big guy’s muscles, bones, and skin had been obviously strengthened.
However, hitting pure magical beings was much simpler; as long as the attribute countered, even Third-Tier magic could deal heavy damage.
This thing just bullies those iron cans who can’t use magic.
“I… don’t have any water elemental affinity…”
Fana’s face flushed a bit as she spoke.
Elemental affinity is determined by the soul; there’s no way around that.
Affinity governs the conversion efficiency of Attribute Conversion Magic Runes, directly affecting spellcasting effectiveness.
Low affinity means the chanting speed and strength of corresponding elemental magic will be significantly reduced; without any affinity, it simply can’t be used.
Other attributes aren’t effective against slimes anyway, especially when there’s a tier gap—it’s normal to struggle.
“That’s fine then.”
Krexia withdrew the Water Barrier and raised her wand. Ten magic runes coalesced into a single magic circle in one breath, and moist magical fluctuations began to manifest.
[Elemental Series·Offense·Tidal Strangle]
Sensing danger, the large slime’s magical energy stirred violently; the air around it seemed ready to ignite as several fireballs appeared before it.
But before it could release them, several sharp water streams struck its body first. Without magical support, the fireballs dissipated, and a large amount of steam spread with the sizzling sound of evaporating moisture.
“>.<”
The slime looked somewhat uncomfortable, its magical aura rapidly withering under the cleansing water flow.
“You don’t have to worry about them here for now. Elvie, heal those two first.”
“Oh… alright, alright.”
Elvie, watching from the side, hurriedly took Fana away from the battlefield and began healing both Fana and Falco.
The three had rushed into battle in the mine with little preparation, caught off guard. When they realized and tried to counterattack, their attacks barely affected the slime, leaving them powerless and relentlessly chased.
The cramped mine space gave no room to rest or heal.
If it had been any other type of Fourth-Tier monster, they wouldn’t have suffered this badly.
“Boom boom boom…”
Suddenly, Krexia felt the ground tremble. Looking ahead, the slime was spinning and charging toward her.
Its momentum wasn’t as fierce as the goblin big guy’s, but it was obviously not something to take head-on.
[Elemental Series·Third-Tier Defense·Water Barrier]
Krexia cast the skill she had used earlier again. Knowing the opponent’s elemental type, there was no need to waste other elemental magics to counter it.
Water magic was enough.
A large amount of mana-rich clear water sprayed from the magic circle, instantly forming a wall of water standing firm in the slime’s rolling path.
At the same time, Krexia rapidly retreated, waving her wand as several magic runes flashed by, completing another Third-Tier spell chant.
[Elemental Series·Third-Tier Offense·Fracture of Water]
The slime crashed into the water barrier. The barrier’s excellent blocking ability greatly absorbed the enormous kinetic energy. Coupled with elemental advantage, the slime’s magical energy was further weakened, its fiery glow dimming almost to extinction.
At the moment it stopped, a sharp water blade immediately slashed through its soft body again.
The water blade, sharp enough to cut through a tree trunk, passed through the slime like slicing butter, turning the ( >.< ) into ( >.< ).
The blade’s attack point shifted as Krexia turned, leaving the slime with almost no chance to resist.
After all, it was just a low-level monster mutated from the base layer, nowhere near the nearly invincible stats and mechanics of high-tier monsters.
Thus, under Krexia’s merciless water blade, the large slime turned into a puddle of slime goo scattered on the ground.
And a sparkling Fourth-Tier Magic Crystal.
(1/2)