The Systemic Lands

Chapter 33: Day 55 – Slime Dungeon

It was pre-dawn of day 55. The last couple of days had been quite lucrative. I had to use my pack in addition to Alex’s, to hold the large number of crystals he had picked up. I had earned 215, 397, 412, 409, and 401, over the last 5 days respectively, putting me at 1,834 crystals.

I made my way back to the plaza. Alex had managed to keep up, if only barely. He was breathing louder than a fan the entire time, but he kept up. We reached the plaza and Evaline was there waiting.

“Evaline,” I greeted her.

“Michael.”

“What’s new?” I asked.

“Well, you have been the hot topic for a while now after that fight. Things are quiet with Red Dawn and Carlos. Some people have started going after the brown slimes. The new arrivals have integrated fairly well. Only a couple of problems. There is a lot of contention over the blue slimes.”

“What else?” I asked.

“That is pretty much it.” I looked at her carefully.

“What about the groups grinding, anything interesting there?”

“Just usual small group drama.” I looked her over. She appeared to be doing quite well for herself.

“You clearly had a recent restoration, and you look quite relaxed. There are things you aren’t telling me.”

“I run an information business. Well, there is one thing. Carl works as a guard for me now.” I frowned at that. “He is quite-“

“Shut up.” She shut up and I thought things over. “Was anyone good friends with Hamid?” I asked.

“Not that I know of. No one talks about him anymore.”

“Anyone after me?”

“Again, not that I know of. I don’t know everyone’s plots and schemes.”

“What information are you selling to make crystals?” I asked.

“Just informed guesses about you.” I knew my suspicions were right. “You never said anything against it.” That was a lie, at least I was pretty sure it was. I had never given her permission to talk about me.

“Who has been asking the most?”

“Patient client confidentiality.” I just stared at her. That was one of the stupidest things to come out of her mouth.

“Really? You sell information about me, but not about others?” I asked.

“You meet with me out here in the middle of the plaza. People know I talk to you. But the other way around, not so much. If I start talking about them, then there goes my business.”

“Evaline, do you know why I hired you in the first place?”

“For my charming looks.” I did not appreciate her flippant attitude. She wasn’t taking this seriously.

“To tell me about threats to me. The news was secondary. No one talking after a fight like that. No one plotting, not even Carlos? If it was me, I would have ten plots to kill me before the day was done. Now you are trying to tell me, that there are no plots, and you are selling information about me?”

Evaline was silent. “Carlos’ position is stable enough, that I am not worried about what his organization is doing, but you. You need to tell me about the rest of the people running around. No one exploring new biomes, new monsters? No one asking about my weaknesses?” I saw her eyes quickly glance to the side at that insinuation. I had been paying attention to her eyes, and I counted that as a sign of guilt.

“I think a permanent ban is in order.” She wanted to act like this, well she didn’t realize the type of pull I had.

“What?”

“Well, you are clever. If I kill you as an example, then everyone will think I am a mindless brute. Like pulling a thread on a sweater, it just all unravels. Instead, I will just have you permanently banned from the store.” A far worse death sentence.

“You…you can’t do that. I will tell you who-“

“I don’t care who is plotting. There are always plotters. That was what was setting me off. I am a super suspicious person, and you didn’t point out anyone for a while. The Battle of Blood was a while ago and this fight came up. I think what the most unreasonable paranoid person would do, like me, and then go from there.” She just gaped at me as I steam rolled through any objection she might have.

“So, no Evaline. Exile suits you far better. That way your only option is to gather all the plotters to yourself and try and kill me or die a miserable death yourself. Quite clever, isn’t it?” She was silent for a long moment.

“I think you are misunderstanding something. I don’t have any specific information-“

“No Evaline. This is like poker, which I am terrible at by the way. I just went all in calling your bluff. You should have had lists of people and what they were plotting about me. Instead, tell me nothing is happening. There isn’t anything to do around here but plot.” There was another long moment of silence.

“I am sorry I wasn’t active enough in the areas you wanted me to be. I can list everyone who asked about you and what they wanted to know.” Trying to cover her ass, it was too late. Once you went all in, you couldn’t take your chips back.

“I don’t know those people, but I know you Evaline. I suggest you start running. I think a bounty will motivate people. What is your head worth? Go fight some monsters and try and survive outside the city.”

“There is no food.” That was a good point, but I didn’t care.

“Then get strong like I did. Kill your way through hordes of people. I might kill monsters all day, but that means I can focus my mind on plotting. You were just too obvious in trying not to talk about the thing you should have talked about. Well, this conversation is over.” I began to walk around her, and she reached out and tried to grab my arm. I stepped away and brought up my club. She shied away making herself look physically weak.

“I am sorry. I should have known better.”

“Yes, you should have. Now your only worth to me is making an example of people who plot in any way against me. I can’t root out all the rats, but I can give them a good scare until I am too strong to mess with.” I glared at her.

She didn’t say anything else as I made my way to the guards at the pillars. “Trouble?” the Captain asked me after Evaline ran off.

“A bit. It is time to settle our debt. Alex held up his end.” The captain gave him a thumbs up and Alex gave a weak grin. I got out 100 crystals and gave them to the Captain. Next, I took Alex’s pack and claimed all the crystals except 80.

“This is yours. 80 crystals, you can cash them in, no tax now. If you are interested in still working for me, then stay, otherwise you are free to go. I also hope you don’t talk about me.” He gave me a look of pure fear. I then turned to the guard captain while Alex was busy.

“I want to ban the woman Evaline from the pillars and have a bounty placed on her head.” He gave me a look and then a look where she ran off. “This is to send a message, which I hope you can spread as well. Don’t plot with people against me. That’s the message.”

“I can get that spread around, um, Carlos said the pillars are open to everyone as long as they pay the tax.”

“Wouldn’t want to go against what Carlos said. Then 200 crystals for her head as a criminal. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

“No, no problem Sicario.” I noted several the guards were looking in the direction she ran off in.

“You know her face right?”

“Yes, I have seen her around a number of times.”

“Then bring over your pack. I am going to give you 220 crystals. The 200 is to pay out the bounty and the 20 is for you to handle it. You can handle it right?” I stared at him, and he quickly nodded.

“Yes Sicario.”

“Good. If Carlos has an issue with this, I will talk to him in five days. I expect results in five days or the crystals back. The bounty is tax free, since I am posting it.” He nodded at that. He put me in a death match, he could deal with me doing this.

“Good, then she can die a dog’s death. Feel free to spread that around as well.”

“Yes, of course.” Alex then walked back over.

“You sticking around?” I asked him.

“Um, are we leaving again today?”

“Yes, right after I am done here. You coming or staying? Well, think it over until I am done with the store.” I went over and cashed in all my remaining crystals. The 1,434 crystals gave me 7,170 points, putting me at 11,653.

I purchased a restoration for 116 points. Then food and water for 40 points. The store was supposed to be upgraded today, but apparently it hadn’t taken place. Carlos probably wanted a ceremony or something. I felt annoyed and tired due to Evaline and wasn’t in the mood to socialize in any way at the moment.

I purchased 10 upgrades for 6,255 points and put them all into Mind. It was hard to describe the feeling, but it was like a headache I never had disappeared, making it easier to think. That left me 5,242 points and no crystals. I lifted my hands off the pillar and put away my food into my pack. The water was automatically put into the available containers.

“So, decide yet?” I asked Alex.

“Just the wolves? Nothing else?” He asked.

“I was thinking the slime dungeon.”

“That…that is pretty dangerous from what I have heard.”

“It is. But if you last through it, then I could pay out 100 crystals.” He seemed to think on that.

“I don’t have to fight?”

“Just carry torches and keep them lit. I will handle the fighting.”

“Alright.” I looked at the guards nearby.

“Where I am going better not be spread about, alright? If anyone asks say I went after wolves again.” They quickly gave affirmatives and promises to do what I asked. I purchased 7 torches for 3,500 points, and an extra sword for 500 points. The torches went into Alex’s pack. I was glad the swords came with a basic sheath and stuck it in my pack.

“Alright, let’s go. Good luck with the bounty gentleman. I hope one of you collects on it,” I said to the guards as we left.

We moved through the city. Thankfully no one was up besides the few guards before dawn. That was a big reason why it was my favorite time. We reached the slime gate as dawn was breaking and quickly left.

I decided to push myself. If this didn’t work, I would become a hermit for a while. The bounty was a message and would stir up the nest of rats. I would have to either get more powerful or avoid the rats so I didn’t get bitten. I mentally cursed Evaline for the hundredth time.

Making me waste over 1,000 points on her and creating a huge mess. She was just too obvious about it, or tired. Probably mentally tired having to wake up that early to meet with me. She was overconfident, and now she was reaping the consequences.

I killed some blue slimes on the way and Alex picked up the crystals. It was time to focus on the task ahead. We reached the slime dungeon, and I cleared the blue slimes around it. After that I walked Alex through on what he was supposed to do and made him repeat it back to me.

With that done, he lit a torch with the fire starter, and we entered the dungeon. When we came to the intersection, I went took the branch to the left and back. There were brown slimes again, which I quickly killed.

Alex grabbed the crystals, and we reached the dimly lit cavern with the glowing pool of water. I stabbed my sword into the ground and got out my club. I began clearing the blue and brown slimes, leaving the few green slimes alone and staying away from the pool.

Once I got to a green slime, I hit it with the club and shielded myself. I quickly retreated as the fluid that came out of the slime evaporated into a green tinged cloud around the slime. Poison gas slimes, just great. A bow and arrow would probably work best, but I was out of luck since I hadn’t purchased them from the store.

I checked the tunnel, nothing coming down it. I began rotating through the green slimes using a sword. A small nick then on to the next one, out of range of the poison gas. I cleared out the rest of the slimes and Alex put away the crystals. With the monsters cleared out and double checking three times, I felt safe enough to check the pool of liquid. I poked it with my club and quickly backed away.

It didn’t look like a slime, but I wasn’t so sure anymore. The pool was super suspicious.

After the poke, there were ripples, and the entire thing began rising up as a massive blue slime. It was about the size of two yoga balls pushed together. I noted the amount of fluid had either decreased or been compressed based on the size of the pool compared to the slime. Another mini boss, here we go. It suddenly flattened down again, and I backed up a bit more just in case.

It suddenly sprang into the air towards me. I almost shit myself as I ran to the side. I could feel the ground shake a bit as the large monster landed. No fluid was spilled. It flattened out again. I rushed towards it and to the side. It leapt up into the air.

The blue super slime couldn’t angle its leaps very well. This was confirmed as it landed a bit past me. It had a hard time adjusting once it committed to a jump. I turned towards it and swung out to the side with my club. My attack hit the side of the slime and bounced off. Only a small bit of fluid leaked out before it quickly stopped. Healing as well, just great.

It leapt for me again and I ran. I tossed the club to the ground away from me and picked up my sword. I kept moving and the slime kept chasing me relentlessly. I waited for another leap. I then stabbed the sword into it and dragged the sword towards me through the slime to leave a large gash.

The cut didn’t get far before the blade just melted and I let the hilt go. However, it was enough to leave a deep gash. Blue slime acid gushed out. I retreated back and picked up my club again.

I then began to beat on the slime as it quickly shrank down. I didn’t want to give it a chance to heal and waste my last sword. The slime finally stopped oozing, it wasn’t bleeding since slime juice wasn’t blood, it was oozing. It finally crumbled to dust. I picked up the crystal.

It was like the one from the white tunnel mind slime from before, only 50 points. I put it in my pack. “That was…insane.” Alex had smartly kept to the side the entire time.

“Thanks. Good job not dying and lighting up a torch. Hmm.” He had lit up another torch when the large blue slime died, since the ambient light it was emitting went with it. He nodded at that, and I went back to where the pool, or the large blue slime had been. I poked into the ground with my sword, but there was nothing here, just packed soil that was slightly damp.

That was disappointing. I was hoping for a chest with loot, or something. Not a 50-point crystal. I walked back to Alex. “Keep a torch lit and stay further back from me. If I say stop, whatever happens don’t move forward, got it?”

“Got it,” he replied. I switched out my shield for a club. Time to duel wield. We went back into the tunnel, and I saw sparkling lights up ahead.

“Stop,” I said, and Alex came to a halt. I made my way forward and only felt a slight pressure on my head, nothing like before. The 20 upgrades into Mind had been a good choice. I cut the slime with my sword and finished off the blue slimes that came out with my club.

The fight was over quickly, and I called Alex to come over. I put the 50-point crystal in my pack with the other one. Only halfway on the second torch and we were making quick progress. We ran into more brown slimes and the occasional green slime mixed in as we progressed through the underground tunnel.

The poison dissipated quickly, after about 100 seconds. Similar to the thorny roots the brown slimes let loose. Alex was forced to get out a third torch. I didn’t dare risk the poison, no matter how much faster I wanted to go.

We came to another split. One tunnel went left and another right. I picked the left tunnel. More sparkling lights. I had Alex stay back and finished off the second tunnel mind slime. The tunnel continued without any other slimes a little bit more until a set of doors.

I could tell they were doors since the wall was completely flat with a clear line down the middle. Where the tunnel walls were root covered and uneven, this set of doors was unnaturally smooth. I gave a little push, and the doors began to open. I quickly stopped and they closed tightly once more.

There was no writing or any kind or an inscription. Still, it didn’t take a genius to figure out what this was. I had us turn around and checked the right-hand passage. Blue, green, and brown slimes. I duel wielded and cleared them out. We were on our fourth torch now. The tunnel ended in a dead end.

No chest, no item, no crystal, or anything else. Just a dirt wall. I poked the wall in front of me, but there was no secret passage or anything that I could sus out and our time down here was limited. Well, that was poor design to just have a dead end, but this entire place had a poor design, so I wasn’t that surprised. I went back to the two doors.