Metro Labyrinth - CH 15

I stepped in and jump up the stairs for the first time in two years.

The 49th floor of the basement of the Outsuka Metro, the boss’s hall.

As before, the boss slime stands stolidly in the center of the room. As usual, it is a dirty, dark brown muddy bun.

(…It’s getting a little bigger, isn’t it?) (Shuu)

Maybe it’s just my trauma that makes it look bigger. Or maybe it has grown even more in the past two years.

In any case, it’s the same with me as I also grew. The Slime silently captures my now more confident stride.

According to our previous research, the slime seems to recognize its surroundings by sensing light and vibration. In other words, it has sight, hearing, and touch.

And then, a tentacle reaches out. It makes a shadow from above my head and swings down without any preliminary movement. It easily craters the floor on which I was standing.

“Still no hello?” (Shuu)

Even though I have grown more than 10 levels since the last time I was here, it’s still too dangerous for me to take it head-on. However, as I grew, I can now avoid it a little easier than before.

I tried to close the distance at once, but in the blink of an eye, five tentacles appeared. They swell and attack simultaneously.

I dodged them and used my great shield to block the others.

“Ha!”

With a swing from my Hypha Sword and one of them is cut off.

The tentacles, perhaps startled, are pulled back. The tentacles sway from side to side as if it is looking over the boss’s body to see what is going on.

The tentacle that fell to the floor goes berserk, eventually dissolving into a liquid and scorching the floor. An unknown smell rises up.

“…I can work with this.”

The Hypha Sword and Great Shield that I held are then clad in a pale light.

My fifteenth Fungal Skill, [Spore Light].

The ability to make the Hypha Weapons created by the fungus ability to be covered with Spore Light—a mysterious light that I named for simplicity-sake. This dramatically improves the sharpness and durability of swords and shields. The sword is now capable of cutting through even the thick flesh of an Ogre with a single swing, and the shield is capable of repelling the flames of an Orthrus. It looks like a magic sword or a beam sword, and it tickles the middle school kid sleeping in my heart. Incidentally, it could not be applied directly to the body, nor could I put it on a stone knife. The only thing that it could work on was things made with mycelium.

The Spore Light of the Hypha Sword, which had cut off the tentacles, was decreasing. It is probably due to the acidic solution, but the blade is still intact.

Although the acid might be stronger than that of the Intermediate Slime, the fact that I  was able to cut it off is significant.

In other words, we are finally at the starting line.

With this, we were finally in the game. We can now unveil our other secret technique without any worries.

“Look here you Bean Bun Bastard!” (Shuu)

Then I focus my consciousness on my back.

The mycelium is produced from a little above the shoulder blades.

They converge to form a pair of arms. The mycelial arms are long, thin, and bone white, reminiscent of a spider’s legs.

Sixteenth Fungal Skill, [Hypha Arms].

It took me two whole months to be able to use these arms as if they were my own. Now I can weave patterns using string, brush my teeth, and play with Tamiko using them (Tamiko made a misleading plea, “Touch me with your real fingers, not with a toy…!”).

It is not only a simple increase in my number of hands. These arms can use the same Fungal Skills my real arms could.

The palm of the mycelial arm produces a mycelial sword. It is an Inception trope to create another mycelial weapon from a mycelial tool.

Now there are three swords and a great shield.

I then apply [Spore Light] to both swords. The blade of the swords glowed with a bluish-white light. It is truly a magic sword, now there are a three-swords. I’m ready.

Now, to continue from where we left.

“—Round 2.” (Shuu)

The number of tentacles further doubles to eight. An Intermediate Slime had at most three or four tentacles, but this was indeed the boss. If my [Hypha Arms] had the ability to create six arms, my brain might melt.

Even if I have four arms, the opponent has double mine. I can’t stop my body from trembling.

(Don’t be afraid, focus. The opponent has no preliminary movement.) (Shuu)

(Because it has no joints, it can twist its limbs as much as it wants.) (Shuu)

(Still, there are only a few complicated movements and feints.) (Shuu)

(Focus and reflexes, remember the time in the table tennis club in junior high school!) (Shuu)

Tentacles spread out in a flash, and they rain down on me. Then one that delayed its timing chased after me as I jumped sideways. I tilt my shield to my side and cut it off with a slash from my Hypha Arms.

“Yeah! Come at me!” (Shuu)

I provoke it, but I can only feel dread inside. It was dangerous, and if my defense was even delayed for a moment, I would have been blown away.

Tentacles attacked from all directions. I detected the tentacles with my [Sensory Spores], ran around with my [Enhanced Leaping Ability], and took advantage of the gaps to cut off a tentacle.

The fluid leaked from the cut cross-section, but it was quickly covered by a membrane and regained its original mass.

That’s fine. Because that is my aim.

After dissecting the Intermediate Slimes, I found that they roughly have three layers.

The outermost membrane. This is the slime’s own cells, covering the fluid inside. It is a high-performance muscle that can expand and contract freely, and even if damaged, it regenerates itself quickly.

The second layer is the fluid layer. It is viscous and dissolves anything it touches, the very symbol of its slime-ness.

The third and innermost organ is the nucleus. It is a sack filled with various internal organs and brain-like sensory organs (although I have no idea which is which). The sporangium was also there, and it tasted worse than the other beasts (it tasted bitter and acidic which can only be stated as unpleasant).

According to Tamiko’s mother’s information, and as a result of our experiments with the Intermediate Slimes, there was no doubt that the third layer was its vital point. Destroying it would kill the slime.

However, to do so, the second layer of fluid would be the biggest barrier. This is the armor that blocks and takes in the attacks, as well as the fangs that melt and devour enemies.

Thinking back on the Intermediate Slimes, with the mass and digestive ability of a Boss Slime, I can’t reach its internal layer with half-hearted attacks.

It would have been nice if I could have learned a more penetrating long-range Fungal Skill, but I had nothing like that on hand.

There was no point in begging for something that was not there. I had no choice but to defeat it with what I had at my disposal.

To do so, I had no choice but to steadily and honestly chip away at the barriers, little by little.

The target is its fangs themselves—in other words, its tentacles.

*Whoosh, whoosh!*

The tentacles that stretch to gouge out my head are slashed down with my Hypha Arms.

A pincer attack from both the left and right. I dodge to the gaps one by one, weaving and slashing through them. Then I blow up the torn tentacles with my [Burning Ball].

The tentacles are cut and it stood still. A droplet of liquid appeared on the tip of the tentacle, and a jet of its acid shot out. A tentacle is blocked by my great shield as I thrust it into the ground. Just before the spray comes from behind me, I summoned another shield and leaped back.

“Hah, hah…” (Shuu)

It is getting harder to breathe. The air I breathe is acidic and unpleasant. The stone floor around the area is cratered from the acid that has been splashed everywhere.

My body feels heavy. I cannot replenish my dwindling [Spore Light]. I am running out of stamina.

I don’t know if slime has the concept of fatigue. Nevertheless, the slime’s body is clearly shrinking as I continue to cut off its tentacles and dodge the dissolving liquid. The volume of the fluid part of its body is decreasing.

We know from repeated observations and battles with the Intermediate Slimes that it is not inexhaustible and that replenishing it requires time and the ingestion of nutrients. Its weapon and shield are steadily being whittled away.

I wonder how long it will take to reach its internal organs. But—I too, am at my limit.

“Ok, end of Round 2! Time out!” (Shuu)

I detached my [Hypha Arms] and moved away across the wall with my [Enhanced Leaping Ability] powered up to the fullest. Releasing a [Smoke Screen Ball] from both hands and I dive straight down the staircase to the 50th floor, hiding behind the smoke.

“Tamiko! I’m back!” (Shuu)

“Welcome back, squeak!” (Tamiko)

With Tamiko and our supplies in paw, I go down one more landing just to be safe. This way, neither the tentacles nor the wave of acid will reach her.

“*Wheeze*, *wheeze*… I need a time out…” (Shuu)

I sit down and take a bite of the sporangium from the bag.

“You’re good, squeak! Have some water first, squeak!” (Tamiko)

Tamiko comes running up to my shoulder with a canteen, shoving the tip of the water bottle into my mouth.

“Work on your footwork, squeak! Squeak around him with your footwork! And when it squeaks near you, go in nice and deep, squeak!” (Tamiko)

“How about some seconds?” (Shuu)

With each bite of the sporangium, strength returns to my body. The taste and rawness of the sporangium sink in. Oh, no, I’ll need to have another.

“Tamiko… maybe we should run away.” (Shuu)

“Squeak?” (Tamiko)

“Their mass is getting smaller, and its tentacles are getting weaker. If I make it a bit weaker, I might be able to hold him down while you look for the exit switch. We don’t have to bother to take the risk of defeating it.” (Shuu)

If I put all my abilities into defense and use [Smoke Screen Ball] and [Enhanced Leaping Ability], I can probably get his full attention. That would buy Tamiko plenty of time to find the switch. In addition, Tamiko has a fifth Fungal Skill, [Camouflage]. She could search for the switch while ensuring her own safety.

Or we might still try to win the battle even as we continued to fight. But that would entail a certain amount of risk. There was no guarantee that the slime would not have other tricks up its sleeve, or that the slimes under its control would not return from downstairs.

If we prioritize going out to the surface, now is our chance and not waste it.

“…That’s true, squeak…” (Tamiko)

I know how she feels. The man is the killer of her mother and her partner. She did everything to reach this place.

However, her own front teeth cannot reach the enemy. It’s sad to stand on the side as I swing my sword. I should have understood it best.

“…If Abeshuu believes it, that’s fine, squeak. It’s best to be able to reach the surface, squeak…” (Tamiko)

Tamiko looks to the ground and hugs her bushy tail tightly.

I grabbed the bag and chewed on my third sporangium. I’m hungry and exhausted like a player on a baseball team. I grabbed Tamiko’s cheeks and stretch them.

“…I’m just a timid person, and when I get a little stronger, I get carried away, and I’ve been in trouble and almost died. Tamiko has been angry with me a lot. I got in trouble with the boss because of that, too.” (Shuu)

“Squeak?” (Tamiko)

“I’m sorry, but I’m in good shape again, especially with such a big sporangium in front of us. I’m sure it’s possible to get one or two levels or learn one or two fungal abilities. Isn’t this a great opportunity?” (Shuu)

“But…” (Tamiko)

“And if things go as they are, the slime’s territory will get bigger and bigger. After that, the oasis and Oldman Uni may be invaded. We’ve been indebted to them for the last five years, so we have to give back in the end. However, we won’t be able to do it if we don’t win.” (Shuu)

I poured the rest of the water on my head, and I stood up.

“That’s why—I’ll show you my cool side. Tamiko, watch your mother’s killer’s death.”

Tamiko wiped her eyes. She climbed up onto my shoulder and slapped me on the cheek.

“Go! Let squeaking go Shuu!” (Tamiko)

“Say what?” (Shuu)