And after a bit of jumping up and down to psych me up, I then slowly descended down towards the toxic lake to try and get a better view of it… and what I saw utterly shocked me.
There was a rocky ridge surrounding the entire toxic lake, and what inhabited that ridge were thousands upon thousands of slimes.
I also saw them feasting on mounds of trees in order to quench their thirst and hunger for flesh and blood.
Soon, they noticed I was here, and they immediately dove into the toxic pool, but something had already caught my eye, so I paid them no mind.
I saw the leader unconscious on a large rock below me, and it seems the slimes hadn't even noticed him due to a thin white glow around him.
Well, the white glow wasn't really around him as the skill he was using was most likely the [Presence Eraser] skill.
Only I could see him, though, as I was in his raid party.
"But, I've already rewired myself," I muttered before quickly and carefully climbing back up the rope and tossing myself over the side.
And before the slimes could cut the rope, I quickly yanked it up, preventing them from cutting off one of the only pieces of equipment I held usefully.
"HUFF HUFF HUFF HUFF…"
After heaving heavy and painful breaths of adrenaline, I smiled to myself.
Going to rescue him immediately would be dumb, so I need to devise a plan… but that is much easier said than done.
My resources are limited, so using the rope which I can tie around him isn't the best idea as if I fail, I'll lose such a precious item.
I could try the bungee jumping method, but I'm not confident in my strength, so I don't believe I'll be able to pull him up, even once I get down there.
"So… What do I do?" I asked myself as I gazed over my status.
Though, I already knew what to do.
[Tangible Bloodlust]
[Your lust for the battlefield has spread to your spear]
This skill right here only works with my spear, but it's not like it limits itself to one thing...
It was even proven in my previous fights where I was able to create multiple blades, so with this skill I could possibly extend the bloodlust and wrap it around him.
Plus, there is no possibility of them cutting the bloodlust as it is magic, not something tangible that they can cut.
They may be able to absorb it directly, but if it isn't their main body, then they can't nullify my magic.
Well, there may be some exceptions that I am unaware of because you can still cut through their main body with the coating… so…
"Ugh… I don't know," I muttered before raising my spear above the hole and noticing the slimes had already returned to their spots along the ridge.
Even though I was unsure of a few things, I knew my plan could fill in the holes.
The bloodlust basically lightens anything it touches, so even my pitiful strength could pull him up.
Plus, I'll move quick enough to wear the slimes can't keep up with me.
It's perfect.
My bloodlust extended from my spear, and it was an indescribable feeling as I controlled it towards the leader, who was still unconscious.
Each time I used a skill like [Tangible Bloodlust] or [Spear Coating], it felt as if I was using an eleventh finger or possibly a new hand.
Fwip
The extended bloodlust quickly wrapped around his ankle, and just as the slimes had begun to try and attack me again, I was already long gone.
"HUFF HUFF HUFF HUFF…"
Another wave of adrenaline rushed through my body, but this time I held no fear as I now had a perfect puppet.
"I'll make good use of you," I muttered.
…
(Leader POV)
I suddenly shot open my eyes, and the first thing I was met with was a massive stone gate in front of me… a familiar sight.
"Wha-"
As I spun my head around, I noticed a boy was meditating right beside me, and it seemed he noticed I was awake as he slowly opened his eyes.
"You good?" He asks.
"Yeah… Also, how are you alive? I thought you died,"
"I was able to escape before it could fully digest me," He responds, but I couldn't see any burn wounds on him.
"Do you have a regeneration sk-... Never mind," I muttered after seeing the boy's gaze.
It was cold.
Asking about somebody's status was regarded as extremely rude, so there was no mistake in the boy's reaction.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to underestimate you. It was just a heat of the moment type of thing," I say, but he just rolls his eyes.
He's also very smart.
"It's whatever… Anyway, let's clear this damn dungeon. I'm pretty sure we can clear this with just the two of us anyway," He mutters before tightly gripping his spear.
"No, we must go back and find the rest of the raid team. I don't care about my reputation anymore, but I know that we can't clear it with just us two,"
He continued to stare at me with a cold gaze.
"When I went back to the cave, I found that everybody was dead. Only their bones and some of their materials were left," He says before throwing me a canteen of water which was half-filled and some scraps which looked to be barely edible.
They were covered in dirt and tiny rocks, but he ate them as if it was nothing.
"That's a bit disappointing," I muttered before scarfing down the scraps of bread and then chugging the rest of the canteen.
"Oh, I thought you'd be more surprised,"
"This isn't the first time I've led a raid team that went to shit," I respond with a smirk that causes the boy to shiver visibly.
His eyes squinted a bit at me before returning to his usual cold gaze.
"Did you really think I was a righteous man?"
"Yes,"
"HAHAHAHA! I guess I am… But, just a small tip from a pro like me… never-ever judge somebody off their adventurer profile or what they seem to be on the outside. Every adventurer at my level has been through hell and back, which of course changes something inside of us," I inform him as this boy seemed to be the future of Amlas, and I didn't want him to die yet...
Well, if there even is a future.