As they were walking towards their destination Amukelo, walking beside Idin, adjusted the strap on his sword and broke the silence.
"I never really fought a slime before," he admitted.
Idin chuckled, glancing at him. "Really? Don't worry. They're not too difficult once you know what you're doing and get some practice. Slimes are more about technique than brute force."
Amukelo tilted his head, frowning slightly. "Technique? I mean, they're just blobs of goo, right? Isn't it the same as fighting anything else? Cut them in half, and they're done?"
Idin shook his head, grinning. "Not exactly. Slimes are unusual creatures. Sure, they don't pose a huge threat most of the time, but if you're careless, they can still give you trouble. And cutting them in half?" He laughed softly. "That won't kill them."
Amukelo's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, really? Then how do you kill them?"
"They have a crystal inside," Idin explained. "That crystal is what holds the slime together and gives it its will. If you destroy that, the slime collapses. No crystal, no slime."
"Oh," Amukelo said. "So I just need to find the crystal and destroy it?"
"Pretty much," Idin said, nodding. "But it's not as easy as it sounds. Slimes can manipulate their goo to stall your blade. It's like trying to swing through thick mud—it slows you down. And to make it worse, they can move the crystal inside their body to avoid getting hit."
Amukelo frowned, scratching his chin. "So… I can't just swing my sword and hope for the best?"
"Not unless you like swinging at air," Idin said with a grin. "That's why magic is really effective against slimes. Spells can disrupt their structure, making it easier to get to the crystal. That's why Pao will shine on this quest."
At that, both of them glanced toward Pao, who walked a few paces ahead with Bao. She noticed their attention and blushed slightly, offering them a soft, heartful smile.
Amukelo's face flushed as well, and he quickly turned back to Idin, pretending to adjust his sword belt again. "Okay," he said quickly, clearing his throat. "But if I don't have magic, how do I fight them? You said they can stall my blade and move the crystal—sounds like a pain."
Idin shrugged. "Luckily for us, slimes aren't very smart. They're simple creatures. If you fill them with enough stuff—rocks, dirt, anything—they have a harder time moving the crystal. Plus, they're less able to stall your blade when their structure's all clogged up."
Amukelo's eyes widened, and he let out a small gasp. "So, if they make it too hard to hit the crystal, I just fill them with stuff until they can't dodge?"
"Exactly," Idin said with a chuckle. "But keep in mind, that's not always efficient if there are a lot of them. It's better for dealing with a single slime. When there are multiple, it's best to confuse them—smack them with something like a stick to make them think that it is the threat. If they're disoriented, they're easier to deal with."
Amukelo nodded. "Okay… I think I get it. So, stuff them full of junk or confuse them first. Got it."
"You'll understand better once you've fought them," Idin said, his voice reassuring. "It's not as hard as it sounds, but you do need to be careful. Don't get reckless."
Amukelo tilted his head again. "Careful how? What's the worst they can do?"
"Small bits of slime touching you aren't a big deal," Idin explained, waving a hand. "But if you let a large part of their body stick to you for too long, it can get dangerous. They can start dissolving your gear, your weapons… even your skin."
Amukelo's eyes widened again. "Dissolve me? How long do I have before that happens?"
"With the slimes we're fighting today, you'll be fine for thirty seconds to a minute," Idin said calmly. "But don't test your luck. If they get a good hold on you, cut yourself free or call for help. Don't just stand there and hope it'll go away."
"Got it," Amukelo said, nodding firmly. "Thirty seconds is plenty of time. I can't wait to see one for myself, though."
Idin chuckled again, shaking his head. "You're eager, huh? Well, you'll get your chance soon enough. Just remember what I said: focus on the crystal, don't get caught, and let Pao handle the tough ones."
At the mention of Pao, Amukelo glanced toward her again, though he quickly averted his gaze when she turned to look back at them.
Pao, noticing his bashfulness, smiled warmly. "Don't worry, Amukelo," she said gently. "I'll make sure you don't get overwhelmed."
Amukelo's face reddened again, and he muttered, "Thanks… I'll do my best."
Bao, walking beside her sister, smirked. "Try not to embarrass yourself too much. I don't want to have to drag you back to town because you fell into a slime."
Amukelo straightened his back. "I'll be fine. You'll see."
The group shared a laugh as they continued down the path.
The group crested a small hill and came to a stop, surveying the scene below. The slime territory was more desolate than Amukelo had expected. The ground was damp and muddy, with patches of grass struggling to grow amidst the sludge. A faint smell of rot hung in the air, and the occasional sound of squelching broke the stillness. In the center of the clearing, a broken cart lay on its side, its wooden planks splintered and scattered.
Around the cart, about twenty slimes of varying sizes oozed lazily. Most of them were bloated with debris—chunks of wood, metal scraps, and other remnants of the cart's supplies floated within their gelatinous forms. One particularly large slime was enveloping a weakened horse, its goo seeping into the animal's flesh as it let out faint, pitiful whinnies.
"I hate those creatures," Bao muttered, her voice cold as her eyes locked onto the scene. Without waiting for a response, she raised her bow, nocked an arrow, and let it fly.
The arrow striked the slime on the horse with a sharp thwack. The creature didn't have time to react; the arrow pierced its core, shattering the crystal inside. Cracks spiderwebbed across the crystal's surface before it broke entirely, and the slime collapsed into a puddle of inert goo. The horse, now free, stumbled weakly to the side, trembling but alive.
"Wow…" Amukelo breathed, his eyes wide as he stared at the scene.
"Yeah, wow," Bral added with a grin, starting to clap slowly. "Amazing shot, Bao."
Amukelo joined in, clapping awkwardly. Even Idin joined with a smirk. Bao's face reddened, and she lowered her bow, glaring at them.
"Shut up," she snapped. "We have work to do!"
Bral laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, fine. But look around—most of these slimes are full of wood and junk. They won't be able to move much. This should be easy."
The group began advancing cautiously toward the slimes. Pao raised her staff, her eyes narrowing as she focused on one of the larger creatures near the cart. With a flick of her wrist, she cast a fireball. The ball of flames struck the slime squarely, evaporating a portion of its body, but the crystal remained intact. Without hesitation, Pao followed up with a water spear. The spear pierced through the crystal, shattering it. The slime splashed into a puddle, its remains mingling with the mud.
"Wow," Amukelo said again, genuinely impressed. "They're really not that tough."
"They're not," Bral agreed, his grin widening. He gestured toward the remaining slimes, some of which had begun oozing in their direction. "Wanna give it a try?"
Amukelo hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Sure."
The rest of the group stepped back, giving him space. Amukelo unsheathed his sword, gripping it tightly as he waited for the nearest slime to approach. It was a medium-sized one, its body filled with bits of wood and other debris from the cart.
"Alright," Amukelo muttered to himself. "Just aim for the crystal…"
As the slime drew closer, he stepped forward and swung his sword in a clean, powerful arc. The blade cut through the slime's gelatinous body striking the crystal within. The crystal cracked and then split cleanly in two. The slime collapsed immediately, splashing around his boots.
Bral let out a loud laugh. "Not bad, rookie! Look at you, a slime-slaying master already!"
Amukelo turned to him, grinning. "What's so hard about this?" he asked, gesturing to the splattered remains of the slime.
Idin, leaning casually on his spear, shook his head with a knowing smile. "Remember what I told you about slimes that are full of stuff? They're easier because they can't maneuver as well. Try one of the empty ones."
Amukelo looked around the clearing, scanning the remaining slimes. They were all full of debris—wood, metal, even what looked like scraps of fabric. Frowning, he sheathed his sword. "But… all of them are full of stuff. Can we somehow take that stuff out of them?"