Chapter Seven: Shadows of the Second Layer

The second level of the Slime Cavern was nothing like the first. It was a winding labyrinth, and in the ten years since anyone had last ventured here and cleared the place, it had never been reset. As a result, the interior had changed dramatically. Anyone relying on a decade-old map would likely perish without even knowing where they died—just like Zhao Tianhe right now.

“Hmm… There should be a passage if I take a left… What the hell is this map?!” Zhao Tianhe flung the map to the ground in frustration, then picked it up and tore it to shreds.

But this wasn’t mere venting; he was using the map fragments as markers. At every fork in the road, he’d scribble the direction he took on a piece of the map and leave it on the ground behind him.

Along the way, Zhao Tianhe encountered quite a few slimes—advanced ones with elemental attributes. If he got hit by their sprays or caught in a self-detonation, the consequences would be dire. Fortunately, aside from their higher attack power and greater self-preservation range, these creatures were otherwise unchanged: their speed and defenses were as pitiful as ever. Zhao Tianhe could still outwit and dispatch them easily, and they now yielded several times the experience points.

Beep beep, beep beep…

The light source in Zhao Tianhe’s hand began to beep. He had repurposed his endless-battery, always-online mystical smartphone as a flashlight.

“Ah, my AP is full—time to grind a bit!”

After playing his game for a while, Zhao Tianhe checked the time. Only two hours left until dinner!

“That’s enough adventuring for today. Good thing I still remember the way back.” He closed his game and switched on the flashlight, ambling back the way he’d come.

But as he walked, he noticed the surroundings suddenly darken.

What’s going on?! Zhao Tianhe’s instincts screamed danger. After his recent level up, he’d put a point into Agility; his Attack Power was more than enough for this dungeon, and boosting his Perception could be a lifesaver.

That investment saved his life now.

With a powerful leap, Zhao Tianhe launched himself off the ground just as the floor beneath him went pitch black—a razor-sharp spike shot up where he’d just been.

His heart pounded with dread. What the hell was that?! Some kind of impaler?

But the threat wasn’t over—the enemy was still there, and Zhao Tianhe had no idea what he was dealing with.

It must be a slime, and judging by the situation, a mutated elite of the shadow variety! Zhao Tianhe rolled to the side, narrowly dodging a barrage of shadowy spikes.

It’s intelligent, hiding itself… but not all that cleverly, he thought, recalling the previous layout. The shadows are coming from above!

Wind King’s Hammer!

The image of Artoria flashed through his mind as he thrust his invisible air sword toward the ceiling.

Wind King’s Hammer, with its blunt force nature, unleashed torrents of compressed air that devastated enemies and, upon striking obstacles, would scatter across surfaces.

The gloom dissipated. Zhao Tianhe drew his longsword and pursued the fleeing shadow.

After being struck by Wind King’s Hammer, the shadow shrank rapidly, condensing into a black sphere as tall as a person.

With a flying thrust, Zhao Tianhe drove his sword into the creature.

He spun, channeling his strength, slicing open the monster’s left flank.

Boom!

Scores of shadowy spikes erupted in all directions.

Even though Zhao Tianhe had already released his sword and curled himself into a ball as he spun away, his back and shoulders were riddled with lacerations.

Ouch… Going solo against a mutated elite really is reckless! Gritting his teeth, he tried to pull the spikes out, but every time he touched one, more razor-sharp thorns sprouted from it.

They’re cursed. At least the wounds aren’t too deep… Zhao Tianhe picked himself up, grabbed the loot the monster left behind, and staggered toward the exit.

By the time he reached Pixie, blood loss left him dizzy and faint.

“Hey! What happened to you?!” Pixie was horrified to see Zhao Tianhe’s left side drenched in blood. She cast a healing spell, but the bleeding wouldn’t stop.

The curse on the shadowy spikes kept tearing his wounds open, making them bleed even more.

It’s a curse… Oh no… I can’t handle this… Pixie flitted about in panic, staring at the cursed spikes. What do I do, what do I do… Wait, I have this!

Pixie darted into her tiny wooden house and emerged with a bottle of red liquid thick with dust.

No idea if this is expired… but it’s worth a try. He won't make it to town like this… She wrenched open the vial and poured the contents into Zhao Tianhe’s mouth.

“Aaaaaaaahhhhh!”

Zhao Tianhe’s scream echoed through the forest, sending flocks of birds and beasts scattering.

Oh no! It really was expired?! Pixie dropped the bottle in terror. It’s not my fault—it’s not! I’m sure this stuff used to work… Wait, what was this potion again?

“Aaaaaaaahhhh!” Zhao Tianhe collapsed, muscles bulging and twisting uncontrollably. His bones could be heard creaking and popping. His body temperature soared, skin and eyes flushed red, steam rising off him.

The cursed shadow spikes were shattered and forced out by his convulsing muscles. At this rate, anyone would believe Zhao Tianhe was a first-tier warrior with a Strength stat over thirty—but he was barely scraping ten!

“Gaaaaaahhhh!” Zhao Tianhe howled at the sky; his expression was twisted, yet the pain in his voice had faded.

When the howl ended, he slumped to the ground, eyes rolling shut as he lost consciousness.

Beep beep, beep beep, beep beep…

A familiar sound chimed. A cool sensation washed over him. Zhao Tianhe groggily opened his eyes to find Pixie pouring water over his face from a bucket made of leaves.

“Ugh… I’m healed? Thanks, Pixie. You’ve saved my life again.” He smiled. “Weird, though—I feel more energetic than ever. What did you give me?”

“But of course! My secret fairy technique!” Pixie declared solemnly, dropping the bucket and sticking a fake mustache to her face. “This is a spell only an ancient one such as myself, who has gathered the first essence of wood from the dawn of the world, can perform…”

“Alright, I get it! I’ll bring you treats tomorrow—plenty of them!” Zhao Tianhe laughed. “Ugh, only half an hour till daily quests start. I’d better get home and make dinner. Bye!”

“Hmm… whatever that stuff was, it seems to have worked out,” Pixie mused, nodding in satisfaction as she watched Zhao Tianhe walk away with newfound vigor.

Beside the bushes, a single drop of the red potion slowly slipped from the discarded bottle. An ant scurried up, drank it—and promptly exploded into tiny fragments.