Slime Pets Turn the Tables
What the hell do they want...
I charged at Blackie and Whitey, who were fully geared up and ready. "Everyone, sit at the table."
Just how far can these little shits go? What if they actually beat me for real? Then my honor as their owner would take a hit.
"No way in hell."
Can't let that happen. Sure, I won't go all out, but depending on how this plays out, I might have to.
"Alright, Whitey, you're first!"
I eyed Whitey, the weaker fighter of the two. In a flash, I leaped straight at him.
Pip...?!
Whitey let out a startled squeak as I suddenly switched directions. He must've thought I'd go for Blackie first. But nope, big mistake. In a real fight, you always target the weak one first.
"Here I come!"
The distance closed fast. I reached out. Grabbed. My hand inched closer to Whitey's body. The guy hadn't even reacted yet.
"One down."
Still needs more training. I clenched my fist to scoop Whitey right up.
But then—
Tong-!
"Huh?"
My hand closed on nothing but air and a weird jolt of impact. Empty.
What the—? I rolled my eyes and spotted my hand missing Whitey by a hair. And that brief shock I'd felt. A slime had body-slammed right past my swung arm and was tumbling away.
"Whoa, already adapting like this?"
Formations and tactics right off the bat? Kinda impressive. Whitey was pointing at my arm, so he must've given the order.
Things were getting fun. Making me stumble even for a second.
But that wasn't enough.
I twisted my missed swing back toward Whitey. Right on the verge of grabbing him again—
...What the hell's with that face?
Whitey didn't look panicked at all. If anything, he seemed to be saying come and get me—
Chop! Tong-! Tong-!
"...Called it, total cult leader vibes."
As my hand closed in, Whitey pulled back and clapped. And out of nowhere, a dozen slimes swarmed my vision.
"Tch, annoying."
What kind of leader sends minions charging the second they give the order? I snatched the incoming slimes one by one and chucked them aside. Made sure to hold back on the strength, of course. These were my precious industrial workers—no injuries allowed.
The slimes filling my view started thinning out. Jellies rolling away in the distance.
Yeah, that's right—retreat.
Whitey must've realized it was hopeless and pulled back with his slime squad.
"One sidelined."
Excluding the dazed, staggering ones that couldn't even think straight.
That just left my troublemaker...
"Where are you hiding, Blackie?"
Camouflaged? His black body's perfect for it. If it were night, I'd never find him no matter how long I looked.
"Oh, there you are."
But it's bright daylight right now. No way a moving black blob goes unnoticed in this sunlight.
Come on out and fight. Still think you're hidden? I approached Blackie slowly, who was lurking and waiting for an opening. Basically daring him to try something.
Piip-!
"Hmm... you need a different pattern."
As I closed in, Blackie jumped like he'd been waiting for this exact moment.
Way too predictable. Even for a brute like him, shouldn't he have some strategy like Whitey?
Major letdown.
"Yeah, yeah, good job... huh?"
I reached for Blackie's flapping dumb hair, but missed. Reason?
Tong-!
"...Not bad."
A slime had slammed hard into my leg—must've been one of the six with Blackie. Pretty clever.
But as always, slimes hit like wet noodles. Still, passing grade maybe.
I grabbed the slime on my leg. More came charging, but—
Whoosh—tong— caught and tossed.
Jellies flying off and rolling away in seconds.
...Something felt off, though.
I smirked in satisfaction, but a nagging sense of déjà vu crept in.
Where'd Blackie go? The one who'd actually charged me was gone.
Piip-!
"Ha?"
His squeak came from behind. Sneaky bastard—going for the backstab. Wonder who he takes after.
I whipped my head around and thrust my arm back to grab the incoming attacker.
But what I saw wasn't Blackie.
"Jelly...?"
A plain slime. Not the black one that looked like me—just a regular one.
He tricked me? I swatted the one diving at my head.
Thwack—tong!
"Whoa?!"
Pii—!
And behind it, that familiar black shape. A tree branch hurtling toward my head.
This smart little shit. Using a decoy jelly to set up a sneak attack.
The branch was inches from my eyes—this guy's about to get wrecked.
No choice then. Didn't expect this level, but time to get serious.
Shwaaak— Piip?!
A long jet of water swept over Blackie. The branch shot away from my view in an instant.
That's the owner's dignity for you. Blackie's special forces plan got perfectly shut down by the sudden wash skill.
He shot me a super resentful glare as he flew off, but...
If you're pissed... you know what to do.
I gave the flying Blackie a casual wave. Ugly as hell, but unavoidable. If my authority hits rock bottom here, who knows how far these guys would climb.
I couldn't even imagine. And my pride wouldn't allow it.
"Alright, looks like that's everyone. Wonder if anything changed..."
After dealing with the last one—Blackie—I checked for updates. The slimes better listen to those two now. Should be some reward or quest clear, right?
Full of anticipation, I went to open the system window.
"...What."
A subtle unease hit me. Like I was being watched...
Tong-!
"What the—!"
About twenty slimes charged me all at once. Some from below, some from above. Encircling me completely.
What is this bolt from the blue? I'd taken out Blackie and Whitey already.
Wait. Whitey...?
A white jelly flashed in my mind. Come to think of it, Whitey hadn't been sidelined yet!
That guy who'd retreated a bit earlier while eyeing me. No way he timed this for when I let my guard down.
Way more cunning than I thought.
Slimes poured toward me like a wave. Was my owner prestige about to hit the floor?
"I know."
Like I'd go down easy.
Shwaa-ruk—
Aquamarine walls of water swallowed the jellies whole.
Tong—
No time for resistance. The fierce current blasted the cocky jellies all the way to the lakeside.
They wobbled, dazed.
"Told you not to mess around."
I'd thrown in some spin to the flow on purpose—god-tier move. No way they'd try again.
Just as I relaxed—
Squelch—
"...Huh?"
A familiar slimy, sticky sensation on my calf.
No way, right? I slowly lowered my gaze.
Ah, shit.
They say "don't jinx it," and here it was. At the end of my leg: white. Unmistakably Whitey.
"You, when did you—"
Pip...!
...I lost.
Got totally played. Guess that's why you can't drop your guard.
No way the swarm was just part of the plan. Whitey's dirty tricks were downright scary.
"Haa—"
Now what? Prestige in the gutter.
"So... what do you want?"
Truth be told, the prestige drop wasn't the real issue. The problem was that promise right before they charged: grant whatever they want if they beat me.
I never thought I'd actually lose. Wasn't slacking till the end or anything.
No helping it now—I had to follow through.
I smacked my forehead.
Pip-!
"Well, well. Usain Bolt's here."
At "what you want," Blackie—who'd been flung far away—bolted back in a flash. So damn obvious.
Wonder who he got that greed from.
Both of them staring with gleaming eyes—super intimidating.
"Spit it out quick. Gotta manage the gate and hit the tower soon."
Don't give 'em time to think. Let 'em stew, and their demands might balloon.
Looking like me probably makes it worse. Pushed for fast, simple answers.
Pip...! Pii—!
But no dice. They already had something in mind and ignored me.
Instead—
Jiiigeut—
"What? What is it? Say something!"
Just staring at me all intense.
What the hell do they want with eyes like that...? That gaze was filled with desires so deep even I felt uneasy.