045. Intelligent Slime 2
The slime plummeted from the sky toward Bin. In that instant, a massive boom erupted, and dust billowed outward in all directions.
Boom!!
The spot where the slime crashed was cratered deeply around it. Dirt and dust flew everywhere. Mia and Ront raised their arms to shield their faces, but it was no use—Mia started coughing violently.
"Kek, cough, cough…."
The powerful impact filled their vision with yellowish sand. Anyone who took a direct hit from that wouldn't walk away unscathed. Mia shot a worried glance.
"Scary brother…."
Trembling all over, she feared Bin might have ended up as a cold corpse. Ront patted her anxious shoulder.
"Mia, don't worry. The Bascon family moves faster than any other house in a crisis."
Reassured, Mia nodded and clasped her hands together.
Just a few minutes earlier.
A massive green bulk hurtled toward Bin's body. It was moving at considerable speed—accelerated even further by gravity.
The slime grinned at Bin, certain he couldn't dodge. It's over.
Bin met the incoming foe with clear eyes. He positioned his red greatsword in front of him and shoved back against the green mass.
Clang!
The greatsword clashed with the slime's body, unleashing a burst of white light that repelled them both. Bin frowned at the sight.
The blade isn't reaching….
He'd tried to slice into the slime with Luminare, but the creature was enveloped in white mana. Sensing Bin's intent, the slime opened its mouth.
"No chance!"
Sizzle.
They glared at each other in a standoff, the tension thick enough to cut. But then, the slime's added weight pushed Bin's feet back.
Screeech.
Damn….
Filled with liquid, the slime was far from light. Watching Bin slide back, it let out a cocky voice.
"I'm one hefty bastard."
Pride in its bulk dripped from its tone. It projected confidence in this advantageous spot, but inwardly….
Facing my slingshot shot head-on without dodging. Not your average human.
Even as an enemy, it had to acknowledge him. But the situation didn't last.
Ting!
Unable to withstand the massive slime's weight, Bin was pushed back—and to make matters worse, Luminare flew from his grip into the air. The Blood Lake's effect had worn off, leaving the sword too heavy to hold.
Whish. Whish.
Luminare spun clockwise through the air. Bin scowled at it.
"Damn it…."
With the greatsword vanishing into the dust cloud, Bin's expression darkened.
Meanwhile, outside the dust, Ront perked up his ears at the sound. A blacksmith who'd spent ages with metal—he could gauge the situation from noise alone.
That was definitely the sound of a sword flying off. Which means….
He couldn't shake the rising anxiety.
Hard to find in that dust cloud…. This is bad.
Ront glanced at Mia, her hands clasped in prayer.
For this girl's sake, at least… come back alive.
Retreating, Bin immediately searched for Luminare. But in the dust-choked haze, spotting the greatsword was no easy task.
Can't find it like this….
As he waited for the dust to settle, the ground rumbled.
Thud! Thud!
It had to be the slime. To press its advantage, it kept kicking up more dust.
This is getting tricky.
Just as Bin's mind raced, Codic's voice rang from his belt.
"M-My liege. Are you alright? Allow me to join you."
Seeing Codic sparked an idea in Bin's head. He crouched low and whispered.
"Skull, listen close…."
"……."
A brief whisper. Clearly plotting something. But the slime wouldn't just watch.
A massive green fist soon flew at Bin.
Bang!
The rapid-fire punch was hard to evade amid the dust. Instinctively, Bin tensed his ankles.
Swish—
Layers of shadow peeled from his body, dodging the fist. Mana of Agility.
Won't go down easy….
Blind in the dust, Bin struggled to track the slime—but it zeroed in on him precisely. Experience from countless battles.
Bin dodged one attack, but another followed.
"Don't think that's the end of it!"
Swish— Swish—
Bin trusted his instincts, evading the barrage. But the relentless punches were tough to handle. Without Luminare, even a graze could drop him.
Combo attacks….
The slime gave no openings—fists retracted only to launch the body forward again, ending with an even larger punch powered by Mana of Strength.
"Let's see how long you can run!"
It assumed Bin would dodge as before. But he stood firm.
…Not dodging?!
The slime tilted its head briefly—then understood upon seeing his hand gripping the superior weapon Luminare.
"When did you…?!"
As the slime reeled, Codic—disguised as a gust—smiled beside Bin.
"My liege, another brilliant judgment today."
No eyes meant no dust blindness for the skull. It had fetched Luminare through the haze and handed it over. Thanks to Codic, Bin faced the slime anew.
Slash!
Greatsword met fist in a white clash, pushing each other back.
Grind.
Bin eyed the white light from the impact.
This won't decide it…. But if it's silver….
He was certain—a silver sheen would cut through. Clutching the greatsword, he recalled the moment in Blood Lake when it gleamed silver.
Stay calm.
Mid-standoff, Bin closed his eyes, focusing on Luminare. The slime scowled.
Eyes shut….
Fuming, it roared.
"I've had enough!"
Gnash.
It shoved its fist harder.
Screeech.
The great pressure slowly forced Bin's sword back. As the fist neared his face, Bin's eyes flashed open.
"……!"
A deafening ring filled the air.
Bang!!
Moments later, the dust cleared. Ront and Mia swallowed hard.
Gulp.
Bin and the slime stood back-to-back in tense silence. No one dared breathe. Then Bin's ragged breaths broke through.
"Hah…. Hah…."
Sweat beaded on his forehead. The sword's weight had taken its toll. He stabbed Luminare into the ground and dropped to one knee.
Thud.
The giant slime seemed fine by contrast. Codic spoke up at Bin's exhausted state.
"M-My liege…. Let me avenge you against that vermin right now…!"
But Bin raised an arm to stop him.
"It's over. I won."
"…My liege."
The air felt like defeat conceded. Seeing Bin on the verge of collapse tugged at the heart. The slime stood firm.
As Codic accepted the loss—
Drip.
A leaking sound echoed. From the slime's fist. Its gaze fixed there—a clear blade cut.
"Sliced after all…?"
Recalling the clash, it focused mana on the fist. Green smoke billowed as it prepared a final blow. Grinning confidently at Bin, it bellowed.
"That sword's beyond your level anyway—you couldn't even scratch my tough body. I'll crush you flat!"
It figured shoving through would seal its victory. Bin, a 4th-class knight, couldn't wield a superior weapon properly—or so it thought.
Bin replied calmly.
"Is that so?"
"……?"
Then the impossible: the white-mana sword gleamed silver. The slime's pupil shook at the radiant light.
S-Silver…!
The red greatsword warped the white mana around the fist.
Screeeeech!
"……."
Green liquid oozed from the gash.
Drip.
"Stick together! Stick!"
But blood poured endlessly from the small wound.
Drip. Drip….
First time it'd happened. A green puddle formed beneath it, its bulk shrinking accordingly.
Codic puzzled over the minor injury causing this. But seeing the red Luminare, he grasped Bin's words: "It's over. I won."
So he used that long-boned guy's ability then….
In their final clash, the briefly silver sword had wounded it. Minor, but enough for the bleeding effect. Bin took more damage upfront, but bleeding reversed the tide.
The slime shrank, splitting into four pieces. Bin dragged his weary body forward to finish it.
Step. Step.
"Split into four? Kinda cute. How many pieces this time?"
The slime lamented its ragged form.
"Torn up like this…."
As Bin raised for the kill—a woman's voice rang out.
"Stop, Zeke!"
Her bold shout faltered, pupils shaking.
"Z-Zeke…?!"
Cute-faced but with a voluptuous figure hugged by a blue uniform—an exceptionally beautiful woman, Irin.
Bin eyed her coldly.
One of the three great combat families, the Taia house.