Worth a Try

Adventurers' Association Monster General Illustrated Guide [Sequence 7]: Giant Slime ?? Individual Threat Rating: [Hard] Appearance: No different from an ordinary slime, save that its body is abnormally massive, reaching several meters in diameter, far beyond a normal individual. Habits: No different from a slime. Special Abilities: A slime mutated to gigantic size can spray acid. Once the acid touches skin, it inflicts searing pain and erodes flesh, and it can corrode wooden shields and iron implements to a degree. In addition, the giant slime's jumping ability is quite good. By building up force, it can fling its body high into the air and bring its terrifying weight crashing down on an opponent. Once it wraps around a target, escape is nearly impossible. Core Weakness: No different from a slime. Association Notes: The giant slime's core is very well protected, and its enormous body makes it difficult for ordinary weapons to pierce through in a single thrust. To kill one, a team must work in coordination, shaving away its body bit by bit until the core is within reach. "Let's retreat. There are only three of us; going after a giant slime is too risky," Vallis said. "The commission didn't mention a giant slime would show up. This isn't our problem." Failing a commission affected an adventurer's rank, and might even bring a penalty from the Association. But the situation in front of them clearly lay outside the scope of the commission, and the responsibility did not fall on the adventurers. A monster rated [Hard] meant that even a low-ranked party would pay a certain price for it. Opponents at this level already possessed attacks capable of killing, and had to be treated with caution. "Yeah... let's retreat. We just report the situation to the Adventurers' Association," Marcus agreed. He had killed a [Hard]-rated Giant Rock Worm, but that had taken a five-man party pulling together, and a ranger had been left permanently disabled by it. As for the [Challenge]-rated Mist Demon, that had only been because they'd taken advantage of its juvenile form. The giant slime was not as troublesome as those two, but the party only had three people now. With a full roster, Marcus might have considered it. "I think... we can try," Zelier suddenly spoke up. "Try what, challenging this giant slime?" Marcus looked at Zelier. "Yes." Zelier nodded. "Are you serious?" Marcus frowned. "Aren't slimes afraid of fire? We can make use of that." Zelier said. "Slimes are only afraid of fire when the flame is powerful enough. Your Fireball can hardly deal this giant slime enough damage." Vallis shook his head. "No, I've mastered a new spell. Fire Dragon." Zelier said, "It can release flame continuously, and it's far more powerful than Fireball... though the casting time is a little long, and it has a range limit, so I need you two to hold it off for me." Another new spell? Now Marcus and Vallis could not read Zelier at all. Only five days had passed since the last job. How had Zelier managed to learn three new spells at once? And a more advanced spell like Fire Dragon on top of that. Could four gold coins really buy that many magic scrolls? "You... sure you can pull it off?" Marcus was still a little doubtful. Zelier thought back to the power of Fire Dragon yesterday and answered with certainty. "I can." Marcus and Vallis exchanged a glance, then both turned to Zelier and gave a slight nod. The giant slime's drops were worth far more than an ordinary slime's. The higher-concentration magic core alone was worth four or five gold coins. And it also produced a kind of concentrated gel block, a material that could be used to make the cushioning liner of high-end armor, likewise far from cheap. Marcus had also considered one more thing. Though the giant slime's thick, heavy body was hard to deal with, it had one fatal flaw: it moved slowly. Even if the attempt to kill it failed, they would most likely be able to withdraw intact, which lowered the risk considerably. "If that's how it is, then we can try." His hunger for reward and opportunity overwhelmed his caution, and Marcus made up his mind. "Same as always. I'll pin it down from the front, Vallis covers. Zelier, get your magic ready. Let's go meet it!" The giant slime was still enjoying a bath in the subterranean river, unaware that someone had murderous intent toward it. The three began to advance slowly. When they were still six or seven meters from the giant slime, Marcus struck his shield with the back of his blade, sending out a ringing "clang, clang!" "Come on, you idiot!" The noise drew the giant slime's attention. It seemed to grow angry, and the small slimes writhing across its surface merged completely into its body. Then its interior began to churn, and it suddenly spat out a great mass of yellow-green ooze. Marcus did not dare be careless. He ducked his head and instantly hid most of his body behind the shield. The ooze struck the shield, and the wooden protective layer immediately gave off a burst of white smoke, along with a hissing sound. Several pitted holes appeared on the shield's surface, and the structure elsewhere was left somewhat weaker as a result. The river churned. As the giant slime's body contracted, it finished building up force, then launched itself with a boom, springing two or three meters into the air! "Watch out!" Vallis shouted. A huge shadow spread over them from above, then dropped at speed. Marcus rolled away in a scramble, narrowly escaping that mountain-crushing blow. "BOOM!!!" The dull impact was deafening, and it kicked up a great cloud of dust as well. It was out of the river! Zelier's gaze sharpened. Drawing its attention had been accomplished. Now it was his turn. The spell structure unfolded in his mind, magic power tracing along the patterns. Fire Dragon was charging! Marcus was panting hard, still shaken. If he had taken that head-on, at least half the bones in his body would probably have snapped on the spot, and then he would have been wrapped up inside the giant slime's body and slowly digested, with not even scraps left over. Seizing the moment of recovery after the giant slime landed, Vallis drew and nocked, loosing a rapid volley of five arrows! The giant slime was a huge target, so there was no need to worry about missing at all, but the damage Vallis dealt was extremely limited. After the arrows sank into the giant slime's body, they sank in no more than a few dozen centimeters before their momentum was completely nullified. "Splurt!" The giant slime spat out another mass of acid, and Marcus raised his shield to block it. After taking acid attacks one after another, the wooden structure of the shield had begun to hollow out, and the surface layer was badly corroded. Another block or two, and the shield would probably be completely ruined. Marcus did not dare take it head-on. He began to run circles around the giant slime, keeping up a steady stream of noise to draw its attention while weaving back and forth. If he lured it too far, it would be beyond Zelier's attack range. If he lured it too close, it might interfere with Zelier's casting.