Supreme Swordfiend

Leon continued to observe the red slime, waiting for it to display some kind of magical power. After a few minutes of little more than the slime schlorping back and forth, he determined it unlikely that the slime would use magic outside of combat.

The red slime stayed at the back of the pack, the three blue slimes forming a guard around it. The intent of the dungeon was gradually revealing itself, the first set of slimes was a warm up, to weed out those who couldn't handle even the most basic of foes. This pack of gelatinous foes was a step up- the introduction of a magic user. Videogame logic dictated that you always target the squishy mages first.

The blue slimes were slow and weak so the only danger here was the red mage. The plan was to cut it down quick, retreat and then deal with the blues at a time.

Stepping round the corner to face the slimes, Leon's plan was immediately discarded as the red slime eerily pivoted its featureless mass to face him and began glowing, its red colouration shifting to pink as the little blob charged up an attack.

Leon raced back to the safety of the corner just as the slime reared back and expelled a ball of fire. The flaming orb arced into the air before hitting the ground, guttering out and blackening the floor where Leon had been standing moments prior. He estimated it only took the creature a few seconds to launch one of these fireballs

Leon stepped out again, examining the red slime. It looked no worse for wear after launching the attack. The blue slimes were inching their way forward but at their current speed they were no threat. The red slime however- that fireball looked like it had some serious firepower.

Rushing to the side of the corridor, past the blue slimes who were too slow to react to Leon's burst of speed, the fledgling swordsman skewered the red slime. To his surprise the red slime didn't immediately collapse. A follow up slash to open up the slime's internals uncovered the problem.

"Gee red, how come the System lets you have two cores?"

The second core was located just to the left of the first and went the way of the first- impaled on Leon's sword. The blue slimes didn't get a chance to fight back and were disposed of in turn. Surgical strikes to the core saw them all brought down in a few seconds of flurried combat.

"You have slain a Level 3 Blue Slime!"

"You have slain a Level 4 Blue Slime!"

"You have slain a Level 4 Blue Slime!"

"You have slain a Level 1 Red Slime!"

Flicking more slime goop from his blade, Leon muttered to himself.

"Too easy, this is all too easy..."

The hot rush of mana failed to derail Leon's train of thought. His deduction; this dungeon was not meant to be a challenge. It was a glorified training room, allowing the pampered and civilised denizens of Earth to obtain classes and practice combat against enemies that would be hard pressed to hurt them.

Leon resolved to direct the rest of the group here once he had cleared the dungeon. While he enjoyed operating alone and would continue to do so, he wasn't naïve enough to believe he alone could handle the challenges of the island. Who knows, some of them might actually be worth a damn once they were classed up.

A pop up did manage to derail his thoughts.

"Mana saturation reached- Class selection now available:

[Starter-Warrior]- Starting class. The frontliner, fighting in close quarters with firm steel and unbreakable power. Lacking specialisation, the [Warrior] class is a solid base to build on until your find your preferred specialisation.

[Starter-Rogue]- Starting class. The midliner, you excel at creating opportunities for your team whether that be at range or up close. Offers the widest range of possible paths forward for physical classes.

[Starter-Novice]- Starting class. The backliner, bend mana to your will. Class development depends entirely on your choices. The beginning point of all mana users.

[Common-Swordsman]- Your skill with blades places you firmly beyond the bounds of a common warrior. A class that balances Constitution, Speed and Power to build a base for future advancement."

Another easy choice, Leon clicked on [Swordsman]. The System recognised his skill, his dedication. Years of training, finally vindicated as the mana surged through Leon's body, a feeling of unparalleled bliss consuming his thoughts as the class imprinted itself upon him.

"Your class is now [Swordsman]. You have unlocked the [Quest] System functionality! Check your Status for more information!"

Curious Leon pulled up his status to see what these quests would be.

Name- Leon Knox

Race- [Human]

Grade- [H]

Class- [Common-Swordsman]- Level 0/25

Job-None!

Stat Block:

HP-60/60

MP-0/60

Power- 7

Speed- 7

Constitution- 6

Intelligence-6

Wisdom-5

Fame-0

Infamy-0

Skills:

[Inspect]-Level 2/2

Quests:

Wide Base- Attain a baseline competency with many classifications of sword

Progress:

Straight Swords- 1/1

Curved Swords- 0/1

Thrusting Swords- 0/1

Greatswords- 0/1

Curved Greatswords- 0/1

Ultra Greatswords- 0/1

Reward-Class Skill

Pile 'Em Up- Sharpen your skills on living flesh

Progress- 0/100

Reward- Class Skill

The Shoulders Of Giants- Master a sword technique created by a fellow swordsman

Progress- 0/1

Reward- Class Skill

The quest function seemed simplistic enough; do things, get rewards. It was weird that the class skills were earned rather than acquired at level boundaries but this was another thing Leon would be adding to the steadily growing 'list of things that are above my pay grade'.

There was a slight concern that he wouldn't be able to acquire the various weapon types the first quest required but Leon trusted the Tutorial would provide.

Inspection of his status complete, Leon turned his attention to the red goo and the two cracked cores on the floor. Had Leon not baited out the red slime's attack he was sure the slime would have burned him with its fireball attack.

"Something to watch out for then- any new slimes get split open for inspection then the cores get stabbed."

Before he set off to confront the next slime pack Leon inspected his leg, noticing the health point he'd lost had been restored. The bruise was completely gone, no sign of it having ever been there. Leon did feel noticeably hungrier though- perhaps the increased regeneration rate had to draw on his energy to work?

Resolving to address the food problem as soon as possible Leon pressed on.

Each corridor in the Slime King's castle was short, only a few metres long, though wide enough for Leon to move comfortably in. The path turned back to the right where the previous corridor had turned left. The next pack of slimes awaited Leon, another new variant among them. The variant was larger than the norm, double the size of a normal blue slime and darker in colouration.

A use of [Inspect] revealed the new slime's details.

"Level 5 Dark Blue Slime- The juvenile form of the blue slime, reliant on its superior bulk to inflict damage, utilises rudimentary manipulation of this bulk to morph into forms more adept at breaking open skin."

Another step up. The Dark Blue Slime was flanked by two blues, both level 5 and two reds at level 3.

"Okay- a miniboss, two amped up mages and two trash mobs to round out the group. What's the lesson here?"

The mages presumably could cast more than once at level 3 making them exponentially more dangerous. The blues could be ignored, too slow and weak to really impact the battle. The threat therefore was the dark blue.

His choices were narrow- burst down the miniboss or focus the mages? Leon settled on attempting to bait the mages into exhausting their spells then taking the miniboss down.

Jumping around the corner Leon faced down the slime pack. The red slimes exhibited similar behaviour to their deceased predecessor, immediately pivoting and charging up their arcing fireballs but Leon was too focused on the dark blue slime to notice.

The slime's body was roiling as it transfigured itself before Leon's eyes, slimming down to the size of a regular blue slime as the additional mass was redirected, the slime's body now covered in spikes. Protruding from all over the slime's body the tips gleamed menacingly in the mysterious subterranean sunlight of the castle.

Before Leon could question how slime could possibly become sharp or why the creature had decided to transform into a conker, the miniboss began moving. It was faster than any slime Leon had met so far, sliding across the stone floor fast enough to close the distance to him in a matter of seconds, where the normal blues would have taken nearly a minute to cross the same distance. Remembering the terrifying way slimes had been described to feed on their prey's innards, Leon let loose with a two handed uppercut at full power, catching the slime before it could latch on to his leg.

It went careening through the air, not quite split in half though not far off. It was at that moment one of the red slime's fireball spewed forth impacting the unfortunate airborne blue and setting it aflame, flash melting the creature into a foul smelling gas.

The second fireball would have hit its intended mark, had Leon not already begun moving forward, intending to intercept the dark blue slime while it was airborne. The second fireball splashed against the floor while Leon disposed of the remaining slimes. It was getting easier. The slimes hardly moved and their cores were uniform in placement. Four thrusts later and Leon had dispatched the slimes. The mages didn't even get a chance to fire off their second shots.

He dismissed the kill notifications as the mana flooded his system. Leon didn't get any level ups- not unexpected, these slimes were far too weak to give any real experience now that he had a class. He also hadn't gotten credit for the miniboss. Annoying, but not unexpected. It did raise the question of how the System awarded experience for fights. Another thing he'd have to somehow figure out.

Hefting his sword over his shoulder Leon felt he'd been robbed of more than just a little extra mana. The dark blue conker slime might have actually been able to give him a good fight had circumstance not dispatched it. He'd been enjoying the thrill these battles brought, planning his attacks and reacting to the enemy's new capabilities, finally putting his skills to use. There was something missing though- the threat of death. All the greatest swordsmen were meant to pull through by the skin of their teeth, clothes in tatters after unleashing their final techniques.

So far Leon had taken a thump to the leg. His clothes were still in one piece though soaked in fresh sweat from the exertion of battle. He didn't even have a technique, let alone a final one. It was all something to look forward to and that desire drove him onwards.

"Oh well, can't complain too much- slimes being weak to fire is good info, maybe one of the others could be convinced to specialise in fire for easy kills?"

Musing over the potential of fire magic against slimes Leon reached the next turn and pressed against the corner to peek at the next group. Instead he saw an empty corridor that led to a large white door, bedecked with an absurd quantity of filigree and engraving. The surface of the door was utterly covered, only the large gemstone encrusted handles being spared further decoration.

The implication was clear- boss fight time.

Leon rushed for the door, excited to face off against the Slime King. Wrenching open the door he pulled himself into the throne room. It was a stark departure from the previous corridor. A clean and simple room, no windows, no engravings, no pomp or ceremony.

A single anachronistic lightbulb hung from the ceiling illuminating the unadorned concrete that comprised the floor and walls of the room. A wooden throne sat in the centre, a truly huge blue slime upon it. Notably absent was the crown depicted in the stained glass depictions though Leon didn't doubt this was the king slime. [Inspect] confirmed this.

"Level 7 Blue King Slime- An adult blue slime, a master of manipulating its biomass. Constrained by the weakness of its species, this creature is the number three cause of death for [H] Rank existences in the Proving Grounds."

Suitably terrifying for a final boss.

Leon knew he should feel fear, that he was fighting alone against a creature likely designed for an entire group. Instead he felt exhilaration. A battle. A true life and death fight. He'd lived for the sword, perhaps today he would die by the sword. Like all great swordsmen he would need to taunt his foe before they crossed blades, something at his core compelled him to. An instinct, a compulsion he could not ignore.

"Well let's get on with it your gooeyness, clock's ticking- though you're all outta slime."

Not his best work but it got the slime moving. Its body began roiling and twisting as it hopped off its throne, facing Leon and forming into an exact replica of him, right down to his ponytail and scruffy beard. It was eerie, uncanny to look at a perfect copy of himself made of murderous goo.

It also mimicked his sword. Before he could react it was moving. It made the previous dark blue slime look slow, striking at Leon with speed and ferocity. Its slime blade and Leon's steel met, with Leon's parry just in time to prevent a permanent parting of his head and shoulders. The resounding clang of metal on metal seemed impossible considering the slimy nature of the blade though Leon added the source of the sound to a fresh list dubbed 'magical bullshit'.

The slime staggered back. It had committed all its might to the strike and was now wide open. Leon did not exploit this opening for a simple reason.

The creature had a core, same as every other slime. A reckless attack now risked missing the core and opening himself up to a counterattack. Leon didn't have a core, any strike he sustained was potentially lethal. The slime only needed a single hit to win, Leon needed to avoid every blow and find his enemy's weak point.

The slime recovered from the parry, a savage horizontal slash was its next move, again delivered with the maximum force the creature could muster. Leon met it with the flat of his blade, successfully riposting the gelatinous monarch. Then he responded in kind, taking advantage of the opening to lop the creatures head off.

Cutting through the king slime felt like slicing into sludge- thick and viscous. The creature's head fell to the ground with a plop while its blade struck forward in a thrust aimed at Leon's heart.

The novice swordsman was forced to leap back to avoid the blade point, his back now against the wall. He'd spotted something critical though. The slime had stretched itself thin in its mimicry- the core was exposed to the surface, inlaid upon the hilt of the creatures replica blade. The last place he would have looked, had the creature not overextended in its eagerness to kill him.

The headless slime advanced on Leon, sword descending in a downward chop, which Leon rolled to the side to avoid. Its slimy blade now stuck in the door which Leon had entered through the swordsman exploited the generous opening. From his crouched position he replicated the uppercut slash he'd used previously on the dark blue slime, severing the slime king's sword arm, the body going limp as the sword clattered to the ground, slime rapidly converging on the sword to reform the king's body.

Leon snarled upon seeing this, "Not a chance you royal pain in the ass!"

Pouncing on the slime's exposed core, Leon hammered the pommel of his blade into the creature's heart, shattering the core. He let out a relieved sigh. The slime king had been the hardest enemy so far, though the fight had lasted mere seconds.

His relief was cut short as he noticed something.

There had been no kill notification.