“Okay, now that these little green turds can’t get the drop on me, I should be able to handle them… hopefully.” I told myself reassuringly.

There were precisely five little slimes in total energetically inching their way forward in my direction. Heedless of any danger, and without a thought to their own well being. They seemed absolutely set on being my undoing.

I wasn’t some battle maniac like Bobbie, but at the same time, I wasn’t about to let myself be killed for no reason, especially by a bunch of little green slime monsters.

I conjured up two sets of shadow bolts and fired them off simultaneously at the approaching hit squad of murderous slimes.

*POP* *POP* *POP*

Each of the small slimes seemed to explode in a gory eruption of translucent green viscera around them.

“Ugh.” I commented after observing the rather gross spectacle.

“Much better this time.” Knowles assessed.

“Agreed.” Gunderson added.

“Told you the slimes would be no trouble for you, new girl.” Added Bobbie.

I walked a bit closer to the now dissipating and spreading remains of the once fearsome gang of slimes, but now only felt a sense of disgust and also a little bit of guilt, honestly.

“That was super easy, like, really, really easy.” I said while continuing my observation of the slime remnant diluting and mixing itself with the general slimy surface that seemed to cover every inch of the floor and walls around here.

“Be thankful for that fact.” Knowles commented. “Most dungeons will not have you so heavily advantaged, and even so advantaged you still almost died.”

“...yeah.” I couldn’t very well disagree after being nearly taken out by a single slime. “I just need to be prepared with my spells, and watch every area they might try to ambush me from.”

“Good advice.” Gunderson said with an encouraging smile.

“So, continue forward then?” I asked the others.

“Your call boss.” Bobbie said with a small chuckle.

“Right, forward then.” I ordered as I began my march deeper into the dungeon.

I continued to pass a number of side pathways branching off from the route I was traveling on, but without any reason to leave or go on one of those paths, I’ll just keep on exploring this route until I reach its conclusion.

Systematic exploration of this place, this dungeon, seems the smartest way to go about things.

Maybe I should be making my own map of where I’ve been so far since I was apparently not going to be getting one from the others. Maybe if I do, it’ll even impress them.

“Uh, is there any paper or drawing supplies in this pack you gave me.” My question was directed to Sheffield this time.

“There is a small notebook with an attached pen in the front pocket.” He instructed.

“Awesome.” I replied while coming to a stop, not bothering to check if the others did as well. It seemed safe to assume they would since they were here for me after all.

“Wat’cha doing?” Bobbie said while peeking over my shoulder. “Ah, uh map right?”

“Yeah, after you said something earlier I should have started making one then, but I was still distracted with… sightseeing.” I admitted.

“It’s a good idea, but you still need to be diligent about watching your surroundings.” Gunderson added.

“I will. I only plan to add to the map once I’ve uh, cleared an area, and we can stop for sec.” I said with what I hoped was a reasonable degree of confidence.

“As Gunderson said, a good idea, but don’t rely on any maps you draw yourself too heavily. I doubt it will be the case with this dungeon, but the more clever and powerful dungeons will use it against you, making small or large changes to their interior when you’re not looking.” Knowles explained.

“Frick, so you don’t think that will happen here then?” I asked a bit apprehensively.

“It’s not certain, but I highly doubt it. This dungeon is very young, so it likely lacks the power to make such adjustments in real-time, and as we’ve discussed it isn’t one of the cleverest examples of its kind we’ve come across.” Knowles pointed out.

With that only somewhat helpful and comforting explanation, I continued to lead the others deeper and deeper into the dungeon's interior. We only occasionally came across a slime or two blocking our passage.

They didn’t last any longer than their predecessors. So long as I maintained my vigilance, these slimes weren’t any kind of threat. But just as that feeling of relief and complacency washed over me, I shook my head vigorously and reminded myself that I was still in a dangerous situation, and needed to stay on guard at all times.

“You know, you could just let some of those slimes hit you.” Bobbie offered after a while.

“What, why?” I asked in slight bewilderment after stepping over the latest splattered slime remnant I had vanquished.

“For grinding your skills of course.” Bobbie said as if it was the obvious thing in the world. “Since your up close, face to face, intimate make-out session with that first slime, you haven’t even let a single one get close.”

“That’s… that seems incredibly reckless and unnecessary.” I said defensively. “Isn’t it better to never get hit, and improve skills related to that, than to do what you’re suggesting?”

“I mean, assuming you’ll never ever get hit seems even more reckless than improving your skill and abilities to take hits in a controlled and relatively safe situation.” Bobbie retorted. “You know, like the one you're in now.”

I didn’t reply at first, thinking through her suggestion. It was true that I had a lot of backup right now, and if anything went wrong, I would be helped out almost instantly. On the other hand, intentionally letting more slimes hit me, and I guess poison me, sent shivers up my spine.

“I dunno.” I said non-commitally.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“While Bobbie’s drive to grind out skills, especially ones related to poison, might seem excessive, she is right that you would benefit and be looked after by us in the meantime.” Gunderson said, adding to my feelings of discomfort.

“I’ll uh, let the slimes get a hit or two in before I pop them. Alright?” I said with obvious trepidation.

I really, really hated this idea, but I did see the wisdom in getting stronger, and being better prepared for future dangers.

“That’s the spirit, new girl.” Bobbie said while enthusiastically patting me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, with me and the others around, no slime or poison will do any lasting or serious damage to you. Just think of it like another form of exercise.”

“Exercise, right…” I replied in a not so subtle sarcastic tone.

More dead slimes, more long gross tunnel to walk down, and more ignored side paths.

Slowly but surely we made our way farther and farther into the dungeon. Only interrupted by brief periods of ‘exercising’.

Every time I let a slime hit me, or launch a glob of projectile slime at me, I noticed Bobbie giving me an encouraging thumbs up. In the short time since she introduced the idea, my poison resistance skill had already improved to level 4, but I still wasn’t really a fan of the idea and was now having to constantly shake off daydreams of taking a hot soothing shower when I got home.

“God, this place sucks. When will it end.” I said to no one in particular.

“It depends on how the dungeon is arranged, but we have been going in a relatively straight line for a while now. I’m surprised.” Knowles admitted.

“Not the most imaginative layout for a dungeon, even for a young one.” Gunderson added.

“Eh, you old fogies should know not to jump to conclusions.” Bobbie said casually while keeping her eyes glued forward. “Speaking of, what are those different colored lights ahead of us?”

Focusing in on what she was supposedly looking at, I could also see some faint lights from a ways ahead of where we were at. Her eyesight must be amazing, if she could so readily pick up on those lights, and the fact that they were multiple lights of different colors as well.

“I can’t see them well enough to say. Let’s move closer.” Knowles instructed.

“That’s Jenni’s call.” Gunderson reminded the other man.

“Right, right. Apologies.” Knowles said while looking towards me to make a decision now.

“Uh, let's investigate what's going on with those lights.” I said perfunctorily.

“A brilliant suggestion. Lets.” Knowles said with only a vague hint of mockery in the smirk he gave me.

Doing my best to ignore Knowles’ dickishness, it seemed like he really couldn’t help it, I led us down the long solitary path towards the series of lights ahead of us. I did manage to maintain a wary eye around me at all times, prepared for any more slimes or other monsters waiting in ambush on the ceiling, or elsewhere.

“There’s four different lights.” I explained out loud, more for myself than benefit of the others, who could likely see them just as well as I could. “Does that mean anything particular in a dungeon.”

“Don’t say anything.” Knowles commanded before anyone else could speak up.

“Look Zach, I know you think you know everything at all times, but I’m in charge of supervising Jenni. Not you.” Gunderson said a bit pointedly.

“You know our instruction. Do you disagree with my intent here.” Knowles shot back just as quick.

After looking at me with a slightly apologetic expression and letting out a weary sigh, he replied back. “No, I guess not.”

“Exactly then.” Knowles said with the barest hint of satisfaction in the smirk he gave his colleague. Turning to look in my direction he said. “This part is all on you, Ms. Morrow.”

Wow, they really don’t want me to get any help for whatever this is. Must be important, somehow.

“Lovely, well, just keep judging me quietly while I do everything then.” I told them sarcastically. Bobbie at least snickered at my comment.

We had finally reached a semi-open area that contained the four lights, which turned out to be four large glowing gems floating above four matching pedestals. The red and green gems were to the left, and the yellow and blue gems were to the right.

Perhaps more importantly, between them there was a rather large door. A door that was left wide open, but what was beyond was hidden in complete darkness.

Activating my skill that should let me see in low light conditions, for some reason, yielded no benefits.

“Why can’t I see in the darkness ahead of us? I have a skill for it, but it's not working.” I asked, despite not really expecting much help.

“Boss room.” Bobbie quickly said before she could be stopped.

“Damnit Bobbie.” Knowles complained while glaring at her. In response she just shrugged helplessly while looking away in a somewhat feigned expression of guilt.

“Boss room…?” I muttered to myself out loud. “Are the lights just simple decoration, or, more likely, are they somehow related to this door or this ‘boss room’.”

Complete silence from my silent entourage.

“Right, well I guess the question ultimately is, do I explore this ‘boss room’ now, or look around more of the dungeon first.” I reasoned out loud to myself. “Anyone have anything to add?”

Turning around to look at them I saw that Knowles literally had his hand over Bobbie’s mouth right now, while he shook his head no in response to my question.

Gunderson shrugged, and said. “You’re in charge here Jenni, it's up to you to make the decisions.”

“Super not helpful.” I complained bitterly. Gunderson only shrugged back again, helplessly.

“Fine then, without any further information to go on. Let’s explore this room first, and see what’s what.” I told them irritably.

Sheffield coughed noticeably before being elbowed by Knowles.

“You sure there aren't any other complaints or input before I walk ahead into this ominously dark room?” I said in a slightly mocking tone of voice.

Knowles now had his hands covering both Bobbie and Sheffield's mouths, as he shook his head no to my question.

Feeling a mixture of profound irritation and annoyance, I just turned around and walked straight into the large dark room, daring one of them to stop me.

No one did.

Once I passed the threshold, my Eyes of Night skill finally kicked in and I could see that the room beyond was absolutely massive. At least twice as big as our school gymnasium.

“Woah, uh…” I said to myself as I quickly tried to look around for any obvious monsters or other dangers. “Is it… empty?”

The others had followed me, but they had also remained close to the door we came through.

Seeing no comments, helpful or otherwise, I started to slowly make my way toward the center of the room.

Not even a few steps in, I saw something. It was… movement, like a shimmer or haze. I couldn’t quite understand what I was seeing.

“What is…?” I muttered, while trying to squint my eyes at what I was seeing.

It was like the whole room in front of me was moving or shifting, but also wasn’t. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, everything remained exactly as it had been. But the space between them seemed to shift ever so slightly whenever I moved.

“There's something here.” I announced to others. Partially out of annoyance, I looked back at them to see if they had any sort of reaction, but turning around was a big mistake on my part as some unseen force knocked me clear off my feet and sent me flying at an angle away from the others and into a wall.

“Ooph.” I exclaimed involuntarily.

God, that hurt.

Slowly, and painfully getting back up to my feet, I quickly tried to discern or notice anything about what had happened to me. I also brought to mind my Chromatic Shield spell, for the next attack that might come my way.

“Is it invisible?” I asked to no one in particular.

Not having any better ideas, I fired off several volleys of shadow bolts at the space where the shifting haze seemed to be, which wasn’t hard as it seemed to occupy most of the room.

Every single bolt I fired seemed to impact with… something, but there was also no sound, no new movement, nor reaction at all to my attacks. That is until suddenly there was, another much more noticeable hazy movement slammed into me, quicker than I could react to, launching me into the wall once again.

“Gaah!” I cried out in pain, as my arm twisted at an unnatural angle. “Frick.”

This wasn’t good, I couldn’t see what was attacking me, much less how to defeat it. Even worse, perhaps, is that none of my attacks seemed to do anything to it, or if they did, I can’t see or sense it.

Things were definitely not going to plan, I needed to think up something quick or things could get really bad for me, and fast.

No. What I really needed to do was not be here at all.

I needed to retreat, assuming the giant invisible monster will even let me that is.