The tentacle, twisted and grotesque, twitched violently as if clinging to life despite its charred exterior. In the next instant, it retreated, slithering back into the dark forest with a speed that defied its monstrous appearance, as if it were both alive and dead.

[Sword Hero: Everyone stand up, the enemy has appeared.]

Layton jolted awake, his senses prickling with alarm. Something—some unknown force—had yanked him from sleep, and instinct drove him to his feet. Shield raised, eyes wide, he scanned his surroundings in confusion.

"Where’s Miss Miruku?!" Layton’s voice echoed through the clearing, panic creeping into his words. The spot beside him where Miruku had been resting was empty, her presence vanished like a shadow.

"She’ll be fine," Anyi’s calm voice called from the side. "Focus on protecting yourself."

Layton knew Miruku was the fastest among them, her assassin training far exceeding the rest of the team. If she had disappeared so swiftly, it meant she had evaded whatever danger lurked in the shadows. And if things had gone wrong… the system would have notified them of her death.

"Su——"

Without warning, a fleshy tentacle shot out from the darkness, its speed terrifying as it lunged toward Layton. He barely had time to react.

"Bang!"

His shield absorbed the blow, but the sheer force sent him staggering backward, his arm trembling from the impact. The realization dawned on him with a sinking weight. "This thing… its strength is above mine!"

"Behind!" Anyi’s voice rang out in warning, just as Layton turned.

In a flash of silver, Anyi’s sword sliced through the tentacle that had attempted a second attack. His other hand still held Ariana, keeping her close and protected.

"Thanks," Layton panted, grateful for the quick save.

"You focus on what's in front, I'll handle the back," Anyi instructed, his tone sharp and efficient.

Layton nodded. "Got it!"

Anyi turned to Ariana. "Holy Maiden, prepare your skill and target the tentacles—focus on those surrounding us."

Ariana, positioned between Anyi and Layton, began chanting softly, her golden staff glowing with a faint light as she prepared her attack.

"Suu —— Suu —— Suu ——"

More tentacles emerged from the shadows, surging toward the trio. Their speed was dizzying, the onslaught relentless. Anyi moved with practiced precision, his blade flashing through the dark as he cut down tentacle after tentacle. His movements were fluid, almost graceful, as though he had memorized the rhythm of battle itself.

Layton, on the other hand, struggled to keep up. The tentacles’ speed far exceeded his own, and despite his best efforts, they slipped past his defenses more often than not. He grunted in frustration, swinging his shield and sword to block what he could, but a few strikes landed, bruising his arms.

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Ariana, standing at a distance, didn’t aim for the tentacle bases. Instead, she focused on aiding Layton, casting spells to deflect the assaults that came too close to him. Without her support, Layton would have been overwhelmed, unable to fend off the relentless attacks alone.

Anyi had anticipated this. In fact, it was part of his plan all along.

If Layton had been capable of fending off the tentacles on his own, Ariana could have followed Anyi’s orders to strike at their base. But that outcome had always been unlikely.

[F level Tale: Slime Jungle

Mission objective: Kill the slime king

Recommended number of people: 4+

Recommended level: Lv5]

The system's suggestion was designed for those with evenly distributed stats. However, in reality, skewed attributes—particularly in agility and endurance—were necessary for handling this particular scenario. With seven points or higher in those areas, one might stand a chance. But here, surrounded by slimes and their vengeful king, the battle had just begun.

A normal slime posed no greater threat than a low-level goblin. But the Slime King… that was another story entirely.

[Tale First Stage

Survived the attack of the Slime King’s tentacles and found the Slime King’s body.*

This Tale posed a significant challenge. Until the heroes discovered the Slime King's body, the system would reveal no further information. The first wave of the boss's onslaught was an unexpected assault—an insidious mechanism designed to weed out a substantial number of heroes.]

The only path to victory lay in resisting the initial attack while seeking the source of the tentacles, ultimately leading to the Slime King itself. Yet, from Anyi's perspective, this team had the strength to face the Slime King without much difficulty.

...

'Where... where did the attack come from?'

Miruku darted through the jungle, evading one tentacle after another with the ease of a shadow. The tentacles were quick, but in her eyes, they moved in slow motion. She couldn’t fight them head-on, but she could certainly evade!

While the other three were preoccupied with fending off the assault, she circled around the clearing, gathering intel.

'The tentacles originated from the ground, bursting forth as if emerging from nowhere, burrowing beneath the earth and launching their offense.'

The thought of striking the subterranean source seemed almost nonsensical at first. Was the entire area their enemy, or did each tentacle operate as an independent entity, or was there a shared body directing them?

If the jungle itself were the enemy, a hasty retreat under cover of night might be their best option—perhaps even incinerating the jungle itself. However, if each tentacle was a separate creature, then with Miruku's speed and Ariana’s skills, they could dismantle them one by one.

But Miruku recognized her earlier assumptions were flawed. As she observed, the tentacles moved with a sequence, their attacks rhythmic and deliberate. If the whole territory were attacking the heroes, or if the tentacles belonged to a singular creature, the movements would lack coherence.

The jungle had no consciousness; its attacks would be instinctual, random. Yet, as Miruku noted the timing of the tentacle strikes, clarity emerged. The tentacles were coordinated—perhaps controlled by a singular entity, but not one with intelligence. The methodical strikes revealed a rigid attack pattern.

Then, a tendril caught her eye, and with a swift slice, its tip fell away. But rather than falling limp, the severed part oozed a viscous substance, seamlessly reforming as it bled flesh and blood.

“Wait!”

Realization dawned, striking her like lightning.

'The adversary is indeed a slime!'

It was a master of disguise, concealing its true nature beneath a veil of tentacles. The enemy was, without a doubt, a slime, and it must have a vital point! If they could uncover its core, they would surely triumph.

“No one knows this yet,” Miruku thought, heart racing with exhilaration. If she remained on the offensive while the others defended, she would be hailed a hero among them, no matter the outcome!

“Good! It’s my turn to act!”

Just as she prepared to spring into action, a notification chimed in her mind.

[Sword Hero: Miss Miruku, have you spotted the enemy's body yet?]

Miruku blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Miruku: “...”

[Thorn Hero has joined the chat group!

Thorn Hero: Oh, not yet.]

'How does he know that?!'