The respawn rate of the slimes was faster than Ether had calculated.

Or maybe the slimes were just denser than the other monsters we’d fought, either way, it seemed like they were on a five-minute respawn rate.

We spent four hours walking around looking for slimes. There was a fairly large cavern a little further in where there were a lot of spawn points, which is mainly where we farmed.

Ether and Justia talked with Fray in the middle of the cavern for most of the time, since they weren’t really needed. Unlike the boss monster, the little slimes didn’t move their cores around, and since they were mostly see-through, it made breaking them pretty easy.

Once Ether called time, we headed back to the front gate to compare kills.

“I got fifty!” Aelin beamed. "How many did you get?”

I looked at my crystal band. I had forty-seven Sap Slime Crystals in my inventory. "Forty-seven.”

“Ha-ha!” Aelin celebrated. "I’m winning!” She looked at Rix. "How many did…”

“Fifty-one.” Rix walked over to Ether and transferred the crystals.

“Wait!” Aelin looked from me to Rix. "But I was winning, I…” She looked at Rix. "How?”

The redhead shrugged.

I transferred my crystals to Ether. "Come on Aelin, send your crystals to Ether so she can cash them out.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Aelin’s shoulders drooped as she walked over and sent her crystals to our Tank.

“It’s okay.” I playfully punched her arm. "You’ll win next time.”

Aelin grumbled something under her breath.

“What did you decide that the winner was going to get?” Ether looked at Aelin.

Aelin mumbled the answer.

I laughed. "I don’t think even you could hear yourself, Aelin.”

“I said…” Aelin looked at Rix. "Rix is the greatest slayer of slimes.”

“That’s all?” Justia looked confused.

“He hasn’t said it yet!” Aelin pointed at me. "He has to say it too because he lost as well!”

I held up my hands. "Rix is the greatest slayer.”

Aelin motioned with her hands for me to continue. "You didn’t finish.”

“Do I need to?” I looked at the other two original members of our party. "Is there any doubt that Rix is the best monster hunter of all of us?”

Fray was completely confused and it showed on her face. “Why?”

“She survived on the third floor for four days.” I laughed. "While avoiding a team of second years, and she still managed to level up.” I shook my head. "Sorry, but that’s hardcore.”

“That’s…” Fray was at a loss for words.

“That’s not even the best part." Aelin’s happiness came back as she bragged about her teammate. “She was barehanded without any gear.”

“And you wanted to challenge her to a kill contest?” I shook my head. "I knew there was no way I was going to win.”

“I almost won!” Aelin looked at Rix. "I could have done it too, I just needed one more kill…”

She stopped when Rix started shaking her head.

“You stayed one kill ahead of me on purpose?” Aelin gasped. "How did you know how many I got?”

“Maybe because you shouted ‘I got another one!’ every time you killed one.” I looked at Rix. "Or it could’ve been the ‘Magic Arrow’ that you were shouting all the time.”

“Hey! I…” Aelin’s words failed her.

“It’s okay.” Ether put her arm around the blonde. "It’s over and now you can go shopping.”

Aelin’s eyes lit up. “Shopping!”