{Mask} and I left the fort around an hour ago, saying our goodbyes to Big and letting them know I intend for the both of us to be back in a while, but not too long. This conversation lead into yet another discovery about the Dungeon I wasn't expecting.
Apparently, there is something of day-night cycle down here. The Dungeon Crystals dim to a soft glow for a period of time, Big says it lasts for a while, before brightening again. Assuming this is a reflection of the surface, I tell Big we should be back before the next 'Dim' as they call it. They wish us luck, congratulating {Mask} on their Heart and getting a pseudopod in to be the first one we tell what they evolve into when we get back.
Carefully making our way through the lake before even more carefully picking our way through the forest, I witnessed the Dim for the first time. The intensity of the mana above was akin to soft moonlight, considerably less than the shine of gentle sun it usually was. Of course, this does nothing to inhibit our vision, but I can imagine us crawling stealthily through the shadowy gloom, all but invisible amongst the detritus covering the forest floor.
We found the crystal bell that I used as a marker for the entrance to the tunnels after only ten minutes. Scaling the cliff face turned out to be less of a challenge than I thought; rather than acquiring Grip to help me climb up, {Mask} showed me how to solidify little streaks of membrane to grip uneven surfaces. After only a minute or two of practice, the pair of us were smoothly crawling up the cliff face, moulding our bodies to fill and grasp little cracks and jagged surfaces even a practiced rock climber would find next to impossible to utilise.
Once inside the long, featureless tunnel I had {Mask} take the lead, instructing them to only use Camouflage when they need to, while keeping watch for monsters coming toward us. They'd been practicing since we left the fort, obviously, but we're far more limited when it comes to hiding places in the tunnels, as opposed to the forest. The Skill costs mana, same as my use of Mana Manipulation, so they had been running themselves dry only to do it all again whenever they got the chance. That's asking to be caught unprepared here, and they were receptive, which was nice of them.
As of right now, {Mask} and I are both sat watching the approaching mole-dongo snuffle its way down the tunnel, preparing to put the plan I devised into action.
"This is it, our first fight as a team," I glow softly, calming my nervous currents. "You know what to do?"
"Yes," {Mask} answers with a pulse of confidence, Camouflage already active as they creep out from behind the stalactite. Allowing them a moment to get in position, I concentrate, pooling energy into the front of my mass in preparation for a Slam.
After a few tests it became apparent that whatever this energy is, it isn't mana. I checked while we were at the fort, and although using it a few times exhausted me, my mana didn't so much as tick down once. The Skill takes a sec to wind up, and it's hard to do things at the same time, but I don't need to worry about that if my target isn't aware of me.
A few seconds later and I'm ready to go, the front of my mass glowing with a radiance noticeably distinct from the mana I'm used to seeing. Sensing the location of the mole-dongo through the rock separating us, I let it shuffle forward one more step to my left before rounding the right side of the stalactite, making sure to match speed with it so I'm in its blind spot. These monsters seem to inspect everything with their wriggly little nose bits, so I'm banking on them not having the best eyesight.
Moving slowly, I'm confident the monster hasn't seen me. Angling closer to its side, I pick up the pace a little, starting my run up. My advancement to Stealth II demonstrates its worth, letting me build up a semi-decent approach without alerting the mole as my glowing mass rears back like a hammer, waiting to fall.
Just two more crawls-
The monster cocks its head to the side like it heard something. Dammit! Throwing caution to the wind, I leap forward, swinging my mass down at an angle, aiming for the elbow joint of the monster's left foreleg. I hear a dull, gristly snapping noise, my Slam impacting the monster with more force and weight behind the attack than I should realistically be able to muster. The monster squeals in pain, the unsettling crunch of breaking bone and torn ligament still vibrating through my body as I quickly jump up onto its side, scaling the monster the moment it slumps to the ground, its support broken.
Wow, this Skill packs one hell of a punch! The only scale I have to measure it against was that Adult Hyena, but that thing was way above my pay grade, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised that I can do this kind of damage given the opportunity.
Which will make what comes next even better!
"Ha ha ha! You cain't touch this!" Dancing across the mole-dongo's back while it struggles to turn and snap at me, an uneven section of stone flooring lifts up, launching itself at the side of the monster's head, currently occupied with trying to snap me up like a flea while simultaneously favouring its broken foreleg.
Before they've even left the ground a section of {Mask}'s mass is glowing, their own Slam clocking the distracted mole-dongo upside the jaw with a sickening SNAP! that makes my currents churn. Instead of dropping down, however, {Mask} latches onto the monster's swinging jaw, the whole sequence taking place in moments, their speed that of a striking snake. Taking advantage of our target's momentary discombobulation, {Mask} surges up onto the bridge of the mole-dongo's snout a second or two before it tips forward chin-first onto the ground, laid out.
I almost feel sorry for you, I wince to myself, watching from the monster's rump as {Mask} rears up and plunges into the mole-dongo's spinning eyes, Pounding into and through the windows to its soul. Or its brain, in this case. I feel the monster shiver and writhe beneath me, its piteous whines, muffled by the broken jaw, cutting short after only a few seconds. I guess my suggestion to look for the brainstem and just remove that was an effective one.
......Yay.
Still, overly gruesome or not, this was a clear win for Team Slime. I didn't get the notification, meaning {Mask} did, all according to plan.
"I can't believe that went so smooth," I grumble. "I better watch out for the inevitable wrinkle."
Yet, after confirming the monster's defeat with {Mask}- who got a much appreciated level up and Skill Point -and beginning our feast of Impurities, no wrinkle reveals itself. Obviously, this puts HumanLuke on edge like nobody's business, making me twitch with the need to watch every shadow while the pair of us smash through our meal at record pace. SlimeLuke is considerably more chilled, filling me with a warm contentedness born of a lack of immediate danger and the presence of someone to finally talk to.
[You have consumed 1 Impurity]
[You have consumed 1 Impurity]
"So {Mask}," I glow, watching them eat from where I sit next to the mostly digested carcass, having finished eating long before my companion due to my upgraded mutations. "Any idea what you want to use your new Skill Point on?"
The slime bobs readily, already going through their available Skills if their distraction is anything to go by. "Yes. 'Assessing Gaze'. Want."
"Oh yeah, you couldn't get that one before. Good for you mate, let me know what it does... uhh, what's up buddy?" I query, watching them circle around me like I'm some famous statue on display at the Louvre. Honestly, after the initial discomfort wears off, I find I don't mind their inspection. I don't exactly have bad features as a slime. Or any features at all, really.
They don't reply, completing their circuit first. "'Assessing Gaze' useful. Was right. Notice 'details'. Make be better," they ripple, pleased with themselves.
Oh, I guess they got it already. "Well, if you're happy, then good." I watch them stare around the tunnel, their currents shifting and twisting in thought. I had them leading before to give them a practical lesson on watching for danger, but I was the one who felt the mole-dongo approaching. They picked it up right after, they're a Dungeon native after all, but my experience with these tunnels and the monsters in them gives me the leg up here.
"You know, if you want to look around, get used to your new Skill, I'll lead for a while." It wouldn't do for them to get distracted by minor details of the tunnel when we need to be on the lookout for monsters.
"Okay. Will look," they pulse. A minute or so later they finish their meal and we set off once more, myself leading the way this time. We both got two Impurities from the mole-dongo, bringing me to four and {Mask} to three. I plan to save mine for adapting my Digestive Molecules, an achievement that I'm sure will have a huge impact. This leads into thinking about {Mask}'s status, and a discrepancy I noticed back at the fort.
Looking back, my companion is crawling along behind me, focused intently on what must be a very interesting crack in the wall. Nudging them, I pulse an apology when they twitch abruptly, pulsing in surprise and a glint of worry. "Don't worry, everything's fine. Sorry to interrupt," I ripple, displaying my curiosity, "I just had a question. Your Motive Molecules are currently at +4, but you have other mutations with a few upgrades as well. Why didn't you save up your Impurities and get to +5? I'm sure some of the other slimes would know about adaptations, they must've heard about them before."
Listening attentively, {Mask} pulses an approximation of a shrug. "Food. Not often. Sometimes. Very small. No Impurities. Some games. Need strong body. Can't play. Or. Want be better."
"Ah. So you spend the Impurities on mutations that let you play those games, or give you an advantage in the games you like." Yeah, that tracks with what I understand about our species. Living in the now has its benefits, but saving and long term planning isn't one of them. "Well, we've got nothing but a surplus of monsters out here, so let's make an effort to get you that adaptation. You're already much faster than me, I'm keen to see what kind of options you'll get."
{Mask} ripples happily, apparently pleased with my suggestion.
"Haha, I'm glad to see you're keen! We'll avoid anything risky if we can help it, but the plan for this roadtrip was to do some hunting anyway, so we may as well give ourselves a goal."
"Goal..." {Mask} murmurs, rolling the concept around like a taste they can't quite identify. "Odd concept. Meaning like... demand." They cringe, the idea apparently leaving a bad taste in their mouth. "But. Also point. Game?"
Imagining a sweatdrop hanging from my membrane, I watch {Mask} working overtime trying to reconcile the two definitions, to little effect. "Uh, don't hurt yourself man. Sometimes words are complex;" especially when I'm talking to you with the pure concepts, "if thinking about it like a game feels more natural, go for it." Happy to leave our talk there, I go over that last sentence. "Just remember to take this seriously," I add nervously.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
"Game. Not serious. Me. Why?" they pulse, confused. "Game important. Make fun!"
"Oh. Well, great," I shimmer happily. Focusing back on the tunnel ahead, my split instincts fight an internal war with themselves for understanding. SlimeLuke seems to get the general idea, but HumanLuke isn't happy that I can't figure out the details. As ActualLuke... I'm gonna put this on the backburner to focus on the task at hand. We're anything but safe out here, despite what our recent encounter might lead me to believe. Everything went our way; the ambush, our attacks being effective, everything. Which means we could be in big trouble if we end up in the opposite situation.
Back within the confines of the tunnels- or one big tunnel in this case -I slip back into the mentality that kept me alive since birth. Our progress slows but {Mask} isn't about to complain, distracted as they are, and I'm so focused I could probably feel a pin drop fifty meters up the road.
An exaggeration? Probably, but I'm in the zone.
We get to the crossroads where I saved {Bubble} from the mole-dongo without any trouble, immediately ascending the centre path. Surprisingly, we make it all the way to the stash of camping gear without so much as a peep. Checking the contents it looks undisturbed, so maybe this place doesn't see much use. That could be good or bad, but I'm not sure which way I want to view that particular glass of water. I'm super curious to meet the people of this world, but they might not feel the same about me. If they don't come here often, is that because it's out of the way? Not worth it? Too dangerous?
Sigh. I'm just gonna end up running circles around myself trying to guess, so I'll ignore people for now.
{Mask} is fascinated by the magical cabinet though, which is adorable. They pepper me with questions, to most of which my answer is "I dunno". I get a good laugh when they bounce almost two feet in the air upon turning into a slime-shaped ball of glowing yellow-gold mana, testing out Camouflage on the glyph. Neither of us were expecting *that*.
Pointing off at the mouth of the tunnel while I refresh my memory of the route back to the plant room, it's time to put our game faces on. "Alright {Mask}, this is it. There's a lot more monsters past here, don't let down your guard for a second. Stick close, only use your camo when you need to, and be ready to fight if I give the word. Sound good?"
"Good," they reply confidently, trembling with fear. Sheesh, these guys take bravery, or whatever you want to call it, to whole new heights.
"Then let's go."
----------------------------------------
"Where is everything?" I fume, my nerves frayed down near to nothing. "We should've at least seen a few monsters at the watering hole. I mean, this is good, we're doing way better than I thought we would, but something is off, big time."
Trekking through the tunnels, {Mask} and I have only run into three monsters, two beetles and a hyena. The beetles were level one and the hyena was only two, all three of which I finished with Slam, bringing me to level four. I'm super keen to check out my available Skills, but I decided to wait until we're safely inside my old cave. We even managed to eat unmolested, which is nothing short of a miracle considering we ran into those kills randomly in the winding tunnels.
Splitting the food meant we only got one Impurity between us for all three, but I wasn't about to deprive {Mask} of some well earned Impurities. It was weird not hearing the Impurity notification after finishing the first beetle, but I got it around halfway through the second, so maybe they aren't just a reward for eating? Maybe I have to eat a certain amount of something? Or something?
"Maybe sleeping?" {Mask} suggests. "Slimes. Sleep together. Monsters too?"
I pulse a no, the headache I have from pushing my mana radar to its limits for so long trying to detect an ambush spiking up a notch. "Sometimes I wouldn't run into many monsters while I was out, but that's not the problem," I shiver, unsettled. "There are barely any vibrations. Things were always moving around up here, or crying, or fighting. But I can't hear, feel, or sense anything, and it's stressing me the fuck ou-"
The erratic sparks of my words cut off when {Mask} rolls over me, stretching themselves thin to surround me in a hug. "Is okay," they glimmer soothingly, their currents wrapping around me. "Danger. Not here. Worry. No need. Yes?"
Their weight pressed around me has the intended effect, soothing my raw nerves. {Mask}'s simple outlook is just what I need to calm down, allaying the very human fear of something lurking beyond the reach of my understanding. "You're right {Mask}," I agree, circulating my currents. "I'll worry about the why when I need to. For now, let's take advantage of this opportunity."
So saying, we hustle down the path I recorded in my notes, only slowing down to turn corners. We have an unfortunate run in with a mole-dongo that happens to exit a side tunnel just after we pass, catching us off guard, but {Mask}'s investment in speed shows its worth, allowing them to slug the monster across the snout with a quick Slam before it can rush us down and evade its attacks until I come and cripple it.
Despite {Mask} landing the finishing blow they don't get enough XP to level up, since the mole is only level one. Splitting the kill gives us another Impurity in the bank, though, which is nothing to complain about.
Still, where are all the level threes and fours I encountered up here last time? They can't have just moved on, the ones left behind would be able to go out and hunt without fear of being overpowered, making them the new-
I shake myself like a dog shucking water as we round a corner, entering the second to last tunnel before the one with the path to the plant cave. Stop it Luke, you're doom spiralling! Get your head in the game, we're so close!
A minute of hasty creeping later finds {Mask} and I bouncing up into the dirt tunnel connecting the warren of stone behind us to the verdant, killer paradise beyond.
"I know I already told you about the plants here, but I'm gonna say it again; don't get too close to anything if you can help it. These monsters are just as good at blending in as you are, maybe better, thanks to the environment we'll be in."
"Understand. Careful," they pulse, their words betraying a glint of competitive rivalry. I consider calling them out on it, but so long as they don't try to get into a staring contest with a flower, hopefully it'll keep them focused.
Exiting the crawlspace into my once-upon-a-brief-time neighbourhood, the amount of Growth and Matter mana filling the cavern to the brim is enough to make my non-existent eyes water. The Aspects are everywhere, so thick it feels like {Mask} and I are swimming through currents of it as I lead the way to the river.
Unlike the forest below, there's no watercolour aurora of green mana surging through the air. I wonder what the difference is? I'd say the greenery here is thicker than the forested plains, so maybe it's not about density?
Looking around, my currents surge with vindictive glee. "I love adaptations," I glimmer happily, the vines wrapped around a tree a meter or two to my left standing out like a neon sign to my mana radar. The mana of monsters is easy to distinguish from other sources like plants or walls, and my ability to see the Foundations heightens that disconnect to chalk and cheese levels. Motioning {Mask} to avoid the hidden vine monster, I take us deeper in, easily avoiding any monsters hiding in plain sight and skirting around those that conceal themselves within the thick jungle once they come within range of my mana radar.
"This is awesome," I giggle, {Mask} picking up on the bounce in my blob.
"Luke awesome," they agree with a 'smile'. "Me. Lucky. Have fun!"
I nudge into them, appreciating how their mere presence lightens the atmosphere of this secluded yet crowded place that once filled me with equal parts tactile and immaterial anxiety. "I should be the one saying that. I'm glad you're here {Mask}. Life is much better with company."
Without the need to slow my pace in order to avoid any unseen plant monsters lying in wait, I get us to the river in only five minutes, {Mask} and I slipping beneath the surface and letting the gentle current carry us to the mouth of my past stronghold. "Come on, through here," I gesture, beckoning {Mask} to squeeze into the crack in the cave wall after me.
Pausing at the exit to make sure my old haunt hasn't acquired any unexpected squatters, the small beach and the cave enclosing it are just as I remember them, devoid of any living mana sources. Drifting down to the rocky pool floor, I spy the object of our roadtrip nearby, nestled between a rock and the wall. Right where I left it.
"I told you I'd be back for you," I cackle, alighting beside the Vine Parasite's Heart, {Mask} floating down behind me. Making contact with the Heart, the notification I was hoping for pops up. Lordy lord, If I had hands they'd be smooth from all this wringing, hehehe.
[Mana Heart detected. Own Mana Heart currently at capacity. *Refinement requirements: Met]
[Assimilate provided material in order to refine a Pure Mana Heart? Caution! Evolutionary mass stored within the provided material will be lost.]
"Let's get this thing up onto the beach," I cackle, uncaring of the notification's warning as I start rolling the stone up the slope. "I want to be sharp for this!"
Getting the Heart up onto the silt isn't all that difficult between the two of us, the stone only slightly larger than we are. Settling into the dip where this Heart's late owner once resided, I flash {Mask} a smile. "Okay, here I go!" Getting an excited glimmer from my companion, I touch the Heart again, confirming the request to assimilate. It sucks I'll loose out on the free mass, but there's no point grumbling over something I can't change.
[You have chosen to refine your Mana Heart, resulting in a Pure Mana Heart. This will raise evolutionary mass storage capacity to your Tier's maximum XP value. Further enhances mana reliant traits and greatly increases the potency of the evolution process.]
[In order to commence refinement, choose the effect your Pure Mana Heart will have on your mana reservoir.]
[Concentrated Mana Heart: The mana contained within your Mana Heart is condensed and concentrated, increasing the yield of any amount spent to fuel effects which use this resource.]
[Potent Mana Heart: Your Mana Heart will act as a focus and amplifier for effects which use this resource, heightening their potency and overall effectiveness.]
"Hot damn!" I exclaim, practically salivating over this juicy upgrade. I was right about doubling my storage capacity, and the enhancement to my future 'mana reliant traits' is nice, but what a high to end on! A Pure Heart greatly increases my evolution's potency? I'm not just building myself a solid foundation, I'm anchoring myself to the bloody bedrock! And I get another option to specialise my mana!
"This is so cool," I wriggle, doing a little dance on the spot. "I could barely wait before, but now I need to get to level five so I can evolve!" It would be smarter to stock up on as much evolutionary mass as possible beforehand, but I'm impatient! If I run into any more Hearts, great, but otherwise I'm going on a hunting spree through this cavern till I level up.
Considering the choice I have to make, I almost immediately settle on Concentrating my mana further. My outlook hasn't changed from last time; cooldown builds are fun. Confirming my choice, the prompt disappears from my mind, replaced with a new one.
[Commencing refinement of Highly Concentrated Pure Mana Heart...]
Watching the Heart closely, it shivers violently, like a traveller lost out in a blizzard, but I can't feel any movement through my nubbin... it must be the mana, I realise, moments before the vaguely glowing stone unspools into a ball of countless mana threads; the collection of gossamer strings pouring through my mass uninhibited, diving in and around my Heart.
"Wooow," {Mask} ripples off to my right, staring at my Heart and the lights that fill me.
I watch on myself, astonished, as the mana moves with a mind of its own, threading together the two structures to form something beyond what either was alone, the speed of it dizzying.
The spectacle only lasts maybe seven or eight seconds, but both {Mask} and I remain quiet for a brief period after, committing to memory the sight of a rock bigger than either of us unravelling into nothing..
"That was..." I begin, trying to find the words, the feeling.
"Beautiful," my companion glimmers softly, their currents languid and airy. "Want Pure Heart. See again. Pretty."
"You got that right," I murmur, inspecting the intangible object within me to see what changed. For one, my Heart is no longer a simple faceted sphere. There's a noticeable angle towards the top, starting from the middle, that looks like the shallow beginnings of a peak. The bottom is the same, but something about the shape tweaks at an echo of a memory... eh, it'll come to me. I still can't manipulate it, and the lack of weight hasn't changed, but it feels more dense, somehow, like the structure has been compressed and... well, refined.
Pulling up my status, I try focusing on the newly changed marker next to my species. It didn't work last time, but who kno-
To my surprise and delight a subscreen pops up, displaying a brief description of what my Heart does. Heck yeah! I still don't have a gauge or anything telling me how much mass I have stored away, but that doesn't really matter. Outside of my current impatience tipping my hand, I doubt I'll be evolving with anything less than a full Heart.
Closing the little subscreen, my gaze drifts over the rest of my status, pausing at my resources. "I think it's time for a little upgrade," I gleam. "Let's see what we've got here..."