Alexia

The fallen mimic quickly hops up and turns towards me, landing back on its legs again as it sends another breath attack at my new position. But I just teleport away from the attack again, reappearing right behind the monster as I send my polearm swinging down to strike at its top. Only for my polearm to bounce off of it, making me almost lose my balance due to the recoil of the strike.

I grit my teeth as I teleport away again so as to not give it an opportunity, which turns out to be a good idea since the thing quickly cuts off its breath attack and tries chomping down where I was just standing.

This thing might be a problem.

Just how tough is this mimic anyways? I’m not physically strong enough to even dent it…

Then again, physical stats aren’t my specialty. Technically magic is, considering my stat distribution.

I wish I could use Waveform Manipulation on living beings, but I can only use it on mana constructs. Like attacks that use energy and mana. Not on living creatures that simply generate mana.

While teleporting away from another breath attack, I take a brief glance at my built up energy in Observation Effect Absorption. But I only find enough to use a single large attack stored up, and I want to save that for the boss of the dungeon. Not a random hidden area boss.

Especially not a mimic of all things.

Chaos Monster or otherwise.

So I teleport right above the mimic before sending several Quantum Bolts straight down at it along with a Quantum Burst to top it off. But none of them do more than a little dent on the monster’s side that just serves to piss it off.

I grit my teeth while teleporting away, the mimic opening and closing its mouth with abandon while screeching.

Then I realize something and begin to grin.

That could work.

I teleport out of the way of another breath attack before appearing right next to it. Then I raise both hands and quickly send Quantum Bolts into the side of its mouth before it can even finish stopping its breath attack, making them explode on the inside of the mimic.

And this time it actually takes more than a little damage. So I repeat the process, dodging attacks from it and reappearing next to the box to blast bolts into its mouth.

After doing this several times though, the creature stops using its breath attacks altogether.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Instead it tries to ram me without even opening its mouth, proving to be smarter than I thought it was.

But unfortunately for the mimic, that doesn’t really end up with much results. Considering Quantum Body and all.

I kind of just feel like I’m being tackled by a kid. Or something that has a lot of knockback but no actual damage, considering that the thing really is sending me flying with its tackles. Just that it’s not actually hurting me much.

The mimic seems to realize what’s going on as well since it stops tackling me after a dozen or so tries.

Then we just stare at each other.

Or rather, I stare at it while it stands there doing nothing.

On that note, I wonder… does a mimic even have eyes? Can it stare?

Very important questions. But maybe not so important right now.

We continue sorta staring at each other. And staring. And staring some more.

Eventually I tilt my head, beginning to wonder if the monster is ever actually gonna move again.

The mimic suddenly moves again, making me tense up. But then, to my surprise, it just walks over to the center of the room and… plops back down onto the ground?

I blink, not really sure what’s going on. Especially when its legs retract back into the chest and the bone spikes vanish.

It… seriously just went back to loot box mode? Are you kidding me?

Is it really going to try wasting my EXP for this kill?

I walk up to the thing, but it doesn’t move an inch. So I kicking the thing, but since it’s in loot box mode it doesn’t actually do anything.

It really threw in the towel and quit…

Stupid mimic.

I kick the box several more times before eventually blasting it with Quantum Bolts, but since it’s in its loot box form, it’s basically invincible. One of the few major benefits of a mimic’s racial skill. That it’s invulnerable in its room when in loot box form, with the only caveat being that it can’t transform back into its loot box form for a few minutes after transforming out of it.

But it can’t take damage, can’t be moved, and can act like a loot box in any way it wants when in the loot box mode.

Like the loot box in front of me currently opening up to make an item appear above it like a normal loot box does.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I think this is the most cheated I’ve ever felt before in my life! The mimic really decided that it couldn’t beat me and just gave up?!

How’s that even allowed?!

I grind my teeth at the stupid mimic before eventually deciding that there’s nothing I can do about it. So I look up at and identify the gloves hovering over the stupid monster.

Then my mood perks up ever so slightly.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Frigid Gloves

Description: A pair of gloves created for the frigid colds of the Frozen Wastelands. They grant the wearer Tier 2 Ice Resistance.

Stats Bonus: +10 VIT, +10 STR

Requirements: N/A

Item Tier: 2

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

They aren’t going to help me at all, but they would be a nice gift to give to Astrid the next time I see her. My armor doesn’t exactly let me wear gloves separately after all, considering that it’s a full set.

I stuff the gloves into my storage ring, glare at the stupid mimic one last time, and leave the hidden area.

And immediately try to reenter the space, only to be blocked, even after trying to cut through the rift in space.

Damnit. Can’t cheat the System.

I sigh at that and continue climbing the stairs, deciding to let my soul rest while I’m in the Safe Zone.

Because the boss will be next.