Navigating the grotto's paths felt like moving through a labyrinth designed by a madman.

I kept my pace steady, constantly scanning the surroundings.

Slime Four, led the way, while the other three slimes were strategically positioned in a triangular formation: one directly behind me, another to my left, and the last to my right.

I knew an encounter was inevitable.

The dungeon wouldn't let me traverse its depths without resistance, and quickly my expectation came to be.

It wasn't long before I heard it—the familiar, squelching sound that tightened my stomach.

Ahead, the silhouette of another Viscous Fiend could be seen from the dimly lit cave, its gelatinous body surged menacingly.

As I saw the Viscous Fiend squelching its way around the grotto, a plan formulated in my mind.

Last time, I had barely managed to extract the creature’s crystallized heart using a risky and painful method.

This time, however, I had a small army of slimes at my disposal, and a refined strategy.

"Alright, team." I murmured, feeling oddly like a commander on a battlefield. "Let’s do this smarter."

I quickly assigned roles to my slimes. "Slime One and Slime Two, you’re on defense," I instructed, positioning them over each hand.

Their gelatinous bodies formed a protective glove, shielding my skin from the corrosive touch of the fiend.

"Slime Three, you’re with me." I said, positioning it on my shoulder where it could easily reach out. "And Slime Four, you’re on distraction duty."

With a confident nod to my team, I watched as Slime Four wobbled towards the fiend, drawing its attention.

As the fiend turned to pursue Slime Four, I seized the opportunity.

"Now!" I rushed from behind, my slime-covered hands ready.

The fiend, distracted by Slime Four, didn’t see me coming.

I plunged my hands into its gelatinous body, prying it apart with all the strength I could muster. "Slime Three, now!"

Slime Three extended from my shoulder, stretching its own body towards the exposed core of the fiend.

With a swift, precise movement, it enveloped the crystallized heart, pulling it out with a squeeze.

The Viscous Fiend collapsed into a lifeless puddle, its vital essence removed.

I let out a breath I was holding, feeling both exhilarated and relieved.

You've Defeated A Viscous Fiend. Exp +1

"Great work, team." I said, giving each slime a gentle pat, acknowledging their efforts like a coach commending his players after a well-executed play.

This encounter felt vastly different from the last.

Armed with the knowledge from my previous near-death experience, I approached the situation with a more refined image.

While the fear and anxiety were still present, understanding that I could effectively neutralize the threat using an improved method from my previous attempt bolstered my confidence.

This assurance played a significant role in my willingness to confront the danger head-on, because i knew i could defeat it.

I carefully placed the crystal heart into the box I had received earlier, which seemed much safer than risking it in my worn, tattered bag.

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"Let's keep moving,"

As I continued deeper into the grotto, I encountered two more viscous slimes.

The confrontation yielding another two crystallized hearts and earning me a total of two more experience points.

Experience points in [Dungeon End] are notoriously difficult to accumulate, and that's by design.

It's a brutal game mechanic that significantly slows progression, it was one of the reasons it took me a decade without reaching the game's end.

Like many role-playing games, the challenges and rewards scale with each level and dungeon floor, but here, the stakes are exceptionally high.

The more formidable the foe or the deeper one ventures into the dungeon, the more experience points one gains. However, this also increases the likelihood of a game over.

As it stood, I had only managed to gather a few experience points from my encounters with the viscous slimes—far from significant, but every point counted.

To reach the next level, level 2, I needed a total of ten experience points. I had earned four so far, meaning I still needed six more.

The challenge, of course, was balancing the pursuit of these points with the preservation of my own life.

"Better safe than sorry," I muttered to myself, trying to reaffirm that my cautious approach was the right one.

Just then, Slime Four began to wobble alarmingly near a shadowed patch on the ground.

Reacting cautiously, I moved closer to inspect, recognizing the telltale signs of danger.

It was a pitfall trap, a common yet perilous hazard in [Dungeon End] designed to catch adventurers off guard.

The pit wide ominously before me, peering into the depths, I estimated it was deep enough to break bones upon impact.

This was but a simple physical trap, but I knew that deeper levels, the mechanisms would become increasingly complex, incorporating intricate mechanical devices and even magical elements designed to end one's adventure.

Peering into the darkness of the pit, I realized the feeble light from the grotto did little to reveal the depths below.

Thinking of the person who had sent the plea for help. "Could they have fallen in?" The thought spurred me.

Turning to Slime Four, I sought confirmation. "Slime Four, did the person who put the message in you fall into this pit?"

Slime Four's vigorous wobble was a silent confirmation.

The pit's depth shrouded in darkness. I knew I couldn't risk a blind leap into the unknown.

I looked down at my slimes, considering my options.

"Okay, listen closely." I instructed. "All four of you need to work together on this. It’s crucial. You're going to descend into the pit, find the person who needs help, and then, using all your strength, bring them back up here. Do you understand?"

The slimes wobbled in response, an affirmation of their readiness.

I watched as they began their descent, their bodies disappearing into the depths below.

From above, I tried to monitor their progress, but the darkness swallowed them whole, leaving me to rely solely on their ongoing effort.

Minutes passed, each one stretching longer than the last.

My mind raced with possibilities and worries. What if the person was too injured to attach themselves to the slimes? What if the slimes couldn’t withstand the weight?

Finally, a series of urgent wobbles pulsed up from the depths—a signal from my slimes. They were on their way back up, and not alone. I readied myself, preparing to help pull whoever was at the end of this improvised rescue line.

As the first signs of movement appeared from the pit, I leaned over, my hands ready to grasp human arms, clothing, anything.

The slimes emerged first, their bodies elongated and strained under the weight they bore.

Behind them, in a slow but steady ascent, came the figure they supported—a child, his face etched with pain and exertion. He appeared to be between twelve and fourteen years old.

Why would a child come here? The dungeon was no place for the faint of heart, let alone a child.

I was puzzled at first. But then I realized, I had once harbored similar thoughts myself or rather my previous body's owner.

He had contemplated entering a dungeon out of sheer desperation following his mother's death.

The fear, however, had been too great, and he never did take that leap.

This child must have faced a dire situation outside—perhaps an orphan like I had been, or maybe trying to scrape together enough to help a sibling or a friend that warranted this action.

Whatever the reason, it had driven him to sign that damned contract and risk the dungeon's dangers.

Now, here he was, his arms were grotesquely twisted, bones jutting out through the skin, a clear sign of the violent impact of his fall.

Crouching beside him, I tried to offer some comfort, though I knew well my limitations in this dark, unforgiving place. "Hey, can you hear me?" I asked gently, hoping he could offer some hint of consciousness.

The child’s eyes fluttered weakly, his breaths shallow and labored. This was bad.

Without proper medical supplies or expertise, his chances were grim.

"Hang in there, I'm going to get you out of here." I whispered more to reassure myself than him, because the truth was, I felt as helpless in this moment as he appeared.

I scanned our bleak surroundings. We were alone.

I was utterly unequipped to deal with the severity of his injuries. No healing skills at my disposal, no potions in my pack, and a quick, desperate search of his pockets revealed nothing that could aid in his immediate care.

"What can I possibly do now?"