Vicious and unrelenting, the brute wasn’t stopping for anything or anyone in his path.

Slimes that got too close were obliterated by the sheer force of his charge, their gelatinous bodies splattering across the ground.

Any looters unfortunate enough to be in his way were reduced to a pile of boneless meat, crushed under his unstoppable momentum.

I remembered him from the initial standoff between the three factions.

He had been the acting leader of one of the groups, the most violent of the bunch.

The other two factions must have grown tired of waiting and left, but this one—this man—he was dead set on killing me.

I could see it in his eyes, bloodshot and filled with a murderous rage.

He didn’t care about the reward anymore; all he wanted was to end me for wasting his time.

His charge was terrifying, a deadly blend of speed and raw power. A charge bearing down on me like an unstoppable train.

"Lila! It’s your turn!" I shouted.

Lila quickly peeked her head out of the bag, her tiny eyes scanning the chaos around us.

Without wasting a second, she pointed to a specific exit from the numerous one's across the grotto. "That way!" she yelled. "My inheritance tells me the dungeon's exit is that way!"

I didn’t need to be told twice.

With the Slimebound Boots equipped, I felt a surge of energy ripple through my legs, like they were suddenly lighter and more responsive.

Out of all three items, each one tempting in its own way, the boots had been the right choice.

They were the only item that gave me a real chance to escape, especially now that I was facing down an opponent with a speed-boosting skill of his own.

The brute’s Bull Charge was terrifying, and I knew that if he caught up to me, it would be over for me.

But with the Boots, I had an edge—one that could mean the difference between life and death.

"Hang on, Lila!" I shouted as I braced myself, the boots already humming with energy.

The decision was made, and I wasn’t going to waste a second.

I bent my knees, ready to spring into action, and launched myself forward.

"Slime Propel!"

The instant I activated the boots’ imbued skill, I was propelled forward with incredible speed, shooting across the ground like a slingshot.

It felt like I was flying.

The boost in agility from the Slimebound Boots was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

My body moved with a speed and fluidity that would have been impossible without the active skill effect.

The distance covered by each bounce was based on my physical stat, increasing by 0.5 meters for every 1 point of physical.

With a total of 10 physical stat points, every step I took propelled me a full additional 5 meters.

The sudden boost in agility caught me off guard, and I could tell from the way Lila clutched the edge of the bag that she was just as surprised as I was.

The looters in the grotto barely had time to react as I surged past them, their eyes wide with shock.

Even the brute, with all his rage and power, couldn’t hide his astonishment.

His speed was formidable, especially after activating his Bull Charge, but seeing me pull away so quickly fueled his anger even more.

With a raging roar, he called at one of his underlings, "Stop him!"

One of the underlings, a wiry man with a panicked expression, glanced at the exit I was barreling toward. "I’ve got it!" he shouted, raising his hands and calling out a skill of his own.

"Stone Wall!"

https://i.imgur.com/p51CO66.png [https://i.imgur.com/p51CO66.png]

[Stone Wall]

[Stone Wall allows the user to summon a solid wall of dirt and stone from the ground, creating a barrier that can block attacks, trap opponents, or obstruct pathways. The wall's size and durability are based on the user's magical stats, providing a strong defense against both physical and magical assaults. The wall can be summoned instantly, making it an effective tool for creating cover or hindering an enemy's movement. The stone wall remains in place until it is destroyed or dismissed by the user.]

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

[Usage: Primarily used for defense, area control, and creating obstacles to slow or stop opponents. Highly effective in narrow passages or when needing to hold a position against incoming attacks.]

In an instant, a thick stone wall erupted from the ground, blocking the exit.

The wall was solid and imposing, stretching across the path I was aiming for. It was clear the underling had used his skill to trap me, to cut off my escape route and slow me down.

But I wasn’t about to let a wall stop me. My momentum was still carrying me forward, with no intention to slow down.

The brute’s eyes gleamed with vicious satisfaction as he watched the wall rise, his lips curling into a twisted grin.

He thought he had me cornered, but I had my own tricks.

As I charged toward the stone wall, I quickly ordered the slimes closest to me to jump and latch onto my body.

One by one, they obeyed, their gelatinous forms clinging to me as I moved. One, two, three… until eight slimes had firmly attached themselves, ready for my next command.

I directed three of them to position themselves on my chest, facing the wall directly.

Another clung to my back, while the remaining four found spots where they wouldn’t hinder my movement.

Every placement was intentional, calculated for what I was about to do next.

The wall loomed ahead, solid and imposing, but I wasn’t about to slow down.

With my Slimebound Boots propelling me forward, I pushed off the ground with all my might.

In that same instant, I gave the order.

“Shapeshift!”

The slimes responded immediately.

The one on my back began to morph, extending and solidifying into its solid spike form that pushed against the ground.

The force of its transformation added an extra burst of speed, launching me into the air with a surge of momentum.

At the same time, the three slimes on my chest transformed into massive spikes, their sharp tips aimed directly at the wall. The spikes grew rapidly, hardening just as I collided with the stone.

The impact was explosive.

The combined force of my leap, the momentum from the back slime’s push, and the physical damage penetration effect of the front spikes all came together in a devastating strike.

The stone wall didn’t stand a chance.

The spikes pierced through the rock, shattering it into rubble as I tore through it.

Chunks of stone flying in all direction. past me as the wall grumbled under the assault.

The roar of destruction filled the grotto, drowning out the shouts of the looters and the enraged bellow of the brute behind me.

I landed on the other side of the wall, rolling to absorb the impact before springing back to my feet.

My heart pounded with adrenaline as I glanced back at the wreckage I’d left behind, the slimes still clinging to me, their job well done, yet unfinished.

The brute’s twisted grin had vanished, replaced by a mask of pure fury as he realized what had just happened.

His eyes burned with rage, but I could see the shock in them too. He hadn’t expected this. None of them had.

I couldn’t help but smirk as I turned back to the path ahead. “Nice try,” I muttered again, feeling the rush in my veins.

I dashed into the exit entrance, quickly ordering my slimes to scatter along the walls.

All eight of them clung to the stone, waiting for my next command.

My heart raced—time was running out.

The active skill of the Slimebound Boots had only half its duration left, and I knew I had to create as much distance as possible before both my boost and the brute’s Bull Charge wore off.

I ran and ran, constantly glancing back over my shoulder, waiting for the right moment.

And then, finally, I saw him. The brute’s massive form appeared at the entrance, his eyes locked onto me with murderous intent.

"Now! Shapeshift!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the narrow passage.

This was the third time I commanded my slimes to shapeshift, but this time was different.

The eight slimes, spread out along the walls, transformed into their defensive forms—large, barrel-like shapes that expanded rapidly, sealing off the entire entrance and blocking the path of anyone trying to follow.

The brute’s eyes widened in surprise, his charge faltering for the briefest of moments. But his rage quickly overpowered his shock.

With a snarl, he barreled forward, slamming into the first wall of slime with all his might.

The defensive barrier held for a second, but then—CRACK—1… 2… 3 slimes shattered under the force of his charge, their remains splattering across the walls.

But I knew the brute’s skill couldn’t last forever. And my assumption was correct.

As he collided with the fourth wall of slime, the momentum of his charge faltered. The brute bounced off the resilient barrier, his forward motion finally stopped.

I couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh. “What’s the matter, Bullhead? Lost a little steam?”

The brute’s face twisted in fury, his eyes narrowing with a murderous glare.

My taunt had hit its mark, and now he was more enraged than ever.

With a roar that echoed through the passage, he gripped his axe tightly, his knuckles turning white.

“You think you’re clever, huh?” he snarled. “I’m gonna make you regret that!”

With pure, unbridled rage, the brute planted his feet and began to spin in place, his massive frame whirling faster and faster.

Each swing of his axe built momentum, the force behind it growing with every rotation. I watched, realizing what he was about to do.

The brute let out a final roar, releasing the axe with a powerful hurl.

"Bullhorn Throw!"

https://i.imgur.com/PHNw9j9.png [https://i.imgur.com/PHNw9j9.png]

[Bullhorn Throw ]

[Bullhorn Throw allows the user to build up rotational momentum by spinning rapidly in place, increasing the speed and power of their weapon with each rotation. Upon release, the weapon is hurled with tremendous force, mimicking the deadly precision and power of a charging bull's horn. The skill is designed to break through obstacles and deal significant damage to enemies in its path, making it a devastating ranged attack.]

[Usage: Primarily used for breaking through defenses and dealing heavy ranged damage. The skill is most effective when the user has ample space to build momentum, maximizing the destructive force of the throw.]

It spun through the air like a deadly missile, cutting through the remaining slimes with terrifying ease. One by one, the slimes shattered, the axe breaking through all four barriers as if they were nothing.

The axe continued its deadly path, hurtling toward me with insane speed.

"THAT'S CHEATING!"