-----

"Gishaa!" ​​

The three Giant Armored Centipedes roared, making cracking noises with their long jaws as they glanced at Veronica with a voracious appetite.

Two of the creatures quickly rushed towards each of her sides, she did not have much time to think. The 'rascal' blue slime that had been giving her troubles had suddenly hidden inside of her hollow armor body, quivering in fear.

It did not begin to consume her body, and Veronica could have perfectly killed it with her Soul now, but she was stopped by Shade, who had detected that the little slime seemed submissive to her.

Unlikely for a Rank 1 monster, the Blue Slime understood that if it were to fight alone, it would quickly die. It had higher intelligence than Veronica had expected, and Shade saw a valuable ally instead of a small bag of Experience Points not even worth a level.

"Gishaaaa!"

"Iron Wall!"

Clash!

One of the Giant Centipedes clashes against veronica, baring its large fangs, she raised her shield to protect herself from its powerful bite, the force formed by the impact was strong, but by using the Shield Technique 'Iron Wall', Veronica was capable of increasing the sturdiness and weight of her shield.

"Giiiaaa!"

A second centipede ran to her left side, she didn't have two shields, so she received it with a barrage of Light Rays, conjuring them through her fingers.

Flash!

"Gyaaa!" roared the Centipede, a creature accustomed to the darkness of the dungeon had its eyes blinded by the bright light ray, which slightly penetrated its strong exoskeleton and dealt direct damage to its Health Points.

The being moved away for a moment, giving Veronica time to retaliate to the one she had munching on her shield with great enthusiasm.

"Soul Materialization, Cursed Wounds, Spear Attack!"

Veronica released her dark soul and materialized it, shaping it as a sharp spear and sending a powerful Unarmed Fighting Technique towards the head of the centipede, her technique was also enhanced by her 'Cursed Wounds' Skill.

Clash!

"Giiiii!"

The creature shrieked in agony as it had its two eyes crushed in a second, green blood sprayed around as it moved chaotically around, trying to appease the pain by shrieking as loud as it could.

"Don't go anywhere!" shouted Veronica, as she used 'Charge' to quickly finish off the fiend.

However, just at this time, the centipede that had kept watching attacked from her back!

"Veronica! Watch out!" shouted Shade, releasing a Shadow Sphere towards the Centipede to gain some time, but the Centipede seemed to resist it without difficulties, continuing its charge.

"Guboo!" shouted the Blue Slime, as it extended its Blue Body outside of Veronica's body and shot several projectiles made out of its own body by using the 'Projectile Fire' Skill!

Flash! Flash!

The corrosive slime covered the Centipede's head, its eyes were slowly dissolved by the acids as it finally felt some pain, it moved around like the previous two, trying to appease the pain while waving its long tail to make Veronica trip to the ground.

"Good one! You're more useful than I thought," said Veronica, recognizing the Blue Slime's help.

"Guboo!" shouted the Blue Slime, as it fired more of its projectiles towards the other two centipede's heads, they were now unable to see or hear properly, Veronica decided to quickly finish them off through brute force.

Veronica used 'Charge' with great haste, her speed received a considerable boost as she charged with her already healed shield by 'Armory' towards the Centipede to her left.

"Gisshiaa!"

As if its life depended on it, the Centipede roared as much as it could to frighten Veronica, while moving its long and spiky tail around to make her trip. However, by using 'Memory Retention', Veronica once again recalled her memories and evasion techniques, utilizing the speed boost of 'Charge' to its fullest potential, while shielding some hits with her shield.

"You're done for!"

Veronica extended her Soul from her left arm, moving her armor alongside it and creating a giant and grotesque claw that hit the Centipede's head right off with a powerful Spear Attack technique.

Clash!

The piercing blow cracked the Centipede's head wide open, its small brain and green innards sprouting around.

"Giishaaaa…!"

[Experience Points have reached the required level!]

[Individual 'Rank' has increased from level 25 to level 28!]

[Furthermore, the Individual's 'Job' has increased from level 25 to level 28!]

The other two Centipedes chaotically moved their long bodies, clashing against the ceilings and walls, while looking for Veronica through sounds and vibrations. One of the fiends quickly rushed towards her back, while the other directed its sharp, spear-like tail towards her right.

Veronica reacted in time, kneeling, and evading the sharp tail, while she received the enraged Centipede that tried to bite her back with her shield while using 'Iron Wall'.

Clash! Clash!

The Centipede was out of its mind, the agonizing pain of having its eyes melted off made it bite Veronica's shield crazily.

"Yes, munch all you want! Charge, Hammer Blow!"

Clash!

"Gyaaaaa!"

Veronica lowered herself, using her free arm to shape it as a fist and crushing the Centipede's head from below, as if her fist were to be a heavy hammer, the carapace's surface blossomed in cracks as the innards of the creature flew everywhere. Veronica was already completely covered in green-colored blood and intestines, even the blood of these beasts seemed mildly corrosive, slowly dissolving areas of her armor.

[Experience Points have reached the required level!]

[Individual 'Rank' has increased from level 28 to level 31!]

[Furthermore, the Individual's 'Job' has increased from level 28 to level 31!]

"Gishaaa!

The las Centipede roared, moving frantically towards Veronica. Its tail failed to pierce her, but it finally had its sharp fangs liberated from the Blue Slime's projectiles, opening its jaw, it used 'Charge' and flew towards Veronica as if it were a living silver spear.

"Iron Wall! Iron Armor!" shouted Veronica, activating a Shield Technique while trying to imitate an Armor Technique that she always tried to obtain in her second life. Mana flowed from within her soul as it covered both her shield and her entire body.

Clash!

"Gishashasha!"

The Centipede roared, munching on her shield even after the increase in defense of her Shield Technique. Veronica expanded her soul into a claw and slashed the Centipede's right side with it, stopping its charge and throwing it a few centimeters away.

"Light Ray!"

Veronica used Shade's help to conjure the Light Ray Spell once again, throwing a beam of bright and burning light towards the creature's jaws, burning part of its insides.

"Gushooo!"

Veronica did not give it any time to respond, she braced her fist and moved at a fast speed towards her foe with 'Charge'. Joining both hands into a combined fist, she used 'Hammer Blow' to destroy the Centipede's head, cracking it all over.

Crack!

"Giishaaaa…!"

[Experience Points have reached the required level!]

[Individual 'Rank' has increased from level 31 to level 34!]

[Furthermore, the Individual's 'Job' has increased from level 31 to level 34!]

[You acquired the [Armor Technique; Level 1] Skill!]

The Centipede's corpse was about to fall over the ground, but Veronica took a hold of it.

"Absorption Healing!" using the lifeless exoskeleton, she regenerated health points and recovered her armor without having to waste Mana into the 'Armory' Skill.

Veronica repeated the same process with all three of the Centipedes and then quickly left the floor before it could gather scavengers looking for easy meals.

[Armored Spear Centipede Silver Exoskeleton] Materials Successfully Absorbed; Health Points Restored]

[Please choose equipment to discard or synthesize into]

"Hmm… Should I boost my Armor more, or my shield?" wondered Veronica.

"You use your shield to defend more than your armor, give it a boost" muttered Shade, who had figured one of Veronica's Unique Skills, 'Armory' functions.

"What do you think, Blue Slime?"

"Gubo?"

The Blue Slime did not even understand what Veronica was talking about.

"Alright"

[The material [Armored Spear Centipede Silver Exoskeleton] and the [Medium-Sized Silver Carapace Shield] equipment have been synthesized into the [Medium-Sized Silver Centipede Carapace Shield] equipment!]

Veronica's shield did not change much in size, but its weight became lighter and it was now covered in fine coverture of Silver, with small spikes around the edges.

"I never expected to get a new ally in here, but you're awfully intelligent for a Rank 1 Blue Slime" muttered Veronica.

"Bloob!"

The Blue Slime knew that Veronica talked to her, and nodded. Since it survived by cooperating with her, it had not moved from the inside of her armor.

"It seems that you have gotten into his good side by surviving together…" said Shade.

"Hm, I would like to tame it, but I honestly don't know how to do it, I was never a tamer"

"Blob?"

Veronica tried to be straightforward as she usually is.

"Blue Slime, do you want to be my tamed companion?" asked Veronica.

Somehow, Veronica's words were understood by the Blue Slime, as it waved its blue body in affirmation.

"Blob!"

"It seems to agree," said Shade.

Ding!

[You have tamed a [Blue Slime; Rank 1] monster!]

[You acquired the [Tame; Level 1] Skill!]

-----