****(POV)

This time I won't fail him! This creature is extremely big and fills the entire tunnel. How are we supposed to even save him? Slimes shouldn't be underestimated. Not this one at least. I would rather fight hundreds of normal ones. I do know that his chances of surviving are really low. However, I still want to try.

"Stay out of this you guys. I'll try and …"

"We'll help! He's in there because of us too! "

"Yes, what's the plan?"

"Let's save him!"

These guys are not especially powerful, but they are already more valiant than then all the guards I know. I am truly proud of them.

"He just got eaten by the king slime! Soon he will get digested or simply die suffocated inside! This is a run against time! This creature is the evolved version of a slime. It is almost invincible except for its weakness. Inside of it is a small nucleus that is the source of its power! We need to destroy that and it will be defeated!"

"Nice! We can just keep attacking until we hit it!"

"Let's figure out where it is! If only it was still transparent!"

If only it was that simple.

"That nucleus is always moving inside the creature, we'll have to be lucky! Make sure you don't get eaten too!"

And thus starts a fight against all odds.

I can't help but imagine the anguish that is inhabiting him right now. He came here out of the goodness of his heart and now he is dying. Dying in the worst possible way possible. They say drowning is one of the worst tortures. This is drowning in acid. Sadly it is a slow-acting one too.

One that leaves the victims feeling all the pain possible in the world before it finally ends. Until only bones remain. All traces of the individual gone. All because some people at the top wanted to save some gold.

This is ridiculous. We keep slashing and slashing.

*TING* *CLANG*

For some reason, we can't even pierce its skin. It seems it somehow gained a special ability somewhere along the line. How long has this creature been evolving?

There is something even more terrifying. The bones inside of it. There should not be any way for it to eat humans here.

This is all so damn wrong!

This isn't going to work. No matter how much effort we spend on this all we will be getting are going to be casualties.

As a leader, I can't tolerate that. Even if I am one of the lowest echelons in the guard, I do believe it comes with responsibilities.

Taking care of these people is one.

"All of you, start running and go back to the surface!"

I can already hear them protesting.

"Go! Bring back some reinforcements! Someone needs to tell them about the king slime! NOW!"

They reluctantly start running back. As a group, they should be fine even if some stray slimes appear.

As for me, I will remain here. I do have an idea of how to save him. It is a crazy one for sure. The only one that might work. Might being the keyword. It probably won't.

"C'mon you asshole! Come and eat me!"

I will only have a fraction of a second. When it comes to eat me, it will turn its outer layer back to normal.

I should be able to strike it then. I will have an instant only to locate the nucleus and get rid of it. I will only have this one chance.

Success will mean he might actually still survive. Failure will be my end too. This time I won't fail him for sure!

I can see the giant blob approach me. This time I take no evasion measure. I simply stare right at it! Bring it on!

The jelly expands and reaches for me. I feel like a lonely boat confronted with a tsunami. My existence is risible in front of such a powerful creature. Finally, it turns transparent!

Quick I need to find the nucleus!

Not there, not there, not there either!

What the hell?!

Where is it?!

No matter how I look I cannot find it.

Guess this is the end. I look at the one that will die because of me. Because of my failure. I will share his fate. I don't mind dying that much. I'm just mad at how pointless my death will be. I tried my best and yet…

He is there with an expression of ….happiness?!

What?!

Where is the pain?!

Where is the despair?!

Where is the fear of death?!

None of that to be seen on his face.

He seems to be happily munching on some colored ball.

This is….the king slime's nucleus!

HOW?!

It should be able to paralyze whatever it eats. Its core should always be in movement and close to impossible to catch. Yet he somehow managed to grab it?

Why the hell is he eating it!? How is he still alive?! This is the core of a creature made of acid! He is eating that. He is eating that. He is…. What the fuck!!!!

"T-that…how?"

I need to know.

[Hey! What's up? Where is everyone? By the way, these things are pretty tasty. Want a bite?]

"…"

[Oh yeah, this slime was pretty big wasn't it? I wonder if there are any more around here. Would be nice to get a few dozen more as a snack later.]

"…"

[Oh also, how much longer do we have to do the cleaning for and how much is the reward? I never got to ask.]

"…"

[Hey, are you alright? You haven't said anything for a while now. Are you thirsty or something? These slimes actually have some water inside if you want. The taste is surprisingly decent. At first, I was trying really hard to not drink any, but then it somehow happened, and…]

At this point, I cannot hear anything he is saying. This man is a monster. No, he is not a man. Someone did ask him jokingly if he was human. Now I am convinced. There is no way he is.

Whatever he is that thing just ate a king slime in front of my very eyes. The one creature that is known for its devouring power got eaten.

This is crazy!!! Wait…is he going to eat me too?

No, right?

Right?!