Chapter 16: A Second Stab

A puddle of liquid black took form around the open trapdoor. This time around I was able to easily pick out the slime from the surrounding darkness.

A hostile entity has failed to detect you! Your sneaking has increased to level 6.

I felt some of my rigid tension fade at the Game message. I hadn’t been sure before this if I would be able to escape detection by the slime. I watched the creature pool upwards, almost as if it was tasting the air. Listening for me? I wondered.

Recalling how the creature had found me last time, I didn’t dare move. As the seconds ticked by and the creature failed to find me, another Game message entered my mind.

Your sneaking has increased to level 7.

I smiled grimly. Increasing my sneaking in this manner was part of my plan, too. Hiding from the slime was the only means I had found for training my sneaking, and even though I knew I played a dangerous game, it was a risk I had to take.

The seconds turned into minutes and advanced my skill further, but still the creature did not move from the open hatch.

Your sneaking has increased to level 8. Your sneaking has increased to level 9.

Schooling myself to patience, I waited. Eventually the creature broke its stillness and crawled out the room—to search the rest of the passage for me I assumed. I gave it a minute, then took a single step forward. I waited another full minute to see if my motion had been detected.

When I was certain I remained concealed, I followed the slime out of the room.

Your sneaking has increased to level 10. Congratulations, Michael! Your skill in sneaking has reached rank 1. Your skill learning rate in sneaking has decreased. Learning rates are inversely proportionally to your rank and will decrease at each new rank you attain.

I paused on the chamber’s threshold as the latest Game alert dropped into my mind. This one was slightly different, but I didn’t have time to give it much consideration.

Dismissing the message from my awareness, I padded after the slime. It was slowly making its way deeper into the passage, stopping at every room to search inside. I kept a good few yards between myself and the slime, but made sure to always keep it in my sight. All the while, my sneaking skill gradually ticked upwards.

Your sneaking has increased to level 11. Your sneaking has increased to level 12. …

I continued my dangerous game, tracking the slime up and down the passage, until eventually my sneaking maxed out.

Your sneaking has increased to level 20. Your skill learning rate in sneaking has decreased. Congratulations, Michael! Your skill in sneaking has reached rank 2, your current level cap. To improve your sneaking skill further increase your Dexterity rank.

That was easier than expected, I thought, pleased that the skill had trained so quickly. But given the game’s latest message, it was clear that it would become progressively more difficult to advance my skills.

With the first part of my plan completed, I moved onto the next stage: killing the slime. I took a second to confirm the slime’s location. It was in the passage moving further away from me and towards the next room. Perfect.

Palming a second finger bone into my hand, I flung it as hard as I could at the far end of the passage. The sound of the bone clattering against the hard flagstone floor echoed resoundingly loud in the silence.

Not unexpectedly, the slime reacted instantaneously. Firing one of its paralytic projectiles in the direction of the noise, the creature pulled itself down the passage at a fast crawl.

Pleased with the success of my ploy, I withdrew one of the used healing vials—empty no more— and gripped it in my right hand. Hurrying forward, I narrowed the distance between myself and the slower-moving slime. When I judged I was close enough, my hand whipped forward in an arc and sent the contents of the un-stoppered vial unerringly towards the still-oblivious slime.

You have struck a level 5 slime with a poison dart. A hostile entity has detected you! You are no longer hidden.

The slime began turning around and I dropped the empty vial. Making no move to draw my sword yet, I backpedaled quickly and pulled a second vial from my belt.

I held the vial at the ready as I watched the slime warily. Predictably, the creature fired another projectile at me. I was expecting the attack and danced aside easily.

You have evaded a slime’s attack. Your dodging has increased to level 3.

The slime was still showing no ill-effects from the dart. I had no idea if the dart’s toxins would actually affect the creature. Still, I had considered using the dart worth the gamble. My biggest concern with the whole venture had been making sure I struck the creature. But in the end, the slime’s soft skin and the guided trajectory provided by the vial’s narrow length had made scoring a successful hit on my target a trivial exercise.

Now only to see if my gamble pays off. Wondering how long I should wait before throwing the next vial, I kept retreating.

I was nearly out of the side passage and at the crossroads when the slime suddenly collapsed and its gelatinous mass shriveled into near-nothingness.

You have killed a young black slime and have gained experience. You have reached level 5!

I stumbled to a halt in surprise. “Well, Gnat,” I said, unable to conceal my grin, “that was almost too easy.”

~~~

I paused at the slime’s corpse. Like the first one I had killed, nothing useable remained of it, but glinting faintly amongst its remains, I spotted my dart. Bending down, I fished it out from slime.

You have acquired a used dart.

Then I made my way to the creature’s lair. I took the same precautions as before and ensured the slime’s loot chest was not boobytrapped before opening it. What I found inside gave me renewed cause to smile.

You have acquired an advanced skillbook: two weapon fighting. This skill is compatible with your slotted Class and may be learned. The skillbook is a single-use item. You have acquired 1 full healing potion. This item will fully restore your health.

Gnat peered at the items in my hands. “Well, Michael, it appears you’ve finally gotten lucky.”

I nodded. “I have indeed.”