Chapter Thirteen: The Slime Siege

As Luo Xiu’s words fell, master and servant instinctively turned and ran.

Behind them, rows upon rows of tall, orderly slimes grew restless at their flight.

It was as if Luo Xiu and the other had uncovered some dreadful secret.

For a moment, the popping sounds echoed across the plain in an unending rhythm.

Soon, the five closest chaotic slimes to Luo Xiu seemed to receive an order; their massive bodies began to writhe continuously.

Then, each split into two smaller slimes about two meters tall.

These smaller slimes leaped after Luo Xiu and his companion with astonishing speed—completely opposite to their previously slow, aimless movements.

Turning his head, Luo Xiu caught sight of this and unleashed his newly recovered magical power to activate the skill [Inspection].

Red light glowed from the smaller slimes, while the un-split chaotic slimes shone with an orange hue.

As for the neatly lined, six to seven meters tall slimes in the distance, they radiated a terrifying yellow light.

Third-tier slimes!

To think, Luo Xiu had always faced ordinary first-tier goblins, but now, row after row of third-tier slimes appeared.

This revelation finally resolved the question that had long troubled Luo Xiu’s mind: he now understood what great calamity was about to befall Wheel Town.

It was a slime siege!

Those massive third-tier slimes were slowly moving toward Wheel Town—a large-scale assault was underway.

The necromancer organization Vulture, having somehow foreseen the siege, had scheduled their next "cleanup" operation at Wheel Town.

Adventurers and wandering merchants had received notice of this "cleanup" location and arrived early to Wheel Town, waiting to profit from the dead.

This news had likely already reached some high-ranking nobles of Bantanda.

Luo Xiu recalled the two sons of the Lord of Bantanda City, currently “visiting” Wheel Town.

They must have received news of the slime siege as well.

With that, most things fell into place!

Though some confusion remained, the broader picture had formed clearly in Luo Xiu’s mind—only needing further organization.

But now was not the time for such contemplation.

Watching the incredibly fast, leaping slimes closing in behind, Luo Xiu’s heart sank.

His immediate concern was how to survive and bring back the news of the slime siege to the town.

Although he had reached a level capable of single-handedly dispatching a first-tier goblin, this was ten first-tier slimes—far beyond his strength.

Moreover, having just survived a major battle today, his magical power was barely enough to cast a single healing spell, at best only [Inspection] and [Dust Scattering].

And Leila couldn’t transform yet either.

Luo Xiu glanced at Leila beside him, panting heavily with sweat-drenched brown hair clinging to her face, knowing they would be caught soon if this continued.

There was no other way—their pursuers moved too fast, even faster than Luo Xiu at full stamina.

If it could be quantified, he guessed their speed was about six.

He really couldn’t fathom how these creatures, each two meters wide and high, could move so swiftly—like frenzied blobs of jumping jelly.

With that thought, Luo Xiu made up his mind.

“Leila.”

He spoke.

“Master, what’s wrong?” she asked, lifting her head.

Her brown hair was soaked with sweat, sticking to her face.

“Prepare to counterattack.”

Luo Xiu pulled out a hammer from his waist pouch, came to an abrupt halt, turned to face the charging slimes, and said,

“This time, the tactic is to fight to survive!”

Upon hearing this, Leila immediately stopped, drew her dagger, and aimed at the slime horde.

Then she took three quick steps forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Luo Xiu.

This action immediately stirred the slime group.

They didn’t understand why such a frail human would dare such a reckless move.

Especially the lead slime, whose eyes glowed bright red before it leapt several meters ahead of the others, its massive body casting a shadow that engulfed Leila.

Just as it was about to crush Leila beneath its bulk,

Leila’s lips curled into a smile, and she suddenly flickered to the right side.

She and Luo Xiu had coordinated many times before and knew that when he said “fight to survive,” it meant one thing:

Take down the first one!

Boom!!!

The hammer, crackling with lightning, slammed down.

The lead slime landed exactly where Leila had stood and was struck solidly by Luo Xiu.

“Pop!!!”

The slime let out a pained roar, its body deflating by nearly half.

But Luo Xiu’s eyes narrowed.

Though he had struck with all his strength, he clearly felt most of his force dissipated.

It was like punching a mound of cotton with full power.

Did slimes in this world have damage resistance?

Sure enough, the next moment, the slime recovered from the pain, roaring as it lunged at Luo Xiu.

The distance was too close; Luo Xiu had no time to dodge and could only bring his hammer down heavily.

The same sensation repeated—the hammer seemed stuck in a swamp, not even stirring a ripple.

Though the slime winced, it tightly wrapped the hammer in its body.

A great force surged through the hammer, and Luo Xiu felt it nearly ripped from his grasp.

“Pop pop!!”

The slime roared in pain, then released the hammer.

At its side, Leila leapt out holding a jelly-like chunk she had carved from the slime’s body.

Well done, Leila!

Praising her silently, Luo Xiu looked at the other aggressively advancing slimes behind and, with Leila, began to retreat to the side and rear.

The slime that had been carved was thoroughly enraged, its ferocity unleashed as it charged recklessly toward Luo Xiu and Leila, far outpacing the others.

Just as it was about to catch them, a blinding cloud of dust suddenly rose from the ground, obscuring its vision and that of the pursuing slimes behind.

Within the dust, two figures approached the isolated slime from left and right.

Leila wielding her hammer, and Luo Xiu holding his dagger.

Luo Xiu said,

“Leila, control the rhythm—one hammer, one blade.”

The slime couldn’t understand Luo Xiu’s words, but its monster instincts made it roar uneasily.

“Pop pop!!!” it called, signaling its location to its comrades in the dust.

“Pop pop!!!” the other slimes responded.

But the slime’s cries became intermittent, each filled with clear fear and pain, as if it were being tormented.

After several seconds, the dust slowly settled.

The other nine pursuing slimes finally reached the last place they heard the lone slime’s cries—but no slime was there.

Only a young woman holding a large hammer, a blond man with a dagger, and the ground beneath them littered with shimmering transparent shards.

“The first one.”

Luo Xiu said slowly, a smile tugging at his lips.

At that moment, a system notification sounded in his ears:

[Host has slain a small slime. Points +2]

[Host has slain a slime for the first time. Points +1]

[Total points available: 3]