Chapter 17: The First Trial

Kano stood before the entrance to the mill, breathing in the sharp, cold air. Somewhere deep within the building came a wet, sloshing sound, as if the very wood were soaking up the moisture. The air reeked of rot, spoiled grain, and something sour enough to sting the nostrils.

"Careful, boy," the mill's owner called out, arms crossed over his chest. "Those slimes aren't as harmless as they look. They're mutants. They'll eat you whole, leave not even a bone behind."

Kano tightened his grip on the staff in his hand — his sword had been returned to the guild.

"I'll handle it," he said quietly.

And with that, he stepped into the gloom.

Silence.

The building was vast and stale, its beams half-collapsed, walls damp and sagging. Sunbeams leaked through the cracks in the roof, catching the swirling dust in golden shafts of light.

That's when he heard it.

Splish. Splosh.

Kano snapped his head around.

From beneath a torn sack of grain, something oozed into view. It shimmered in the dim light, a translucent creature, its body rippling like living liquid. Something pulsed inside it, like a beating heart.

He raised his staff defensively, gripping it with both hands.

"So far... nothing too bad," he muttered.

Then something cold and wet dripped onto his shoulder.

Hssssss!

His clothes sizzled, and within a second, a charred hole had appeared in the fabric.

Kano jerked his head upward — just in time to see a second slime dropping from the ceiling, splatting onto the floor in front of him. Its body convulsed, shifting shape, stretching into a jagged blade — and with a terrifying speed, it lunged.

Whsst!

Kano barely managed to dodge, feeling the sharp rush of air where his neck had been a moment before.

"Son of a...!"

He swung his staff with all his might, slamming it into the center of the creature.

Thwack!

The wooden shaft punched into the gelatinous mass, sending the slime skidding backward. But already, another was coming at him from the side.

No time to dodge.

Psssshh!

A searing pain ripped through his arm.

Acid burned across his forearm, and Kano clenched his teeth, feeling his skin blister and sting.

The slimes closed in, now three of them.

They moved slowly but with a merciless intent. They weren't attacking blindly — they were toying with him, like predators savoring the kill.

"This is bad... really bad."

Kano's eyes darted around.

His only advantage — the grain.

He dashed toward the sacks and tore one open with all his strength.

A cascade of grain spilled across the floor, and instantly the slimes darted toward it, drawn like moths to flame.

His chance.

Kano tightened his grip on the staff, lunged forward, and struck the first slime dead center, aiming for the glowing core inside.

Boom!

The creature convulsed and burst apart, leaving behind only a faintly gleaming crystal.

The second slime morphed its shape, lunging again — but this time, Kano moved faster. His body reacted before his mind could catch up, feet pivoting, muscles snapping taut at just the right angle.

Another strike.

Another crystal.

Only one remained.

But this one was cleverer than the rest.

It sprang upward, latching onto the ceiling— drip… drip…

Its body began to drip — slow, sizzling drops of acid falling straight toward Kano.

Hssssss!

Pain.

Heat.

His chest burned, his shoulders seared. His shirt was nothing but tattered scraps now, clinging pitifully to his scorched skin.

But Kano did not back down.

He waited, still and focused, for the right moment—then hurled his staff upward with every ounce of strength he had left.

Crack!

The staff struck true, shattering the slime in a violent explosion of droplets and steam.

Silence fell.

It was over.

Kano sank to one knee, gasping for air. His body was a patchwork of burns; his arms shook uncontrollably, and every breath scorched his lungs like live embers.

He staggered backward and nearly collapsed.

What was that?

The slimes I trained against by the stream were nothing like this.

Were these... something else? Mutated? Stronger?

If ordinary slimes had pushed him this far, forced him to the brink— what horrors awaited him next?

A cold, heavy fear curled in his chest.

And with it came a dreadful whisper in his mind.

I'm not strong enough.

Nowhere near enough.

If I don't find a way to get stronger... I'll die in this world.

He gritted his teeth, forcing his battered body upright.