Eron: "A thousand steps down a dungeon connected to the Abyss..."
He murmured.
Eron: "It's not just a physical ordeal."
"It's mental. They want to exhaust us before the next fight."
Lyra nodded slowly.
Lyra: "And the lower we go, the greater the abyssal pressure will be."
"Even if we're not injured, our bodies will feel it."
Venti remained silent for a few seconds, listening to the steady breathing of his companions, the faint echo of their footsteps, and the almost imperceptible hum that seemed to rise from the bottom of the spiral.
Something awaited them below. He was certain of it.
Venti: "We have no choice."
He said finally, with a slight smile.
Venti: "Backing down isn't an option."
He straightened up, took his place in the group, and cast one last glance at the abyss beneath their feet.
Venti: "Come on."
He added, his tone lighter.
Venti: "What number were you at again?"
Kael sighed, ran a hand over his face, and continued in a resigned voice:
Kael: "Four hundred and twelve..."
"Four hundred and thirteen..."
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
The group set off again, descending ever deeper into the spiral staircase.
With each step, the light seemed to dim a little more, and the air grew colder, heavier.
A thousand steps still separated them from the bottom… and from what the Abyss had decided to reserve for them.
As they continued down the steps, the steady sound of their footsteps echoing against the stone, Venti frowned slightly. A thought had just crossed his mind, clear and sudden, like a dissonant note in a well-ordered melody.
He slowed slightly, positioning himself level with Kael.
Venti: "Tell me."
Venti said, his tone feigning nonchalance.
Venti: "Earlier, facing the Abyss Lector..."
Kael turned his head toward him without stopping his descent, still focused on his count.
Kael: "Four hundred and ninety-six..."
"What?"
Venti: "You used your Adventurer's Crystal to check its level."
Venti continued.
Venti: "How exactly does that work?"
"I've never been told anything like that."
Kael blinked, clearly surprised.
Kael: "Seriously?"
"Nobody taught you that?"
He paused for a second, causing Bram to grumble behind him.
Bram: "Hey!"
"Keep going or I'll lose count!"
Kael gestured irritably before turning back to Venti.
Kael: "Okay, listen."
Bzzzzzzzz
He took out his adventurer's crystal, which emitted a faint bluish glow in the palm of his hand.
Kael: "Each crystal is linked to the Guild."
"It's not just for displaying your level or skills."
Venti studied the object intently, his eyes shining with interest.
Kael: "When you focus a little mana into it."
Kael explained.
Kael: "And if you point it at a living target, the crystal reacts to the energy it emits."
Venti: "Like an elemental flux reading?"
Venti asked.
Kael: "Exactly."
Kael agreed.
Kael: "But it's not precise enough to give you all the details."
"Just an estimate of the overall level, based on the density and stability of the energy."
Eron, who was walking right behind them, chimed in:
Eron: "It doesn't work on everything."
He clarified.
Kael: "Ordinary monsters, yes."
"Creatures of the Abyss... they're more unstable."
"The result can fluctuate."
Venti: "And yet..."
Venti continued thoughtfully.
Venti: "You saw he was level fifty."
Kael nodded.
Kael: "Because he wasn't even trying to mask his aura."
He gave a nervous smile.
Kael: "Honestly, he was oozing arrogance."
Venti lowered his gaze slightly, his mind already making connections.
Venti: "So... if someone knows how to conceal their energy..."
He murmured.
Venti: "The crystal can be wrong."
"Or detect nothing at all."
A silence fell for a few steps.
Lyra, a little further down, turned towards them.
Lyra: "Are you thinking of someone in particular?"
Venti raised his head and smiled gently, as if brushing the question aside.
Venti: "Let's just say it's reassuring to know all the capabilities of these crystals."
He glanced furtively at the void stretching beneath them, then at the endless spiral before them.
Venti: "Thank you for the explanation."
He added calmly.
Venti: "This is the kind of information that can save lives."
Kael put away his crystal.
Kael: "In this dungeon."
He replied.
Kael: "Anything can save lives."
"Even a detail we think is insignificant."
They resumed their descent, the counting continuing, while in Venti's mind, a new certainty took shape:
If there were flaws in the crystals' operation, then there were also secrets the Guild didn't know... or preferred to ignore.
Two minutes later:
Kael, completely absorbed in his bet with Bram, continued down the stairs, muttering the numbers aloud, his voice echoing faintly along the spiral staircase.
Kael: "Seven hundred and twenty-two…"
"Seven hundred and twenty-three…"
Meanwhile, a little further back, the atmosphere relaxed slightly.
The heavy silence of the dungeon was broken by a most unexpected conversation.
Venti, his hands clasped behind his head, gazed absently at the dark walls before turning to Eron.
Venti: "Tell me."
He asked curiously.
Venti: "Important question."
"In your opinion… what kind of slime is the cutest?"
Eron blinked, taken aback.
Eron: "…Excuse me?"
Venti: "Slimes."
Venti clarified with the utmost seriousness.
There are a total of seven basic slime types:
- Pyro
-Hydro
- Cryo
-Anemo
Archive: A monster created by the coalescing of Anemo dispersed throughout nature.
Owing to being understood of a greater concentration of Anemo, their flotation abilities are stronger than that of Anemo Slimes.
The monster living out in the wilds have made use of this special characteristic, creating special vehicles that use Large Anemo Slimes as a form of locomotion to transport goods from unknown sources.
- Geo
Archive: Monsters created through the buildup of Geo within the earth.
They can harden the energy within their bodies into a carapace of stone that protects them and prevents damage.
The legend of a "Golden Geo Slime King" once circulated among the Treasure Hoarders.
They believed that since gemstones and ores have Geo energy in them, Geo Slimes, which also contain Geo energy, may also be a type of gemstone or ore.
-Dendro
Archive: A slime that has undergone ecological changes due to abundant Dendro in its environment.
There are some who see it as something similar to the Whopperflowers, hiding its true form to trick and hunt its prey, and some regard it as a slime that has been parasitized by some special plant.
From this point of view, might some cultures also see these slimes as having some special medicinal value?
-And Electro.
Venti: "Obviously, there is one that stands out."
Eron remained silent for a few seconds, as if he were truly evaluating the question with scientific rigor. He then adjusted the strap of his alchemist bag.
Eron: "If we're talking purely about appearance."
He began slowly.
Eron: "I'd say Hydro slimes."
"Their color is soft, almost translucent... and they look... peaceful."
Venti nodded.
Venti: "Not bad."
"They look like they could be used as a pillow if you dared."
Eron: "On the other hand."
Eron continued.
Eron: "Pyro slimes are anything but cute. They're aggressive, unstable, and explode at the slightest misstep."
Venti: "I agree."
Venti replied with a smile.
Venti: "Even Electro slimes are cuter, with their little sparkles."
"They almost look like they're quivering with excitement."
Eron chuckled softly.
Eron: "Cryo slimes have something about them too."
He admitted.
Eron: "They look like blocks of frozen jelly... as long as they don't freeze you in place."
Venti: "And Dendro slimes."
Venti added thoughtfully.
Venti: "They have this... natural quality."
"Almost shy."
Eron nodded.
Eron: "Geo slimes are solid, but a little too rigid to be cute."
Venti tilted his head slightly.
Venti: "Then there are Anemo slimes."
A silence fell, followed by a shared smile.
Venti: "They float."
Eron said.
Venti: "They're light, unpredictable..."
"And they seem to dance with the wind."
Venti finished softly.
Eron looked at him for a moment, intrigued by the unusually sincere tone of his voice.
Eron: "So your choice would be Anemo?"
Venti smiled, a calm and mysterious smile.
Venti: "Let's just say I have a weakness for what's free."
Before them, Kael continued his count without turning around.
Kael: "Eight hundred and seventeen..."
"Eight hundred and eighteen..."
Venti: "Heh heh."
Despite the darkness, despite the dizzying depth of the staircase and the latent threat of the dungeon, this brief exchange brought a strange lightness to the group.
For a few moments, they were no longer just adventurers plunging into the darkness, but simply five people sharing an absurd... and surprisingly comforting conversation.
Lyra: "....."
Lyra, who had been walking just behind them for a while without intervening, suddenly looked up at Venti, a slight, amused smile on her lips.
Lyra: "Hey, Venti…"
She asked in a falsely innocent tone.
Lyra: "Have you ever petted a slime?"
Venti: "Huh?"
Eron: "Huh?"
The question fell like a drop of water in the dungeon's silence.
Eron almost stopped dead in his tracks, missing a step, before catching himself.
Eron: "Lyra!"
He protested.
Eron: "Why are you asking this kind of question now?"
Venti didn't answer right away.
At that precise moment, a memory returned to him with surprising clarity.
Venti remembered a time when he had petted a slime.
It was shortly after his arrival in this world.
Two days earlier, after the fight against the Ruin Guard:
After the explosions, the strategies, and the monsters of The Abyss.
Back then, he was just a hesitant adventurer, wandering the plains in search of simple Sweet Flowers.
On his way back, teleporting and walking, Venti stopped by a puddle, ready to bathe.
The soft sunlight, the grass rippling in the breeze… and that little Hydro Slime.
Plop
Almost harmless.
It bounced gently near a stream, making that characteristic soft *plop* with every movement.
It didn't attack. It didn't run away either. It was simply there.
Venti: ".... "
Venti crouched down, intrigued.
He slowly extended his hand, ready to back away at the slightest sign of aggression.
But the slime did nothing.
He It had simply vibrated slightly, as if curious.
When he touched it with his fingertips, the sensation had been… strange.
Cool, soft, almost gelatinous, without being unpleasant.
The slime had made a small, cheerful noise before bouncing a little further away, as if satisfied with the interaction.
Venti: "He he."
Back to the present:
Venti: "It was rather soft."
Venti remembered smiling at that moment.
And above all, he had chosen to let it live.
The memory faded as the staircase continued to descend into darkness. Venti blinked and returned to the present.
He turned his head toward Lyra, a quiet smile on his face.
Venti: "Yes."
He replied simply.
Venti: "Once."
"A little Hydro Slime."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
Lyra: "Seriously?"
"So?"
Venti: "It was cold."
He said, chuckling softly.
Venti: "A bit like touching living water."
"But... not unpleasant."
Eron shook his head, torn between amusement and incomprehension.
Eron: "I can't believe we're talking about this deep inside a dungeon in the Abyss."
Venti: "Exactly."
Venti replied.
Venti: "If even such simple creatures can exist here without necessarily being hostile..."
Lyra looked at him for a few seconds, a little more serious this time.
Lyra: "You're really strange, Venti."
He shrugged with a smile.
Venti: "I get that a lot."
Before them, Kael continued his count, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.
Kael: "Nine hundred and thirty-four…"
"Nine hundred and thirty-five…"
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
The steps dragged on, seemingly endless, but this lighthearted conversation had lifted some of the heaviness weighing on their minds.
Whether at the bottom of the abyss or not, they kept moving forward… one step after another, with memories, smiles, and even discussions about slimes.
Bram: "..."
Bram, who had been walking a few steps ahead, had been half-listening to the conversation until then.
Bram: "Heh heh."
A slightly too wide smile suddenly stretched across his face, and he turned to Venti, raising an eyebrow.
Bram: "Tell me, Venti…"
He began, feigning seriousness.
Bram: "The texture of Hydro Slime, it would be comparable to…"
He didn't even have time to finish his sentence.
SNAP
Lyra delivered a sharp slap to the back of his head, hard enough to echo slightly up the spiral staircase.
Lyra: "BRAM!"
she exclaimed, red with anger.
Lyra: "Do you realize what you're saying?!"
"Don't talk about that kind of thing in front of a child!"
Bram staggered down a step, rubbing the back of his head with a painful grimace.
Bram: "Ouch... okay, okay!"
he protested.
Bram: "It was just a question!"
Lyra: "A stupid question."
Lyra replied without hesitation.
Venti blinked, clearly confused.
He looked at Bram, then Lyra, then Eron, trying to understand what had just provoked such a reaction.
Venti: "Uh..."
he finally said, a little hesitant.
Venti: "I... I mostly thought it was like slightly thick water."
"Nothing more."
Eron couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Eron: "That's a much more normal answer."
He commented.
Eron: "Thanks, Venti."
Lyra sighed, crossed her arms, and glared at Bram.
Lyra: "We're in a dungeon in the Abyss, miles underground."
She said.
Lyra: "We're fighting monsters capable of leveling cities... and you're thinking of that kind of comparison?"
Bram: "Hey."
Bram shrugged defensively.
Bram: "Going down a thousand steps without talking nonsense is a long way."
Kael, still focused on his count, chimed in without even turning around:
Kael! "Nine hundred and sixty-eight..."
"And if you keep making noise, I'm going to get it wrong."
Venti gave a small, amused smile.
Despite the fatigue and the unsettling depth of the staircase, this moment of levity reminded him that, even in the heart of a dungeon steeped in the Abyss, they were still, above all, a group of adventurers… with their absurd discussions, their tensions, and their bursts of laughter.
He looked up at the endless spiral that plunged into the darkness.
Venti: "Honestly."
He murmured.
Venti: "I'd rather talk about slimes than what awaits us down there."
No one contradicted him.
Two minutes later:
After exactly twelve hundred steps a number Kael announced with a hint of pride in his voice—the group paused briefly.
Even for seasoned adventurers, the descent was beginning to take its toll on their legs.
The air was colder, heavier, and the diffuse light from the shimmering diamonds seemed to fade as they descended deeper into the depths.
Venti, his hands behind his head, took one last look at the spiral staircase that stretched above them, disappearing into an almost unreal, luminous vortex.
Venti: "Honestly."
He said with an admiring smile.
Venti: "You have to acknowledge the talent of the architects of this dungeon."
"To design so many corridors, rooms, and a staircase like this… it's impressive."
"Even the largest cities would struggle to create such a stable structure."
Eron, who had been absentmindedly checking his potions, looked up at this. His expression became more serious, almost grave.
Eron: "That's not really how it works."
He replied calmly.
Eron: "Originally, the inside of a dungeon isn't anything so elaborate."
Venti blinked and turned his head toward him.
Venti: "What do you mean?"
Eron: "It feeds on corpses."
Chapter 38: The last room
The End