Slime cells were really interesting.
A few days had passed; I spent this time trying to figure out how these cells work.
There were two types of cells in the Aqua Slime: The normal cells of the floating organs, like the brain and the liver. Then there were the cells forming the slimy substance—slimy cells.
The slimy cells were huge, the size of hundreds of normal cells, but instead of being filled with building blocks and other mechanisms, they looked more like the yellow tissue cells normal creatures had: their nucleus lay on the periphery of the cell on the wall, which was stretched from being filled with a blue substance.
They swam around and interacted using small rods connecting them. Each cell had rods that entered specific sheathes on the opposing cells, and between these cells, there was a watery substance—a complex weave.
My idea was simple: instead of creating bone, then putting muscle on it, then skin and much more, basically creating a part of a normal being, I’d create my first simple life form using a tiny command centre made of a few neurons (a brain) surrounded by these easily constructible, flexible, and multi-functional slimy cells.
The reason for this decision was that slimy cells were way less complex than normal human equivalents—less numerous, not as small, and made of fewer parts.
Unfortunately, I still couldn’t experiment yet, as not fully controlling the slime body seemed to affect the level of insight given by [Rudis Subtilis Biomancy]. Plus, the soul pain wasn’t over yet, and would really break my focus if I tried anything now.
I predicted that at my current speed, it’d take me a year to control the slime brain—turn it into a host. So, I decided to wait for my soul pain to lessen before starting the neuron conversion process.
Unlike me, Somani hadn’t been idle. He trained and slept well because of my help, but for some reason, there were no fights, until…
‘What do you think our foe will be this time?’ Somani asked as he prepped a construct while walking through the red corridor.
‘Probably a bipedal. They seem to like those.’
It wasn’t bipedal; instead, we reached a glass balcony, revealing a steep fall.
Beneath us was a huge hall, the biggest one I had seen to date.
The place was so big that we couldn’t even see its end, and it was a…
‘A maze?’
Huge grey brick walls that looked ancient compared to the red walls rose from the ground, forming complex corridors with an unimaginable number of connections and possibilities.
The ground beneath us suddenly disappeared…
‘Whoa!’
I somewhat arrested our fall with biomancy, paining me, but not as much as it used to be.
Poof
‘What…Where do we go now?’
‘…I’m not sure.’
A wall cut our retreat. Our only options were either going right, left, or forward.
“Combatant #96047, your intended goal is to reach the maze’s end, or survive for a day while staying above the fiftieth rank. Of course, passing the maze by escaping will grant you access to the Royal Gift List, instead of the Mundane one. There is only one rule: Jumping above the maze walls is prohibited. Welcome to the yearly Hunger Games!”
‘…Hunger Games?’
‘We should be careful. My new host didn’t join this event, so it may be exclusively made for us.’
‘…or it could be a trap?’
‘That’s right. For now, let’s wait here. Our goal should be survival while figuring out what ‘above the fiftieth rank’ means. No need to strive for the rewards.’
But then the System spoke…
Updated Ranking:
1) Combatant #78302: 4 points
2) Comabatant #32526: 3 points
3) Combatant #63739: 3 points
4) Combatant #23947: 3 points
5) Combatant #98345: 2 points
…
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99) Cobatant #96047: 0 points
100) Combatant #87392: 0 points
How did they get the System to talk?
From everything I had seen from this prison up until now, this was the most impressive thing.
The System, the thing that seemed unimaginable and unreachable, agreeing to their stupid game?
Hmph!
Somani snapped his neck to his right, and…
Nothing.
But then an object entered my spherical vision, shooting at us from above.
Boov!
Wasn’t jumping above the walls prohibited?
I had thrown Somani away with biomancy, barely dodging the…
Maze Guardian, Lv. ??
The Guardian had a horse-like body, and sitting on it was a jacked human torso with extremely long arms.
The thing’s eyes were red and glossy as it crazily glared at us.
Somani infused Mana into his arms, readying an attack.
‘Don’t fight. Run.’
‘Why?’
The Guardian charged us.
Somani did the opposite of what I said; he met the monster head-on.
Before a collision could occur, I controlled Somani through biomancy and hovered him away.
‘But we can take it on. It’s only two question marks.’
‘Then what? Remember, our goal is survival, and losing Mana in a single fight doesn’t seem wise in this unfamiliar environment.’
‘…right.’
The Guardian was faster than us, but we were swifter when it came to turns, and there were many of those. Soon, we lost the monster.
Hiding behind a climbing plant, Somnai caught his breath.
‘What now?’
‘Now, we wait.’
***
Wollom’s POV:
I ducked under the Guardian’s hoof, going beneath its bulging stomach.
I used [Primal Slash].
White Mana shot from my fingertips, easily piercing the monster’s fur.
Blood gushed.
Neeehaaha!
It tried to crush me under its weight, but my [Perfect Instincts] easily warned me of the attack.
For some crazy reason, I decided to jump on the monster’s back.
Woohoo!
The minotaur tried to dislodge me with jumps and kicks, but I stubbornly held on.
A hand reached for me; I cut it off before severing the limb completely.
The monster balanced on its rear legs before ramming its back into a wall; I jumped off at the last second.
Landing next to it, I slammed my leg into its chest in an arch, cutting it open with ease.
More blood.
I went for the finishing kick, aiming it at its neck, but the monster still had a fight in it.
Reaching for my leg with its remaining arm, it caught me from the unsharpened side and swept me off the ground.
Woah!
I found myself upside down.
My instincts screamed; I had to do a hard manoeuvre using my core muscles to dodge the minotaur’s bite.
No, you won’t
I bit it back, tacking its scalp off.
The monster dropped me, trying to reattach the skin flap, but I didn’t give it a breather.
I planted my palms against the ground, then sharpened my foot, and with a fluid body twist, I delivered another wide arc kick, beheading the minotaur and ending its misery.
You have killed Maze Guardian, Lv. 56
For killing a tier 1 being, 1 point rewarded.
This is too easy.
***
Bod POV:
Being a Noblesse’s servant wasn’t easy. You had to keep your eyes down all the time; even a wrong glance could get you killed. You had to be meticulous; not even a wrinkle or small stain on your shirt was acceptable. And the hardest part: orders were absolute—no matter their absurdity.
What had I done wrong to find myself in this situation?
Simple, really, I had refused to cut my testicles off.
I live for my manhood! No one will take it from me!
Thankfully, there was light, even in this dark situation.
My brother Tob was with me, and unlike me, with a useless [Handy Butler] class, Tob was a [Selfless Tank].
“I don’t understand. Why do they have to punish all of your family members if you’re the one who committed the crime? Noblesse, Sirs! My stupid older brother has—“
Shhh!
“You stupid meathead! We’re in a hostile environment, so stop shouting.”
“Stupid! I’ll have you know that my class evolution was due next month, and due to your pride, I’ll never see the light of day again!”
How buthersome!
“So what?! Did you expect me to cut off—“
A monster rammed into my younger brother’s back, sending his huge bulk flying into a wall.
“I’ll cut them. Just get me out!”
***
Sallera’s POV:
I, a [Complex Mage] class wielder, an elf, and descendant of the Great Jungle, imprisoned by lowly humans?
How low has this world stooped for a high race to be humiliated by these lowly humans?
After a month, I was still not rescued by my kin, and probably wouldn’t ever be—a sign of how weak my race had become.
Being blessed by Mana, we elves had unlimited lifespans and unmatched Mana control, which had allowed us to rule the world justly.
Unfortunately, our propagation was extremely slow, leading to quantity beating quality.
How frustrating.
I decided to do a luck-measuring ritual.
I plucked a golden strand from my long hair before tying it into a necklace around my neck.
As long as this necklace was in one piece, I shouldn’t be harmed, but if it were to be cut, I had to get rid of whatever had cut it, or face bad luck for a week.
“Help!”
Looking to my right, a human was running as he shouted his lungs off and behind him…
Boov!
The Minotaur impacted against the wall, unable to turn in time.
Handy Butler, Human, Lv. 78
“Run!”
The human passed me, and out of pity for his race, I decided to trip him.
Oof
He hit the ground hard, and his well-tailored suit got cut on a stone.
“What did you do this for?!”
I blinked a few times before pointing at myself.
“Me? I did nothing.”
The human looked flabbergasted, but the threat of the minator made him shake his head as he got up.
“I’ll have my revenge, beautiful woman! Now, I’d advise you to run, but you don’t seem that aware. Goodbye.”
The human ran, while the minator was lowering its head, readying itself for a second charge, but then…
A big human jumped onto its back, then locked his arms around its neck and started choking it.
The Minatour didn’t give up. It tried to throw the human off, but an arm, made of Mana, sprang from the human’s shoulder and wrestled the arm.
Fortunately for me, the monster had more tricks and, through a sudden shift, threw the human and started stomping on him.
Yes! Kill this filthy human!
“You have to save him!”
Ah!
I jumped, startled by the sudden noise.
“Weren’t you going to escape?” I asked, annoyedly.
“Pleeease, save him. He’s my only remaining family.”
It then hit me… the humans stuck here were facing the same injustice I was, so increasing their misery only served our captors.
I also remembered my sister.
I’ll return home, Madrasa, but not before I get you a Noblesse’s head, I swear!
“I’ll save him, but you’ll have to massage my feet. They’re sore from all this walking I’ve been made to endure.”
The human stared at me as if I had grown a second head.
“What?”
I gave the human my back, crossing my arms.
“Okay, okay. I’ll do everything, just… save him.”
A single Mana string, made of a few hundred Mana particles, flew from my core.
The best result with the least work, that was the Elf’s motto.
The string twisted and knotted on itself, creating a finger’s length, hair-width green bolt.
I shot the bolt at the minator, aiming for its eye.
Swish!
Once the bolt entered the monster’s head through the eye, I exploded it.
You have killed Maze Guardian, Lv. 78
For killing a tier 1 being, 1 point rewarded.
***
Keenda’s POV:
Orders came.
The black hall was flooded with workers. In a day, they turned it into a theatre that faced the huge screen.
Then everyone, except Pomus, the Royal Investigator, Royal Researcher, and me, was asked to leave.
The audience came…
Tens of Noblesse, all wearing masks depicting folk beasts and exotic outfits, entered; I knew they were Noblesse from their skin—it was transparent. Following them were two personal servants each.
Pomus and I were standing at the back of the hall next to the entrance, and as more Noblesse filled the hall, passing us, I couldn’t help but feel disgusted.
This wealth… it could feed a nation!
Gold embroidery, silk robes, and enormous gems… the amount of wealth displayed was insane.
It was then that a memory crossed my mind.
Decades ago, maybe more—time merged when one lived long enough, becoming more of a concept. My mother lay on her chair, knitting me a new shirt.
The shirt, made of linen, was worth more than everything in my eyes—the eyes of a child.
Life… It’s really weird.
I quickly reined in my emotions. I had long known that the Empire, maybe the entire world, was unjust.
What’s important is me. Learning more spells, while living a peaceful life, that’s what I strive for.
But there was this dot in my heart; it refused. It reminded me of my adventuring career, where I feared none and did whatever I liked. It reminded me of Hann, my beloved, who had shone too bright…
The Noblesse… they’re forever.
Drinks were served with desserts as the Noblesse settled down.
The curtains were drawn, revealing a stage with the Royal Investigator, Researcher, and next to them was…
Ra’ara, The Governor of Cervita.
“Ladies and Gentlemen. I, Ra’ara, welcome you all to the annual Hunger Games!”
The show began.