"Look at them go," Kellin pointed toward a trio of demons surrounding what appeared to be oversized beetles with stone-like carapaces.
"Makes it look easy."
Drakth surveyed the area with tactical enthusiasm.
"We should start with something simple. Build confidence before tackling anything dangerous."
A cluster of blue, gelatinous creatures caught Noah’s attention.
They moved with slow, bouncing motions across a patch of open ground, seemingly oblivious to the armed demons observing them from a distance.
Slimes. The most classic beginner monsters in every game I’ve ever played.
"Those look harmless enough," Noah suggested, nodding toward the blue blobs.
Yira consulted her notes again.
"Basic Slimes. Tier 0 threat level. Perfect for first encounters."
Tier 0. Even lower than my sword’s rating. This should be straightforward.
The group approached cautiously, their weapons drawn but their movements careful. Noah’s hand found the Zealous Quickblade’s hilt with growing confidence, feeling the weapon’s hilt naturally into his grip.
But this isn’t a game. Better safe than sorry.
One slime bounced closer, its translucent blue surface rippling with each movement.
The creature showed no obvious aggression, but Noah had read enough fantasy literature to know that appearances could be devastatingly deceptive.
"I’ll take the first one," Noah announced, drawing his blade in a smooth arc.
The katana rested in his hand as he approached the nearest slime, which continued its bouncing pattern without apparent awareness of incoming danger.
I need to be careful. Unknown creature, unknown capabilities. Don’t assume anything.
Once he was within attacking range, Noah raised the Zealous Quickblade and brought it down in a controlled diagonal strike that would have impressed Valeria with its execution, or so he thought.
The blade sliced cleanly through the slime’s gelatinous body, splitting it into two perfect halves that hit the ground with wet splashing sounds.
Got it. That was easy—
Both halves quivered for a moment, then began flowing back together with horrifying speed.
Within seconds, the slime had reformed into its original shape, apparently unharmed by what should have been a killing blow.
"Noah!" Yira called from a safe distance.
"You need to hit the core!"
Core. Right. Of course, how could I forget? I was so focused on...sigh.
Noah peered more carefully at the slime, noticing for the first time a small, darker sphere visible through its translucent interior.
The core pulsed with faint energy, clearly the creature’s vital centre.
Wow...I didn’t know that...I had always thought that slimes were harmless beings. It turns out they secrete acid that kills vegetation. Good to know.
The slime resumed its bouncing pattern, still showing no hostility despite Noah’s previous attack. Either it lacked the intelligence to recognise threats, or it simply didn’t consider a single human dangerous enough to warrant an aggressive response.
Noah leaned towards the former.
Time for round two. I need to aim for the core.
Noah adjusted his stance, focusing on the small sphere bobbing within the slime’s gelatinous mass.
The target was mobile but predictable, following its usual rhythmic bouncing pattern.
Timing is everything.
He waited for the optimal moment, when the slime’s bounce brought the core closest to ground level, then he struck with accuracy and power.
The Zealous Quickblade pierced the slime’s surface and found its target with the satisfying sound of hitting the core. The core cracked under the blade’s impact, then shattered completely.
The slime’s entire body convulsed once before dissolving into a harmless puddle that soaked quickly into the red grass.
There we go. I had just killed a monster in this world...even if it was a mere slime.
"Nice work!" Drakth called out with a smile on his face.
"Clean kill once you figured out the mechanics."
Noah wiped his blade clean and returned it to its sheath, feeling oddly satisfied by the simple encounter. The combat had been brief and relatively safe, but it represented his first successful monster kill in this world.
"Your turn," Noah said to his companions, gesturing toward the remaining slimes in the area.
Yira approached the next creature with careful steps, her own weapon—a simple iron spear—held in a defensive position.
"Remember, aim for the core," she muttered, more to herself than to the group.
Noah watched his new companions engage their first monsters while keeping alert for any threats beyond Tier 0 opposition.
The Crimson Mountains might be considered safe for beginners, but safe was a relative term to the demons here...and he was a mere human.
The notifications continued accumulating as Noah eliminated slimes across the practice area.
Each kill became easier, strike the core, watch the creature dissolve, move to the next target.
This is starting to feel like grinding in a video game. It’s pretty addictive.
After his seventh consecutive slime execution, Noah stepped back from the carnage with growing dissatisfaction.
"Alright, I think that’s enough slimes killed. They aren’t benefiting me anymore. I need a more challenging opponent, otherwise I won’t grow."
Noah’s eyes moved toward the northern section of the practice grounds, where a different kind of activity was taking place.
The grass beetles inhabited their own territory, separate from the slimes but still within the beginner-safe zone.
Time to test myself against something that’s more threatening.
"I’m moving up to the beetles," Noah told his group, who were still engaged in their own slime-hunting exercises.
Drakth looked up from his successful core strike. "Beetles are more dangerous. You sure about that?"
"Only one way to find out." Noah smiled before turning towards the grass beetles’ hunting ground.
The beetle hunting ground revealed itself as Noah approached.
That section of grass looked much more intimidating with beetles that moved faster than the slime’s harmless bouncing.