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The very first entry of this series was about slimes, and back then, I didn’t plan for this to become a long-running series—so that first entry was pretty rough.

Still, slimes have always been one of my favorites. Their gelatinous, flexible bodies can slip into anywhere they want in all sorts of… interesting ways.

So I figured—why not bring them back?

>  story

Red’s Dungeon Diary
Day 52: Slimes

Slimes are among the most basic monsters in the dungeon. Most adventurers don’t fear them much—slow-moving, fragile creatures that can be killed with a simple slash through their gelatinous, translucent bodies. Some can even be picked up and crushed by hand.

However, contrary to common belief, slimes are not without internal organs. In fact, all of their organs—digestive systems, reproductive structures, even a brain—are perfectly transparent, making them nearly impossible to see.

When a slime encounters prey, it envelops the target entirely, then begins secreting digestive fluids to slowly break it down. Against larger prey, slimes often attempt to cover the nose and mouth, suffocating the victim, or coil tightly around the body while releasing acidic secretions that burn and dissolve flesh.

On Floor 9—the birthplace of slimes—there exists a far more dangerous variant.

These slimes appear identical to normal ones, but they are far more aggressive, significantly larger, and vastly stronger. More importantly, they are nearly impossible to kill. The acid they produce is far more potent, capable of dissolving metal weapons and armor within seconds. As a result, physical attacks are almost useless against them.

Adventurers are strongly advised to use magic when dealing with these slimes—or better yet, avoid them entirely. Their one weakness is that they remain relatively slow.

However, if one manages to fully envelop a victim, the unfortunate adventurer will be digested almost instantly, dying in extreme agony.

During the dungeon’s breeding season, like most monsters, slimes refrain from killing their prey. Instead, they use them as hosts.

Slime eggs require not only warmth, moisture, and darkness—conditions perfectly met inside a living body—but also transportation. Once implanted within an adventurer, the host unknowingly carries the eggs beyond Floor 9.

When the eggs are eventually released in other layers, the newly formed slimes quickly establish themselves, spreading and expanding their presence throughout the dungeon.

Today, Red finds himself crossing a jagged cliffside. Beneath him yawns a bottomless abyss, while the walls are made of massive, pulsating slabs of flesh—slick, warm, and constantly contracting.

He clings to the quivering surface with everything he has, forcing himself forward, step by step, careful not to fall.

To gauge the depth below, he lights a torch… and tosses it down.

The flame drops through the darkness, briefly illuminating the void as it falls—until it reveals something that makes his blood run cold.

Below, writhing in a tangled mass, are countless gelatinous shapes—huge, bulbous bodies bouncing and shifting over one another.

High-tier slimes.

A nest.

If he falls down there, there will be nothing left of him.

Red swallows his fear. Cold sweat runs down his body as he presses himself harder against the slick wall, inching forward. Every step feels heavier. His grip weakens as his hands grow more slippery from sweat and the mucus-like surface.

He’s almost there.

Just a little more—

Suddenly, the flesh wall beneath him spasms violently.

The claws of his hands—digging in for support—have hurt it.

With a sudden, brutal contraction, the wall jerks—

—and throws him off.

Red lets out a sharp cry as he plunges downward.

He crashes into one of the slimes below, his entire body sinking deep into its gelatinous mass. The impact doesn’t break him—the slime absorbs the fall completely—

…but that only makes things worse.

For a brief moment, the creature seems startled by the sudden intrusion.

Then it reacts.

The slime tightens around him instantly, its viscous body wrapping over every part of him, locking him in place and forcing him into complete immobility.

Red struggles—

but it’s useless.

The slimes of Floor 9 possess overwhelming strength.

Slowly, the creature begins secreting acid.

But something is… off.

The fluid is thinner, weaker than expected—just enough to dissolve the equipment on his body, while only causing a faint burning sensation across his skin.

This slime is in need of a suitable host for the breeding season.

And by sheer chance—

Red has fallen straight into it.

With its fluid, adaptable body, the slime can move freely wherever it wishes within him. It wastes no time hollowing him out.

Preparing him—

for a full clutch of eggs.