Chapter 4: Slime Plains
The sunlight in the virtual world struck Aiden's eyes like a spotlight after the dim shadows of Floor 1. His VR HUD flickered, updating automatically to reflect the rewards from the previous dungeon: reinforced leather armor, +1 to all stats, and a new skill ready for upgrade.
[System: Floor 2 – Slime Plains]
[Mission: Defeat 500 slimes. Reward: +2 to all stats, equipment upgrade, skill enhancement]
Player: Rei
Race: Human
Class: Swordsman
Strength: 3+1
Agility: 2+1
Mana: 2+1
Stamina: 3+1
Skill: Slash → Double Slash
Aiden swallowed, staring at the endless rolling plains. Green grass stretched to the horizon, rippling in a gentle virtual breeze. There were no rocks, no cliffs, no pillars—nothing to give him cover. Just an unbroken stretch of sunlit emptiness, dotted only by small, glimmering wildflowers. Every sense told him this floor would test more than strength—it would test endurance, patience, and focus.
He tightened his grip on the sword, feeling the simulated weight settle into his hands. "Alright… at least these aren't goblins," he muttered softly, already thinking about stamina and positioning. Slimes were weak individually, yes, but their numbers, splitting behavior, and unpredictable bounces could quickly wear him down. One misstep, and exhaustion would punish him.
The live chat blinked softly. Overnight, viewers had climbed from thirty-seven to a steady fifty-four.
Viewer1: whoa… he actually cleared floor 1
Dragoon: floor 2 is slime hell, lol
Viewer2: haha glhf, man
Aiden let out a faint laugh. "Yeah… let's see if they live up to the hype."
---
He stepped cautiously onto the soft grass, each virtual step sending subtle vibrations through the haptic feedback. Tiny ripples formed where his boots pressed down, alerting nearby slimes. Pale blue blobs wobbled toward him, translucent, shimmering faintly under the sunlight.
He swung at the nearest one. The slime split neatly in two, each smaller blob wobbling before dissolving into harmless mist. Two swings, two kills. He paused, feeling the subtle fatigue crawling into his arms and shoulders.
[System: Kills 1/500]
"Okay… don't overdo it," he muttered, recalling what he had seen in streaming guides. Hit, pause, reposition, conserve stamina. He crouched slightly, angling the sword for quick, precise horizontal strikes rather than reckless swings.
Clusters of four to five slimes surged forward. He adjusted his stance along a shallow dip in the plains, exploiting the only minor terrain advantage: a narrow trough where he could funnel enemies. Swing—two down. Step to the left, roll under a slow lunge, strike again. Slowly, methodically, he began to find a rhythm.
[System: Kills 50/500]
Dragoon's chat pinged.
Dragoon: nice rhythm! keep stamina in mind
Dragoon: don't go for big clusters, just small bites
Aiden nodded faintly. "Yeah… small groups, keep moving… pacing is everything." He noticed subtle differences among the slimes: some bounced faster, some split aggressively, others merged when hit. Timing became crucial.
[System: Kills 100/500]
He paused briefly, sweat stinging his eyes. His arms trembled slightly from repeated swings, his shoulders ached from constant posture adjustments. Even weak enemies, in relentless numbers, were wearing him down. He took a micro-breath, letting his stance reset. Half a second's pause saved stamina, he reminded himself.
The chat continued to buzz with encouragement. His fingers twitched in response, excitement mingled with the rising tension. The enemy wasn't strong—it was endless. The rhythm, the creeping exhaustion, and the need for perfect precision were the real test.
[System: Kills 150/500]
Aiden shifted slightly, scanning the plains. More slimes rippled from hidden spawn points, forming slow, undulating waves that crept toward him. He adjusted his footing carefully, keeping light on his toes, moving with deliberate precision. His breathing was shallow but controlled, matching the rhythm of attack, dodge, swing, retreat.
"Okay… one more wave," he whispered. "Micro-pause… reposition… keep moving." Each strike drained stamina slightly more than the last. No mana, no skills, no shortcuts. Only body, mind, and sword.
Two swings, a roll, a push-back strike. Perfect timing.
[System: Kills 200/500]
Aiden exhaled sharply, leaning slightly on the sword to steady his trembling arms. His legs quivered subtly under the weight of exertion. A faint sheen of sweat ran down his virtual brow, mirrored by the haptic feedback simulating muscle fatigue. Despite this, a small, relieved smile tugged at his lips. He had survived the first 200 slimes.
The live chat erupted:
Dragoon: 200 down already?! insane stamina, man
Viewer1: lol he's pacing himself like a pro
Viewer2: omg this is like watching a master run
Dragoon: remember… 300 to go… slow and steady
Aiden let out a quiet laugh, scanning the plains stretching endlessly ahead. The next 300 would demand everything—no terrain to funnel, no pillars to hide behind. Only precision, rhythm, and endurance.
"Alright," he whispered, gripping the hilt tighter, feeling every strain in his arms. "Halfway done. Keep the rhythm… keep the stamina… slow and steady."
He took a cautious step forward. The slimes rippled in response, sensing him again. The next wave of the plains was ready.
---
Aiden's arms ached with every swing. His breath came faster, shallow and ragged through the VR headset. Each step across the sunlit grass felt heavier than the last. The endless sea of pale blue slimes undulated toward him, slow but relentless. He wiped sweat from his brow, fingers trembling slightly on the hilt.
[System: Kills 201/500]
I can't keep this up forever… he thought. Stamina was dropping fast. Each swing, roll, and dodge pulled more from him. If he tried to fight head-on, exhaustion would come faster than the waves of slimes.
The chat blinked rapidly, excitement spilling into the text.
Viewer3: run!! make them follow you
Dragoon: yeah man, lure them! use the terrain, conserve stamina
Viewer4: double slash incoming?
Aiden paused, scanning the plains. There were no cliffs, no walls, nothing natural to funnel enemies… except himself. He could lead them, keep them chasing, and create the perfect opening for his upgraded skill.
He nodded faintly, exhaling sharply. "Alright… pace myself, let them chase… then finish them."
He started moving forward slowly, watching the slimes respond, wobbling and bouncing in pursuit. Each step was careful, measured—he couldn't trip, couldn't misstep. The VR feedback made every muscle ache, every slight strain on his legs feel real.
[System: Stamina 25% | Mana -2]
Just a bit more… keep control… he whispered, heart racing. The slimes gathered behind him, forming a slowly growing cluster. His arms burned, but he kept the rhythm.
Aiden glanced at the HUD. The skill icon for Double Slash glowed faintly, ready to use after the upgrade from Floor 1.
This is it… timing is everything.
He rolled to the side, pulling the largest cluster into a narrow line, then swung Double Slash. The sword flashed in VR, slicing through multiple slimes at once. The impact sent a satisfying ripple through the haptic feedback as dozens of pale blue forms dissolved into mist.
[System: Kills +50 in one Double Slash | Stamina -10%]
The chat exploded:
Dragoon: YEEEESSS!!
Viewer1: wow that was insane!
Viewer2: perfect timing!! you still got it!!
Aiden stumbled slightly, leaning on the sword to steady himself. The thrill of the kill mingled with fatigue, a cocktail of relief and adrenaline. One wave down, many more to go—but he survived it without burning out completely.
He adjusted his footing again, eyes scanning the endless green. The next group of slimes rippled into view. The same strategy would repeat: lure, pace, skill, survive.
Aiden leaned heavily on his sword, sweat dripping down his face. His legs quivered from the strain of constant movement, swings, and rolls. The endless green plains stretched before him, teeming with hundreds of pale blue slimes, but for the first time, the system allowed a short reprieve.
[System: Respawn Point Activated – Stamina Regeneration 70%]
He exhaled, closing his eyes for a brief moment. The VR feedback mimicked muscle relaxation, letting him feel his arms, shoulders, and legs loosen slightly. The soft hum of the plains around him made the world feel almost peaceful compared to the chaos