Right off the bat, things started with explosive ferocity, and multiple [Fireball] spells were flung and detonated against the giant vine snake. It was a classic at this point and needed to be done before I went with any other methods.

Thanks to modifying my fire spells long ago, the monster was set aflame with continuous [Combust] spells laced into the modified [Fireballs]. Naturally, debuffs were going off at the same time, stacking [Flammable] with [Hexed].

The boss monster was not having any of this and instantly focused its ire on me, striking out with its tail with extreme speed and power behind it. The whip-crack of its tail against my flesh sounded like a bomb going off, and the ground beneath me buckled, but my robust defenses managed to hold firm.

My cores rattled inside me, creating clinking noises if they impacted one another and a low grinding noise when they scraped against each other. After the first strike, I made sure to reinforce my innards, too, to prevent an unfortunate demise from my cores smashing into each other.

Ever since I got the [Fireflies] spell, I'd hardly used it, but at this moment, all my attack cores and I separately cast the spell. The room lit up with blinding light as hundreds, if not thousands, of burning bugs magically materialized and ominously flew toward the serpent.

"Holy shit, I'd say that was beautiful if not for the dangerous undertones!" Vee exclaimed. "Also, I might need some cooling; you're making this room dangerously hot!"

I still had my low-level cores, which I didn't really want to bring into combat to avoid leveling them up beyond Vee's wrestling capabilities. Instead, I ordered them to cast and maintain an [Ice Dome] spell in the corner so that Vee could retreat and hide behind if she needed it.

At the same time, the [Fireflies] were swarming over the boss, each crashing into it and burning. It started to slither away and retreat, but the fiery bugs relentlessly continued their pursuit. Seeing how handy this was reminded me that I'd neglected to transfer over the homing property of the spell to another element, another one of my often-forgotten projects.

I'm sure I'll get around to it eventually! Besides, [Dimension Magic] is far more vital right now.

The snake realized that retreat was not an option and redoubled its effort to take me out. Its tail whip came crashing down upon me multiple times, although thanks to the extreme heat of my obsidianite scales combined with [Blaze Slime], each attack was causing itself more harm than good.

It let out a defiant roar and then attempted to bite me. Obviously, I welcomed the attack since I had focused so hard on defense. Its thorn-like fangs tried their best to penetrate but ultimately failed, and even the venom they attempted to inject was ultimately harmless against me.

[Basilisk Venom] has been sampled. [Poison Slime] updated.

Basilisk Venom? Shouldn't it be Medusa?

But I didn't have time to contemplate the inconsistent system names. Instead, I had the perfect opportunity to fire a barrage of spells directly down its open gullet.

"One extra large serving of [Fireballs] coming right up!"

"Okay, I have to admit. That one was hilarious!" Vee chirped.

The monster reeled back in pain, abandoning its futile attempts to crush my defenses with its piercing fangs. The smell of burning plants was overwhelming, and a blackish-purple smog haze began to permeate the room.

Visually, the creature looked like it was on its last legs, but [Soul Sight] told a different story—it still had quite a good amount of lifeforce left in it.

It roared again and, at the same time, began shedding layers upon layers of dead or burnt vines, slimming down to a significantly reduced size. The shed vines were actually living creatures themselves, but they burned to a crisp as soon as they were separated from the source.

While shedding, it also shot off its thorns, albeit without much direction. They scattered around the room, and only a few struck me despite my presently immobile status.

"I can't help but feel these are a poor imitation of my explosive needles," I commented.

"I really don't think the vine snake is stealing your ideas," Vee responded.

But it was too late. I had already fired my own needles in response to the snake. Clusters of needles penetrated all along its body while my [Sub-Cores] continued sending an endless swarm of [Fireflies] at it.

Boom!

All my needles detonated in a chain reaction, a much better display of power, in my opinion.

"Um…" Vee spoke up.

"I'm not going to apologize for using explosions," I quickly interrupted.

"No, not that. Apparently, I've failed to resist its poison…"

"What? When did it bite you?"

"I think it's all the toxic fumes from you burning it alive."

"Didn't I cast [Zephyr Shroud] on you?" I asked, now giving Vee my attention while letting my [Sub-Cores] continue to deal with the monster.

"It expired, but I didn't bother to mention it since I figured it was useless at the time," Vee admitted. "Although it doesn't appear to be doing anything. So I think I'm fine?"

I ignored her nonchalant attitude and pulled up the information myself. My [Poison Slime] had thankfully sampled it. I began reading my findings out to Vee directly.

"Basilisk Venom… Extremely dangerous, it causes a slow buildup of petrification with each overcome resistance. Petrified targets do not die immediately but can easily lose limbs or life in their fragile state."

"Oh shit," Vee replied. "I guess that explains why I can't feel the tips of my legs."

"Vee!" I yelled out in concern.

My [Sub-Cores] must have been reacting to my mood as suddenly the room got a lot hotter. Blue flames were starting to take on a tint of white, and the endless swarm of blue [Fireflies] was now accompanied by a consistent barrage of [Fireballs].

"No need to panic. The test said to beat the boss before succumbing to the venom. Think about it logically; no way the elves would want their future leaders crippled after passing a test; there must be a way to cure it. Maybe even beating the boss reverses it entirely."

The spider is correct. The reward for this floor cures any and all ailments, including petrification. There is certainly no need to burn down my tree!

"See? No need to get into a panic. Just go beat the boss before I turn into a statue."

"Don't you want to use your [Rift Thread]?" I suggested. "Kill it in one go."

Vee chuckled, although I could sense a hint of nervousness, "Well, of course I'd love to. But, well, I might have failed another few resistance checks, and three of my legs are now entirely petrified while we were yapping."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I felt horror in the pit of my stomach and jumped into action. I needed to kill the boss immediately.

Confirm equipping [Nature's Bane]? You will be unable to change Emblems again till the next day.

Yes!

[Nature's Bane] Emblem has been equipped and will be displayed on your profile.

[Nature's Bane]

Achieved by defeating a Nature-based Unique Monster, or over 200 Plant Monsters.

Deal 20% bonus damage to Plant Monsters or Nature Constructs.

Equipping this Emblem will cause Fear (Lesser) to all Plant Monsters.

Refocusing my effort on the boss, I noted it was still trying to perform damage control by shedding layers of its form. The continuous application of the [Combust] affliction was giving an exemplary performance against it.

I shot out numerous tendrils from my form and began latching onto the vine snake. It tried to struggle and free itself, but I had made it a habit to never let my prey escape my grasp.

It started abandoning segments of vines that were captured, but I formed additional tendrils by splitting them in response. I grappled myself towards it as it tried to retreat by coiling up the central pillar.

While this was happening, my [Sub-Cores] continued their magical assault, ensuring that the Wraithvine would only be free of the [Combust] ailment when it was dead.

Naturally, with slimy tendrils being involved, I activated my [Acid Slime], allowing me to both burn and melt at the vines and thorns. I was burning it alive and eating it at the same time, a rather brutal attack, but I needed to win quickly.

Despite being a plant monster, I gained a decent amount of slime mass as I ate away at its body, allowing me to create and distribute even more of it toward my slimy form. My enlarged and still vaguely salamander-ish form was growing increasingly, allowing me to start physically wrestling with the vine snake.

"Damn, this is some kaiju battle kind of stuff; I used to love watching those movies!" Vee said abruptly. "Syl! Use your atomic breath!"

"I have no idea what that is! Is this really the time to joke around? You're turning into a statue!" I shouted back.

"If I do, I'll make sure to strike a cool pose at least," Vee joked again, although her tone and what I felt from our bond were highly conflicting.

"I don't know what this 'atomic breath' thing is, but I do have a breath weapon," I replied, hoping to ease the concerned emotions I could sense bubbling up from her.

I created four [Inferno Sacs] to provide consistent and passive heating to maximize my [Tempered Reinforcement] for this improved salamander form. It was excessive and totally unnecessary, but I could do it, and so I did.

For what I hoped would be the finishing blow against the Medusa Vinewraith, I began drawing on them simultaneously; a rising heat began to form, and I opened my mouth and belched out the inferno from within.

A blueish hellfire erupted out directly onto the Vinewraith, which tried everything in its power to escape, but I wouldn't allow it. There was one unfortunate aspect to having four [Inferno Sacs] and only one mouth, though—my input greatly exceeded my output, so I was reaching a bottleneck.

However, I am a slime.

My form's jaw was unhinged, and new passageways were rapidly shifted and formed to provide extra tunnels toward the enlarged maw. What was a steady stream of flame became a blazing conflagration that burnt through Mana faster than Trixie could laugh at a good pun.

The monster no longer had the strength to fight back; under the intense heat that even burned the dungeon floor and the central pillar to cinders, it soon perished into a charred husk that fell lifelessly to the floor. I ate what I could of its remains.

With the boss dead, a magical wave flooded throughout the room. The fires were swiftly extinguished, the poisonous smog cleared, and much of the damage was miraculously repaired. The central pillar, or what remained of it, began opening up like a flower to reveal a treasure inside—a ruby pomegranate glimmering like a prized jewel.

"Will that cure Vee!?" I demanded.

Yes.

I grabbed it with a tendril and rushed to her side. I flung the ice dome off and saw her lying on the ground. Most of her legs were stone, and it had begun creeping over her body.

"Hey, you won," she said weakly. "I thought you said you didn't have an atomic breath?" She was trying to sound humorous as usual, but through the [Companion Bond], I could sense she was terrified.

"Shut up and eat!" I demanded and stuffed the pomegranate into her mouth.

Vee nearly gagged, but I ensured she ate every bite and would not waste even a single drop of the fruit's juices.

"Ahh! What a waste!" Vee whined. Even with her mouth full of fruit, telepathy obviously continued to work unimpeded.

I watched in real time as the petrification rapidly receded with every bit of pomegranate she swallowed. Before she was even done chewing and swallowing, it appeared to have been entirely cured.

"Wow. I feel better than ever!" Vee said with genuine enthusiasm this time.

The ruby pomegranate cures all ailments and rejuvenates the body and organs. Even lingering conditions from decades ago will be restored, and a lifetime of bodily impurities will be removed. This allows the elves who pass this trial to be at the prime of their life, ready to lead their people.

"Shit… I'm sorry, Syl. You had to waste it on me," Vee apologized, full of regret.

"I don't think it would have helped me even a single bit," I pointed out. "Or did you forget that I'm a cheating slime?"

"The biggest cheater of them all," Vee giggled.

Regrettably, I don't think my dungeon can actually offer you any treasures. I've been very much tailored towards these fruit-based rewards. The elves take full advantage of this to empower their people—enhanced stamina, lifeforce, longevity, and even Mana.

I looked over the two whole levels I'd gained from killing the boss and couldn't help but laugh.

Racial Experience threshold reached. Chimeric Cluster Slime (Blue) is now LV 26.

15 Trait Points are now available.

Racial Experience threshold reached. Chimeric Cluster Slime (Blue) is now LV 27.

16 Trait Points are now available.

[Companion Bond] has reached maximum devotion.

Proficiency gained. [Companion Growth LV 8] improved to [Companion Growth LV 9].

[Mana Manipulation LV 8].

[Magic Efficiency LV 7].

[Magical Overcharge LV 3].

[Elemental Shift LV 7].

"Honestly, if I keep getting experience and levels like that, I don't care about any treasures or rewards," I admitted.

I see… that's quite considerate of you.

"Plus, Vee and I are a team. So anything she gains, I gain, no?" I pointed out.

Vee burst out laughing, "Haha! True enough. We're team Syl-Vee!"