Exploring the Caverns Until A Slimy Situation

"Where to next?" Knives asked in a voice just above a whisper at the intersection. She didn't need to be loud at all in the relative silence of the cavern where voices carried easily.

"Hmmm..." Roman hummed checking the map function. "Give me just a moment."

It was the next day and they had decided to work on the camp a bit more and explore some of the rest of the Caverns. Roman had set up tripwires with rudimentary scrap metal alarms but didn't like the idea of not clearing the area more than they had. It'd be bad if something was lurking undetected inside. It'd be even worse if there was a heretofore undiscovered alternative entrance. They'd explore more, then they'd rest up and go out later.

Roman pointed left while marking the way they'd come on the wall scratching it eith a rock. Sure he had the map function and a very good sense of direction... but Knives didn't and he wasn't going to take that chance If they got split up or separated. Despite how uncannily talented she was at picking up things he didn't want to rely to heavily upon it. "That way," he said.

"Alright," she said heading left. "Do you really think we'll find something?"

Roman nodded following behind her. "Yeah, I do. I don't know what exactly though. It's just a hunch based on an educated guess."

"Oh," She said before asking, "How so?"

Roman hummed. "Hmmm... How best to explain? Let me think... Have you ever played a videogame before?"

Knives surprised him by looking back and nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah! I love videogames! Fighting games and beat 'em ups and rhythm games like Ninja Ninja Revolution are among my favorites! You ever play that one?"

Roman smiled at her infectious enthusiasm. "Uh, nope. Can't say I have. Must have missed thst one... Care to teach me how to play it when we get out of here?"

Knives had been just a little disappointed but his request made her very happy and she smiled and nodded. "I'd love too!"

"Great," Roman said. "It's a date!"

That answer made her even more happy. "A d-date?! Oh-kay... Yup! Don't worry. I'll learn ya good!" She flashed him a thumbs-up making him smile before asking. "So what about video games makes you think that there's more here?"

Roman smiled. "Well this is also a game of sorts although it's real. But the same principle applies to all games really. If you think about things from the designers perspective you can make guesses about stuff in the game to discover."

Knives grinned as she caught on. "You're talking about secrets and stuff, right? Like finding hidden areas where the textures are different in a wall or secret items?"

Roman nodded. "Exactly or infering what kind of enemies or bosses you'll find based on the level design and items you find. Obviously this isn't as straightforward as that but the same principle applies. Someone, or someone's, when designing this area, made a cavern guarded by a "dragon" of sorts."

"Oh I see!" She said nodding but then tapping her chin. "But like... isn't the beach grotto thing where we're making camo the treasure then? And if the dinosaur is like "the dragon" shouldn't the treasure be in it's lair?" She quickly added. "Not that I want to go back there!"

Roman shook his head. "It's possible but think from the designers point of view. It's super cool and all but isn't that kind of a waste of space if that's all there is? And then there's you."

"Me?" She asked coming to a stop where the passage branched out again. She pointed left and he shook his head pointing right after a quick consultation of the map. She nodded and went right the both of them smiling. They were already becoming a good team. "What about me?"

Roman smiled. "Think about it a second. You were found outside the cavern. Why do that and not inside the cave? It doesn't make sense unless you're-"

"A support Character!" She said catching on quick and excitedly. "Like when you get a special item or companion for clearing a particular dungeon or challenging the Boss. I was placed there for a reason?!"

Roman grinned and shrugged. "That's my guess but again it's only a guess. I definitely treasure you and you're my treasure... but if you were meant to be the treasure you would have been inside the cave- hey, are you alright?"

Knives hid her blushing by pulling up her scarf around her face a bit as she nodded. "I'm okay!" Why did the things he said so easily affect her so? She was his "treasure"?! That made her so happy! "So we're on a treasure hunt?"

Roman shrugged. "That or a secret boss or anything really... or nothing at all. It's just a guess. Either way we still need to map out the area. Find out where this water is coming from. See if there are other parts of the cavern that we can utilize like the latrines I set up this morning."

"Yes," Knives said. "I appreciate those and wanted to thank you. But do they have to be quite so far?"

Roman nodded. "Things people don't think about or are glossed over in media but are essential to good outdoors and survival skills. One, always purify your water. Even if it looks clean, it probably isn't. Never underestimate the importance of clean water. Two, well humanbeings and the like, our waste can be rather toxic. When living off of the land, respect the land. Especially the ecology that feeds you and keeps you alive. In our case if our waste pollutes the shore then the fish stop coming in . It might even damage the seaweed and plantlife and we'll have to go further out to catch anything. In time it could even make the whole cove unattractive to them and "dead". I had to pick a spot far from and raised beyond the reach of any water sources to prevent that which wasn't easy. We should be thankful I even found a good spot for it. I know it's an unpleasant subject but it is necessary."

She nodded. "Understood! I'll make a note of it!"

Roman smiled sure that she would. Under her "stats" she had her more than respectable skills already. She was very quick and agile making her seem like a primarily a quick striking fighter with some ninja like abilities... but according to her statistics she was actually deceptively strong and resilient fighter too. Her cutesy appearance aside she was a more than respectable combatant in many ways.

Under her skills and abilities she had "Skilled Combatant" and "Ninjas Daughter"... one or both if her parents were ninjas? He wondered if it was the weapons collecting father she spoke of previously. She also had "Video Gamer" as well as two mystery skills. Whatever "Love breathing" was (though he assumed it was whatever that cartoonish "love" cloud was yesterday. Was there a practical use for such a thing?) and "Natural Prodigy".

That last was especially interesting. Like now with spelunking and spearfishing yesterday she had an instant knack for things and picked up basics of skills quickly. Basically she was a skill sponge, able to absorb skills at a rapid rate and utilize them. She was the kind of person who could for example probably pick up an instrument she'd never played before and with minimal practice be playing as good as someone who had practiced for a while. It was a formidable talent and made her a valuable Character, especially as his first acquired in this setting.

There were a few other things listed too. In a new relationships sub menu it showed his name under "Owner" and had assigned a score of "+3" which he assumed was her general feelings or attitude towards him? Had he already gained that much of a postive bonus in a short time? Maybe their affinity was high? Maybe the Islands Characters were setup to be quickly swayed or manipulated for better "viewing opportunities"?Or maybe he had triggered some kind of personal flags without realizing it?

Beneath that was "Heart +2" and beneath that was "Lust +2"... which he felt were self explanatory. Knives was growing fond of him... and he was too surprisingly. She was also apparently gradually getting more "horney". It also listed masturbation and orgasm counter and even more submenus to open-

He'd closed out the status menu after reading that. It felt intrusive. Like some kind of dating game mechanic. But still... he was glad too to know their relationship was growing. He liked her too. Maybe it was a useful tool after all? He could see it's usefulness in this situation. Certainly other Characters weren't going to have the same easily building affinity as her. He'd gotten a pretty lucky start with her. It was morally a bit unappealing but Roman was a firm believer in utilizing advantages. Any advantage. That was just who he was and there was no shame in that. His mother and other mentors had taught him well.

But he restrained his curiosity... for now. He was his father's son too. Curiosity killed the cat. He had a good thing going with Knives and it was more important to keep that going than playing around and mess that up.

Still he was curious. When had she? And what, or whom, had she been thinking about? He couldn't help wondering and thinking about it as he stared at her tight, little-

"Roman?" Knives asked quietly waving her hand to get his attention repeatedly. "Hey, Roman. You okay?"

He swallowed realizing she'd been trying to get his attention and tried to pass it off nonchalantly as he refocused and berated himself. This was neither the time or the place for distraction like a bumbling amateur. "Sorry. Lost in thought for a moment. What's up?"

Knives put one of her fingers to her lips indicating quiet and held the other up to her ear. "Do you hear that?"

He nodded his head. There was a dripping sound... and something else. He consulted the map. "We've come a ways inland," he whispered. "I'm hoping we find the waters source. I was thinking by the size and shape of the tunnels it was a past underground river that either started to dry up or diverted along a different path." He touched the damp wall. "There's plenty of moisture. It's a bit odd- wait." He heard a faint odd noise. "There it is again. What is that?"

"Boing?" Knives asked looking at him while listening. "Boingy? Slurpy slurp? Like... sound effects?"

Roman nodded trying not to look directly at her chest. "Not that," he mumbled.

"What?" Knives asked her eyes comically big and round. He could almost see a question mark hanging above her head.

"Nothing," Roman said ruling out her tits. They were nice but not comically huge. "It could be something bouncing up ahead."

"Did you... look at my-?" She asked self-consciously covering herself.

"Nope!" He said quickly, redirecting. "Pay attention and stay alert."

She did though she wasn't sure she believed him. Which oddly made her as pleased as much as embarrassed. "Dummy," she muttered though she wasn't sure if she meant him or herself.

Thankfully Roman was paying attention to looking around a bend up ahead. He just barely spotted something in the gloom on the ground ahead. A somewhat familiar looking round blue drop of something jiggled and bounced around.

"What is that thing?" Knives asked peeking around him.

Roman shook his head. "I think I know but can't be certain until we get a better look at it. We'll have to chance it. Give me the light... and get ready."

Knives nodded placing the flashlight into his left hand as she pulled out her daggers. Roman pointed the light ahead at the suspect creature and turned on the switch full power.

The light created a small but powerful beam that sparkled upon the dewy walls illuminating the area nicely. The beam of light fell upon and revealed a small, blue teardrop shaped body. It slowly rotated their direction with big round eyes and a smile.

"I knew it," Roman sighed. "A slime has appeared."

"A slime?" Knives gulped hiding behind him. "Not the pervy kind right?"

"The pervy kind?" Roman asked raising an eyebrow.

Knives began fidgeting embaressed. "I saw this one anime onetime where... well... you know!"

Roman chuckled. "No, I don't think I do," he teased. "But you'll have ti tell me more later! Anyway I think this is just a normal low level slime. Not the acidic kind or the "pervy" kind. Sometimes they can even be friendly but..."

The slime started bouncing and slurping in their direction as it drew near menacingly... well as menacing and threatening as it could with that goofy smiling "face" plastered on it, anyway.

"Looks like it wants to fight," Roman said chuckling brandishing his cane and wondering if this was how low-level "heros" equipped with a "stick" felt fighting these things in their franchise.

The slime lunged forward at him and he sidestepped bring his cane down on top of it.

*Thwack, Splat*

"Awwww," Knives said peering around him as it started deflating. "It's kind of cute now that I know it's not pervy... poor little guy... Wait. What are you doing?"

Roman shrugged kneeling down. It didn't "drop" anything but he did get the token aquired alert noise (which sounded like the single token coin "ping" sound from a videogame) from his bracer so apparently they sometimes still had rewards. "In games I think they just disappear. I'm trying to see if I can collect it. I heard somewhere that they're edible and taste like lime. Mmm..."

"Eww..." Knives said watching him wrap it and place it in his pack. "I dunno about eating it. Sounds... icky."

Roman shrugged. "It's just what I'd heard. I'm willing to find out. A proper diet requires variety. Subsisting on fish and seaweed alone won't be good for us. Plus it might be useful in other ways. Another survival and it's a big one. Make an effort to never waste anything. Anything. There's almost always a possible way to use something. Usually multiple ways." He stood up and shone the light ahead. "I still hear those sounds ahead. Must be a slime spawning ground. Let's go check it out."

Knives blinked and started following him. "Are you... excited?"

Roman smiled and nodded. "A bit. If they're spawning from somewhere that means they're also subsisting on something. More than that they might be thriving! Which means..."

They turned the corner into a large chamber. Inside there were many more of the slimes... as well as a large portion of water. It looked like it had been dammed up into a reservoir of a sort. Even without the flashlight the chamber was illuminated by a glowing Phosphorescence of somekind coming from... moss?

Crowds of the slimes were bouncing, wiggling and jiggling around, slurping up both water and vegetation. And not all of them were the same. Some had different colors than blue, though blue was predominant. A few greens and oranges were mixed in.

Knives sighed readying to attack. "That's a lot of them. Oh well... Good thing they're easy to defeat!"

"No, wait!" Roman said but it was too late. They'd already drawn the various slimes attention now.

The first wave of blue slimes jiggle-charged forward. Knives stabbed and thrust with her daggers cutting them down two at a time.

But two more lunged forward, one missing her but the other connecting. Knives was relieved that the damage was rather minor, being body slammed by the slime was kind of like taking a very weak punch. But a third simply jiggled in place there and made a whistling sound summoning a bunch more to take the two fallen slimes places. "Uh oh," she said.

Roman pulled her back while sweeping his cane out widely striking six of them but the last one didn't take enough damage to be knocked out of the fight. "Use slashing attacks and try to strike multiples or finish off the targets that don't go down! When I say "go" fall back to the mouth of the tunnel then cover me! There they won't be able to surround us easily!"

Knives nodded as she kicked the one Roman had hit finishing it off before sweeping her daggers in a wide cutting swath dropping several more. She realized he was right and she had been wrong. This wasn't some street brawl with a group of thugs. Even if their foes were relatively weak this was still two against many. Possibly hundreds! If they got surrounded or swarmed even negligible damage would start adding up fast! Thinking tactically and strategically was important. It was a lesson she was determined to learn.

"Go now!" He shouted. Roman's cane had greater reach than her daggers, though he was starting to wish he'd brought the spear with them instead of leaving it at camp. He started to make sweeping strikes as widely as possible to buy knives room to fall back. But doing so left him very exposed and open and he took several minor hits for the trouble.

Knives having fallen back to the mouth of the tunnel was angry seeing him take hits for her! It was her turn! She pulled out her extra daggers and leapt high in the air calling out "Now Roman!"

Roman grinned. They were in a potentially tight situation but he loved few things better! It's why he wasn't upset at all. Infact this was fun to him. Ducking he turned and ran to her as she threw a hail of daggers like a ninja would throw shuriken. They sailed past over head striking targets down, covering his falling back to the more advantageous position.

"Sorry," Knives said landing next to him as he pulled out his sling and they backed into the tunnels mouth. "I screwed up and-"

"Don't," Roman said as he started slinging the stones he had kept in his pockets as fast as possible as Knives continued throwing daggers and she saw his grin. "Ain't nothing to be sorry about and the only thing that matters is now, not what's past! Besides we were always going to have to deal with the problem here anyway. A swarm this size is dangerous and-"

"Would threaten the camp!" She finished catching on. Even as weak as the slimes were individually a swarm of them could wreck all their hard work and future plans! Plans Roman had for surviving the island. Plan's he had for her... and hopes she had fir him. She narrowed her eyes determinedly brandishing her daggers as the next wave of slimes, a much bigger one, drew near. "That's not gonna happen!"

"Right!" Roman said in grim agreement sending another stone sailing through the air to splatter a slime before sticking the sling back in his pocket. They'd felled a few more but the time for ranged options was over again as he gripped his cane.

The melee recommenced once again. This time though, in the narrower confines of the tunnel, it was more difficult for the enemy to swarm them. The two of them working together not only held the tunnel but turned it into a gooey mess as slimes splattered, popped and burst again and again.

It had been disgustingly icky at first but now Knives was feeling different. "I feel like one of those... "slimed" gameshow contestants! Hahah!" She panted grinning and laughing.

Roman laughed too. "Hahah! Yeah! You... you said it!" They'd taken some minor damage so far but he felt as long as they kept it up they'd win this easily at this rate. The only issue was if they could keep it up. Stamina would start to drop after awhile and battle fatigue would set in eventually. "Not like we... got much of a choice," he muttered to himself taking down another several opponents and shrugging off another hit. "Still at this rate we can probably keep this up for awhile-"

"Roman!" Knives shouted and he saw her take down several more before taking a moment to point with her daggers. Something had caught her attention... and it didn't take long to catch his either. "They're up to something!"

"Aw hell," he spat seeing slimes further back starting to draw close to and pile ontop of one another. Their attempts were unsuccessful... but only for now. "They're trying to fuse or something! Stay alert! Be ready for any-"

There was a sound as several slime groups transformed themselves into... stacks of themselves? Towers? It was- "A successfuly failed transformation!" Roman shouted ecstatically... until he barely parried a hit from one of the wobbling towers as it swung itself bodily.

Rather than fusing into larger forms they'd created several Slime towers, three slimes high instead and that did change things. The stacks hit harder than the individual slimes did. They would swing their taller bodies to slam or by separating and launching one of their members at them before rejoining the stack. Either did more damage than the previously miniscule, but cumulative, damage they had taken. Still there was benefits. Mostly that it slimmed the slimes numbers with each one. The stacks were also only a bit tougher. A couple of hits and down they'd go.

There was another benefit too. Instead of the occasional single ping coin sound when fighting the individuals the bracer was making the cash register style "ka-ching" sound again. They were getting larger payouts for defeating the stacks and consistently too.

Not that rewards really mattered as much in their present situation. "Woof!" Knives said splattered with more slime double slashing one of them. "These guys suck!"

"Yeah," Roman said striking it down and finishing it off and cleaving through to jit another target. "But their numbers are thinning!"

"Yup!" Knives said excitedly. "I can see the...-! Uh oh!"

"GOO!!!" Said a large blue slime much bigger than the others in the back threateningly. The slimes had finally pulled off a successful fusion transformation. The big blue slime was exactly like the smaller ones, with that same goofy smile and vacant eyed stare, except...

"Is that one wearing a... crown?!" Knives asked incredulously after striking down another slime stack.

Roman nodded pointing. "Several of them," as he saw more in the back but it looked like after these the threat was minimal. "Royalty of some kind... King or Queen slimes, I guess. Hey?" He grinned. "What do you think the reward is for those?"

Knives laughed. "Hahahah! Let's find out! You good?"

Roman smirked tipping his hat with a wink and shaking gooey slime off his cane. "Oh I'm better than just "good"! And you?" He asked inclining his head slightly left.

She nodded wiping slime of her face and licking her thumb before sticking it to the right. Romans source had been correct. They tasted fruity and vaguely citrus like, like a lime. She brandished her daggers. "Yup-yup! Let's do this!"

"Goo?" Said the King Slime less threatening like this time and more worried sounding as Roman dashed and Knives leapt forward as one, both eagerly and fiercely grinning. Now was the time to press the attack!

They dashed, striking straight into the middle of the King Slimes... which was a mistake. The large, engorged slimes with their chubby smiles surrounded them and did something the smaller ones couldn't. They rose up and slammed them, simply smothering their opponents...

... but the engulfed Roman and Knives both smirked, identically. They broke apart as the solid illusions dissipated. That's when Roman and Knives struck.

From the left and right simultaneously they made a crossing slash attack at high speed striking hard and fast through the gathered foes like a big X. Landing on opposite sides they simultaneously pivoted, turning and pressing the attack! Roman assuming a pose reminiscent of a fencer struck thrusting over and over at terrific speed battering the large targets and poking them full of holes. He saw across from him as Knives, dual wielding her daggers, spun through the enemy like a whirling dervish slashing the foes again and again. These Slimes were larger, stronger and tougher now. But they were also much bigger targets, easier to hit, fewer of them and their thinking was still overly simplistic. And that gave Roman and Knives a huge advantage in this fight.

Roman grinned. Taking and exploiting an advantage to a victory was his specialty! He was his parent's son after all. He had learned from the best, and possibly those who considered that type "the worst", which made him among the best there was at what he liked to do. This fight was already over. The slimes just didn't know it yet... and now it was time to simply bring this battle to It's logical conclusion.

The Slimes were confused. Attacked fiercly by their foes and nearly everytime they scored a hit it turned out it wasn't against an actual opponent but an illusion that crumbled away. It was more than their gooey minds could comprehend as they fell and lost the battle.

It was a sticky end for the slimes.

[Roman Stark and Knives Chau

Will Return In

Cleaning Up And Then Getting Down And Dirty With Knives Chau

Coming Soon]