The Maze

After reading the quests, and see how the Guild works my decision was simple ... Explore without telling them.

This maze ... is my first stop. The problem in accepting a quest, is that you have an end date, or a certain goal. But I already have the Wood plate, so they have nothing more I need ... and now I can do whatever I want ... As soon I enter the first corridor my scan shows me all ... Most people will use this map to navigate without effort, and fast. I'll use it to explore all the little places I can.

This maze is empty ... A few parties already took whatever it was here, and is used probably to train rookies ... like myself ... soon the Guild will recommend me to a higher rank in order to **** me receiving other type of quests. When that time comes, I can play along, or end Sonja and pick another path.

According to my looted memories from Copper, this maze is not gone because there is still something here ... Here it is, the corridor I was searching. Not much footprints here ... A good signal to search a place unseen until now. I wonder if my scan allows me to see hidden doors, or secret passages ...

Leftovers of broken Skeletons ... curved swords ... even shields ... all on the ground ... to old for anyone to use ... But I like to collect things ... even more having an inventory ... One for my pocket, another for my body ... all stay happy.

Doors ... two doors ... that make one ... to continue I need to pass this. No runes visible ... the scan confirms that no one is seeing ... from my forearm my tentacles try to find some traps ... nothing ... is just a door ... Disappointing ... Not the Maze ... it's already looted ... this human form ... is not what I'm looking for ... Let me adjust it a little ...

The eyes stay ... because they provide more details than a short range scan ... but the rest goes ... Bones to give structure, covered in ooze to make me feel me again ... Faster ... and with all my tentacles ready to absorb ... And just in time ... my scan is picking a creature ... and my ooze body now slips away trough the corridor like a serpent.

The small creature is nibbling some moss ... I should do the same after ... now is a matter of waiting ... this area is nibbled, so the little guy is moving to the next one ... Turn your head to nibble more, while my tentacles seal your escape route ... And I move ... not like tentacles, but a wave ... that swallows the little dungeon rabbit.

And since I'm here ... I'll eat the moss also ... not much fun ... no loot ... nothing to gain ... except that this area of the Maze is clean ... I can use that ... let my mass disperse a little ... having the bones in the centre ... and it's done. A moving net of ooze that is going to search every inch of this tunnel ... while cleaning it. A simple way to know that I already passed this area ... The tunnel opens in front, and becomes wider ... Need to consume more mass to speed my net without missing anything ... And here it is ... My scan sensed a creature ... flying above me ...

Let me try my Blow function ... I already used the slime dart ... but if I change it a little ... adding the rabbit's bones to the core of the dart ... and make a mini me. Now send it at maximum speed ... And it's done. The beast was unaware of the danger, and my projectile hit it. While it falls, I move towards it, and begin to plan.

A slime dart is hard to explain ... so I change my projectile, and my tentacle. Sonja's hand tosses the rabbit's skull, and works like planned ... Bones, and rocks can be Sonja's tools ... or any other face ... Sonja calls to much attention, and is having the opposite effect I want ... But for now is time to absorb ...

Rabbits with wings ... to reach the moss on the high ceiling. I like the idea, and wonder if with a lot of Telekinesis I can fly ... But need to lose all this mass ... Like when I shoot the slime darts ... That can work ... but is risky. The darts have no will, so if my little me falls ... is all over ... I'll save that for an emergency escape.

Another flying rabbit ... but this time I'll face it ... I'm thinking too much like humans. Using swords, and dodging ... Is time to face them, see what this small rabbit can do ... and get hurt ... I missed that. Small teeth took a little of my mass ... I covered it in oil ... winning by acid or glue will not help my learning process.

Here he comes again ... dive my right hand into the ooze on my left arm ... and pull out the bone ... Say hello to my new club. So much red fluid painting the floor ... such a waste ... But it worked. Absorb the little beast ... and use my thin tentacles to suck all the cave's floor ... Slime cleaning guarantees a perfect result always ... I saw several tasks for cleaning places ... that could be an easy way to find a quiet place to do some quests, and even sleep a little ...

And while I'm distracted sharp claws from under the flying rabbit paws aimed at my skull ... oily goose falls all around the cave ... but there is no flesh or blood for you to hit my furry friend ... Sonja was never real, and all the fluids are properly stored on my inventory ... With a few drops of rabbit's blood also.

The rabbit uses the wings to cover my eyes ... smart ... but you are too close trying to bite and scratch me ... And I saw all I wanted ... so my hand pushes you forward ... Join me, furry friend ... don't worry about the glue ... A small dagger comes from my inventory to separate your head from the rest of your body ... This is enough.

One by one my furry victims are prepared with my dagger. Fur on one side, bones and meat on the other side. Absorbing all is easier, but this way I gain a little practice for my dexterity. Using Sonja showed me how much I'm used to my tentacles ... and that is not always possible. It's a slow work, but I have no hurry. In fact I pass some time doing this, while my thin tentacles clean the area ... and I regain my lost mass ... There is no point leaving ooze here.

And that makes me think ... this might be possible ... send ooze to inventory ... It works ... I can have a smaller mass, and pull out more when necessary ... There is no longer need to be big like Sonja, and if I move all into one tentacle.

" Slime wave unlocked. "

This seems interesting ... the little rabbit had no way to win ... if I gather enough mass ... I can take even bigger enemies ... or multiple attackers ... But that is for later ... Less mass allows me to move faster ... way faster. Voices ...

Adventurers here ... let me hide on this side tunnel ... and wait. Thin tentacle to listen ... and after consuming so many rabbits, I absorbed the eyes ... and can use them to see ... Maybe my next class can be a spy ...

One is big ... Barbarian ... but dressed with leather ... a wood shield, and a sword ... Warrior, maybe. Next to him, an elf ... female with long hair ... blue robes ... maybe magical. Look comfortable ... No staff ... High mage probably.

“Don’t be a pervert, Hunter.”

The big one is called Hunter ... or is his class ... He looks like a hunter ... They seem distracted ... but look strong also. They are not wounded ... but are moving slow ... tired ... Walking inside an empty Maze, and chasing flying rabbits is not easy for them. Or maybe there is more tasty prey ahead ... Scan doesn't show it yet ... I'm too far ...

This is a good opportunity to test my new ability ... tossing rocks ... no need to use bones, or even ooze ... Simple rocks for them to think I'm harmless ... that is a good plan. And since there are plenty of rocks here ... I'll collect some for later ... Arrows, spears, javelins ... useless .. nothing like a rock, free to get in every dungeon ....

The big one ... Hunter ... I can play with him ... but magic ... She earned my rock ... Rock lance ... I can do magic ...

" Aaaah. "

A small cry of pain ... my spell is a success ... I wonder if I can do real magic one day ... but for now ... it works. And here comes the second one ... but Hunter is ready ... and his shield is raised ... The Mage is seated ... not ended ... Rock Lance need more power ... or bigger rocks ... Another rock for her ... and Hunter's shield blocks it. One more rock towards them ... shield raised to protect, and now you are blind ... Skeleton mode charge. With a rock on my hands.

No ooze, no tentacles ... Just a normal Skeleton attacking ... I don't want to reveal my slimy presence to them. And also want to try this. I'l using thin tentacles, and Telekinesis to make the bones move. The real me, is still hidden.

Here it is ... raising the shield, and ... Rock Lance ... a rock on your face ... Down he goes ... Now the primary meal, the Mage ... Her hand is glowing ... my Bone puppet is not moving ... and I feel dizzy ... Magic ... need to prepare better.

Hunter's sword is now in flames ... Fire is the weakness of a Skeleton ... And the Mage's hand are glowing again ... The small wounds on Hunter are closing ... One attacks, the other heals ... a nice strategy ... But I'm here to experiment ... eat another rock, Hunter. Smart ... with a healer close, he doesn't care to dodge or block ... just swings his flaming sword ... in a slow way ... They are tired, she is pushing too much pretending that is fine ... and he is thinking he is fresh ... Maybe Bones can do this ... named my puppet ... Summoning Bones ... new spell. Slowly I'm becoming a magician ... Ate a lot of mages, and didn't felt nothing ... Maybe they were too weak ...

Swing after swing, Hunter's sword is doing just a little of damage ... and my rock lance continues ... Hunter thinks to much, waiting for my openings to attack ... If I had a few more bones, he will be ended ... That is a good idea ... but need more material ... and a lot of practice ... For now I'm just moving one hand of Bones, and is hard ... But he is not moving his shield ... so instead of his face ... a rock lance on your forearm ...

" Aaah ... My arm ... You stupid pile of bones ... You can't do that. "

Hunter screams, but the shield is on the floor ... Move the foot forward ... and kicked ... agains his ankle ... Made him lost his balance ... a little ... Hunter's eyes are showing fear not rage ... Always thinking that monsters attack like you think ... welcome to my world, Hunter.

" Mana potion, now. "

Shouts the healer ... depleted like I planed ... Go ahead Hunter ... try to give her a fragile vial in the middle of a fight with Bones, the shield destroyer.

" No potions ... Spend all my gold on my new sword. "

Oh ... A new sword ... and no mana potions ... Let me increase my Rock attack, so that ... it's working ... she is using the few mana left to restore Hunter's HP ... soon she is going to fall ... That attack from before was strange, so I don't mind break a few bones to take her out. There goes my other hand ... If Hunter was aiming at my legs, this would be over already ... Always trying to aim for the skull ... following the plan will not help you level up, Hunter.

Hey, Hunter ... not fair running when I'm winning and ... behind a fragile elf ??? Thank you ... Rock attack on primary target unleashed ... down she goes ... And Hunter ... runs away ... I wanted to eat that flaming sword ... And maybe I can ... Rock lance ... maximum power ... Down he goes ... Sweet xp ... I missed you ... An now my elf ... it was fun ... and she is sleeping ... Rock attack ... Down she goes ... No level up ... They are too small for that ... or I'm already too high for such small prey ... Loot time ...

From the elf ... Bread, cheese ... all what Bones needs ... share with me partner ... after digesting it will be more mass on the inventory ... a candle ... and this is a book ... I'll see it better after checking Hunter ... Bread, cheese ... a torch, and a crystal ... This world is strange ... sometimes I can snack on the adventurers ... and sometimes all fades way. So the best thing is to loot fast ... But for now I'm happy ... I barely used my slime capacity ... so Bones summoning was a huge success. Without any mass, except the bones and the thin tentacles ... I can move it freely ... and have another idea ... All ooze to inventory ... I'm now Bones ... This is going to be interesting.

Let me check better the loot ... here it is ... all adventurers carry one ... the fire starter kit ... flint, and a steel. Hunter had one ... but not the Mage ... A ring ... that glows ... And she was carrying candles ... Makes me wonder ...

Looks it is what I'm thinking ... and is melting the cheese when is placed near ... I need another one to test the idea ... If I absorb this one, I lose my way to make fire at will ... Acid and glue are not flammable ... but lubricant oil ... burns bright ... I feel like a dragon ... But need to make proper tests ... soon. What more I have ... rope ... and a small axe.

Perfect to swing, and toss ... Bones is becoming more powerful ... Now adjust a little ... and is done. Two small tentacles joined into one ... looks like a small road ... and the purpose is to launch things ... like the hatchet, that's the proper name ... it's not a small axe. Bones has no muscles, and this will help ... Using long distance rock is not the best thing to pass unnoticed. This is enough for now ...

A small tunnel calls my attention, it's a dead end ... so it's perfect ... I place all I have on the inventory ... and spread. Nothing here ... Bones to inventory ... and I become a small pool of ooze ... transparent enough to see that there is no treasure hidden ... But if you disturb my resting period ... I will absorb you ...