Chapter 12: Survival Mode

‘Well, now that the crazy happened. It’s time to look through the updates in this Game. This is gonna be a long night,’ they pulled up the Menu and started searching through all the tabs they unlocked. Dreading the amount of reading that had to be done if they were to understand their next task.

[COLLAR: Hi my name is ‘UNTAMEABLE’ if found please return me to my owner ‘???’. Was written on the tag. Upon TAMED, Collar will be placed in ‘Owners’ Inventory where they will get the option to have the name changed.]

[COIN 9: Coins are commonly used for the Stores.]

- Strength 20  - Perception 20  - Endurance 20  - Charisma 20  - Intelligence 20  - Luck 20

- Item Find 20  - Heal 20 (+50%)  - Inner Strength 20 (+30) - Stamina 20 - Movement Speed 20 (+5)

- Attack Speed 20 (+5) - Dodge 20

- Basic Bow (Equipped): A Basic Bow for any Beginner Archer.

- Basic Arrow Quiver (Equipped): A Basic Arrow Quiver to hold your Arrows.

- Basic Arrow x20 (Equipped): A Basic Arrow.

- Basic Sword (Equipped): A Sturdy Sword.

- Basic Shield (Equipped): A Sturdy Shield.

- Basic Wand (Equipped): A Wooden Stick with a bit of Magic in it.

- Tome of Magic (Equipped): A Dusty old Book with Two Skills, Blast and Flare written in it.

- Get TAMED

‘Oh thank the Clouds it’s over! I think Focus activated during that,’ looking out past the Green Screen that was the bane of their existence not too long ago, the sun was setting and a plate of food was set before them. They couldn’t contain themselves and started to bounce and ate happily at the food.

Only to realize that this wasn’t the normal food that was given to them.

They coughed a few times trying to get rid of the food that was currently being Consumed. Feeling the burning reaching their Core they looked around for someone to help. Panic settling in as they were only to be met with a Tamer and a Net. The Message Popped up and was quickly changed to [You Are Being Tamed] when the Net landed on them. Their vision began to get dark but brightened once more as the Net Broke. Not long after another was in its place starting the process all over again. Each Net being placed was taking longer and longer to shake off. The Poison used in the food was now increasing as time went on the longer they refused.

The Tamer held out a bottle of what looked like an Antidote, they swirled the contents in it tauntingly. They felt anger surge momentarily but dissipated when another wave of Poison started to crash against them draining their energy to resist anymore.

‘Is this how it ends? Will I be a slave to this Tamer for their momentary amusement before being left somewhere and discarded? What about my Quests?’

Feeling weaker, they closed their eyes.

‘Maybe the Dog was right...’

Coughing a few more times before fully allowing the Net to work. Darkness took hold and the feeling of coughing was no longer an issue. Sighing they felt relieved, it was almost light just floating on Clouds.

Snapping their eyes open, the Net broke and before a new one could be put on they put their Skill Smash to the test. The Tamer flew backwards, stunned, before they could even attempt to get up and fight, a rush of Armoured Slime's rushed out and started attacking the Tamer. Something was thrown in front of them and barely a thought was spared as they Consumed the object.

It was the Antidote.

The Tamer was Slain and the gathered Slime returned to them, “Guardian, are you ok?”

Taking a few steady breaths as the burning started to ease away, “I’ll be fine. Guess I should think before doing something like that again. Hah...”

“Don’t worry Guardian, the Slime Warrior’s will always come to a Slime’s rescue no matter who they are.” The gathered Slime’s were of different colours and there were five of them, a Red Slime with what looked like Thorn Armour, a Yellow Slime with a light Blaze around them, a Dual Light Blue and Yellow coloured Slime with Electricity forming every now and then, a Dark Blue Slime that seems to be the Leader and a Pink Slime that looked ready to fight anything and with a Plant growing on the top of their head.

“Those rotten-” Pink Slime started but was quickly silenced by the Dark Blue Slime.

“Peep, that’s enough. We’ve dealt with them and they are gone now.” Dark Blue sharply said as they turned to them speaking more softly, “Our main concern is our Guardian.”

“Apologies,” Peep said, they looked among them and it was clear that there was still no Green Slime in their ranks.

“I’ll be fine now,” they said and tried to straighten themselves to a more solid sphere, “return to your posts.”

“Don’t trust them...” the Dual Coloured one spoke this time with malice in their voice, “All they seek is our destruction, Guardian.”

“Not all of them, don’t count them out just because of one Grey Cloud,” they said hoping that not all of them held a grudge against the Players.

“We’ll see,” Dark Blue spoke this time uncertain of their ‘Guardian’ and their sanity. It might as well be gone if they are plagued with visions between Saves.

“I know what I’m doing and I want what’s best for us.” They said hoping that the sooner they leave the better it would be for them to not get tangled in this. They needed to be firm and harsh. “Now Leave.”

“Yes... Guardian,” the Slime Warrior’s started going back into the tree line. ‘I know what I’m doing... There’s at least one Tamer out there that will help us realize our goal. I’m not wrong. Am I?’

They felt pain the more they thought of what could be right and wrong, of what to do next. It was almost tempting to just sit there forever and do nothing. ‘Is waiting here for the perfect Tamer to come by really a good idea? The thought of leaving is also daunting, where would I even begin to look for a Tamer that had the same Goals?’

‘If there was one out there...’ they felt saddened and wanted to melt out of existence.

“You ok...?” looking up finally they saw the Under Weredog walking towards them slowly. “I tried to get to them as fast as I could...”

“I’m fine now,” They tried to smile at the Dog but it only seemed to worry the Dog more, “Thank you for getting them.”

“When I saw him walking towards you with the poisoned food I went to look for Slime Hope, I’ve been staying with them for a bit and doing some trading with them when we meet. My... my name’s... Dinner by the way.”

“Thank you for being so brave, Dinner.”

“I knew you wouldn’t want to go with them, you said so yourself. Trust is earned, oh... See you later,” Dinner ran towards the Flower Path and hid as some Guards walked out to survey the area.

“Wonder what all the commotion out here was about?”

“You think some Wolvoxus got closer to town?”

“Nah, it was probably just that Mutt trying to create a distraction.”

“Or that Slime did something other than eat or sleep for once,” the Guards laughed together as they walked back into town.

“Useless Guards, I hope you have no clean underwear,” they muttered and decided to use the Rest skill to hopefully gain back some energy that was lost and stay awake longer instead of just Sleeping until the next day or week or quite possibly a year. The clouds started unleash a light drizzle onto the lands, as if to say that the world wasn’t sad enough as it is.

Soon that drizzle became a down pour as lightening started to flash in the sky. The thunderous strike towards the woods was not a good sign and the sounds of crackling began to sound in the distance.

It was Fire.

A fire had started up in the forest!

They could see it now, everything burning to ash!

They didn’t know what they were doing! ‘Why did I run into a Burning Fucking Building!?’

They heard screams coming from a few flights up in the Apartment building and went up, holding a cloth to their face and trying to listen for cries for help over the smoke and roaring fire. The building crackled and crumbled in different areas, the smoke no longer grey and white but dark grey to black. It was dangerous to be here any longer!

“help...” Rushing to the weak plea they found that there was rows and rows of doors to go through. The orange and yellow flicker stunned them, their hands trembled as they backed away. “Help!”

Looking up at the ceiling they heard footsteps and quickly went to the stairs and ran up, they found a group of people huddled together. They turned to see if the way was still clear only to see a wall of fire. Backing away they went to the group and looked around and instructed them towards the window.

Trembling they made sure that the children were not hurt in the rush and stayed behind to make sure none of them were left behind. The floor was hot and not long after the fire had climbed to their floor and crept closer to them in roars. For their own comfort, they started to softly sing. Remembering the children they sang a bit louder and soon everyone had joined them. It was calming, as terrifying as it is they felt safe. The floor started to creak and they turned just in time to see a Fire Fighter getting the people out. They felt better knowing that they had gotten at least some people out, taking a step forward the floor gave way.