The Sli King’s massive form quivered — then launched another volley of green sludge straight toward .
I dove to the side, rolled, fired once — the bullet tore through the sli, leaving a neat hole that closed instantly with a wet slurp.
"Useless!" I hissed.
Another blast of acid missed by a hair, burning through my sleeve and searing my skin. The sll of scorched leather filled my nose.
Sweat beaded down my face. I reloaded, aid for what looked like its core — a faint, pulsing light deep within the gelatinous mass — and fired again.
The bullet struck, and for a mont the glow flickered. The Sli King shuddered, screeching in a wet, guttural tone that rattled the entire chamber.
"Yeah, you didn’t like that, did you?" I muttered, already ducking behind another pillar.
I peeked out—
And froze as the sli moved.
It wasn’t just oozing anymore.
It was charging.
"Aw, hell."
The whole tunnel shook as it slamd forward, splattering acid in every direction.
I darted back, breathing hard, every muscle screaming in protest.
My lungs burned, my stamina gauge — if I had one — was probably blinking red.
*****
"Damn that bastard’s copulating now."
I muttered under my breath as the Sli King’s body began to convulse and bubble grotesquely. Within seconds, several smaller slis burst from its surface — wet, glistening blobs that hit the ground with sickening splats.
Each one shuddered once before rolling toward , their translucent bodies reflecting the faint light of the flickering lantern.
"Great. A family reunion."
Gripping the rifle, I checked the ammo pouch — fingers slick with sweat and gri. Enough shells left. It was doable. No ti for precision — just shoot and move.
Bang!
The first sli exploded into green mist.
Reload. Bang!
Two more popped.
Bang!Click.Bang!
I fired until my shoulder ached from the recoil, my arm trembling from the kick. The tunnel echoed with thunder and wet smacks.
But for every sli I killed, ten more slithered forward, spreading like a plague down the tunnel.
"Persistent little shits," I hissed, racking another shell into the chamber.
They were slow, at least. That gave an option.
’Retreat for now.’
Fortunately, the passage was long — perfect for a hit-and-run. I fired a few scattershots, blasting chunks off the front line, then turned and sprinted down the narrow sewer.
My boots splashed through murky water, lungs burning.
The stench was unbearable.
The slis squelched after , undeterred.
"This is the worst possible matchup for ..." I muttered between breaths. "Why didn’t I learn a damn magic spell when I had the chance?"
The irony burned. I had enough mana now to cast minor spells, but zero knowledge of how to use it.
A gunslinger with mana, but no magic. Brilliant.
I slowed my pace slightly, trying to think — form a plan.
Then—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps.
Not mine.
They echoed from further down the tunnel — steady, deliberate.
’What the hell?’
I lifted my rifle, ready to shoot at anything that moved. The lanternlight wavered.
Three shadows appeared ahead.
And when the light finally hit their faces—
My heart sank.
"Son of a—"
The curse slipped out before I could stop it.
Princess Celestia stood there, radiant even in this filth, her white boots sohow untouched by gri. Behind her were Mariella and Elisha, both looking far too composed for people standing in a sewer.
"Are you cursing now, Cadet Lucien?" Celestia said, her tone caught sowhere between amusent and reprimand.
"I wonder what Count Ashborne would say if he saw his son sprawled in a dirty sewer," Elisha added with a sharp smile.
"What else?" Mariella chid in, smirking. "He’d probably disown him for real this ti."
Their words hit like daggers — sharp, deliberate.
But behind the sting, I felt sothing else.
Relief.
They were here.
Magic prodigies. The perfect counters to these damn slis.
Still, my pride refused to let ask for help. I needed them to choose to act.
And with people like them, that wasn’t hard.
The so-called paragons of justice — the hero’s loyal companions. Self-righteous to the bone.
If they found out a horde of monsters was crawling beneath the slums, threatening civilians... they’d throw themselves at it without hesitation.
All I had to do was bait them.
I pushed myself to my feet, brushing filth from my uniform, and t their eyes coolly.
"You were following ."
Their reactions were instant.
Mariella’s face stiffened. "Wha— who said we were following you? We just... ca for a stroll."
"In a sewer?" I raised a brow. "Really? That’s your excuse?"
Mariella flushed, glaring. "At least I’m not the one playing Rambo in a drainage system!"
"Enough," Celestia said sharply, but her lips twitched. "Explain yourself, Cadet Lucien. Why are you here?"
Before I could answer, the ground trembled.
A low, sloshing rumble rolled through the tunnel.
I didn’t need to look to know what it was.
The slis.
They’d caught up.
"Perfect timing," I muttered, cocking my gun. "You wanted an explanation? You’ll see it firsthand."
Behind , the Sli King’s spawn flooded the tunnel — a glimring tide of green sludge that reflected the faint light of our mana orbs.
The three girls froze for a second, wide-eyed.
Then Celestia’s expression hardened, cold mana flaring around her hands.
Mariella’s eyes narrowed, air swirling at her fingertips.
Elisha was already nocking an arrow.
Just as expected.
"Get ready," I said, smirking faintly as I chambered a round. "Lesson one in sewer survival — aim for the core."
The slis, though faceless—without eyes, nose, or mouth—seed to look at us, their viscous bodies rippling as if mocking the challenge.
’Caught.’
Hundreds of them slithered over each other, the tunnel filling with the wet, grotesque sound of their advance. The reek of acid and rot burned my nose.
"Lovely," I muttered. I slung the Winchester behind my back and switched to the shotgun.
Boom!
The first shot tore through the narrow passage, scattering sludge everywhere. Three slis exploded into vaporous green mist.
"Reload, fire!" I barked to myself, slamming another shell in and firing again. Boom!Boom!
Each shot tore the tunnel apart, the sound ricocheting through the stone like thunder.
Then I noticed three silhouettes behind standing still.
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