Theo sat there with his eyes wide open. The entire clearing was visible to both him and Clara, who still had a hand over his mouth.
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Moss Sli
Grade – Rare
Type – Nature
Level – 11
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Theo's face went pale. A huge sli, the size of his entire carriage, was now in the clearing. Whenever the humongous blob tried to move its body, a small vibration rippled through the ground.
"We have to leave… young master," Clara spoke in the lightest voice while looking at Theo, who nodded.
His gaze went to his Iron Mantis, which was no longer on his hand but on the highest stem of the bush they were hiding behind.
Its eyes seed fixed on the enormous moss sli, yet Theo couldn't tell for certain, as the sli was so massive it occupied the entire clearing.
Just as it moved, the smaller slis stopped.
When the first one ca dangerously close to the large sli, the massive blob lunged forward, and before anyone could realize, the small sli had beco a part of it.
'That's a rare sli… and with such resources right in its territory, reaching level 11 could be possible… but that ans its abilities are far beyond anything I know.'
Theo quickly gave the Praying Mantis a small command, which, surprisingly, made it return toward him slowly. It almost made Theo wonder if the mantis was intelligent enough to understand that it couldn't defeat this sli.
They quickly got up and began taking careful steps to leave the forest when sothing made Clara stop.
Theo looked at her with a frown. Her sudden hesitation had nearly made him step on a twig. The boar clung to Theo's body whether he liked it or not.
"Soone's here," she muttered, then quickly looked toward the clearing again.
Theo hurriedly took cover behind the boar and peered back—only to see a small silhouette now standing in the clearing.
When he focused on it, the silhouette appeared human.
Theo heard Clara sigh softly as she lowered her guard.
"No wonder this sli is such a high level, young master. It's a tad monster," Clara said aloud, making Theo frown.
"And here I thought we were in a life-threatening situation, Clara," Theo sighed in disappointnt, looking at the enormous blob of slimy moss devour every single smaller sli in seconds.
His gaze shifted to the man behind the massive sli. He was wearing simple leather armor, yet the hat on his head was that of a scholar.
"I would like to et this man, Clara," Theo ordered.
Clara rely bowed and stepped toward the man.
As Clara entered the clearing, the Ironclad Boar followed close behind her. The massive sli reacted imdiately.
Theo observed closely. In his mind, a simple question popped up.
'Who would win in a fight—the boar or the sli?'
While the sli was six levels higher than the boar, there was still a difference between a defensive-type beast and a support beast.
As the boar drew near, the sli retracted back toward its owner, who was now watching Clara and the boar with vigilance.
"Master Theo wishes to speak with you. Please co forward," Clara announced, halting in place, her face raised as if exerting dominance.
Theo smacked his forehead in embarrassnt. He wanted to talk, not scare him.
"Look, lady, kindly keep your distance, please. My Moss Sli is quite shy," the man finally spoke, stepping a few paces ahead, protecting his sli, which seed to be hiding behind him.
"This big thing is scared? How weak," Clara scoffed, her icy stare piercing into the sli.
The boar snorted in agreent, and the sli jerked, its massive body wobbling from the sound.
"Ahem! Clara, I will handle this from here…" Theo quickly interjected, stepping forward.
Clara's deanor instantly changed back to innocence.
"As you wish, young master."
The man seed perplexed by the situation, a frown forming on his face.
"Look, I was just here to level up my Moss Sli. I work at the infirmary in the town nearby. If it's any trouble, I can leave. If you harm , it would be bad for a lot of people in town," the man stated, his voice wary.
"You've already hunted our prey. Who will compensate us for that?" Clara asked in a threatening tone.
"Clara, please, don't speak anymore," Theo sighed, turning back toward the man, who was clearly trying to put on a tough front but was, in reality, just scared.
"We an no harm, kind sir. I was simply astonished by the sheer size of this Moss Sli," Theo said, smiling. "And seeing how it is a tad beast, I couldn't help but co over to show my appreciation," Theo added gently.
The man looked surprised at first but then returned to normal.
"…I appreciate it, little kid," the man replied.
Clara's fingers popped as she clenched her fists in silent rage.
"But this is no place for such a small kid, lady. You should take him back ho," the man added with slight concern.
Theo felt Clara's anger at that mont.
"I will take care, thank you for your concern, kind sir. But may I ask you one small question?" Theo tilted his head slightly, his puppy eyes shining.
Clara lted on the spot.
The man chuckled, his expression softening. "Yes, yes. Do ask. If it's sothing I know, I'll definitely answer."
"How long did it take you to get the Moss Sli to level 11?" Theo asked curiously.
"Oh… Hmm…" The man rubbed his chin in thought, and soon a nostalgic smile ford on his face.
"I think… it's been 15 years, give or take. What a long ride, right, Slimy?" The man patted the sli, which vibrated happily in response.
Theo kept smiling, though his mind froze in shock.
"Alright, thank you for giving this answer, kind sir. Have a good day."
"Good day to you too," the man smiled and waved goodbye before his sli dissolved into light particles, disappearing into the back of his head.
Before they knew it, the man had already started walking and vanished into the forest.
When he was gone, Theo couldn't help but break character.
He was frozen in shock at the realization.
"15 years… just for level 11…"
He turned to Clara, his voice nearly trembling.
"How long did it take you to reach level 5, Clara?"
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