Chapter 5: Slime Plains – Endurance Test
The sun hung mercilessly over the endless green of the Slime Plains. Aiden's shadow stretched thin across the gently waving grass as he adjusted his grip on the sword. Every step across the soft, virtual terrain sent subtle haptic feedback through his legs, each ripple a reminder that fatigue was no illusion. His arms burned from repetitive swings, sweat stung his eyes, and his legs quivered under the relentless strain of the previous waves. The short reprieve at the respawn point had restored some stamina—seventy percent—but it did little to erase the exhaustion clinging stubbornly to him.
[System: Kills 270/500 | Stamina 70% | Mana 2]
He flexed his fingers around the hilt, feeling the subtle vibrations of the VR world. Each ripple in the grass, each wobble of nearby slimes, demanded attention. They weren't strong individually, but their endless numbers and unpredictable bounces made them dangerous in swarms. Aiden's heartbeat quickened. He had to fight with patience, precision, and every last ounce of control.
A small cluster of five pale blue slimes wobbled erratically toward him. He swung once, slicing one in half. The next blob bounced unpredictably, so he sidestepped, pivoted, and struck again. Each movement cost effort, each dodge stole stamina, and his mana—though still at two—had to be reserved. Only two Double Slashes remained.
[System: Kills 275/500]
The chat blinked, alive with viewers:
Dragoon: careful now! pacing is key
Viewer56: lol he's already sweaty, poor guy
Viewer898: nice dodge, that was clean
Viewer32: keep the rhythm, man
Viewer66: wow, his arms must hurt
A larger wave approached—a rolling tide of ten slimes, wobbling like gelatinous beads under sunlight. Aiden crouched slightly, micro-paused, and then struck. His arms quivered from effort. Every motion demanded focus, every swing precise. Timing for the Double Slash had to be perfect; waste it too early, and the later waves could overwhelm him.
[System: Kills 285/500 | Stamina 65% | Mana 2]
He exhaled sharply. Small waves… careful… patience… His eyes scanned the plains. Even weak enemies became merciless when endless. Every swing drained energy, every roll stole a fraction of strength. Yet, there was exhilaration in survival, in the dance of exhaustion and adrenaline.
[System: Kills 300/500 | Stamina 60%]
Aiden stepped backward, letting a minor trough in the plains serve as a makeshift funnel. Fifteen slimes converged, bouncing forward like a rolling swarm. He paused briefly, letting them form a line just wide enough to maximize his skill's impact. Then, with perfect timing, he unleashed the first Double Slash.
The blade arced flawlessly, slicing through dozens of slimes at once. Haptic feedback vibrated sharply through his arms, echoing the satisfying dissolution of pale blue mist. His mana dropped to one.
[System: Kills +50 | Mana 1 | Stamina -15%]
Dragoon's chat erupted:
Dragoon: YES!! Perfect timing!!
Viewer09: whoa, skill OP af
Viewer56: careful now… one more left
Viewer898: pacing is genius
Viewer32: lol he's surviving like a pro
Aiden staggered slightly, leaning on the sword to steady himself. His arms quivered, legs trembling, yet he smiled faintly. Surviving a major wave without burning the second Double Slash felt like a small victory. Precision, rhythm, patience—it all mattered.
[System: Kills 350/500 | Stamina 50% | Mana 1]
Smaller waves of three to seven slimes bounced forward erratically. He struck, sidestepped, rolled, and pivoted with surgical precision. Each dodge, each swing, required attention. The plains stretched endlessly, yet he forced himself to maintain rhythm. Timing, patience, positioning—everything mattered.
[System: Kills 420/500 | Stamina 40% | Mana 1]
The final wave loomed—dense, thick, threatening to overwhelm him with sheer numbers. Aiden inhaled deeply, chest rising, legs tensing. Sweat streamed freely, soaking his gloves and running down his virtual brow. His body ached, but he focused, letting his mind override fatigue.
[System: Respawn Point Activated – Stamina Regeneration 70%]
The recovery point glowed softly beneath his feet. Haptic feedback eased, simulating muscle relaxation; his arms, shoulders, and legs loosened fractionally. Seventy percent stamina was enough to plan the final assault, but only one Double Slash remained. Mana teetered on the brink of zero.
Dragoon's chat reminded him of the stakes:
Dragoon: this is it… choose wisely!
Viewer66: pace yourself, man
Viewer09: no mistakes now
Viewer32: he's gonna need every bit of control
Viewer56: wow, tension!!
Aiden scanned the terrain, noting every subtle ripple in the grass, every minor trough, every wave pattern of the slimes. He rolled his shoulders, tested his posture. Every micro-pause mattered; every twitch of grass and wobble of slime was an input he couldn't ignore.
[System: Kills 470/500 | Stamina 25% | Mana 1]
The final cluster surged forward. His body tensed like a coiled spring, every muscle ready. He baited the slimes into a narrow line, step, pause, pivot. Timing was everything. He swung the last Double Slash.
The blade arced perfectly, slicing through the dense wave. Haptic feedback rippled sharply, dozens of pale blue blobs dissolved instantly. Mana dropped to zero.
[System: Kills +50 | Mana 0 | Stamina -15%]
Silence fell over the Slime Plains. The once-endless tide had vanished, leaving only the gentle sway of grass. Exhaustion clawed at Aiden, but triumph surged in every fiber. He sank to his knees, chest heaving.
[System: Floor Cleared! Reward: +2 to all stats | Equipment Upgrade | Skill Enhancement]
Strength 5, Agility 4, Mana 2, Stamina 5. Double Slash upgraded. The Slime Plains had been merciless, yet he survived.
Dragoon's chat buzzed, alive with admiration and relief:
Dragoon: insane! you did it!
Viewer898: wow, pacing and skill… pro
Viewer32: can't believe he survived with only 2 Double Slashes
Viewer66: mastery of stamina, man
Viewer56: floor 3… we're hyped
Aiden exhaled, letting the VR feedback simulate his muscles relaxing. Arms, shoulders, legs—all loosened slightly, though fatigue lingered as a reminder of the relentless rhythm he had overcome. His eyes swept across the plains, endless green stretching toward the horizon. The Slime Plains had tested endurance, patience, and control. Victory wasn't just about power—it had been about survival, strategy, and restraint.
Tomorrow—or perhaps later in the dungeon—the next floor would test him in ways even more punishing. But for now, Floor 2 was behind him. And with only two Double Slashes, two mana, and endless perseverance, Aiden had learned that the rhythm of survival was more important than brute strength.
The stream chat blinked rapidly, alive with weawers:
Dragoon: but guys he cleared it in 70 minutes, you know
Weawer98: yeah lol most die at least ten times here after killing for hours
Weawer67: lol and he was like pro
Weawer12: even Leon took 3 hours here and Aris too
Weawer3: are you serious? You mean Leon?
Aiden glanced at the viewer count—136 weawers. His estimate had been right: this game would draw more fans. Even Mytherras' strongest level 89 player had taken three hours to clear the Slime Plains.
Weawer34: yeah lol
Dragoon: so, will you continue or end the stream?
Weawer1: yeah bro, how many hours have you been streaming?
Aiden smiled awkwardly. Well… two hours, maybe.
Weawer45: bro, you should rest lol
Weawer: yeah, you can continue tomorrow and watch some guide too for Floor 3
Weawer67: yeah, that's hell lol
Weawer86: oh, and why are you wearing that robe inside the armor lol
Weawer77: yeah lol, that looks hilarious
Dragoon: wow bro, you didn't even notice
Aiden chuckled. "Oh… I'll fix it in the next stream, guys. And thanks for coming!"
Weawer65: bye then, I've followed you, so I'll join tomorrow too
Dragoon: bye man
Aiden nodded. "Yes… see you in the next stream." He gave a faint smile.
Stream End.