[The difficulty of this quest varies based on the age of the monster. This monster is as strong as a regular Blood Strengthening phase cultivator upon birth and will reach considerable heights upon maturity. Even Longevity Realm cultivators will be no different from ants when against its adult form. Lacking the data on its age makes it impossible to draw the precise difficulty level.]
Himo frowned. After thinking for a second, he turned to Jonhan and Seji. “I’m sorry, a problem came up and I need to go solve it. You two go ahead, don’t worry about me! We will meet again someday!” Waving at them with a hand, he ran to the midst of the woods, leaving behind the dumbfounded two.
Seji and Jonhan looked at each other, speechless. After a few seconds, they both burst into laughter and waved to the departing figure of the child.
-----
Following the direction provided by the system, Himo ran northeast—further and further away from the capital of Arsia. He stepped over bushes, their rustling echoing amidst the quiet forest. A muddy soil sloshed at each step of his, slowing him down as if constrained by a body of water.
“System… I thought that you were stingy when it comes to items, so why are you lending them all of a sudden?”
[The monster that the User is against can potentially reach a point where it will destroy thousands of inhabited planets—there are not many who will be able to stop it. If every person dies, the system won’t be able to find a new host.]
“That’s the reason? Really? Not finding a new host?” Himo showed a blank look. “Ah, anyway, how far is the place?”
He had begun to run several minutes earlier. As the system claimed that the monster landed close to him, he had raised his guard from a while—who knew what kind of dreadful adversary would appear?
[The location is at around four hundred seventy kilometers from here.]
“That’s close?! How can you call that close?!”
[The User claims to have read a number of cultivation novels, but is surprised by such a small distance. It’s barely outside of the Arsia Kingdom. Normally, such a distance should be traveled in a few seconds at most—]
“That’s limited to high cultivation realms! At least give me an item to run faster—you have one of those, right?”
[Welcome to the shop! Searching for transport items…]
[Best item for the situation: Flying Sword Gm7k.]
[Materializing the Flying Sword Gm7k…]
Following those words, a sword materialized before Himo. Its black grip accentuated the white crystal used as the pommel, while the silver blade shone under the light of the sun. It stood still, floating mid-air.
“A flying sword?” Himo blinked. Then, without hesitating for a single instant, he jumped over its blade. The sword didn’t fall, floating over the ground—it sped off.
Trees, bushes, animals and the likes turned into a blur. The sword reached such speeds that Himo wondered how he didn’t fall off. Not only did he hold a firm grip over it, but he also required no effort at all to command it.
Trees were avoided easily, monsters were overtaken before they could react, and the landscape kept shifting from forests, plains, lakes, and hills.
The knowledge he had gained from reading novels told him that using a flying sword should be arduous, requiring both training and apposite techniques. And yet, he felt like a fish swimming underwater.
After thinking deeply about it, he found out that there was a single possible explanation for it.
“Am I perhaps a prodigy at using flying swords?”
Naturally, he didn't notice that the sword's flying path was automated.
-----
In less than an hour, the flying sword began to slow down until it stopped.
“Is this the place?” Stepping down from the sword, Himo looked around. He found himself surrounded by vegetation once again—bushes, trees, flowers, and small rocks could be found anywhere. The main difference was that it wasn’t as dense as before; isolated patches of green could be found occasionally.
“System, where is the monster? Did it run away?” He looked right and left, but no dreadful monster appeared in his eyes.
[Behind the user.]
Himo shuddered and whirled backward. He raised the violin, ready to block an attack. But the attack didn’t come. Instead, he froze. His gaze stood on a small, spheric green figure lying by a tree.
“System… that isn’t the supposedly dreadful monster you were talking about… right?” In but a moment, he felt all his expectations shatter. He had felt excited to fight a memorable battle by abusing the system’s items, and yet, reality told him to fight against such a cute monster.
[Indeed. This slime is one of the most dangerous monsters existing in the whole universe.]
Himo couldn’t help but give the system a blank look. “How could you consider such a cute creature as a dangerous monster? I refuse to kill it!”
[As usual, the user makes nonsensical choices. It would be normally required to pay BS points, but since this is a special occasion, the system will provide basic information about the slime for free.]
[Ravenous Slime]
[Differently from most other species, the ravenous slime spawns exclusively in the proximity of ???. Unlike most other monsters, its strength is counted in typical realms instead of ranks.
This slime species is able to change colour and shape at will, and will regenerate unless it is destroyed completely. Possessing an intelligence equal(and in some cases superior) to a human being, a few adults specimens managed to destroy multiple planets before being stopped. The reason they behave aggressively is unknown.
Advised immediate extermination of any found exemplary.]
Himo rolled his eyes at those questions marks. He turned to look at the green slime—this time decisively. After hearing the explanation, he understood that the slime was a threat, and that he had to deal with it.
And to deal with it, he needed an item.
“Shop!”
Searching through the shop, he selected a specific category, much to the dismay of the system.
[Welcome to the shop. Searching for taming items…]
[Taming target selected: Ravenous Slime.]
[Two possible choices have been found.]
[Willfighter taming item; Dreamtamer.]
[Both items consist in forcing a fight against the slime. One will be a battle of willpower while the other will be a battle inside of a dream. If the user were to win, the monster will be tamed permanently—it won’t be able to betray the user, but it will retain capability of thought and independent actions. Failure on beating the monster will result in severe mental damage.]
“Oh.” Himo tilted his head. “That’s quite simple, then!”
[Naturally, to infer the required obedience, the user will have to fight against the adult form of the slime.]
Himo widened his eyes. “Didn’t you say that its adult form could defeat Longevity Realm cultivators easily?”
[Indeed. The system strongly advises the user against pursuing such a reckless attempt. There are items able to eliminate the threat directly, instea—]
“It’s fine, there’s no problem!”
[What?]
“Using the Dreamtamer means that we’ll fight inside of a dream, right?” He laughed. “That can only mean that victory is certain! I’ll use that item!”
After a moment of silence, the system materialized the Dreamtamer. Its appearance was that of a purple handgun with a white orb protruding from the barrel. Its appearance surprised Himo, but the latter soon grabbed its grip.
[To use it, shoot toward the target. You will both fall asleep and enter a shared dream.]
After staring at the slime—who, for some reason, didn’t move at all—Himo pulled the trigger.
