Master Of None

The party couldn't help but feel emotional as they left the city. They knew that they would return and often travel here and there to many of the different kingdoms' cities. But the fact that so many people were out shouting their praise or giving them a wave was too much to handle. The carpenters, blacksmiths, and healers alone were enough to bring a tear to their eyes. But this was not the time for such things. They steeled themselves and responded with a smile while they crossed the walls and on to the fields. 

The burned fields had been covered with snow causing the endless blanket of white to be all the eye could see. There were many plants hidden underneath and a few rebuilt farm houses. The patrols of guards and adventurers made sure to stop and send them off with a shout or two before they continued on their own jobs. 

"We are finally getting out of the fields. Let's stay focused and watch for danger." There had to be some warning as Walker decided that the group should split up. They remembered the winter and what it brought. The monsters from the mountains would start to come down. The party had been lucky not to encounter many of them due to their closeness to the dragons. But now they would most likely run in to some. 

No sooner had Walker fallen to the right side of the carriage line did he hear a shout. 

"We have a monster! Be at the ready!" Walker turned and looked past a carriage to spot a group of four silver tired adventurers' facing a small bluish white enemy. Walker's first thought was an imp but the coloration wasn't the same as he could remember. 

The knowledge that things were different spurred Walker in to movement. He used his wind ripple skill to step in to the air and over the carriages. His eyes trained on the round blue and white shape sending out small ice needles at the adventurers on the outer circle of protection. 

'Ice slime

This slime was specifically bred from the water slime. The water elemental mana was forced to condense and create a new species of slime only capable of growing and living in the cold snowy season. It has higher defenses and boasts the skill to throw needles of ice at an enemy. It has lost the ability to speedily wrap around and consume an enemy due to its icy state. The core must be destroyed to fully defeat this slime. They had the ability to pull ice in to heal themselves if given enough time.' 

"That slime breeder!" Walker willed the eternal orb that was currently blended in to his chest plate in to a hammer. He was going to crush it in one hit. "Back away!" The silver tiered adventures did not hesitate to jump back as Walker fell from above. The force of the hammer that the eternal orb had changed in to caused the snow around to become a crater. The slime itself was smashed through and through. 

"That was a flashy entrance. I take it you know that monster?" The adventurer that appeared to be the leader of the small group of four had a shield and a sword making him a balanced attacker and defender. 

"That was an ice slime. It was bred by a demon slime breeder. They have caused trouble for the elves and the dwarves. Now, they have let loose these ice slimes bred from water slimes. They will be troublesome for us to deal with. The core needs to be destroyed like any other slime but they can shoot ice needles and have tough defenses. Hit hard and crush them. I will pass on the message." 

Walker glanced at the ice slime as it froze in to ice on the spot. It had been completely crushed causing the core to shatter. The result was the body freezing like normal water. It wouldn't have any uses since they would need the cores if anything. However, that would be tough with the added defense. 

The entire procession only heard from Walker after they had encountered another three ice slimes. It seemed that every person Walked tried to tell, another slime would appear. But the message was finally passed on. Some of the guards had changed their behavior to be more focused hearing that a demon was behind the slimes. Unfortunately, Walker knew that they would not be able to deal with the slime breeder today for good. 

There was an instance where Gil had stopped and jumped up on top of one of the carriages. Many of the guards were wary of this, but when they saw him sniping the slimes from long range they didn't cause a fuss. They may not know what carriage had people or goods but it was still unnerving having Gil fire arrows from the top. 

"Walker, we have a large group ahead. I count fifteen slimes. Maybe more under the snow." The guards that heard this readied themselves even more. If they were to try and go around slimes they would need to go off of the road that had been newly carved from the ground. There wasn't even stone yet so the entire area was still rough grasslands. 

The call that they would be breaking through was made and some of the adventurers formed up at the front of the train. Su had her twin shields read to push through in the front. She may not have been the highest leveled adventurer, but with her shields and armor, she was the best defense. Once partnered with the other shield wielders, the group had seven people to push through the slimes which had already taken notice of the train. 

Wanting to make sure they broke through easily, Walker used his multi buff skill to give everyone the small boost they needed to beat down the slimes. It took effect just as the first slime shot ice needles at the shields. 

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