"Alright guys, I think this is it," Takemitchi paused with doubt as he stood before the surprisingly well-maintained factory.
His eyes narrowing as he scanned the pristine exterior. "I mean, it fits the description... I think." His voice trailed off, betraying his uncertainty.
Ayame rolled her eyes dramatically, the afternoon sun catching the glint of amusement in them.
"Can't you read? It says 'Wano's... Potion... Factory' right there on top," she said mockingly, pointing toward the large sign with its bold, clear lettering.
"Obviously I saw that," Takemitchi shot back, his pride slightly wounded.
"I just didn't expect it to be this clean." He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to mask his surprise with nonchalance.
'I agree with Takemitchi,' Shizuri thought as she observed their surroundings with calculating eyes.
'When we were told it was an abandoned factory, we expected it to be run down and out of shape. But this...' Her gaze swept over the polished windows and immaculate walls.
'This is a surprise.' The perfectionist in her noted every detail, filing it away for later consideration.
Takemitchi's mind raced with possibilities. 'This is it—my chance to impress the girls,' he thought, a determined gleam in his eyes.
'If the slimes here are stronger than normal, I'll have a chance to show off my skills.' A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as the plan formed in his mind.
"Alright girls, are you ready to clear this factory?" He paused, raising his finger dramatically as inspiration struck.
"Girls, let's make a bet." His voice carried a theatrical flair that made Shizuri suppress a smile.
Ayame cocked an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "Depends on what it is."
"Oh, it's nothing complicated," he explained, his hands gesturing enthusiastically.
"Let's make it that whoever gets the lowest kills has to fulfill one request for the other two." His eyes gleamed with mischief as he awaited their response.
"Sure, you're on," Ayame replied quickly without hesitation, a competitive fire already lighting up her features.
"Okay, cool," Shizuri added with her usual composure, appearing unfazed though her mind was already calculating strategies.
'What? No hesitation?' Takemitchi thought, taken aback by their immediate acceptance.
'You must be pretty confident. Just wait for when I win.' His confidence surged at the thought of victory.
They entered the factory together, pushing open the heavy metal doors that swung with surprising ease. The inside of the first room was completely empty and surprisingly clean, almost clinically so.
The polished concrete floor reflected their images like a mirror, and not a speck of dust could be seen anywhere.
They took a few steps in, their footsteps echoing ominously in the vacant space. Suddenly, Shizuri's eyes widened for a moment, breaking her usual calm composure.
It was as if she had noticed something unsettling, but the other two were too busy examining the room to catch her momentary lapse.
"The inside is clean too... and empty," Shizuri pointed out, her voice carrying a hint of wariness as she scanned the pristine walls and ceiling.
"And there isn't a single slime in sight." Her fingers twitched imperceptibly, ready to reach for her weapon at a moment's notice.
'I don't know why, but this place has a dark feeling to it,' Shizuri thought as a chill ran down her spine. 'I noticed it when we entered this room. I think the others haven't sensed it yet. I'll stay alert for now.'
Her trained senses had picked up something beyond the obvious emptiness—something that set her nerves on edge.
"Yeah, something is definitely off," Ayame said, finally catching on to the eerie atmosphere as she crossed her arms defensively.
"Well, it doesn't matter. I mean, we're going to be fighting slimes—how hard can it be?" Takemitchi said in a cocky tone.
Though his eyes darted around nervously, betraying a hint of unease he was trying to mask.
"The slimes in this factory are stronger than normal. That's why this factory has a level rating," Ayame explained calmly, her voice taking on a teacher-like quality.
"So don't talk big yet, mister tough guy." She tapped her finger against her weapon holster, a subtle reminder of the danger they might face.
"Have you already forgotten about last time?" Shizuri added, her cool gaze piercing through Takemitchi's bravado like a needle through fabric.
The words stabbed right at Takemitchi's pride as memories of his failure at the Neo Dungeon flooded back.
His face reddened slightly. "I know. You don't need to remind me," he snapped, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
Then he took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing as he exhaled slowly. "You girls need to chill," he continued, attempting to reclaim his confidence.
"Everybody knows slimes are the weakest kind of monsters there is. So what if they've gotten a little stronger? I'm sure we'll handle ourselves just fine." He straightened his posture, trying to project an air of leadership.
"Was that supposed to be a pep talk? Aren't you embarrassed?" Ayame said laughingly, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she reached for the door handle to the next room.
The heavy metal door swung open with a foreboding creak, revealing what lay beyond.
The sight that greeted them was unexpected—a massive chamber stretched out before them, its industrial vastness emphasized by the high ceiling and distant walls.
Small blue slimes were scattered everywhere across the floor, walls, and even parts of the ceiling. There was no equipment in sight, which clearly meant the slimes had dissolved everything they could reach.
The slimes were small and azure blue, jiggling with each subtle movement they made. Inside each one, a crimson core pulsed visibly—clearly their weakness.
They moved at a snail's pace, leaving glistening trails behind them as they crawled across the surfaces of the room.
"Another room filled with nothing," Ayame sighed, her voice heavy with disappointment as she surveyed the barren chamber.
"At least we found our targets," Takemitchi said, a surge of excitement coursing through him as he spotted the slow-moving creatures.
"I'll go in first and test the waters." Without waiting for a response, he dashed toward a cluster of slimes gathering on the floor, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous space.
"Suit yourself," Ayame called after him with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Shizuri asked, her usually stoic expression giving way to a hint of concern as they watched him rush headlong into potential danger.
"Of course," Ayame replied, leaning against the doorframe with casual confidence.
"He may be an idiot, but he has some skill, and we can use magic here, so he'll be fine..." She paused.
Her certainty faltering slightly. "I think," she added hesitantly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
As Takemitchi charged forward, he extended his right hand dramatically. His sword began to materialize from his glove in a dazzling display of light and energy.
The blade formed particle by particle, solidifying into a gleaming weapon that left a trace of light green glow with each movement, like a painter's brush leaving strokes in the air.
"He's already gotten the hang of materializing his sword," Ayame observed with a hint of admiration she tried to conceal, her eyes following the trail of green light.
With a single fluid strike of his sword, he cut through three slime cores in succession.
The creatures shuddered before dissolving like ice in hot water, melting down until they were nothing but puddles on the ground, their once vibrant cores now extinguished.
"Well, he did practice like crazy on our way here," Shizuri added in her usual calm tone, though there was a glimmer of acknowledgment in her eyes.
After the three slimes finished dissolving, Takemitchi surveyed his surroundings.
About three more slimes remained on the ground nearby, while the rest were scattered far from him, still moving at their sluggish pace, seemingly unaware of their companions' fate.
He swung his sword in the air with a dramatic flourish, the blade cutting through the empty space to remove the remnants of slime still clinging to its edge.
Satisfied with his display, he turned to face the girls, a smug grin spreading across his face.
"See what did I tell you? There was no way a slime could be strong," he called out, resting his sword casually on his shoulder.
"So, are you guys ready to start the competition?" His eyes gleamed with confidence, already counting his victory.
"Nah, you go on ahead," Ayame replied without even glancing his way, examining her nails with exaggerated interest.
"I'm good," Shizuri responded, her brief words carrying the weight of disinterest.
"What?! So you guys aren't even trying to win?" Takemitchi snapped, his triumphant mood evaporating like water on hot stone.
The hand holding his sword dropped to his side in disappointment.
"No, it's nothing like that," Ayame said, finally turning to face him with a confident smirk playing on her lips.
"We just know we can beat you without trying." She flipped her hair over her shoulder with casual arrogance.
"Well, we'll see about that! Let's start the—" he began, raising his sword again with renewed determination.
Before he could even finish his sentence, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
A crimson hue washed over the room like a tide of blood, casting an ominous dim red light throughout the chamber.
Takemitchi turned in alarm to see all the slimes beginning to glow red, their bodies pulsating with an eerie luminescence.