Monster Taming Broadcast

In the slime grading system, the absence of a core signifies the highest tier.

Typically, slimes without cores are classified as exceeding S-Class, and there are quite a few who view them as an entirely different species compared to regular slimes.

However, the entity before me was at B-rank.

If I were ignorant, I might have thought, “Is this a special slime that only inhabits this area?” But not now.

‘It seems my earlier guess was closer to the truth.’

My speculation was gradually transforming into conviction.

Like the monsters I encountered initially, the jellyfish beside me, and the poison apple that fled through the dark portal.

That slime also likely held an actual danger level of S-Class.

‘The monsters must be under some suppression.’

In simpler terms, it means they’ve been nerfed.

By a full two levels, no less.

If this speculation is correct.

Describing the rising danger levels isn’t quite appropriate.

It’s not an increase; it would be regaining their original powers.

And tracking down the fundamental cause of this phenomenon, there’s a high likelihood that “I,” more specifically the existence of the “explorer,” is at the center.

When Min Hyeong-seok died, the monsters’ danger levels rose, proving this.

This is a kind of explorer buff…

No, it’s probably a device for the safety of the explorer.

If S-Class or higher monsters engage in combat with their true powers, the nearby explorers have a high chance of being caught up and dying. The labyrinth might even get destroyed. Though, the labyrinth seems sturdier than expected.

‘Monsters that have become companions still maintain their nerfed state to prevent balance disruption.’

At this point, a new question diverges into two branches.

Is this suppression effect applied only within my limited vicinity, or does the mere existence of an explorer influence the entire labyrinth?

For now, there’s no clear way to ascertain this.

I can only gradually uncover the truth through labyrinth exploration.

For now, I decided to focus on the slime before me.

*

“Actually, the gap is even larger. Typically, that kind of slime is S-Class.”

“I’ll explain later. Let’s capture that slime first.”

Tension permeated the cave.

My command sent the dog spider shooting out webs as if it had been waiting.

I held my breath, watching the web slice through the air towards the slime.

Would the nullification web actually work?

The slime’s fire wasn’t magic.

It certainly wasn’t regular fire.

If I had to classify it, it was more akin to psychic ability.

The dog spider’s web can nullify magic, but whether it can nullify psychic abilities is still unknown.

So, it was time for verification.

Whoosh!

The web hit the surface of the slime.

In that moment, part of the flames extinguished.

【Mysticism】─

It seemed it could nullify psychic abilities as well.

But the effect was minimal.

Only the flames that touched the web extinguished momentarily.

It can nullify, but it couldn’t deliver the power it had when nullifying magic.

The nullification web failed to restrain the slime and fell uselessly to the ground.

“I can’t catch it with the nullification web.”

This was like attempting to extinguish a massive wildfire with a handful of sand.

But at least I confirmed something.

The nullification web has an effect on psychic abilities.

However, its impact is negligible against the psychic abilities of monsters of the same rank.

This is the conclusion.

In other words, the dog spider’s counter can be viewed as a psychic ability.

“The fire isn’t the problem. If it were fire created by magic, it could be restrained. That’s a power close to psychic ability.”

“That can be considered true.”

The attacked slime attempted to retaliate.

Its flames surged towards us.

I calmly glanced sideways and said in a calm tone.

“Jellyfish, block it.”

[Pee!]

A transparent barrier spread in the air.

Boom!

The ferocious flames collided with the barrier, creating massive cracks on it.

[Peeee…!]

The jellyfish dropped the barrier.

It quickly conjured an explosive sphere and hurled it at the slime.

Boom!

The sphere exploded upon contact with the flames.

But it inflicted no damage whatsoever.

It definitely seemed impossible to win this battle.

My monsters didn’t have a good matchup against that slime.

‘If it weren’t for the sealed state, I could have killed it with just the pressure.’

Well, I never intended to kill it from the start.

I had no intention of winning either.

My goal was to tame it.

That slime could be quite helpful in the future.

I had no intention of escaping.

Though I couldn’t win, I had a way to tame it.

“Dog Spider, wrap some web around my hand.”

[Shee!]

I wrapped the nullification-imbued web around my left hand.

Of course, I ensured it wouldn’t affect me.

This should allow me to pull some of the slime’s flames away.

“Jellyfish, can you enhance speed magic and protection magic even more?”

[Pee!]

“Then maximize those enhancements!”

[Peeee!]

I pulled up the magical power granted to me.

The protection magic became tougher, wrapping like silver armor over my skin, while the speed magic surged, giving me the sensation of lightning coursing through my veins.

I even regained the levitation magic that frees me from the constraints of gravity.

I was ready.

“Alright. You guys wait here.”

[Shee?]

[Pee?]

“I’m not planning to fight. I’m not crazy enough to fight that.”

“To steal.”

“You’ll see.”

I took a deep breath.

Then, I charged forward, kicking off the ground.

The distance to the slime closed in.

The heat radiating from its body intensified, penetrating me deeply to the bone.

If it weren’t for the protection magic, my flesh would have melted away by now.

The slime’s flames continuously morphed, charging towards me.

Swish!

A whip made of flames struck down at me.

I barely dodged it, but the searing heat brushed against my skin, penetrating through the barrier.

‘It could have been dangerous if I had taken that directly.’

I soared into the air.

The levitation magic made my body light as a feather, sending me up to the cave ceiling.

From there, I quickly observed the slime’s form.

It had no weak points.

Unlike regular slimes, it was a being without a core.

But there was something similar to a weak point.

An imperceptible mark to others, only visible to me.

‘Found it.’

I saw it.

The spot engraved on the slime’s body stood out brightly in my eyes.

I kicked off the ceiling and plummeted swiftly downwards.

As I soared through the air, I reached out toward the mark on the slime.

Whoosh!

Just as my hand was about to touch it, the slime’s flames rippled like a wave.

It swiftly distanced itself and formed a barrier of intense heat around it.

‘What a shame. But my speed is still superior.’

Just as I landed, I charged at the slime once more.

I pushed through the wall of heat with all my might.

And I reached out again.

Whoosh!

Once again, I narrowly missed.

But I didn’t give up and launched myself even faster.

Whoosh!

Missed again.

Still, there was progress.

My fingertips grazed it slightly.

Again.

Once, twice, thrice.

I kept approaching and extending my hand toward the mark.

Thump!

Got it.

After countless attempts, my left hand finally made contact with the mark.

The web-wrapped hand was able to touch the slime, pulling away some flames.

After successfully carving out the marked area.

I quickly escaped and dashed back to the jellyfish and dog spider.

“Guys!”

[Shee?]

[Pee?]

“Run!”

[Shee!]

[Peeee!]

We fled to the hideout without looking back.

*

To prepare for the slime’s potential pursuit, I set up barriers intermittently to block its path. It didn’t seem like it was chasing us, but just in case.

After returning to the hideout.

I took out a notebook from the box and slumped down.

And I looked down at the flames I held in my left hand.

Thanks to the nullification web, the surface of the flames had diminished.

But the flames were relentless and reignited.

This cycle of extinguishing and regenerating was ongoing.

“It is hot.”

Even with the protective barrier, it was hot.

It wasn’t unbearable, but I’d definitely have to endure some burns.

“About a quarter of the way? It’s not taking as long as I thought.”

“I’ll have to check that later.”

I understood their worries.

It was a bit of a dangerous act for a regular human.

It wasn’t something that could cost me my life, but I could get hurt.

Still, I judged it was worth trying.

I had enough faith in the jellyfish’s buff magic. Plus, since the mark was only visible to me, I couldn’t rely on the monsters to assist.

“Yes, I will.”

I answered briefly.

Then, while waiting for the mark to turn completely green, I tweaked the monster index a bit and began drawing a new image.

The monster index required consistent maintenance.

‘Flame slime sounds a bit off. Let’s go with fire slime instead.’

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