Chapter 350: No Can Do

Lancet was very correct. That man was a Slime Tamer, which would have been a lot cooler if Lancet had not been the person standing directly in front of him.

Slime Tamers were very rare and each time they showed up in the light novel, they displayed really cool powers that referenced many other popular light novels.

This made them something of a fan favorite in the story’s lore. The other reason was because their Summons looked harmless compared to the dragons, giant wolves, and chimeras that other Beast Tamers usually had.

However, experienced Slime Tamers were notoriously difficult to fight.

Slimes adapted flawlessly, absorbed kinetic force, stretched into ridiculous shapes, and could turn a straightforward brawl into several exhausting minutes of trying to punch something that stubbornly refused to behave like flesh.

Lancet had always liked them when he read the novel. Now that he was inside the novel, he really did not want to fight one.

The blue mass covering the man’s arms thickened rapidly as his lower body divided into several gelatinous limbs.

Each one spread over the asphalt with a wet drag, gripping the stone firmly while his enlarged fists hung almost to his knees. Laughing at Lancet’s surprise, the driver barked a sharp command.

"Attack!"

The Slime Tamer launched himself forward. His body compressed, and Lancet moved the second the man shot across the space between them like a boulder fired from a sling.

One massive blue fist stretched rapidly ahead of him. Lancet twisted aside as the blow passed his face, but the fist did not stop.

The elongated arm bent sharply in midair, snapping back toward him like a whip. Lancet dropped low, letting the fist whip over his head hard enough to crack against the abandoned cab and severely dent the metal door.

Planting one hand against the rough street, Lancet swept his leg around and sprang back onto his feet with lightning already gathering across his arm.

The Phantom Ring flashed brilliantly as Thor’s power answered his call.

Electricity burst from Lancet’s open hand, striking the Slime Tamer square in the chest. Blue-white lightning spread violently through the gelatinous mass, causing the man to convulse.

Seizing the opening, Lancet immediately rushed him and drove a brutal fist straight into the man’s stomach.

His knuckles sank three inches deep into the slime. The impact completely disappeared, swallowed by the gooey mass.

The man grinned down at him. "Oh." The gooey stomach instantly closed around Lancet’s trapped fist.

"Annoying."

Lancet made a face of disgust. Slimes felt weird, like touching a bubble that wouldn’t burst or sinking your hand into mould.

He yanked his arm back but the Slime Tamer dragged him into range. Lancet stumbled but was able to turn his head before an oversized blue fist smashed into his shoulder, hurling him sideways across the asphalt.

Lancet hit the road, rolled with the heavy impact, and came back up in a defensive crouch before the other two men could surround him.

The giant already had a weapon drawn. It looked like a baton but fire ran along its length, hot and orange. It reminded him of Solaris for a short moment.

Nearby, the former driver reached beneath his worn coat and pulled free a short, viciously hooked blade covered in glowing green symbols.

Lancet looked between the two armed thugs. "You two are Unawakened, I guess. But weapons like that..." He narrowed his eyes. "Let me guess, you stole them as well from auctions and Equipment Stores?"

The driver’s face hardened. "Give us the invitation or the Band of Bandits will crush your skull."

Lancet shook his head. "No can do."

"Get him!!" The driver raged.

The giant rushed first, swinging the flaming baton in a wide arc. Lancet stepped smoothly back, letting the intense heat sweep past his chest before catching the giant’s thick wrist and driving a punishing knee into his stomach.

The massive man folded slightly, but his free hand immediately grabbed for Lancet’s throat. Twisting underneath the clumsy grapple, Lancet caught the green reflection of the hooked blade in the cab window just in time.

He ducked sharply as the blade whistled over his head. Slamming his elbow backward into the driver’s ribs, Lancet pivoted and kicked him, using grave to create a burst of energy that sent crashing into the side of the vehicle.

He was trying to be careful so he wouldn’t kill them there on the road. But to his surprise, the giant recovered almost immediately.

Either Lancet was being too careful or the giant was wearing a mid-grade armor strong enough to block his small attacks.

The giant man roared, bringing the flaming baton crashing down. Lancet raised his forearm, and the Phantom Ring flashed again.

He had only three charges left. Wasting them on these bandits was annoying, but they were more skilled than normal bandits. He was forced to take them more seriously.

A much weaker version of Astensia’s Cross Shield formed seamlessly over him just before the heavy weapon struck, scattering harmless sparks of fire across the barrier.

Lancet caught the baton arm, twisted it painfully outward, and punched the giant squarely across the jaw, using Grace to increase the potency of the strike. The man staggered, and Lancet followed up with another brutal hit.

Then, a wet blue tentacle wrapped tightly around his ankle. Lancet’s eyes dropped. "Not now, you annoying octopus."

The Slime Tamer jerked his limb, and Lancet’s leg flew out from beneath him. He hit the road hard on his back, dragged several feet across the pavement before twisting onto his side and firing a surge of lightning down the length of the tentacle.

He activated Lightning Surge Whip.

Two Charges left.

The electricity raced through the conductive slime. The Tamer grunted in pain, loosening his grip just enough for Lancet to tear his leg free. He jumped back to his feet, only for another gelatinous limb to stretch rapidly around his waist and compress, squeezing the breath from his ribs.

As the Tamer aggressively pulled him in, Lancet planted both feet firmly and resisted the drag. The whip was still active so lightning flooded his arms. He grabbed the thick tentacle around his waist and wrapped the whip around it.

Then he forced Thor’s raw electricity directly through it.

The Slime Tamer cried out, but the gelatinous limb only bubbled violently around Lancet’s fingers. The current was hurting him, but it was not making him let go fast enough.

Seeing an opening, the giant charged back in with the flaming baton raised high. Lancet saw him coming and leaned hard to one side at the last possible second. The burning weapon struck the slime instead.

Flame hissed violently against the wet blue surface. The Tamer shouted in agony. "Idiot!"

Lancet grinned breathlessly. "Thanks."