In the Slime Queen's plan, after hearing about the cruel methods of these humans, the numerous Monster Leaders should have resisted desperately, like beasts driven to a dead end.
However, what the Slime Queen didn't expect was that this group of Monster Leaders immediately started discussing how to surrender to the humans.
"Fighting is impossible. Even if we risk our lives, we can't win."
"Even Lord Ah Long failed. If we keep charging forward, we're just sending ourselves to die."
"If we surrender immediately, maybe we can save our lives."
"You!" The Slime Queen was instantly furious and roared, "You lack courage before the battle! Do you still have any pride as Monsters?"
"Can pride save our lives?"
"Exactly, exactly."
"Her Majesty the Queen, your strength is immense, so please don't make things difficult for us weaklings."
"If you want to fight, we absolutely won't stop you!"
"Exactly, exactly."
The Slime Queen's originally pink body was about to turn red with anger. These bizarre subordinates, sigh!
Back then, for the sake of easy control, the Slime Queen specifically selected these not-so-bright Monsters, granted them power and subordinates, and pushed them into these positions. But now that they were needed, not a single one was obedient.
The Slime Queen stopped pretending. The gentle smile on her face vanished, replaced by a tyrannical, mocking, and arrogant expression.
"How can we repel the enemy while working with you good-for-nothings!"
"Internal stability must come before external defense."
"The fruit I have cultivated for so long shall become the sustenance for my promotion today!!!"
"Hahahaha hahahaha..."
The Monster Leaders were startled by the Slime Queen's change, thinking she had snapped from the stress.
So they quickly tried to "pacify" her: "Queen, we advise you not to act rashly!"
"If we all rush you at once, you might not be able to kill us all before the enemy arrives!"
"When you are exhausted, facing an enemy with soaring morale, what chance of victory will you have?"
"We are only trying to survive!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"Hahahaha hahahaha!!!" The Slime Queen let out a long cry toward the sky, her aura growing increasingly astonishing. Even the three fighting on the 80th floor noticed it.
"My subjects, awaken!!!"
Following the Slime Queen's command, the numerous Monster Leaders were instantly stunned, feeling their bodies lose control as they began convulsing on the ground.
A moment later, Slimes of various colors and different attributes drilled out from the bodies of the Monster Leaders. The corpses of these Monster Leaders had turned into mere skins.
The multitude of Slimes lined up and knelt before the Slime Queen, shouting in unison:
"We pay our respects to Her Majesty the Queen!!!"
"Rise. You have worked hard all these years."
It turned out that when these Monster Leaders were at their lowest, the Slime Queen had commanded her subordinates to disguise themselves as various rare treasures like elixirs or cinnabar fruits, tricking them into eating them. Afterward, these Slime subordinates rooted themselves inside the Monsters' bodies.
Inside the Monsters, these Slimes acted like an additional elemental organ, making the Monsters' control over the element and their Elemental Power reserves stronger.
Therefore, before the Slimes fully matured, the Slimes and the Monsters were collaborators—sharing glory and suffering loss together. If the host Monster died, the Slime would also die.
However, once the Slimes matured and were activated by the Slime Queen, they would rapidly absorb the energy within the host body and burst forth, turning all the host's strength into nourishment for themselves.
The Slime Queen controlled the entire Underground Mine with this single trick alone. She spared no one who possessed even a slight talent or strength. This was also why the number of Monsters in the Underground Mine far exceeded normal levels.
Truly worthy of being a ruthless Demon King!
"Come, merge with me!"
"Weak Slimes, when united, can unleash infinite potential!"
"It is our solemn duty to restore the glory of the Slimes!!!"
Without the slightest hesitation, these Slimes, whose strength was far more terrifying than the previous Monster Leaders of each floor, voluntarily threw themselves into the Slime Queen's embrace, sacrificing their self-awareness to desperately increase the Slime Queen's strength.
As these nine Slimes merged into her body, the Slime Queen's aura surged by a large margin.
However, the Slime Queen was still not satisfied.
"Not enough! Not enough! Still not enough!"
"All Slimes, your Queen commands you to gather here!!!"
Swish swish swish.
All the Slimes in the Underground Mine boiled over, joining the pilgrimage procession without regard for anything else.
...
On the other side, Arkz and the other two also noticed the abnormality.
Arkz transformed into his Giant Bear form and, after fighting the Guardian BOSS of the 89th floor for a few minutes, successfully defeated his opponent.
But just then, Slimes of various shapes drilled out from every nook and cranny of the Underground Mine. Like a ceaseless river flowing into the sea, these Slimes continuously streamed toward the 100th floor in an orderly fashion.
"Where are all these Slimes coming from?"
Arkz casually grabbed a soft and squishy Water Slime, placing it before him to observe it closely.
"Hee-hee hee-hee."
Even though they saw their teammate being captured, this army of Slimes, numerous enough to flood the entire mine floor, showed absolutely no reaction. They just kept moving in the same direction.
Arkz gently placed the Water Slime in his hand on the ground, watching it eagerly rejoin the Slime army's procession, heading toward the deeper levels.
"Truly strange!"
"It is strange. Why would low-intelligence creatures like Slimes exhibit large-scale migratory behavior? There are no opponents threatening their survival within this Underground Mine."
Xiao frowned, looking down to observe the trajectory of the advancing Slime army, falling into deep thought.
Slimes on Teyvat might seem insignificant, but they are the most crucial component of Teyvat's ecological chain. Many Monsters in the wilderness rely on Slimes to replenish their Elemental Power.
Slimes appear weak, but with their astonishing vitality and the fact that their existence is tied to the presence of Elemental Power, they have never been completely defeated by any creature.
In the history of the Teyvat continent, tides have risen and fallen; different beings have taken the stage in the grand theater of life, each dominating for hundreds of years.
However, even the incredibly powerful Gods, the long-lived Elves, or the mysterious Seelie race have nearly vanished into the long river of history—only the Slime race remains eternal.
Perhaps one day, all humans on Teyvat will perish, but the Slimes will not disappear.
Arkz looked up at Zhongli, only to see that Zhongli still maintained his unhurried and relaxed demeanor, as if nothing could trouble him.
Although Zhongli hadn't spoken a word, his mere presence gave Xiao and Arkz a great sense of reassurance.
"Let's go. Follow these Slimes."
"We need to find out how many more demons and monsters are lurking in this Underground Mine!"
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