Chapter Fifty-Three: Bix’s Invention

As for whatever passionate sparks might erupt between humans and gray dwarves, Jen had no interest at all. He wasn't the type of control freak who had to keep everything in his own hands. As long as humans, gray dwarves, and the Black Obsidian Stone City were gathered together, the subsequent developments would be as straightforward and predictable as a bead falling from the edge of a table. Of course, even if some unexpected twist did arise, it didn't matter. The demons firmly believed that any complication would only serve to move events in a favorable direction.

Besides, Jen had discovered something much more interesting at the moment.

"Is this your new invention?"

Standing in the workshop, Jen raised a curious eyebrow at the soft, squishy thing before him, then glanced at Bix beside him. Noticing Jen's gaze, the young gnome flashed a bright smile and nodded vigorously.

"Yes, Master. This is my latest creation... the Gel Golem. I made it using extracts from the Black Phantom Mushroom found in the Underdepths, fused with some magical components. I believe it will be a great help in defending the dungeon."

Now this was truly intriguing.

Jen stroked his chin as he gazed at the so-called golem. To be honest, the only reason he'd even bothered to come to the workshop to check on Bix was that the system had notified him of her having crafted a new item. As a gnome artisan, Bix currently possessed both architectural and engineering expertise. In fact, Jen appreciated her architectural talent even more, since the dungeon's development depended on expanding its space, and Bix was the only one under his command capable of excavating without collapsing the tunnels. But since the little one wanted to tinker with other things, Jen didn't mind. After all, she was never escaping his grasp, so why not let her do as she pleased?

Still, upon seeing Bix's latest invention, Jen was somewhat surprised.

On the metal table before him was a soft, green, jelly-like mass, lying there placidly. It was over a meter wide and about half as tall as a person. From a distance, it looked like an oversized hybrid of the jelly and cotton candy Jen had tasted in his childhood—or rather, it more closely resembled a classic slime.

But... was this thing really worthy of being called a golem?

Jen was no stranger to golems. They were sold in the Demon Realm, and the Hall of All Demons was guarded by them. High-grade golems were, in fact, not much different from the super-robots he'd seen in movies: able to distinguish friend from foe, capable of flight, and even launching magical attacks—a fantastical equivalent of intelligent robots. Even low-grade golems possessed incredibly sturdy bodies and fists, and, most importantly, were immune to magic, making them highly effective against spellcasters.

But this...

Jen scrutinized Bix's so-called "golem" once more, pondering what this handless, footless blob of cotton candy could possibly accomplish.

"It's like this, Master!" Perhaps sensing Jen's skepticism, Bix waved her hands anxiously and hurried to explain.

"Don't be fooled by how soft Little Green looks—it's actually very powerful. Although, for various reasons, I can't make regular golems yet, this improved version of mine will be quite useful for guarding the dungeon!"

"Oh?" Jen's interest was piqued. He understood Bix well: though obedient, she was always nervous around him, terrified of provoking his anger—worried he might roast and eat her (though, truthfully, Jen couldn't bear to do such a thing). So she would never play tricks on him. If she was so confident in this invention, it surely had its merits.

"Tell me more."

"Yes, yes. It's like this..." With Jen's encouragement, Bix breathed a sigh of relief, hurried to his side, picked up a metal rod, and pointed at the "slime" as she explained.

According to her, this "slime" was made from the secretions of a special mushroom in the Underdepths called the Black Phantom Mushroom. Though it resembled a mushroom in appearance, its predatory habits were more akin to a pitcher plant. These mushrooms grew in dense layers along the cavern walls, blending in with the darkness. If prey unsuspectingly leaned against the wall, they'd sink into it as if it were soft sponge—the mushroom would engulf them. As it trapped its victim, the Black Phantom Mushroom would secrete a gel, wrapping them up like a spider’s web, then slowly digesting them beneath its dark surface, absorbing every nutrient until only a pile of bones remained.

The main ingredient for Bix's "slime" was this secretion, which was soft, viscous, and highly resistant to damage. Like most things in the Underdepths, it was extremely resistant to magic—ordinary spells simply didn't affect it. Moreover, the secretion could ensnare victims completely and quickly corrode even the toughest outer shells—whether leather armor, plate mail, or even enchanted equipment, few things could resist its erosion.

If it were an actual Black Phantom Mushroom, after corroding its prey’s armor, it would then consume the flesh for nourishment. But this slime, being an artificial product with no will of its own, lacked that predatory instinct.

After hearing Bix’s explanation, Jen understood the utility of this slime: essentially, placing it in the maze would effectively block intruders and even disarm them, achieving victory without a fight. Its elasticity surpassed even rubber, making it nearly impervious to ordinary weapons, and magic was rarely effective. Furthermore, the slime would grow larger as it consumed more, making it quite a formidable creation. The gel could immobilize victims without suffocating them, making it perfect for capturing enemies alive.

"So, how do you command it?"

"Well..." At this, Bix finally looked a bit dejected.

"Well... you can't really command it."

"What?"

According to Bix, though she’d named it a "golem," all golems, whether high or low grade, required a "core"—their most crucial component. But with her current skill level, she couldn't produce a core, so essentially, the slime was just an inanimate, mindless tool—no different from a trap. If something touched it, it would react; otherwise, it would remain inert. It couldn't attack proactively, nor distinguish friend from foe—just as a kitchen knife can't tell who its owner is.

"That's not a problem," Jen replied unconcernedly. The slime made a fine trap. The absence of a core also meant it had no clear weakness, so it wouldn’t be easy to destroy. As he pondered this, a sly smile crept over his face.

"By the way, Bix... every invention must be rigorously tested and scientifically verified, don’t you think?"

"Eh?" Bix blinked in confusion, not understanding his meaning. But Jen felt no need to explain—after all, actions spoke louder than words.

"So you dragged me all the way here just for this ridiculous thing?" Standing in the corner of the training ground, Vilna stood with arms akimbo, glaring at Jen. Opposite her, the soft, bouncing slime still quivered like a tempting jelly, almost inviting a bite.

"Give it a try—this is Bix’s proudest creation. It's not a bit inferior to you."

"Hmph!" Vilna snorted at Jen's words, shooting a glare at the nervous Bix standing beside him. As a dark elf, Vilna had her own pride, and hearing Jen claim she was inferior to some bizarre gnome invention irked her deeply. She strode up to the slime, stared it down, then suddenly drew her rapier and slashed diagonally at it.

Vilna expected her blade to slice the monster clean in two. To her surprise, the instant her rapier touched the creature, it met tremendous resistance and stopped almost immediately.

"What the—hmph...!"

Vilna’s expression shifted. Dark elves were never known for brute strength; their swordplay emphasized speed over power. Seeing her blade stuck, she quickly tried to pull it free.

She had no idea she’d stirred up a hornet’s nest.

The previously inert slime suddenly reared up like a cresting wave, then crashed down upon her. Before she could react, it engulfed her completely.

"Wait—what the hell is this thing?! Let me go!!"

Vilna had never imagined such a bizarre creature could exist. She struggled frantically, but the more she fought, the deeper she became entangled. Her efforts only caused the slime to constrict tighter and tighter, until only her head remained exposed.

"What are you two just standing there for—hurry up and—mmpf—mmpf...!"

Before Vilna could finish, she was swallowed whole. Her eyes widened in shock as she fought desperately, but it was useless. Instead, her clothing began to dissolve at a rate visible to the naked eye.

The leather armor Vilna wore was no ordinary mercenary garb, but even that couldn’t withstand the slime’s erosion. Within minutes, her clothing was reduced to tatters, and her lithe, elegant limbs and the alluring physique characteristic of dark elves were laid bare before Jen. Vilna, too, began to change. She stopped struggling, instead writhing and twisting, a blush blooming across her dark, gem-like features. Jen even noticed her body convulsed every few moments.

"Mmm... ah... let me out... ah... don’t come in... damn this thing... I can’t..."

How familiar this scene was...

"Bix, what else did you add to this thing?"

"Oh, right, Master! To prevent them from escaping, I mixed in pollen from the Blood Demon Vine..."

"..."

If he remembered correctly, that stuff had an aphrodisiac effect...

"Well, I’ve seen its practical results with my own eyes. Excellent work." Jen clapped his hands in satisfaction, turning away from the dazed and thoroughly overwhelmed dark elf.

"Bix, I want three crates of this slime!"

"No problem, Master. Given enough time, I can produce plenty of Little Greens for you."

"Good... By the way, how do you get someone out of this thing?"

"Um... I haven’t thought about that yet..."

"You damn bastards!!!"