The Oculothorax was a nightmare, pure and simple. It wasn’t fast, but it didn’t need to be. It drifted forward slowly, as if rushing meant nothing to it. The real terror wasn’t its enormous, looming body—it was the dozens of snake-like limbs that sprouted from it, each one ended in an eye.

  Not just for show—each eye had its own terrifying power, and each one was more horrifying than the last. Take the one that had just petrified the adventurer. The poor guy hadn’t even had a chance to react before his body stiffened, cracked, and turned to stone, a lifeless statue in an instant.

  And the way he'd been running, stumbling, screaming in blind panic—it wasn’t just natural fear. It was something far more sinister, something designed to shatter his mind and send him fleeing without any sense or strategy. Once that took hold, the petrification had done the rest.

  Petrification. Fear. And those were just two of the countless others.

  I leaned out cautiously from behind the pillar as I tried to observe it without drawing attention. Its massive central eye pulsing like a heartbeat. Meanwhile, the smaller eyes on its writhing limbs darted and swiveled independently, scanning every shadow and crevice of the hallway.

  It wasn’t in a rush—it didn’t have to be.

  I pressed my back tighter against the cold stone of the pillar, my mind racing. My slimes were still clinging to the ceiling above, hidden in the shadows. But I knew it was only a matter of time before the Oculothorax found them.

  This thing had incredible vision. Not just normal sight, but a heightened awareness that let it see even in the dimly lit hall or near-total darkness.

  But no matter how terrifying it looked, every boss had a weakness. This thing wasn’t invincible. Every enemy in this dungeon was designed with some kind of counter, some strategy that could turn the tide.

  The question was whether I could exploit that counter before it overwhelmed me.

  From the pouch at my side, Lila peeked out, her tiny face pale with fear. “Leon,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I found a way to safety. My ability is showing a clear path out of here. We need to go!”

  I shook my head firmly, my eyes locked on the floating monstrosity. “No,” I whispered back. “We’re not running.”

  Her eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and panic flashing across her face. “What do you mean?”

  “This is an opportunity,” I said, my voice low but steady. “One i can't pass on.”

  “Opportunity?” she repeated, clearly struggling to comprehend what I was saying.

  I nodded, my mind already calculating. “The Oculothorax has what I need. It has the remaining ingredients to craft that item.”

  Lila blinked, her expression shifting from panic to confusion. “The ingredients…?”

  I leaned closer to her, keeping my voice quiet. “I already have the first piece. The eye of the Eyebat. But the rest? They’re all here. The Oculothorax has them. All of them.”

  Her brow furrowed as realization began to dawn.

  “The 12 eyes on its limbs,” I continued, gesturing subtly toward the writhing, snake-like appendages. “And the main one in its body. Thirteen in total. That’s what I need to complete the recipe.”

  Lila stared at me, her small hands gripping the edge of the pouch. “You’re serious,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Dead serious,” I replied.

  I’ve spent years testing crafting recipes in this game. Most failed, but a few… a few worked. And one of those recipes needs these exact ingredients. It’s one of the best items in the game to get in the early stages.”

  Lila hesitated, clearly torn by fear. “Are you sure you can handle it?” she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

  I exhaled slowly, steadying myself. “Nothing is certain in life,” I admitted. “But I’m not leaving without those eyes.”

  The Oculothorax floated forward, its massive body undeterred, its writhing, snake-like limbs eerily scanning the room. Then, it stopped mid-motion, and every single one of its dozens of eyes snapped upward.

  'It found my slimes!'

  Panic clawed at the edges of my mind as I realized what was about to happen. Its eyes weren’t just for show—they were deadly, each capable of unleashing unique powers. If they locked onto my slimes eyes, it wouldn’t matter how many I had. One by one, they’d be overwhelmed.

  I crouched low, my hand reaching for the nearest slime resting at my feet. Without hesitation, I lifted it and placed it on my face. The gelatinous texture clung to my skin as I adjusted it.

  “Listen,” I whispered to the slime. “No eyeholes this time. No exceptions. Just cover my vision completely.”

  The slime rippled in acknowledgment, its surface shifting and molding until it fully covered my eyes. My world became blurry. I could make out vague shapes and outlines—just enough to locate the massive boss looming ahead.

  But that was the point.

  The Oculothorax’s eyes relied on direct eye contact to unleash their powers. With the slime acting as a barrier, creating a layer of distortion between us, I wouldn’t be affected.

  As the slime perched there adjusting itself. “Close your eyes,” I murmured. “And don’t open them, no matter what.”

  Satisfied, I stepped out from behind the pillar.

  The Oculothorax instantly turned its attention to me, its massive central eye fixing me in its unyielding gaze, while its smaller eyes shifted and darted in my direction.

  “Slimes, attack!” I roared, my voice echoing through the hall. “Focus on the eyes! Take them out!”

  The Vanguards hanging from the ceiling above let go of their attachments, their greatswords in hand as they dropped toward the boss. Their swords aimed for the writhing, serpentine limbs.

  “Rangers, scatter and fire!” I ordered.

  The Rangers fanned out, crossbows raised and ready, while those still clinging to the ceiling shifted carefully, staying out of as many of the Oculothorax’s unblinking eyes as they could. Bolts flew through the air, each one targeting the creature’s writhing limbs.

  One of its tentacle-like limbs shot upward, an eye glowing brightly before a wave of energy rippled through the air. A nearby Ranger slowed mid-motion, its crossbow faltering as its body began to harden.

  “Damn it!” I growled, watching helplessly as the petrification took hold.

  [Your summoned slime has been fully petrified.]

  I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling up. But as I reread the message, I felt a small flicker of relief. It didn’t say my slime had died—it had been petrified. That meant it wasn’t gone for good.

  “As long as it’s not destroyed…” I murmured under my breath. “I can still save it.”

  If I could defeat the Oculothorax, the petrification would likely lift. My slime wasn’t lost—it was just out of the fight for now.

  The Vanguards finally closed the gap, their greatswords raised high before descending toward the Oculothorax’s writhing tentacles. They aimed for the limbs, each strike intended to sever the appendages.

  But as their blades landed, the impact wasn’t what I’d hoped. The attacks left only shallow cuts, barely denting the creature’s tough exterior

  “The level gap…” I muttered through gritted teeth. The damage of a common ranked greatsword, while effective against weaker enemies, was starting to show its limits. The higher I climbed in the dungeon, the more evident it became that my current arsenal wouldn’t always be enough. And here, against a boss like the Oculothorax, that gap started showing.

  One of the Vanguards moved in for another strike. But before it could close the distance, one of the Oculothorax’s eyes swiveled toward it, locking onto the slime.

  The moment their gazes met, the Vanguard’s gelatinous form began to glow faintly, a frost creeping along its edges.

  The slime’s body was engulfed in a rapid bloom of crystalline ice, freezing solid in mere seconds. The sound of cracking filled the air as the frozen slime tipped forward, hitting the ground with a sickening crash.

  Shards of ice exploded outward, scattering across the stone floor like broken glass.

  [Your slime has been defeated.]

  “Its third ability,” I muttered with a low voice. Compared to petrification, this was no less brutal. The mechanics were nearly identical—freeze the target in place, render them useless—but the difference was its immediate lethality.

  I clenched my fists, my gaze locked on the Oculothorax as it hovered menacingly above the battlefield.

  The stakes were rising fast.

  “Rangers, focus your fire! Aim for the weak points—those eyes! Tanks, keep the pressure on!”

  “We’re not backing down!”