My Slime Wife: Training and Pampering Her Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 26: The Slime Barrier

Chapter 26: The Slime Barrier

The wind refused to let up.

Liam leaned his entire body forward as he climbed the mountain trail, fighting to keep his boots planted on the stone path. Every step demanded twice as much effort as the last.

Just inches away from him, Lydia bounced along the trail, struggling not to be swept away by the relentless gusts.

Ahead of them, the enormous shadow continued moving through the fog.

Every so often, it spread its massive wings.

And with every flap...

The air slammed into them like an invisible hammer.

"Kriiiii..."

"Kriiii..."

"Kriii..."

This time, there were several cries.

Liam looked up.

"Did you hear that?"

[Lydia: Yeah.]

[Lydia: There are more of them now.]

He frowned.

"They’re not coming from that thing."

The shadow was still flying several meters above them, but the cries seemed to be coming from even closer to the summit.

As if there were a nest...

Or several smaller creatures.

[Lydia: Do you think they’re its chicks?]

"I don’t know. But whatever that monster is doing... it’s keeping us from moving forward."

Another powerful gust swept down the mountainside.

Small stones pelted Liam’s legs.

He had to shield his face with an arm once again.

"Damn it!"

The wind nearly knocked him off his feet.

Then his hand brushed against the holster on his belt.

The pistol.

He stared at it for a moment.

’Maybe...’

’Maybe I’ll have to use it.’

[Lydia: Liam.]

He answered mentally.

’What is it?’

[Lydia: Don’t think about that.]

[Lydia: It’s dangerous.]

Liam took a deep breath.

’I know.’

’I barely even know how to hold it.’

’But I have to stop that creature.’

’If it keeps sending these gusts...’

’...we won’t even make it to the summit.’

Another message appeared.

[Lydia: Then be careful.]

He smiled and slowly drew the pistol.

Holding it with both hands, he tried to adopt a steady shooting stance.

Feet apart.

Arms extended.

He aimed toward the enormous shadow.

But it was impossible.

The wind shoved the weapon aside.

The fog completely hid the monster.

Dust carried by the gusts stung his eyes.

"Ah!"

He had to shut them.

Spitting out a mouthful of dust, he muttered,

"I can’t aim like this..."

He slowly lowered the gun and thought.

Then an idea struck him.

"Lydia."

[Lydia: Yeah?]

"Get in front of me."

The little slime hopped forward.

[Lydia: What’s wrong?]

"I want you to stretch out."

[Lydia: Like a shield?]

"Exactly. Try to block the wind, the dust, and everything coming at me. Make a barrier with your body."

Lydia fell silent for a few seconds.

Then a message appeared.

[Lydia: What about the bullets?]

"If you can... leave a small opening so they can pass through."

[Lydia: Sounds good.]

[Lydia: I’ll try.]

Without wasting another second...

The little green slime began to stretch.

Her gelatinous body expanded upward.

Then outward.

Within moments, she had formed a massive translucent wall in front of Liam.

The gusts slammed directly into it...

But never passed through.

Instead, the wind vanished into Lydia’s body, as though she were devouring it.

Several notifications immediately appeared.

[System: Your Slime has consumed Wind Current.]

[System: Your Slime has learned "Gust."]

[System: Lydia Davis has reached Level 36.]

Liam’s eyes widened.

"Again?"

He couldn’t help laughing.

"You already learned another new skill."

[Lydia: I... consumed wind?]

"Looks like it."

She replied with a confused emoji.

[Lydia: This system is completely insane.]

Liam smiled.

"I’m not going to argue with that."

He took one step.

Then another.

He couldn’t feel the wind anymore.

Lydia’s gelatinous barrier absorbed every current before it could reach him.

Even the dust disappeared into her body.

"It works... Lydia, you’re amazing."

The little slime answered proudly.

[Lydia: Heh.]

[Lydia: But I can’t make a hole for you to shoot through.]

Liam looked at the pistol again.

Then at the massive green wall moving ahead of him.

Finally, he smiled.

"It doesn’t matter. I don’t think we’ll need it anymore."

He holstered the pistol once again.

"With this, we can keep moving."

[Lydia: Then let’s climb.]

Liam nodded.

"And while we’re at it... We’re going to test another one of your skills."

[Lydia: Which one?]

"Rock Throw. I’ll point. You fire."

Her reply came instantly.

[Lydia: You give the order.]

[Lydia: I’ll handle the rest.]

A strange sense of calm settled over Liam.

They didn’t need to talk.

They didn’t need to discuss strategies.

They trusted each other completely.

Step by step, they resumed climbing.

The barrier continued swallowing the wind.

The trail became perfectly passable once more.

The creature screeched again.

"KRRIIIIIIIIII!!"

This time the cry sounded far more aggressive.

As though it had realized its gusts were no longer working.

The enormous shadow dove rapidly through the fog.

Liam raised an arm and pointed.

"Now!"

At that very instant...

Part of Lydia’s body opened slightly.

Dozens of rocks blasted out at incredible speed.

BOOM!!

BOOM!!

BOOM!!

The stones tore through the fog like cannonballs.

The creature reacted instantly.

It spread its enormous wings and banked sharply.

It dodged most of the projectiles.

But to do so...

It had to fly extremely close to them.

For a single second...

The fog no longer concealed it.

Liam finally saw it.

It was enormous.

Far larger than any bird he had ever seen.

Its body resembled that of an eagle.

Yet there was something of a condor about it as well.

Its black and gray feathers were colossal.

Each wing stretched several meters long.

Its beak was long and sharply curved.

And most disturbing of all...

It possessed three massive legs ending in claws as sharp as blades.

The creature’s yellow eyes met Liam’s.

It lasted only an instant.

But it was enough for both of them to understand something.

The monster was studying them too.

It let out another shriek.

"KRRIIIIIIII!!"

Then it vanished back into the clouds.

Silence returned.

Only the sound of the wind remained.

Liam stood motionless for a few seconds.

"Lydia..."

[Lydia: I saw it.]

"That wasn’t a normal bird."

[Lydia: Definitely not.]

Liam took a deep breath.

"Even so... It doesn’t seem invincible."

He looked at the trail still winding upward.

The summit couldn’t be much farther now.

The smaller cries continued echoing in the distance.

"Krii..."

"Krii..."

They were becoming clearer.

Closer with every step.

’Lydia was right.’

’There’s probably a nest.’

He looked back into the fog.

The giant shadow was nowhere to be seen.

But he knew it was still there.

Watching them.

Waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.

Liam smiled calmly.

"If it comes back... we already know how to answer."

The gelatinous barrier began moving forward once more.

[Lydia: Let’s go.]

[Lydia: We still have a trial to complete.]

Liam nodded.

"And an Emerald rank to earn."

Together, they continued climbing the mountain trail.