Bunty's hands stung as he climbed back up the platform. He'd wiped his hands on moss and poured the last of his whiskey over them, but that didn't help. The last of the slime lord's digestive juices must have been extra corrosive. As soon as he got to the top, Gwyneth assaulted his limbs with water from his skin and soap. She didn't explain where it had come from.

"That wasn't a smart move," she told Bunty. "I could've charged your axe again, and a couple more chops would've done it."

"You're pale, and your hands are shaking," he replied. "I'd have to carry you out of here if you used another spell."

"Who did you train under?" Gwyneth asked. "I've never seen axe play like that before."

"Swordmaster Utpal Sen. I modified his talwar arts to work with the axe. The footwork is all his though."

"It’s impressive.” Her eyes drifted down to the bulge in his coat pocket. Bunty dried his hands and pulled it out for her to see. “That’s the biggest I’ve ever encountered.”

Bunty’s tired mind jumped to an innuendo but he only ever shared them with Alexander, so he didn’t vocalise.

“How old does it look?”

“Seven centuries, perhaps? I can’t be sure. How about we hurry back to the upgrade station and find out.”

Bunty nodded. He took a moment to wet his throat and glance over all the carvings on the walls. None of the messages appeared to be from Neer. After encountering the carvings on the ground floor, a small part of Bunty had hoped Gaia was guiding him. She wanted him to find Explorer and figure out Neer’s fate. That would be too easy, though. It was just a coincidence, and he knew it. Bunty found himself tempted to copy the carvings anyway. He wanted to know who had messed with the door. Unfortunately, his still stinging hands made that impossible.

“It’s strange that it doesn’t glow like the other Cores,” Bunty commented as the pair made their way back towards the door.

“It would ruin their ability to hide,” Gwyneth said. “Besides, if an enemy can see a slime’s Core, they can target it. They’ve most likely developed to alter its appearance. It bodes well for you. More spells and summons for you to play with.”

“Let’s see.”

The transition from the second and third floor surprised Bunty. He’d already gotten sweaty from the climb and fight. Now, the temperature and humidity squeezed his chest, making it harder to breathe all of a sudden. Every footstep turned into a labour, and the world swayed around him. The sudden wave of exhaustion didn’t surprise Bunty. It was almost night-time on the floor, and he’d been on the move since dawn. He’d fought, run and done so much more on half a night of sleep and insufficient nourishment. On would need a tempered body to fare well in such conditions.

Bunty didn’t pause. The sooner he inspected the Core, the better. If it suited him, he’d absorb it straight away, and the initial tempering would fuel his body for a while. The upgrade station stood no more than ten feet from the gate. He raced over and pressed his hands against the stone monolith.

Preying on a poor slime?~

It makes sense. You’re Explorer’s pick, after all.

Bunty’s eyes shot open, and he studied his surroundings. Gwyneth had collapsed against a boulder and had her eyes closed. It wasn’t her. Gaia had addressed him directly.

Thousand-year-old slimes aren’t particularly rare, but humans that challenge them are. Most use the creatures to punish their own or avoid them altogether. No one gives credit to the beasts that keep the ark clean and in balance.

Bunty’s heart skipped a beat. The Core belonged to a creature over a thousand years old. No wonder it was so big. He willed Gaia to hurry up and tell him what it had in store for him. When she went off on a tangent regarding how they’re the purest of creatures, Bunty was sure that she was messing with him. Eventually, she got to the good part: the possible upgrades to his body and spirit.

Absorbing the Uzeth’s Core shall temper your body to be more limber and agile. Landing a blow on you will get harder than it already is. Toxins and corrosives will be less effective against, and you will recover quicker from them as well.

Explorer wishes to know how you’d like to nurture his pen: empower it with Slimeskin or fill the inkwell with Slimejuice?

Bunty couldn’t be more pleased with the body tempering, but the following words confused him. He opened his eyes again to ask Gwyneth for advice. He found himself standing in the ground floor ruins instead. Bunty’s breath caught in his throat and hand jumped to his axe.

“In Gaia’s name?” He mumbled, looking around the fountain room where he’d earned his spirit. It looked mostly how he remembered it, except there was no fountain. The structure still stood, but there was no water in it. The hole at its centre was gone as well. A pair of stone pedestals stood in its place. An inkpot sat atop each of them.

Explorer wishes to know how you’d like to nurture his pen: empower it with Slimeskin or fill the inkwell with Slimejuice?

Bunty hopped over the fountain’s edge, wearily approaching his obvious destination. He’d never heard about upgrade stations transporting people to different locations or Cores giving Climbers options. It had to be a dreamscape. Bunty was sure of it.

Gaia’s voice repeated the same words again, urging him to hurry up. As he got closer, Bunty got a closer look at the two inkpots. They’d looked identical from afar, but up close he could see the differences. Smoke rose from the one to his left. Its contents bubbled like hot tar, suggesting it wouldn’t be pleasant to touch. The other inkwell’s contents swelled, spilling over the container’s lip. It rippled and wobbled but didn’t make it all the way to the stone below it.

Bunty didn’t need to sniff at the bubbling ink to recognise it as Slimejuice. He was sure it would burn his lungs and induce a coughing fit. However, he couldn’t resist poking the second inkwell’s wobbly contents. Recalling the slime lord’s powerful tentacles, he knew it was the one for him. As soon as the thought registered in his mind, Bunty felt a slight weight in his right hand. It was Explorer’s Fountain Pen. Instinct drove him as he dipped the spirit into the inkwell and the black Slimeskin left its container, disappearing into the inkwell.

“I was hoping you’d pick that.” The words made Bunty jump. He spun around, recognising the voice.

“Neer!” He exclaimed, eyes widening at the sight of his brother.

“I’m not your brother,” they said, raising, their hand. “This is only an apparition. You’re not ready for my true form yet.”

Bunty’s heart dropped. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing his ribcage as the moment of elation faded. “You should’ve picked another face then,” he said. “Whoever you are, picking Neer was just cruel.”

“He was dear to me too,” the apparition said. “I understand and apologise.”

“Who are you then?” A shiver ran down Bunty’s spine when the apparition smiled. “I see,” he said as realisation dawned. He looked between the pen and them. “You’re Explorer.”

They nodded. “I’m glad you were patient with my gift. That’s perhaps the best starter Core you could’ve used before the fifth floor. Defeating the Aquafeen Queen would’ve been much harder, though. Despite your charm and business acumen, I doubt you’d manage to find a team that can put her down. Slimeskin is going to help you enjoy what we do best.”

“And what’s that?” Bunty asked.

“Explore, of course. How about I guide you through the basics? I picked this form thinking you’d enjoy playing with Neer after so long. He loved telling me about—”

“Please. Don’t.”

Their shoulders drooped. “Fine.” Explorer extended his left hand and the fountain pen teleported to it. They swung it to the side, and an inky black tentacle shot out of the nib. It was as long as Bunty was tall, and started off an inch-and-a-half thick. The tentacle narrowed along its length, tapering to a rounded point. “It’s not bad for the base summon is it?”

“It’s not the most friendly-looking tool, is it?” Bunty asked, studying the tar-like appendage. On closer inspection, he could see the slime-like tightness about it.

“It’s versatile though,” Explorer remarked waving around like a weightless piece of string. When Bunty summoned his spirit, it returned to his hand. Fortunately, there was a little heftiness to it. It wasn’t so heavy that he needed both hands to hold it, but enough so it felt good when swung around. “Will it to extend.”

Bunty expected to learn a spell or command, but all he had to do was think, and the appendage got skinny and long, turning into glossy rope.

“It can be a tentacle-whip, climbing rope, string or whatever you need it to be.” Explorer picked up the glossy length of ink and tugged. It came free of the pen’s nib. They spun it near one end and threw it. When the tip approached the opposing wall, they spoke again. “Stick.”

Bunty’s mouth fell open when the rope attached to the stone, much like how a slime would cling to a surface. Explorer pulled, but it didn’t come free.

“Stiffen,” Explorer said, and the inky length obeyed. It no longer swayed but remained solid and motionless. Bunty poked the Slimeskin. It had adopted the same texture as the slime lord when it disguised itself as the wall. “Relax.” The appendage regained its wobbliness.

“The applications are endless.” Bunty gasped. “This is so much better than a weapon or an attack spell. More importantly, I won’t have to carry rope, hooks or clamps ever again.”

“You haven’t even seen half of it.” Explorer laughed. “Be warned. For now, it can only carry twice your weight. Just want to make that clear before we move on.”

“I get it,” Bunty told them. “I’ve used a whip before.”

“That’s good. The tentacle has enough mass behind it for whipping and blunt-force. Don’t forget what the pen is at its Core, though.” Explorer smiled, reclaiming the spirit. They stabbed the nib into the ink, and it returned to the inkwell. “It’s a tool made for creation and recording.” They threw the tool and Bunty had little trouble snatching it out of the air. “Besides the tentacle, you have two more summons. That’s where my gift truly shines.”

Bunty raised an eyebrow, looking between the apparition that called themself Explorer and his spirit. “Typically Gaia talks to Climbers and tells them about their spirits.”

“Haven’t I done you one better by demonstrating it to you? Not every Climber gets such service. As for the summons, that’s for you to decide. Use my fountain pen and create them yourself. Draw and write. Do what a pen does. There will be limitations until you have new Cores, of course, but I’m sure you’ve got the brains to figure it out. When you need a, summon besides the tentacle, simply write its name, and it shall appear.” Explorer looked Bunty up and down. “I’d recommend a new coat or cloak to start with. It’ll help you practise the Stiffen and Relax commands, and help you survive longer.”

“Thank you,” Bunty said. “I didn’t mean any offence. In fact, I was hoping to find you eventually. Perhaps you can tell me what happened to Neer.” Explorer was right. It was rough at first, but the more time he spent around the apparition, the better he felt. Even though he knew it wasn’t his brother Bunty was talking to. Just being around the figure helped. “It’s one of the key reasons I wish to climb the Ark.”

“Next time. My time here was limited, and I’ve used most of it, ensuring you understand my gift to you. It’s probably for the best if we meet face to face for such a discussion.”

“Where will I find you?” Bunty asked.

“You’re not ready for that yet, but chances are we’ll bump into you each other after you cross the thirtieth floor.”