Chapter 88: Adapted Poison
Lydia stood in the middle of the swamp.
Her body had completely changed.
Her silhouette was still feminine, but she no longer had human skin. From the tips of her toes to her hair, everything was made of a violet gelatinous mass, exactly the same color as the poison the mosquitoes had injected into her.
In front of Lydia, the enormous plant writhed.
Its thick stem rose from the swampy water, and its enormous petals, covered in thorns, opened and closed like a jaw. The roots spreading throughout the swamp were slowly burning due to the acid Lydia had used earlier.
The plant let out another shriek.
Lydia raised her hands.
And then she heard Liam’s voice inside her head.
’Let’s test your new powers as an Adaptive Slime, honey.’
Lydia smiled.
"Okay."
The roots began to move.
One of them shot out of the water directly toward Lydia.
The slime woman extended a hand and caught it.
The root writhed between her fingers.
Lydia squeezed, and her body began releasing that violet substance.
The poison seeped from her hands into the root.
The reaction was immediate.
The vegetation began to blacken and then burned.
The root contracted violently and retreated into the water.
The plant let out another shriek.
"I’m doing it!"
’You’re doing great.’
Lydia took a step forward.
More roots began attacking her, but Lydia didn’t back down.
She ran directly toward the enormous plant.
The roots tried to wrap around her, but every one that touched her body began to burn.
Lydia’s poison spread across the surface of her body like a protective film.
A root struck her shoulder.
The gelatinous mass absorbed the impact.
The root began to darken.
Lydia kept running.
"You’re not stopping me!"
’That’s the spirit, honey.’
The plant thrashed, and its petals began to close.
Lydia stopped.
The enormous plant jaw contracted until it formed something resembling a bud.
’Careful.’
Liam watched from inside Lydia’s mind.
’I think it’s going to try attacking us in a different way.’
"What can it do?"
The answer came an instant later.
The plant aimed its petals directly at Lydia.
They opened.
And a black cloud shot out from inside, filled with thousands of mosquitoes.
Lydia’s eyes widened.
’They’re back!’
"I know what to do."
Lydia looked at the cloud.
"The Laser Shot didn’t work."
’Then don’t use it.’
Lydia looked at her own hands, and an idea crossed her mind.
"I think I have another way."
She took a step backward, then clenched her fist, and her arm began to stretch.
The gelatinous mass extended several meters, and her fist grew larger.
"Now!"
Lydia threw the punch.
BOOM!
The enormous slime fist tore through the cloud of mosquitoes.
Hundreds became trapped inside her gelatinous mass.
Others collided with the surface of her body and immediately began to burn because of the poison.
The cloud dispersed.
The few mosquitoes that managed to escape fled toward the cloudy sky above the swamp.
Liam was surprised by his wife’s great idea.
’That was awesome.’
"Thanks, honey."
Lydia retracted her arm. The mass returned to its normal size, and she resumed running.
The plant continued shrieking.
But Lydia was already in front of it.
◇◆◇
Chuck slowly opened his eyes.
"Ugh..."
He brought a hand to his head.
"Did I get hit by another woman who shouldn’t have been given a driver’s license?"
Emily, who had just regained consciousness, burst out laughing.
"Luckily for you, no."
Chuck blinked and looked around.
"Then what happened?"
Emily slowly sat up.
"I think that plant knocked us out."
Chuck looked to the side.
Then he saw Liam.
The hunter was unconscious on top of what appeared to be a green slime cushion.
Chuck raised an eyebrow.
"Well, he definitely looks like he got hit by a truck."
Emily followed his gaze and then pointed ahead.
"I think we should be more worried about that."
Chuck looked up.
Lydia was fighting the enormous plant.
Her violet body glowed beneath the cloudy sky.
The roots that tried to attack her burned as soon as they came into contact with her.
Chuck was left speechless.
"Is that this man’s wife?"
Emily smiled.
"I suppose so."
"And she’s fighting the sub-boss by herself?"
"Looks like it."
Chuck stood up.
"Then we can’t just stand around watching."
Emily nodded.
"I was thinking exactly the same thing."
An electric energy began to cover Emily’s body.
Small sparks traveled across her arms.
Chuck smiled.
"That’s what I like to see, partner."
He took one of the knives hanging from his numerous tactical belts.
He spun it between his fingers before gripping it firmly.
Emily stepped forward.
"Ready, partner?"
"Always, little sis."
Both of them ran toward the plant.
◇◆◇
The giant plant didn’t give Lydia any time to breathe.
Dozens of roots emerged from the swamp and launched themselves at her from every direction.
Lydia extended both arms, catching two roots between her hands.
Others wrapped around her arms, but she restrained them with her own slime tentacles.
"You’re not catching me!"
Poison began to seep from her violet body.
The roots started turning black.
Lydia squeezed tightly.
CRACK!
The roots snapped.
But the plant didn’t stop, and more roots emerged from the water.
Lydia caught them again, burning them with the poison flowing through her body.
’Keep it up, honey!’
Then the plant’s enormous petals began to close.
The plant’s jaw opened wide and lunged directly toward Lydia.
’Careful!’
But a bolt of lightning tore through the swamp.
Emily appeared out of nowhere, surrounded by electrical energy.
"Don’t even think about it!"
BOOM!
Her fist slammed into the side of the giant plant, knocking its jaw off course and making its enormous vegetal body stagger.
Emily began to fall.
Several roots shot toward her.
But before they could reach her, flying knives pierced through the roots.
Emily landed calmly on the mud.
"Thanks, partner."
From behind a few trees, Chuck smiled.
"I’m not letting you have all the fun."
Liam observed the situation through Lydia’s eyes.
’Now it’s three against one. We can defeat the sub-boss.’
Lydia smiled.
"Then let’s finish this."
Her body expanded.
Six slime arms emerged from her sides, covered in poison.
And Lydia charged straight at the giant plant.