Is it wrong for slimes to be in dungeons? (revised)

Chapter 41: Minor Memories

"Besides," she finally said. "If I go back now, it would defeat the entire purpose of me coming down here." Her eyes shifted left as she said that.

I feel my body relax as I recall the soft touch of her ears in my hand. "Ha, alright," I let out a small laugh. "Then let's get going."

With that we were off once more, I still led the way, as she directed me which way to go. I cut through the monsters I could on the way while she picked off those left behind. Even though that was the case, because of her level and how deep in the dungeon we were, the battles weren't so easy for her. I gave her health potions so she didn't remain injured, but at this rate her exhaustion was sure to build...Is what I thought, but contrary to that she showed no signs she was tired. It was a little strange.

I couldn't help but remember the last time we were in the dungeon together. When Sophia had been running away from Loki familia. She had done so for almost three straight days and she still seemed like she had more than enough.

Her stamina was unreal. It really made me wonder just what sort of things she had done to build that level of stamina.

But that was a conversation for another time.

As I cut through monsters without end, we eventually found it.

My soul piece.

Before us a large horned bear stood. Its eyes stared back at me with a sharp look. I approached it as a silence fell over us. Perhaps the monsters had realized that they weren't a match for us because they backed away.

I stared into the eyes of this beast, a beast that lacked any light of reason in its gaze. It was merely violence and hatred toward the being before it. The same as all other monsters I had encountered before this point.

I unsheathed my blade and slowly walked toward the monster.

It waited for me until I stood just 3 meters away from it.

I crouched down, activating <strengthen body> and closed that gap as quickly and suddenly as I could. Aiming to end this in one strike.

But perhaps that was naive. Anticipating my movements it blocked the first strike and using its overwhelming size and weight to its advantage pressed forward into me.

"Tch," I attempted to back away but it didn't let me, instead making use of its massive body mass to overwhelm me.

Fine then.

I jumped up in the air to get away from it. Its massive body meant it shouldn't be able to reach the same heights as me. And even supposing it could, my use of wings thanks to mimicry allowed me to stay in the air.

I began to activate some more skills. I produce a small black flame in my hand and throw it down at the monster.

I had checked before, even monsters down in the 70s floors couldn't withstand the heat from my black flame.

However, that's when something unexpected happened. The bear didn't attempt to dodge, all it did was open its maw wide and as the small black dart of flames came flying towards it, the bear bit down onto the flame.

Huh? My eyes widened in incomprehension. Umm what just happened? No in the first place even after several seconds the black flame showed no signs of expanding like it was supposed to... it was as though the flame had disappeared.

But the bear left me no time to think about this as it began to jump up into the air. I attempted to fly higher, not allowing it to reach m–.

"?!" Then something unexpected occurred.