Outer Gods invade, stuff them all into your equipment inventory.

"That's right, these are the coordinates."

Sean glanced at the coordinates displayed on the simple compass.

It perfectly matches the last sighting coordinates clearly listed in the bounty post, down to the last detail.

"The bounty mission states that the high-risk mutant was encountered at this coordinate two days ago."

"Low-level monsters like slimes usually have a relatively fixed range of activity unless they are strongly driven away or there are drastic changes in the environment. They rarely leave their 'territory' or nest too far away."

Even if mutations occur, these fundamental habits of its should not be so easily changed.

"This high-risk mutant should be nearby."

Look carefully...

Sean immediately began a thorough search of the surrounding area, using the coordinates on his feet as the center.

He first examined the marks on the nearby ground.

When slimes move, they usually leave behind wet or sticky traces, with the traces left by mutants being more obvious.

He carefully observed the soil moisture and the marks left by the crushed stones.

"The post says this high-risk mutant is a steel slime."

Steel Slime is a type of metal slime, and also the lowest and most basic metal slime race.

Unlike regular slimes, metallic slimes change in race and characteristics as their monster level increases.

The lowest tier is the Steel Slime, which evolves into the Silver Slime once its level and strength increase.

Next up is Golden Slime, Diamond Slime...

The higher the class, the rarer the metallic particles that make up their bodies, and the stronger they are.

Unlike common slimes made from elements or soft systems such as water, fire, or gel.

Metallic slimes are not composed of liquid gel.

Instead, it is a fluid-like metal aggregate formed by countless extremely fine, specially active metal particles bound by the core force.

This is the essential nature of metallic slimes.

"The metallic texture causes metallic slimes to be much heavier than regular slimes."

"The forum says that the high-risk mutant is larger than a regular Steel Slime."

"If it really did pass through here, the traces it left behind should be quite obvious."

Soon, he noticed something unusual on the ground not far away—

A clear, semi-circular indentation about half a meter wide.

Each semi-circular indentation is deeply embedded in the soil, and the soil at the edges of the indentations is squeezed to the sides, forming tiny bulges, while the soil at the bottom of the indentations becomes hard and compacted.

"With the ground compressed into this shape, this thing must weigh no less than ten tons."

With that weight, he's definitely a high-risk mutant Iron Slime!

Sean quickly followed the lines of the indentation.

The indentations on the ground were so clear that the high-risk mutant Iron Slime must have passed through here not long ago.

The high-risk mutant does not travel in a straight line, but rather takes several detours and circles.

It took Sean more than half an hour to finally reach the end of his pursuit—the foot of a steep mountain wall—after navigating around a rocky slope.

The indentations become denser here, eventually disappearing at a hole about two people high.

Looking into the cave, all that could be seen was darkness.

A chilly, damp atmosphere, mixed with a faint metallic smell, slowly wafted out from the cave entrance.

The indentation started here, spreading downwards and disappearing into the bottomless darkness.

"This must be the lair of this high-risk mutant Iron Slime."

"As long as you go in from here, you can find this high-risk mutant, the Iron Slime."

Sean hesitated after just one glance at the dark cave.

In ground combat, he has ample space to maneuver and evade.

Once inside this narrow, dark cave, his advantage will be greatly diminished.

Since this high-risk mutant Iron Slime has made this place its lair, it must be very good at fighting in dark environments.

But Sean is different; he is a human being whose senses are physiologically dependent on vision.

Once he loses his primary line of sight and is plunged into complete darkness, his combat ability will decline drastically.

"Even if I can't beat you in a ground battle, I can use my speed advantage to escape quickly."

"But in this cave..."

The available space for maneuver and even escape routes will be completely stripped away.

"If the battle is lost, the risk of death will increase infinitely."

Or should we just wait at the cave entrance until this high-risk mutant Iron Slime leaves the cave before making our move?

Sean hesitated, the tempting idea swirling in his mind, believing that doing so would definitely avoid the greatest risk.

But the next second, he shook his head vigorously.

The longer the night goes on, the more things can go wrong. Who knows how long that guy will stay in the cave?

What if it doesn't come out for several days?

Slimes are monsters with habits somewhat similar to camels; they first eat voraciously and then slowly "ruminate."

They rely on stored substances and energy to survive for a long time, during which their activity level will be reduced to a minimum.

Hunting mode will only be activated again when all material energy is nearly depleted.

This mutant Iron Slime has just finished hunting and has no desire to go hunting again anytime soon.

If you're hoping to wait passively for something to happen, you're in for a long time to get it.

He couldn't wait that long.

Besides, other people besides him also saw the Hero Association's bounty mission.

The longer it takes, the greater the variables become.

If others joined the hunt, how could he possibly steal the corpse of this mutated Iron Slime without anyone noticing?

"We can't just kill all the other participants, can we?"

It sounds somewhat ruthless and decisive.

But I would never do such a beastly thing.

"This Iron Slime, which has just returned from its hunt, should be in its most 'lazy' and least wary of its surroundings 'post-meal rest' phase..."

"The chances of success are greatest when you make your move at this time."

Take advantage of its "fullness and drowsiness" to catch it off guard!

Sean was calculating.

"How strong can the monsters that roam around the settlement be?"

"At most, it's a D-rank monster."

"Even if the high-risk mutants are stronger."

He'd be lucky to get a D+.

Sean is now fully equipped, and with the added bonus from the two monster corpses in his equipment slot, he's a formidable force.

Sean encouraged himself:

"If we're talking about combat strength... a C-rank hero is most likely to be caught."

C-level versus D-level, the advantage lies with me.

"The greater the risk, the more expensive the fish!"

This mutated form of the Steel Slime is far more valuable than any ordinary monster.

If you can acquire it, equip it in your inventory to gain the power it grants.

"Even though I have fewer spell skills now, and my combat training is practically zero."

"It still confirms his strength as a C-rank hero."

"It might even reach C+."

As for that tiny bit of danger.

"It's just a little bit of hardship."

"Nothing to fear."

Sean is very cautious, but he's also willing to fight to the death.

Especially when he has the upper hand.

Without the slightest hesitation in his eyes, he turned and entered the cave.