49 Luck or not...

'Rustle, Rustle'

The sound of movement nearby put Aether on high alert. Slowly, he backed up against a nearby tree trunk, he wasn't letting sneak up from behind him.... Wary of potential threats lurking in the darkness behind him while he focused his attention on the source of the rustling.

In the dim light, he could make out a small figure emerging from the shadows, its form indistinct yet intriguing.

Aether's heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he prepared for whatever might come next.

"QIKKK"

With a sudden, squeezing sound, an object leapt before him, startling Aether for a moment.

As he squinted to get a clearer view, a smile tugged at his lips. "It's a slime, isn't it?" he remarked with a hint of amusement.

This encounter marked his first real-life encounter with a creature straight out of a cartoon, and the novelty of it all brought a glimmer of joy to Aether's eyes.