With Ashra’s guidance, Myles was able to not only avoid the worst of the ambush rabbit territories but was able to find two unlooted chests. They held five stone vouchers a piece and some more rabbit, but that was still a blessing. It was strange feeling the haze of her presence in his head. Ocassionaly thoughts would pop into his head or ideas he knew wasn’t his. It took him a while to sort them out sometimes, but soon he could easily tell her thoughts from his own. As they talked, he learned quite a bit more about the ambush rabbits…

—

Monster Lore Expanded.

Ambush Rabbit information Expanded!

Ambush Rabbit

Dungeon Creature - Small Mammal (Lapin)

Rank D Threat level

Region - Forest Biome (Common)

Diet - Omnivores (Vegan preference, but not necessary)

Elemental Affinity - Shadow, Wind

Best trait - Speed

Preferred Method of Attack - Ambush, Bite

Known Drops: 1-2x Rabbit Haunch, Lucky Rabbit’s Foot, Ambush Rabbit Pelt

Ambush Rabbits are most commonly found in the forested regions of the dungeon’s first floor. They are a common pest in the underbrush but little more than that unless guided by a more intelligent force, namely the lapin royalty.

Ambush rabbits get their name from their preferred method of attack and usually work in groups to achieve their goals and hunt when vegetation is scarce.

—

…and though she wouldn’t give any information that directly affected her ‘people’, she was a fountain of useful information. Myles already knew where he was heading and a plan — even if there was a little hitch.

Rare monsters were ripe with loot and helped evolve his class, but were they all going to be that intelligent?

Logically, they couldn’t be. Myles rationed. If they were, he’d have heard of talking slimes or the like. Beastkin were at least an accepted race, though the fact Ashra, an intelligent Monsterkin, was part of a dungeon made him a bit uneasy.

Picking his way through the forest at Ashra’s guidance was slow going, and it wasn’t until he emerged from the forest that he realized how much time had passed. The sun was already setting in their little world, and as that sun fell beyond the wall, the shade of the wall beyond began to take hold and plunge the rest of the world into an eerie twilight.

Already, the few streets Myles could see in the ruined city that were clear of stone and timber were already devoured by the shadow of the buildings, and he could already hear the songs of combat from within with more monstrous screams than sapient. It was a strange thing to feel comforted by, but he’d feel even better if Ashra was in fighting shape.

Still, a dagger, his wits, and a mind that knew the surroundings were better than nothing.

As they moved long the boarders of the city, Ashra surprised him and talked about her incursions into the city as if they were some great tale, something to be proud of, and he was inclined to agree with that.

From what he could see, the interior was massive. The city itself was easily a few miles deep and wide, but everyone knew that. He was surprised that people were already making a break for the real prize at the center though — the level seal, the gateway to the next level of the dungeon.

The sixth run had the record time of a single night before the seal opened, but their requirement was simply to reach it. The fifth had to find keystones in the five territories. Myles wasn’t under any illusion that it would be easy, and then there was the guardian that had to be dealt with…

He was not ready to deal with the Broken King yet.

No, without armor or magic weapons, Myles continued to walk about the edge of the city, pushing towards another territory, the one where the runners unofficially knew to gather, the place that would be their home — the open Plains territory, Runner’s Plaza.

There, they’d wipe out the monster population, claim the area, create a safe haven, and build their homes when the clock turned over to day two. At Midnight on day two, the build phase opened, and they had to be ready.

Then… well, then he hoped to find a healer to fix Ashra’s legs.

Myles, we’re nearing another warren.

“Got it.”

***

Darwin grinned as the feeds before him began to flicker from one contender to the next in time-dilated real time. He watched as one would-be hero was eaten by a swamp slime, another was broken by an ent, as a group of four were beaten and subsequently eaten by a flock of gargoyles…

But those weren’t the ones he smiled for.

No, Darwin had all too many memories of that for a lifetime.

That wasn’t his goal either. He had heroes to make.

He had a kingdom to inspire with their next generation.

Darwin focused on the good that their first few hours had already wrought. He focused on a Korgan [Life Weaver] that risked herself to close the dire wound on someone she didn’t even know after a wolven got his thigh.

He focused on the [Thief] that looted an astounding ten chests without having to strike a single blow before backstabbing a rare Monsterkin, killing it in a single blow.

He cheered for the [Merchant] that bartered with the dungeon denizens with her Tongues skill for safe passage and supplies.

And Darwin smiled for the [Monster Tamer] that ran like a true hero to a call for help, nearly gotten himself killed, and managed to still come out on top.

These were the highlights he shared when he saw them, making sure the world saw their selflessness, what truly made heroes just that.

These were the ones who would go far, and the cheers at the sight gave him no small measure of hope for the Runners.

***

“By the Pantheon! Yes!”

Trosana Leea nearly fell out of her seat when she saw the clip play out in her private box. She radiated an almost visceral pleasure at Myles’s victory, at her victory. Despite the odds of it, her long shot of a [Baker] Myles Chase had become a [Monster Tamer], shown himself worthy enough to be recognized by the game master, and bonded himself with a rare, sapient monster, saving her life from two brutal opponents and a possible fate worse than death from the way the one eyed her.

Though she saw it all play out from every angle, Trosana still couldn’t trust her eyes. She couldn’t have wished for a better story to start with and had never been happier to cancel a bottle of wine.

Quickly, Trosana began making notes about the interaction, creating a list of questions to ask Myles if… when he survived the first month and had to meet with his sponsors, namely her. When the clip went live after the broadcasting delay, she’d have a gold mine to work with if she played her cards right. She’d have to frequent the pubs, inns, and taverns to hear what the others were saying and cherry pick the best questions as her own.

Still, Myles wasn’t her only charge right now. Three had already died, but that didn’t mean the others wouldn’t be just as interesting. On her paper, she made specific notes about what to send him in that care package she promised.

Trosana had to keep up her end of the bargain, after all. She had to protect her investment…

***

The call of the wolven in the distance kept drawing Myles’s attention from the task at hand as he finally circled the city. Night had fallen deeply across the land, and the forest looked just as dangerous as the city did now.

Thankfully, Myles could see the plains biome ahead, but that wasn’t all. The noise of battle drew all comers, human and monster alike, with its a deadly siren’s song. He watched for a moment more as the gathered runners slaughtered everything in their wake, leaving fireflies as the monsters that stood in their path fell.

Then, there was a lull in battle as it moved to the far end of the plains.

That was his chance.

Dagger in hand, Myles rushed to join the throng as three others emerged from the forest in front of him: one dressed in mage’s gear and the other a warrior of some kind by the look of them.

Why go in alone if he could avoid it?

“Need one more?” Myles called out as they looked his way.

The older of the two by the look of his white hair, the mage nodded. “All the help we can get. You equipped?”

Myles nodded, holding his dagger out for inspection as he walked to close the gap.

“Name? Class?” the warrior woman followed up with. She was the younger of the two, maybe only a few years older than Myles. She was a head taller than Myles and had muscles as toned as his father. She’d been training for this. That much was obvious.

“Myles Chase. [Monster Tamer].”

“Do you have a monster to fight with, Myles?” The older man asked.

“I have one, yes, but she can’t fight. I need to find a healer that can set her bones first.”

They looked to one another with that, mumbled to each other, and the woman snapped back to him. “Are you going to steal our loot?”

“What?”

“Are you going to steal our loot?” she repeated pointedly. “Yes or no?”

“No.” He hoped it sounded less like a question and more like an answer.

She shrugged, looked to the older of the two, then nodded when he said nothing. “Stick close to Will, and when this is over, he’ll take a look at your monster.”

“Got it.”

“And if you steal our loot, I will make you regret it when we reach the second floor.”

They said nothing else, but he felt the party form as the warrior finished speaking. It was strange like the connection he’d made with Ashra but weaker.

--

Party Joined!

Leader: Kendra Kessa

Members: William Rigs, Myles Chase

Loot Preference: Need before Greed

--

Will, the elderly mage, fell into step next to Myles as the woman led the charge towards the Runner’s Plaza.

“Kendra is fierce, and if you think she’s joking, think again,” Will said to him as they made their final push to join the rest of the group.

Myles didn’t even have time to answer before the three ran headlong into the fight against…

Against…

“Are those deer… stabbing people?”