Steven dodged backwards out of the lycanthrope's range as it slashed twice at his neck. He had learned that if he blocked the first or second blow, the monster would counter with a bite. After being bitten by the lycanthrope several times, he decided that blocking wasn’t the best defense for him without his shield. He needed to move and stay mobile.

At the urging of Garth, he had started incorporating his shortsword growth into his fighting style. The sword had a bit more range than his claw mimicry, but it would be a small adjustment and the training was analogous.

The lycanthrope snarled and huffed as it tried to overwhelm him with a series of slashes and bites. Steven flitted backwards and to the sides, relying more and more on his increased dexterity to maintain distance from the enemy while he waited for an opening.

The monster finished its attack pattern and took a small step forward to keep pressure on Steven, who took the opportunity to dash forward past the monster while delivering a quick slice to its arm, severing it below the elbow. Enraged, the lycanthrope turned to follow after Steven, but impaled itself on Steven’s outstretched shortsword.

“So, you had taken on a position in the school for dungeon-born children,” said Steven as he dismissed his shortsword. This was the fourth iteration of fighting the lycanthrope, but instead of heading back to reset, he now moved towards the next rope bridge.

“Yes. My job was to actually teach the children about class choices. Dungeon-born kids aren’t usually offered a class until after puberty,” said Garth, following Steven to the bridge. He still had his rod in hand, ready to assist if he was needed.

Steven was becoming more experienced at fighting and hadn’t needed any help the past few fights. He had noticed the next lycanthrope was closer to the bridge, and so they crept across at a crouch, not wanting to gain its attention until he was ready to engage.

“There was a student in class, a girl, who was a member of the Sarenton noble family,” Garth whispered, close behind Steven as they neared the end of the bridge. “She had excelled in her archery studies, and as a promising candidate for the family's Huntsman class she was expected to have that option when she checked the Red Eye at her classing ceremony.”

They stepped off the bridge and onto the platform containing the second lycanthrope. Steven didn’t bother to identify this one. It looked the same as the last, just with a dark brown fur that made it a bit more difficult to see in the moonlight. He assumed it would have similar stats. Garth moved to the side as Steven continued forward.

The lycanthrope sniffed at the air and howled when it smelled Steven’s approach. He watched the monster, seeing it bulk up physically before it began walking slowly towards him. Steven glanced back at Garth, who shrugged and pointed the rod at the monster.

He let the lycanthrope approach. This one didn’t charge like everything else, so Steven took the defensive to learn its attacks. He cast Mimic Growth: Heater Shield on his left arm, and Mimic Growth: Shortsword to his right hand. His equipment burst from his skin in a cloud of red dust. He was thankful it was quick enough for Garth not to see what actually happened, and if he did notice he didn’t say anything about it.

The monster was several feet away when it balled up its fist and threw a punch at Steven’s head. He raised his shield to meet the attack and was pushed back a few inches when the lycanthropes attack connected. He held the shield under his eyes and hopped back several paces.

The lycanthrope didn’t have claws, but it had much more muscle than the previous monster. It was definitely stronger, but much slower. He needed more range. It was time to show Garth something different.

He dismissed the sword and shield, and for the first time he cast Mimic Growth: Greatsword on his right hand. The weapon burst forth from his hand in a much larger cloud of dust than the other weapons, and immediately fell to the ground, pulling Steven’s arm along with it.

Steven grabbed the hilt with his other hand and hefted the sword above his head, attempting the same stance that the skeleton had used while he tried to keep his eyes on the lycanthrope. The sword threatened to topple him backwards, so he lowered his stance more and held his breath at the exertion of keeping the massive blade above his head.

As the lycanthrope shuffled towards him he wondered why the blade was so heavy. The skeleton didn’t have any issues wielding it, and that monster even flung it around a bit with one hand. His 19 strength should be more than enough. He quickly stole a glance up to inspect the sword. It was not the same one the skeleton used.

Steven didn’t have time for a closer inspection as the lycanthrope drew nearer, and he swung the hefty sword down in a large arc. The monster shuffled to the side as the sword cleaved off some meat from its arm. The sword slammed into the wooden platform, breaking several of the wooden planks. A few of the broken planks tumbled into the water beneath, leaving a hole large enough to fall through.

He backed away from the hole, dragging the sword in front of him. The weakened planks creaked under his weight until he stepped backwards onto more stable wood. Steven was unnerved at the size and weight of the sword and dismissed it in a cloud of red. He’d have to beat this thing with speed, not power.

He dashed at the lycanthrope, which responded by swinging a fist at Steven’s face. Steven ducked under the arm to get directly behind the monster. He cast Mimic Growth: Shortsword on both hands, and stabbed the two swords into the monster’s back before the red dust even dissipated.

The monster roared and threw itself forward onto the wooden floor to get away from the swords piercing its body. Steven could feel both the blades draw against its spine as it fell away. He jumped forward to stand over the monster’s back before it had a chance to move and stabbed downward several times until the lycanthrope was dead.

He straightened up, breathing hard, and dismissed the swords. Frowning, he walked with slumped shoulders to where Garth stood.

“I made too many mistakes. The big sword. I don’t like it.” Steven mumbled as he plopped down with his back against a post.

“You have options at least,” said Garth, rubbing his chin. “Anyway, the girl was expected to have the choice that included the legendary Hunstman class. It didn’t happen. She said she only had the choice of a unique class. Darting Piercer.”

“What’s a classing ceremony?”

“It’s a week-long party. Every evening, the dungeon-born activates the Red Eye hoping their class list will be there. It’s also when they’re considered to be adults and graduated from the school. The noble families have many strange traditions. They don’t know anything other than the dungeon.” Garth sat down cross legged and put his head in his hands. He continued in a hoarse voice, “I was level 10 at the time, so her parents asked me to escort her on her first few floors of the dungeon. She was exceptional. We made it to Floor 6 in record time, without having to respawn once.”

Steven listened intently with his eyes down. He could sense that Garth’s story was getting to a sore point, and didn’t want to interrupt in the slightest. He let the silence build until Garth continued.

“I was punished with a hundred public executions, and was blacklisted from any service the Sarenton family offered,” Garth finished in a wheezing breathless voice.

“But what happened?!” Steven was staring at Garth now.

Garth cleared his throat, “A challenge. Much like the one you described to me. A boss at the Red Eye.” He stood and began walking to the bridge for the next platform. Steven could hear his voice travel clearly from where he sat. “She, a young adult by dungeon standards, barely fifteen, sacrificed herself for me to escape. I went to her family for help, they refused, and executed me. Said it was my responsibility. She’s been stuck in a death loop for nearly fourteen years.”

Steven got up and followed after the man. He understood now why Garth was upset. The guy felt responsible for the pain and death the girl is experiencing. But why would the family refuse to go save the girl? He started across the bridge at the same time Garth entered the platform arena at the far end.

He watched as Garth shot small yellow balls of light at the lycanthrope. Where the yellow ball hit, a target appeared. Steven saw that Garth was aiming for the targets. The monster roared and several small wolves appeared in clouds of grey dust. When the small wolves got close to Garth, he swung his rod down into the ground in a flash of yellow light and the wolves were blasted back a few feet. He followed up with two shots to each wolf’s head, the first creating a target and the second creating a hole where the target was.

Garth turned his attention back on the lycanthrope and peppered the monster with yellow balls until it was riddled with holes. The monster finally fell, twitching in a lump on the wooden planks.

Steven could hear blood dripping into the water below as he made his way onto the platform. “So we just need to go save her.”

“You don’t understand,” Garth said, his voice low. “Dungeon-born age, unlike us. They can die of old age. Actually die. If they’re killed, they’ll respawn, but they can actually die of old age!”

In the short time Steven had known Garth, Steven had seen him sad and mopey. Never had he seen the man this agitated. He held his hands out, palms forward, “Ok, but we still need to go save her. That’s what your notice was for right?”

Garth said nothing as he passed by, walking back across the bridge. Steven followed him at a distance. They were back at the Red Eye before Garth replied.

“Yes, that is what I need help with. We save her, and she might have a few decades before she retires.” Garth pulled up his implant and made some waving motions with his hand. “Check your social page.”

Steven opened his own holographic interface and scrolled to his contacts list. He had two notifications.

Party is disbanded. Will teleport out of dungeon floor in less than one minute.

Accept party invite from Garth Trager [Y/N]

He accepted the new party invite and saw the little box on the right side had three names now, Garth Trager, himself, and Veramari Sarenton.