Though the sudden incident surprised him to no end, the fight was far from over.

Some of the monsters and beasts remained upright, despite the onslaught of falling trees. Even the [Dragonkin] struggled desperately in the blood-soaked undergrowth. The Minotaur who led the charge ran ever onwards with a Katar ready in each oversized hand. Besides that, most of the others suffered from wounds and a significant case of disorientation.

Quintin wanted nothing more than answers in the aftermath, but the Minotaur's Katars spoke out in crisp dismissal. The claw weaponry swept in like a black asp from a dead angle. A blood line opened up on his cheek as he narrowly avoided the twin bite.

"Die bug!" the mythical creature shouted.

[Mistvalley Minotaur] Lv. ??

—Captive Minotaur

—Claw Specialist

—Martial Student

Mistvalley is a Demihuman paradise. A hidden institute

that nurtures and transforms bestial nature into intelligent pursuits and professions.

*Class 2040: Homeroom of Martial Studies

The follow-up came moments later, going wide along his opposing armguard. He took a step inside to deliver a body blow, even as consecutive punches tried and failed to keep him at bay. The abdominal thrust sent the creature recoiling in pain. His fist met with severe resistance, akin to a sandbag left to thrash wildly when hit, compared to another braced to prevent that. The feedback response made the likelihood of a defensive [Skill] or magical item evident.

They chewed up the landscape with each exchange. As the Minotaur accumulated more and more punches, mounting agitation built up in its eyes. Ever so slightly, a never before seen crimson hue overtook the previous clarity. In the absence of a rational gaze, the power at its disposal increased dramatically.

The mad cow lost its masterly style. However, what the monster now lacked in expertise, it more than made up for in pure brute force. An intensity Quintin felt all too keenly throughout his body. The fight became much more predictable, yet no less deadly.

The use cases for [Material Integration] had eluded him thus far. Folding the [Skill] into his usual repertoire never meshed organically. Though the simple advantages it provided were easily applicable.

When the wild thing threw another enraged punch, [Material Integration] took center stage. In a flash of fabric, he disappeared upwards on an elongating metal pole. The slender stilt rose through the sole of his right foot, propelling him as it grew ever longer. At an appropriate height, he detached with a somersault. Straining his leg, he brought it down inbetween the Minotaur's bloodshot eyes.

A sick crack reverberated out from the connection point. The tanky bastard partially collapsed with bloody brains leaking from its nose, ears, and mouth. In continuation, Quintin gracefully defeated his woozy opponent with a standard roundhouse kick. A ding sound accompanied the creature's demise.

He could foresee a future where [Material Integration] became one of his most useful abilities. However, the limited inventory of now made that a present impossibility. The thought of shaping magical implements inside every technique filled him with wonder at the possibility. But for now, fists and feet proved the far more deadly feature inside his arsenal of abilities.

During his fight, the Dragonkin managed to stand and remove the black balloons. They flew around in circles while jeering, cackling, and howling. Of course, these were the heads of Hedon the [Headbearer]. Though, who owned who after the corruption event remained a mystery that defied any conclusive examination.

Quintin felt a headache coming on. Not least of which, because one of the grizzly heads floating before him was of an actual grizzly bear.

It sniffed at him curiously. "Me Cacklejack. What you? Ke-Ke-Ke!"

He tried his best to ignore the preposterous thing, instead scanning the area for their ringleader. "I know you can hear me Hedon. You can come out now."

The undeniable command echoed loudly throughout the combat zone. Almost at once, the void goblin descended from up above on the tendrils of his remaining friends. The cords connected en masse at the shoulder socket, where Quintin had torn away the goblin's arm.

Now that he saw Hedon in high definition, the grotesque abomination looked remarkably waxen. An obsidian sheen enveloped the entirety of the goblin, appearing more like a figurine than an actual living creature. The statuesque physique was reminiscent of Humpty Dumpty, discounting the obvious signs of body horror and corruption—Hedon had a great fall, but dropped into The Upside Down instead.

Quintin had left the prison of Sozzelrift behind through trial and deceit. Not once did he think he would be in that familiar company again so soon. While he held no illusions about the possibility existing, it remained true that he thought they would escape much later.

In the meantime, another [Buckle-Gut Goblin] stealthily approached. However, with an ample warning from [Sinisphere] the creature became a victim of multiple [Wolf Claw] projectiles instead.

"What are you doing here Hedon?" after a slight pause he spoke again, "Don't steal the golden giant. That one's mine."

The waxen creature replied dispassionately, "As one, strong. push-push breach. Hedon, chosen one. You come back. Hedon protect core."

"I'm not going anywhere with you. Go back to the dungeon, that's an order!" Quintin said in anger.

As they conversed, the disembodied heads fought against the remnant troops from the campsite. Twenty-odd collared beasts remained, but their injuries made them easy prey for the elusive balloon work.

Hedon tilted his head to the side, seemingly coming to some form of conclusion. "Can't, one-way. Won't, chosen one. Hedon protect core. Come with then."

The headache continued to intensify with each passing moment. If the dungeon-born refused to listen to commands, then what realistic control did he even have? Finally, after much contemplation, he released the tenseness in his upper body. He shook his arms and cracked his neck to some relief.

"One problem at a time," Quintin began to walk over to the Dragonkin Controller, "First, I have some pressing business to attend to over there."