Soaring down the tunnel towards the Brats, Bathilda was feeling confident after her evolution. Now that she had become a Blood Sucking Bat, she was twice the size of previous self.

Are you ready, Hiro?

She asked the voice in her head.

"Yes. Although I doubt that I will be of any assistance. There isn't much I can do without a body."

Of course there is. You can be a second pair of eyes. All you have to do is watch my back. Easy enough, right?

Bathilda was determined as she neared the nest.

"In that case, I will do my best."

Happy for the help, but hoping she wouldn't need it, Bathilda shot into the open section of tunnel the Brats had claimed as their nest. The closest monster wasn't far from the entrance and hadn't noticed her yet. Surprised, but grateful for their senses taking the day off, the distance between Bathilda and her enemy shrunk to almost nothing before she was finally sniffed out.

Unfortunately for the Brat, it was already too late. The monster could only shriek in fear before a (Wing Slash) cut it off mid cry.

The once silent tunnel became full of sound as almost half a dozen shrieking vermin voiced their outrage. The bone chilling cacophony echoed out, but Bathilda paid it no mind. She barely even heard it. Her eyes were glued to the luscious liquid pooling from the headless Brat as all sane thoughts left her.

Unnoticed went the level up notification and so did Hiro, screaming and shouting inside her mind. An instinctive compulsion had taken hold of Bathilda's body and she was no longer in the driver's seat.

All she could focus on was the Brat's blood. Warm and fresh, its scent heavenly and intoxicating. Even as Bathilda attempted to resist, her body moved of its own volition. Before she knew it, she was next to the headless corse.

Like a savage, Bathilda dove on top of the lifeless husk of her enemy and sunk her fangs deep into its still-warm flesh. Without conscience, she drank the sweet nectar of life, draining the body dry.

All she could hear was white noise.

All she could see was the next mouthful.

And all of her senses were filled with the taste of heaven.

Bathilda's mind only had one goal and that was to drink its fill.

Without warning, the delightful nectar turned from blissful delight to bitter ash and Bathilda gagged at the disgusting taste being syphoned through her mouth.

"Bathilda!"

...W-What?

Choking on her meal, Bathilda managed a reply. Feeling as though she had woken up with the worst hangover had ever had, her mind shook as her senses slowly returned.

"Fly now! Fly!"

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Don't shout. What do you...

She tried to reply but was abruptly cut off by the hitchhiking leech shouting even louder than before.

"Fly now, Bathilda. Fly or we're both going die again! Fly!!"

Hearing the word death was enough to shake off the rest of Bathilda's intoxicated stupor. Without looking for the source of Hiro's fear, she was pretty confident she knew what it was, Bathilda launched herself high into the air. As she leapt, Bathilda worked hard with her wings to put distance between herself and the incoming threat.

As she reached the roof, Bathilda was recipient once again to some harsh words.

"What in the fucking hell was that?"

Unfortunately, Bathilda knew full well what Hiro was talking about as she remembered every painstaking detail. She was, however l, reluctant to admit what happened and tried dodging the question instead.

What was what?

"Don't you dare 'What was what' me! You know damn well what I mean. I understand you need to drink blood now because to your evolution, but I didn't expect you to turn feral.

I didn't turn feral!

She couldn't help but snap back. Insulted at the insinuation.

"If that's true, then why didn't you answer me when I called you?"

I was...

"Feral?"

No. I was...

"Obsessed?"

No! I was...

"Zoned in?"

Y-Yes. That's right. I was zoned in.

"Nope. I'm calling BS on that. The need for blood had a hold over you and you know it did. What's going to happen when you kill another Brat and lose it while there are still others alive?"

...

Unable to give Hiro an answer, Bathilda worried over what would happen if his words came true. She played the scenario over inside her head before looking down on the four rodents gathered beneath her.

Just in time too as an oversized boulder was barreling through the air directly at her, but a quick dodge to the left and it crashed straight into the roof. On impact the projectile caused a miniture hailstorm to rain down from above and Bathilda had to quickly performing evasive manoeuvres. Dodging out of the way of the incoming debris the best she could.

Not only did she have to avoid the storm from above, but the Brats were launching more projectiles as fast as they could.

"Little bastards!"

The hitchhiker voiced the thought on Bathilda's mind almost perfectly.

Horrible, little bastards is more like it.

Bathilds corrected her position, rolling out of the way of another boulder. Plotting her next course of action, she began desending to the floor while edging back toward the tunnel she entered from. Creating a much-needed gap between herself and the Brat pack in the process.

The moment she landed, the remaining rodents began to charge at her. Closing the distance she had created as fast as they could.

Bathilda tried to calm her nerves. The roof raining down dirt and stone was not what she had expected. Once more she committed to her plan. With speed able to evade falling rocks and thrown projectiles alike, Bathilda was ready.

The Brats spread out as they approached, just like they did the first time she encountered them. Even though they're monsters, they show intelligence by using coordinated tactics to surround her. It was unfortunate for Bathilda. If they were lined up straight, a single (Wing Slash) might be all it would take.

The instant the first monster got within range, Bathilda swung her wings through the air. She watched as blades of air became physical manifestations and shot forward with terrifying speed, tearing through the Brat one after the other.

Caught mid-leap, the monster's limbs were severed. A weak whimper was the only sound made as its body hit the ground. Below it, red liquid began to pool.

With a break in their formation, the Brats continued to show signs of intelligence. They spread out to cover the gap made by the deceased and started to circle the bat. Ever so slowly closing the distance between them.

Thankfully, that was exactly what Bathilda needed at that moment. A slight reprieve. Struggling to maintain sanity, her thought process had broken down as she stared at the pool of blood. The vibrant liquid had a sweet aroma to it and Bathilda's claws scraped against the floor as she tried to resist.

As the Brats circle slowly continued to shrink, Bathilda was lost to the world and down the the rabbit hole she went.

"Bathilda!"

"Bathilda!"

It's... just... so... beautiful.

Losing to her cravings, Bathilda didn't even manage to check her enemies before darting towards the limbless Brat. Slamming hard into her new meal, she sunk her fangs in and for the second time that day, Bathilda reveled in the sweet nectar of life.