Elyssa Lockridge stared intently into the recess of the current Dungeon level. Gray, waist long hair was tight tightly in a braided ponytail. Sharp green eyes glowed with enchantment as she searched the darkness ahead for danger. Her charming face was marred by the twitch in her left eyelid. Recently word had begun spreading among Adventuring parties about a dangerous new creature in the Dungeon.

They called it, Red Death.

Apparently it took the form of a small miniature tree that hovered and flew about with utter uncaring nonchalance.

A team of elites even claimed the creature was responsible for slaughtering the level ten Gate Guardian, the Dragon, with utter ease.

Elyssa knew better, the damn thing was a prankster of the first order. That filthy Red Sparkling Tree had lured them into a sleeping dart trap the last time.

It wasn’t the darts that were the dangerous part, it was the goblins that patrolled nearby waiting for a free sleeping meal.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Lockridge swore once she had her way, that tree’s sale would fund the potions that had been required to grow back her hair and eyebrows. Goblin cooking was notoriously…high temperature…after all.

Her team had jumped back into the Dungeon as fast as they could, because she was a true daredevil among humans.

Glancing back at the three men who were part of her team she sighed.

Gods, please grant me patience. She thought.

“There it is!” said Brons, the tank of the group.

Elyssa whirled to see the floating tree hovering in the passageway just ahead. The damn thing didn’t even seem to see them as it inched back from something in the tunnel ahead.

Wait a second, what could such a formidable creature be afraid of...She thought, before a hideous growling noise reached her ears.

“Havenestra’s Hairy Buns! A Two-Headed Hellhound!” Tivet, the party’s thief whispered.

It looked like their adventuring days were going to be cut painfully short.

Unwilling to go down without a fight, the last member of the party, Edward, started buffing everyone with all the magic he had available.

Snap.

Crack.

Shatter.

BOOM!

The air in front of the floating Red Tree literally rippled before melting was the only word she could think of.

The melting air seemed to expand like a balloon under too much pressure before exploding. The result threw the entire party backwards.

They were the lucky ones.

The Two-Headed Hellhound was disintegrated by the very element it was supposed to be most resistant too.

When everyone managed to get to their feet, the floating Red Tree had disappeared.

“We are NOT chasing that tree again. Ever.” Elyssa stated with furious calm.

Her three party members glanced at each other before bobbing their heads in agreement.