Halfway down the next section of hall I slowly come to a stop. My body is tingling. The focus of my vision shifts between my front and rear sets of eyes as if I'm looking for something that isn't there while my thoughts are swimming. It's like a mix between shock and a runners high. Is this some kind of "fight or flight" response?

'No, that rat didn't care about me, neither of them did. I was safe. I KNEW I was safe. So what was that?'

You never really get answers for the questions you ask yourself like this, but it helps to get them out.

'I wanted it so bad, but I don't know why. Like I just HAD to eat it. But I wasn't hungry, and I didn't even Dev– do anything with it.'

I know my view on killing is skewed. No one bats an eye when they kill an ant or a roach; there's even a common joke about burning buildings down just to kill a spider. But bugs are so fundamentally different its easy not to think about killing them– to the point you don't even think of it as the act of 'killing'.

I've also set traps to kill mice. That's also a skewed view, because the trap does the killing and you don't see it happen. Most people don't even think of it beyond whether it did or did not happen.

But what just happened, what I just did? That wasn't defending myself; I baited it into attacking me.

… no, I attacked it. I attacked it, and killed it. Hell, I felt it's heart beating…

I drop the Bullet Roach Form, switching to the Limestone Rock Form and flatten into and against the bottom edge of the wall. Probably the closest equivalent I can get to curling up and resting my head on my knees.

'That was me. I can't even pretend it wasn't me. I planned that out. I just killed something, for no reason.

'Turning into a living meatball? I can manage. Turning into a bug? Fine, at least its got legs. Fighting when they attack me? Thats self defense.

'But killing things- just to kill? That's… I don't want to be that.'

'... but that's what I did…'

The red tint to the edge of my vision won't go away. Like a bloodstain you can't wash out. I've tried to close the notifications without opening them, because I'm afraid of what I'll read. But it won't let me. Its going to Force me to read them.

So for now, I just ignore it. I "remove" all my eyes, but the red is still there.

I feel strained and exhausted, so I just stay there and don't move.

And at some point, I slip out of consciousness.

—

I smell the coffee before I'm even awake; I LOVE the smell of coffee! Not so much the taste, but that's OK, since my companions are the ones who drink it.

I uncurl from my spot and yawn wide, stretching out from under my blanket.

"Morning Jobe." A female voice flatly calls out as she pours herself a cup of coffee. Melissa, our fighter, takes the third shift and therefore is always starting the day first. "Now that you're up, make sure Sam gets up."

My eyes dart over to our shield bearer who is deep asleep on his side and quietly snoring. My ears droop as I swallow hard. I hate waking him; he's always violent when he wakes up.

Walking over to him I gently push against his leg and say "S-sam, it's time to wake up.' before backing away quickly. After he doesn't respond I move forward and tell him again, shaking his leg a little harder this time.

In a flash of motion his large hand grips around my throat and slams me to the ground, my tail curling between my legs as a whimper escapes my muzzle.

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The man twice my size leans over me with a firm grip on my neck and anger in his eyes. It takes him a minute after to fully wake up and let me go as he wipes the sleep out of his eyes.

I back up a little before moving to stand as Melissa offers him a cup of coffee.

I get into our morning routine, getting everything out and ready for Melissa to cook breakfast. I would cook myself but some fur had gotten into the food and was told not to touch it again.

While she cooks and Sam wakes I start to pack everything up, leaving only the magic stones circling our camp that helps keep the monsters out. They're attuned to only work for humans, so I can't handle them anyways. It does make me smile though; as a Northern Kobold it's hard to find a group willing to delve with you.

When people here think of Kobolds, they think of the local Southern Kobolds, which are a lizard folk (or "dragons" as they call themselves), whereas us Northern Kobolds are canine folk. No one knows why our species are named the same thing, but we're both small species low in numbers compared to others. Under normal circumstances we'd never meet, so it doesn't matter; the only reason I'm here is because an Adventurer picked me up as a pup but eventually dropped me off at the local orphanage. At ten years old I'm officially an Adult and can help make money to raise my brothers and sisters.

Once the food is done and my companions get their share I eat what's left, using the cooking pan as a plate to not dirty another bowl. As always her cooking is delicious and I quickly scarf it down!

Normally I'd clean the dishes, but today is different! Today, I Level Up!

Officially named The Second Altros Dungeon, this is the longest known Dungeon in the continent! Despite this fact it is the safest, only spawning weak monsters – with few and far between at that. Where most Dungeons have a Safe Zone at the start, middle, and end right before the boss chamber, due to its weak Mana level this dungeon only has a single one in the middle, and since it isn't fully formed only the Sanctuary in it is secured against spawning monsters. That's why our group is here: we're on a special mission from the King himself! We've been tasked with a truly rare chance to be the group who finally connects this regional dungeon to the World Dungeon! Once done the Mana from the World Dungeon will flow into this one, raising its level and with it the spawns and safe zones!

The safe zones are super important: it's the only place people can get and raise a Class. Everyone in the world wants a Class! Merchants pay good money to be brought into a Regional Dungeon just to gain access to the System! That's why this dungeon has been a problem: merchants don't want to waste months to reach the Halfway point then months on the return trip when they can do it in half that time visiting the neighboring kingdom. Once this dungeon creates a safe zone at the start it'll increase the people coming to the area, enriching the region and helping people grow!

As a prime example: me!

Once let out of the circle I reach the Sanctuary and easily pull one of the doors open as it glides smoothly on its hinge. Past the door is a round room, the walls lined with monuments to the God's.

Every God's Symbolism is unique; some have statues of themselves, some have statues of animals, some weapons, and others objects of importance.

The one I seek is roughly in the middle: Gaia- The Goddess of Nature. Her statue is of a beautiful woman in a silk dress holding a rose with a thorn covered stem. She primarily is known as a goddess of healing and growth, but as the Goddess of Nature, she is also known for her wrath. Most God's are dual natured like this and the Skills you can get from her can range as wide as the Dungeons themselves.

I kneel before her statue and open my burlap sack, removing items and preparing them in a well rehearsed pattern: a blade, a dried rose, a bowl of water, and a gold coin. I take a deep breath and begin:

– "With my body as a vessel" I place the bowl of water on the dias at her feet.

– "Through my blood" I cut my hand, resisting the pain as best I can as I pick up the dried rose stem with my other hand.

– "I beg for your aid and protection" I continue, placing the dried petal section on the cut before squeezing the hand shut over it.

– "to guide and protect me through the challenges I face" I say, placing the gold coin on top of the crushed, bloody rose in my hand.

– "as I seek a better future." I finish, tightly squeezing the coin above the bowl.

As my blood begins to drip into the water the coin in my hand grows warm and soft as it loses its shape and begins to glow. A wave of exhaustion fills me as my blood is forcibly extracted, filling the rose petals so deeply they would appear still alive before the three mix together and flow out of my grip, mixing into the water and giving it an ethereal golden glow.

– "I thank you for this blessing." I finish before raising the bowl to my lips and swallowing its contents.

The ceremony finished, I gather my items and exit the Sanctuary before heading back to my companions. After being let into the ring we wait and I take a moment to bandage my hand. Thankfully it isn't long before I jump up and shout "I can see it, the golden light!", my tail wagging behind me at a dizzying speed!

My companions look each other in the eyes before smiling, Sam telling me he's glad it's going according to our plans.

Unable to contain my excitement to finally see my own Class info I perform the mental ritual and summon the Menu, and just as quickly-

—

I wake up blind and in shock as the world is filled with the sound of celebration.