"Sacred Flame!" I shout, holding my mace in the air as golden light wreaths my target in holy fire.

Your attack against a [Greater Boar] was a Critical Success!

Light damage has decreased its health by [3] points!

Note: [Greater Boar] is affected by the status [Blinded]!

As my Flame blinds the boar Sam moves into position, slamming his shield into its head while successfully activating his skill "Shield Bash", putting it in a daze and shaving off five points.

While it's confused Melissa rushes in from the side, quick blades slashing through flesh as her skill Rend activates on both her attacks, providing enough damage to bring its life to an end.

Your companions' attack against a [Greater Boar] was a Critical Success!

Force damage has decreased its health by [Five] points!

Note: [Greater Boar] is affected by the status [Dazed]]!

–

Your companions' attack against a [Greater Boar] was a Critical Success!

Slashing damage has decreased its health by [3] points(x2) plus [2] Bleed (x2),reducing its health to Zero! [00/15]

–

Congratulations-You have defeated an opponent!

After reaching Level Two I have built up enough stamina to cast cantrips after my level spells are gone. Since I'm able to keep up now we've been working to improve our teamwork and I think it shows!

This is the best routine we've made: even with the cantrip Sacred Light I can temporarily blind our opponent, leading the way for my teammates to finish it off!

Sam and Melissa seemed quite surprised, saying most casters rarely get a Critical Hit. Especially getting one so consistently!

We know the Boss will be much more difficult so we're not slowing down: we hope to find at least one monster a day as strong as the boar.

' Speaking of which' I think and start prepping so we can eat the boar for dinner; we haven't been lucky enough to eat good food every day. While I'm OK cooking rats, my companions won't eat anything less than a squirrel, even though I think they're practically the same. Considering the boar is as tall as I am it would be nice if they would help bleed it, but Melissa says she doesn't know how and… it's probably better if I do it myself.

Sam throws a set of metal bars at me and I set them up before tossing a rope over the center, pulling the boar off the ground with only a little struggle before I begin to drain its blood. It's a shame we can't do anything with the organs, but the meat would go bad before we got a chance to eat it.

Thankfully we're getting close: only a few more months and we will arrive at the Boss Chamber! Once we open the local dungeon to the World Dungeon I will be able to go back to the orphanage with enough gold to keep it open a few more years.

I'll be glad to see my family again.

—

The smell of pork fades as I wake from a dream, a hunger for BBQ floating through my mind. It's funny how something random you think can become an entire dream. It's also sad, because there's no way I can get any BBQ sauce here.

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Wiggling out from under the root I stretch, reddish Fire Roach legs extending as I look around. The ward stones may provide extra safety while I sleep but even with them I'm not going to sit out in the open; that's just asking for an ambush.

There's one thing I really wish I found, and that's a map: I'm surprised no one in that group had one. I also wonder which direction they came from: it'd be nice to have a general idea of a way out of here.

'Not much I can do about it.' I decide, shifting back into the Armored Dire Rat form.

I noticed the left wall seems closer to the river than it was before and I hope that means I'll find an exit from this place further down. If not I'll have to double back and risk running into those Flesh Hounds. 'And that, if at all possible, will be avoided!'

After a few hours walking I begin to hear the sound of a waterfall, though sight of it is still blocked by the enormous trees. Following the sound I come across another group of rabbits: three, and judging by their size and the horns on their heads, more evolved.

Activating Stealth and Disguise I back up and shift, taking on the Horned Rabbit form I made, but remain hidden. I feel a bit jealous watching them; save for a few words with rats I've been alone since I got here. 'Having companions you can trust must be nice.'

An odd feeling of concern crosses my mind, like I should already have that comradority. 'Is it because I'm a rabbit?' I wonder, but the feeling seems… older than this.

I'm brought out of introspection as I watch a shadow begin to darken beneath the rabbits, a sense of dejavu forming with it.

'OK, decision time: do I help the rabbits kill the predator, or wait and kill the victor?'

I know, it's kind of a sleazy thing to do, but I doubt any other predator would refuse to do the same.

'... sorry rabbits, but I can't pass up this chance.'

I adjust my position, preparing to sprint forward when necessary, and watch as the dark shadow spreads beneath all the rabbits. Once it's complete a form silently leaps out and attacks, the startled rabbits emiting a piercing scream of surprise.

Their shock is fully understandable as they attempt to leap, only to find themselves stuck in place. The moment is enough for the now visible fox to bite into one rabbits neck and the two begin to sink into the shadow together.

'Crap!' I mentally shout in surprise: how did I think it was going to be able to take on three at a time!?

I activate Dash, launching myself head first at the fox, but I've got a trick up my sleeve: as I get close I activate my Fire Infusion and, for the first time using it as its intended, focus it in my small horn, empowering it with a leveled casting.

Your attack against a [Shadow Fox] was a Critical Success!

[Shadow Fox]'s health has decreased by [11] points! [19/30]

(3 piercing, +2 Mana Flesh, +2 Advantageous Attack, +1 BloodSucker, +3 Fire)

[Shadow Fox]'s Skill has been forcefully ended, causing additional damage!

[Shadow Fox] has taken an additional [6] Force damage! [13/30]

[Horned Rabbit #1] has taken [6] Force damage! [08/20]

I move slightly away as Dash ends, vaguely aware Pack Tactics aided in the attack with the Critical Hit.

The two uninjured rabbits leap away as the fox's magical hold is lost, the injured one now baring its fangs at its attacker. It only takes a split second before the two attack each other, teeth piercing each other's flesh as their fur is covered in blood. The fox maintains the upper hand as it bites into the rabbits neck again, the rabbit going limp, but it's victory is short lived as its attack causes it to be still for a moment, allowing the other two rabbits to charge into it from opposing sides- their sharp horns piercing its body with enhanced effects.

Congratulations-You have defeated a stronger foe!

You have gained [One] Victory Point!

'I hope this works.' I think, not wanting my real prize to be stolen. I run up to the fox and begin forcing my base form into my current one, extending my mouth along the length of my body. The two uninjured rabbits sense something strange is happening and leap back in surprise, standing still as if unsure of what they're seeing.

I quickly consume the fox, then proceed to consume the rabbit.

The two become more curious at this point, but not wanting to give them a chance to get close I activate Dash, pushing my form to return fully rabbit as I run away from the scene.

Not surprisingly they give chase, their larger size allowing them to begin closing the distance but soon fall behind when I activate Dash again in half the time it takes for them to do so.

I mentally snicker at having sucessfully "Dine-N-Dash"ed as I run away.