The pair didn’t get far before they came upon another monster group. This one was almost living right beside the side of the tower, crowning one of the hills which bordered the spire. Jamie and Max were quite hesitant on approaching this group – while it wasn’t a forested zone, it was one of the places that diverged enough to be significant.

Several large boulders – each vanishingly small next to the spire – reaching several times their own height lay or stood all around, offering plenty of opportunity for ambush, danger, and hidden enemies.

Not all was hidden though. Even at a distance, they could discern the movement of badger-sized creatures. Going around the hill might be an option, but it would potentially waste several hours of their day if the entrance was to be found up there.

“What if the entrance only opens up if we have completed one dungeon?” Jamie asked in the middle of their discussion.

“What do you mean? Oh…”

“Yeah, if that indicator says we need to do one out of one dungeon before we can move on to the next floor.”

Max quickly checked the counter showing how many people had progressed to the next floor already.

> A total of 4.3 trillion entities from your universe have entered THE CRAWL. 217 929 398 479 have progressed to Floor Two.

“I think it’s unlikely that… Two hundred Seven-teen billion have moved onto floor two. And remember that there were people that had moved on within minutes. I don’t know, but it sounds like doing that would take a bit longer. Whatever that really means. I think it’s the maximum you can have for something.”

“Fair enough. So, take the detour, turn around, or walk up there? I think turning around and getting a reference point from the opposite hill might be the best. It looked clear of any hidden threats at least.”

“Sounds like the most logical solution, and we aren’t particularly pressed on time. You aren’t really injured anymore, and we only really need water – for which there is no guarantee on the next floor.

“That’s a good point, Max. We should drink our fill before we move on. Ok, the new plan is don’t rush, rather just chill and see what we can find an entrance, maybe even seek out that group of roaming wolves if you are up for another fight?”

“Oh, I’ve just thought of something else. What if dungeons are the way one can level? Like you need to complete a dungeon first?”

“If you can level at all.”

Both went silent at that. Having considered that problem before and not knowing an answer was a bit disheartening. If monsters kept growing in strength and they had no other option to catch up besides his and Jamie’s traits, they would sooner or later be in serious trouble.

They stalked back, uphill, having just reached the saddle between the two hills.

That was until they stopped, after hearing snarling just behind the crest of the hill. Max internally cursed.

Of course, roaming… I should have known – expected – as much. Wolves have a great sense of smell… Why didn’t I think of that? At least Jamie didn’t consider it either.

Stolen story; please report.

They looked at each other meaningfully in the eyes.

“I’ve got the big guy if you can take care of at least three of the smaller ones,” Max whispered.

“The black one, right?” Max nodded his head in response. Jamie extended a thump. “Whenever you are ready.”

Max took a few steadying breaths. When he felt sufficiently centered, he stood up straight and marched towards the snarling confidently, Pitchfork in hand. Ready to fight the likely strongest opponent yet.

He didn’t remember where he’d heard it first, but he knew that he had. Momentum matters. And to have momentum one needed to have a greater goal. Max was tired of being in a disadvantageous position, barely scraping by – though it had gotten easier. He would make it easier for himself, for Jamie, for his family, for his friends, and for humanity.

If he managed.

He hadn’t realized that he’d begun running. With each step, the group of five wolves became more visible. Just as another ear raised or head turned with each step. Hauling was not an option. It would effectively disarm him.

But that was where Sprint came to help. Together with the Trousers of the Divide, it boosted his speed to exceed legal street limits for cities. That was not all, when he came within reach of the group of wolves, he allowed Zoomies to take over his mind.

Jamie would have to pick up the slack.

Without properly registering he had just gored one of the roaming wolves nearby he was already evading another’s dash. He subtly felt heat bearing up from behind him but didn’t care. Didn’t process what it meant. The void in his mind only had place for Fleetrunner – the roaming boss in front of him – and nothing else.

Max saw himself in the judging black eyes mirrored.

The wolf evaluating him, as strides quicker than prey could move, brought Max closer. With more intent, and momentum than itself possessed driving towards it. Steel – something it had not known – reaching, clawing for its heart.

But what could something without the energy of levels suffusing it do to it – a boss? A creature draining might from the very corruption the CRAWL tried to defend sentience from.

Both attacked at the same time.

Steel met fangs and, for the first time since entering the CRAWL, was rebuffed. Brown liquid splashed everywhere as Fleetrunner’s enamel and tongue encountered Dung Sweeper's overtones.

Max was already drawing the weapon back and down – trying to control the monster’s movement so he could use other avenues of attack besides his weapon. Fleetrunner retched once – dislodging the icky liquids from its maw –, retreating just a pace. Its body tensed and sprung like a coil.

Into emptiness.

Max had taken a few steps to the side at the same time but had not managed to bring up his pitchfork in time to stab the monster into its flank. Instead, he pummeled the creature's back with the other end. Causing it to impact the ground stunned and immobile for a moment.

But not long enough for the weapon wielder to bring it around entirely. As the hound stood, Max had already moved to its side and went in to stab the agile opponent.

The wolf had been somewhat prepared and while the prongs impacted and pierced skin, it wasn’t deep enough to injure organs.

Using the momentum of the impact Fleetrunner pushed itself away dislodging the weapon and stumbled a few steps away. Not fast enough to remove itself from the threat that Max posed, but enough for a short respite.

The wound on the boss’ flank oozed a grey liquid – unlike anything Max had ever seen, not that he cared at the moment. And that was enough to have the void in his mind yearn for more violence. For more destruction and most importantly to make up for the one victory it hadn’t managed to accomplish.

Max pounced, dashed, struck, and gored the boss repeatedly. Slowly working it down over a few seconds.

And as he realized that he was coming down from the effects of the zoomies he brought one last hit onto the neck of the tortured creature in front of him.

Both broke down together for entirely different reasons.

Jamie came by, followed by a wolf that would have been no threat to either of them, but she had no good method of seriously taking it out. Max held up his Pitchfork, straining himself more than the simple action should have, and handed it over.

Then he keeled over entirely. Face planted into the moss below him

Sometime later Jamie sat down next to him, handing him what was likely the monster core from Fleetrunner.

“You should use it. The earlier you do, the sooner you’ll not have to worry about undressing the shirt.”

Max only nodded, held the shard to his shirt, and accepted the prompt. Then the world went dark.