Leaving behind his drink problem that now only waited for Silky’s mana deficit to resolve it, Gerald insisted she also absorb some shards of glass before heading off once more.

He was by no means a very active fairy by nature and having died thrice in succession should’ve put a dampener on any individual’s enthusiasm, but Gerald found that working up a good sweat also mightily enhanced his appreciation for a good old drink.

Feeling no danger within the dungeon and in no particular hurry, he only flew lazily through the mushroom forest as his feet barely cleared above the toadstool covered ground.

“Bloody flashin things, gi’ing us a headache,” he complained to no one in particular before hacking up a glob of phlegm at a random large purple mushroom-tree that flashed with yellows spots.

The projectile landed on the bole of the mushroom and caused the whole tree to flash with a bright yellow light before a purple cloud of spores exploded downwards from its large purple cap above.

“OHH YA FUCKER!” exclaimed Gerald as he furiously backpedalled mid-air away from the large mushroom.

What in the flying shiter was that?! Holy Realms, they did’nae do ta before! He thought with alarm whilst casting furtive glances around him.

The mushroom grove was developing too fast; whereas around him before were just the innocent yet psychedelic mushroom-trees, now it was a forest of unsavoury possibilities.

Making sure to keep from touching any of the mushrooms around him, Gerald made his way back towards the entrance to the dungeon. He did find it difficult to dodge some of the mushrooms with the hanging tendrils, but he somehow managed.

Flying carefully as he navigated the dense fungi-forms, he was surprised to break out into a small clearing.

In the secluded little grove with its carpet of tiny toadstools, stood a large and squat creamy puffball.

Gerald wouldn’t have noticed it at first if not for its distinctly orange cap, but sitting on the mishappen flesh of this puffball was Lorry. The creamy monster was sitting inside the actual puffball that was also of the same creamy colour, with the puffball moulding to his skin like some fungal throne as Lorry stared of somewhere to Gerald’s left.

Then as if on some cue, the large monster lifted its head from its weird living throne with a soft whispery suction before turning to its on left, to stare at him in eery silence.

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Gerald found it to be creepy beyond all realms and voiced his thoughts along the same lines.

“You’re a wee fucking creepy bastard mate, dinnae look at us like ta.”

Then just noticing it for the first time, was the ring of smaller orange-capped mushrooms below the puffball which now all turned to stare at Gerald a few seconds behind Lorry.

It was a fairy-ring of Toadshrools, with the now three foot tall Lorry seemingly the king of a whole throng of half-foot orange-capped midget monsters that barely came up to Gerald’s waist.

Where the large beasty was intimidating with its long girthy limbs and large bulk, these compact littles Toadshrools seemed adorable in comparison. The fact that they had tiny pinpoints which served as eyes instead of Lorry’s horrid folds, also worked in their favour to make them more seemingly cute.

But this was not a sentiment that Gerald shared. For he had already immediately left the small grove back the way he came before he had even got a chance to inspect the newly spored Toadshrools, after getting aa large dose of goosebumps at the sight of the creepy little gathering.

He had lived a long life and seen many harrowing things, but a little colony of mushroom-folk all turning to stare at him at once in silence left him feeling highly unnerved and creeped out.

I’m going ta need ta ask the kiddo ta make me a shortcut or something, he thought as he neared the exit with the darkness of the larger underground cave system beyond. Gerald did not want to have to go through the hassle of having to navigate the increasingly weird and possibly perilous mushroom forest. Plus he did not want to go back past that nope-gathering.

It would be quite the hassle if each little foray he took could possibly spell death before he even left the dungeon he was in charge of. For what was the point of being the companion to the dungeon core if he couldn’t waltz around the place?

Seeing a small little monster waving its frilly arms in the darkness just before the lip of the cave gave him some feeling of solace.

It was not the fact that the Flynemon had now grown slightly larger with five arms now instead of the previous four. It was also not for the fact that it now was levelled enough to develop one singular eye that sat just biside the lip of its currently closed mouth in the centre of its black round body amongst its waving arms.

The feeling of relief that Gerald felt was that he had just eaten something and was now actually able to relieve himself and give the monster some payback.

So whilst flying above the confused monster and making sure to stay out of the range of its questing arms , Gerald grunted in pleasure before releasing a few steaming plops of pink-cake that his fast metabolism had already processed. He felt such joy as his hot payload slipped past his asscheeks before landing true.

…

Having gained more intelligence with its recent level-up and grown more neuro-fibres during its stay in Silky’s dungeon, the Flynemon understood at some baseline level that this creature was now taunting it.

So it scrunched up its singular eye before opening and closing its mouth in anger whilst reaching upwards towards this flying foe. But doing so, it unwittingly swallowed a turd that was so foul it caused the poor monster to wriggle and thrash in revulsion.

…

Gerald could only cackle with glee before flying away from the glowing mushroom forest and heading down into the dim darkness of the cave system.

It was something he could get used to and thinking about turning into his very own, fun little ritual.