{[Those that raise walls around them, do so because they fear everything outside of their reach… Too often, they don’t realize, those same walls become their prison.]}

The morning dew caressed the field of dried grass. Ashner had woken up early to the moans of a lustful bunny girl. Instead of sticking around, he put his gear on and walked around the concealed land.

The way demi's survive is by hiding themselves away. Violet weighed the risks and took the chance. Sure, her people were malnourished, but they were alive and free.

Ashner was close to the cave, where a few stray homes were scattered, but it didn't compare to the number of homes in the village. They were tiny and made of wood and mud. In the distance, a handful of demi-bunnies were tending to the fields. It was a pleasant place to live.

Ashner glanced at the fields. A bundle of stubborn plants grew. They rose up like corn and split at the top in four directions due to the weight of the vegetables they grew. They were similar to bell peppers, but they had a spiky exterior.

“How do you eat that?” Ashner asked himself out loud.

"You peel the skin." A demi-bunny had snuck up next to Ashner. He almost jumped in fear when he glanced at her red eyes. "The spikes will make you sick. Would you like one?"

The demi-bunny had white ears with black spots. She was malnourished like the rest, but her face was youthful, and her white hair cut off at her shoulders. The girl was charming.

“I recognize you.” Ashner tilted his head. “You were there when the wyverns attacked.”

"Yes, I was." The bunny girl smiled. "My name is Saki, and you saved my life."

Skittering steps rushed through the terrain.

“It was nothing.” Ashner wasn’t sure how to reply to her.

Spiders who desired blood, flesh, and bone were free. They moved through the fields until their eyes found prey.

"No." She smiled brightly. As she did, stray little green lights started lighting up around her. They were will-o-wisps. "You stood up against a wyvern to protect me… You’re a hero.”

"I… I don't know how to reply to that…" Ashner glanced away. As he did, her eyes became curious.

A scream echoed across the land.

Ashner turned around briefly, and a demi fell in the distance.

“What was that?”

"Ah…" Saki gasped. Ashner turned back to her, and a large spider punctured one of its jaws deep into her chest.

Ashner quickly drew his M9 and blasted it at close range.

XP:3150 > XP:3155

The spider turned to black mist and dropped three coins.

Saki coughed out blood.

Ashner glanced at the cave. Dozens of spiders rushed towards him. They were picking off the field workers.

FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! I CAN’T SAVE THEM.

Saki gasped slowly.

She’s still alive…

Ashner picked her up and lifted her over his shoulder. Then he ran backwards, firing a round when a spider got too close.

XP:3175 > XP:3200

I need to get to the village. At the very least, I'll save Saki… If monsters are attacking… Then that cave… No, could it have turned into a dungeon… DAMN IT ALL! WHAT ROTTEN LUCK! FUCK! THAT MEANS WE'RE TRAPPED! WE CAN'T GET TO THE STRIKER!

*******

Wong and Violet were naked as the sun arose. Violet was below him as he dominated her. Now that the sun shined, he enjoyed the lines on her stomach, nearly abs but not as defined. Her chest was perky, and her eyes were submissive and needy.

“I’m surprised you lasted this long.” Wong mocked her, but she only moaned in retaliation. His face was gorgeous, and his muscles were defined and held back by his beautiful skin.

Screams broke the mood. Both of them jumped away from each other and instinctively reached for their clothes while keeping their weapons within reach.

The screams continued, which made them both rush. Violet finished up first and grabbed a war ax that curved like a feather dipped in water. It was a pole-arm that was as long as her body.

Wong hurried up, put his armor on, and rushed after her.

When they ran out of the wooden home, groans and gunfire met them.

"WONG!" Ashner dragged a wounded girl on his shoulder. He fired a few rounds, peppering two spiders.

XP:3200 > XP:3250

Wong aimed his M4-Carbine downrange and fired, killing the closest spiders that skittered toward Ashner.

XP:3250 > XP:3400

Ashner took the opportunity to rush towards Wong. As he jogged, blood rolled down his shoulder. Saki was severely wounded.

Stray gunfire echoed around them, and a handful of demi-bunnies rushed with oversized swords, hammers, and axes.

XP:3400 > XP:3650

"Take her!" Ashner handed the demi to Wong. She was barely breathing. "Don't let Saki die!"

Wong placed the girl down against a wooden home, she had a sucking chest wound, and she was breathing through the wound.

“I can’t do anything.” Wong glanced at Ashner. “She’d need to be in surgery for me to save her!”

Saki tuned into his words. Her heart dropped to her stomach. But the moment that massive spider had shoved its claw into her, she rationalized the cold truth... She was already dead.

Gio joined in the gunfire, controlling his bursts. Spiders rushed them in waves from the cave they had emerged from. In the distance lay the bodies of dozens of dead demi's. They were caught in the surprise attack and were slaughtered quickly.

XP:3650 > XP:3775

Some of the monsters ignored the battle and instead opted to eat the corpses.

Ashner gave Gio a hand sign, indicating that he should shift his fire from left to right.

Gio nodded and rushed ahead. As he did, spiders jumped on top of the homes.

“Give her the potion!” Ashner ordered Wong. “We don’t know what we’re facing! We need everyone to fight!”

Risa’s wind power lifted loose leaves and grass as she dashed. She cut down a handful of spiders that tried circling around the town. Alex and Twila’s small rounds echoed, but Wong had no idea where they were.

XP:3775 > XP:4000

Hesitantly, Wong reached for the miracle potion. He lifted the demi-bunnies head on his lap. Her white ears were stained with her blood. "Open up." The demi opened her mouth lightly. He hated giving the medicine to her. This was something that was for himself, Ashner, Gio, or Alex. Even so, he hated witnessing someone die more.

Saki drank the potion, and her wounds healed quickly. Her breathing stabilized, and even her body shifted. She was no longer underweight. Her physical mass returned.

Demi's ran towards their leader's home. Some of them were wounded, and only a handful rushed with weapons to face the monsters.

XP:4000 > XP:4150

“What do we do?" Gio stopped firing, and some stray spiders broke into their formation and attacked random demi's. The guys were not foolish enough to fire a round into a group of people. It was too risky.

Violet rushed in, smashing a spider. When she hit it, the monster flew fifty meters and crashed into another one, killing them both. The bunny bared her teeth.

Alex, Luna, and Twila emerged with wounded demi-bunnies.

Ashner rushed forward, popping at spiders on top of homes and a few eating the fallen demi's. Gio did the same. They took the spearhead of the fight and, in the process, saved a handful of demi's. Risa protected their backs.

XP:4150 > XP:4600

Then, the battle took a pause.

“Is that all of them!” Violet asked, coins and blood stained the floor.

Ashner aimed his scope toward the cave. Sure enough, spiders were swarming it and circling the entrance.

“No, that was just the first wave." Ashner glanced back. The demi's were all out of breath.

They won't survive another wave… If anything, they'll become a burden…

“We’re all going to die.” A demi girl with a wounded leg yelped.

“The Dead God’s servants found us…” Another cried her words out.

“This is it." One with dark skin and silver hair with a war hammer gritted her teeth. "This is our end…”

Violet studied her people. She had no words for them… Despite her best efforts, she had doomed them in this cage. Violet lowered her weapon, and her ears dropped.

Ashner witnessed everything as well.

Violet’s rage overwhelmed her. “We can’t die here…”

“I thought the dungeon was cleared," Ashner spoke to Violet, whose eyes were deep with fear. “Yes, it was even blessed… No monster should’ve taken it for at least a hundred years…”

“Then how did this happen?”

“There must've been a dungeon hidden inside the cave. If it collapsed, then the monsters spilled out of it…"

“Then that means…” Ashner tapped his mask. “Okay, we can survive…”

“What do you mean?" Violet asked. Wong also gave him an eyebrow raise.

Ashner walked towards a barn that doubled as a food storage. Its doors were massive. Ashner tapped it with his key. It shifted into the entrance of the White Room. This surprised all the demi's.

“Everyone who's wounded or can't fight takes refuge in here!" Violet glanced inside. Unsure how to react to the odd magic. "As for everyone else!"

Ashner made his voice boom. "If a portion of the cave collapsed, then we don't have to destroy the dungeon's heart! Instead, we'll rush past it and get to our Stryker! And once we get to the demi-cows territory, we'll release you there!"

The demi's were dumbfounded, but Gio and Wong smiled.

“You can do it?” Violet asked in awe. “You can save us all?”

“Not all. We might all die trying to get through the cave, but we have a chance if we take our strongest warriors."

“MAKE YOUR CHOICE NOW!” Gio roared. “THE NEXT WAVE IS CHARGING! AND IT’S LARGER!”

“Quickly!” Violet ordered. “The wounded and weak inside the room!”

The bunnies didn't need to be told twice. They rushed into the White Room.

Gio and Wong didn't wait for an attack order. They postured themselves in a comfortable position and engaged. Right after they did, Alex and Twila did the same.

XP:4600 > XP:5150

The stronger demi-bunnies took their stand. None of them used ranged weapons. Instead, they opted for oversized weapons.

Thousands of demi’s rushed into the White Room. They couldn’t go to Earth, but they scattered into the training room and the garage, which were large enough to hold them.

“Warriors of the summer fields!” Violet held her weapon up. “We are the bunnies! The demi’s of violence and pleasure! Lift your weapons! Today, we make our stand against the forces of the Dead God!”

A handful of demi's lifted their heavy weapons and readied themselves, giving up the safety of the White Room. In exchange, they were ready to give their lives.

They’re too tired… Too weak…

“Luna!" Ashner walked to her. She was carrying some of the wounded into the White Room. "I need you to do something."

Menu. Increase Luna’s Spirit Magic by one and level up her Buff Target’s Speed to five.

XP:5150 > XP:4025

Luna

Spirit Magic – Level 4 > 5

Subclass

Buff Target's Speed – Level 0 > 5

Luna sensed her new power, and her mana grew.

“I need you to use your power on everyone that’s going on the offensive. Use all your mana on us, and then run into the White Room."

“Ashner.” Her elven ears dropped. “What about you?”

XP:4025 > XP:4400

“I’ll be fine.”

“No.” Luna gripped her fingers around Ashner's armor and pulled herself closer to him. "I know it's not my place to ask… But give me more power. I'll give you everything I have."

Menu, buy another level of Spirit Magic for Luna.

The menu shook.

Only One Level is Allowed Per Week. Any More And Target Will Die Of Mana Overdose.

"I can't." Ashner tapped her shoulder. She was trembling. "I can only increase your power a little at a time."

"Please," Ashner begged her. "We'll charge ahead. This will give everyone enough time to get into the White Room. Then close it behind you."

Luna gritted her teeth, grasping that she didn’t have the power to fight like they did. A part of her wished she had the strength Risa had. Or the talent to use a firearm, but she didn’t. She wasn’t blessed with power or skill like that.

Even so, she raised her head. Determined to put her all into the fight.

A thousand or so demi-bunnies prepared for their deaths.

Ashner walked up next to Violet. Luna embraced her new power and burned through all her mana. Fighting the lightheadedness until everyone got embraced by her power. Then she collapsed.

Ashner caught her.

The menu popped up.

X2 Speed for 30 minutes.

Everyone sensed it in their bodies.

Luna closed her eyes and passed out. “Good job.” Risa grabbed the elf and nodded at Ashner. Her power left a handful of leaves behind her. She took Luna into the White Room.

“This is it!” Ashner readied his weapon. “Charge through their ranks!”

Ashner ran first, keeping his weapon at the ready. Mid step, he'd fire a round. Behind him, the small army charged. Gunfire ripped through the dying land.

The spiders charged like a swarm of angry bees.

Focus on my rounds. Make them count. Kill as many as I can before they get to us.

XP:4400 > XP:5000

Even with their firepower, the spider’s numbers were too much.

Both armies collided.

Alex – Level Up!

Firearms – Level 2 > 3

Subclass

Handgun – Level 2 > 3

Twila – Level Up!

Firearms – Level 1 > 2

Subclass

Handgun – Level 1 > 2

There are too many. Even if they level up, they'll run dry on ammo sooner than later.

The physical strength of the demi-bunnies helped cut down the first wave of spiders with ease.

The SAW ran dry.

“KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING!" Ashner roared as they cut through the fields filled with dead demi's who were caught off guard. Hundreds of bodies lay half-eaten. A waste of life. This reminded Ashner of his days in the war. He had also walked over the bodies of his friends to kill his enemies. Even in another world, war was the same disgusting, ripping, gory mess of madness.

XP:5000 > XP:5300

The spiders got within biting distance of Ashner. That's when Risa jumped down, cutting them apart. For a second, her power gathered, and she dashed across the battlefield faster than she had ever moved before. She trimmed down the spiders with ease.

Alex and Twila’s firearms ran dry, and Ashner was down to his last two magazines.

We weren't prepared for this many enemies… We're going to have to rely on our daggers before we get to the cave.

XP:5300 > XP:5850

The demi-bunnies cut through the ranks, even with their spirits racing and their borrowed power. The spider's got some of them, cutting their limbs off, ripping them to shreds without mercy.

“DON'T STOP!" Violet hopped up into the sky and ahead of the group. As she dived down, she stabbed her weapon into the ground, her mana and will pulsed into the earth. The ground shook, and spears of dirt ripped out, killing the next wave of spiders with precision. As they died, the dirt spikes crumbled, and they dropped coins.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Another wave readied itself to attack. These spiders were circling around the entrance of the cave. They bared their fangs and made their move.

The spiders collided once more with them. They were a stone toss from the entrance of the cave.

XP:5850 > XP:6250

Ashner fired at a handful of spiders that rushed him. One got through his barrage and used its fangs to attack. Ashner used his Carbine and pushed it forward. Keeping the spider from biting into his chest. The fangs sliced like sharp scissors.

Fuck!

The fangs sliced Ashner's bicep. Cutting through his shirt and drawing blood.

Gunfire came down like a storm. The spider rolled on its back and curled its legs. Then another, and another.

XP:6250 > XP:6400

"I finally caught up." A girl said confidently as her golden tail danced with the wind. She was riding a four-wheeler.

"Naomie!" The golden fox girl held a rifle and had a sword on her back, more than likely a gift from Risa. "What are you doing?"

Her hair had grown out a little more. It was halfway down her neck. The thing that caught Ashner off guard was that the fox girl was using an AR-15, a weapon they scavenged from the hoarder's home. And on the four-wheeler, she tied dozens of backpacks that were designed to carry ammo and supplies. Something Ashner had told her was in case of emergencies.

She just saved us…

“The demi-bunnies are all in the White Room." She engaged a few stray spiders and tossed Ashner a handful of magazines. Then, she did the same with everyone holding a firearm. As she did, the spare magazines were dropped into an empty backpack on the four-wheeler. “You said to always be prepared!”

"Let me fight!" It was pointless asking since she was in the middle of it. But in a way, she was trying to get Ashner's approval. He had occasionally gone into the White Room with Risa while they traveled and observed her train Naomie. Ashner and the guys also trained her with firearms, but he had no idea the demi-fox had grown that much in a matter of weeks. It was surreal.

She determined that we were going to run black on ammo. I knew that was a possibility, but we didn't have time to go into the White Room and restock… Alright, we can do this… I owe that girl…

Then, the reality of war crashed against Naomie. Demi's were dying all around her. Some were missing limbs, and they were left behind. As painful as it was, the army didn't have the luxury to carry people. Naomie's ears dropped at the sight of blood and gore, her heart shivered at the wounded crying, begging, and cursing.

“I… I…” She hesitated.

XP:6400 > XP:6650

“You did great!" Ashner put spare magazines in his cargo pockets since his vest was filled. "Go back into the White Room. If the worst were to happen, Luna will need help."

Naomie's eyes dropped. A part of her wanted to keep fighting, but she turned her head away when a nearby demi-bunny got torn apart. That was too much for the girl who dreamed of becoming a warrior.

She drove away, back to the safety of the world in between.

The army broke through the field and rushed into the cave. The demi's had to get closer to each other due to the size of the entrance. As they rushed in, Ashner tilted his head up. Risa cut down the spiders above them.

We can make it!

As they entered the cave, two enormous spiders attacked from the shadows.

They both cut through the formation, destroying and quickly devouring a two demi’s a piece. Then, they skittered into the cave with their food in their mouth.

Ashner engaged the giant target, and the rounds bounced off its thick armor.

Below him, the demi-bunnies focused on the small fries.

XP:6650 > XP:6850

The large spiders jumped towards them, and as they landed, the ground shook.

Gio unloaded the SAW. The 5.56 rounds bounced off their armored body.

The two massive monsters dashed. They weren't nearly as fast as their smaller counterparts, but they were more fearsome. The first one jumped toward Violet and her warriors.

The second focused on Ashner. Its enormous body was similar to a black widow with its oversized abdomen. It used its large legs to try to crush him. Ashner rolled away from the attack. As he did, Risa attacked its leg. Their blades left no damage.

The giant spider bit down, but Ashner rolled just in the nick of time.

“ASHNER!” Gio tossed him a grenade.

Ashner caught it.

He pulled the pin as the spider made its second and third attempt at trying to eat Ashner. In its third attempt, Ashner tossed the grenade in its mouth. The spider jerked back, unsure of what it had eaten. Then, the rumbling of the grenade shook the ground.

The spider's body didn't break. It stood, then collapsed on its back, and its legs shriveled.

XP:6850 > XP:7475

The second spider stomped and tore through a demi-bunnies chest. Then, it tossed her body deeper into the cave.

The bunnies attacked its body, but nothing did any damage.

Violet flared her mana and formed a green light on the top of her battle ax. She struck the spider's legs, cutting them off. Violet then hopped off the wall and came down to perform the coup de grace.

Both spider’s bodies turned into a pile of large gold.

Violet gasped for air. The smaller spiders scattered back into the cave now that their more prominent comrades were slaughtered. Violet's body burned, and exhaustion overwhelmed her. She had burned through most of her mana.

None of them were aware, but a spider was above them, hiding in a dug-out hole. She took this opportunity to strike at the biggest threat.

A bunny that killed her child with an ax.

The Drider jumped down, and as she did, the light from outside the cave illuminated her body. Her hands had sharp claws, claws ready to kill Violet.

Blood splattered.

Wong had pulled her away from the attack. Instead of slicing Violet's throat, it hit another target.

Blood flowed down Wong's neck, and it colored his FCU uniform and armor in red.

Violet’s bunny ears drooped, and her eyes widened as she glanced up at Wong.

No!

Risa rushed down, slashing at the Drider's neck. But she caught the blade with the claws in her hand and threw the demi-cat against a handful of bunnies. They all tumbled against the hard rocks.

Gio engaged her. Some of the rounds bounced off her spider legs, but a single round hit her stomach, and she screeched. She focused her dark mana and pushed out a power that shook everyone to their core. Gio and Twila dropped their weapons, and the bunnies trembled at the sight of the Drider.

Everyone was caught in her illusion. All except for one demi.

Alex roared as his eyes glowed purple. He used his illusion power. Fear magic clashed against Fear magic. The mana Alex possessed wasn't nearly as powerful as the Drider's, but she was caught off guard, and with her stomach bleeding, she took a step back and retreated deeper into the cave with supernatural speed.

"Ashner!" Alex's body pulsed in pain, and he fell to one knee. “It's a Drider! Those monsters use Fear magic. I can counter it with my own, but my mana's too weak!”

“Menu!” Ashner’s menu popped up. “Level up Illusion and max out Alex's Fear!"

XP:7475 > XP:6370

Illusion – Level 4 > 5

Subclass

Fear – Level 1 > 5

Alex's power increased. He despised using Fear as a weapon, but in this case, it was also their shield.

Gio and Ashner ran to Wong. Violet held the doctor’s arm as he tumbled to his knees.

Wong held the wound with his hands and coughed out blood.

"We have to keep going!" Ashner took the spearhead and gave an order. "Wounded, get in the center of the formation! We’re almost through!”

They kept pushing, three hundred or so meters. Wong stumbled, but Violet and another demi-bunny carried him. As they did, the group killed off the stray spiders.

XP:6375 > XP:6850

Fresh air hit the group. And they made their way to the Stryker. Gio hit a button on the camouflaged tarp. It quickly wrapped into itself in a circular motion.

Ashner tapped the hatch, and it turned into a new door.

The menu isn't telling me his stats. I haven't bought that for Wong or Gio, but it's obvious… This wound will kill him… And the door on Earth is currently connected to the factory… He'll die before I can get him to a hospital… I only have one option to save him…

Ashner studied the demi-bunnies. They had lost roughly thirty percent of their numbers, and another forty percent of them were wounded. Some had lost limbs, but they were alive since they bandaged their wounds. Ashner wanted to save them all, but only one of them had the skills to heal their wounds.

Ashner reloaded his M4 and glanced back at the cavern. There was a massive hole right next to the entrance of the cave. That was the new dungeon.

“I’m going back.” Ashner took a step towards the darkness.

"Are you mad?" Violet held Wong. He struggled to breathe, but even he shook his head. He weighed their options and determined that facing that monster again might be the end of everyone. Wong stood up enraged. He pointed at the Stryker.

"No." Ashner gave his orders. "You don't have to follow me… But I'm putting a bullet in that spider's head… And then I'm taking the dungeon’s potion… If Wong survives, he can save your wounded.”

This made the demi's eyes light up. Most of the wounded had accepted that their wounds bound them to the grave.

Wong tried to grab Ashner's shoulder, but his strength faded. He leaned against the Stryker, leaving it stained with his blood.

"I'll fight with you." Violet pleaded, but she barely had the strength to stand. Ashner shook his head.

“You burned through enough of your mana. Instead, make sure Wong doesn't lose too much blood. Don't let him die." Violet nodded. "If the worst happens, Luna will guide you and your tribe to her people. She knows how to drive the Stryker. As long as the hatch remains the White Door's entrance, you can take your people to safety."

Most of the demi-bunnies entered the White Room. Only a handful of them stayed behind. One of them was Saki, who looked stronger than everyone else, including Violet.

As Ashner spoke, Alex, Twila, and Gio reloaded their weapons. Naomie had given them more than enough spare ammo. Meanwhile, Risa and Saki cleaned the spider's blood off their weapons.

Ashner reached into the backpack Naomie had given him and grabbed supplies from it.

"We'll hit the dungeon fast and hard," Ashner spoke to everyone who remained. "That Drider is fast, but her chest and head are exposed. That's where we'll focus our firepower."

Wong stood up again and shook his head, telling them no. As he did, blood ran down his neck.

“You’re a fool for thinking I’d let you die… You beautiful asshole…” Gio smirked. "We'll kill that perky bitch."

Ashner and his group and thirty or so demi-bunnies rushed into the dungeon.

I’m not letting him die.

As they moved back into the hell they barely got out of alive. Ashner turned to Risa. "I need a favor."

*******

Ashner led the assault. He rushed in first and fired at the surprised spiders. The cavern was more extensive than he expected. It curved deep into the mountain, but he didn’t care.

More rounds flew across the cave, destroying the lesser spiders. As they died, they dropped coins, and they rattled along with the echoes of gunfire.

The demi's showed no mercy. Their motivation wasn't just to save their wounded. It was to avenge their fallen friends and family.

No one lacked the drive to kill.

The cave was littered with gold coins. The lesser spiders fled now that enemies had invaded their territory. They had lost their will to fight.

No spider webs… And there are small holes all over the cave… Alright, we can do this…

XP:6850 > XP:7800

The group rushed into a part of the dungeon that was illuminated by magic stones. It gave the cave a blue hue. On a large stone stood their prey. The Drider licked her fingernails. She was savoring a new flavor. Human blood. Once her enemies entered her home, she glared at the group.

That stone she’s standing on has no holes in it…

The Drider's eyes glowed a deep red. Her Fear magic seeped forward. Alex forced his own Fear power on her. Colliding mana against mana. This kept the effects of her Fear at bay.

The demi bunnies charged. The Drider gave up on her Fear magic and instead screeched.

The smaller spiders rushed towards the demi’s. Driven by their fear of their mother.

They clashed over the spider eggs. The bunnies stepped and crushed them as blades and blunt objects crushed the spiders.

Gio fired his SAW at the Drider. She lifted her legs and protected her torso. The rounds bounced off, and stray rounds hit and killed lesser spiders.

XP:7800 > XP:7950

She hissed, charged, and leaped, altogether avoiding the battle her children were currently having with the bunnies. Before her legs landed, Risa slashed at her chest. But she lifted her legs and parried away the demi-cat’s sword, tossing her away with supernatural strength.

Before Risa slammed against the ground, Saki caught her.

The Drider's sharp claws slashed at Gio. He lifted his SAW for protection, but the claws tore through the metal like scissors against paper.

Gio ducked and rolled. As he did, he pulled out his sidearm that was on his right thigh and fired a few stray rounds. One hit her shoulder. She screamed and forced her Fear mana on Gio.

He shivered in terror and lowered his handgun.

The spider woman smirked and charged with her claws at Gio’s neck. But she was pushed back by the combined firepower of Ashner, Twila, and Alex. Their rounds hit the monster's left wrist. It split from the Drider's hand and fell to the ground, leaving a black mist in its place.

I knew it.

"Risa, now!" Ashner ordered. The cat grabbed him and lifted him away with her supernatural speed.

The mother of the spiders roared and acknowledged that she was getting overwhelmed. Her sharp legs dug into the wall with each step, and she fled up the side of the cave.

That's when Risa slashed at her. The fleeing Drider had left her back exposed. Risa's blade drew blood and cut a portion of the spider-woman’s hair off.

The Drider screamed in desperation. She used her Fear magic on Risa, which made the girl flee.

The Drider shook her head. Her mana was getting close to its limits.

She made her way into a hollowed-out hole on top of the cave. The Drider had earned a moment's rest. Some stones were inside her hole to give it light, and it illuminated something odd.

A mask.

"Welcome home." Ashner made the monster jerk her body back. The soldier was waiting with his finger on the trigger. He fired his rounds, and she sideswiped away from his bullets. Her feet dug into the hard rock with each step.

Ashner pushed forward, forcing her to retreat from her sanctuary. She was a foot away from a fall, directly above the stone, the one with no holes in it.

Her remaining arm slashed at Ashner’s neck, but he ducked long before her claws reached him. Behind his mask, he wore noise-canceling headphones on his head, with his right ear barely exposed. “You’re just a monster.”

Ashner fired two rounds into her abdomen, and his M4's magazine ran dry. He quickly switched to his sidearm. With his other hand, he reached for something else.

The monster slashed at his neck again. Ashner jumped back. “Your attacks have no thoughts behind them… And that makes you predictable.”

The spider’s eyes flared. Ashner sensed the Fear magic start to overtake him.

“Even that’s predictable.” He used his left hand and tossed a flash grenade between the two. He then used his left hand's forearm to cover his eyes. At the same time, his fingers moved his anti-noise headphones to cover his exposed ear. The light hit them both. And for a second, the battle below stopped.

The Drider lost her footing and fell off the ledge straight down. Ashner had done everything he could to prevent the effects of the blast from stunning him, but he was still numbed by it.

The Drider hit the ground hard, breaking all of her legs in the process. They all turned to black mist.

Risa grabbed Ashner and left him ten feet away from the arachnid humanoid hybrid.

The battle still raged around him. Two spiders rushed Ashner. One was hammered away by Saki. Another was shot by Twila.

XP:7950 > XP:8550

Ashner's ears rang a bit, and his vision struggled to focus, but his target was right in front of him. Her legs had snapped since she landed on the stone, and her weight did her no favors.

Some spiders redirected their attention to Ashner. Before they moved, Gio gunned them down quickly.

“Your first attack was from above, which told me you specialize in ambushes.” Ashner stepped towards her slowly. Trying to regain what the flash grenade had taken away. “The holes in the walls are from you using the strength and weight of your legs to climb. It’s due to your lack of webs.”

Another spider rushed Ashner. This time, Risa jumped in and gutted it, along with half a dozen of its brethren.

"The stone we're standing on has no holes, which means you've never leaped down from your cave above us to land on it. You knew the fall would harm you." Ashner's vision started clearing. "I don't give a shit if you don't understand what I'm saying… You wasted a lot of lives today… And I won’t let that slide… Plus… You fucked with my medic…”

The gunfire slowed down, and the group circled the stone.

The demi-bunnies finished off the spiders. Not a single bunny got hurt in the battle.

XP:8550 > XP:9000

The Drider's head jerked left and right. She was alone now. She tried desperately crawling towards the exit of the cave.

“What makes monsters terrifying isn't their claws or fangs.” Ashner casually walked after her. The spider used its human arm to drag herself forward, and as she did, her claws snapped when she scratched the stone. "The monsters that terrify me are creative, cunning, and above all, they thrive in deceit."

Ashner readied his M9 and aimed it at her head.

She used the last of her mana on everyone, pouring as much Fear magic into them as possible.

Ashner sensed it, but his rage overwhelmed it all. He bit his lip hard. Instead of fear, he laughed loudly as blood ran down his chin.

This made the Drider's eyes widen with fear. Still numb from the flash. In her mind, the mask started shifting and became demonic.

Everyone observed Ashner, and the demi-bunnies were a little unsettled that he laughed as the Fear magic poured into their bodies.

Twila smiled. Her lips became similar to a crescent moon.

The Drider shivered in fear, and she cocooned into herself.

“Don’t bother.” The mask’s eyes glowed red to the Drider. “There’s nothing to fear from you.”

Ashner pulled the trigger.

XP:9000 > XP:10,000

The spider's body slowly turned to mist, and a massive pile of gold started to form. Ashner dug through it quickly until he found a red potion.

“Risa!" Ashner held it up, and his loyal companion used her power to snatch it from his hand and rush towards the exit of the cave.

On the stone, a familiar pillar rose. On top of it lay a beating black heart surrounded by a clear crystal shaped like a flower. Ashner aimed at it and fired another round.

The heart disappeared in black mist.

The menu popped up.

Dungeon Cleared!

Congratulations!

XP:10,000 > XP:13,000

The menu showed a badly rendered Drider, running and slashing the wind with her claws. Then she tumbled and died, leaving behind a large pile of gold.

Silver Key Obtained!

3 White Room XP Earned!

The gold of the dead Drider overflowed and spilled over the large stone, and all the spider eggs turned to black mist. Sadly, they didn't leave any gold behind. Not that it mattered. The entire cave was covered in gold coins. Most of them were tossed aside onto random corners.

Ashner struggled to walk due to the flash grenade, so Twila and Saki helped him. Each girl grabbed one of his hands.

Gio sighed at his destroyed SAW. He shook his head and walked behind Ashner.

When they returned to the outside world, Wong was laying with his head on Violet's thighs. Risa stood above them.

Were we too late?

Wong’s chest expanded and contracted. He opened his eyes to Violet’s smile.

“Welcome back.” She knelt down and kissed his forehead.

"Stop that." Wong shook his head and stood up. The blood on his neck and uniform was still fresh, but he didn't have any pain. In fact, he was better than ever.

Gio hugged him tightly, fighting back his fears of losing his friend. Gio's tears ran down his face. "You're alive." Alex joined in and hugged Wong, too.

Wong tolerated it. He wasn't a fan of hugs, but he didn't fight them like Ashner did.

Risa tapped his head with her fingers. This left him a bit confused. “I’m glad you didn’t pass on to the Endless Forest.”

“Thank you.” Wong studied everyone who had faced the dungeon boss on his behalf. “Thank you all.”

The demi-bunnies smiled. Part of Ashner suspected that a handful of them might try to seduce Wong. In a way, he had become the prince for them to save.

Ashner hugged Wong. This caught everyone off guard. Gio joined in.

Ashner broke away and glanced at Violet. She was still on the ground, exhausted from pushing her mana to her limit.

“Come on, we should gather your dead, and once Luna feels up to it, we’ll release their souls.”

Violet’s ears perked up.

“I don’t know how many of my kin died today…” Violet stood. “If it weren’t for you, none of us would’ve survived… How can I thank you?”

"Join our allies, help us survive this world." Ashner held out his hand to her. She took a few seconds, and slowly, she reached for it and shook it. "It's not enough. I once insulted your face and-"

“Then have your people collect as many gold coins as they can for us.” Ashner interrupted her. “And I’ve been insulted worse, so don’t sweat it.”

“As… As you wish.”

"For now, I'll use the key on the barn. We'll bring out your people. They should gather their dead."

Violet nodded. It was still early in the morning, but she was exhausted. Everyone was.

*******

Menu buy Medical Ward.

White Room XP:3 > 2

Medical Ward (Level 1) – Room is for any injured or sick.

- Perfect Restoration – Any patient who stays in the room will recover twice as fast.

- Diagnoses – Any doctor who works in the medical ward has a X2 chance of discovering what illnesses are affecting their patient.

- Surgery Success – Successes of surgery increase X2.

A new room appeared in front of Ashner. Naomie and Wong studied it as it developed.

Ashner opened the door, and a room with hundreds of beds and billions of dollars worth of medical equipment greeted them.

“Oh wow…” Wong took a few steps. His hands caressed the bed frames and the machinery. “This is all top of the line.”

"Do you think you can treat the wounded?" Ashner wasn't asking something simple. Hundreds of demi's were wounded, a handful of them needed immediate surgery, and Wong was the only medical professional they had.

"Of course," Wong smirked. "I think this is my favorite room."

Naomie pouted.

“What’s wrong?’ Ashner and Risa studied the young demi.

"This place was all mine, and now it's changing." She sighed but grasped that she was being selfish. "Oh well, as long as people stay out of my room, I don't mind."

“I’m impressed, you rushed to our rescue.” Ashner hadn’t had a chance to talk to her. “Thank you.”

“After Risa trained me for a little, I was eager to prove myself.” Naomie was proud of herself. “But that battle was worse than I expected… I’m just glad that you guys didn’t die.”

“Are you saying you need more swordsmanship training?” Risa gave the fox girl a sly smile.

“Yes.” Naomie smiled right back.

She’s adapting well… I’m glad these two are starting to trust each other…

"We should let the wounded come inside the room." Wong tapped on a small round robot. Something standard medical wards in the floating cities have. It hovered over Wong's head.

Each bed had a drone that served as a makeshift doctor and a companion for the patients. It didn't replace a human, but it served as a nurse with its robotic arms that extended out of its body.

Ashner opened the door, and eighty or so patients entered the room. It frightened some of the demi-bunnies, but they followed Wong's instructions, and each took a seat. A few of them needed surgery and were immediately put into cryo sleep.

Because they destroyed the Drider, they gathered the wounded bunnies that had lost limbs on their walk back to the demi's village. Lives that were guaranteed to die if they hadn't destroyed the dungeon.

All the demi’s cried when the realization that they were being rescued hit them. None of them were abandoned to die from their wounds.

Gio, Ashner, and Wong used their tourniquets to keep them from dying. Luckily, the demi's had used their physical strength to hold their limbs and keep themselves from bleeding out.

A few rooms were closed off and surrounded by glass. Wong led his first patient into one. The room emitted a light and a gas. Making the room sterile. Wong entered a glass room that served as an in-between room. That's where he washed his hands, and the drones dressed him for surgery.

Ashner left him to do his thing. Wong was going to be taking care of the wounded for a few days.

He walked behind Risa and Naomie. The girls dashed into her room. That’s where Luna was sleeping. She had drained her mana and was exhausted.

*******

Ashner emerged in Eden, back to the land of the bunnies.

The sun shined directly above him, and the bodies of everyone who died were placed in the fields. Most of them were partly eaten, and the gore tugged at his conscience. He never stomached it casually, no matter how many bodies he had collected or put in the ground.

The village mourned, and thousands of tears were shed. Ashner grieved over the demi’s that cried for their fallen friends, mothers, daughters, aunts, and grandmothers. Ashner lamented them. The demi’s held each other close and wept. Some silently, others bitterly.

I’m not God… I can’t save them all…

Ashner went inside a house. The residents had died, and Violet let him borrow it. He, too, was exhausted from the day.

Violet walked in, closed the door, and sat beside him.

“Hey." Ashner studied the demi-bunny. She was strong. But the moment she sat down, her emotions started to overflow. She placed two gems with a liquid inside them next to Ashner. They were yellow.

"Enchantment gems... Spoils from the dungeon... They're yours..."

She’s on the verge of tears.

Ashner took the gems and put them in his cargo pocket.

“It turns out not all my sisters made it into the White Room. Some hid away in the village, so due to us destroying the dungeon, they survived… But… It's all so…"

"This was your first major battle." Ashner recognized it instantly. From her thousand-yard stare. To her wanting to hide away and confide in someone whom she wasn't in charge of.

“You’re right, this was the first massive battle I was a part of… And so many of my sisters lay dead in our fields…” She was in shock. “What could I have done differently?”

“Nothing.” Ashner was blunt with his words. "We faced the monsters head-on because they cornered us."

“Nothing?” Violet spoke the word like it was in a foreign language. “There has to have been something I could’ve done differently… I could’ve made a choice that would’ve saved all of them…”

“Violet.” Ashner recognized her emotions. “You did all you could.”

"I failed them,” Violet spoke with a tremble in her voice. "I have always been the strongest in my tribe. Because I was blessed with powerful earth magic… I cleared a dungeon on my own and made the decision to stay here on behalf of all my people… And this is what it cost me… So many of my sisters are dead… A lot of them admired me, and a lot of them I knew by name… I’ll never listen to their voices again… I’ll never sing and dance with them again… I’ll never hold them in the winter when their fingers turn red from the cold… I’ll never… Tell me, where did I go wrong?”

“You didn't go wrong anywhere." Ashner glanced at the demi. Right now, she wasn't a leader. She was a young girl who was in shambles. "You did what you thought was right."

“I want to become a leader like you… When my people panicked, I froze and didn’t have a solution to stop the monster’s onslaught…" Violet glanced up at Ashner. "You, on the other hand, rallied everyone… In the middle of the chaos, you made a plan and led us all into battle… Not to mention, you killed the Drider and cleared the dungeon… When I cleared it before, it was filled with goblins. They're nowhere near as deadly as a Drider… What's your secret?"

“I gamble," Ashner admitted. "We're both leaders. And that means we have to gamble not just our lives, but our friend's lives as well… Some leaders disconnect from the people following them as a way to cope if they lose them… Personally, I find that insulting… If someone is willing to die on your orders, the least you can do is get to know them…"

“It hurts so much…” Violet tried fighting it. She inhaled sharply, doing her best to stay strong.

“I’m not from this world… I’m from a place with things that would blow your mind… But my world had a terrible war, one that everyone was forced to be part of… It was a time of my life that was drenched in blood… I lost so many friends, and I've forgotten some of their names and faces… I used to be like you... I used to hold back my tears… In the hopes of trying to remain strong…" Ashner tilted his head towards Violet. "But I learned something…"

“What did you learn?”

“Tears mend the pain your soul can’t contain.”

Violet absorbed his words, and a tear ran down her face. "Ashner… I admire you… That’s why I don’t want to cry in front of you… I want to stand as your equal…"

Ashner grabbed her arm and brought her head to his shoulder. “No equal of mine will hold their emotions back.”

She wasn't used to the warmth of a man. From time to time, women comforted her, but this was new. Even if her physical strength far outweighed Ashner's, while her head was on his shoulder, her soul was at ease…

Violet’s resolve broke, and she wept bitterly.

Ashner held her for minutes or hours, he didn't recall. Right now, she was just a young woman with more responsibilities than she could bear. Even so, Ashner viewed her as an equal.

*******

Luna took several hours to wake up. She burned through her mana, and the first thing she did when she woke up was vomit in Naomie’s room.

Naomie wasn’t pleased.

The girls ventured into Eden. Stepping out of the barn, she wandered around until a demi-bunny pointed them to Ashner and Violet.

The sun was setting, and both leaders oversaw the dead. Some of the demi's had started collecting gold coins on Violet's orders. At the same time, they harvested all their crops and gathered their belongings.

Violet hadn’t announced it yet, but after so much death, nobody wanted to stay.

Luna’s eyes met Ashner’s back. She rushed and hugged him from behind. This made Risa’s ears jolt straight up.

“You’re alive.” She nudged her head on his back. This made Violet smirk. “What happened?”

“We cleared the dungeon, but it cost us a lot of lives."

Darkness started overwhelming the landscape. Risa hugged Ashner's shoulder, and her eyes glared at Luna.

Violet half smiled, half scoffed. Entertained by the two girl's reactions.

“What are you two doing?” Ashner wasn’t in the mood for their competitive nature.

Both girls broke away and glared at each other.

These two are like oil and water. They only tolerate each other because they’re bound to me.

Luna and Risa lamented for the weeping demi’s. Every good life holds value.

“I can’t fight.” Luna’s mana started to surge. “But I can ensure that their souls won’t be devoured.”

“You just woke up.” Ashner’s eyes were hard to discern behind his mask. “It can wait til tomorrow.”

Luna shook her head. “I was blessed with the power to guide lost souls… And I will fulfill my duty.”

Luna walked between the bodies. Her body glowed a deep green, and then her mana expanded in a circle around her. Engulfing the field of bodies. Every demi stood in awe. Even Risa hated to admit it, but she loved the colors and how Luna's mana danced when she sent spirits to the Eternal Forest.

Her magic is mystical.

The souls of those who passed appeared in front of their loved ones. They had no way of speaking. Instead, some wiped the tears of their children, lovers, friends… While others hugged them. Their bodies had no physical form, but even so, they did it. Ashner pivoted to every demi. Some even gave farewell kisses.

A final goodbye… A part of me wishes I could see my battles that died in combat… My parents and my brother… That power of hers… It’s a blessing…

Luna made her way back to Ashner and collapsed in his arms. This time, Risa didn't react since it wasn't something Luna did on purpose.

“Don’t overwork yourself.” He warned.

“Even if I collapse.” Luna forced a smile. “I have to hold the Dead God’s power back… Or else we’ll all die…”

"Thank you." Violet smiled at Luna, who was so exhausted her chest and head pressed against Ashner's armor. "But I still think you're a snake."

Luna pouted.

“A snake that protects her own.”

Luna half smiled.

“As for your offer.” Violet knelt down to Ashner.

The surrounding demi-bunnies knelt down as well. They posed like rabbits in Ashner's world, and each dug their forehead into the dirt.

“I swear my loyalty to you.” Violet leaped forward and kissed Ashner’s boot.

"Stop that." Ashner glanced around, embarrassed. But Violet kept kissing his feet.

Why do demi’s have these weird and embarrassing habits?

“Please stop.”

Violet stood up slowly. “We’re in your care.”

*******

“I tried to stop her... I tried to destroy everything... But I failed.…”

The Dead Goddess recalled her purpose…

"I don't understand..." Her tone shifted slowly. "What is he?"

Her words held corruption with each whisper.

"Who is the Traveler?" The ripples of time shifted. "Who the fuck are you... Ashner?"