The vampire sloth was in sight, sitting up on a perch. He eyed the two adventurers as they entered, licking his fangs. He leapt down from his perch to the ground, approaching them with slow, easy steps. Daisy broke to the left, and Selena the right. The vampire chose Daisy. He slashed out at her, and she barely got her shield in place. She felt his claws dig into her forearm, though her armor absorbed the blow.

Daisy brought her hammer down, but the beast was already out of reach, having hopped back, just out of reach but skidding in a wild pinwheel to avoid falling into a great hole that yawned—He shook his head, clearing it of the illusion, but Daisy had already charged in that moment of confusion. A pair of quick blows and she slammed him with her shield, then her hammer.

Selena threw up another illusion and the beast dashed forward blindly, directly over a pit. Daisy charged in and smashed him, sending him flying with a yowl.

─You have slain a Vampire Sloth.

─You gain two vials.

The vials were there for Daisy to pick up, each swirling with the strange fluid. "Since I'm not a source of this, you better hold onto these." She offered them to Selena.

"Thanks, I really appreciate it." She took them and slipped them into a pocket. "I'll use these later."

"I still think the dress looks nice." Daisy plucked at the dress she had been given by the last sloth. "Not exactly a fit for this dungeon though. Maybe when we get back home." Selena nodded in agreement, but didn't say anything.

They continued down the path, encountering monsters as they went. Daisy felt their progress slowing as the beasts proved more capable foes than the first floor had held. The enemies were faster, stronger, and sometimes smarter. They encountered another vampire sloth a few rooms on, this time not caught unawares.

To make it worse, it had a friend, the two working together to keep them on their toes. It took them nearly half an hour to dispatch the two.

─You have slain a Vampire Sloth

─You gain two vials

Daisy grumbled as she got back to her feet, looking over the various cuts on herself that began to mend as she focused on her healing magic. "We're doing better this time. That other mouse made a nice place, I can feel the, you know, little touches." She made a gesture in the air. "It's like she's trying to make the perfect dungeon."

Selena nodded and looked around. "I think we're almost out. It's a small dungeon."

Daisy advanced at the lead of their little party. "Part of me is wondering what she has waiting as the boss of this. It has to be special or scary or something. Otherwise it'll feel kinda flat, won't it?"

"I guess? I really don't have a lot of dungeon runs to compare this to. I've just read stories and heard about it." Selena wriggled her claws as she kept close to Daisy. "If we can finish this, I'll call it a good day."

They reached the end of the dungeon within another half an hour of fighting their way through the monsters and up to the last room. The final room was small, but held a single monster: A large minotaur. The minotaur was dressed extensively, the clothing of a nobleman. He wore a fine suit in black velvet with elegant silver trim, a sword sheathed at his side. On his head he wore a top hat. The minotaur looked at the pair, clearly unimpressed, and let out a snort as he took a large step forward.

"Only one of you is even dressed for this. You should be ashamed!" His words boomed over them, along with his contempt. "I, Lord Boss, am the end of your path. Do not insult me with that dress!"

Daisy held up a hand. "One moment, Lord Boss. Sorry for looking unseemly." She hurried over to Selena. "Quick, chug one of those potions and imagine the fanciest dress you can think of." She pointed towards the minotaur.

Selena nodded and did so, quickly stripping off her old clothing and letting it drop to her feet. She felt the energy of the mutagen wash over her as a new dress formed over her body. It was just as overdone as Daisy's own, but in pure white instead of black, with gold trimmings. She looked towards Lord Boss and waited for his approval.

Lord Boss made a little 'hmph' sound as he inspected them both. "Better. At least this will be a civil battle, between people who know the meaning of proper fashion." He drew his sword and took another step forward. "Are we ready now?" He had the voice of someone who was used to servants waiting on him hand and hoof.

Daisy raised her hammer. "Ready. To be polite, why don't you start, m'lord?"

Lord Boss nodded and thrust his sword towards her in a sudden move. She only got her shield up with Selena's help. She could feel the force behind it. She twirled with hammer out, slamming the boss's arm away with the heavy tool. "I'm not that easy."

Selena wove an illusion, causing Lord Boss to stumble as he tried to retreat into some stairs. He snorted and shook his head before charging back in. He slashed at Daisy with a great cleave, then brought the sword up over his head. She got her shield up, but the attack knocked her onto her rump.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Daisy scrambled out of the way just in time for the sword to come down where she had been a moment before. "Mother's blessing!" She threw her hand out at Selena. Selena clasped it, feeling that same tingle from before as a golden aura surrounded her, making her feel even more powerful than ever before.

Lord Boss seemed unimpressed. He charged in at full speed and began to attack. He moved faster than anything they had fought, with each blow backed by an incredible strength. Daisy felt like her shield might shatter at any moment, but held on as she tried to hold off his assault. But the attacks slowed to a stop just as suddenly, his eyes distant as if focused on something else.

Selena gave a little nod, focused on whatever she was doing to the boss.

Daisy let out a triumphant laugh, raising her hammer over her head. "Light's out." She brought it down as if striking the bell of some church, but it was the boss' skull she crashed her weapon against. The minotaur fell limp and dead in an instant.

─You have slain Lord Boss.

─You have cleared this dungeon!

─You gain five vials

The minotaur's form faded into mist as he fell. As the mist cleared, a chest was left behind. "Ooo." Daisy felt over it. "Is this your first proper dungeon run? I insist you get the first loot, unless it's a really bad fit."

─Ring of the Heart

─Type: Ring

─Slot: Finger

─Made from a pink heart found in a dungeon, this ring is said to make its wearer more appealing to the opposite sex.

Daisy snorted as she lifted the ring into view, squinting at it. "Wow, this fits this world's vibes perfectly. Not sure if you want it, but you can wear this and make guys think you're hotter than you already are."

Selena giggled. "Aww, you're so sweet." She slipped the ring onto her left hand, then took Daisy by the hand with it. "I don't think either of us need this, but I don't mind a few eyes in my direction, given the choice." She leaned up to kiss Daisy on either cheek. "Thank you for a great first run."

Daisy let out a low laugh and leaned in towards Selena. "You're already perfect in my opinion." She smooched Selena's nose at the tip. "Congratulations. You're a proper adventurer now."

***

They stepped from the dungeon to be greeted by the mouse from before. "You actually came back. I figured you would, but I'm impressed. You beat the dungeon too." She looked them over and smiled a bit. "Without cheating, mostly, but that's, eh, technicality." She wobbled a hand. "You're so clueless you probably didn't think about it, but mother's blessing is a brood mouse only power. Using it in a dungeon is like using a cheat code. Useful for figuring out how to adjust things, if you're running a dungeon, but using it while running one? Kinda cheating."

"Oh." Daisy's ears flopped, a look of genuine regret crossing her features. "I didn't think it would be a problem, but I'll remember that. I'm sorry."

"Hey." The mouse put her hands on her hips. "Already forgave you, stupid little newbie. Also, you're big." She stepped up to Daisy and casually felt over her. "Every part of you is huge." Daisy blushed, but didn't try to stop her.

Selena giggled as she watched the other mouse exploring every part of Daisy. "You like my Daisy, huh?" She smiled and made little gestures with her hands. "She is special. She only helped me here today to help me be more special."

The other mouse let out a huff. "Figured. Introductions." She hopped back away from Daisy. "I'm Daphne. How did you get the right name? All us brood mice start with D, almost a running joke at this point. I'm gonna guess Daisy is not your real name either though."

Daisy nodded. "I used to be human, my name is David, and I was male. I'm still not used to all this."

Daphne laughed at the admission. "Really? If you're like most males I know, you like being big in every way possible."

Daisy felt along her body slowly, then to one of her overly large assets. "It's... I can't say I don't like it. It's very different."

Selena slipped up alongside Daisy, stroking along one of the ears slowly. "She's lovely the way she is."

Daphne waved that away. "Didn't say she isn't. Now, ground rules, we have these for a reason." She pointed at her own pointed snout. "Take a sniff when you wander into a dungeon. You smell another mouse, leave, or wait at the entrance. If you just wait, the other mouse will come out eventually, since they can smell you just as easily."

Daisy felt her cheeks flush. "I didn't think, I'm sorry. But, if I did leave? How would I get my mutagen?"

Daphne squinted a little. "You wouldn't. Easy. You wait and ask permission, nicely, or you're inviting a fight. We brood mice take our dungeons seriously, they're our life." She thumped her own chest. "Guessing you never had one yourself?"

"Just one," Daisy admitted. "But I got pulled out by my friends almost immediately. It felt, um, amazing." She flexed her fingers, thinking about that brief time she had a dungeon. "I didn't want to leave."

Daphne nodded. "Exactly. If you don't have your own dungeon to run yet, or you're wandering away from it, just be polite. We can be friends. If someone is running a dungeon, or trying to, and you get in the way? Then you're inviting that fight, and, besides you, brood mice know how to use this world to make your life miserable."

Daisy offered a hand towards Daphne. "Thank you, for making such a nice dungeon, and for being a good host for us."

Daphne slapped the hand away. "There are better ways to make friends." She took a slow step forward, eyes half-lidded. "Let's swap some mutagens," she offered in a husky whisper.