Alexia

So, as it turns out, the Ancient Wyrm does, in fact, cheat.

I think I lost any respect I had for these dragons.

It’s just that he cheats at dominos while the Ancestral Dragon cheats at cards. And Ethan just cheats at everything.

I’m starting to see where he got that from.

Honestly was tempted to scold them for teaching their son such bad habits, but I didn’t. Because that wouldn’t really bode well. What with them both being the same level as me and there being two of them versus just little ol’ me.

Anyways, after losing to them at dominos because of a cheater, I say my goodbyes and head on out to the next Block. Which turns out to be another Dimensional Block at war.

And a… very strange Block, to say the least. Because this one is another space block, but there are floating moons just all over the place, with odd bridges of light between them.

I ignore it all though to instead teleport through the space between them. Also ignoring the rather intense looking battles going on below me, even as some of said battling folks look up at me while I pass by. Just awkwardly pausing their battle in the process.

Isabella said that there aren’t any Cataclysm Class monsters all the way till the fortieth Dimensional Block. But at the same time, I know that the creatures can spawn whenever, so I go ahead and stop by a random moon that isn’t in the middle of a battle to ask if they have a Cataclysm Class monster in the Block. Which they apparently don’t.

So I ask which direction to go for the next Block so that I don’t end up going backwards in Block count. And after getting that intel, I leave the poor, traumatized human behind and continue my trip.

After that Block, I travel through several others, only finding a single Cataclysm Class monster in them until I arrive at the fortieth Block. Which is a rather nice one filled with really large bamboo trees.

I end up finding a rather large surprise – quite literally – when I run into a Cataclysm Class monster before even finding a civilization in this Block. This one being a massive panda. One that’s just kinda chewing on the bamboo and acting cute while rolling over. Crushing a lot of monsters in the process, yes, but still being cute.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Huh.

I just kinda teleport on top of one of the bamboo trees before staring down at the really large panda.

What surprises me the most about this not-so-little creature is that it doesn’t look like it’s killing the monsters on purpose. It’s just kinda rolling around eating bamboo while killing them on accident.

Actually, I don’t think it even notices that it’s killing the monsters.

Our of curiosity, I teleport over to the panda before landing on its paw held in front of its face. And the creature just stops rolling and tilts its head at me.

Then it makes a little chirp sound and continues eating the bamboo without bothering me.

I purse my lips while raising my hand towards its face, only to draw back with a sigh.

Damnit, this thing’s too cute to kill.

So I begin to teleport away from the massive panda, only to soon realize that it’s following me. I think. Probably.

It’s still cute.

I ignore it as I continue teleporting through the Block until I arrive at a busy little village in the bamboo forest. And to my surprise, the denizens of the village aren’t afraid of me. In fact, they’re rather nice as they answer all of my questions. Even giving me some snacks that I really don’t need when sending me off.

Nice group.

I don’t care about food though so I just kinda keep it in my storage ring indefinitely.

As it turns out though, the panda is actually a rather nice and friendly creature. Unlike any of the other Cataclysm Class monsters I’ve run into thus far.

It’s also not the only Cataclysm Class monster in the Block as there’s apparently a large tanuki as well. Although this one isn’t friendly and attacks or runs away from anyone it sees.

The thing is more known as a pest than a murderous creature though.

Which makes me rather curious about this Block, but I just continue moving through it in search of the tanuki. Because they want the tanuki gone, what with it eating their food.

I teleport from the top of one bamboo tree to another for a while, still ignoring my little follower that’s still chasing after me for some reason. And eventually I find the tanuki.

A tanuki that is a couple dozen meters tall.

Rather large.

To my surprise though, the creature immediately rushes to attack sir panda, so I send a wave of Quantum Breath at the tanuki, immediately making it scream in pain. Then I quickly teleport in and stab it through the throat with my polearm, finding the creature to actually be rather low level. Only barely in Tier 3.

Then I turn to look at the panda, only to find the thing simply looking at me while tilting its head.

I can’t help it. I teleport up to the panda and begin to pet it on the head, making the thing let out cute little chirps that aren’t so little considering its size.

And I keep on petting the cutie for a little while before finally getting up and beginning to teleport to the next Block.

That was a well needed breath of cuteness. If someone kills that thing I’m gonna kill them.

I glance behind me as I continue teleporting, finding the panda still following me at its rather immense rolling speed. Then I continue facing forwards while teleporting. All the way till I get to the Dimensional Wall and pass through it, leaving the panda on the other side.

Sorry little guy, but you can’t follow me on this trip.

Not sure why it took such a liking to me though.

Maybe I can bring it with me as a pet when I come back?

Luna for some reason makes an angry squeak from right on my shoulder, having seemed slightly disgruntled the entire time I was in that Block.

Wait, is she jealous?