[Meteoritic Imp Horns - Intermediate]

I recalled the horns we had pried of the imp's red body. I had recognized the faint buzzing of my head to be that of a potential identify, and it did connect. Amidst the pile of peeled off flesh and broken bones were the grey-black horns that remained whole, both of them showing up as items.

Flaze gave me a withering look when she saw how interested I was in a demon's corpse. I swear she realized what it was that I saw when she paused for a second, staring at the imp's corpse. But she still went ahead and walked out, as if to give me some space. I had to neigh over and over for her to come back, eventually summoning a nearby catdog to our location which we had to kill.

Asshole.

The horns were stuffed into Flaze's pockets, and then she transformed out of her normal clothes. Neat trick. I wonder what the restrictions are.

We were at the sixth floor now, and Flaze had summoned a new clone, having it trail along in front of us in order to spot possible traps and ambushes. A sudden screed drew out attention out front as a bird suddenly came flying at us from down the hallway in a completely straight line.

We all crouched down and ducked, even the one who is a clone. It turned out unnecessary as the bird had entirely missed us, stopping just before it crashed into stone. The creature turned around, eyes trained on us, preparing for another charge.

[Rogue - Lvl 35]

I neighed and quickly turned to hide behind the real Flaze, the clone one taking my flank. The bird screeched before once again shooting itself like a bullet, aided by perilous winds. It missed us again, by a single hair's breath.

I looked back at the other side of the corridor, the bird stopping right in time before another wall. It squawked and then turned back towards us, readying another charge. It's probably just going to keep coming...

I looked to Flaze, and she nodded. She stepped in front of me, now two of her selves barring the bird's path. I got a good look at it this time, a blue and grey creature that looked like a cross between an eagle and a parrot, a beak that was particularly sharp. We waited for it to come, the clone of Flaze activating her taunt.

Flaze had explained to me yesterday, after a long struggle of trying to ask my question, that multiple taunts won't work, the stronger one typically takes precedence.

I heard the wind roar, as the bird zoomed towards us. I saw that it was too high, its aim off again despite the taunt and its more enraged screech. I considered for a moment that maybe it just wants to play. I didn't have the opportunity to find out because both Flazes jumped at that moment and struck the bird with their raised shields. The shields cracked audibly, and the monster stumbled. I blasted it with a hellish fireball, quickly leaping into a kick that sent a bright flash of light to daze the creature.

The bird writhed now on the ground, crying. I wondered what to do, but Flaze had already walked up to the animal.

She looked back at me, sensing my hesitation.

I watched the monster, clearly in suffering.

I don't know man. I shrugged. Do what you want.

She stabbed it in one clean motion.

[Your party has defeated a level 35 Rogue!]

No levels. What a scam. I was lower leveled than it.

Well, being in a party instead of solo is likely messing up with our level ups, or it could just come with having a higher level. I did earn advance quickly for doing literal nothing back at the single digits.

"What? You wanted to keep it alive?" Flaze asked, noticing my quiet.

I shook my head and chuckled. A horse chuckle. No.

We cleared out the rest of the floor, not much to be seen, really. Just some rats, a giant cockroach, and a single gremlin that was asleep in a tub. It died without pain nor fear.

Still not a single level.

"I think it's complicated" Duh. Our conversation, or Flaze talking to a horse by herself really, had circled back to what I was wondering earlier about levels and experience. "Which I know is obvious, but it is likely a combination of many factors. I noticed when I was by myself that it wasn't only the level gap that matters, but also the struggle. My squire form works like that after all, I get stronger when I struggle, and sometimes I'd earn an extra level or two when I really got going."

Maybe. I don't know. I neighed. I'm a horse.

~~~

At the seventh floor, we found a grey orc sitting in the middle of a corridor. She had her eyes close, her body in a cross-sitting position, as if in meditation. What remained of her broken clothes clearly depicted some sort of metal band, suggesting a disconnect. I've been thinking recently if I had some secret desire to be a horse. Other than dick size, nothing else comes to mind. Not that I cared about that.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

I'm so glad I can't speak right now, because I'm certain I would have said that out loud.

[Handler - Lvl 50]

I and Flaze approached, cautious. Pieces of metal floated around the pig woman's form, sharp, shaped like shattered pieces of glass.

The monster's eyes fluttered open, and the metal within her control shot out.

I ran behind the clone of Flaze for protection, a did her original. I listened as the attacks rained on the metal of her shield and the armor that she wields, like a rain of blades averted by a metallic umbrella.

I smelled iron, beyond the metal both Flaze's were wearing. The projectiles had embedded themselves deeply, some drawing blood, but none appeared to have caused damage anywhere near lethal.

The shards that failed to penetrate remained floating in the air. After a second had passed, most of the ones lodged into Flaze Clone and her shield pried themselves free and floated as well, circling around us.

I immediately realized what's going on as both Flaze's moved to intercept the approaching projectiles, she positioned herself to better protect the area around my head. I shot a hellish fireball at the sitting orc as the many shards of metal shot at us from all directions.

Graah!

Metal dug into my ass, legs, and torso, drawing thick trails of blood. It didn't dislodge like last time, but instead the pieces of steel slowly worked their way further inside of my body.

[Blessed Heal]!

I healed myself, easing the pain, only to find that the sensation hadn't disappeared, returning in full force just a second after. The metal was indeed pushed back by my spell, but I was unable to remove it from my flesh completely. It remained embedded into my form, and the moment I was done healing, they dug deeper again, undoing the damage that I had just repaired.

Grr...!

I reared up in pain and anger, spamming heals on myself, but being unable to fully push the metal pieces back, allowing them to dig again into my flesh. I looked at the orc that's done this, burning in my flames, but her own healing fought against it, until the hellfire dissipated. I huffed and seethed, seeing only red in my eyes as I prepared to charge him.

"Jackal!" Flaze and other Flaze shouted, having been pushed away by my outburst. I realized then that my rearing up had done nothing but hinder both her and myself.

I remembered the earlier incident with the imp, and I'd completely lost my shit there. I can't say that's happened this time, but I'd still fucked up, completely forgetting the presence of an ally.

It's strange. Why am I like this? Theater has always been a group effort, and while I've never quite made it to the true big leagues, I was good at it. I'm not terrible at working with people, I could keep track of what they're doing and their positions. So why am I now being so terrible at this!?

Flaze patted me lightly, as if sensing my worries. "It's fine. Fighting is new to all of us."

Right. That's right. I didn't learn acting in a single day. I also sucked at coordinating and butted heads a lot with everyone at first. I've also never been the best at violence.

I can take my time and learn.

I neighed, calm now, and motioned for her to mount me. She did, and the clone kept on protecting my head. I felt the metal digging into my flesh, and I chose to look on the bright side

[Hellish Fireball].

I thought about using Longstrider, but it'd be better to save that for our retreat. I ran for the orc just as my spell sailed towards her. The fireball reached the monster first, just before I did. Flaze's clone was left behind to catch and obstruct the remaining metal shards.

[Horsekick Gambit].

I reached the orc and reared up, kicking at the monster to either hellfire or light. Flaze disembarked and started cutting into the monster as well.

The orc was on fire, and seemingly dazed, but still she remained motionless, nary a change in her expression. The wounds and burns scattered against her body kept on healing.

The metal within myself pulled themselves out, I relaxed for a moment before I noticed them circling us menacingly. They searched for our vitals, and Flaze separated to fend them off, keeping track of the ones aimed right for my head. I don't have a helmet, nor armor like her. I wonder where I can find horse armor just lying around.

Like rain, like storm, the metal sailed through the air again as I stared right into the orc's unreadable eyes. I screamed when the objects dug into my skin, I swerved my head to dodge those that would have been really bad. Steel tunneled into a flesh, like worms eating me from the inside. I wanted to do nothing more than to just collapse and writhe on the ground, await my demise. But I saw Flaze, on the defensive, not giving in to the desire to just lose herself. I stared at that scene for one long second, before turning my gaze back to the fallen pig.

I decided then to channel all this pain and inflict it back to my enemy. A focus, a moment of clam, within the turbulence of the moment.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I lost myself again, but at least I didn't stop fighting. I endeavored to overcome the monster's healing, I kicked and burned away at her head, gritting my teeth at the projectiles assaulting my own self.

Don't horses at least have better pain tolerance? Now was not the time for such questions.

It lasted for several excruciating seconds, the pain I felt too much for me to think, so I left

And then it was over. The metal inside me ceased, my hooves crashed into the inside of my opponent's skull. I felt the wet squelch of flesh, the crunch of bone. I was panting, somehow struggling, with the realization. We'd won, it happened through great grueling effort, and yet it felt sudden.

It ended, without fanfare.

Without even a single squeel.

[You have defeated a Level 50 Handler!]

[Your Level Has Risen to 31!]

I breathed a sigh of relief, and felt happy at having gone up another level. Flaze had risen to 40.

"Good fight," she said, just as I was examining my own status. I remembered then, how I made another error earlier, when I reared up and disturbed both Flazes. That could've gotten us both killed.

I neighed, sadly.

It's one thing when I'm the only one left to suffer the consequences, not that I wish to die. But it just feels different when I know I've held a friend back. Dead weight.

Flaze could've taken that orc by herself, and have done better without someone to protect.

"It's fine, Jackal. We're making progress. We're learning." She said, and patted me on the side. "Most people are just dead. Or worse."

I gave a complicated whinny and lowered my head, before I walked and followed her clone. There was still an entire floor left to explore. After that, there were even more. Until we find out what lays hidden in the ninth, where her own room resides.

"There's not much there, you know?" She scratched her head, an awkward gesture. "I just want the pictures. Of people that may already be dead. A final memory of them on this earth."

Flaze frowned sadly, her hand against a window, looking down at the destroyed streets, the entire city. A sight presumably repeated the entire world over.

"It may not be worth it. At all. I certainly didn't think to bring them with me before." She paused, before looking at me, keeping her expression neutral as possible. "We could just leave now, if you wish. It is not that important. Our time may be better spent, looking for the others who may need our help."

I neighed. Fervent disagreement.