[Your Party has defeated a Level 47 Warrior!]

[Your Party has defeated a Level 44 Warrior!]

...

[Your Party has defeated a Level 62 Warrior!]

[Your Party has defeated a Level 61 Handler!]

[Your Level Has Risen to 55!]

...

[Your Level Has Risen to 60!]

"There's no more."

What?

Night had come and gone, and a full day had passed since we started funneling the sheeptaurs from the first floor over to the next. More and more of the monsters streamed in from outside as we defeated them, and I'd somehow gone all the way up to level 60, while Flaze was at 63.

The Sheeptaurs too for some reason were more commonly over level 50 now, level 60 not a rarity, but that in itself is actually a boon for they give more experience when defeated, for a qualitative change happens at those levels. That also made them trickier opponents, and much of the rooms and apartments on this floor are ruined now, walls broken down and furniture knocked over. We had to use whatever terrain advantage we could.

"We should leave." Flaze said. "There's nothing left here to hunt. Well, there are. Still plenty of them outside--Holy Shit!"

What? I neighed. What!?

Flaze's eyes were wide open, as if she was seeing something that wasn't truly there.

~~~

( Flaze POV )

Jackal neighed something into my ears, but I could already hardly understand his horse tongue in the best of times. I held up a hand for him to shut up, and thankfully, he did.

My focus shifted back down, the world as in seen through the eyes of my samurai clone, somewhat neutered but still far more vivid than what I was able to perceive even just a week or two ago. I'd have been excited for that change had it not come with all of this. But now is not the time to get all sentimental and go down that rabbit hole. Neither is tomorrow or the day after.

If I die now, it won't be just me, but Jackal would likely perish as well. And I know how much he hates the idea.

I arrived by the entrance and saw another group of sheepmen approaching. But it wasn't just them, there was a whole new monster amongst their ranks. A strange humanoid wolf that towered over the sheep, he had gray fur and features quite unlike what would normally be expected of a predator. From the lack of sharp claw, instead having human-like nails, to straight flat teeth like a herbivores, lacking the sharpness and length of fangs.

[Warrior - Lvl 100+]

100+? Why won't it show the exact number? But no, that's not the point. 100 should be an evolution milestone, and danger just wafts off this werewolf. It screams in my instincts, even my perception of Mana distorted.

"You... YOU. you. YOUyou!"

Thw wolf spoke, suddenly. I heard its gravely voice, like sharp rocks colliding repeatedly over each other.

There was a chattering noise, apart from the slurred yet heavy speech. I quickly found the source. My hands were shaking, the metal of my armor clattering against each other.

I smiled, defiantly, underneath my helmet. I am not afraid of fear.

At the same time, I spoke. Not with this ethereal body, but the one right next to Jackal, the horse.

"We should run. Right fucking now. But this monster clearly just spoke--They're sentient, sapient. And they may come with information. What do you think?"

I watched the horse that is Jackal take a step back. He looked around absentmindedly, deep in thought. I couldn't help but smile a little, even in this situation. That's a habit he's retained from when he was a human, and I'm glad he's taking it so well, being turned into a horse.

I myself, may have despaired. That would be one insult so many, and I'm happy he doesn't take it as such.

I heard a neigh, he was nodding. It'll never cease to be funny just watching Jackal try to move like a human now that he was a horse.

I focused back on the wolf while continuing my running commentary to Jackal.

"The Provataur. Provataur. The Sheep. The Sheep follow. Sheperd. The Dog. The Wolf."

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The werewolf spoke again, its mind clearly erratic, incomprehensible to human beings. And horse beings. Probably.

I'd have to ask Jackal.

And still, it gives insight, so I chose to listen for as long as the monster is willing to speak, so we may yet understand more of its behaviors.

There is a pattern, clearly, in how these mindless beasts behave.

"You. No Provataur. No Sheperd. Sheep? Are you sheep?"

I thought about the monster's words. A sheep, that is only meant to follow.

There was once a time when I took initiative. When I determined problems, and tried to fix them. I was of help, to people, by my own volition.

And yet now I merely react. I am beholden to no one, so in a way I'm more free than I've ever been. And yet why do I feel even more like one among many, a mere ant in a world of giants.

Why is it that I feel the least free when I only do as I please?

"No. Not Sheep. You are not. Sheep."

Oh. Well, now I feel stupid for even trying. I'm so happy this monster knows me better than I do myself. A werewolf that magically, has all the answers.

The werewolf raised his hand, and pointed a finger at me. I tensed, and stepped back. I raised my katana, knowing full well there was no hope of winning this confrontation. I'm using a mere clone for this interaction, and I will get whatever information I can.

There wasn't very much to learn.

"The Sheep. I lead Sheep. Against YOU."

The grey wolf jumped, he crossed the distance in one leap, his fists were a blur as he punched. My eyes widened, my knees buckled, and then they pumped.

[Samurai Flaze: Singular Charge]!

I jumped away from the attack's flight like a soaring eagle, but the monster reacted and adjusted his aim. I felt an impact right after as my clone body was tossed to the ground, the body crumpled, the samurai armor protecting it like paper.

I gurgled blood, I tasted the iron, I felt death.

Pain. Pain shot through me in the next moment as I shifted my attention back to Jackal.

"Run." Was all I cared to say, before I jumped onto his back and held on to his fur.

Jackal reared up, and neighed.

~~~

(Jackal POV)

Provataur. So that's what they're called. Very cool name. And I've been calling them sheeptaurs this entire time.

Flaze was on my back again, and I was running for a window. The glass was already broken and shattered, and all I had to do was jump.

We were at the second floor, no need for tricks and dazzles. I landed, and felt the weight of the impact. Not even close to creating a single injury. There was a single sheeptaur--Sorry, Provataur-- in the alley that I escaped to, and she immediately baa-ed into my direction.

[Longstrider].

Nope. I am not staying for this. There are enemies an entire evolution above us. We're not fucking around with those assfuckers. Hell no.

The world blurred as if I were in a rollercoaster ride. Except I was the one running, my feet the engine, and my perceptions somehow could keep up.

Barely.

WWWOOOOO!

I exited the alley and turned. Away from the building we were just at and into the wider streets. There were even more Provataurs here and they turned my way as I passed. They bleated, but the sound barely reached us as we were already far away after they'd finished crying.

"Werewolf! Turn left!" Flaze suddenly yanked, and I turned the street, weaving around two Provataurs. There were more of them here, some were Handlers. One hurled a wool of poison, the other some sort of white goo. That better not be what my mind immediately went to!

"It smells of soap, but insidious. It's not what you think it is."

Shut up Flaze! I didn't think that!

I dodged the approaching liquids, weaving across broken earth and toppled structures.

There were a lot of enemies, and they were fast. We could get boxed in, even with my Longstrider. If I stop for even a single second, that could be the end.

[Horsekick Gambit]!

Someone tried to jump at me from behind, but he's now on fire. I got the idea to make fireballs, and there were now fireworks everywhere spreading chaos.

Flaze switched to her Squire form and was now sending out shockwaves to aid our escape. She slowed down enemies and tripped them up, sometimes taking out an eye to have them stunned

I continued to run, the wind crashing into my face as I sped up. The Provataur started to thin, more monsters appearing. A werewolf turned to give chase. Flaze quickly summoned a clone, but it was a squire, and it was easily ignored.

The werewolf closed in on us, it jumped and struck down. Its fist managed to reach my rear even at the speed I pulled ahead, making me stumble for a second, but so did he.

[Curse of The Horse]!

The werewolf paused, in shock, for a single second. I took the opportunity to keep on running, glad that my Longstrider had evolved to no longer be hindered by such a temporary fall.

I quickly widened the distance, the werewolf did not give further chase. It was distracted by the copy of my friend, for while she may lack a taunt, targeting someone's face tends to easily draw their attention.

"Huh." Flaze said. "I actually drew blood. I managed to sneak in an identify before I died, and that monster too was a Level 100+. Anyway, keep running Jackal!"

I gulped and kept on running, bulldozing over some brown rats, and a lost goblin child that raised a wooden sword at me. I almost relaxed, thinking I've somehow gotten away from their territory, upon seeing the presence of those other monsters.

I haven't.

I turned another street, and I saw a whole procession of them. Provataurs led by an oversized man-wolf. She commanded them from the back, and the normal Provaturs ran.

Towards us, of course. Not away.

"Shit." Flaze clicked her tongue. I felt her shift behind my back. "I don't have a clone to summon!"

Don't even think about it. I neighed, and she went quiet for a second.

"I won't." She tightened her grip on myself.

"Sheep. Sheep listen sheep." The werewolf said. "Kill. Kill Them. Stampede."

The Provataurs bleated and jumped. The wolf, somehow, was still hanging back after giving her command.

We had to think fast, and I felt a tugging at my fur. I immediately followed Flaze's directions.

A right turn, a jump over a flipped car and a dive to the inside a flower shop. I trampled over the decaying merchandise and hopped over the counter. There was a woman in the corner, a shaking cower.

Sorry.

"Fireball!" Flaze shouted and I cast the spell.

It exploded, and the nearby wall started to come apart. Concrete flaked off, and Flaze shouted at me to keep going.

It didn't sound like such a bright idea, but I obliged and smashed through the crumbling stone. My horse legs nearly twisted into a knot, my skull actually cracked, but Flaze kicked off a nearby rock before I could actually fall.

[Blessed heal]!

[Blessed heal]!

[Blessed heal]!

We came out into another back alley, pieces of rubble exploding out. I turned and kept running before my Longstrider was cancelled, and with another spin we were out again in the streets.

An orc greeted us when we arrived, which I burned on reflex and Flaze struck as we passed. There were goblins, orcs, gremlins being sneaky and trying for another surprise attack. I was long gone by the time they were sailing through the air for a stab.

Too bad. Too slow.

I disappeared, into the distance.