~~~Caffeine~~~

Caffeine was sooo tired when he made a big mess on the floor. He hoped Dearest Human wouldn't anger shout at him... But he was soooooooo hungry, too!

He was also very sad... Best Friend was gone. Dead.

That wasn't good. It was bad. Best Friends should never be dead... They should stay and play and cuddle and rub bellies and give snacks! Best Friends shouldn't ever be dead...

Caffeine had made the Very Bad Not Human Not Friend Very Bad Bad Bad Bad BAD NOT FRIEND dead.

It didn't help with the sad. Best Friend was still gone...

Dearest Human was sad too. And hungry. Caffeine dropped food on Dearest Human. "I am sad, too." He huffed, very tired, and with a comforting lick. "But don't worry, I won't let the Bad Not Humans hurt more Friends."

There were lots of interesting smelling Not Dearest Humans here, and even a new Dog! But Caffeine was too tired and sad to play with them... he would rest first and then play.

Play was the best way to be not sad! He would play with all of them and Dearest Human would make the happiness sounds again when they found more Friends. Dearest Human needed more Friends! They were the best! Friends could play chase! And cuddle! And belly rub! And give snacks! Those were all the best things!

But... rest... first...

~~~Stanley~~~

Stanley felt numb... Samantha's dead.

And so happy... Caffeine's okay!

Watching Caffeine eat and his wounds heal felt like he'd woken from a horrible nightmare. But the remnants of the nightmare still lurked around him, in the shadows, waiting to strike. He'd been so scared...

Throwing up a shit ton of zombie heads... Caffeine had been moving too fast at the end of the fight... there wasn't time to drop each head he ripped off... and Stanley hadn't considered where they all went... It's my fault. He had no choice because I wasn't strong enough.

He'd been so scared... Caffeine dying... corruption... death. Now he just buried his face in Caffeine's fur and stopped holding onto himself for dear life. It was all too much. He couldn't do this. He couldn't be strong enough... How was he supposed to keep doing this?

So Stanley carried Caffeine to the food and let him eat as much as he could. His own stomach growled and grumbled, but Stanley ignored it. He didn't deserve to eat. He was too weak. Too stupid. Attacking that fucking monster for no...

Caffeine squirmed out of Stanley’s grip an instant before he slobbered across his entire face with a giant tongue, and Stanley had to lean back just to get a breath in. Then Caffeine dropped a mouthful of meat on his lap. Then another.

"Okay, Caff." Stanley put a piece in his mouth, and it lit a fire in his stomach. He gorged alongside Caffeine, stuffing his face while trying to keep his eyes on the pug. He'd been so scared...

Caffeine was clearly powerful. The number of times he'd almost died, or at least when Stanley thought he'd been dying... was it even a real danger? Was Caffeine stronger than he gave him credit for? Was he overreacting every time the pug got hurt?

Stanley watched Caffeine eat and decided there was no such thing as overreacting. He had to keep Caffeine safe. Except he was too weak for that. Caffeine was the one keeping him safe instead. I'll get stronger, Caff. Get us both to E-grade.

He picked up the core that had fallen out of his shredded pants pocket again.

Skill Shard[E-grade]

Transporter's Dash (Rare)

User gains a burst of speed in whichever direction they chose. Increased duration and speed if used to bolster momentum rather than changing or reversing direction.

Skill Level Effects: (Novice)

+1% Dexterity

+1% Movement Speed

Requirements:

Mana Core/Channels [N/A](Adaptable)

Adapting to this Skill will require 50% Adaptation and may alter your Class.

Adapting this Skill to your Class will require 1% Adaptation but may drastically alter the Skill.

Adapt Yourself and Learn Skill: Y/N?

Learn Adapted Skill: Y/N?

Consume and Destroy Skill Shard to gain +40 All Base Attributes: Y/N?

It meant that the zombie had definitely been a grade higher... E-grade, but still left Stanley wondering if it was just some random human. Why would an invader be raiding dungeons with a skill that looked like it came from the transporter class the system offered him on the first day?

Were humans so much more powerful if they became zombies? Was it worth considering in that case? Or was it just the grade difference? That had to be it. Well... there was also that insane regeneration... Was that what every human got? Would he get it too if he switched sides?

In the end, it wasn't really an option. Caffeine hated the undead. Would he hate him too if he changed into one? The thought of trying to make Caffeine a zombie just made Stanley feel sick...

As for the core, Stanley wasn't interested in the skill. Not only was it not something he really needed, but the stat boost was massive if he destroyed it. Of course, what should have been enough for him to jump to E-grade probably wouldn't even give him four whole points. Well, twenty-four points across all the attributes. But it would still be less because of the diminishing returns.

+4 All Base Attributes

Not as bad as he'd expected... in fact, there were no diminishing returns... Maybe the E-grade tag made it better? So he just needed to kill more E-grades...

The man... What did he say his name was? Nate? He didn't even try to bother them while they ate. He seemed to be the leader. At least he gave orders and people ran around obeying them. So many people...

She said they weren't all monsters. Samantha...

Stanley didn't know how to feel about her death. After everything that happened recently, he just felt... numb. He'd promised to kill all the zombies for her... right before he realized Caffeine wasn't healing...

He looked at the spear hovering beside him. The wood was darker than he remembered, soaked in blood and... other stuff. It also seemed to burn the zombies... had it always done that? Or did she make this one special somehow?

Caffeine finally stopped eating and curled up for more sleep, trying to hide his eyes from the light. Stanley pulled the remains of his shirt off to give him a little blanket. Sleep well. He didn't know how even that much had survived... and it was filthy.

He needed to get more clothes... and wanted to hunt more. Needed to keep hunting. But the debuff was back... it made him weak. Vulnerable. It was the only reason Nate stopped his spear from killing that m... no, a human. They were human. Stupid humans. Weak, stupid humans! The man hadn't actually threatened Caffeine... he just wanted food that he was too weak to get for himself.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Stanley didn't need to kill him for that... he was the most powerful... he could have a discussion... could keep it calm while he promised to kill them if they tried anything. That was fair. Right, Samantha?

Jerry brought out another pile while he was eating, and Stanley glared right back at all the greedy, hateful stares coming his way. There was an especially venomous glare coming from the man Nate saved. Did the idiot not know how close he came to dying? Or did he think Nate would save his worthless fucking...

The man looked away, and Stanley busied himself with eating while staring at Caffeine instead of the idiot.

He got full well before finishing it all. So many people were staring when he stopped eating and sat back. Fuck all of... They all looked away quickly, and he tried to breathe slowly... tried to let it all go.

Like water off a duck... That wasn't helping. He wanted to scream... Caffeine got hurt because you're all too weak... because I'm too fucking weak!

Nate's hunters brought in another live animal while Stanley sat and glared at anyone who looked his way. They had it tied up in a mess of ropes and still struggled to haul the squirming thing to the kitchen. Stanley didn't help them. His debuff was long enough...

Jerry brought the last huge platter out and stopped when he saw how much remained on the table. "You want this packed up? For tomorrow?"

Stanley nodded.

"Okay." Jerry turned back to the kitchen. "I'll make sure no one..."

"Samantha's dead, Jerry."

The cook stopped, shoulders slumping. "I guessed as much... did she... was it..."

"She saved my life."

Stanley had reflected on the fight; he couldn't stop thinking about it... and as much as he hated to remember the horror of those moments, she had definitely saved him. Caffeine had been too far away, helpless in the sky, and Samantha had bought him precious seconds. He could still feel those claws digging furrows into his face...

Jerry straightened as he turned back to face Stanley. He was smiling, but he wasn't happy. "That's good. You know, I'm almost jealous of her?"

Stanley stared blankly.

"To believe in something enough to die for it. That's the dream, right? A good death? A hero's death. What more could any of us wish for?"

"To... live?"

Jerry laughed bitterly. "In this economy? Get real, Stanley. We're all fucked. I'm just sad that I'll probably die like a little bitch, screaming and crying for my mommy. At least she went out as a badass... right?"

Stanley thought he heard a hint of desperation in the other man. A need for what he was saying to be true. It was true. "She did, Jerry. A total badass. Stabbed that fucker right through the head while it was trying to kill me. Should have heard the monster screaming…"

"Hah, you should have seen her fighting zombies all night. It was... hot." He blinked rapidly a few times, then said, "She was dying, you know? The corruption. She told me it was killing her. So... maybe it's better..." Jerry turned away again with the extra meat, his voice cracking. "I should get started on this."

Jerry stopped after a few steps. "Did you see Arthur out there? He went with her."

"I did..." Stanley felt a little guilty as he finally recalled leaving the man behind. He'd forgotten him until now... The poor bastard was definitely dead. "I kind of..."

"He's right outside," a voice cut in. It was Nate... "He's giving the guards some buffs to help them stay alert."

"That's good," Jerry said. "It's good. I'm glad he's okay... I gotta..." He left.

Stanley turned to Nate. "You brought him back?"

Nate nodded as he hesitantly took a seat across from Stanley at the meat covered table. He better not be trying to steal my food...

"I want to be your ally, Stanley."

Stanley just stared at him.

"I would suggest you join my group..." Stanley wanted to scoff, but Nate kept talking before he could. "Hell, I'd let you be in charge, except... I know you have no interest in either suggestion. That's why I'm suggesting allies..." He paused while studying Stanley. "Maybe… hired mercenary would be a better term?"

Stanley kept staring. He was not getting dragged into another bleeding heart relationship. Not after...

"I get you aren't big on other people right now, while I'm trying to save as many as I can, but our goals align when it comes to the monsters, and I think in time you might see the benefits of having more people at your back."

Stanley opened his mouth, and Nate held up a hand, slowly. "Just think about it. I know you're tired, and I can't imagine what you went through today. Rest for now. We will stand guard."

Stanley didn't respond. Weaklings had nothing to offer... except maybe a distraction? But what good had that ever... Samantha was weak.

"I know you think we're all weak and useless," Nate said. "But at least you'll get an early warning and time to run away? We can talk more tomorrow."

Was that supposed to be a dig at him? Calling him a coward? Still, he was exhausted... but there were so many people here. Any of them might... They're not all monsters.

Stanley took all the remaining food from the table and flew upstairs to his room.

A room that was now full of women and children. All the rooms were full... "All of you, get out." The children hadn't seen him before, but the women must have been downstairs earlier because they showed fear. They still didn't move.

Stanley wanted to scream at them to go away... but the kids didn't deserve it. They also couldn't stay. Rather than start tossing them out, he took half the meat and pointed at the rest. "Get out and stay out, and you can have that."

The bribe worked, and the parents herded the hungry children out with little difficulty.

Stanley jammed makeshift door stops around the door, then piled all the furniture against it. He would have slept on the bare floor; his body didn't care or get sore from that anymore, but Caffeine still liked soft beds. So he used the mattress.

He didn't think he'd be able to sleep now that he knew what monsters were lurking out there. Not with so many racing...

~~~Somewhere~~~

Steven felt sick as he sprinted through the dark, and he shouldn't even be able to feel sick! He was powerful! An immortal in waiting... Then why was he so scared?

That damned human!

He'd thought he was strong. Powerful! Then Lord Morgrath had run after that flying freak and left them to deal with the humans.

Left them to get slaughtered!

Two of them died instantly, and Steven didn't even see what happened. Then the mysterious leader of the group turned out to be a monster, and he took every one of Steven's remaining comrades apart as if they were nothing... It didn't even look like he noticed their attempts to kill him!

Steven shivered at the memory of that glowing fist stopping mere inches inside his face... while he himself could not move.

Saved by the damn Beast Lord.

The human monster had turned away after that... Wrath. Maybe he thought him dead, or maybe he just cared more about whatever monster could stun them like that. Either way, Steven had lived long enough to regenerate his face. Then the compulsion to complete his orders ended.

He didn't know if that meant Lord Morgrath was dead... which was impossible. All he knew was that he now had orders to return to base. A mission he was only too happy to complete. Anything to get him further away from that nightmare of a human.

Steven followed the orders directly into the main chamber, where he found Lord Nefraxis arguing with a... ghost?

"The Beast Lord..."

"I ordered you to avoid the Beast Lord," Nefraxis said with an ominous edge.

Steven gaped. That was Lord Morgrath!? But... what? How? The ghost looked weak. Pathetic. Shredded... What could have reduced him to this state?

"It was among the humans," Lord Morgrath mewled. "I barely escaped!"

"You should have retreated rather than antagonize such a powerful foe… and instead you lost an entire legion!"

"It hid its nature… by the time I knew what it was, it was too late."

"You paid a high price for your foolishness," Nefraxis' words oozed with venom. An extremely unusual display of emotion. "And not only you, your arrogance has cost us all."

"The creature would never listen to us," Morgrath hissed. "It is a simple-minded thing, and more importantly, it binds itself to a human. A psionic, no less."

Steven didn't know what they were talking about. Wasn't a psionic something about mental magic? Hadn't Morgrath gone after that flying human... and his pug? That couldn't be right... could it? The pug!?

"That same human whom your actions have poisoned against us as well? Did you even manage to kill the human? Was it already E-grade as well? Is that your excuse?"

"It initiated the violence while I still strove to show it the truth. I had no choice but to defend myself. Moreso, since it fought to protect the one you sent me to eliminate." Morgrath wilted further beneath Lord Nefraxis' gaze, and added, "It was... F-grade."

"By the Eternal! You have failed your God, your world, and your race. I should feed you into the ritual this instant…" the rising rage in the Lord’s voice abruptly vanished. "Yet, you still have a role to play. Eternal willing, Calderon will prove more successful tomorrow."

Lord Nefraxis spun on Steven. "You, report!"

Steven gaped motionlessly for far too long at the first time it had ever personally addressed him. Then he fell to his knees and bowed to the floor. "My Lord! We... failed." He almost choked on his words, but to lie would guarantee his death. While the truth may only hasten it... "The others have fallen."

Silence loomed above him like an ax blade descending on his neck. Steven would have sweat buckets if his body still could...

"You will assist Calderon. Don't fail me again."

"Yes, my Lord!" Steven didn't dare raise his eyes as he sprinted away, because deep in his heart, a traitorous voice whispered that these beings may not be the immortal gods they proclaimed to be.