Towering cages, some vast, some cramped, formed a grim monument to warped biology. Inside, twisted reflections of nature writhed. Former beasts, now grotesque parodies of their kind, sported matted fur and eyes shining with unnatural intelligence. Local monsters boasted unsettling upgrades: weeping sores where extra eyes pulsed, freshly sprouted tendrils dripping with sickly ichor, mouths stretched wide to reveal a gnashing nightmare of teeth. Jagged blades erupted from spines, and tails ended in barbed lethality. These were the hallmarks of X's talent, CorruptingInfluence—a power to twist evolution, a power to birth nightmares.

Once raging harbingers of chaos, these monsters were now subdued, their primal urges tamed. But for what? As companions, of course. A line of rabbits snaked around the cages, eyes gleaming with excitement, cotton tails twitching like metronomes. Several hopped impatiently in their spots, their ears taunt in anticipation.

Under a dark parasol, a hulking canopy with faces stitched together from monstrous fragments, an abomination, Master X, twitched his tentacles inpatiently. X's mismatched visage contorted into a horrifying smile. He liked what he saw, he liked their reactions. The rabbits didn't seem to mind his unsettling appearance, nor did they mind the caged experiments, or the reeking tang of taboo within. In their eyes, X saw a reflection of his own excitement—a hunger for something far more than the simple comfort of owning a pet.

A young rabbit, barely half the length of X’s tentacle, hopped forward with paws trembling from excitement. His bright eyes, like polished sapphires, scanned the menagerie of monsters with the fervor of a rabbit in the carrot field.

"Me! Me! I'm first in line!" he piped up, his voice a high-pitched chirp that washed over the eldritch form of Master X.

X chuckled, twirling his tentacles to mimic the excitement. The sound rumbled like distant thunder, emanating from somewhere deep within his swirling form. "First it is, little sprout," he said, a mischievous glint in his mismatched eyes. "But know this—our monster allocation is a touch…unpredictable. Part of the fun, wouldn't you say?"

With a flourish, one of X's tentacles whipped out, selecting a cage at random. A clang echoed as the cage door swung open, revealing a creature unlike anything the young rabbit had ever seen. An Abyssal Slime, a pulsating mass of inky black ooze, jiggled and quivered within its confines.

Undeterred by its unusual appearance, the young rabbit's eyes widened with delight. "This one?" he yipped, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

X carefully scooped up the slime with another tentacle, maneuvering it towards the eager rabbit. In his excitement, the rabbit threw his tiny arms around the pulsating mass, squeezing it much tighter than any slime could possibly appreciate. A dark stain bloomed across his pristine white waistcoat, but the rabbit didn't seem to mind a bit. In fact, he giggled with glee as the slime oozed contentedly between his paws.

"Careful there, little sprout," X rumbled with amusement. "Those AbyssalSlimes can be a bit…sensitive at times."

The slime itself seemed unfazed by the tight embrace, undulating rhythmically against the rabbit's chest. Whether this was a sign of happiness or an attempt to assimilate the rabbit was anyone's guess. The little rabbit, still all smiles, turned to hop away.

“Hold on!” A tendril stopped the rabbit in his tracks. “Before you set off on your adventures, however, there are some fundamentals you need to master. Consider it a… Quest.”

A message materialized in front of the young rabbit, displaying a list of objectives:

[Quest: Teach your monster three basic commands]

[Objective: >Seek, >Guard, >Attack]

[Rewards: +100 EXP]

Undeterred by the challenging task, the young rabbit hopped off with a determined glint in his eye, already picturing all the adventures he and his new slimy companion would have.

"Next!" boomed X, several of his tentacles gesturing impatiently towards the line of eager rabbits. There were many to get through, and he was eager to be done before the moon replaced the sun.

A much taller rabbit, her fur a dazzling cloud of white and her waistcoat crisp, hopped forward. Unlike the nervous youngster before her, she held herself with the confidence of a seasoned adventurer. Her fluffy tail twitched back and forth with an air of excitement.

"Master X," she bowed with a practiced grace, setting a perfect example for the younger rabbits watching with wide eyes. Respect for the leader of the Rabbit Village was paramount.

X, impressed by her demeanor, took a moment to select a monster from a cage at the back. "Here you go," he gestured, presenting her with a creature that looked ripped straight from a nightmare. A Voidwing, a mutated bat with no eyes and skin as black as a moonless night, twitched its leathery wings within the cage. It was a creature more likely to inspire fear than cuddles.

The rabbit, however, didn't flinch. In fact, a wide smile stretched across her face as she accepted both the creature and the quest. "An unusual companion, Master," she acknowledged, her voice surprisingly steady. "But I will train it well, I assure you." With another respectful bow, she cradled the flapping monster close and hopped off, her fluffy tail bouncing with barely contained excitement.

X watched her go, a single tentacle curling in contentment. There was a certain satisfaction in seeing his creations find loving homes, even the more...unsettling ones. He gestured with another tentacle, beckoning the next rabbit forward. This one, a shy little thing with fur the color of dandelion fluff, approached hesitantly.

"Master," she squeaked, bowing even lower than the previous rabbit. Perhaps a little too low, for a blush bloomed across her cheeks as she realized everyone was staring.

X's mismatched eyes widened in surprise. "A Tamer? And so young at that..." His eyes examined the small tamer's status table—a level three, indicating some experience. "Level three, I see…" he mused. "According to Shazara, that allows for three monsters!" He twirled excitedly.

A collective twitch rippled through the line of rabbits as their ears perked up. Envy and greed flickered in their bright eyes at the prospect of receiving multiple companions.

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X, sensing the shift in atmosphere, raised a tentacle in a stern gesture. "One monster per rabbit," he snapped a reminder. "However, those who work hard deserve proper rewards. So, for you," he gestured towards the young rabbit, "three monsters."

The rabbit hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. "Ah, Master…" she squeaked. "It's actually two."

X raised two tentacles, a giant question mark appearing above his swirling form.

"I have my Puffpaws already," she explained, finally looking up from her bow. Her eyes twinkled with a love that shone brighter than any jewel.

"Puffpaws?" X flicked, unsure.

"Mr. Puffpaws, yes," she nodded eagerly.

For a moment, it didn't register. Then, a flicker of understanding dawned on X. "Ah, the Warg pup we retrieved! Makes sense then. One you have, two new you shall get."

With a flourish, X gestured with several tentacles, selecting two cages at random. A RavagerMole, a burrowing creature resembling a mutated badger with oversized claws, twitched its snout within its cage. Next to it, a BattleToad, a warty amphibian with bulging muscles and glowing red eyes, puffed out its throat in a display of dominance.

The young rabbit's face broke into a radiant smile. Carefully, she cradled the creatures in her arms, the RavagerMole sniffing her fur inquisitively while the BattleToad croaked a greeting. A thrill of anticipation ran through her. These two, alongside Mr. Puffpaws, would make a formidable team! With a final bow of thanks to X, she hopped off, eager to begin training and show off her new companions to the other rabbits.

"Next!" X beckoned the next rabbit forward.

As the cages emptied, X surveyed the remaining monsters—a motley crew of misfits who'd somehow managed to dodge the random selection process. A ClawSquirrel, no bigger than a tea kettle, gazed up at him with wide, tearful eyes that could melt the stoniest heart. Next to it, a SpikeRunner, a malformed hedgehog with mismatched spines, whimpered anxiously.

"Chin up, my precious creations!" tentacled X, stretching a tentacle towards the dejected creatures. "It's not that you weren't wanted, just a matter of…randomness," he explained, feeling a pang of sympathy. "It seems I wasn't blessed with enough rabbits today." As he spoke, his many eyes shifted towards the approaching figure of the RabbitMaid.

The RabbitMaid shuffled into view, her once-impeccable attire now a wrinkled mess adorned with suspicious stains. The culprit for her disheveled state hopped merrily behind her—a warren of rabbit children. The rabbits were a day or two old at most, but their rabbit ears reacher her shoulders already—all thanks to the monstrous biology of the DemiRabbits (still Monsters).

The RabbitMaid scanned the empty cages with weary eyes. A flicker of a smile briefly chased away the exhaustion etched on her face, only to be replaced by a dramatic puff of her cheeks. "Master," she began, her voice laced with mock indignation, "I’ve always dreamed of one, maybe eight, offspring gifted from you… to me… But this?" she gestured dramatically at the army of fluffy chaos behind her, "This is a stampede!"

Fifty rabbit youngsters were undeniably a handful. But X, ever the smooth operator, launched into damage control. "RabbitMaid, my dearest," he began, tendrils dripping with sincerity, "who else could handle such a monumental task? You possess the motherly aura of a saint, the unmatched skills of a Maid, not to mention an…impressive grasp of Tentacle language. There is no better role model than you, my dearest RabbitMaid," he gestured wildly, laying on the flattery thick.

The truth, of course, was far more practical. All other adults were buried under their daily workload, leaving the RabbitMaid as the only viable option for tending to the youngest and most trouble-prone members of his rabbit warren.

Beaming with pride, the RabbitMaid puffed out her chest. "Is that so?" she replied, batting her eyelashes playfully at X. "Very well, Master. The little darlings are as prepared as they can be. I've drilled them in Tentacle etiquette and the other essentials. Now, all that's left is to level them up and see what classes they gravitate towards."

The rabbit children, unsettlingly calm and silent, stared at X’s wriggling body. Their gazes were a mix of curiosity and…detachment. A shard of guilt pierced X's core. New classes and higher levels always came at a price, and these rabbits weren't children, not truly. They were future weapons, fast-tracked through growth and training, blissfully unaware of the abysmal horror that awaited them. The Hero was just around the corner…

While X grappled with his internal turmoil, the RabbitMaid hopped closer, her eyes glimmering with a spark of…enthusiasm? "Master," she chirped, oblivious to his despair. "I've noticed something fascinating! Not all the children needed Tentacle lessons. Some seemed to possess innate knowledge, and others grasped skills with unnatural speed. Isn't that remarkable?"

X's tentacles twitched, his eldritch eyes scanning the children again. None appeared different from the others, just blank vessels filled with a disturbing obedience. Yet, a seed of doubt had been planted.

The RabbitMaid hopped even closer, her voice dropping to a low whisper. "Perhaps the HuntMaster was right," she proposed. "Perhaps some of them…remember." Her words hung heavy in the air, a chilling truth barely veiled by her chipper tone.

X lumbered closer to the children, his monstrous form casting a long shadow. "Little ones, my sprouts," he coilded, mouths rumbling in distorted grunt. "Do you recall your past lives?" he asked.

The children tilted their heads, their silence thick and suffocating.

He tried again, his tentacles desperate to unravel the mystery. "Do you remember anything? Anything at all?"

A small rabbit, her fur as white as snow and her eyes glowing with an unnatural red, stepped forward. Her voice, childish yet resolute, broke the oppressive silence.

"We know you're our Master," she declared, her tiny finger pointed at X. "We know we have to…fight." She faltered for a moment, her gaze darting towards the RabbitMaid. "We have to fight…some evil enemy. Right?"

A chorus of agreement echoed through the room, the children bobbing their heads in eager confirmation. A twisted sense of satisfaction flickered within X. They were ready, these blank slates molded into weapons. But a part of him, buried deep beneath the monstrous facade, couldn't help but wonder. Were they truly ready, or were they merely puppets dancing to a horrifying tune?

"Yes, yes," X said. The child's response was just a mere echo of the RabbitMaid's teachings. Obedience, however, was a valuable trait in the coming conflict. He reached out a tentacle, gently patting the child between the ears—a gesture of praise despite the lingering disappointment. He found no hints of memories from the past life, none which were convincing.

Emboldened by the unexpected praise, the child chirped, "Can I get a pet monster now?" Indeed, the children's gazes flitted between the empty cages and X's imposing form with unsettling curiosity.

"Perhaps tomorrow," X rumbled apologetically. "They need rabbits but you're far too young for such companions yet."

A pout formed on the child's face, a gesture undeniably picked up from the RabbitMaid. Before X could respond, the ever-present RabbitMaid intervened. "Children, these monsters are much stronger than you," she explained brightly. "They wouldn't understand your call to play. If you truly desire a pet, you'll need to grow stronger yourselves, gain experience, increase your level." With a masterful stroke, the RabbitMaid replaced childish desire with a yearning for growth, a yearning that quickly spread like wildfire among the young rabbits.

The RabbitMaid then cast a glance at the darkening sky, a subtle message directed towards X. He understood all too well. "Alright, little ones," he boomed, gesturing towards the village square. "It's time for the RabbitMaid to rest. Hop along, children, let me lead the way. Our destination—the Chaos Obelisk."

The rabbits, blinded by youthful exuberance, blissfully hopped along, oblivious to the horrors that awaited them. X, the monstrous leader, was a stark reminder of these horrors. Yet, despite his abominable nature, a sliver of guilt, a remnant of his long-buried humanity, threatened to surface. He quickly suppressed it, bottling it deep within. Right now, there was only one path forward—guiding these innocent souls towards the looming obelisk, a monument that pulsed with ominous energy, a symbol of the war they were destined to fight.