“What’s that?” Little Blue pointed at a small white beast in the distance.
“That’s a rabbit,” the Puffshroom on his shoulder answered.
“Rabbit?” His huge wolf head tilted, puzzled. “How’s that a rabbit?”
“Why not?” the Puffshroom shot back.
Little Blue gestured wildly. “Rabbits are twice my height! Teeth that crush stone, hind legs that leap crazy high…”
Lin Jun caught on instantly. He meant level ten’s ferocious Crackfang Beast.
“Oh, you mean big rabbits,” the Puffshroom said, swaying its cap. “This is a small rabbit. Different breed.”
Neither were rabbits.
“Got it.” Little Blue nodded, impressed by Big Mushroom’s knowledge.
He scanned the cavern, spotting Puffshrooms everywhere, and marveled, “I had no idea you had so many kin!”
“Pretty normal,” Lin Jun said casually. “Weak guys like me survive by numbers!”
Little Blue nodded, getting it.
He patted the Puffshroom’s cap with a massive paw. “Don’t worry! I’ve got your back. Except for the old pack, no one outfights me!”
Strolling on, Little Blue gazed at glowing mushroom clusters on the cavern ceiling, curious. “Why no sun or moon here?”
“’Cause we’re deep in the dungeon. No sun or moon down here.”
“Still… the dungeon?!” Little Blue’s eyes widened, taking in the vast space. “This huge?! I thought…”
Clearly, he thought the dungeon was just his level’s size.
“Chill. Next time, I’ll show you the sun and moon. You afraid of cold?”
“Cold?” Little Blue scoffed, thumping his thick, messy chest fur. “Never!”
Lin Jun eyed his [Cold Resistance LV6] panel, humming noncommittally.
Suddenly, Little Blue set the Puffshroom down, dropping to all fours, back arched, ready to fight!
His nose twitched fast. “Human scent!”
Werewolf bounties hung on the guild board forever. Wolves didn’t love humans.
But this was different.
“Wait, that’s not—”
Little Blue charged, racing through the tunnel, spotting a glinting silver figure. He lunged, claws out, aiming to kill!
Just before impact, Jida stepped forward, slamming its left arm at him.
Little Blue didn’t take the rabbit-sized Jida seriously, swiping to rip it apart.
[Aaaah!]
“Argh!”
His claws hit Jida’s plain yellow shield, snapping two toes, blood gushing!
Stunned, he stopped, realizing the “human” wasn’t human at all!
“What are you?!” he roared, pain searing.
Up close, the figure’s silver scales weren’t armor but skin!
“Werewolf?” Norris recognized him, staying calm.
Silver-tier himself, Norris had a bag of tricks and Jida. This wolf might not win.
Plus, on home turf, this was probably the boss’s doing.
Sure enough, the Puffshroom flew over, landing on Little Blue’s head.
“Told you to wait!” it said, grinding its cap on his fur. “This is a friend, half-lizardman Norris!”
Norris muttered, “Half-lizardman today, huh…”
“Half-lizardman?” Little Blue sniffed, still confused. “But he smells human!”
“Ever met a half-lizardman?”
Little Blue shook his head. Honestly, he barely knew what a “lizardman” was.
“Exactly!” the Puffshroom declared. “Half-lizardmen smell like humans!”
Despite his nose’s doubts, Little Blue nodded, convinced.
“No more jumping the gun,” the Puffshroom said, tapping his nose. “Do it again, and you’re out.”
“Sorry, thought it was those sneaky humans…”
“Fine, just watch it. Now, make friends.”
After a quick intro, Lin Jun handed “show Little Blue around” to Norris.
Little Blue roamed the bizarre underworld for three days!
He asked endless “whys,” devoured super tasty mushrooms, bonded fast with Norris from awkward start to back-slapping pals, and brawled with new beasts.
Happy times flew. Climbing back to level ten, he felt reluctant.
But Big Mushroom said he could return anytime. In a few days, he’d visit Big Mushroom and the half-lizardman again!
“You’re alive! Thought rabbits ate you!” Familiar werewolves swarmed him at the settlement.
“Don’t jinx me…” Little Blue flicked his tail, then corrected, “And they’re big rabbits!”
“What?”
At the werewolf settlement, Little Blue gestured wildly, describing the vast underworld, weird beasts, glowing tasty mushrooms, and his “half-lizardman” friend to other wolves.
His chaotic but passionate tale drew young werewolves, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Slowly, even gray-furred elders shuffled over, frowning.
They clashed with Little Blue, arguments turning to blows.
Little Blue got knocked out, dragged back like a dead dog.
Lin Jun watched it all, amused, not rushing to save him.
He knew Little Blue faced only restricted freedom, not death.
Having spied on the werewolves long, Lin Jun expected this.
Little Blue was just the first wolf to leave level ten…
Level five.
Horn knelt on a Puffshroom-dotted Mycelial Network patch, staring at a mana-gleaming dagger, steeling himself.
“Horn… maybe don’t?” Noah, the priest, whispered, worried.
Old Hammer and Aime stayed silent, but their eyes screamed disagreement.
Horn shook his head. “Three hundred gold in gambling debt… I’ve got no choice! Noah, I’m counting on you!”
Eyes shut, he plunged the dagger into his gut!
(End of Chapter)
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