Cen uncoiled himself from around Levi, who stood and glanced over his party.

Skarm was bleeding from a dozen tiny scratches, but his health was only a bit under half. Gordon, who had multiple bites across his arms and legs, stood with his sword out in front of himself in both hands, eyes darting every way as he jerked his head from side to side, trying desperately to predict the burrower boss's reappearance.

"There," Levi pointed his sword at the boss, following its trail. "Everyone, on me."

Skarm jumped to attention, kicking Centoo into motion. The centipede tilted his head back to glare at Skarm, who ducked his head sheepishly, then grinned wickedly and kicked him again. Centoo moved, but not quickly.

"Skarm, be nice. Centoo, hurry!"

At his master's command, Centoo's reticence vanished and he ran across the space at a full sprint, Skarm almost losing his grip at the sudden change in speed - which only caused the gremlin to raise his hands in the air and whoop in delight.

The boss flew from the pillar, biting down on Centoo's flank, but Skarm was ready. He clawed the burrower with both hands, in the same moment it released its bite and tried to turn to dive away. Skarm wasn't able to keep a hold on it, but his claws left deep furrows in its fur.

Levi caught a glimpse of its health just before it disappeared.

Level 1+

(Cynomis Burrower)

Health 82%

"It's there," he continued to point, "Coming up behind you, Gordon."

Gordon whirled just in time, barely, and interposed his sword between himself and the airborne boss.

Somehow, he reacted instinctively, slashing down as soon as the impact happened. The burrower had a split second of disorientation, and Gordon followed up with a kick to its teeth.

"Yeah!" he shouted, vindictively, as the burrower dove back into the stone, blood speckling the stone in its wake.

Levi continued to trace its path, calling out warnings or jumping in himself wherever possible. Even with his ability to follow the boss's path, the fight wasn't exactly easy. More than once, they just couldn't react fast enough to stop it from reaching its target and retreating again before they could strike back. But more than half the time they managed to score hits, and for once they were the ones hitting a lot harder.

Then things changed.

He followed the burrower's progress through the floor, up the pillars, but this time it didn't jump out at them. Instead it kept moving, ceiling to floor, floor to ceiling, up one pillar and down another, not breaching the surface.

Was it waiting for its health to recover? Cheating boss.

It did give them time to catch their breath, but for once the pause would benefit them less than their opponent.

Skarm pulled out some grass from his pocket and tied it around his bleeding arm, then tried to do the same for Centoo - though the grass slipped right off the centipede's scratched carapace, with no easy way for Skarm to affix it.

"Should I send Flomper after it?" Gordon asked, following the trace of Levi's sword as the boss ran up and down and up and down without coming out.

"Are you sure you want to risk it? She might not survive."

Gordon hesitated, then nodded. "I think I have to."

"Alright. If you're sure."

Gordon whispered to Flomper, then tossed her toward the nearest pillar. She raced off through the stone in pursuit of the boss.

It immediately turned and bit down, the silent fight taking place entirely out of sight of any but Levi with his cobbled together life sight lens. He winced as Flomper squealed in silent pain, but she dove right into the fray, grabbing the boss's leg in her own teeth, then swimming desperately backwards toward the edge.

"She's trying to drag it out," Levi realized. "I'm coming!" He ran over, running his hand across the stone. The moment her rear leg emerged from the stone, he grabbed and pulled, lending his weight to hers. She kept her grip on the boss, even as it gnawed away at her side, and Levi dragged both of them out into the air.

"Flomper!" Gordon ran forward, Skarm and Centoo racing past him as they charged at their now-exposed enemy.

Levi shoved the life sight glass away, freeing up his hand to retrieve his sword, then stabbed it down on the boss and activated the Beast Bite ability. The spectral jaws snapped shut on it, holding it in place.

"Well done, Flomper, you can let go now."

She did so, turning to claw at its nose as she tried feebly to free herself. Centoo arrived next, biting down on the boss's flailing leg while Skarm raked his claws across its face.

There wasn't room for Gordon to swing his greatsword, but he dropped his weapon and punched the oversized burrower in the snout again and again until it released Flomper, then caught her gently and retreated with her away from the fracas.

Level 1+

(Cynomis Burrower)

Health 3%

Levi activated Tame, just in case, but as always...

RESISTED

Then the combined wrath of his minions overwhelmed the last of the boss's health and it collapsed into dead weight.

Skarm has reached level 4!

Skarm has 1 stat point available.

Cen has reached level 2!

Cen has 1 stat point available.

Centoo has reached level 2!

Centoo has 1 stat point available.

"I wasn't expecting to level again so soon," Gordon commented. "I thought it would take longer."

"First few levels are easy compared to the rest."

"I know, but it feels like it was faster this time than before."

"Could be. Depends on the specific monsters. I've never really paid that much attention to it. Some people try to count it out and systematize it all, but it's never precise enough. Too many variables to accurately pin it down."

"Not something you can post on your wiki, then?"

"No." Now that the fight was over, Levi felt drained and weary. But he brought up his minion page and looked over his options.

Not a lot of choice yet in how to assign attributes. Skarm needed more health regen, so his point went into Strength. Cen's he put into Strength as well, and Centoo he gave Spirit. He figured if Skarm was going to be riding around on him, Centoo would need the stamina more, while Cen was the best poised to act as the group's tank.

Minions 4 of 4 Name Level Type Strength Psyche Spirit Health Mana Stamina Skarm 4 Horned Gremlin 2 0 2 60/60

(+3/min) 0/0

(+1/min) 70/70

(+3/min) Gremlin Two 4 Horned Gremlin 2 0 2 0/60

(+3/min) 0/0

(+1/min) 0/70

(+3/min) Cen 2 Stone Centipede 2 0 0 100/100

(+3/min) 30/30

(+1/min) 70/70

(+1/min) Centoo 2 Stone Centipede 1 0 1 85/85

(+2/min) 30/30

(+1/min) 75/75

(+2/min)

That done, Levi checked the revive countdown for Gremlin Two, but it still had a few hours remaining.

He pushed open the next treasure room door, eyes lighting up when he saw a reinforced leather shirt, the match to his greaves. "Finally!"

He'd gone too long without proper armor. He still hoped to find something powered, but that would be unlikely from level 1 dungeons.

"So, can I look at your magic magnifying glass now, or is it still for your eyes only?"

"You can." Levi passed it over absently while he perused the remaining items. A stamina restorative, a Stone power stone, and a small pouch of flat yellow seeds Levi recognized as endurance blossom.

The power stone would add stability and weight to whatever effect it was attached to. If Levi had a shield mode tracing for his sword, he'd slot this in without hesitation. It would also be useful on armor. For now, he tucked it away with the rest.

"So this shows anything alive nearby?" Gordon was still admiring Levi's creation.

"Pretty much." There may be restrictions on it he hadn't discovered yet, but until he unlocked the crafting system officially he wouldn't be able to analyze or name it officially.

"Woah. You realize this could be..." Gordon trailed off, cheeks slightly flushed. "Well, you give me a magic glass for seeing through walls..."

Levi's face flattened into a glower. "No. First, it's mana powered, so you'd be burning valuable resources. Second, give it back. It's a powerful tool for fighting monsters and reconnoitering. That is its purpose."

"Not me!" Gordon hastily offered the glass back to Levi, holding up his hands innocently. "I wouldn't, but other people might— or might think—"

"No."