"No," Cless was getting a bit irritated. These guys were willing to throw their lives away for the chance of a loot. "If you stay inside the Dungeon, you are going to die. The second stage of the stampede is nothing to scoff at. Miasma on the first floor was doubled to call in the big monsters. Shane, I'm talking about three-digit levels."

"We'll take our chances, Cless. The tunnel we barricaded is a dead end and we have an item that can make food. Some monsters are edible too."

"Suit yourself then," She was tired and on her last fuck to give. "I am told that the lady of these lands will raise taxes to forty percent tomorrow. You have until then to get out with only the association taxes."

"Aren't these lands yours?" Shane raised an eyebrow. He too seemed irritated now.

"You bet. This is my dungeon. And that was my tower keep you slept in. Well, good luck, Shane. Blind Eye, we are leaving."

She turned around and took her guild away down a random tunnel. Fuming with anger at herself for coming all this way to offer unwanted help just to be turned around, she stomped ahead of the group. If that was the game they wanted to play, she'd indulge.

"I can't believe what a waste of time coming here was!" Cless shouted and punched the wall.

Venaris held her. "Cless, calm down. You did nothing wrong. If they don't want help, then don't help them.

"Shad, can you find the boss room by sensing the miasma?" She had a hunch that most miasma from a floor came from that big smoke vent in the boss room.

The drillmole came out of her pack and sniffed the air. It pointed a paw down the tunnel and squeaked.

"Let's go folks. Let's finish this boss fast."

They went through the tunnels, encountering small groups of monsters that were quickly dispatched.

Soon they were too tired to sleep. They cleared a room, Cless manipulated stone to barricade the corridors and they slept for a few hours. After they woke up with a clear mind, Cless got an idea.

"Guys, spare the big bears. Don't attack them I want to try taming them."

They moved around using SIlverfang's nose to find more bears. Cless filled her other five slots of monster taming with the iceclaw bears. Levels twenty-seven to thirty-one.

They farmed a bit more around the maze of corridors and rooms. Shad had reached level forty-three when they found the boss room. The same setup as before, except with big stone bricks instead of just stone.

The roof was glowing, casting its yellow light on the boss room. The boss monster was a furry creature about four meters tall, with long arms and legs resembling a sloth. Its face, however, was like a monkey. It had some horns like a stag and a long striped tail. The boss opened one eye and glanced at them, resuming its peaceful sleep around the miasma vent.

Cless noticed that the golem she left on the first floor was still there. She dismissed it and created another from the wall of the ramp. She readied her composite longbow and discussed strategy with her guild.

"Kurt, buff everyone with your songs. Venaris, go invisible and stay hidden to knock the boss back with a surprise attack when we need to disengage. Vic, you try the paralytic poison. We need to slow down the boss. Silverfang, use the bears as covers and distraction. Shad, you'll protect me."

She put Protection and Blessing on everyone while Kurt used Song of Valor, increasing the effective level of everyone for the purpose of hit and evasion ratios. Venaris cast Invisibility on herself and they went down the ramp. While they went, she also cast Mage and Stone Armor on herself.

"Bear squad, move alongside the golem. Surround and harry the boss."

The bears flanked the golem and the six creatures ran toward the boss, with Silverfang behind them. Kurt kept watching over the tunnel entrance to warn of newcomers while Cless and Vic moved to put the boss in range of their spells and arrows. The bears attacked the sloth but failed to cut its thick, coarse fur. The sloth yawned and a shockwave made the boss room rumble, opening cracks in the golem's body. He punched the boss in the snout, stopping the sonic attack and making it flinch.

Silverfang pounced on the sloth's back and bit down on its shoulder, latching with its fangs and starting to savage the boss' back with its claws now that he had a point of support. The boss was about to bite the golem when a ball of yellowish poison flew inside its mouth. The boss gagged right before a Holy Bolt hit it between the eyes, causing the sloth to go blind. The golem heard Cless' commands and punched the golem in the temple, to make it dizzy and try for a concussion.

It stood on the hind paws, opening its monkey face and screeching before a cloud of gray mist came out of its mouth. The bears stumbled and fell asleep.

"Silverfang, don't breathe the mist! Get out of there! Venaris!"

The lycan jumped away from the boss' bloody back and the sloth-lemur was about to claw Silverfang when a whistling sling bullet came from behind some rocks and a sling bullet hit the sloth on an arm, sending it spinning ten meters back. Silverfang escaped but not before breathing in some of the sleep mist. Cless cursed her lazy self as she shot Holy Bolt after Holy Bolt at the sloth, further pushing it back and away from the crumbling golem that was still shambling toward the sloth-like a zombie and the sleeping bears.

The sloth stood up, yawned and looked at its vent. The five bears were there sleeping next to it. A Holy Bolt impacted its snout, went totally ignored, and it screeched at the bears running with great speed toward them. The boss slammed the golem aside as it ran past the construct, destroying it entirely and reaching the bears before Cless could cast a second Holy bolt.

"Silverfang, stay away from it!" Cless shouted.

She shot her Holy Bolt again, hitting it on the arm but the slot ignored once again, focusing on slaughtering the sleeping bears one by one. She summoned another golem and sent it to attack the lemur-sloth. By the time it finished reaching the boss, there was no bear alive. Cless shot Holy bolt again and the sloth barely felt it. It hooted a challenge at the golem and moved to engage it. She could only ask what level was that sloth and why could it soak that much damage.

She shot some arrows but they did less damage than the Holy Bolts. That sloth was something. After sending the third golem to keep it busy, she tried to tame it, clamping her willpower over the monster and trying to force it to submit. The sloth fought back, glaring at Cless full of hatred and ignoring the blows from the golem. The battle of wills raged between them and Cless felt her mind strain, just like happened with the Appraiser. Without breaking the focus, she opened her status and dumped her fifty free Stat points into Wisdom.

It was something she was considering to do for some time already. Now it was the perfect opportunity. With her renewed force of will, she finally forced the lemur-sloth to submit.

You tamed level 81 slemuroth.

The fight was over. She checked its Status.

Level 81 slemuroth.

Base Stats: - Strength 210 (+11) - Agility: 51 (+7) - Health: 130 (+13) - Intellect: 8 (+7)

Traits:

[Not Again]: Divide the damage from any source by the number of times you suffered the same attack in the last 24 hours.

[Sleep Dust]: Spread a cloud of sleep dust.

[Enrage]: Goes on a rampage, doubling Strength and Agility for 5 minutes. Fall asleep right afterward.

And it went to sleep right away.

For fighting level 81 slemuroth, you gained 0 killl and 12,000 proficiency Experience points. You reached Vicar 25. +1 Strength, +1 Agility, +1 Health, +3 Intellect, +1 Wisdom, +1 Charisma, +2 Magic. Shad Reached level 44.

Over 90% of this level's monster population cleared. You gained 2 levels. You reached level 84. +1 Stat Point. You reached Master Instructor 13. Miasma production doubled for the next 72 hours.

Shad reached level 46.

They dismantled the bears, using Purify to remove the blood from the meat pieces as it was considered a contaminant after death and wrapping the meat in the pelts and stowing the bundles in deeppockets. During the work, several frenzied monsters came into the boss room, but these were completely wiped out.She took the opportunity to train the other elemental attack spells she neglected because she didn't know better.

Cless was sure these were the last ones and that the floor was cleared. Shad and the slemuroth were completely stoned by the miasma vent. Cless was about to leave when she noticed the treasure chest in the middle of the room. Opening it, she saw a lot of coins that she immediately knew to be worth eighty-seven crowns and thirty-nine ducats, half a dozen potions, and six items.

A pair of fingerless leather gloves made of some scaly hide, a cute bracelet made of silver with sapphires, small leather slippers, a ring of bronze too thick to be a bracer. Finally a big broadsword in a scabbard made of the same leather as the gloves and a pair of something that looks like a stirrup, with a metal arch holding a bar but with sharply curved talons like daggers jutting from above and nowhere to tie the leather strap.

Venaris came and used Appraise: Item on the gear. "Savage Gauntlets, give a bonus to armor penetration to attacks made without a weapon held on the hands. I think it is yours, Silverfang. Necklace of purity protects the wearer from Infernal corruption. This thing is too small to be a necklace even for me. Silent Slippers, self-repair, insulating, and make no noise. Ifrit brass skirt, grants armor, protects against fire and keeps the wearer warm. Deep Steel Broadsword, enhanced durability. Finally, Couatl Claws, cause disorientation on the target."

The Dungeon once again offered custom-tailored items. Cless handed the gloves to Silverfang, the slippers to Venaris, the claws to Kurt, Separated the broadsword to herself. There were the 'skirt' and the necklace. She gave the skirt to Vic and saw the lamiak blush. By elimination, Cless clasped the necklace around Shad and squealed as she saw how cute it was around her drillmole.

Vic was slithering away, head down. "Vic, what is wrong?" Cless asked. The lamiak instantly curled his tail, hiding the tip inside the spool.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd notice." He awkwardly hid the brass cylinder behind him. Or the 'skirt'.

"What is wrong with that thing? It is too thick to be a bracer and it is named a skirt. You can trust me, Vic. I won't be mad at you."

"Well, this item is a skirt for our kind of people, the snake people. Nagas, Lamias, even the Yun-tee."

"I can't see how it will fit around your waist." She was trying to understand but nothing came to mind.

"It is because our... waist? is not in the same place as you humans..." He turned around and fiddled with the cylinder, sighing as he finished. He uncoiled and Cless could see that now the brass skirt was clamping around the end of the tail, leaving two hands length of an uncovered tip. "... It is a little further down the line."

"Oh, Vic!" Cless cooed. "You've been slithering around naked all this time?" She giggled, making the snake-guy blush.

"I'm ashamed to admit but yes. However, this item is fantastic. Look." Vic flexed his tail and the cylinder made a loud clacking sound before a section slid over the other and the same thing repeated until it covered his whole tail in brass, including the tip. "It is somewhat heavy and awkward to move in but I'll adapt."

Venaris and Silverfang were also testing their new accessories. Kurt hovered and tried to maneuver with the Couatl Claws in his talons. It might be fearsome if he learns how to attack with that weapon. Cless unsheathed her new sword. The metal was pitch black and opaque, looked a lot like the warhammer Arnold used. She tried the blade on a strap of leather, awfully sharp. Didn't Balthus mention something about the hammer's material? Well, it was time to go back. If the miasma of two floors was doubled and there was no monster to soak the miasma, she didn't want to know what would happen outside.

Cless scooped and cuddled Shad before she kicked the slemuroth awake knowing that it wouldn't feel any pain and commanded it to follow them outside. They took the way back to Shane's little fortress. Someone else was keeping guard. As she approached, one of the guards ran inside to probably alert Shane.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Queen Cless Hreidmar of Myrkheim and Infernal Realm (in exile)

Race: Human.

Level: 84 ( 3,486,000 / 3,570,000 Exp ) [Experience Threshold > level 34]

Class: — Dabbler 25 ( 300,000 Exp / ** ) — Beast Tamer 25 (900,000 Exp / ** ) — Vicar 25 ( 1,500,000 Exp / ** )

Profession — Veteran Warmaster 25 (300,000 Exp / **) — Master Instructor 13 (378,000 / 416,000 Exp)

— Crafter 25 (Skill) — Farmer 25 (Skill) — Herbalist 25 (Skill) — Alchemist 25 (Skill)

Base Stats — Strength: 65 [152] — Agility: 84 [196] — Health: 103 [241] — Intellect: 108 [209] — Wisdom: 151 — Charisma: 101 — Magic: 252

Available Status Points: 1

Skills:

S-rank: [Absolute Contract]

B-rank: [Fear Aura] – [Perfect Might] – [Succubus’ Kiss]

C-rank: [Eat Anything] – [Elven Longevity] – [Appraise Immunity] – [Craftsmen] – [Dangersense] – [Earth Magic] – [Master Miner] – [Seductress' Charm]

D-Rank: [Alchemical Tolerance] – [Alchemist] – [Brownie Magic] – [Curmudgeon crafter] – [Dancer’s Grace] – [Darkness Resistance]

– [Druidwalk] – [Farmer] – [Gemsense] – [Giant's Stamina] – [Great Leap] – [Grounding] – [Heavy Handed] – [Herbalism] – [Merchant sense]

– [Ore sense] – [Poison Resistance] – [Runner's Dash] – [Sharp Mind] – [Singers’ Talent] – [Snakes' Flexibilty] – [Spell Resistance]

– [Spellslinger] – [Steelshine] – [Tinker] – [Tremorsense]

E-Rank: [Air sailing] – [Architectural Ingenuity] – [Burrower Bond] – [Coin Sense] – [Enhanced touch] – [Gravebreath]

– [Hearth’s warmth] – [Howl] – [Pack Rat] – [Seamstress Talent] – [Silk Hair] – [Splinters]

– [Virility] – [Wanderlust] – [Weavertouch]

F-rank: [Cheat] – [Florist’s Wonder] – [Gardener’s touch] – [Inner Compass]

Techniques:

— [Beast Taming VI] — [Beast Status] — [Share Skills]

Spells (spells under 20 hidden / Spells without a number are at the soft cap / * denotes a level 25th ultimate):

Divine: — Mending — Detoxify — Light — Turn Undead — Blessing — Holy Bolt — Purify — Protection

— — — Hallow — Flametongue — Cure — Uncurse — Banish — Heal — Warding — Revivify*

— — — Censure — Bulwark — Mass Mending — Sacred Dance — Judgement — Song of the Accord*

— Water Breathing — Shield of Faith — Sanctuary — ???????

Mage: — Detect Magic — Armor — Fireball — Shield — Resistance — Deeppockets* — Blink*

House: — Detect Dust — Doorwatch — Prestidigitation — Never Overdone! — Touch Up — Dry — Repair — Clean — Bloom — Hearth Recall*

Earth: — Soften — Earth Armor — Stone Shape — Terrakinesis — Golem* — Earth to Stone — Grasping Hand — Spike Wall — Construct*

Proficiencies (values under 10 hidden / {A} = Automatic Proficiency: Soft Cap +5):

Appraise: Status: 80 — Resistance: (immune) — Forgery: (immune)

General: Prayer: 80 — Reading: 50 — Architecture: {A}

Academic: Magic Theory: 50 — Spellcraft: 50

Crafting (+9 Profession): Tailor: {A} — Embroidery: {A} — Knitting: {A}

Farming, plants (+38 Profession): Foraging: 30 — Forestry: 30

Farming, livestock (+13 Profession): Dismantling: 30

Production (+9 Profession): Mining: {A} — Weaving: {A}

Social: Negotiation: 80 — Persuasion: 80 — Bluff: 80 — Flirting: {A} — Sexual Technique: {A} — Etiquette: {A} — Dancing: {A} — Singing: {A} — Gambling: {A}

Movement: Running: {A} — Athletics: {A} — Balance: {A} — Jumping: {A}

Martial (+18 profession): Leadership: 80 — Intimidation: 60 — Tactics: 80

Weapon (+18 profession): Long Blades: 80 — Unarmed: 80 — Archery: 80 — Maces: 60 — Pickaxe: {A}