Baldur’s roar echoed through the dungeon once more. His claws came slashing down in a ferocious attack that seemed to bounce off the Cicadossum’s carapace. He snarled and struck again, and this time his claws seemed to do more damage. The Cicadossum hissed as it retaliated.

Around him, the other party members were furiously trying to focus down the single Cicadossum, even as two Goosalopes beat on the tank.

And even as quills flew through the air, piercing the giant Urkin’s back.

“Argh!” he shouted, reflexive at the pain of the hand-length quill embedding itself in his flesh. “We need to deal with that one next!”

None of his party members disagreed.

Helgi’s hands glowed green for a moment before he sent a bit of magic to Baldur to help ease the wounds. The quills were slowly pushed out of the Urkin tank’s skin, in a process Gem thought looked quite painful.

“Your Tank Mobs are a powerful asset,” Chesu said as he watched the fight happening below them. He looked… hungry. Almost as if he expected, and wished for, the group to fail. “They are very distracting, have lots of health, and cause people to do stupid things.”

Gem thought while sending Chesu an image of a shrugging core.

“Ain’t that, kid. It’s two pronged: adventurers hate bugs, and also Feign Death seems like crowd control.”

“Right. It has to seem like a good goal to aim for. Tank down, focus adds.”

Gem watched as their tank was riddled with quills once more. He snarled and took his anger out on the poor Cicadossum that was still clinging to those last hit points before Feign Death was activated.

Gem thought as he watched Helgi’s magic soothe the tired tank’s wounds,

“Precisely.”

It wasn’t a question, but Chesu nodded anyway. “Big difficulty spike. Surprised how well they’re doing, all things considered.”

Gem watched the struggling adventurers.

“Yes. And this could all be solved if they thought tactically about the fight. Going after the flanking mobs or the ranged mobs first would decrease the incoming damage.” Chesu touched the corner of Gem’s core. “If they fail, it isn’t your fault. I’d tell you if you were doing something unfair.”

After a moment of silence, Gem sent the wisp a picture of a crystal with a modest smile.

“I’d be a hypocrite if I did, kid.” The wisp ran a hand across his face. “You get attached to those fleshy little meatbags down there. You watch them learn and grow and succeed… and then eventually you either watch them die, or you never see them again. Some go on to settle down and become whatever ex-adventurers do. Become guards, maybe. But others just die outside your area of influence. Another dungeon gets their experience points. Nothing can be done about it.”

Gem had nothing to say to that, so he returned his attention to the adventurers currently in his dungeon.

The Cicadossum was finally downed, its Feign Death activated. With it down, the tank had turned his attention to mauling the Goosalope. His metal claws were a whirlwind of attacks, almost as if Baldur’s fury fed his attack speed.

A look of pure determination mangled his facial features.

“Did you not get the ability to examine creatures yet?”

Gem confirmed that he did not.

“Huh. I thought that was a Tin Two thing.” Chesu shook his head. “Not important. Baldur’s weapons mark him as a Druid. Raw force of nature or whatever they claim. That’s why he’s making that angry face.”

Chesu laughed. “You could say that. I think the Passive Ability is called ‘Fueled By Rage’ or something. It gives him a stacking buff that increases attack speed, damage, and defense for every hit he takes that deals damage to him.”

Realization washed over Gem’s core like a cool breeze.

“Pardon?”

Gem wished he could point at the fight.

The wisp stopped, hovering in midair. “Wait but…” He paused, leaning forward to look at the fight. “No. You’re right. Helgi’s mana is fine. The others aren’t drawing enmity or spreading around damage, even though they could. Sakir is playing with her nails, even. It’s a strategy!”

Chesu threw back his head and laughed. It was a deep laugh, one that shook his whole body, but it sounded angry.

“Adventurers, kid! They’ll surprise you every time.”

“I wouldn’t say they’re completely out of the woods, pun intended, but they’ll recover fine. Hell, don’t you still have the Plantlings? You should add them into the mix. Let’s see how many stacks this Druid can get!”

Gem was hesitant to give the command to his Plantlings, but Chesu continued to push and push until he did.

The tiny bipedal plant creatures rushed forward from the Plantling Tunnels, excited to join in on the fun. As the party was focused on the last scraps of health remaining on the Goosalope, they didn’t notice the creatures' approach until they were climbing on Helgi and Sakir.

“Adds!” Helgi shouted, sharply.

Chesu leaned forward, almost as if expecting carnage.

But Gem didn’t feel the same bloodlust. In fact, if he had a stomach, it would have turned at the thought of his Plantlings being the tipping point that overwhelmed this well organized and intrepid group.