A full day has passed, not that Bathilda has any concept over time in the never ending cave, since her well fought victory. Yet to make her escape from the ever ongoing tunnels and not finding anything resembling an exit, she has mauled her way through over a few dozen Brat's and one stray Alto.

After following the path that led on from the Brat's nest, Bathilda eventually encountered a second, which was later followed by a third and so on. Each subsequent nest contained more opponents than the last, yet with each victory Bathilda grew stronger and so did her skills. That's not to say each victory was easy and some were even on the verge of life ending, such as her first.

Along with the multiple skill and level boosts, Bathilda also earned a new skill and a few skill points for her hard fought effort bringing her total to ten.

Blood Control+ Level 6

Further strengthen the effects you have over the power of blood. Constant activation will drain MP.

After acquiring the much needed skill, Bathilda has now managed to gain the upper hand over her lack of control when it comes to the unparalleled scarlet liquid.

After finally reaching level 16, Bathilda hits a dead end. Forced to endure the same time consuming journey back, Bathilda filled her time by meticulously scouring the skill list. She mused over the recovery section for a good many hours worth of travel and eventually, she decided against a purchase that would serve no use while isolated.

Bathilda also saw a great deal of instant fight stopping choices during her reading hours. Each one, however, was priced way above her budget. As she reached the familiar nest of the first Brat pack she had slain, Bathilda made a welcoming discovery. She had been browsing the shadow magic section of her skill list, almost as much as recovery, when her eyes landed on what appeared to be an insignificant skill. It's value to the world and its value to Bathilda seemed miles apart as she read the description.

Clone: 5 Skill Points

Cost: Half of current MP

Create an identical copy of the user. The duration of this spell is dependent on the amount of mana that was supplied during casting. The Clone will begin with half the user's original stats and has a slight capacity for growth. Some skills and magic are restricted and will be unusable by the Clone.

Only one Clone can be summoned at any time.

'Another fighter. A scout. Or a lookout. It could be all those things,' she thinks in glee confirming her purchase.

As knowledge flows into her mind stops to test her new power. Using half of her mana, Bathilda feels the mystical energy leaving her in one lump sum. This is completely different to Wing Blade, which only requires 5MP per blade, and puts a little strain on Bathilda. It's not enough to cause her worry as the excitement of watching creation before one's eyes is not a second placing spectacle.

From the ground upwards, and from out of nowhere, a set of deformed feet form into existence. Carrying on from the arch like base, thin balck legs appear followed by a plump stomach. Spider-like arms extend out and a pink leather material connects from the body to the tip. The head appears more gargoyle than bat and Bathilda is slightly mortified at the mirror image before her.

We'll, almost before her, it's more like below from her stand point as the cloned Bathilda is only half the size of the original. The smaller version looks up at her taller counterpart blankly, tilting her head in a cute gesture.

'Awww, aren't you just... sort-of... adorable?,' lost in bewilderment, Bathilda's amazement is doubled as the half-bat nods in agreement.

'Holy Shit! You understand me?' Questioning the strange phenomena that she has no place questioning, especially after recent events have shown her that reality is longer confined to the cage she once knew. Bathilda smiles at her Clone who is once more nodding in agreement.

'Oh my god, this is so cool! Can you believe this, Hiro?' On her last question no words are used to respond but instead mini-Bathilda shakes her head.

'Are you kidding me? Hiro!?'

The small bat no longer looks weirdly adorable but instead has changed to a suspicious, more shady looking being and has begun to twitch irrationally.

'Out! Now!' Bathilda screams in outrage at the hitchhiking leech that has seemingly jumped ship the first chance he got.

"Well, it's not what I expected I'll agree but, where do you expect me to go? Do you want me back inside your head?" with a high pitched voice, Hiro answers Bathilda back with actual words.

'How are you doing that?' shocked at the novelty of hearing sounds other than screeching, Bathilda is already over the body jumping incident.

"First, I opened my mouth. Then, I prepared my thorax. Ahem. Me, me, me, me, me. And then..."

'If you're going to be a dick about it, then don't bother. Out, now!' back to annoyed, she returns to her previous mind state and repeats her demand.

"Okay. Okay. It was easy. When I spoke, I just did it," Hiro answers, with about as much insight as a closed door.

'Really? I just did it? Is that all you've got? I should dispel you or something,' reaching the limits of her frustration over such trivial matters, Bathilda threatens her partner in a teasing manner.

"Honestly. Have you even tried it? Just try it," not wanting to be dispelled, Hiro begins panic talking.

'Shut up, Hiro. I tried it when I got here, remember? There were clicks and shrieks but no words. I mean, I suppose I have evolved since then. Twice, actually. My body could have changed in ways I don't even know about. That might be why you find it so easy without even realising.' Putting Hiro's success down to her own achievements, Bathilda once again tries to use her vocal chords to produce tangible sounds.

"Heee... Rooo..." she mutters in a deep zombified slur as the tiny bat crackles in laughter on the floor.