Sargon was swinging his weapon relentlessly. Droplets of sweat dripped from his forehead. It took him only an hour to realise that he had made an awful mistake and regret his decision. He had mouthed more than he could chew.

The ants here, in the lower floor, were bigger, stronger and more numerous than in the floors above. However, the insects weren't his biggest worry. The worst of things was that he was lost, he couldn't find his way back to the staircase.

The boy sliced the last ant in half and brushed his sweat-drenched forehead. He didn’t even attempt to loot the monster bodies for cores. He had to time for that, instead, he moved forward in an attempt to find his way back to an upper floor. He somehow managed to deal with monsters here, but that would not last for long. After all, he lacked both the necessary stamina and equipment.

Sargon sat down on a random boulder to rest. He rubbed his sore feet and arms, his muscles were aching from the strain. He knew hard labour, he was a gardener, but still, the stress of constant fighting had worn out his body and soul down.

“This is hard work. The pay is not that good either, whatever extra I earn I will have to spend on gear and other survival items. Why am I doing this again?” He questioned his decisions for the first time since coming here.

The short rest was rudely interrupted by another swarm of insect monsters. There weren’t many of them only about twenty, but each ant was the size of a small cat with a quite stubborn exoskeleton and powerful jaw pincers. If at least one of them latched their jaws on him, he would be as good as dead.

“Oh yes, I remember now. I am here to prove… to prove that I can do this!” Sargon grasped the shaft of the coa in preparation to dispatch another swarm of annoying insects.

Through sheer determination and the power of will, he did just so. Once again he had slain the monsters and continued his search.

He didn't know what time it was since there was no sun in the dungeon but his gurgling stomach told him it’s time for dinner. The luck finally smiled at him, he found a good place just for that.

He squeezed through a small hole in a dungeon wall leading to a small cavern. Numerous stalagmites and pillars filled the room but at first inspection, it was quiet and devoid of any monsters.

“This is a good spot. By the looks of it, there is only one way for the dungeon monsters to come through. I better watch it.”

Sargon tough how better it would have been if he had someone with him. Preferably a rogue type character so that the trap or at least an alarm of sorts could be set by the only entrance to this room. He would need to find someone soon if not his progress will be limited significantly.

He sat down on a flat ground, took his sack off and rummaged inside it. “Here it is.” He pulled his dinner out of the sack.

Then Sargon unwrapped the cloth revealing the food. It was round cookies speckled with amber crystals of caramel. It was more of a luxury dessert than a food, but still high in energy never the less; exactly what he needed. Normally he would not be able to afford such things but this was a gift from his childhood friend Lilith.

He put a delicious cookie in his mouth and munched on greedily.

“This is the best!” Sargon exclaimed after washing it down with a mouthful of water from one of his flasks.

*Crack* a noise rang from behind him.

Sargon turned his head impulsively to check what it was. He was startled at first, after all, there should be no one else in this room; he checked it.

He saw a dark figure standing in a shadow, their leg was still pressed at the discarded shell which had shattered and was the culprit of the noise.

The boy grabbed his coa mistaking the dark figure for a monster. As soon as his fingers touched the handle he relaxed. He was acting on an instinct, after all, this was not a monster but clearly just another adventurer.

“Oh boy, you sure did startle me, ha ha.” Sargon let out an awkward laugh.

“…” The figure remained stiff and half-hidden in the shadows.

“I did not expect to see another adventurer here. You must be a rogue type that’s why I did not notice you.”

“…” The figure remained stiff and unmoving as if they were contemplating something.

“Where is your party? Are you alone too?” He asked.

No reply.

“I see… You must be a newbie too, your equipment says so.” or the lack of it, Sargon noticed.

He no longer had fantasies of venturing deeper without a companion, and this was a good chance to make one.

“No need to be shy, come sit closer. I will even share my food with you. I even have some treats from the temple!” He was referring to the delicious cookies.

“Treats?” They finally spoke. From the sound of the voice, they were a female. However, this still had to be confirmed since they remained in shadows.

“Yes, it's kind of a special cookie. Usually only the wealthy would be able to afford this, but I have a good friend who gave me these free of charge. Want some?” He was trying to bribe his future companion. What was the best way to win favour if not a small bribe, he was a gardener but he knew how the world worked.

The figure nodded and stepped out of the shadow.

This was a female as Sargon have expected but yet he still gasped in surprise. The reason for that was her appearance and not because of the clothes or the lack of them but because of her racial features. She was not of a race he had seen before, and he thought he saw them all. She was neither a dwarf, elf, beastman or human she was something else entirely.

What he mistook for boots were actually hooves, and those fuzzy red trousers were not trousers at all but actual skin and fur. By the looks of it only her legs were covered in red fur, the rest of her was smooth red skin. She had sharp nails at the end of her each finger, which was definitely a form of natural weapon. Another natural weapon was her blue tail; the end of it had a sharp tip in the shape of a blade. The rest of her was hidden by a tattered cloak, her face included, only a set of blue horns peeked from the holes in the hood.

Step by step she got closer to him and stopped within two arms reach from where he was sitting. Sargon stretched his arm offering one of the cookies.

She leaned to take the food giving Sargon a chance to peek at her face which was no longer hidden by the hood.

She had round plump lips above them was a narrow feminine nose. Her eyes were big and green, the pupils were catlike. Long curly eyelashes decorated her eyes and above them were fuzzy red eyebrows. Threads of long blue hair peeked just below the hood.

While he was appreciating the beauty in front of him. The cookie was snatched from his hand.

“Hmm…” Sargon hummed unconsciously. She definitely looked different maybe even odd, yet in his opinion she was stunning.

“So good!” She exclaimed whilst still munching on a cookie.

“I know, right!” He finished his bite and washed it with water.

Without them noticing there was only one cookie left laying on a piece of cloth. She looked at him with puppy-like eyes begging for it.

“Go ahead, It is yours.” He offered and regretted the same instant he said so.

*Cough Cough* a sputter of cookie crumbs were expelled in the air.

“Yeah, they are sweet but a tad bit dry…” It was a cookie after all. “It's better if you drink it with milk, or water in my case. Milk spoils too quickly.” He looked around but could not see any of her equipment. “Where is your stuff?” He asked.

*Cough*

Sargon offered his water flask hesitantly. He knew that some women would refuse such things, something about an indirect kiss and that sort of stuff.

The water was taken from him cutting his pink thoughts short. She raised the flask and downed the entire contents of it. Then she brushed her lips with her arm and threw the flask back at Sargon.

“I don't have any.” She replied to his previous question.

“What? That is a bit irresponsible. Even I came here prepared. How did you make past the first floors with no equipment?”

“Pure skill.” She said flatly.

Sargon concluded that she must be way more experience than him. How else she would be able to do that?

“How about food?” He asked.

“I eat what I catch..” She said it as if it was a matter of fact.

“Makes sense, but does it not taste disquieting?” He knew that the monsters on the first floors were not exactly appetising.

“*nod* In lover floors... Taste is better.”

“You have even been lower than this flour?” Sargon was surprised, she did not look like it. If what she says is true she is way more experienced than him.

She nodded in response and asked, “More cookies?”

“Nope, all finished. Do you belong to a party?” He asked expectantly. If he could partner up with her it would be a huge win for him.

“No. Always alone and...”

Her sentence was interrupted by overjoyed boy “Then can we partner up? It will be a lot easier together don’t you agree?”

“I…” She seemed deep in thought and even slightly startled by the question “Unsure.”

“I will bring more cookies?” He offered jokingly.

“Deal”

“Ehh?!” Sargon could not believe it worked. “Okay, but first… how to say this. I am a bit lost, do you know a way back to the top floor?”

She nodded and motioned him to follow with a swing of her tail.

As the went through the floor current killing the small critters, Sargon had a chance to witness her battle skills. She was indeed skilled, she was able to slice two ants with her tail while he sliced just one in that time. Her tail blade seemed leagues sharper than his coe. She used her weapon masterfully as if it was a part of her, well actually, it was.

“Wow, now I understand why you do not have any other weapons. You are way better than me too.” He said somewhat dejectedly lowering his chin.

All she did in response was put on a smirk.

They kept going through the floor, killing the ants almost effortlessly until they reached the staircase leading to the exit. Sargon headed towards the surface, after a few steps he had to stop.

“You are not coming?” He asked.

She shook her head sideways.

“Why?”

“Can't. Must remain here.” She replied with a tint of sadness and loneliness in her voice.

“…?” Sargon wanted to ask why, but he decided not to pry into something that was clearly a personal matter, after all, they have met only a few hours ago. “Well, then where can I find you tomorrow?”

“Same place?”

“Amm…” Sargon thought for a good minute. It was hard for him to go all the way down here alone but he did not want to admit his weakness to someone he found beautiful. “Ok then. Oh, and what is your name again?” He did forget to ask after all.

“Demi-Ura.”

“I am Sargon. Then see you tomorrow afternoon, bye” He said waving her goodbye.

“Mhm.” She nodded in reply before running back deeper into the cave.