Chop! Chop!

This is the sound the shovel made when being sunk into the soil.

The mushroom people had little to work with: they had wooden tools and domesticated beetles, but no more. Though it’s not like moss needed much. If you give it water and some time, it won’t die.

The same is not true for mushroom people. You can give them water and time, they die nonetheless. That’s because mushroom people are much weaker than the moss. And when a horde of murderous ants attack, they don’t have any natural means to defend themselves.

For you see, the same has happened now. The farmers hopped on their beetles and rushed to the village, alerting the guards of their impending doom. As such, they rang the bells and barricaded the street with tables and chairs.

The village consisted of only one street. It was very long, ending with the shaman’s temple. As such, the town was easier to barricade. For this reason, the down has built no walls.

“THEY BUILT NO WALLS?!?!?! AGAINST BUGS?!?!?!?!? THAT CAN CLIMB ON HOUSES?!?!?!?”

“Please calm yourself, Master! We have to lay low. I suggest we wait for the ants to break through the barricade, then we’ll escape behind the chaos.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Master!” Luna stepped in front of him. “You said our top priority is survival.”

“Yes.” Sunny pondered before answering.

“Helping these creatures won’t bring us any good! In fact, it puts us in life-threatening danger.”

“Listen, you have no reason to help these people, but I do! I’m fine if you want to hide or run away, but I won’t.” He looked at the shaman as it violently danced behind the line of samurais. “That man… he holds the secret to my humanity.”

Without warning, Luna put her hands inside the slime and pulled Sunny close to her face. Her fluffy skin and cute little eyes… now covered with ominous obsession.

“Master, did you forget? I promised when the time comes, I’ll be the first to give my life for you. I don’t fear death. I fear once I die, there won’t be anyone to help you escape. So if you want to stay so much… promise my death won’t be in vain.”

Sunny wanted to speak, but couldn’t. That cold aura crept down his throat and scraped his lungs. He had so much to say, yet nothing could’ve changed her mind.

Luna let go and flew to the frontlines, lining up with the samurais. She looked like a winged sheep next to those soldiers. In a sense, she was just one.

“A-Alright, anyways!” Sunny reorganized his thoughts. “You got this, Sunny! All you need is a plan! You’re a pro strategist, remember? First things first, you need to get a good look at our army!”

Two lines of samurais formed behind the barricade. Both were six soldiers long, with one being supported by Luna.

One line crawled below the barricade. They pushed wooden katanas through the defense, forming a spiky line of death for any who dare rush the barricade.

The second line was two feet behind the first, having their swords ready for those few who may climb through.

“Cool! We got a strong defense! Let’s see the enemy!”

The slime spat him into the sky from where he could see a massive horde of ants. They were roughly about a hundred soldiers big. Being only half a samurai’s size, yet they heavily outnumbered the defense.

“Oh. We’re fucked. Still, so long the barricade stands, we’re fine.”

“MASTEEEER!!!” Luna shouted with excitement. “LOOK!!!”

Sunny’s face turned pale.

It was a samurai. It sat on top of Luna with its katana drawn. From the way it kept itself, Sunny knew where this was going.

“Oh no…”

“MASTER!!! I think he wants to charge into the enemy!” The other samurais pushed aside the barricade, opening the way for her. “I’ll go and fight for you, Master! I’ll make you proud!”

“No, please! Wait!” But the thought of just how powerless he was made him snap. The time for words has ended. Only actions remained. “Alright, fuck this! If you can’t be stopped then I’ll… I’ll…”

Sometimes he forgot he was just an ‘eyeball’. That’s when he could feel his teeth grind together as he clenched his fists.

And that’s also when energy bending was most natural to him. He hasn’t even noticed as the influence he gathered shaped into an imperfect orb. His heart was so set on good, his mind turned off.

“If you can’t be stopped, then I’ll follow you!” He shouted, shooting the orb. It hit the mushroom on the back of the head, which would’ve been painful, had Sunny not taken control over its body.

[ Name: --- ]

[ Race: Fungoid ]

[ Subrace: Deep Cave Mushroom (Sentient) ]

[ Level: 2 (36/50) ]

[ HP: 15/15 ]

[ Strength: 3 ]

[ Agility: 4 ]

[ Constitution: 3 ]

[ Intelligence: 3 ]

[ Boons: ‘Samurai’; ‘Swordsman Apprentice’ ]

“Gahh!” Sunny cried out as pain shot through his neck.

“Master?” Luna looked up, confused. “Is that you?”

“No, it’s Santa. Of course it’s me, who else would it be?!”

“Can you… see?”

“Huh?” He touched his face. Though the mushroom samurai had no face, he could see and breath like a human would. “D-Don’t worry about that… I’m fine!”

“Then only one question remains: are you ready, Master?”

“I’m… I’m ready, Luna! I promise I won’t let you die!”

“Then off we go! Death to all who dare oppose us!”

“Yeehaw!”

On one end of the moss field were a hundred ants. On the other was a moth and a samurai.

On one end was the infectious plague of doom. On the other was the love of two unlikely friends.

And what they did not know was how this battle would lead them down the path of most unfortunate destiny.