Even though I've slain dozens, maybe hundreds of Stalkers, this one has just enough Abilities and tactics to throw off whatever rhythm I have lined up for her. A new dance routine combined with her significantly higher Agility, natural and then boosted from some sort of Skill, tells me right off the bat that we're going to be at it for a while. Unfortunately for me, that while could mean the lives of several of my party members and I refuse to take that gamble. It's a good thing there's a little technique for just such an occasion.

"Follow me, beautiful. I've got friends to rescue." I activate Distracting Footwork, my feet glowing a dim yellow as I juke, spin, and otherwise bolt past the other creatures dotting the chamber. With a bit of breathing room, I check on the status of Shelly and Shellbert, their mini rainbow bars appearing in a small panel in my upper left vision.

[Shelly, Level 32

[1719/1819HP, 197/197MP, 9/9SP]

[Shellbert, Level 34

[1806/1877HP, 153/193MP, 9/9SP]

That's actually, quite promising. If neither of them have taken much damage this far, then there shouldn't be much risk for them in their chamber. I did order my summons to defend the others with their lives, so they would attempt to absorb the majority of attacks at all costs. Just in case, I try to urge them to do so again with my will and--

And I remember something. Something that I could have done the whole time, but never did since I hardly ever needed to. I was so focused on what WPL level four would mean for me that I forgot what I could already do at level three. Two way, mental communication. With some effort, I meander my mind through the party roster and pick out Miss Sofia, asking if she and the others are okay. Just below my minions' names, Miss Sofia's appears with a little ear icon next to it.

"Ardy? Is that you? We're fine. We got some crazy warning, but only simple beasts like Boars and Giant Lizards appeared. Your Crystaceans are holding them off, but a large gathering of mana has been slowly building in a far corner. Are you okay?"

Before I could reply, my answer rapidly devolves from a positive to a negative one as a slice across my back shoots seering pain directly into my brain.

[Adolescent Stalker Queen slashes you for 89 damage!]

My attention was divided too many times and she took full advantage. I had messed up a fundamental rule of fighting, "Don't turn your back on your opponent." Even though I was essentially running away from her, I should have at least glanced back every so often. Now the greedy bitch wants more than just a scratch. As I turn, I pick out Elsbeth and Kona in my head.

"The others are okay, but a boss might be forming in their chamber. I tried to run, but the Stalker is too agile for me to escape quickly. If you can, round everyone up and get out of the dungeon."

"I just arrived on my broom, just a bunch of trash mobs, but there is something big being mana born," Kona screeched back at me.

"Be careful, Ardacen." This silky voice on the verge of crying suprised me so much I froze for a whole second and I almost didn't catch two serrated scythes with my claws. The sound of grinding metal sends a cold wave of goosebumps all over me. I activate Assassinate, just a fraction of a second faster than the young queen can react and she takes a painful hit just between her wings. They shudder violently and I Blink Step off to the side.

"El? Was that you?" I let my opponent spot me and as she turns to lunge for me I cast Bubble Blast with both hands, creating a wall of six explosive bubbles. Caught up in her own momentum, she collides with two of them and they all go off as I teleport again just outside of their blast radius. I flip my eyes into Thermal Vision and spot the Stalker through the dust.

"This is my real voice, Ardy. Does it… bother you?" The sultry, whispy tone of her voice may have lost most of its suprise, but it still trips me up.

"I-- No! I… just wasn't expecting it, I guess." Although, given her often melancholy expression even while smiling and laughing, I really should have supposed her voice would match it. More than likely, her responding to me with an actual voice at all seems the more likely source of my shock. "It's good."

Damn. Not the word I would have chosen, but I didn't know what else to say as I ride the back of the Stalker Queen, my left claw buried wrist deep in broken carapace and sticky ichor while the other aims the Battle Wand at her shrieking head. It's ready for a volley of Arcane Bolts, but I just can't find the right timing. Still, I do manage to downplay how melodious I find her voice. A dexterous and flexible arm bends back from below at such an extreme angle I thought it would snap, but just as it reaches the apex of its stretch it jerks forward and the scythe clamps down on my lower back, cancelling my Spell. The ridges of the serrations bury deep into my muscles and I bite down hard just so I won't pass out from the pain.

[Adolescent Stalker Queen stabs you for 157 damage!]

I turn my body into smoke and fly off to give us some space. A quick glance at her stats show me she only has (267/1507HP) so two to three hits with Distill Monster Core should do. I watch her search frantically for me as I piece together my plan of attack, her swipes at the air around her are amusing and futile. Everything needs to go pretty smooth, so I, too, check my surroundings and make sure it's going to be just the two of us for a few moments. I don't want too many creatures sticking their beaks, snouts, or tentacles where they don't belong. Of course, that's my general rule for monsters regardless of the situation. I'm about to dismiss Body of Smoke for Fey Touch when I realize that I haven't allocated my Stat Points yet. I reflexively palm my forehead and woosh right through it. Oops.

Anyway, I drop four into Arcane to bring it up to 110, netting me another VigeStat point, and bring Dexterity up to 96. I'm going to have to wait until later to spend the point. I maneuver myself right behind the queen as she slows her pace down, still wary of possible danger.

[You heal yourself for 122HP!]

[You pierce Adolescent Stalker Queen for 106 damage!]

[Distillation has failed! Target has too much HP!]

[You pierce Adolescent Stalker Queen for 110 damage!]

[Distillation has failed! Target has too much HP!]

[You pierce Adolescent Stalker Queen for 104 damage!]

[Success! You've distilled an Adolescent Stalker Queen Core, Level 31.]

[5/5 stored. 2/2 summoned]

Spamming the last three Distill attacks was oddly satisfying, jamming my arcane katar into her neck until she finally gave up her ghost to me. The core tucks itself into my Bracelet of Storage, since my Gloves of Distiller are technically full, even though both crabs are already summoned. I'll have to wait until I get back to the others before switching out. More random monsters come sniffing around our dueling grounds and I take that as my cue to leave.

In combat, being able to damage and eventually kill your opponents from a distance is essential. Inflicting harm while staying away from it has been the most basic premise of warfare since the beginning of life. That's why every citizen utilizes a crossbow or shortbow first, and a melee weapon just in case. As cool and flashy as brandishing a blade can be, one is more likely to be hurt up close and personal than from fifty feet away. If only we had the blueprints for Brandy's weapon, the gun slinging Samurai. But Nathan, her little brother and inventor of the magical device, was justifiably apprehensive about giving away the secret to how he was able to get ice Spells to shoot out of an oversized revolver.

Until then, our enchanted weapons and support Abilities will have to do. That's what I find when arriving in the chamber where the bulk of my party has been defending against randomly spawned monsters. I had loaded up my two quartz crystals with some Spells, including Beacon of Alacrity, and lent them to the crafters to aid in their defense should they need them. Seeing them dug into a crater of earth, most likely formed using Ground Shift, with the swirl of yellow energy emanating from the orb in the center. The sight makes me glad we took a few precautionary measures. Wooden and magical bolts fly out toward the ceiling, striking creatures that look like blood red flies the size of loaves of bread.

Seeing so many of one particular creature couldn't have happened randomly. There must be a couple dozen still buzzing around, looking all sticky like they had just emerged from a pool of blood. There's a tangy, musky smell in the air and I look around the chamber. At the end of the chamber, blocking the exit, is a massive pile of monster that Miss Sofia was hinting at in her communication.

About ten or so feet tall and moving slowly on four, tree trunk legs, is a saggy, shaggy hippopotamus looking creature with a thick, green blanket of fur draping over its body. At first, it looks like moss, but the way it sways as it lumbers forward makes me reconsider that thought. From the mop on top of its head, to the end of its fifteen foot body, the hair shifts and drops small black flakes that ooze on the ground like melting, frozen ink. When it comes to a halt, after moving only a few yards, the hair continues to move erratically. It couldn't be momentum, they should have stopped moving shortly after the beast did. It also can't be a current of air, not the way they're vibrating and wiggling. Something seems to be rummaging from under the shaggy, green hair and I ready my Battle Wand in one hand and Arcane Bolt in the other.

[Shindegal Hive Beast. Level 41

[2020/2020HP, 296/296MP, 197/197SP

[The Shindegal has evolved to form symbiotic relationships with certain insectoid monsters, thus forming distinct versions of itself. Even multiple Shindegal from the same nest can vary greatly depending on the kinds of insectoids available. This female has linked with the Crimson Flesh Fly and has become their mobile nest/host.

[Heavy Tackle, Rock Slide, Reckless Burst, +Noxious Aura, Devouring Sickness, +Caustic Osmosis, Life Transfer]

As if waiting for me to finish reading its description and for the realization to come together in my mind, the long, green hairs begin to part and reveal the horrors they were hiding. A dozen more oily, red Flesh Flies wiggle their way from under the protective blanket and shudder off more black flakes, coating the ground around the beast. The crescendo of buzzing as they fly off signals their first assault against the closest living thing, a brown haired goat that looks as confused to materialize in a cave as it is frightened to realize what is happening next. The flies buzz around, quickly and seemingly at random before landing on the goat who rears back and kicks at them in vain. A hissing sound and a terribly sour smell fills the cave as clumps of hair and hide fall off the goat’s body with wet splats, revealing burning, melting muscle underneath. It takes moments for the poor creature to vanish under an avalanche of bugs. When they take flight once more there's nothing but air and cave floor remaining.

"Wha-- where's the goat?"

Multiple people retching sound off in chorus behind me and a withering desire to fight the creature at all, let alone be within melee range, combine into a powerful form of motivation that moves me toward my party. Inside the crater, the cloud of flies above us start their swift descent, but my charged Arcane Bolt in Shotgun mode drops many and deters the rest. Using the yellow Sunshine Quartz, a woman I recognize as being the one whose child was arguing with Dawn about the authenticity of our little play castle casts Arcane Bolt as well. She grips it with the tips of her thumb, index, and middle finger and the sight reminds me of when we first stumbled (literally) upon one in the Rentas Dungeon. Her three purple orbs hit seperate flies with a crackling splash of energy.

"Aim for the same one, if you can. One dead enemy is better than several hurt ones." I inadvertently shout as encouragingly as I can over the din of battle. I mean, if she had an AoE Spell it'd be different. But, then again, I do remember that most of the people here have little combat experience.

"Yes, Sir Ardacen," her meek response drips with worry and fear. I place a compassionate hand on her shoulder and I can feel it tense up even more.

"It's okay. We're going to get everyone back home. What's your daughter's name?" My eyes lock onto hers even though she periodically checks over my shoulder.

"Na-- Natalie. Its Natalie."

"I'm going to get you back to Natalie, safe and sound. Okay?" She nods to me and I can feel her loosen up a couple degrees, but a round of buzzing and explosions causes her to jump. "You're doing great. Here…"

I take the Quartz and recharge it with a few more Arcane Bolts. She nods to me in gratitude and I return the nod and the crystal. I find another man holding my Smokey Quartz and recharge his as well. I shuffle by the crowd, rejoining the main battle party.

"What's the plan, boss?" Kona asks, blasting flies in the air and random critters on the ground. Corvina casts a wide Mana Shield over our impromptu bunker and creates a magic circle underfoot which looks to be the Sanctuary Spell.

"By far, the biggest threat will be the Shindegal thing and its bugs. I say we hammer it with a bunch of AoE Spells from a distance and make sure everyone stays safe from the other creatures crawling around." The warzone this dungeon has devolved into has become quite the scene of monstrous screams, squeels, grunts, and death throes. The chants of Spell names and calling out of targets adds to the cauldron of cacophony.

With a twinkle of her fingers, Kona envelopes the green beast with a dome of explosive, purple energy, "It has high Resistance to magic. I'm only dealing damage in the twenties to the flies and it should be a hundred, at least."

"Damn. That's probably from the Shindegal. They don't have the same protection in the air, but…" But that would require something to lure them out. I will admit that my knee jerk plan is to run out with my arms waving and Trinity Stream blazing to coax them out while someone behind me bombards my location like a round of artillery fire. Hopefully, I could possibly avoid getting blasted myself by Blink Stepping just before detonation. If not, Corvina, Kona, or I can cast some healing magic to help me recover some of my decimated body.

However, once the idea settles with the sediment, I realize how insane it really is. The risk of my death could set a chain reaction of failures that might lead to the deaths of my party members. This is like the time I had to kill the Gorshix to protect the Foragers, except now I have magical support and a clearer view of the options.

Recently, I've caught myself from diving face first into a problem with "duct tape and a hammer," Rachel's words, not mine, but I really dig her combination of two phrases. She told me, "If it moves and it's not supposed to I use duct tape. If it doesn't move, I use a hammer until it does and I own a LOT of hammers." The first is a temporary fix, and the second has long lasting, detrimental effects. I make these split second thoughts as I grip the handle of my Battle Wand.

"Give me a second." I order as I zip around the battlefield using Blink Step, dismissing Shelly and Shellbert and returning them into storage. With my crabs wrangled, I'm now free to summon my lady friends.

That-- that was a sentance I never thought I'd ever have to put together and I'm glad it means something totally different.

Mamma Blue, or just Blue for short, and Faye appear by my right and left respectively. The Dark Whisp hovers in the air, head turned to me and waiting for orders with her wry smile full of needle like teeth. My hand rests on the large mommy mantis. She's anxious to start, rocking to and fro and grinding her scythes together in anticipation.

Each person springs into action as soon as I give them their orders, "Kona, Elsbeth, Faye, you three keep a healthy distance between the hostiles and our people, but don't pursue any that run away or those out of reach of your Spells. I want you to focus on any Flesh Flies that pop up. Corvina, keep up Mana Shield and Sanctuary as best as you can, healing everyone as necessary." I toss her the Blessing of Sekhmena and before her slack jawed face can exclaim any sort of protest or inquest, I motion for her to join the others. "Sarnus, Lydia, Blue, you three are with me. You two protect Lydia, she needs to focus on Buffing us."

"Aye, sir. And what will you be doing?" He shifts closer to Lydia, rubbing elbows with her. They both flinch at their accidental closeness, but blush when they see that the other reacted in a similar way.

"I'm going to draw the Flesh Flies out of the Shindegal and hopefully take the big, green beast down. I'll cast Beacon of Alacrity near you guys to add to your attack speed and Agility. I'll also be using Hellbent Roar so cover your ears if you don't like excessively loud noises…"

With that I conjure their own spinning yellow orb, pulsing with invigorating energy. New Blue uses it to swing both scythe arms down in a swift, barely visible cross slash, rending a bipedal turtle monster who got too close into four, unequal pieces. I gesture to her at Lydia and she nods, casting three successive Spells before I take off.

[Lydia Powderwell's Wind's Grace II increases your Dexterity by 10% for ten minutes!]

[Lydia Powderwell's Aura of False Life grants you +20%Temporary HP of your Max HP! Lasts 1hour/drained/dismissed.]

[Lydia Powderwell's Minor Flame Guard will deal 7 Fire damage/per 3 seconds for 9 seconds to targets that successfully deal you damage. Lasts 5minutes/dismissed/ until you die.]

Combined with Lesser Dragon Force and Hellbent Roar, which causes every living creature inside the chamber to shudder with fear as the noise reverberates against the dungeon walls, I'm confident that we will all get through this in great shape. I make my way closer to the Shindegal who simultaneously spots me with its fully black, doll-like eyes and paws at the ground with a glowing yellow foot. Its hair becomes a literal hive of activity as the Flesh Flies crawl out in groups of twos and threes, pulsing with dim yellow light with each step their host makes.

It must have Buffed them, but the grey light from my Roar still clings to them and becomes visible between pulses. I'm about to start up Distracting Footwork to make my way through the air support when a spray of arrows and fiery meteorites slam into the swarm above me. A quick glance shows me El and Kona returning their attention to their own flies and Faye fluttering over the ground beasts, covering them with a shower of sparkling, black glitter.

Far more agile than it looks, the creature shifts slightly to adjust its aim, and launches itself right at me. Unexpected, yet simple and avoidable, I Blink Step to a spot just behind it for a Critical Stab, but the rotten stench and a wave of nausea flows through me. I double over in a violent dry heave, narrowly rolling out of the way of a putrid blast of greenish brown liquid. Congratulations, Shindegal, you just beat out Kilmosoth and the Vile Crawler for the top spot of "Grossest Fucking Creature in Arc" and I curse my enemies with the fate of facing legions of your kind. I glance reluctantly at the puddle of steaming, bubbling, brown bile only a few yards away from me.

"Ren, I hope you drown in a pool of that stuff."

The fumes wafting from the liquid smell remarkably like gasoline and I throw some sparks at it just to see if it is flammable. No joy, but I couldn't help but notice the stuttering step the Shindegal makes as it turns to face me. I let out a few more sparks and it flinches. It realizes that the sparks aren't large enough to harm it and it gathers up its courage to face me again. I don't have many Spells with the fire attribute, but I did just get a new Buff. I screw up my courage and allow the Shindegal to graze me. The slight tackle is still strong enough to knock me off my feet

[Shindegal Hive Beast tackles you for 86 damage!]

[Minor Flame Guard sets Shindegal Hive Beast on fire!]

The beast bellows in horror as it continues to run and roll on its side to try to put the fire out. A half dozen Flesh Flies return to aid it, but hover over it in a large halo formation. After we both regain our composure, the Shindegal lets out a snort. The bugs start to glow a dim blue and shoot out at me one at a time.

Catching me in mid step, I raise one hand to summon my Mana Shield in time for the first one to slam into it. One after the other, I get four more similar notifications.

[Mana Shield absorbs 56 bludgeoning damage! -56MP!]

After each hit, they return to their host, albeit in a sort of dazed, wobbly flight pattern. But before the last fly could smash into my shield like a bug on the highway, I slash upwards at it with my claw.

[Overwhelming Attack! You deal double damage!

[You deal 255 slashing damage!

[You defeated Crimson Flesh Fly in a single unarmed strike!

[You've earned a Feat: Minion Slayer]

I'll have to read its description when I have a chance. For now, the five remaining flies round about for another assault, but I don't give them a chance. I've never tried to direct where each torrent would erupt from during Trinity Stream, but this time I focus the fire stream out of my mouth, while water and lightning shoot from my hands. The water and lightning don't interact the way you would think they would, probably because they stem from the same Spell, but the stream of fire does exactly what I hoped it would against the big, green monster.

[Elemental weakness! You deal double damage!]

I manage to catch a quick peak at my combat log and spot the almost two hundred damage per second I deal the Shindegal even through its natural defenses and resistances. There must also be a bunch more Flesh Flies under the hair because my vision is just flooded with their damage notifications. Enough so that I have to step back to mentally adjust the settings in the middle of battle. It might have been a costly mistake to pefom such a thing while still fighting if the creature I'm facing isn't currently howling and thrashing frantically from the pain.

"Everyone with any kind of fire Spells target the Shindegal. How are our defenses holding up?" After making a general command, I subconsciously ask the final question toward Elsbeth, just to hear her respond in her sultry voice one more time.

"Holding, Ardy. Some of the Crystaceans are respawning and more creatures are pouring in from the fifth chamber."

"Everyone, as soon as we unclog our exit we're gonna make a run for it. We were not prepared for this and I can't imagine what would happen if the dungeon were to surge again."

With most of the crafters able to use Elemental Bead, a spell that allows the caster to shoot a smaller version of the bolt Spell and choose which element it would be, like my Battle Wand's innate Ability, we manage to slay the disgusting creature with little fuss. Amazingly enough, in terms of loot sacks and XP, each Flesh Fly was considered a seperate creature even though they were all symbiotically connected, not that they dropped anything more than Dissolving Flesh. Yuck. The first three chambers did indeed have the crystal crabs back in stock, which was good because I later learned what the shards they drop are being used for.

Even though they possess no inherent, magical properties, and wouldn't be used as enhancers or wand/staff catalysts, they are still capable of breaking into razor sharp pieces and have a curious property. They're sharp enough to pierce simple iron armor, and sometimes steel, but they tend to shatter like a glass bottle hitting the floor moments later. So, what the crafters have been doing is shaping them into arrow heads and spear tips so that the crystals will deal extra damage if they manage to lodge themselves into the bodies of our opponents. The burst itself deals no damage, per se, but it does lower Durability which can be just as good under the right circumstances. It's just that shards of pointy rock deep in flesh tend to continue cutting and slicing when jostled around

Our escape yielded very little else in the form of loot, XP, or interesting stories, but I did keep my promise to Jordina, Natalie's mother. A few people gained a level or two and we did walk away with dozens of sacks of Crystacean Shards. I didn't learn any monster Abilities, but I still got a new Feat and big, Momma Blue. During the fight, she kept Lydia under her and between her legs, defending her like a hen protecting her chicks. Lydia told me she's actually never felt safer on her travels than crouching underneath the giant Stalker. I told her any time she joins us that Blue would be there for her, just like me. She smiled, pecked me on the cheek just before we rode through the entrance of The Keep, and ran off to find Rachel. I didn't need the reputation notifications to tell me how she felt.

Speaking of how someone feels about someone…

Elsbeth and I had a talk, well, in ASL about her voice and she told me that it was the first time someone heard it in a very long while since she never tried to verbally respond to anyone over War Party Leader's mental link. Apparently, a noble visiting from another country found her voice so alluring that his jealous wife had Elsbeth's tongue cut out and sent to him. Now that I associate her voice with such a pitiable history, I don't find it quite as sensual. Not in a disgusted kind of way, I just become sad instead of stimulated when I think of it. But, El reassured me that I was the one who really got her voice back, when I taught her to sign and, for her, that means more to her than gaining her speech.

I find a brief moment where I'm alone returning one of the horses and wagons, so I check out the new Feat before I head back to find more work. The thing makes sense for what I did, though most of the creatures we've been fighting are usually at a higher level than us.

[Minion Slayer: Deal an additional 25% damage to targets at least five levels lower than your own.]

It'll be a while before I get see its effects in action, although,the damage increase is really--

[Message From: Ele-Quince Emergency Monitoring Team

[Mister Ardacen Winters,

[In accordance with stipulations made during the contract signing, we are contacting you regarding critical changes in your mother's medical condition. No further details may be communicated in the message. You will be given three hours in-game time to decide whether you would like to authorize the use of an emergency break that will log you out for a period no longer than 24 hours, after which you may choose to continue the beta testing or resign. If you choose to continue, the break will count toward your mandatory 12 hour break and you will not be required to perform one until the next break after. If you choose to resign then you forfeit your character to Ele-Quince Games until Arc the Game is released to the public.]

[Will you authorize the use of the Emergency Neuro Disconnect Y/N?]