So I'm a Bat, Big Deal

As Misty burst into a clearing, a chilling transformation took place on her face. The corners of her lips twisted into a grotesquely wide smile, and her once-fearful eyes sparkled with a sinister delight. She appeared utterly unfazed by the battle taking place around her. Then, with a haunting sound that echoed through the air, she opened her mouth wide, and from the depths of her dark insides, a swarm of those same black beetles erupted, their stingers glinting ominously. Valen turned towards Misty, confused about the sound coming from behind her and saw the swarm of black beetles flying out from her friend's mouth. Then as the swarm escaped from her mouth, her body rapidly shriveled up, leaving a dried and lifeless husk that collapsed onto the ground, even her bones were nothing but dust. 

Misty's form radiated an intense white luminescence, and with a sharp crack, she vanished into thin air. Valen's gaze lingered on the spot where Misty had stood, now besieged by a swarm of insects spiraling ominously toward her. With a flick of her wand, she conjured a swirling purple portal in the air before her. A weary sigh escaped her lips as she stepped through, leaving the buzzing horde to swirl in confusion around the empty space. As the two figures faded from view, the tree creature began its slow advance toward the fountain. It cast a curious glance at the manticore submerged within. The manticore held its breath, then dipped its snout beneath the water's surface. The creature's dark green eyes narrowed in annoyance as she observed the manticore, her hand resting on her hip. With a dismissive shrug, she gestured toward the winding path deeper into the maze, sending her beetles scuttling off in that direction. She followed suit, soon disappearing from sight. I emerged from the fountain, shaking droplets from my form, while the manticore lifted its head, water cascading from its face, yet it remained seated, too afraid to leave the safety of the water.

As I glided toward the hedge, I spread my aura like a shadowy veil. The hedge trembled ominously, and in a swift, predatory motion, a branch lashed out, sinking into my leg. I jerked away in alarm, yet the hedge had already begun its sinister banquet, savoring the taste of my blood.

[I suppose I can let you contract with me, considering how desperately you pleaded and all the effort you put into trying to work with someone as fabulous as me.] I heard a melodic woman's voice.

[Hey! Don't get too full of yourself! Master only wants you on this floor! I followed master from the previous floor!] said Biter. 

"Is this the hedge?" I said.

[Yes, but I don't want to just be called the hedge, I need a True Name! It's what monsters get in exchange for allowing themselves to be contracted.]

"Bane, what's a True Name."

[Wow, you've made it this far and still have no clue what a True Name is? Impressive.]

"..."

[Oh, look at you, completely lost. Alright, let's break it down so even you can understand: a True Name is like a fancy title someone can hand out, but only if they're special enough and the other party is dumb enough to sign up for it. In return for their oh-so-valuable support, the lucky recipient gets a name and a little bit of mana through some exchanged bloodletting. That mana magically transforms into a True Name, which then grants them a power boost. Because who doesn't want to trade a little blood for a shot at greatness, right?]

"I see, so the name that I give any contracted being will manifest into a power using mana, so the names that I choose are important, sorry Bob. Alright, name, name, name...Briar. Your new name is now Briar."

[I guess that could work. Yes, gaze upon the magnificent Briar, the stunning thorn queen!]

The entire hedge maze shimmered with a deep green luminescence before the light dimmed, and once again, I sensed that peculiar connection, as if the maze were an extension of my own being. By concentrating on the hedges, I could blend my senses with their perspective, allowing me to perceive the entire maze in one sweeping glance. I spotted other adventurers at the rear, desperately searching for the maze's exit, while a tree monster lurked behind them, moving slowly. Max and Misty were nowhere to be seen; it seemed they had been transported back to the dungeon's entrance. Intrigued, I reached out mentally to touch Ryder's leg, and suddenly, a large thorn from the hedge shot out, piercing him. I felt the sharp intrusion into his flesh and was overwhelmed by an instinctual urge to drink his blood, which I strangely sensed flowing into me through my connection with the hedge.

[Oh, look at you, all full of human blood! How charming. Care to sacrifice some of that delightful red liquid to your system collection? I mean, who wouldn't want to add a little more to their personal stash?]

"What happens if I sacrifice the human blood to you?"

[Forget about you getting any experience from guzzling down blood; I'll be the one sipping it while racking up the points. In return, I'll toss a shiny new form into your little collection, which you can whip out whenever you decide to keep the blood flowing my way. At the moment, I can only juggle three forms in my system, but once I level up, oh boy, the fun will really begin. So, keep that blood coming if you want to see me evolve into something even more spectacular. You'll get to use Mimic and I'll get to level up.]

"Alright, you can have the human blood that I collected."

[Great!] I could feel the blood that I just collected pulled out of me and somehow just feel like it disappeared. 

 [Well, look at you, user! You've just snagged the delightful Humanoid Mimicry form. Want to give it a whirl? Just a heads up: once you dive in, you're stuck with this charming look for a whole day. No switching it up, no turning it off. Enjoy your new life as a wannabe human!]

"Not just yet." I gritted my teeth and balled my tiny fists as I touched down on the ground, inching closer to the hedge. It shifted its thorns aside, forming a gap for me to slip through. As I stepped into the small opening, it sealed shut behind me, wrapping me in a cozy cocoon within the hedge. The leaves piled up beneath me, crafting a snug little bed. I inhaled deeply, feeling a wave of security wash over me for the first time in ages, and decided it was the perfect moment to share a meal with Biter and sip some water. In gratitude for this safe haven, I poured an entire water bottle onto the hedge, thankful for the comfort it provided and the bond we now shared.

 It quivered with joy and eagerly absorbed everything, while I ensured Biter had his share of water as I enjoyed my meal. Afterward, a deep yawn escaped me, the stress of the day and my recent evolution exhausting me. My eyelids grew heavy, and before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

I was jolted awake later when the world outside was cloaked in darkness, accompanied by a strange creaking noise from beyond the hedge. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust as I peered through the foliage, and what I saw sent my heart racing. Just beyond the hedge stood three ethereal figures, their eyes vacant and ghostly. Enormous, translucent angels loomed overhead, their heights far surpassing that of an average human, appearing as if crafted from shimmering glass. I instinctively held my breath as they glided silently past my hiding place, exploring the depths of the maze. What sort of nightmare was this second level of the dungeon?

My attention shifted back to the hedge, and I noticed deeper within the maze that three more radiant angels had gathered around Herald. He was desperately casting spells at them, encased in a protective magic shield. However, the angels remained unfazed by both the shield and his frantic attempts to fend them off. They closed in on him without hesitation, forming a circle by holding hands. Suddenly, a brilliant light enveloped them, and when it faded, a stone statue of Herald emerged, arms raised in terror and a silent scream etched on his face. The angels then released their grip and continued onward, with one leading the way and the other two flanking it.

Coming Next Time: Time Running Out