So I'm a Bat, Big Deal

But then, with a determined sigh, I decided it was time to put my battle strategy to the test. I drew two knives from my space storage, infusing them with healing magic. Sure, it wasn't the conventional use of healing spells, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The blades shimmered with a yellow glow as I launched myself toward Misty, ready to face the undead and dive headfirst into an adventure I never saw coming.

I charged my knives with every ounce of healing magic I could muster, igniting them into a fierce yellow blaze. With the last two glowing blades in hand, I soared over to Misty, careful to keep my distance so I wouldn't catch her off guard. Locking onto the nearest zombie, I hurled a radiant yellow knife straight at its skull. The moment it struck, the creature erupted into a cloud of yellow dust.

Before the remaining zombies could fully process my attack, I launched another knife at a different target. Their assault on Misty faltered as they turned their attention to me. I felt a surge of relief knowing my wings kept me out of their reach. I pulled out two more magically charged knives and sent them flying. One found its mark, but the other dodged with surprising agility—some of these undead were faster than I anticipated.

Misty snapped out of her shock and rejoined the fray, unleashing a barrage of sparkly pink glitter. As it rained down, the glitter pierced the zombies like a thousand tiny projectiles. They howled in response, ramping up their attack, but my healing magic-infused knives were the only weapons that truly brought them down. Still, the glitter seemed to slow them down, giving me the edge I needed to finish them off quickly. But wait—if they were already dead, what did it mean to kill them again? Kill? Were zombies already dead and if they were what were you doing when you killed them? 

I launched knife after knife, adrenaline pumping as I snatched every blade I had. The zombies, now sluggish and easy to take down, were no match for my relentless assault. But then, out of nowhere, one I had merely wounded hurled a club at me, catching me off guard with a brutal smack to the head. I plummeted, only to be caught in a gentle embrace. My skull throbbed, and the world spun around me, making it tough to move or even focus on the soft cushion cradling me. In the distance, I heard Herald's voice, and just like that, I drifted off into unconsciousness.

"You can't be serious, that beast is not a pet," said Max.

"I can sense that my magic thinks it's a cute little monster that I could tame, but, um, my mana skills just aren't strong enough yet to do that."

"We're dealing with a serious monster here! Don't you think it's time to consider a different familiar? Something that's genuinely cute would be a much better choice!"

"Aww, he's really cute! Just look at that sweet little face, it's absolutely adorable!"

"If you say so, I personally think he's ugly. I wouldn't want to have a bat as a familiar," said Velen.

Ryder leaned in, his eyes narrowing with intensity. "Doesn't he give off vibes like that Ahool we took down recently? You think he could be related to her?"

Misty sighed and said, "Please, don't stir up trouble when there's none! You used your appraisal on him and saw he's not an Ahool, okay?"

"That's true, but I can't shake this nagging sense that he seems oddly familiar. By the way, what exactly is a Gotcha Bat? That name is just downright peculiar."

"Whatever it is, he's so intelligent! He came to my aid when I was in a really scary situation. My sparkles just weren't cutting it with those zombies at all!"

"Obviously not! Those sparkles are merely auxiliary support, not your frontline attack! They might help you heal in the heat of battle, but that's where their usefulness ends! You've got to let go of that stubbornness and dive into some real magic!" said Max.

"Just how strong is a Gotcha Bat to make it so that you can't have it as a familiar anyway. You should get rid of it before it wakes up," said Herald.

"It's not right to repay someone's kindness by cowardly attacking them while they're sleeping, you know?" Misty murmured.

"You can't even contract him," said Herald.

"All I need to do to contract with him is level up! It's not his fault that I'm a bit on the weaker side. With some hard work and commitment, he'll be my familiar, and I'll make sure to take amazing care of him! Honestly, there's nothing anyone can say to change my mind!"

I snapped my eyes open, feeling the warmth of Misty's embrace, cradled against her like a prized possession. My gaze drifted, and there they were—her massive, soft curves, two impressive mounds that seemed to defy gravity. It had been ages since I'd been this close to a woman, and never had I experienced such a striking sight, each one was as large as my whole body! I took in my surroundings, realizing we were nestled in the back of a building, the rear wide open, with a crackling fire just outside. A group of adventurers lounged on a weathered couch draped in a sheet, grilling meat over the flames. The comforting sounds of the fire popping and crackling filled the air, mingling with the mouthwatering aroma of the roasting meat on the campfire.

"Aww, you're finally awake! Would you like to try some?" Misty said, holding out a delicious piece of roasted meat for me to see. I plucked it from her fingers with my tiny hands and took a bite. Oh man, I had been missing the taste of freshly roasted meat! The moment it hit my tongue, my taste buds went into overdrive. This was the flavor I had been yearning for. Noticing how fast I finished the piece she gave me, she decided to share more, and we both enjoyed our feast in a cozy silence.

"Thank you for coming to my rescue! I really hope you understand me, but I just needed to express my gratitude," Misty said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I paused my meal, gripping her hand firmly in a gesture of agreement.

She stopped for a second, her eyes wide in surprise. "Wait, you can actually understand what I'm saying?"

I stopped to consider my options. Faking ignorance wouldn't do me any good, but I wasn't keen on getting further entangled with these folks. Regrets were a luxury I couldn't afford at this stage. If I didn't want to be in this situation, I should have thought twice before rescuing her.

I nodded in agreement.

"So you can understand me?"

I scowled and nodded my head in agreement once more, determination fueling my resolve.

"Oh my gosh, that's amazing! I knew you were special and not just any ordinary monster! You're seriously the best! It makes so much sense that you could rescue me!"

Coming Next Time: Defeating the Third Floor Together