So I'm a Bat, Big Deal

As dawn broke the next day, I sat on the couch, between Misty and Juno, soaking in the stunning sunrise that bathed the ruined city in a golden glow amidst the zombie chaos. This morning was turning out to be pretty epic. The sky exploded with colors, and the air had a crispness that invigorated my spirit. I was fired up and ready to dive into a new adventure with my awesome companions.

We packed everything up and then put out the fire. 

"Everyone stay together and keep an eye on our surroundings. Misty, I'm not going to force you to part with that beast, but if it spirals out of control, that's on you. I was comfortably perched on Misty's chest, and she didn't seem to mind one bit. It felt like I was so far removed from her idea of a typical guy that all her guards were completely down. I couldn't tell if I should be celebrating or feeling a bit emotional.

The squad quickly fell into line, with Misty in the center and the little elf girl at her side, instructed to stay under the radar in case things turned ugly. If it came to a brawl, I was confident I could take down most of the monsters lurking around us, but that was the impression Misty had given about my skills. While I appreciated her confidence in me, I didn't want them depending on me to bail them out of their own troubles.

But as fate would have it, I had no reason to worry. They saw me as just a small, insignificant bat, not a warrior at all. Misty's comments were brushed off as mere luck for her, dismissed as the ramblings of someone emotionally drained. We all set out with the intention of exploring some buildings to see if we could score any loot.

The first stop was an old, dilapidated jewelry store. As we stepped inside, we were greeted by shattered display cases, flickering lights, and tilted showcases, but there was still some jewelry glimmering amidst the chaos. The group split up, each diving into different sections to grab whatever they could find. I took to the air, stealthily stashing away jewelry in my storage while they piled up their finds to share later, aside from a few prized pieces they each wanted to keep. Naturally, they wouldn't be handing out jewelry to a bat, so it was a classic case of finders keepers.

I stuffed a bunch of items into my storage space, and nobody had a clue. Misty was adamant about giving me a golden bracelet, but the other adventurers were relentless, insisting she take it out of her share. She thought it would look like a tiny crown on my head. Initially she wanted to put it around my neck, but all I could picture was it strangling me as my size fluctuated. I snatched up everything I could get my hands on and even discovered a locked room at the back, slipping through a gap at the bottom of the door. Inside, drawers lined the walls, each one brimming with stunning treasures. Suddenly, I heard the others approaching, their footsteps echoing, and then Max's voice rang out, calling for everyone. "Hey, Herald, do you know a good spell to pick locks?"

I snatched up everything I could while scanning the room for a good hiding spot. That's when I noticed the duct bars were just wide enough for me to squeeze through. I quickly grabbed as many jewels and pieces of jewelry as I could, and just as I was about to be done snatching up stuff, I heard the lock start to click open. Without wasting a second, I dove into the ducts, racing through the tunnels and popping out into another room via the air vents. I could hear annoyed voices behind me, but that was their problem, not mine. If zombies ever came knocking, I'd be the one saving everyone's skin, so obviously I needed to be paid.

I emerged in a new room and immediately searched for more loot, only to stumble upon a pack of wolf zombies. Their mouths dripped with a sickly green and purple drool, and their light brown fur was a tangled mess with patches missing. Some had just one eye, while others had two but couldn't seem to focus on anything. This ragtag group of ten scruffy, bony creatures looked like a taxidermy project that had gone horribly wrong, and if they had been alive, they'd be long gone by now.

I let out a deep sigh, then settled in to see if they would just wander off on their own. Suddenly, they caught a whiff of something and bolted into the next room in unison. Max's voice rang out, calling for the rest of the crew. They quickly formed up and launched an attack together, but it was clear they weren't cut out for taking on zombies. I took down a bunch of them with my laser bullets while everyone else stood around, panting heavily. We pressed on to the next building, which turned out to be a shopping center. Not too shabby, though, because I found a stash of men's clothes and boots that I eagerly grabbed, keeping my 'vampire' size in mind, along with some hunting, fishing, and camping gear. A few zombie trolls showed up, but I dispatched them swiftly with my throwing knives, collecting them afterward.

Eventually, we made our way across the vast room to a massive double door that stretched all the way to the ceiling in the last building on this floor.

Let's take a break for lunch right here. I have a strong feeling that the dungeon floor boss is lurking just behind that door. As they quietly munched on their food, I scanned the area, replaying the last battle in my mind. I let out a deep sigh and made my way to each adventurer, channeling healing magic into their weapons. Their surprised gasps filled the air, but there was no time to waste. I wasn't sure I could face the floor boss alone, especially after that creature I encountered on my way in had proven to be a formidable challenge.

Coming Next Time: Floor Boss