So I'm a Bat, Big Deal

The minotaur bellowed in fury, its gaze snapping to Lyra, eyes blazing with rage. Just then, Biter soared in, her hands raised high. A surge of vibrant green light erupted from her palms, summoning thick, twisting vines that erupted from the ground. They coiled around the minotaur's legs, snaking up its massive form. Leaves burst forth from the vines, and with a powerful tug, they wrenched the rock weapon from the creature's grasp, anchoring it firmly to the earth. 

"Evaluation!" I yelled out while looking at the minitour.

Rock Minitour

Floor Boss Monster

LVL: 50

Health: 55/100

Mana: 40/100

The minitour struggled fiercely, yanking at its weapon ensnared by the relentless vines, but it was a futile effort. In a matter of moments, the vines constricted around the beast, wrapping it in a suffocating cocoon that forced it down to its knees. It unleashed a thunderous roar, twisting its body in a desperate attempt to break free. A surge of brown energy erupted from the tips of its horns, sending rocks flying and slicing through the vines, but for every vine severed, three more sprang forth. The razor-sharp tips of the leaves began to slice into the creature's flesh, and soon, writhing roots emerged from the vines, burrowing into the wounds left behind. I watched in awe at Biter's terrifying powers, feeling a surge of gratitude that she was fighting alongside me. That's one seriously freaky ability.

Health: 40/100

Mana: 20/100

The minitour thrashed wildly, its powerful limbs flailing in a desperate bid for freedom, but it was ensnared so tightly that movement was nearly impossible. As it fought against the relentless grip of the vines, they constricted further, biting into its flesh with a cruel intensity. With one final, exhausted roar, the beast fell silent, its struggles ceasing.

Seizing the moment, I soared through the air and sank my teeth into the back of its neck. The warm, rich blood flowed into my mouth, and I could feel the eyes of my companions on me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe as they paused their assault to witness the spectacle. I had planned to hang back, but the chance for an easy EXP boost was too tempting to resist. I indulged a bit more than necessary, savoring the taste that was nothing short of gourmet—like the finest steak I could ever dream of! Who would have thought minitour could be such a delicacy? I couldn't wait to roast some of this meat over a fire.

[You have leveled up, congratulations on leveling up to level 40. Oh joy now you're able to bellow at your enemies as if yelling would easily bring them down.] 

The vines lashed out, burrowing deep into the minotaur's back, tearing a gaping hole as they yanked the mana gem free. It was thrust into my hands—a massive brown gem, bigger than any I had ever claimed. Without a second thought, I tossed it into my mouth. Instantly, a surge of power coursed through me.

[Congratulations! You've just snagged the oh-so-valuable skill of Rock Manipulation by munching on the floor boss and its precious mana core. And as a bonus, you've also acquired the ability called Furious Roar. Because, you know, when life gets tough, a good scream is the ultimate solution.]

[You've got yourself a shiny three hundred points to blow on whatever tickles your fancy. Let's hope you can come up with something remotely entertaining.]

After I distributed my new points it looked like this:

Aerial: 150

Bind: 100

Ninja: 150

Observation: 100 

Reasoning: 100

Mana: 150  

Armament: 100

Luck: 100

Charm: 100  

Yeet: 100  

[Well, look at that! Everything got a shiny upgrade, especially for Aerial, Ninja, and Mana. Let's see what delightful little surprises I can whip up to toy with you.]

[Flying Acrobatics: You can do flips in the air with the greatest of ease. How charming! Maybe ditch the whole Dark Lord gig and run away to the circus instead. At least there, your chances of success might actually be higher.(High Aerial, High Ninja)]

[Short Warp: Oh sure, just whip up some short-distance warp doors to wherever your eyes can wander. Because who needs a good old-fashioned walk when you can teleport like a lazy couch potato? (High Mana, High Ninja)]

[Sneak Attack: Your initial strike is practically a ninja move—good luck getting caught. (High Ninja, High Aerial) 

The gears in my mind churned as I weighed my options, each one flashing with potential. This time, the choices were solid—nothing like the dud of Shield Surprise from the past. I mulled it over, feeling the adrenaline surge. Sneak Attack had its allure, but Short Warp called to me. The versatility of warping through space was too enticing to resist. I locked in my decision, ready to unleash the power of Short Warp in the heat of battle.

[So, you've decided on Short Warp? How original! Here are some gems for you to discard like yesterday's news. A generous 1000 points to help you navigate your midlife crisis with style.]

[Warp Carriage: Create a warp circle under your aura influence, which is nearly as expansive as your inflated self-image. Shift everything in that area to a designated warp point. Just 500 points!]

[Warp Attack: Want to play surgeon with monsters? You can detach one of their body parts every eight hours, assuming they're not in a hurry. Only 500 points!]

[Warp Skip: You can preset three locations to warp to in an instant as long as you're using a magic-imbued map. 500 points.]

[Ah, so you've decided to go with Warp Carriage and Warp Skip. Bold choice! I mean, who wouldn't want to travel through space like a caffeinated squirrel on a sugar rush?]

Warp Bat: Level 40

[Whenever you whip out your space magic, your fur turns into a galactic catastrophe.]

Powers: Poison Fang Level 10, Swift Wings, Flesh-Eating Flora Control, Leaf Snipping, Gotcha Gain, Roulette Wheel, Beast Tamer Level 100, Heat Vision, Private Eyes, Evaluation, Light Healing Level 10, Light Finger Guns, Poison Spit Level 20, Rock Manipulation, Furious Roar, Warp Carriage, Warp Skip.

Purchase Points Remaining: 100

Level-up Points Remaining: 0

Gotcha Gain! I yanked the handle, and a small pod shot out from the door with a satisfying click. The pod burst open, revealing a sleek little knife, its blade gleaming with three slots ready to be filled with mana cores.

The Roulette Wheel whirled with a fierce energy, finally settling on a jackpot of 100 coins. I made the call to hold off on spending any more until I had firmly established my territory. With any luck, I'd stack up enough points to supercharge my fledgling village into something formidable.

I yanked the knife from my storage place, gripping it tightly in my hand. It was nearly twice my length, though in my bat form, that didn't mean much. Yet, it felt surprisingly light, boasting three slots for cores. I slid a poison core into the blade, and it erupted in a vibrant purple glow. Next, I inserted an air core, and the knife shimmered with a white light tinged in purple. I attempted to extract the purple orb, but it was firmly lodged in place. Once a core was in, it was there to stay. I'd have to wield it for a while to see if it consumed the cores, forcing me to swap them out later. I left the last slot vacant, uncertain of what I might need down the line, but starting with a wind and poison blade felt like a solid plan.

With a swift motion, I sliced off a hefty piece of meat, blood splattering as I stealthily concealed my prize near the spot ravaged by my fox. Then, I signaled Biter to unleash the minotaur. The others gaped at me and my allies, stunned into silence, but their shock shattered as a loud grinding noise echoed through the air. A dark, circular staircase emerged from the depths below, the stones scraping against one another like a warning growl.

 "Are you confident in this bat?" Ryder asked Misty. "Is it activating your warning power in any way?"

"Oh no! He's such a sweet bat! He's definitely more than just an ordinary bat, and he really doesn't want to hurt us at all," said Misty.

"Very well, I shall place my trust in you and your skills. Assemble, everyone, and take a brief respite before we descend to the fourth level."

The door unlocked and Misty skipped over to the double door and opened it up. "You can step inside now, the fight has come to an end," She peeked out and in that moment, the adorable little nature elf burst through the entrance. Her breath caught in her throat as she laid eyes on Herald, who was joyfully hacking away at the minotaur, blood splattering everywhere. The scene was nothing short of horrifying, watching him dismantle the beast with an unsettling grin plastered across his face.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I vaulted onto Lyra's back, Biter at my side, as we raced after the adventurer party. The young elf girl was relentless, insisting on tagging along despite the objections from the others. The truth was, the adventurers were cornered; they couldn't promise her mother's rescue. They had no idea what she looked like, and with the chance that the kidnapper had snatched other elf women, there was no telling if her mother was still down there or had already vanished.

When she presented that argument, there was nothing left to discuss except to stick tight to the group and avoid wandering off. Once she gave her consent, she was free to join the fray, bolstering their numbers. Yet, even though Ryder let me and my two pals into their squad, it was obvious the others still regarded me with suspicion, seeing us as powerful creatures they weren't entirely confident they could conquer.

They plunged down the winding staircase into the darkness, and Herald lit up the top of his magic staff. The flickering light cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, and the sound of their footsteps echoed ominously. They had no idea what lay in wait at the bottom. When they reached the end of the stairs, they were met with two archways: one leading out of the dungeon and the other descending to the fourth floor. I took a deep breath, then surged through the archway to the fourth floor, following the adventurers.

Coming Next Time: Dark Lord Quest