“Watch out!” Viressa yelled, and I turned to face a horde of monsters racing towards us. There were ten of the Mycoknights, and an endless number of a second creature we hadn’t encountered yet. The creatures were relatively small, roughly the size of the average dog. They were like miniature glowing panthers, stalking through the foliage carefully. Their smooth skin shimmered with shifting neon colors, blending in with the plants around us. It was as if the entire jungle had come alive, slowly pulsing as it converged on us.

  Then, an invisible tail struck me across the chest, sending me skidding backwards. I gasped for air, the heavy blow having discombobulated me, finally coming to a stop next to a glowing neon branch.

  “What the heck was that?!” Kril exclaimed, readying his pitchfork. Then, the creature slowly uncloaked, and I recognized it as the Nightstalker; however, this time, instead of having smooth black skin, it glowed with vibrant shifting colors similar to the Crescentfangs.

  That’s not very helpful.

  [Destroy all enemies within the time limit to open the Lunar Gate!]

  [Time remaining: 15:00]

  [Curse this place, I can’t even fight again for another ten minutes.] Joshua complained loudly.

  It’s alright, you’ll just have to watch me fight instead.

  “Kril, do you have your transformation?” I called out, moving into a crouched position, ready to strike. The Imp did not bother replying with words, instead activating his skill.

  [Assault Mode]

  Kril grew, towering over the Mycoknights before him. He swung his pitchfork, its tip emblazoned with black energy, burning a hole straight through the fungal warriors' tough armour. Kril shot me a wide smile, then charged towards the pack of creatures with reckless abandon.

  “Let’s try this!” Viressa shouted, activating a new skill she had gained.

  [Summon Lesser Undead]

  Three skeletons appeared from the ground below her, crawling their way to the surface as if they had just escaped from Hell. They were armed with a basic wooden shield and medium-length iron cutlasses, swinging their blades towards the approaching Crescentfangs and keeping them at bay.

  Useful skill for her to have!

  [Are you gonna fight or just stand there?]

  Giving in to Joshua’s taunt, I leapt forwards, activating Summon Greater Fire Spirit, which flew forwards and began to incinerate hordes of the small panther-like creatures. I also activated my new skill.

  [Claws of Mutilation]

  My nails grew into a form that appeared similar to how they did before, but were clearly longer. I rushed forward, darting underneath a heavy swing from a Mycoknight and stabbing into its side. This time, the claws pierced through the armour, drawing a splattering of blood.

  Let’s see what this can do.

  I summoned a blood chain, using it as leverage to switch directions and fly past the Mycoknight’s head. I flashed my claws twice, drawing a pair of lacerations against the creature's shoulder, then immediately formed a second chain, letting the first fall to the ground. I pulled, then dropped the second chain as well, swiping my hands in an X motion as I approached the Mycoknight head-on.

  The creature took its chance, tanking my blow and grabbing me with its powerful arms in a suffocating bear hug.

  “Too bad for you,” I said pitifully, activating my skill a second time.

  The Mycoknight's limbs flew apart in five staggered explosions, each appearing in succession based on when I had applied the attacks. A burst of red splattered from its side, then two from its shoulder. The last two were the final straw, and the Mycoknight popped like a balloon, sending its blood and glowing mushrooms careening through the jungle.

  [That was nasty.]

  I need a shower.

  Now covered in mushroom juices, I surveyed the battlefield to see how my companions were doing. Lioren tore through the jungle, shredding the Crescentfangs apart like they were made of paper. A breath of golden fire spread from his jaw, engulfing a Mycoknight in glorious flames as it stumbled into a group of Crescentfangs, causing a major disturbance in their ranks. I watched the beasts scramble to escape from the destruction, their coats of vibrant colors slowly dimming as they were massacred.

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  Viressa was a whirlwind of fire magic, burning and piercing through the creatures without mercy. The three skeleton warriors she summoned acted like personal bodyguards, stabbing at any who dared approach the mage.

  But easily the most eye-catching was Kril, who stormed through the battlefield like a hurricane of magic. He tossed his pitchfork, clad in supernatural black energy, and it flew through the beasts like an extension of Kril’s will. The Imp himself used a different skill, encasing his fists with a similar dark energy.

  [Chaos Gauntlets]

  He tore through a Mycoknight, slamming his fist straight through its chest. He lifted his arm, the mushroom-clad warrior sputtering blood along Kril’s limb, then he spun, sending the monster flying into the Nightstalker variant that was slowly approaching me.

  “Thanks!” I called out, turning to face the menacing creature. It shook the Mycoknight off, then slowly turned invisible, disappearing into the foliage.

  How am I gonna fight this?

  [Mana Shield]

  Suddenly, a blue shield shimmered in front of me, and a loud thud revealed the Nightstalker, who had tried to hit me using its spiked tail. I spotted Viressa straining to channel the skill, the same one that the mage-type adventurer, Conrad, had used.

  [Hurry up dumbass.] Joshua said impatiently.

  I leapt into the air, rising above the Nightstalker, and as I fell, I slammed a clawed hand into its back. The creature shrieked in pain, maneuvering its tail to try and whip me off of its back, but I was too fast.

  A blood chain sprouted from the creature's back, and I twisted, capturing the Nightstalker's tail in a tight knot. It struggled, but I was stronger, slamming the point of its tail into the creature's back.

  With a roar, the creature twisted, then it used a skill of its own.

  [Flash]

  The Nightstalkers' vibrant skin suddenly increased in intensity, forcing me to raise my arms to avoid going blind. A clawed forelimb slammed into my chest, forcing me several feet in the air.

  [Lunar Blast]

  A ball of violet energy began to build up from the monster's jaw, mirroring the color of the vibrant moon above us. It shot forward at blinding speeds, and I only barely managed to dodge, the wind from the attack pushing my hair back as the blast careened into the jungle behind me.

  A huge explosion shook the environment, blasting apart neon trees and plants as dust and debris fell around me.

  If that hit me, I would've been toast!

  [Keep moving or this jungle will be the toaster, idiot!]

  Joshua was right, the Nightstalker had gone invisible again, and I had a creeping feeling that it was close. I leapt into the air, landing back to back with Kril, who was busy brutalizing one of the Mycoknights.

  “I need your help with this thing!” I shouted, and Kril nodded affirmatively, letting the mushroom creature's lifeless body crumple to the jungle floor. We stood silently, observing the foliage for any sudden movements, but it wasn’t us the creature was after.

  Viressa screamed as a hooked tail impaled one of her skeletons, tossing it backwards as the creature appeared. Violet energy began to build up in its jaw, and Viressa just managed to summon a mana barrier in time.

  The clash of magic sent a rippling shockwave crashing towards us, nearly knocking me off my feet. It kicked up a tremendous amount of dust, but I could spot Viressa kneeling on the floor, alive, but clutching at a wound across her stomach. Kril went into action, leaping through the sky and catching his pitchfork mid-air, slamming it downwards on the Nightstalker. The colorful creature shifted, narrowly dodging the strike and sinking its tail deep into Kril’s thigh.

  It was my chance, I dashed forwards, sliding beneath Kril’s legs and slashing the underside of the creature. I hit four times, then the creature lunged, disappearing once again.

  Not so fast.

  [Blood Chain]

  Even though I couldn't see the beast, my skill automatically latched on, forcing it to become visible once more. I pulled hard, strong enough to yank the creature from the ground and send it flying. Kril swung his pitchfork, batting it into the Nightstalker's stomach like it was a baseball, increasing its velocity as it tore through the air towards me.

  I jumped, creating a laceration across the beast's face as it flew past. Then, I activated the secondary effect of my new skill.

  A huge explosion of blood magic burst from the creature's head and stomach, spilling its guts all over the jungle. However, before it succumbed to its injuries, it sent one final Lunar Blast careening towards my torso.

  I’m not fast enough.

  Time slowed as the violet ball flew through the air, approaching so fast it appeared as only a blur to me. I recoiled, trying to dodge, but it wasn’t enough.

  Lioren suddenly leapt forward, batting at the attack with a mighty paw.

  A huge explosion shook the ground, sending both me and the Ashmane flying. I landed hard, but took relatively little damage. I immediately sat up, scanning the horizon for the lion-like beast, but I couldn’t see him.

  “Lioren!” I called out.

  No response.

  I tried to stand, immediately falling back to the ground in a daze. My head pounded painfully from the explosion, and my eardrums felt as if they would burst from within. It was like someone had set off a box of dynamite in my head.

  Then, a pained roar resonated through the jungle.

  At least he’s alive, but I can’t fight right now…

  But the Nightstalker was dead, and my companions were able to make quick work of the rest of the creatures around me. After a slight struggle, the last Crescentfang fell to Viressa’s magic and Kril’s Assault Mode, leaving us in silence as the creatures’ lives were snuffed out. Miraculously, the huge portal in the center of the clearing was untouched, perhaps protected by some sort of magic from the dungeon.

  I stood, slowly recovering from the Nightstalker’s attack, scanning my surroundings for the Ashmane who had risked his life to save mine. I spotted him, lying in the grass with blackened scorch marks along his fur.

  “Lioren! Are you alright?!” I shouted, running over to the beast's side. He raised his head, then muttered something, but I couldn’t quite make out the sound.

  I need someone with a healing spell.

  [Shit out of luck buddy.] Joshua responded heartlessly.

  If only Ossara were here…

  Kril and Viressa rushed over to me, kneeling beside the huge beast. I didn’t know the specific details of the creature's race, but it didn’t seem like he had any innate health regeneration like me.

  “Lioren is in no position to fight—” I started, but a system message interrupted my sentence.

  [You have completed the trial of the second moon! Boss portal activating!]

  The huge hollow gate began to glow, sparks of purple energy crackling along its edge. Then, all at once, the portal burst to life, a huge swirling gate appearing, similar to when I had used the Common Dungeon Key.

  “How are we gonna do this?” Kril asked, eyes darting between the portal, Lioren’s body, and me.

  We can’t bring Lioren with us; the boss might end up killing him. But we also can’t just leave him out here…

  [Just kill him for Exp, problem solved.] Joshua answered.

  You’re not helping.

  [You’re not helping.] He replied snarkily.

  “Kril, I need you to stay out here and guard Lioren,” I said after a few moments of deliberation.

  “Lucivar,” Viressa began nervously. “Wouldn’t it be better for the Imp to go with you to fight the boss? He’s stronger than me after all…”

  If you stayed out here, I’m not sure you two would make it, I thought to myself, but I couldn’t tell her that.

  “No,” I answered, looking the demon in the eye. “Kril may have been the first person I met back in Hell, but I have more experience fighting alongside you.” I turned to Kril, nodding at him. He returned the gesture with a dramatic salute, shifting back into his tiny Imp form. “Stay here while we fight the boss. Once we win, we should all get teleported back to the dungeon entrance.”

  “Aye Aye, captain!” Kril replied confidently. “I will not allow anyone to hurt my brother’s friend!”

  “Are you sure about this?” Viressa mumbled, clutching her staff as if it would teleport us all safely back to Mount Boom.

  I smiled reassuringly at the small demon, but I wasn’t even close to as confident as I appeared on the outside. “Of course, you can trust me.”

  With that, Viressa and I stepped into the swirling portal, disappearing in a shimmer of vibrant light.

  Evolution Requirement: Kill 100 enemies with Summon Greater Fire Spirit (0/100)

  Evolution Requirement: Utilize the second activation of Claws of Mutilation 30 times (0/30)