Chapter 9.1. Whispers of the snakes.
Luara crouched in shadows, panther ears twitching as she surveyed her prey. The insectoid monsters scuttled about the dungeon chamber, unaware of the feline predator stalking them from darkness.
The young werapanther girl had come to this place seeking adventure, yearning for escape from familiar comforts of royal life back home. And now opportunity presented itself in form of these vile monstrosities, infesting dungeon depths near capital!
With a silent snarl she sprang forward, hidden by black shadows blending seamlessly with gloom, as powerful limbs propelled lithe body through air, towards unsuspecting foes below.
– Hsssss! – hissed one monster, antennae quivering in alarm at sudden movement above. Intruder detected! But Luara paid no heed warnings – already among them now! Her sword slashed with blinding speed, rending chitinous exoskeletons like parchment before sharp talons.
– GRAAAAARRR! – roared werapanther girl triumphantly, tail lashing behind her, as she danced through chaos. Green blood spattered across walls. Screams echoed from depths below. And still Luara fought on – driven forward by instincts honed for millennia, before humans even dared call themselves civilized! He sliced apart another monster and looked around.
– Already over, – she whispered with regret. During her previous adventures she challenged Ancient Dungeons and this one, with just two floors seemed too easy for former A rank adventurer. Of course in the past her party leader would methodically clean every floor, killing every monster in their way, before going lower, while Luara took a shortest route and emerged deeper at first opportunity. Still, this dungeon felt too easy.
She shrugged and went deeper. She felt something and crouched. There was something ahead. Luara looked from beyond the corner and saw a Dungeon core near furthest wall. Dark orb with flickering light orbs inside. Young dungeon’s core flashed with lightning releasing huge amount of mana, which would soon give birth to another monster, or even several. But before she could get to it the core, there was one more monster, which Luara had to face.
Luara faced the final guardian of this accursed dungeon, a monstrous abomination that made her stomach churn with revulsion. The creature towered above her, its insectoid body gleaming in the dim light, as it scuttled forward on dozens of spindly legs.
– Human, why have you come to disturb our domain? – it hissed, mandibles clacking together in a mockery of speech: – Your kind are not welcome here.
The werapanther growled low in her throat, feline eyes narrowing as she circled the guardian warily. This was no mere beast – there was an intelligence behind those multi-faceted eyes, which chilled Luara to the bone.
But even so… She could feel excitement coursing through veins like wildfire! The thrill of combat, the rush – knowing fate hung in balance in these next few heart-pounding moments.
– I’ve come for treasure, – Luara snarled, tail lashing behind her as adrenaline surged within: – And I won’t let some bug-ridden abomination stop me!
The guardian hissed again, antennae twitching, with what might have been amusement.
– Brave words, little cat. But can you back them up?
Luara smiled then – sharp and dangerous as any claw.
– Oh yes. I think I can.
And without further warning she sprang forward once more into fray – determined to prove worth against foul denizens of dungeon.
Monster tried to hit her, but Luara’s skill allowed her to predict his movements. She slightly bent to left, and slashed with her sword. Monster shivered in pain, once one of his legs fell on the ground, severed by Luara’s sword. Monster roared in anger and pain and launched forward. Luara’s movements reminded a dance. Her movements were light, but precise and attacks hard and devastating. Still she needed quarter of an hour, before giant insectoid fell on the ground, bleeding from dozen wounds. Luara approached and lifted her sword. Monster hissed, but merciless werepanther’s sword pierced his heart.
Luara cleaned her sword from green blood and approached dungeon core. In the past her party leader would break it herself, but now the honor belonged to Luara. By now she knew that breaking dungeon core would allow her to increase one level. In the past beastgirl cared about it greatly, but now it was just a habit.
Not like a princess needed high level in this Age Of Prosperity – she grinned to her own thoughts. Luara lifted her sword and broke Dungeon Core. Light sparks from broken pieces entered her body, and Luara absorbed core’s mana, which changed to life force, enough for her to use Leveling Crystal and increase her Level, and one of her skill’s Levels as well.
Magic circle appeared near her, and werepanther stepped inside it. Light enveloped her, and magic circle transported Luara to the entrance of the dungeon.
– Luara! – called angry, but at the same time relieved voice. She looked around and noticed her husband, prince Tomlan.
Tomlan stormed towards Luara, face flushed with anger and concern.
– What in the gods’ name were you thinking? – he demanded, grabbing her by shoulders: – Running off into a dangerous dungeon, without so much as telling me first?
The werapanther girl flinched under his gaze, tail tucking between legs as if seeking protection from prince’s ire.
– I… I just wanted an adventure, – she mumbled apologetically.
But Tomlan was not about to let her off so easily. He shook his head in disbelief, his hair falling across forehead with motion.
– An adventure? Luara! This isn’t some fairy tale, where everything ends happily ever after. Those monsters could have killed you!
– I know, – she admitted softly, feline ears drooping, as realization dawned upon her – just how close call it has had been this time.
Tomlan sighed then, reaching out gently to touch her cheek – now that initial anger subsided slightly.
– Please promise me that next time you won’t go off alone like that. I was so worried, when you disappeared!
– I’m sorry, – whispered Luara contritely, leaning into caress, even as guilt gnawed at heart within chest: – You’re right – I should have thought things through more carefully, before acting on impulse.
Prince nodded solemnly, knowing full well how difficult it must be for his wife to temper feline instincts, with sense of responsibility that came along ruling kingdom together.
But they had made vow before gods themselves upon marriage day – and now more than ever needed to stand united against challenges that lay ahead, both great and small alike!
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