Chrysalis

[You really thought you were strong enough to beat a mythic monster on your own?]

[I figured you were just an ant! How was I supposed to know?]

[I’m a tier seven, mythic ant! Probably the first one in the history of the darn Dungeon. Pay a little respect, man.]

Thankfully, my opponent wounded nothing but his pride in our confrontation. I think, for a moment, the crowd were considering rushing down and attempting to subdue the ‘wild monster’, which would have been a rather difficult scenario to navigate, but thankfully they relaxed when I sat down and didn’t follow up on my strike. I mean… whose first instinct is to rush at the huge monster? The Folk are crazy, I’m telling you.

He rubs a hand over his furry head, disgruntled.

[If we’d known you were this strong, we would have gotten some higher ranked swordsman to guard you.]

[There’s no way the brathians lied to you about my tier, right?]

He shrugs helplessly.

[They probably assumed the same thing I did. Tier seven, but an ant, so it’s fine. As a result, you only got me and my apprentice as guards, and I hate to say it, but we aren’t up to the job.]

[Oh, the rabbit girl is your apprentice?]

[What do you mean, rabbit?]

[I don’t know… I was just getting rabbit vibes from her.]

[And what are you getting from me?]

[Dog or wolf, depending on your mood.]

I figure honesty is the best policy. If I’m being unspeakably rude, hopefully someone will tell me.

[That’s unspeakably rude,] he says, placing a hand to the bridge of his muzzle.

Dang it.

[Hey, I didn’t know! I apologise if I’ve caused offence. You guys don’t like being discussed in relation to the animal you resemble?]

on the things that unite us rather than the

pushes himself to his feet and looks around. A lot of the crowd has dispersed, but there are still people in their

out, there’ll be another fight soon, so

So these fighting pits

That wolfish grin again.

[Around the clock.]

illicitly taken; should you find it on

just find a relatively empty part

a blademaster?]

I’m of the fifth sword, not the

So…

to a

terms of rank, yes. My student is of

You’re lucky I went easy on you then. I wasn’t sure how much you could

tell he wants to rebut my statement, but after being defeated so handily, there isn’t much he can

name, by the way? It’s getting awkward just to think

were thinking ‘that dog guy’,

never! Yes.

sort of ripples, and I realise it was an instinct, a dog

he mutters. [My name is

carefully don’t

heading towards the field the Colony were setting up in, the… not rabbit-Folk joins us again,

she makes fun of him, at least, I think so,

does this mean I’m going to get

Barker grimaces.

people feel safe if you can kick my backside whenever

can. Like… I didn’t even use my middle grade stuff… let

in a thing called

[I don’t.]

we get back to—what in the name of the

wondering what

Barker points a finger.

[What is that?]