This was too exciting.

  Veil of Shadows would work amazingly in the dark tunnels and caverns of this cave system. Combined with Pulse Sense, I could eliminate foes or at least be heavily favored with the element of surprise. The only problem until now is that my skills were so limited, I couldn’t risk throwing everything I had at one opponent… But that’s changed now.

  First things first, I needed to get to stage 4, and I needed more levels and achievements.

  I nodded to Lily, and we continued our hunt. I had to remember not to disregard her either. Sure, Pack Bond gave her some easy experience by letting me do most of the work. However, relying on me would mean fewer achievements for her, and therefore, her progression would be all smoke and mirrors.

  I understood that is why Genzo refused to power level me. Leveling up would be a simple thing if he defeated some stronger foes and allowed me to last hit them, but doing so would mean I would pass development stages with attributes too low to take on any evolution paths. Level-ups were nice, but they were clearly not the only thing that mattered in this world. Likewise, you could fill your belly with low-level prey and pass your development thresholds without gaining levels… but it would be pointless! You’d be bigger, but unevolved and weak compared to someone who faced greater challenges.

  Levels, achievements, development, attributes, and evolution Paths. These things all worked together like gears in a machine, and disregarding one of them would be like jamming a wrench into the cogs and grinding the entire machine to a sudden halt.

  I had to keep this in mind and make sure that didn’t happen to Lily.

  Spotting a smaller Lightning Cave Toad, I figured that would be a good target for her.

  Come to think of it, I haven’t allowed her to face anything herself. It was always me starting the engagements and letting her take point and capture fleeing prey. I think it would be a good idea to let her handle things on her own for once, and use me for backup if it was necessary for me to step in.

  I nodded to her and then lowered myself to the ground, making it clear I did not plan to advance.

  Her wagging tail drooped, and she looked at me with wide eyes and ears folding back.

  I let out a soft growl. “Don’t be afraid. I know you’re strong enough.”

  I then watched as she prowled towards the Lightning Cave Toad. It blasted a bolt of lightning at the water’s surface, then its tongue shot in, coming back with a small fish that it quickly devoured. It was so focused on its hunting that it didn’t see Lily coming at all.

  When she was in range, she pounced, knocking it from its rock and giving it a good bite to its back. Then the lightning came, shocking her, and she backed off with a whimper.

  The toad fled, taking a few big hops away before Lily got her bearings down and shook it off, but soon she was charging in again. However, the toad was ready as well.

  Its mouth opened, and a bolt of lightning burst forth—but I knew Lily was ready for this.

  The lightning bolt went right through the fake Lily that charged the toad, as another Lily appeared alongside it. The toad croaked in confusion as he was pounced on face-first, and sent tumbling end over end as Lily nipped and bit at him.

  It sent out the electricity from its body again, forcing Lily to back up. However, as it tried to flee, it was much slower and clearly too injured to make a proper retreat.

  Lily was on it again in moments, before it could shoot another lightning bolt at her. This time, when her jaws came down on the back of its neck, she bit down and shook with all her might. When she let go, the toad flew limply through the air and rolled upon hitting the ground before lying completely still.

  Lily cautiously approached it, then pushed it with her paw. Then, her mouth opened in a happy puppy smile, and her tail wagged. She scooped up her kill and trotted over to me to show it off.

  I yipped a congratulations as she dropped her kill and began eating.

  This was perfect.

  I had another idea brewing to make our time here in this cavern even more efficient.

  Since Lily could kill these toads on her own, and it would only become easier as she killed more and more, I could leave her here to farm and level up solo. Meanwhile, I can go search the darker tunnels and caverns on a scouting mission. If I ran into any trouble, I’d have all my abilities at my disposal, and then I could come back with plenty of Lily’s leftover kills to eat so I could replenish my mana.

  When she was done eating, I signaled her to follow, then led her to the Healing Shrooms. She had certainly taken some damage in that fight, but there was so much healing available in this cavern that it would not be a problem.

  She grimaced as she forced down a bite of the chalky Healing Shrooms, and then I led her back to the river to look for our next kill.

  I soon spotted a nice, fat, plump Lightning Cave Toad. It was probably the highest level one we had fought so far, and therefore, I decided to take the lead this time.

  Lily arced a path around its side, while I snuck up behind. As I got closer, I realized not only was this one bigger, but it had more detailed markings along its body and… well, it wasn’t just plump, it looked quite surprisingly muscular for an amphibian.

  I used {Marrow Sense} and was somewhat alarmed by what I saw. All of its bones were a healthy green.

  I do not believe Marrow Sense necessarily showed me the weakness or condition of a bone, but rather it signaled my relative strength and ability to damage it. Naturally, once I’ve damaged a limb somewhat, it would only become weaker and more likely to receive critical damage from a follow-up attack.

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  I stopped under a large leaf, eyeing my prey, taking note of Lily in position a short distance away.

  This would be a real fight, I knew, but it was still two versus one, and I knew we could take it.

  I prowled closer, watched as it shot a bolt of lightning into the water, and instantly sent its tongue after it. It pulled back a large fish and devoured it in one bite.

  As its big mouth chewed, I decided this was the perfect time to attack.

  I pounced, back legs kicking at the ground and shooting me up towards my prey.

  Suddenly, it jumped away—did it hear me?

  I landed on the rock and spun around to face the fleeing amphibian, but as soon as it touched the ground, it turned to face me. It did not look scared. It did not look scared at all.

  Past experience had taught me to be wary of foes that did not act like prey!

  Its tongue whipped out of its mouth like a bullet, and I tried dodging to the side, but it wacked me right across my face and sent me rolling across the ground.

  My face still stung. That really, really hurt! But the toad wasn’t done yet.

  It opened its mouth and I scrambled across the dirt, trying to find traction, and managed to dodge at the last second as a powerful bolt of lightning scorched the earth right behind my tail.

  I moved around in an arc, its tongue lashing at me once again, but this time I dove behind a rock to avoid it.

  Man, this thing is far stronger than I thought it would be! Not only that, it seems smart! It’s like it knew that its best shot would be to keep me retreating and at a distance!

  As I peeked out from behind my rock, I saw a bolt of lightning coming right at me, and I quickly ducked down again. A scatter of pebbles was blasted off the rock as the lightning struck, leaving behind another scorch mark.

  Before I could think of what to do next, another bolt struck beside the rock, inches short of my tail.

  I tucked my tail to my body, making sure it wasn’t poking out anymore.

  I felt kind of like a soldier hiding down in the trenches as the enemy unloaded their firepower on my location!

  This isn’t good! Should we run? Should we retreat? I wasn’t sure if the toad would agree to a ceasefire one way or another!

  I used {Pulse Sense} to get its location without risking my head. It was hopping towards me now.

  How about Lily?

  I searched further out until I saw Lily’s pulse. She was prowling up behind the toad, taking things slow, but she clearly planned to stay in the fight. I just wasn’t sure if that was such a good idea!

  No, this thing was just a stupid frog! (No offense, Genzo!) We almost beat a red mask together! This should be no problem! Its magic was strong, but we just needed to start getting some damage in, and it would soon get weaker and weaker!

  I decided the best way to support Lily right now was to keep its attention, so I bolted out from behind the rock, scanning the path ahead of me for the next place to take cover.

  Another bolt of lightning scorched the earth just under my back paws, but keeping Lily’s pulse in my peripheral vision, I knew the toad’s assault against me wouldn’t last.

  As soon as Lily pounced, my paws scraped and slid across the cavern floor as I changed direction. I watched as she pounced on the toad’s back, giving it two quick chomps.

  The markings on its body lit up and I yelped: “Lily! Look out!”

  She started to let go, but was a little slow and was suddenly thrown back from the force of the frog’s electricity. She hit the ground hard, but there was nothing I could do for her right now!

  But, her distraction opened the path for me, and I pounced low to the toad’s left, casting {Crippling Bite} as I aimed for its leg. I got a nice bite off, but didn’t quite get the snap of a clean break. I knew I couldn’t stick around for long with this thing, so I made a hasty retreat, diving behind another rock as its tongue came just short of lashing my backside.

  Lily was back on her feet now and running straight at it.

  I admire your courage, little pup!

  Of course, soon came a bolt of lightning that would have turned her into fried Hell Hound, but it went through her, and the real Lily pounced on its back again.

  She seemed to have learned her lesson from last time, because as soon as she got her chomp in, she hit the ground and then used her slide skill to dodge the tongue.

  It was distracted, so I used another Marrow Sense and charged in.

  Its left leg was now yellow, as well as the back of its neck, thanks to Lily, but I didn’t have a good angle on its back, so I dove for the leg once again.

  {Crippling Bite}!

  This time, I heard that oh-so-welcome sound of snapping bone, and the toad let out a croak of pain.

  Now wasn’t the time to sit around and celebrate the small victory; I was sure another bolt of electricity was in my near future, so I began to retreat.

  However, when I dove behind the same rock, this time I was not chased there by a blast of scorched earth.

  I peeked out from atop the rock to see Lily going in for another attack. This time, it attacked her with its tongue, which phased right through her, of course, as the real Lily pounced on its back once again.

  Lily made a retreat after getting a good chomp, but the markings on the toad's body did not light up as usual.

  Mana…

  It was out of mana! It has been using a ton of spells since this started, and now it has run dry!

  I yipped in excitement as I bolted out from hiding and went right for it.

  It tried again to lash Lily with its tongue, but she slid away as gracefully as an ice skater.

  I pounced for the toad’s side, taking a nice big bite of meat. It’s tongue whipped up and down, and managed to lash me across my back. The attack stung and was quite painful, but not nearly as dangerous as its lightning attacks!

  I arced around it, easily avoiding its tongue as it had trouble pivoting its position thanks to its broken leg. Then, when Lily took a bite at its side, I managed to get behind it and dive for the finishing blow!

  I used {Crippling Bite} on the back of its neck.

  It reared back and tried to throw me off.

  Oh, that wasn’t enough? Then have another!

  {Crippling Bite}!

  This time, I knew I had scored the critical hit I needed as my teeth sank deep into the back of its neck. I felt tooth touch bone, and then I ripped, pulled, and shook until I was rewarded by a series of popping vertebrae, and our prey fell limp.

  However, that wasn’t the only reward I received for our efforts—no, I got a whole lot more!

  Foe eliminated! Level 10 Storm Blessed Cave Toad!

  Experience gained!

  You have leveled up!

  You are now level 10!

  +3 Vigor

  +3 Strength

  +4 Dexterity

  +6 Attunement

  +7 Sense

  Achievement! Stronger Together!

  Through the power of teamwork, you have defeated an enemy that otherwise may have been beyond your abilities.

  Additional points rewarded to Pack Bond!

  Pack Bond leveled up! 2 > 3

  In addition to previous Pack Bond bonuses, you and your packmates now take moderately reduced damage while hunting together!

  That was all great, but as I approached our kill and took my first bite, it seemed the system had one more reward in mind for me.

  Achievement! Burn and Return!

  Throw in everything you've got, then recover and do it all again! Champions aren't born in a battle—they're forged in the grind.

  +3 Attunement

  +5 Vigor

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