Monster Breeder

39. The Warren Part 4

39. The Warren Part 4

Peter the Bunny Patron advances toward me and Cottontail as his line of future fuck-toys scatters to hide behind pillars and in the room’s corners.

“What’s the matter, girlie? Sure you’re up for this?”

A little of my uncertainty must be showing. Hey, this is my first time facing a third-tier monster in battle, and I don’t have my companions, of course I’m nervous!

“One sec.”

*Canine Marks – Two*

Wolf Nose

Dire Wolf Nose

Wolf Lord’s Nose

Wolf Claws

Dire Wolf Claws

Wolf Lord’s Claws

Cinderwolf Claws

Wolf Tail

Dire Wolf Tail

Wolf Lord’s Tail

Cinderwolf Tail

Wolf Legs

Wolf Rush

Dire Wolf Legs

Wolf Lord’s Legs

Cinderwolf Legs

Wolf Jaws

Dire Wolf Jaws

Wolf Lord’s Jaws

Cinderwolf Ember Magic

Wolf Cock

Dire Wolf Cock

Wolf Lord’s Cock

Cinderwolf Cock

I really wanted to experiment with the Canine options before being put in a situation like this. I know there must be other hidden abilities like Wolf Rush, but I can’t deduce which path will unlock something useful.

I’d go for Cinderwolf Rush, but I don’t have enough remaining marks to select Wolf Legs-->Cinderwolf Legs-->Cinderwolf Rush. Having Wolf Rush equipped isn’t doing me any favors in this department.

Ember Magic seems the obvious choice, but I should pick it second. I’ve got one chance to unlock something great and select it with my last mark.

Claws? I already have a spear. Jaws? Spear again. I’m risking a redundancy, or maybe what I’m looking for is hiding underneath...? Also, why no Wolf Ears???

*Selected Wolf Tail!*

A furry rear-appendage sprouts from the base of my spine. I desperately check the Canine tree for an update.

Nothing.

Shit. Aaahhhrg!!! Stupid bad luck, why is there no damn guidebook for this? What was I thinking? The best I could’ve expected was another movement skill, right? Why not go for broke with the claws or jaws, then?

Because I’d look weird? That’s no excuse! Moron!

Alright. I’m done berating myself. My next choice had better carry me to victory, though.

*Selected Cinderwolf Ember Magic!*

“Quit playing with yourself and focus up.” Peter gets my attention and slaps his belly. “I’ll give you a single free shot. Hit me anywhere, full force. Or I can let you off the hook if you get down on your knees and suck me in front of my failure of a son. Either works for me, heh, heh, heh.”

I ball my fists, crack my neck, and approach the Bunny Patron. Looking up, this is the worst weight differential I’ve had to deal with. Worse than when an Ogre came hunting me on my first day as a Tamer. I’m the size of a Goblin, and he’s eight feet tall, almost three times my height. Unfortunately, I spent most of my available marks getting here, and can’t refund my choices until sunrise.

He glowers down at me as we square off, both naked, him at least covered in fur. I rear back, summon my spear, draw upon my Orc Strength, and jab him in the gut with the butt.

Peter doubles over, coughing. I must’ve hit his diaphragm.

“What the fuck was that? I might actually bruise... You’re no ordinary human, are you girlie?”

“The tail didn’t give it away?”

In my wildest fantasies, I ended it with that blow. But what was I supposed to do, stab him with the pointy end? Slit his throat? Yes, Peter is a douche, and yes, he’s made unreasonable demands from me and my woman, but this isn’t a situation where I straight-up kill him.

I believe him when he says he protects the Warren from Mole-men. If I remove Peter, the Fuzzy population gets decimated, and the monster populations that prey on the Fuzzies start Incursions on nearby territories (like my hometown) to keep from starving. Removing him could start an ecological disaster.

Killing Peter with a cheap shot would probably get me a nastily worded mark, anyway. I’d feel dirty, and it’d put a serious strain on my relationship with Cottontail. She may not like her dad, but he’s still her dad. Emotions can be weird like that.

Better to make it clear to Peter I’m not someone to play around with and have a real fight. Humiliate him in defeat.

“Alright, consider me interested,” Peter says as he cracks his knuckles and winds up a haymaker. “Let’s see what you’re made of.”

As he throws the punch aimed far above my head, I’m baffled. There’s no way that’s going to hit me down here, right?

I’m the one who looks like an idiot as I sense Earth Magic activating behind me. I’m a moment too late to counterspell as a pillar of stone erupts from the ground to hit me from behind, launching me into the air at an angle, directly into Peter’s trajectory.

Cancer Summon Armor!

Goblin Apprentice Fast Learner

Goblin Apprentice Quick Study

Goblin Apprentice Summon Spectacles

Summon Club (Hobgoblin, Orc)

Nothing...

Orc Stature won’t save me now, and I’ll be stuck underground if I select it. I made a choice at the start of this fight to focus on evasion rather than pit an Orc body against his. Maybe I should've committed to staying here overnight, but it's too late to second guess myself.

*Forest Marks – Two*

Mandragora Photosynthesis

Pitcher Treefolk Photosynthesis

Twisted Treefolk Twisted Apple

Twisted Treefolk Roots

Pitcher Treefolk Vines

Mandragora Plant Growth Magic

Pitcher Treefolk Plant Growth Magic

Twisted Treefolk Bark Skin

Twisted Treefolk Earth Magic

Twisted Treefolk Cock

Pitcher Treefolk Stomach Acid

Nothing...

*Fuzzy Marks – One*

Rodent Nose (Bunny, Mouse, Mole-man)

Rodent Ears (Bunny, Mouse)

Rodent Stature (Bunny, Mouse, Mole-man)

Rodent Tail (Bunny, Mouse)

Rodent Legs (Bunny, Mouse)

Rodent Cock (Bunny, Mouse, Mole-man)

Bunny Stamina

Mole-man Earth Magic

Mole-man Claws

Mole-man Summon Shovel

Nothing!

*Slime Marks – One*

Slime Constitution

Slime Constitution (Jellyfish, Fuzzy)

Slime Malleability

Slime Malleability (Jellyfish, Fuzzy)

Slime Mutability

Slime Mutability (Jellyfish, Fuzzy)

Slime Hair / Legs / Arms

Jellyfish Slime Tentacles

Furry Slime Flesh Shaping

Fuzzy Slime Fur

There! I reach with my arm that isn’t broken to make a choice.

*Selected Slime Constitution!*

I’m not sure what that does, because nothing miraculous happens. I don’t suddenly turn into a Slime and regenerate all my wounds. I don’t have time to figure this one out...

Everything is getting cold...

Then there’s a burning hot sensation on my tummy tattoos, and a pink glow engulfs me.

I feel bones snap into position in an ancient human fireworks show of pain. I can feel my legs again! I cough and vomit, expelling blood from my lungs and stomach as my wounds close and my blood pressure supernaturally stabilizes. I check my status again.

*Pets*

*Exhausted Pink Slime Core*

Olindia! She saved my life and gave me another shot at this fight.