Classification: Beast
Species: Phantom Monkey
Subspecies: Triclops Macaque
Level: 4
Grade: D
Attribute: Dark
Description: Known for their affinity with shadow magic, midnight black fur and titular three eyes, Triclops macaques are popular monsters for those who have a preference for clandestine activities. That being said, they're also very popular with children and those who like that creepy cute asthetic.
_________________________________________________
"Okay Umbo, go get 'im!," the slick man named Jacobs commanded.
"Ook!"
The Triclops Macaque quickly made it's way to the outer walls of the Panda's Den and began to climb up as quick as...a monkey.
Once Umbo reached the row of windows on the second story, he began to meticulously look through each of them.
Empty.
Empty...
Two couples having an affair...
Empty...
Bingo!
Dozing away in one of the rooms was a dorky looking human man laying atop a bamboo bed while a small minotaur baby was snoring away in a little crib.
A vicious grin formed on the Triclops Macaque's face as he saw his target sleeping, none the wiser to his presence or machinations.
"He found them boss."
"Good. Proceed with the next phase."
"Right."
[Telekinesis,] Jacobs commanded Umbo.
At his master's command, Umbo stared through the window and began to concentrate mana into his third eye until it glowed with a dark light.
Magical shadows began to condense on the other side of the glass, forming a crude, over-sized hand. Under the macaque's control, the hand delicately unlatched the window and quietly opened it.
Umbo manipulated the shadow hand once more, moving it towards the crib and maneuvered it to lift the baby out of it. However, as the shadow hand got closer and closer to the baby minotaur, the baby minotaur started to glow.
While this light wasn't very bright or feel very powerful, it's presence was enough to make Umbo feel rather uneasy.
Suddenly, just as the hand was about to grab hold, a burst of light originating from the baby evaporated the shadowy hand into nothingness.
"Oook?!"
Umbo was shocked that his skill was suddenly countered, even moreso that neither the baby nor the human were even slightly affected by the sudden burst of light.
Out of curiosity, Umbo tried the same trick a few more times, but they all got countered by the same weird magic light. At this point, he needed to try a different tactic.
Umbo cautiously entered the room and made his way over to the crib, making sure neither the human or the baby was aware of his presence. It took awhile, but Umbo eventually made it to the very edge of the crib.
With his prize now in literal arm's reach, the Triclops Macaque let out a quiet yet sinister laugh.
Minos was just laid there, harmless and adorable looking, unaware that looming above him was a demonic monkey ready to take him away. However, this was actually going to be one of the worst moments in this monkey's life.
As Umbo reached out to scoop up the baby minotaur, Minos had rolled over in his sleep and intercepted one of the macaque's arms. Unaware of what he had just grabbed, Minos began to hug the arm in the way babies do when they find something in arms reach. This action had the unexpected result of Umbo getting pinned in the process, back to the crib while his arm was stuck in Minos' grasp.
"Uh-ook," Umbo squeaked as he tried to loosen his arm free. Unfortunately no matter how much he fidgeted and shake, Umbo couldn't get his arm out of the baby minotaurs' surprisingly strong grasp. Evidently, the Triclops Macaque was unaware that since Minos was a baby minotaur, which is a type of giant, he had the innate skill [Giant's Strength].
[Giant's Strength] is a straightforward skill that enables a monster to exhibit an amount of force that ranges from being ten times greater to being a thousand times greater than what's considered their base level. From ogres to cyclops to oni to ettins, all giants regardless of their subspecies are able to exhibit this absurd amount of physical force regardless of any status effects.
In practice, this meant that Umbo was trying to free his arm from the same amount of grip pressure one could expect from getting their arm stuck under a boulder.
Umbo tugged and pulled as hard as he could but no matter what he did, Minos' grip did not loosen in the slightest. He was just about to flip out and scratch and bite at the baby minotaur, until he realized that doing so would be a lose-lose situation.
If Umbo did scratch the baby minotaur and it didn't die, there was a hundred percent chance that he will wake up and cry in pain. This in turn would wake up the human, who would then alert the guards, leading to Umbo's master and his friends getting arrested and landing Umbo in big trouble.
On the other hand, if Umbo did kill the baby minotaur, he'd be able to escape. However, his master would then get in trouble with his friends, they would get mad at him, his master would get mad at him and then he could get banished or worst.
Either way, both situations ended with Umbo in a lot of pain and possibly death.
As Umbo ruminated over the consequences of his actions, Minos did not stay still. The baby minotaur began to stir in his sleep again and Umbo felt the grip on his arm starting to loosen.
The Triclops Macaque stared at the baby, waiting for a chance to free his arm and escape. However, he did not expect the baby minotaur to roll over again, and grab hold of the monkey's entire body.
Making worst for the monkey, Minos assumed he was holding his parent and started squeezing.
_________________________________________________
"What's taking your monkey so long, he should be back by now."
"Maybe he got into some trouble?"
"Let me check" Jacobs said as he stared up at the window and focused his mind.
"Uh oh."
"What's the matter?"
"Umm...someone is choking my monkey."
"...what?"