My attention shifted back to the hedge, and I noticed deeper within the maze that three more radiant angels had gathered around Herald. He was desperately casting spells at them, encased in a protective magic shield. However, the angels remained unfazed by both the shield and his frantic attempts to fend them off. They closed in on him without hesitation, forming a circle by holding hands. Suddenly, a brilliant light enveloped them, and when it faded, a stone statue of Herald emerged, arms raised in terror and a silent scream etched on his face. The angels then released their grip and continued onward, with one leading the way and the other two flanking it.
Suddenly, the clock tower emitted a chilling chime, a foreboding sound that was unlike the previous tolls. In that moment, an enormous, bubble-like barrier enveloped the entire hedge maze and its surroundings. A booming voice echoed through the air, declaring, "Intruders of the Thorn Labyrinth, you have until the clock strikes six to escape the maze or eliminate all the creatures within. When the clock strikes six, the barrier will fill with water, and you will all be submerged. Best of luck."
The fountain in the maze's center suddenly erupted, shooting a powerful geyser of water high into the air. The lion, previously resting in the fountain, sprang up and sprinted toward the labyrinth's exit, desperately scratching at the barrier. I took to the skies, quickly pushing the manticore back into my storage by pressing my wing against its tail. It was time to make my escape; I had no desire to end up submerged. Fortunately, my ability to fly and my small stature kept me out of danger, unlike the others. I felt a wave of relief for holding off on using mimic as I ventured deeper into the maze. The ground was already becoming soaked, even though the fountain had just begun to erupt.
I could hear the sound of splashing up ahead and spotted Ryder and Valen dashing through the water, which was already lapping at their ankles. Thankfully, the angels were nowhere to be seen, as I hoped to hold onto at least a few of the adventurers for a little longer.
"Point me to the exit of this maze! I'm over this level. The last thing I want is to end up drowning."
[This way, master!] The hedge wiggled, beckoning me to soar in its direction, and I obeyed, weaving left and right in a blur of motion. I flew with all the speed I could muster. At last, when I felt I might collapse from the effort and the water loomed high enough to cover a large portion of the towering hedges, I arrived at the maze's end. There, two archways awaited, each framed by swirling blue barriers. The left one read "Exit Dungeon," and the right one said "Third Floor."
I hesitated, weighing my two options. At this moment, I wasn't confident about making much progress in the dungeon. Supplies were essential, and I was eager to explore the nearby town just down the hill. However, I needed to transform to make that happen. The timing for transformation wasn't ideal; if I did it now, my countdown would begin before I even reached the town, and I might find myself in over my head, quite literally. Still, there was no better moment to give it a shot, so I darted through the left portal and exited the dungeon.
"I'll be back in no time," I said as I flew away, and the hedge waved me off with a soft rustle. Biter decided to stick with me, resting on my shoulders rather than remaining in the maze, and I was pleased, having grown accustomed to her company.
I flew out into the open and immediately recognized the stairwell we had traversed earlier to access the dungeon. On the platform just before the stairs, Misty, Valen, Max, and Herald were taking a moment to rest, sipping healing potions, with Misty too weak to lend a hand. They were smeared with blood, looking pale and utterly drained, but thankfully, they were all still alive. I was relieved that Herald had prepared that spell before we delved into the dungeon. It served as a vital reminder for me to learn how to cast that spell, ensuring I'd always have a safeguard against permanent death.
I soared past them and ascended the spiral staircase, bursting into the night sky. It was dark, with a crispness in the air that carried the delightful scents of grass and apples from the countryside. The sky was a rich blue, filled with a multitude of twinkling stars. I stretched my wings, feeling a sense of freedom I hadn't experienced in this life. I climbed higher above the trees, enjoying the cool air brushing against my face. With a joyful spin, I performed a barrel roll, laughing as I watched the ground zip by below me.
As I hovered above, the sparkle of water caught my eye—a small pond located just outside the town, with the town's lights flickering in the background. I spun around one last time to perfect my dive, then landed gracefully next to the pond. Leveling up definitely enhanced my flying prowess. I reached up to remove my bracelet from the base of my wing, holding it carefully in my hand.
"Bane, I choose to use my ability Mimic in human form."
I heard an amanous deep chuckling. [Very well.]
A dark gray hue enveloped me as my body began to swell, my limbs growing larger until I finally reached a stable size, and the glow diminished. I secured my bracelet around my wrist and glanced at my reflection, revealing an astonishingly handsome man—someone who could easily grace the cover of a fashion magazine. I had a tall, athletic swimmer's physique, a chiseled jawline, and perfectly balanced features, appearing to be in my early twenties, despite having been thirty-eight when I was pulled into my phone. While I never considered myself unattractive, I certainly didn't look like this.
Yet, as striking as this temporary form was, it lacked any semblance of humanity! My skin was unnaturally pale, my dark gray hair cascaded to my waist, and my piercing garnet-colored eyes were framed by thick gray lashes. My ears had a slight point, and I sported fangs. However, the most astonishing aspect of this form was the enormous peach and dark gray wings sprouting from my back, each spanning ten feet! I flapped these massive appendages and hovered above the ground, feeling a rush of air swirl around me. "At least they function, but how is this supposed to be a human form?!"
[Oh, please, I never claimed you'd magically transform into a human being. That's a bit too optimistic, don't you think?]
"I resemble a vampire way more than a regular human!"
[Sure, but you're not giving off that classic vampire aroma. If you ever bump into a real vampire, they'll probably be scratching their heads, wondering where you crawled out from.]
"There are vampires?!"
[Indeed! Because repeating the obvious is the pinnacle of communication.]
"Seriously, how can I possibly head into town looking like this?!"
I heard the sound of Bane's laughter. [You know, just casually smile with your lips sealed tight and hide those wings of yours. Sunglasses might be a nice touch too—because who doesn't want to look like a mysterious, brooding superhero on a budget?]
"Awesome suggestions! How about you transform me into a more human-like version instead!"
[Not really possible, maybe if I were a lot higher level. Feed me a lot of blood and maybe you'll get better results. No promises. You should try to get used to it, you're a bat monster now.]
"You're enjoying this situation far too much."
I grasped the bracelet, eager to find out if it contained a large robe or cloak, and was pleased to find two options: one in a rich dark gray and another in a striking dark blue, similar to Herald's attire. I donned the dark gray robe, making a careful slit in the back for my wings using one of my retractable claws, I hoped to remain inconspicuous. However, folding my wings in was a struggle; they felt cramped as if I were trying to fit into a space far too small, leading to frustrating muscle cramps. "Just perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
I tucked the tops of my wings into the hood of my robe and pulled it over my head. Then I tried unfolding my wings and wrapping them around my shoulders which was a welcome change; it felt so much better than being tightly confined. This arrangement also made them less visible beneath the robe. Plus, the hood effectively hid my pointy ears and gave my hair a darker appearance, shifting it from dark gray to a more intense black.
"Is there a way to tackle the issue of my dark red eyes?"
[If you drink enough blood, your eyes will be so red they'll look like they've been dipped in ink, or you might as well call them the world's darkest brown.]
With a quick glance around the clearing revealing no food, I decided to bring forth the terrified and worn-out manticore from my storage. I tossed it into the pond, and it began to swim wildly, struggling to reach the shore while gulping in water and scanning its surroundings in fear. As soon as it made it to the bank, I leaped onto its back and bit down, injecting a hefty dose of poison. The manticore, weaker than the snake I had faced earlier, quickly became immobilized by my venom. I then started to drink its blood, which, to my astonishment, tasted just as delectable as the finest cooked meat I remembered from my human life. I drank more than I probably should have, but the taste was simply too enticing to stop.
"I've decided to let it live for now and come back later for more blood. I can't just toss it in my inventory; it could pop up unexpectedly in the middle of town. It should be pretty weak for a while, so I doubt it'll cause any trouble before I return," I addressed Biter, who was firmly gripping the collar of my robe on my shoulder, tucked away under my hooded cloak. I discarded the water from a bottle, filled it with blood instead, and stored it away for later use.
Then I pulled the Giant Boar out of my inventory and quickly processed it but only minimally. I cut open its chest and found a glowing yellow mana gem. I took the tusks and hooves and skinned it.
I stood up and made my way to town. It was a strange sensation to be walking again after ages, but I had no other choice. With my wings wrapped around me and my robe and cloak in place, soaring through the sky was off the table. I pushed myself to move quickly, knowing I had to get comfortable in town fast to enjoy the moment before I had to shift back into my bat form.
Coming Next Time: Guild and Goods