Accidental Healer

Mischief was worried it might be difficult guiding the cat people to the first of the three anomalies awarded to Layton's faction. But it proved to be fairly simple.

Even though none of the creatures understood how to speak, they seemed to understand basic intent. In fact, that seemed to be the only thing they understood, period.

Was there ever a time that he was like that? Mischief scoured his memories. Most of his life before sentience had faded, like a dream that melted away upon waking. He felt feelings but hardly anything more. That bothered him.

It hadn't been a particularly long time since he'd developed sentience, and yet it was all he really knew anymore.

Would it be the same for his children?

Mischief froze, and was then nudged forward. The striped orange and white cat that was always falling from trees and landing on him collided with his rear.

He let out a low guttural snarl and the clumsy cat shuffled away.

Children?

Had that thought really crept into his mind? These mana monsters weren't his offspring. The thought made no sense to him at all. But even more alarming? He didn't mean to think it.

What was worse, this wasn't the first time a thought appeared without his consent.

For some reason, ever since Layton's incident, his mind kept replaying images of Layton's broken lifeless body. Mischief hated the feeling, but in spite of all his best efforts to ignore it, the image persisted—and each time he was reminded of his failure to protect his friend.

Layton had a dangerous habit of playing with his food. He was so strong, maybe even stronger than Mischief, and yet his behaviors were unpredictable and dangerous. All he ever talked about was doing "the right thing" even if "the right thing" was just so stupid.

They'd need to talk once he returned, it was always so obvious to Mischief what the right thing was.

Whatever kept you alive.

***

Thirty minutes later they were at their destination.

Mischief would've reached the anomaly much faster, but he was forced to basically crawl his way forward so the children wouldn't be left behind.

His eye twitched. There was that word again.

Pushing past the mental blunder he focused his attention on the portal with his status as the herd of bipedal cats forced themselves tightly around him.

He sighed inwardly as his eyes scanned the words.

You have discovered a level 15 anomaly

Would you like to enter level 15 anomaly?

Mischief mentally confirmed. The portal shimmered and opened, but before he stepped through there was something he wanted to do.

He needed a way to shepherd the others through first to ensure none were left behind.

Not sure how to proceed he started by just telepathically telling the first cat man to enter.

It did.

Alright then, easy enough.

One by one he repeated the process, counting each of them until just one remained. It was the tall burnt orange cat, the one that seemed so familiar.

Mischief tilted his head and studied the creature. What was it that felt so familiar to him? Dark green eyes, powerful features, and fur that resembled his own before he evolved.

"Go through." He ordered using telepathy.

The creature obeyed and as it passed him it turned its head, green eyes flashing with a hint of something Mischief couldn't place.

Two hundred and seven. The total number of mana spawns that entered into the portal.

Curious, Mischief realized something. He hadn't killed any of these mana spawn, additionally he didn't have any way to communicate with them.

What level were they?

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An uneasy feeling settled in his gut and he threw himself into the anomaly.

Welcome. You have begun a level 15 wave dungeon, wave 1 has already commenced.

Rewards will be distributed based on contributions.

Bonus objective: Complete the first three waves with more than half of your party remaining.

Current party total: 203/207

Mischief shook the objectives away to a scene of complete mayhem. Everywhere he looked, cats were locked in desperate combat.

And four were already dead.

That was all the prompting he needed. Mischief moved in a blur. Four inch long razor sharp claws flashed, sinking deep into thick brown fur and muscle before meeting bone. He yanked, pulling his claws along the broad body parting everything in its path.

A heavy roar buffeted his ears, it was abruptly cut off under the crunch of his jaws.

You have killed level 14 Mana Bear.

The mana bear in question was at least twice the size of Mischief's impressive frame and at least as heavy. An orange and white striped leg protruded awkwardly from beneath the bear's hefty frame.

Something tugged at his heart and a fire lit within his chest. Primal feelings took hold of him. He eviscerated the next bear, ripping its body in two at the mid section, leaving the front portion moaning in the dirt before moving on.

In the corner of his screen the system kept a running tally of his party. 199, 198….

Mischief saw only red as more bears were torn to bits.

In total, the battle lasted mere minutes.

The first wave was small, little more than 40 bears in total. Pieces of their large frames were scattered haphazardly across the forest.

His chest heaved, but not from exertion.

192.

In just those few minutes fifteen of his party had been killed.

A system notification forced its way into his vision.

Congratulations, wave 1 complete.

HP and MP of all surviving participants restored.

Rewards calculated based on contribution. Calculation complete.

Reward: Unique - Mana spawn are a byproduct of non-sentient creatures and mana fluctuations across the universe combining to create diverse and oftentimes strange reactions.

Your party consists primarily of such spawns. Feline creatures absorbed from the surrounding topography into one location and changed to the creatures you see now.

As a progenitor you walk a path of enlightenment, therefore you may now choose.

Choose your path:

Embrace your role as guide, lead your party through adversity. Reward: Unique

Embrace your role as savior, resolve the waves alone, releasing the remainder of your party to safety. Reward: Unique

Time remaining until next wave: 57 minutes

Mischief read the system notifications and then promptly dismissed it.

Choices.

He was in no mood for choices.

So for now, he ignored the message and sauntered over to the nearest bear corpse. What remained of its body was half wrapped around a thick pine tree.

He vaguely recalled leaping onto its back in a death roll and launching it away. Leaning down he sniffed at the dead ball of fur.

The sweet scent of blood mingled with odors of pine and rich soil. There was a shuffle in the grass, and Mischief looked up.

Green eyes casually marched up to the bear, knelt, and began tearing into its flesh with its sharp fangs. Compared to the monster, green eyes seemed like a pup.

The monsters in this anomaly were a terrible match for his party. The bears were big, strong and seemed to be equal or even higher leveled.

He watched green eyes tearing away at the bear.

This was life wasn't it? You were either stronger or you weren't, maybe he couldn't remember much of his old life, but his instincts didn't fade.

But instincts were basic. Simple.

Hunt, eat, grow, hunt, eat, grow. That was the cycle. Green eyes understood that. He cast his eyes about. Everywhere he looked the cat people were eating the fallen bears.

He felt the knot in his chest begin to unwind.

Hunt, eat, grow—survive.

The pain lessened even more. He didn't need to bother himself with anything else. Feeling lighter, he tapped the bear being consumed and looted its body.

Green eyes hissed and looked his way. One glance from Mischief was enough to silence its protests.

He gained bear meat, claws and a bear pelt from the loot.

Feeling generous he glanced towards the meat in his storage and it appeared in front of him. He left it behind and moved on to loot the others.

He'd allow the monsters to stay. They needed to complete the cycle, but he wouldn't allow himself to feel that pain anymore if they couldn't survive.

Another bear popped from existence breaking down into its parts.

Ready to move on he glanced down and his eyes grew wide.

Hidden beneath the heavy form of the bear was a crumpled orange and white ball of fur.

Of course the clumsy little thing wouldn't make it through the first wave. He huffed at the many times the foolish thing had roused him from a nap by falling from a tree. It was annoying then, but for some reason looking at its ruined body the memory didn't seem so bad.

He shook his head and noticed there was another cat next to it, another black ball of fur looked up at him, dark maroon blood dripping from its whiskers and mouth.

Mischief narrowed his eyes. Why was the cat crouched behind the bear? Then the reality of the situation struck him like a blow.

The black cat hadn't been feasting on the bear…it was eating the cat.

Mischief began to tremble, legs flexing and unflexing. All the emotions he thought he'd reigned in boiled over in a frothing mess of rage and torment.

He felt it all build within him, and he couldn't take it. He released it, in a roar that shook the earth, filling it with all his pain, frustration and regret.

At his feet the black cat quaked, throwing itself flat against the earth. Mischief looked upon the feeble beast with righteous indignation.

That was not who Mischief was, or would ever be again.

His screen opened, and he made his choice.