I Become the Baby Tiger in a Beast Taming World

Chapter 116 - 113: To Save Lightning

Too narrow. The path shrinks before me. Forest branches push in, obstructing me. As if the entire forest desires to block me from reaching my mate. Or perhaps I just feel impatient.

Finally, I burst into the open, where the carriage sits.

Under attack.

Dark misshapen mushroom creatures surround it. getting their slimy hands all over it.

I roar my head off and pounce into the fray, startling the mushroom baddies. They scatter, falling to the side as if blown by a strong wind.

Reaching the carriage handle, I operate it and crawl into the carriage with Lightning and Minette.

Lightning looks remarkably composed. Minor irritations like her breakfast being late provoke a meltdown. But a full-scale threat to her life? She is a cool customer. Minette holds her close.

[Who’s our company?]

Her dry inquiry makes me smile. [Overgrown mushroom rejects.]

[What do they have against carriages?]

I rub my nose against hers. [Very long story.]

[I’m aware of it. Hans explained everything. But you should get back out there and help them.]

My fierce instincts kick in. [Not a chance. You are my mate and carrying my cubs.]

Lightning lets out a roar of frustration. [They need you, Blaze.]

But the mushroom horrors keep smashing the carriage. Why, oh why didn’t I insist Lightning stay home where it was safe? Oh--because she wouldn’t hear of it.

I look at Minette, beseeching. We can’t stay here much longer. And without even checking, I know that one touch from those mushroom demons will mean certain doom.

Minette comforts us. "They can’t get inside."

HISSS.

An ugly sound of chewing metal. Of liquefying, if liquefying can make a sound. Then the smell of burnt metal that makes me gag.

[Get out of the carriage!]

My shout through the mind-link rouses Lightning, and she spots a gaping hole in the rapidly dissolving carriage. [Jump!]

We leap out, Minette not far behind. Somehow, she manages to climb on my back mid-jump. The world spins and sways dizzyingly, and for a moment we’re about to collide with the mushroom-creatures. But then, a burst of speed propels both Lightning and me clear.

WHUMP. We both hit the ground with our paws and race toward the forest. No wasting time arguing with Lightning over not endangering herself. There’s no safety behind us. In front of us, a possible chance for safety. But if we stay here arguing, that window will slam shut. Besides, at this point, Lightning has proven herself tough enough for her, me, and the cubs.

We head back into the forest, where the fog conspires to block our way, but we keep moving until we see Maartenwitz standing like a flagpole, his arms waving to signal us. "It took you long enough," he scolds. "The old man has a path to safety IF we hurry."

Safety? In System’s domain? Seems counterintuitive. But then, System controls the entire board, except for pockets of resistance. Think of them as safe zones or get-out-of-jail-free passes. We have to cross System’s territory to get beyond the reach of the mushroom creatures. One touch would be deadly. Lightning or Lobo could be erased from the game. And maybe brought back again, re-set, utterly under System’s control.

Now, I know that System hasn’t done that before. Not for Judo, or Memo, or Shade. But anyone closely connected to me is different. System WANTS to control Amber and Damon. And me.

It might even erase me and bring me back brainwashed. But then again, maybe not. It would have to erase all my memories, not just the ones at the point where I reincarnated. That is the endgame. Those are the stakes of the tournament. And since the tournament hasn’t happened yet, System won’t use that nuclear option with me.

But Amber and Damon are different. They are fair game, I bet.

I shake myself out of my reverie and follow Maartenwitz to the others, and to a narrow tube clear of fog and mushrooms. Inside the tube, the Mushroom Man walks ahead, hands glowing. As he walks, the path extends in front of him and behind him. What an amazing trick. He’s created his own tunnel through the madness.

"Blaze!" Kaline waves at me. "Lightning! You’re safe. Isn’t this incredible magic? I would love to learn how to do this someday."

I give a little "mrrp" of agreement. If I could learn that spell from the Mushroom Man...maybe I can. Maybe I can get a download from him.

[Mushroom Man?]

His voice is kind. Twinkly. But focused. [Yes?]

[Could you teach Lobo and me that spell? Maybe as a download or a hack or a patch?]

A chuckle ripples through the mind-link. [Oho, so you think it’s that easy?]

[We’ve learned other things.] Lobo is fully on board. [Blaze got Divine Vision.]

[That isn’t mystical, son. It’s his memories seeping through. His knowledge of the game, and of the future. He’s just learning to use the right side of his brain for once.]

Naturally, Lobo is all over this. [You mean he tapped into his non-lawyer non-logical side?]

[Aha, enlightenment.] The Mushroom Man sounds delighted. [Yes. Being in animal form definitely encourages that. System doesn’t control that side of us as much as it thinks it does.]

The mushroom-demons batter the magic tunnel through the fog. They are beyond furious when they hit the invisible barrier. Even their toxic powers have no effect, which only enrages them further. Our exit from this forest can’t come soon enough. But maybe we’re losing a valuable opportunity here. This is, after all, a System node.

[Mushroom Man.]

[Yes, my son?]

[This is one of System’s strongest locations in the game. Can we strike back at it?]

Damon, for once, is cautious. [I don’t know. There’s probably a booby trap somewhere.]

Mushroom Man agrees. [The most important thing here is the safety of your loved ones, Blaze. I expect you know what will happen to them if they fall into System’s hands.]

Primal Beast, he’s right. Just my luck. He has hit upon the one point I can’t disagree with.

[Let’s just keep going.] I keep walking. [I guess that if System doesn’t get any of us, that’s enough of a victory.]

[Ahhh, you are learning, my young friend. Sorry to sound like the archetype of the Wise Old Man/Wizard, but that is my role in this story.]

He’s getting all meta on me, but I suppose it’s only natural. At this point, the fourth wall has been stomped to bits.

Back to practical matters. [How long until we’re out?]

He switches to practical mode too. [Not long. Assuming the spell holds.]

Oh. That doesn’t sound good. [You mean you’re not sure?]

[Of the spell? Yes. Unwavering faith there. But I distrust our enemies. System is cunning, and it does not like to lose.]

Ahhh. That makes sense.

Lobo interjects. [How long is "not long," anyway?]

Mushroom Man points to a break in the foliage, where the mushrooms and the dark upside-down brush trees thin out. [There. Beyond that lies safety. The mushroom-demons dare not go beyond that point.]

I want to believe him, but I’m skeptical. [But they reached the carriage.]

The Mushroom Man walks, his burlap-brown robe swirling. [It was still within the bounds of the forest, technically. Beyond that opening? They won’t dare go.]

The obvious question arises, and Lobo is the one to pose it. [What lies beyond?]

[I am not sure. I cannot leave my forest.]

Startled, I growl. [That would have been helpful to know upfront!]

Mushroom Man is unfazed. [You didn’t ask.]

Lobo woofs. [He’s right. We didn’t. But now that you brought up the topic, why can’t you leave?]

His response is simple, but weighted with responsibility. [Because if I do, System will run amok.]

Oh. He can’t leave his post out of duty. [So, by staying, you contain its influence?]

[Ah, so much knowledge in such a short span.] Mushroom Man sounds affectionate. [If we only had more time, I would teach you all that I know. But you cannot stay here.]

Lobo woofs, disgruntled. [But we need you.]

Now the old man channels that mystical Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master vibe. [And I am always with you, as close as the wind.]

Minette squeezes me with her legs. "We’re almost out of it, Blaze!"

Kaline gives a joyful cry. "The nice old man says that the mushroom-demons can’t go beyond the forest. We’ll be safe!"

Lightning’s "mrrrp" says a whole paragraph. She is eager to escape the danger.

Gussie flies ahead, zipping through the opening. "I made it," she calls out. "It’s not much to look at, but it’s better than being eaten by mushrooms."

Leave it to Gussie. Her words have a certain logic.

[You can’t escape that easily. I am everywhere.] System is almost pouting, [You think you’ve won?]

I stick my tongue out. [Nobody likes a sore loser.]

We keep moving and swiftly leave the forest behind. Whatever is beyond, and however we get back home, we’re not going through that forest again!

But when we turn to do a head count, the Mushroom Man has vanished. A small price to pay for getting everyone out in one piece!