Chapter 4 – Monster Pool Mayhem
After officially appointing Milo as his companion, Tyler stepped out of Shooba’s tent feeling more confident than ever. The world outside felt slightly warr — or perhaps it was just the glow of having a partner to share this strange journey with. The streets of Yandi buzzed with activity. Sowhere nearby, the rhythmic clanging of hamr on tal echoed through the air, but before he could investigate, Milo nudged his side.
“Look! That tent—it’s got lights and music. Let’s check it out!”
The vibrant colours and flickering neon signs practically pulled them in. The tent flaps parted to reveal a hybrid of elephant and bat behind a ga table, spinning a cue stick in his trunk.
“Welco, travellers!” the hybrid announced with a showman’s flair. “I’m Ga Guy, master of Monster Pool and karaoke king of the continent!”
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Monster Pool?”
Ga Guy winked. “The only ga where reflex ets raw animal instinct! You win? You get XP and a rare berry. Lose? Well, you still have a story to tell.”
Tyler shrugged. “Why not.”
He picked up the cue — a branch polished to near perfection — and chalked its tip with sothing that slled oddly like pineapple. The balls on the table were colour-coded, each representing a hybrid animal class. The table was longer than regulation and slightly uneven, with magical ripples in the felt that made predictions tricky.
Ga Guy broke first. His trunk-shot sent three balls into pockets with perfect spins.
“You’re dood,” Milo whispered.
“Shut it.”
Tyler managed to pocket two balls with sheer luck, missed one miserably, then accidentally ricocheted a ball into another pocket. He grinned as the ga continued. Eventually, Ga Guy won, but not without clapping Tyler on the back.
“Not bad, [Player]. That took longer than usual. Co back when you’re brave enough for the Champion Challenge.”
Outside, the midday sun bathed the farm fields in light. Nearby, a stall displayed baskets of glowing mushrooms and fresh blueberries. A red panda-hedgehog hybrid, Filbert, was arranging produce.
“Hey there,” he said with a soft smile. “You two new around here?”
“Yep,” Tyler nodded. “Cool town.”
Filbert sighed. “It used to be cooler before longutan started eating my crops. And don’t get started on the squirrel-rats. Little pests think my orchard’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.”
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Tyler’s ears perked. “You need help?”
[Quest Assigned: Pest Control]
[Objectives: Defeat 5 Field Pests (Squirrel-Rats) around Filbert’s farm.]
[Reward: Blueberry x10, Mild Health Potion x1]
[Will you accept the quest?] [Yes] | [No]
Tyler pressed [Yes]. “Lead the way.”
Filbert pointed toward an orchard fenced with brambles. “They nest in those trees and run when you get close. But they’ll return. Good luck!”
Tyler and Milo approached the orchard cautiously. Almost imdiately, a chubby creature with twitching whiskers and a thick striped tail leapt from a bush.
[Enemy Spotted: Squirrel-Rat Level 5] [HP: 130/130]
Tyler activated [Sprint].
[Activated Skill: Sprint — Increases movent speed by twice for 6 seconds.]
[PE: 16 → 12]
He zood in, slashing with his stone sword. Milo joined in with [Freeze Core], freezing the pest in its tracks.
[Activated Skill: Freeze Core — Target frozen for 3 seconds.]
[PE: 13 → 7]
Tyler’s follow-up strike ended the fight.
[Enemy Defeated: Squirrel-Rat Level 5]
[ 45 XP]
The next pest, a Level 4, darted from a pumpkin patch. Milo used [Absolute Defence] to shield himself while Tyler attacked.
[Enemy Defeated: Squirrel-Rat Level 4]
[ 20 XP]
Milo grinned. “You thought I picked this hybrid for the s? Nah, I knew what I was doing.”
Three more pests fell under their combined assault. Milo tanked while Tyler weaved through the orchard, sword flashing.
[Enemy Defeated: Squirrel-Rat Level 5] [ 45 XP]
[Enemy Defeated: Squirrel-Rat Level 6] [ 75 XP]
With the final pest down, Tyler’s system window flashed.
[Level Up! Level 10 → 11]
[HP Restored]
[Attribute Points: 1]
[Player: Tyler] [Level: 11] [XP: 5/50]
[HP: 165/165] [PE: 16/16]
Stats:
> Attack: 3 ( 5)
> Defence: 3 ( 10)
> Agility: 2
> Speed: 2
> Power Regen: 6
> Accuracy: 1
> Dodge: 1
> Health Regen: 1
Remaining Attribute Points: 0
[Quest Completed: Pest Control]
[Reward: Blueberry x10, Mild Health Potion x1]
Filbert t them with a grateful smile and the promised goods.
“Thanks! Most folks don’t help out unless they’re promised gold. You two are alright.”
Suddenly, the sharp clang of tal-on-tal cut through the calm.
Milo flinched. “What was that?”
Filbert chuckled. “He’s at it again.”
“Who?”
“Vitamin Ape,” Filbert said, gesturing toward the edge of town. “The legend himself. Strongest warrior turned weaponsmith. You’ll know when you see him.”
As Tyler and Milo approached the source of the hamring, they found a muscular figure pounding raw molten tal on a stone slab using just his fists. Sparks flew with each blow, and the ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.
He was a gorilla-carrot hybrid, his body rippling with muscle and orange tufts, eyes sharp and focused. His workshop was more battlefield than forge — lined with shattered helts, broken blades, and old armour designs scattered like fallen enemies.
“Welco,” Vitamin Ape said, barely looking up. “Here to window-shop or battle steel itself?”
“Uh… window-shop for now,” Tyler said, watching in awe as the smith pounded another glowing ingot into shape.
Vitamin Ape wiped his brow and motioned to a shelf. “Crude Titanium Set. Armour, helm, sword. Not pretty, but they’ll save your life.”
[Crude Titanium Sword: 10 ATK]
[Crude Titanium Armour: 10 DEF]
[Crude Titanium Helm: 10 DEF]
Tyler winced at the price tags: 250 gold each. “You take blueberries as down paynt?”
Vitamin Ape grunted. “Bring coin or ore. No exceptions. And if you ever bring Ancient Ore… well, let’s just say I’ve been waiting for soone who can handle what I’ll make from that.”
Milo nudged Tyler. “Let’s rember this place.”
As they stepped outside, Tyler looked over his shoulder once more, eyes lingering on the fire-lit figure hamring destiny into shape.
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