Chapter 133: Different Like Me!

Chapter 133: Different Like Me!

Larry had had a fun day. Bleusnout had made puffcakes for dinner! They were like pancakes, but so much better. One puffcake filled up Larry's belly as much as three regular pancakes. This was very good. A rumbly tummy made it hard for Larry to think about anything but eating, and the more rumbly, the better everything smelled.

And two sneaky-guys made friends and promised to be not-sneaky. That made them into not-prey, and Larry didn't feel like chasing them anymore. That was good, Larry wasn't sure what he was supposed to do when he caught someone, but he was pretty sure it wasn't good. And running and chasing made him hungry, and prey always smelled good. He would have to ask Tallsqueak about that.

Larry was walking home to Larry's house when he heard fighting noises coming from the arena. And Larry's nose smelled his friend Tallsqueak! He had so much to tell Tallsqueak. Jellybeans, new friends, and his new Blue Box.

You have taught three new people to Dance. You have earned the new skill: Dance Instructor.

Dance Instructor is an INT based skill.

You have earned 150 experience in Dance Instructor. Dance Instructor has reached Rank 2

You have earned 150 experience in INT. INT has been raised by +1 to a total of 1.

Larry wanted to go find Tallsqueak, but he remembered that he wasn't supposed to go to the arena. Maybe if no one saw him? The Weasel Slippers had told him that if no one saw you doing something, it didn't count. Larry was unsure of that, but he tried to be quiet, just the same. Carefully, very carefully, he took little steps and didn't fall down or make any noise. It was easy to not make noise when you didn't fall down as much.

It was easiest for Larry to move with both hands and feet on the ground, but Larry didn't like that and people looked at him funny. So he only walked with feet and fell down a lot. Only now he didn't!

As he was almost to the arena, he got another Blue Box. So many Blue Boxes! Larry hadn't seen Blue Boxes since...well, since before he was so big. But the last few days he had seen a lot.

Under the careful instruction of your Adorable Baby Weasel Slippers, you have learned the skill: Stealth.

Stealth is what Hero's do when they don't want Bad Guys and Sneaky Guys to know they are close by doing hero things.

Stealth is an AGI based skill

This made sense to Larry. Skulking is what sneaky-guys did. Stealth was for Heroes. Stealth helped him find his friend Tallsqueak. He almost didn't recognize him!

Tallsqueak had a new tail. It was long and boney. And he had new claws! And bones on his arms and legs. He was different.

Larry had always thought that different was bad. Everyone said Larry being different was bad. All of Larry's friends went away. Different Larry was a bad Larry. But Tallsqueak was good. A good fighter. A good dancer. A good friend. And now he was different. Different like Larry was different?

Master Gilad was helping him fight better by hitting him and knocking him down. Larry understood fighting. He used to fight a lot. He fought in this arena. He took extra classes. He wanted to be the best fighter and grow up to be like big brother Justin. He had liked fighting...

Larry didn't get to fight now. Bleusnout said it was because he was 'different'. But Tallsqueak was different now, and he was fighting with the best fighter in the Hollow.

Larry had a big idea. Tallsqueak was different like Larry was different! That was probably why Tallsqueak was Larry's best friend. He knew what different meant. He went down to tell Tallsqueak about Jellybeans, and being different. Maybe Larry would get to fight?

Milo turned as his danger sense was telling him something was sneaking up on him, only to find Larry slowly walking towards the arena. Larry looked happy. Gilad had paused, eyes on Larry as the Cheese Fiend almost walked into the arena. Larry stopped when he got to the area's edge, and carefully kneeled down, almost pitching forward but managing to balance.

Gilad was conflicted, to say the least. Letting Larry fight could let lose the berserk fiend that lived inside of him. But not letting him fight would be a travesty. Fiends didn't fight like this. They plowed into a line of foes, slashing with claws and teeth like animals, running on all fours and eating what they killed. Gilad wanted...no, he needed!... to see if Larry could fight with claws and tail. Could he train a fiend to be a fighter, and not an animal? And how could he deny Larry a chance to regain part of himself. It was unthinkable.

He clapped his hands. "Larry. Tallsqueak. I think this is good for both of you. You are both tough, and regenerate quickly. You both need practice and better opponents. We will all fight together, the three of us. Two hours each night. 10th bell to 12th bell. And then we will have an extra breakfast. Fighters need extra calories."

He stepped into the ring. "You may rest Tallsqueak. I will take the next bout with Larry."

Milo sat down. He was tired, but happy. And hungry. He hoped that Bleusnout still had food left from dinner. He could smell the puffcakes as he walked by earlier. Delicious."

Larry has learned Dance of the Claw and the Tail

Dance of the Claw and the Tail is a DEX based skill.

Milo (Tallsqueak)

Dancing has reached Rank 1

Claws of Alta-Viator has reached Rank 7

Spine of Volat-Repat has reached Rank 7

Rune Carving has reached rank 6

Bone Carving has reached rank 6

Weak Poison Resistance has reached rank 10

Strong Poison Resistance has reached rank 3

Stealthy Skulking has reached rank 8

Climbing has reached rank 7

Dodge has reached rank 8

Combat Block has reached rank 5

Sense Danger has reached rank 8

Forage has reached rank 6

Overall Level has reached rank 10