Shurry took a good long look into the eyes of this particular amazoness. She's not anything like those bad people were. She's closer to Oluta's scent than those evil ones. Then a tasty smell wafted over from where everyone had grouped up to prepare for departure. His tail wagged a little bit, causing the amazoness to giggle.
"There's plenty of the morning rations left. Let's go get one first."
Excited, Shurry shouted. "YAY!"
"That boy, he hesitates whenever you get near. It really is like Leon suggested." Empress said, walking up after having watched the whole interaction. "If we want to avoid issues like that from happening again… It might be a good idea for him to fall asleep close to you, perhaps that comforting sensation will overpower the sense of fear?"
"I'd like to try it, that boy's trauma runs deep. I can sense it. It's far deeper than I had first thought." The amazoness sighed, looking at the hand she'd injured last night. "I want to help him overcome that fear, even if it's only a little bit, that should be enough."
"I'm sure everything will work out. Now then, I'm curious to see just how well he fights. Maxim's word is rather good, however, I'd prefer to see it for myself."
Everyone finished eating, packing, and planning the formation. Once done, the group departed, moving as one singular unit.
…
Floor 19, the beginning of the Large Tree Labyrinth, the party moved in smooth unison, slaughtering all monsters on the main path, even going as far as to call more monsters to the path.
Shurry looked up to the amazoness nearby. I should give them chances to further a normal relationship. So I'll ask them my questions. "Um, lady, why are they calling more monsters to the group?"
"Ah, that's right, it might seem odd but, we do it for a few reasons." The amazoness, surprised, began answering. "First, it allows all of our lower level members to gain the experience they need to further improve their skills."
Shurry nodded. "That makes sense!" He smiled, wagging his tail a little bit. "What else?" His eyes beamed with an expectant glow.
"Well, secondly, it helps to thin out any large herds of monsters." She added, with a little more confidence. "It also helps us keep track of trends within the dungeon. And spot a unique monster before it becomes a terrible trouble for someone far too weak to handle it."
"So, would it be good to call for all the monsters on the floor at once?" Shurry asked.
"That would be difficult to do. It's such a wide range, and no one likes fighting a horde of monsters."
Maxim chuckled in the back. "It certainly would be an interesting experience. I wonder how many monsters there actually are on this floor?"
Shurry started counting on his fingers. "Uhm, can we do it? It's only about 6000 monsters. Shouldn't be hard at all, right?"
The high levels laughed, for a few reasons. First, that a kid 5 years old is talking about so many monsters being easy. Second, the idea that it would be possible to summon all of them here like that.
"You know what kid. If you think you can call all the monsters on this floor to us. Go for it. Us level 5s and higher won't have to work for much of anything today anyway. If we get a little exercise now, it won't be a problem." Maxim chuckled, thinking it was impossible.
"REALLY!" Shurry's eyes beamed with glee. And he took a deep breath, straight into the gut. Alright, I have to insult the monsters with this one. He released all of the air in his body with a magically charged howl, one that carried a particular insult in it to all the monsters on that floor. Sounds of a stampede began sounding out, Shurry's tail just wagged, excitedly awaiting praise. "I did it!" He smiled, and prepared for battle.
"Prepare for battle. This is now a stampede from all sides. I don't want to hear a word of complaint, do you best to fight through it. Survive this and it might even generate some level ups." Maxim ordered.
"Seriously, to think he could pull that off. It sure will make hunting rare monsters a bit easier. I like this kid, rare monsters taste better." Zald laughed, drawing his massive blade.
Soon the monsters came into view; Bugbears, Battle Boars, Lizardmen, Firebirds, Vouivre, Mad Beetles, Mammoth Fools, Dark Fungus, and Gun Libellula. All of them were swarming in the direction of the expedition team.
"Now this is more like it. Getting a taste of the lower floors using these weaker monsters is just what was missing!"
"Oh come on, there's so many of them! I just wanna peep on the girls in the river."
"Shut up and fight, or I'll say you're an Almiraj and hit you with my gospel!"
"Shurry, help me, Alfia is so mean."
"Huh? Why are you scared? This isn't a lot of monsters." Shurry asked, completely relaxed.
Pervy bunny's face filled with shock. "How, how aren't you scared?"
"Should I be? I just have to kill the monsters, right? Nothing else to it, is there?"
Maxim heard that and laughed so hard, his voice accidentally killed a few of the weaker monsters. "That's right, Shurry. Turn those monsters to dust."
"Yay!" Shurry slipped out of the pervy bunny boy's hold, and leaped into the fray. This time he didn't even transform, simply slaughtered the monsters with total ease. His battle instincts were on another level.
The other beastmen in the team watching this display, all turned to Maxim, in unison, their faces filled with awe. "Where did this kid come from? If he had been born 8 years earlier, he'd be king of all beastmen by now." One said, with a gulp.
"Really?"
"Yeah, even I can't move that fluidly. It's like combat has been drilled into him since he was able to walk. Perhaps even earlier."
"Well, considering where he came from, and what they do there… I wouldn't be shocked if he's seen his fair share of wild deaths. And deadly training."
While they were talking, Shurry made the rounds in a circle around the group, landing numerous critical hits right in every monster's weak point.
"He moves as if the moon is always with him."