With the howls coming from the forest growing closer the brothers started running into the forest, their goal being the rge tree that appeared to be the center of the dungeon. On their tail was an unknown number from the pack that called this little ecosystem home. The rustling within the foliage behind them grew louder and more numerous as they ran.

  While they ran passing through the strange pnts James was starting to wonder, why they hadn’t attacked yet. Because of the metal that covered their bodies, they should be easily visible, but the pack had yet to find them. If these wolfmen were anything like normal wolves then they relied on scent to hunt and track their prey (What do they eat in here?). This pce was a closed ecosystem and there must be something around here that can support these 6-foot-tall wolfmen. A herbivore would thrive well in this environment with rge pnts. Something like a cow or a bison?

  Was the Power-Up from the Metal Mushrooms making it harder for them to track us? Like the metal shell preventing scent from leaking out if so, (We’re going to reek after this aren’t we?) James thought. It did make them immune to their attacks as their cws and teeth cked the force needed to penetrate the full-body shell that covered them. With enough force, an attack might penetrate or shatter this metal shell. But it's doubtful they would find something like that here. There was also a significant increase in their weight causing their feet to sink into the dirt floor as they moved. It didn't seem to affect their speed as James was fairing quite well given his exercise routine typically involved a teaspoon of the bck tar-like Body-Tempering liquid and an hour on a treadmill, that limitless energy the liquid provided had to go somewhere. On the other hand, Danny exercised his body most days through work around the house and his routine. However, cardio wasn't a focus in his weekly routine. As it stood James was uncertain where he should pce this power up, it might be useful in certain situations.

  Making their mad dash through the forest James asked his brother, "Is it as exciting as you wanted it to be"?

  “Fuck. You.” Danny huffed between breaths.

  As there was no path for them to run through the pair had to swerve between the trees and bushes. As they were veering away from one such tree in their path a rge, bck-furred figure jumped out at them baring a maw of fangs as it attempted to bite down on Danny. Danny reacted immediately having his gun ready, putting a hole in the beast’s stomach.

  *BanG*

  The bck-furred beast dropped to the ground shortly after. As good a shot as it was, it wasn’t the most tactical decision to have made. Leaving the body behind the pair attempted to run further into the forest after the first assaint, it wasn’t long before more of the pack showed up. Drawn closer from the sound of the gunshot and the new smells that they were growing familiar with, it wasn’t long before the brothers were surrounded.

  Two more wolves appeared from the thicket pouncing on Danny as he used his might to fend them odd before using the shotgun to end their assault. Try as he might Danny was able to bring down three of the numbers with his gun before one of the wolves was close enough to swipe at him. Its cwed hands made contact with his metal-coated skin causing sparks to fly as some of the sharpened nails snapped and fingers broke from the impact. With the wolves on all sides, a melee ensued.

  Danny was struggling to fend off the dogpile before James "What are you doing? They can’t hurt you. You’re made of metal and weigh more than a ton even if they dogpile you! Just punch them!” James’ words snapped him out of his stupor. Clinching his fist Danny delivered a bone-shattering punch. The recipient on the other end of the punch crumpled and folded hitting the floor almost immediately after.

  "Jesus..." Danny whispered looking at the recipient's new concave chest cavity.

  During Danny's struggle with the pack James on the other hand was having a retively easy time pying with them as they tried their best to attack him. His practice with dodging shining through. As were his heightened senses. Soon the strange movements caught Danny's eyes, he couldn't help but stare and watch.

  As one attempted to aim for his head he would dodge with simple movements, the Metal Mushrooms made rge movements difficult. Like a time g between wanting your legs to move and when they actually moved. It wasn't something that one would notice if they weren't acutely aware of the difference. Barely moving his neck less than an inch he was able to dodge. Then he went for a blow snapping its neck with the swing from his arm. Then while more of the group were attacking him he stopped moving, causing the arms flying in his direction to break on impact. Noticing his brother staring “What they're slow?” he stated.

  “Like hell they are!” Danny retorted before the wolves that surrounded him jumped on him. “Could you help me out here!?” Danny pleaded as he struggled to fend off the literal dogpile.

  With a number of the first challengers dead the more cowardly wolves in the back took notice before they started to retreat into the forest. While some of the more aggressive ones grew enraged by seeing their fallen comrades. With the timer on their invulnerability ticking, James pulled a fshbang out from one of his vest pockets. “Cover your ears and close your eyes.” He said before pulling the pin, soon after a blinding light fshed out and the deafening sound drove the remaining wolves into a mindless fleeing frenzy running away as quickly as they could in any direction. Some even ran into trees in their attempts to flee. Once the audience was gone all that was left were the stragglers clutching their heads and scratching at their eyes and ears. With them taken care of without resistance the brothers were left alone to collect some bodies.

  Danny pced one of the padded hands inside his satchel watching the magical effect as it stretched and sucked inside before asking, “Why are we collecting their bodies anyway?” Danny was confused about why James even wanted to collect them in the first pce. “Study.” James put it bluntly to not reveal what he had been doing over the st few weeks. In total, they collected another 14 bodies giving them 16 in total and an even distribution between the two.

  With that done they continued their journey towards the central tree. Now that they weren’t being chased the journey was less hectic.

  They had arrived at the central tree several minutes ter. In this strange pce, the average fern here typically dwarfed James and made Danny look small by comparison. But the base of the tree was truly gigantic. While it didn't seem to have the same height as a Californian redwood it was the only tree within the dungeon that seemed to reach the ceiling (How tall was this pce anyway?) While the pair looked around taking in the mysterious and magnificent sight Danny soon asked, “So where’s the treasure”?

  “Were you expecting a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow?” James said jokingly. If the totem was anything to go by they should be looking for something that would feel somewhat out of pce. For all he knew it might be in the center of the tree. And the entrance would be on the other side of the tree or something. He also had to worry about their timer, If James' math was right they had less than ten minutes to find it and get out. Without anything concrete to go on the two began to wander around the tree.

  With only a short walk around the tree, enough to see a different section of its trunk James spotted something, however, instead of a strange object they stumbled upon a new strange creature. It had four tusks and a pair of horns on its head. Bck/brown fur with a stripped pattern along its back. Hooved feet and a short tail. The Boar-like creature seemed to be grazing alone within the thicket.

  "Did you find something?" Danny asked.

  "Ya, a weird boar?" James responded unsure what to call it.

  As the two began to move towards the boar to get a better look "You mean you can see that dot over there? In this forest?" Danny couldn't believe what he was saying. How could anyone see something that far away without binocurs?

  "Yes. Again, for the third time, I have enhanced vision." James said again to his brother who refused to believe him. Even if he cimed that he could see something that far away Danny just couldn't believe him because of the thick foliage that surrounded them.

  As they made their way over to the odd boar James was starting to think they didn't have to rush. It's not like they couldn't come back after a short break. Then re-up on their power-ups before searching the forest some more. Sadly, life was never as easy as one would want it to be. When they were just close enough to see the odd-looking animal properly as Danny was about to comment on its striking appearance, something came crashing down from the tree line.

  END