With their mind still reeling from the fact that they're apparently dubbed a Calamity by the Goddess of Light, their soul aching from the intense power of the Light Magic that burnt them, Kindle still moved forward through Floor 26, glad that each floor of the Serda Dungeon is massive. Despite their low HP and wanting to rest for a while first, they can't afford to stop moving when the Hero is likely looking for them.

  After a few hours of pushing through the pain, traversing the labyrinthian halls, and killing the other Undead for XP, the aching subsides, and they continue on. The Undead on Floor 26 are in an even greater variety than all the previous floors, Greater Skeleton Mages and Warriors, Greater Zombies and Spirits, Skeleton Knights and Spellswords, Zombie Mutants and Ghouls, Living Armor, and more fill the floor.

  [NOTICE: UNDEAD (36) SLAIN]

  [+900 XP; 7250/7250 XP]

  [NOTICE: LEVEL UP; VITAL STATS RESTORED; +6 AP]

  [LV. 29 -> LV. 30; 700/7500 XP]

  When they level up days later, Kindle no longer feels the permanent ache they had before, and they don't stop to think over it more, immediately looking for an entrance to Floor 27. They don't want to be stuck running away, nor do they want to risk the death or pain. But now they're no longer just an Undead sneaking around as a living person, but an Undead who's been declared a Calamity. They doubt something that's supposedly a "great evil" will be ignored by the world, and they doubt they will be able to enjoy themselves normally again after they leave, likely to be hunted down by either the Heroes or other factions.

  To counter this, to survive the innevitable, Kindle knows they must get stronger. And so they do. Floor after floor, they kill, they level up, they move on, they repeat without stop. Floor 27, Floor 28, Floor 29, Floor 30, Floor 31, Floor 32, Floor 33, Floor 34, Floor 35, they keep going and going, every enemy falling to their sword and magic with little resistance.

  At LV. 40, Kindle feels almost numb. They don't know how long it's been. Likely weeks, possibly months. A few of the magically-inclined Undead have tried to speak in simple sentences to Kindle, but they all fall quick. None of them get much of a word out towards their kinslaying sibling in Undeath. Some of the Undead fight amongst each other, but that doesn't last long under the unstoppable advance of the Undead Paladin.

  Kindle doesn't like this. They miss the nice views of the forests, the lakes, the rivers, the valleys, the hills, the fields of flowers or crops, the bustling towns and laughing drunkards. They liked Dungeon Diving too, but this is just mindless slaughter in pursuit of survival, knowing those previous views are not something they'll get to enjoy for a while, nor get to enjoy for long when they get out anyways. They don't want to slow down, but they don't even want to keep going in the first place. There's not much of a point in their mind.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  It all just feels futile. It all just feels apathetic. It all just feels... lonely.

  As they dreadingly trudge through the dark stone halls of Floor 35, they glance at a lone suit of Living Armor peering it's helmet over the corner and suddenly ducking back, which has been following them for quite some time for some odd reason. It's made of dark steel and bears extra pieces that resemble horns and bone protrusions, the design one meant to be menacing, though it seems far less so with how it peeks from the corners and fails to sneak from a distance, even straightening to look like a normal suit of armor in the middle of a path Kindle just walked past.

  At some point, Kindle turns a corner, and when the Living Armor leans to look over it, it's helmet is grabbed by Kindle's gloved hand. "What is it that you want?" Kindle technically could have slain the thing a while back, but they're currently looking for an entrance to Floor 36, and the XP gain would be halved. And honestly, they're more curious about the only suit of Living Armor that seems to be equally curious about them.

  Of course, the Living Armor fails to speak, simply flailing in a panic at the fact that the Undead who's been slaughtering other Undead is currently gripping their equivalent of a face. Kindle finally releases them, and they don't run off, instead saluting like a common solider to a commanding officer, a gesture Kindle does not know of. "I'm not sure what you want, or how you intend to explain it if you can't speak."

  The Living Armor fidgets a bit, like it's almost embarrassed or shy, then starts gesturing meekly between itself and Kindle. Suddenly, it's a game of charades. "Me and you." A meek nod from the armor, then pointing down the hall.

  "You want to go with me." Another, slightly more enthusiastic nod, every movement followed by a clink. Kindle doesn't bother asking a complex question like "why" knowing it won't be able to answer, but remains unresponsive for a moment, before asking a different question. "Why would I want that?"

  The Living Armor hesitates, then begins glancing between itself and Kindle in an attempt to find a good offer, before pointing at Kindle's gloved hand and gesturing to their gauntlet, pulling their own away to show nothing inside. Kindle tilts their head when the Living Armor extends their other gauntlet opened for Kindle's hand, but they indulge the gestured request with intruige. Then, the Living Armor carefully holds Kindle's arm, shaking a bit when it makes contact, and then puts it's gauntlet on their hand.

  The dark armor glints as Kindle turns and curls their wrist and fingers, studying the gauntlet and the rest of the Living Armor with consideration. "You're offering to be my new armor." The nod is immediate, covering the anxiety it held before with a hasty response. Kindle takes a moment to think about it, and nods. "I... I wouldn't mind the company."

  The Living Armor bounces a bit and tries to the clap, only to remember they just gave their hand away, which Kindle soon returns. "Do you have a name?" The suit pauses, the begins gesturing to make crude letters out of itself. "Chila. It's... a pleasure." They extend their hand out for a handshake, a gesture they've seen plenty of others do, and the armor accepts with a tight grip and jittery movements.

  With that, the first of Kindle's companions, Chila the Living Armor, joined the party.

  NAME: CHILA

  SPECIES: LIVING ARMOR

  SEX: N/A(?)

  XP: 0/8750

  AP: 0

  HP: 400/400

  MP: 250/250

  SP: 400/400

  CON: 40

  AGI: 40

  DEX: 40

  PER: 25

  INT: 25

  BRAWLER KNIGHT (D)

  ///BIOLOGICAL IMMORTALITY///

  ///DISCONNECTED BODY///

  ///PHYSICAL RESISTANCE (F)///