It looks just like you.

“Shut up.”

Like looking into a mirror.

“Hmph.”

The mycelium- or the Hyphae, as the surface-dwellers called it- stood at the end of the corridor. The network of fungal threads had weaved together to form the approximate shape of a stallion, which matched Artoras’ height and build with astonishing accuracy. Thick stalks tightened together to mimic muscle and they creaked with a rubbery squeak each time the creature moved.

This was, of course, the first time Artoras had happened across the monster. The agency above that had assigned him its bounty had claimed that the Hyphae mimicked the shape of any Courser that entered its domain, though how it managed to do so on a first encounter remained a mystery.

It must have eyes throughout the dungeon to make this accurate a doppelgänger this quickly. Artoras thought, lifting one of his front hooves. The Hyphae copied the gesture, incredibly at the same time as he. Some level of clairvoyance, perhaps?

A future-seeing mushroom? You’ve quite the imagination.

Artoras sighed. “Can you never keep your thoughts to yourself?”

Someone needs to chase the fanciful ideas from your head.

Artoras paced the width of the corridor, watching the Hyphae mirror his movements. Destroying the damn thing shouldn't be overly difficult- while a mushroom couldn't truly be killed, a bit of fire would reduce the creature to ashes. The problem, though, was making sure the Hyphae stayed that way. From what his contract holder had said, many had claimed to slay the beast before, but death never really seemed to take. A week later, the Hyphae would be up and moving around again.

It regenerates, Artoras thought. The collection of mushroom stalks had no blemishes and they looked to be in fantastic health. The corpses in varying states of decay that littered the nearby chambers indicated that it feasted well. So when I burn the damn thing, I need to be sure that I'm thorough.

Given the fact that it could mimic a Courser's physical form long before they arrived to its dwelling indicated that the network truly was a network. Artoras realized with great annoyance that he'd seen various mushrooms growing between cracks in the walls and floors of the dungeons the whole trek here.

Figures. It isn't just a monster; it's an infestation.

Artoras was reluctant to take his eyes off the monster. From his understanding, it would mirror the movements of Coursers and block their paths, and when they turned their backs on it in frustration, that's when it would strike. Thankfully the brief moment he took to reach into his pack passed uneventfully, though when he looked back up, it seemed that the Hyphae had ventured a little bit closer to him.

Artoras scowled. Using minor telekinesis, the stallion held a glass bottle out before him. Just as many Coursers before him had, he'd brought along an alcohol solution and stuffed a rag into the bottleneck. A molotov cocktail wasn't really something that he would usually work with- Artoras preferred to avoid messy and wanton destruction, but fire truly was the best way to deal with such things. Getting into close range with the Hyphae, he knew, would be unwise.

It couldn't be eliminated without being entirely destroyed. It felt far too simple an answer, but Artoras wasn't paid to make the job complicated. Setting the cloth alight, he hurled the glass bottle at the Hyphae and watched the glass explode, sending a burst of glass in all directions. Thanks to the accelerant he'd mixed in, the hyphae was quick to catch fire. Artoras' ears turned back as the beast let out a sharp squeal; not one of pain, he was sure- it lacked lungs. Most likely, the stalks were straining and popping in reaction to the flames. Artoras took several steps back as the Hyphae began to stumble toward him, no longer mocking him. He watched it crumple to the floor, shriveling up and turning black.

Soon, the hyphae was reduced to cinders. Normally, it wouldn't have been so thoroughly annihilated, but a bit of magical and alchemical fire did wonders.

With the greatest threat out of the way, Artoras sighed. As he lifted his head, he caught sight of a small mushroom peeking out from between a pair of moss-covered bricks. If he wanted his contract paid, he had a lot of work left to do.