Chapter 37 I hunt, therefore I ant.
I climb back up into a tree and hide amongst the foliage whilst I formulate my next moves. Making things more difficult was my fat abdomen but after some sustained effort I got up there.
Ok then, the first thing to worry about is what to do with my skill point. I could upgrade Digging immediately, or I could wait, hold onto the skill point in case I buy something interesting once Mana Manipulation reaches level five.
After considering for a while I decide to ahead and upgrade Digging. After all, what sort of ant doesn't prioritise being able to dig!
[Digging -> Excavating. cost 1 sp: Increases the ability to shift large amounts of material in a shorter span of time]
Purchase!
If I need to save a skill point I can always keep the next one. I don't think I'll be able to max out Mana Manipulation before I level up again, after all, I'm going to keep on hunting centipedes until I get it.
Once I've evolved I'll feel a lot more confident following the trail back to the colony. Not to mention I can go and absorb those hidden monster cores.
Now the Biomass... Four is such an awkward number! Just one more and I'd be able to take my acid to +5! But using it all now and I could upgrade my mandibles to +4...
Arggh!
In the end I decide to upgrade my mandibles right away. That last fight wasn't so one sided that feel completely confident going into the next one without any real improvement to my fighting ability.
[Do you wish to improve Mandibles to +4? This will cost 4 Biomass]
Go ahead Gandalf!
My face is immediately on fire.
Just .... Why?
When the mutation is finally done my mandibles have become slightly larger and more menacing looking. These chompers are getting more and more potent all the time!
What sort of upgrade will I be able to get at +5? I can hardly wait. With my Biomass spent and my skill points used I'm almost ready for action. All I need to do is what for my digestion to kick in so I don't look like I'm dragging an expanded sack behind me as I move.
Whilst I wait I practice my Mana Manipulation a few more times, leaving myself gasping with something of a headache. I feel like it's getting a little easier to move my mana about but not much.
Since I'm already fairly well hidden up here I may as well take a quick nap to get myself back to full fighting shape.
I awake several hours later, ready for round two.
I carefully make my way back to the centipede mound and once again take up my scouting position high in my tree. If I spend any more time up trees I'm going to into a weaver ant. Those ants bend leaves and stick them together to create a nest.
I'll stick to digging.
For now though I play the waiting game. There doesn't seem to be much action, certainly no response that would suggest the members of this colony are upset that four of their number have gone missing. I would guess that it isn't unusual that occasionally a hunting group would disappear, never to return.
After waiting patiently for several hours and watching a few groups leave and a few others return another contingent of four departs the mound and makes their way towards the lake.
Oh ho!
Going for drink of that sweet, sweet mana water eh? I hope you enjoy that drink. For it shall be your last!
After the four targets have moved a good distance away I follow along behind them. I'm not too worried about keeping close to this group, since they are only heading to the lake I don't need to worry about them being killed hunting.
I'll set up an ambush and take on this group when they leave the lake.
Following along the trail I choose a large tree with a good view of the path the centipedes have taken, I want to see them coming, and I prepare to lie in wait.
Whilst I wait I decide to take a look at the intermediate profile of the Claw Centipede. Perhaps it has some useful information?
[Unguibus Scolopendra : Claw centipede, has strong claws and a venomous spike in its tail.
Might: 11
Toughness: 14
Cunning: 8
Will: 7]
Huh, so those are the base stats of the centipede? The might and the toughness are quite similar to mine but the cunning and the will are completely in the tank. I shouldn't be too surprised I suppose. I doubt every hatchling ant has a cunning as high as 25. My guess is that my high cunning stat is the system assigning a value to my human intellect.
This is my real trump card. Without my ability to reason and make planned decisions I would have been dead long ago. Not to mention I can easily exploit other monsters with extremely poor smarts.
About an hour later my patience is rewarded, the four centipedes are returning, once again moving in single file.
Ah, another visitor? Stay awhile! Stay FOREVER!
POW!
With my steady position and aim bonus there is no way I would miss a long centipede moving in a straight line. The arcing stream of acid lands accurately along the targets back. A perfect hit.
The centipedes are immediately enraged, posturing fiercely around their thrashing comrade.
POW!
Another direct hit! One more centipede is sent thrashing on the ground as they experience the terrible burning of my potent acid.
With two shots discharged I make my position known to the remaining healthy centipedes. Fiercely clacking my mandibles and waving my antennae at them provocatively.
Just like before, the horrible crawlers are completely provoked, rushing forward to consume this pesky ant.
As they reach the trunk of the tree they grasp hold with their many legs and start climbing, directly into my third shot!
POW!
Yet another centipede has received my acidic blessing! The unfortunate victim tumbles out of the tree,
So far the plan is working just as well as it did last time!
Only one target remains on the tree with me. Just like before use my incredible acting skill to feint a slip and the centipede completely falls for it, allowing me to deal a decisive chomp!
Although I don't quite manage to deal fatal damage with this bite the cracked carapace and distorted shape of the monsters head are telling of just powerful that attack was.
Hissing in pain the centipede lashes out, catching a glancing blow on my head with its claws before I close in and deliver the finishing crushing bite!
[You have defeated Level 1 Claw Centipede]
[You have gained XP]
One down, three wounded to go.
Checking my status quickly as the remaining centipedes approach the tree I see I've only taken one damage so far.
Good to go!
The three centipedes charge up the trunk together but this time I don't head out to a branch. I still don't want to be surrounded however so I undertake another risky manoeuvre.
When a centipede is directly before me I directly let go of the tree.
Unable to react fast enough the centipedes can only watch as I directly crash into one of their number, biting wildly with Crushing Bite as I fall.
My victim and I both fall directly out of the tree, grappling and biting at each other before we hit the ground with a thump!
Desperately scrabbling to avoid the poisonous stinger I use my momentum to roll away and back onto my feet.
My opponent is still scrabbling back to its feet so I charge as fast as I can and attack with my mandibles.
Crushing Bite!
The mysterious white energy empowers my jaws as I crunch down with all of my strength.
[Crushing Bite has reached level 2]
[You have defeated level 4 Claw Centipede]
[You have gained XP]
And then there were two!
Now for the tricky bit. The remaining two centipedes stick together as they descend the tree. I don't quite feel like I have another acid shot in the tank yet, this is going to have to be done up close and personal.
As soon as they reach the ground the two monsters split apart and threaten me from two sides, thankfully it isn't hard to watch both of them at the same time. The advantages of compound eyes are showing now!
Not willing to give away the initiative I turn and charge towards the creature on my left.
The centipede rears back, threatening me with claws and jaws as I approach.
Then I stop.
Then I turn and charge in the other direction!
The monster who had been behind me froze in surprise. As I'd charged at its ally it had immediately raised up its rear section, revealing the deadly poison spike at the tip of its tail. The sneaky git had thought to creep up behind me as I was distracted, not so easy chump!
After hesitating a beat the centipede strikes forward with its tail, the stinger plunging toward me at lightning speed!
I'd been waiting for this!
Predicting the move I dig my claws into the ground and leap to the side, letting the deadly tail pass by my left side. Before the monster can recover and draw its tail back for another strike I turn and bite with all of my strength.
Carapace cracks and crunches under my force and the centipede hissing with rage. That tail is now useless.
Seeing the other opponent approaching behind me I waste no time and leap directly at the injured foe, taking injuries from its furiously grasping claws. Shrugging off the pain I deliver the final blow with another bite.
[You have defeated Level 3 Claw centipede]
[You have gained XP]
And now it's one on one.
Unwilling to give the final monster time to raise its poison sting I grit my mandibles against my wounds and charge directly at it. A quick status check shows that I still have half of my HP left.
Easily enough to finish this!
No tricks.
The centipede and I charge and rip into each other, mandibles crashing, claws scraping and grasping on carapace.
But my opponent is no match for my superior mutations and skills.
[You have defeated level 2 Claw centipede]
[You have gained XP]
Finally! Not enough to get level five, but at least another four Biomass has been secured.
That one was hard, I've been reduced to ten HP. Dents, scratches and cracks cover my poor carapace.
Can't waste a second, have to eat!
[You have gained one Biomass]
Om nom nom.
[You have gained one Biomass]
Wait, what is that sound?
-x-X-x-
Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to fight and eat here, directly on the path the entire centipede nest takes to get the lake.
Before my despairing eyes another five centipedes are approaching, wriggling along in single file through the forest on their way to the lake.
When they see me, mouth full of dead centipede, they don't even break stride and immediately charge.
Hey! Let's take it easy fellas! Any chance we can discuss this? A peaceful resolution is always the best way forward, yes?
We can agree that I have eaten those of your kind, those are the facts. But can't we also agree that we are part of the circle of life? That all things are both predator, and prey?
Didn't think so.
Run!
I turn and fire off a quick acid shot, spraying across the leading centipedes' hideous maw before I bolt into the forest. How the heck am I going to deal with five centipedes? I've only recovered about half my HP! This isn't good, not good at all!
Any help Gandalf?
...
Damn you and your incredible pipe smoking skills Gandalf!
I could potentially make a break for the lake, it's possible they wouldn't fight me there, but being as injured as I am there isn't any guarantee that I'd be able to outpace them.
I'll have to fight this one out, and there is no way I can fight fair!
As I run through the forest I look around frantically for something I can use. Eventually I see a large tree with a wide trunk.
Before my opponents can gain on my I run around the back of the trunk, breaking their line of sight and haul myself up the tree as fast as I can.
Gogogogo Anthony pump those little ant legs!
Not far behind me the five centipedes arrive at the tree, the one I'd hit with acid lagging a little behind. They immediately start to climb after me.
I climb as fast as I can and then out onto the thickest branch I can find still low to the ground,
before I turn and wait to see what the enemy will do.
When the centipedes see where I am they continue to charge out onto the branch, one of them crawling along the bottom the bough and the other on the top.
Just before they reach me I let go, throwing myself down to the ground.
Landing with a thud, I push myself back up and quickly check on the centipede response.
Unwilling to jump after me they start to backtrack and climb back down.
The centipede closest to the ground, far behind his allies is the one I've hit with acid. As soon as his head is in reach I dash forward and bite!
[You have defeated a level 3 Claw Centipede]
[You have gained XP]
One down.
Now run!
As the rest of the centipedes make their down the tree I flee, trying to obscure my fleeing form by running through foliage and behind trees.
When I find a particularly dense area of vegetation I dive into and then remain perfectly still. My best chance now is to let my advanced stealth do some work!
The rest of the centipedes aren't far behind me, but they haven't been able to see where I went.
The four of them move past me in a group, their own antennae patting about on the ground and their claws snapping angrily as they move.
A centipede has drawn within five metres of me but I don't dare to move. I barely breathe. If they spot me I'll get ripped to shreds! Please centipedes... stay stupid!
Without any sign of me they split up, scouting around to try and find me. One scurries off to my left, another to my right and one heads back towards the tree. One centipede remains here, scratching around trying to get my scent or some sign of my passage.
In a one on one battle I don't fear these monsters at all!
The clueless creature continues to search the area, turning this way and that as it attempts to locate me.
Once it turns its back to me I start to creep out of my hiding place.
Moving closer.
And closer.
And then I strike! Suddenly leaping forward I deliver a ferocious bite to the tail! I have to remove the chance of getting stung with this damn thing!
The centipede reacts slowly and I deliver a second bite to the tail, shattering the carapace and rendering it useless.
[Chomp has reached level 3]
Holding onto the tail I drag the centipede toward me, keeping away from its claws to deliver another bite behind the head, finishing it off.
[You have slain level 1 Claw Centipede]
[You have gained XP]
Still not level five?! Argh!
Still, from five centipedes down to three!
Desperate to regenerate my health I start eating as quickly as I can. Rather than being weighed down with Biomass my precipitously low HP is of far more concern.
Thankfully I'm not interrupted before finishing off the meal.
[You have gained Biomass]
Quickly checking I see my health has recovered to 16. Better than nothing!
With the centipedes split up and their numbers diminishing I feel a lot more confident. If possible I want to finish them all off, I might gain enough XP to reach level five and finally evolve.
I've managed to regenerate possibly two acid shots whilst eating, increasing my options. You want to try and hunt me? You foolish centipedes... you will all be my prey!
Chuckling to myself I head towards the left of my previous hiding place and it isn't long before I encounter the monster who had headed that way returning after a fruitless search.
Looking for me pal? I was here all along!
As soon as the beast gains sight of me it hisses, clacking its claws in rage before it charges, directly into my b-zone!
BAM!
Acid directly into the face!
The creature releases a horrible shriek of pain but I won't let it off, pouncing directly into its claws to deliver the finishing bites.
[You have defeated level 4 Claw Centipede]
[You have gained XP]
The voice of Gandalf is still ringing in my head when I pause for a moment.
Did I see somethi-
Oh heck!
In a very un-antlike move I hurl myself to the side and roll as a vicious tail spike plunges through the air where I'd just been. Another of the centipedes returned whilst I tangled with the my foe!
With its surprise attack having failed though there is no hope for this monster. Regaining my feet I charge directly forward, not giving it a chance to position its tail for another strike. Leveraging my larger mandibles I go directly for the head, chomping down twice to finish it off.
[You have defeated level 2 Claw Centipede]
[You have gained XP]
[You have reached level 5]
[You have reached the level cap, evolution menu available]
Oh yeeeeeeeeees!
It's finally here!
Once again I do the best happy dance an ant can manage. Mind you, with six legs I can really get some moves going.
Calm down Anthony! Not in the clear yet.
I have to get my head back in the game. Celebrate once I make it into a safe nest and not before!
Looking around I see no sign off the final centipede. Not wanting to waste the resource I chow down on the centipede.
[You have gained Biomass].
Thankfully all this fighting has really greased my digestive process. Now that I have four Biomass I really want that one more so I can improve my acid to +5. I'll have to go back to the tree that I jumped out of, hopefully the centipede I defeated there is still available.
I sneak through the forest back to the large tree. There still isn't any sign of the last surviving centipede but the remains of the one I defeated are still here.
Thank goodness!
[You have gained Biomass]
Ok. Let me just say this, if I never have to eat one of these disgusting bugs again I'll be a happy ant. After stuffing myself with the horrible things I am completely sick of them.
I don't even bother going back to look for last two bodies. I'm completely stuffed anyway. It looks like that last centipede has successfully made an escape. Lucky thing!
I move back to the lake, making sure to stay on the Titan-Croca side of the water and scout around to locate my old hiding chamber.
I'm so excited to evolve I'm practically shaking! I'm pumped for this. It really feels amazing to have finally achieved this goal.
When I find my old hidey hole I widen up the opening and expand the chamber a little bit. It's possible that I may be larger after I've evolved and I don't want to squish myself to death underground during the process.
Renovations complete I hop down into the chamber and seal the entrance.
Time for some serious changes.
-x-X-x-
Finally! Finally I can evolve!
I'm emotional. It hasn't been easy, I've had to struggle and use my wits, but I finally made it!
Thanks for your support Gandalf!
Thanks for persevering, me.
Okokokok.
The first thing I need to do is spend my five Biomass to upgrade my acid.
[Do you wish to improve acid to +5? This will cost five Biomass]
Yes!
[At this level you may choose a mutation advancement, select from the menu]
Nice!
Once again a large list of potential options appears in my mind, so many choices! Searing acid? Concentrated acid? Freezing acid? All of these sound amazing. I have be careful with my selection, I only get one shot at this choice and I don't want to make a mistake!
Some of the upgrades seem to have an elemental flavour, such as shock acid, for example. I'm not sure if I want to take that path. For sure they all sound powerful but I don't want my acid to become ineffective against creatures who are resistant.
I know that the Wolf Dragon cubs are resistant to heat damage, if I were to choose searing acid then my effective combat options would be greatly reduced. There is potentially monsters out there who are straight up resistant to acid damage, which means I have one potential weakness already, I don't like the idea of doubling that to two!
Reluctantly I put aside the awesome sounding elemental acid options and look at the remaining choices.
There's an option to increase the aerodynamics of the spray, greatly increasing my range... I don't really feel like I need that. I'm happy with my current range.
Another option keeps the acid burning for a longer time, basically increasing the duration that the acid will continue to do damage. More damage sounds nice, but having to wait a long time for it to work won't help in a pinch situation...
Oh ho! This option seems interesting!
[Restrictive Acid: This upgrade will cause acid to become sticky and solidify after being fired. This effect will make the acid adhere to the target and restrict their movement].
I like this one! Not only will the acid stick to the target, which will have the effect of increasing my overall damage, it will also gum up the enemy and make it harder for them to move.
If I spray one larger enemy three times then I might have a chance to slow them down and make it harder to move, if I spray a smaller enemy once they'll be much easier to avoid, increasing my crowd control options.
Confirm Restrictive Acid!
OH GOD.
The +5 mutation is on another level. Truly it propels the word 'itch' into a higher plane.
I shall endure!
I hope!
Finally the horrible feeling, deep within my abdomen begins to fade away.
Phew....
Ok.
Now for the big one.
Evolution!
[Would you like to use the Evolution menu?]
Heck yeah!
[Congratulations on reaching the maximum level for your current species. Evolution will allow you change your form and increase your stats as a monster.
Warning: evolving will make securing XP and Biomass more difficult as fewer rewards are given for preying on creatures less evolved than yourself.
Your evolution options are as follows:
- Mature Worker Ant (formica)
- Monster Worker Ant]
OK! A new option has appeared? What does this mean? Has maxing out my core unlocked a new choice for me? So my two choices are to become a fully grown version of what I am now, keeping my species as Formica or become a non-species specific monstrous ant?
I'm not sure exactly what the benefits of losing my species during evolution... but I don't want to consider this option, if I were to lose my species then I'm not sure I would be able to be accepted back into my colony, meaning I'd have to continue making it on my own in this dungeon and even my old kind would hunt me down as my enemy!
Too cold! That kind of life would be so damn cold Gandalf! I'm already sick of being wary and fighting every creature I see, it would be so nice if I could find something that didn't want to eat me all of the time!
I will remain as my current species and re-join my people!
Choose Mature Worker Ant (Formica)!
[Your monster core has been formed and enhanced, it will provide bonus energy to your evolution]
Aha! So forming my core and upgrading it will allow me to boost my stats further when I evolve?! I made the correct choice condensing my core after all!
[Due to high Cunning Stat, manual evolution has been unlocked, would you like to enable manual evolution?]
Uh... Yes?
Suddenly my mind is flooded with information and large window with evolutionary steps and stat allocation screens unfolds. Why the heck are there so many options! I was almost looking forward to not having to choose anything Gandalf you crazy wizard!
Alright then. Being able to personally allocate everything gives me more control over the evolution, that seems like a good thing all up.
Let's have a look then.
It seems I have a set amount of evolution energy which has been boosted by my core and I need to spend this energy to change myself during the evolution process? So if I had chosen not to use manual evolution... Gandalf would make all of the choices for me I guess?
Ok. So as part of my evolution I'll gain a new organ, the pheromone gland. Nice! Then I'll be able to lay my own trails, this will come in handy when I make it back to the colony, I'll be able to create new paths to let my fellow workers know where the food is and so on.
I get to choose one additional new organ... Ok. It feels kind of weird to be choosing new body parts for myself. Let's have a look at the options then.
You must be kidding.
A massive list including everything from extra legs, a second set of mandibles, wings to additional eyes, camouflage skin, stink glands. Even the Coral Slug mucous skin is in here!
Or I could add a tail... What would an ant even do with a tail?!
If you were to mix and match in here you could turn yourself into a truly messed up looking monster.
There are also lots of internal organs and glands to choose from, some of them I have no idea what they even do. The adrenal hyper stimulator apparently induces a kind of frenzied, berserk state. Sounds risky...
It takes about ten minutes to scroll through all the options before I settle on one I really like.
[Regenerative healing gland: can release a burst of healing fluid that will result in rapid regeneration for a small span of time]
With this baby I can trade hits with other monsters and still come out on top. It also provides incredible insurance for emergency situations. If I'd had this gland when I was found by the five centipedes whilst I still wounded I'd be able to regenerate a couple of points of HP and not be in quite such a dangerous position.
If I upgrade this gland to +5 I might be able to regenerate a lot of HP quickly and get some other cool options!
I lock in that selection and then turn to my stats.
So, currently my stats are:
Might:15
Toughness: 12
Cunning: 25
Will: 18
Looking at my Might first I have two options when I add stats. I can either increase my overall muscle mass, which will increase my size, or increase the muscle density which costs more but doesn't increase my size by nearly as much.
Next is Toughness. It seems like I can either increase the solidity of my external defence, or improve the robustness of my internal resistance.
For Cunning... whoa. Thanks to my already high Cunning stat, it is super expensive to increase it. Checking my options I can improve my processing speed or increase my brain matter?! That's freaky! I can even add another brain?!?!
Right....
It looks like I can add smaller, self-contained brain sections to look after certain processes on their own. I can think of a few animals like this, such as an octopus has a separate brain to manage each of its legs. I could attach one to my acid release zone back in my business district that would handle aiming for me. Effectively giving me automatic aim.
But doing anything here costs way too much. I'll leave it alone for now.
Improving Will can improve either mana manipulation or mana regeneration... Since my Will is already pretty high, this isn't worth it for now.
I decide to pour all of my evolutionary stats into Might and Toughness. For both of these I go for a 50:50 balance of both options. If I put all of my Might into just size increase, I'll end up with a higher Might score, but I'll be far larger, which will make sneaking around and scouting much more difficult. By taking the balanced approach I lose out on raw stats but regain in flexibility.
I hope.
When I'm done allocating this the manual process is finished.
Uh, I think I'm good to go?
[Would like to confirm your choices and evolve?]
Yes.
The world fades to black.
-x-X-x-
Do monsters dream when they evolve?
I can't even close my eyes, let alone properly sleep. When I evolved I had no concept of time or sensation. I can remember confirming my choices and then... nothing. All of my thoughts vanished. Almost as my brain had been completely switched off.
...
And then back on again.
Whoa! What the heck??
I feel... Different.
Um... this is weird. I feel like my core is gradually cooling, as if it had been on fire just moments ago. What is that about?
It's really strange. It isn't like as a human you could go to sleep and then wake up in a different body. Like, I can already tell I'm significantly larger than I was before...
Forget this! Check the status!
Name: Anthony
Level: 1 (core)
Might: 31
Toughness: 22
Cunning: 25
Will: 18
HP: 50/50
MP: 0/20
Skills: Excavation Level 1; Improved Acid Shot Level 3; Grip Level 4; Crushing Bite Level 2; Advanced Stealth Level 3; Chomp level 3; Tunnel sense Level 4; Mana Manipulation level 3
Mutations: Focused Eyes +5, Antennae +2, Restrictive Acid +5, Legs +1, Mandibles +4, Carapace +1, Regeneration Gland, Pheromones
Species: Mature Ant Worker (Formica)
Skill points: 1
Biomass: 0
Hmmm.
Hmmmmmmm.
Huuuu ha.
Hahahaha HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!
Behold! Witness my power!
My strength has grown by leaps and bounds! I managed to more than double my Might stat and also increase my Toughness significantly! Evolution is clearly incredibly important to a monsters' growth in this place. After just a single evolution I've been able to make such a huge different to my stats!
This is also due to my extremely wise decision to condense my core, as well as the good luck I had to reinforce it to the maximum before evolving. The bonus provided by the core was no joke and my evolution would not have been nearly so powerful without.
I have to make sure I max my core out before I evolve the next time as well.
Ha!
I haven't even had a look at my new self yet and I'm already thinking about the next evolution.
Out of the chamber!
Chortling with glee I did myself out of my seemingly much smaller chamber and out into the forest again.
Oh ho! The evolution has done a lot! I'm significantly larger now, probably twice as tall? Maybe the same for length? Which would make me roughly sixty centimetres tall and a bit less than two metres long?
Holy mackerel! If you'd seen an ant that size on Earth you would absolutely lose your mind!
The size change has impacted in other ways as well. My Mandibles are significantly larger than before, with a little more edge in them, which should assist me in getting through enemy defences. I can also feel that my acid gland has increased in size along with the rest of me, possibly enough to store five or six shots at once!
I can also assume my stomach capacity has increased, allowing me to take in more Biomass at one time.
Ho boy! So exciting!
I jump about a little bit and turn on the spot, trying to get used to the feeling of my new body. I really feel much stronger than before! I can't wait to test it out!
Being excited is good but I need to chill out a moment. Checking my status again I notice that my mana is empty so I join the monsters around the lake for a quick drink.
The Titan-Croc appears to have gone out whilst I was evolving. I'll have to be extra careful since I don't want to run into him away from this neutral territory.
I take about half an hour to drink five times, taking it slowly and feeling out my new body.
What should I do first?
Considering how important it is to improve my monster core during an evolution, it's even more important that secure more monster cores.
So the first mission is to go collect my buried stash.
It doesn't take long to move around the Lake and head towards the camp again.
I try to stay hidden and not move on the path they took directly from their camp to the lake. Eventually I arrive at the tree were I buried the cores without incident.
Thankfully Gandalf doesn't have an issue with me absorbing all four of them and my max MP goes up to twenty eight.
Last time it took five cores to max me out, for this stage of evolution can I expect it to take ten or perhaps twenty?
No matter what, I have to get all of them before I evolve. The bonus is just too juicy.
With my first job done the next logical step for me is to test my new body in combat.
Although I hate to do it, I think targeting the centipede nest makes a lot of sense. I was able to defeat them before without evolving and the risk is low. Let's go see what I can do now.
It take me about an hour to make my way back to the centipede mound and up into my scout tree once more. I'm significantly heavier now so climbing trees is a bit more difficult ,but not much more since my weight increase is balanced with an increase in strength.
I'm not even sure how many centipedes I should take on at once now. I was able to do three, four with a bit of trouble. Five was a nightmare from which I'd had to turn tail and hide.
Let's try four...
Despite me picking on these centipedes quite a bit, their numbers don't seem much diminished, if anything there is more activity here than there was before. Large groups of up to ten are leaving and returning with a higher frequency than I'd seen not that long ago. What is going on with these guys? Population explosion?
I have to wait a fair while before a group of four heads out into the forest for hunting.
Once I spot them I don't miss the opportunity and immediately climb down to follow them.
I can move quite a bit faster now, with my longer legs and more powerful frame. I'm able to overtake the convoy easily.
For some reason I just don't feel the same sort of tension I did before.
I'm so much larger than these centipedes now. Where once they almost looked me in the eye I'm now able to look down on them comfortably. Almost like I'm bullying the tiny little things.
Bah! No sympathy for centipedes!
Once I get in front I don't waste any time and place myself directly in front of them.
Welcome! To your doom!
POW!
The first blast of restrictive acid is launched with superb accuracy, covering the lead centipede across its back and down one side.
Without watching the result too carefully I quickly line up and fire again.
POW!
Take that! The second centipede is directly struck as it moves forward to assess the threat to its ally.
Come at me you little grubs!
However, the uninjured centipedes don't charge forward as they did before. Seeing the large, evolved ant they hesitate and remain with their wounded allies, clacking their claws threateningly.
I probably have three more shots of acid left in the tank to be honest but instead of continuing the ranged assault I decide to get up close and personal. I won't learn anything if I just shoot them down from range.
The two centipedes I've already struck are struggling to recover their feet, the hardening, sticky acid is locking some of their legs and gumming up their body sections, even as it continues to burn them. They won't be able to fight for some time yet.
Fine then. If you guys won't come to me, I'll go to you!
I charge and quickly build up furious momentum. I can almost see fear in their beady, red eyes as I rush at them like an insect tank. I don't try anything fancy, I just barrel directly into the closest centipede, not giving it time to defend itself. The claws reach up and try to rip at my carapace but are simply not strong enough to do much to me.
I dart forward, my larger and deadlier mandibles glowing brightly. Crushing bite!
[you have defeated level 2 Claw centipede]
[You have gained XP]
One hit KO.
I didn't even target the head. My mandibles simply shattered the defensive carapace and tore the centipede clean in half.
Holy moly!
The remaining unharmed centipede has approached with its tail high in the air, ready to strike! Instead of backing away I launch myself forward, catching the tail out of the air as it begins to descend and severing it with one more ferocious chomp!
Then another to finish the monster off.
[You have defeated level 1 Claw Centipede]
[You have gained XP]
The two shot centipedes are still writhing on the ground, unable to even stand properly. I think my restrictive acid may be super effective against these centipedes, considering how many legs and segments they have it must be a nightmare for them if they get gummed up and can't move half of their body.
I finish off the other two with one bite each.
....
That was a demolition!
They couldn't threaten me at all! I could probably take on a group of five, even six!
This is the difference a single evolution can make! I might even be able to take on the massive adult centipede.
Even though I said I'd never eat, I won't let good Biomass go to waste.
After eating all four of them I manage to gain two Biomass.
Looks like my ability to gain Biomass from these guys has at least halved. This is the penalty for being an evolved creature attacking those weaker than them.
I'll save these points for now until I can build up to five an upgrade my mandibles. Now that I've become this strong I feel a bit more confident now.
At least, confident enough to follow the pheromone trail. Time to find my family!
-x-X-x-
Full of glee I head back towards the lake. My combat test run was a massive success! My newly upgraded acid worked better than I'd imagined and the power of my bite attacks has skyrocketed.
If I manage to get my mandibles to +5 I wonder what I'll be able to do then?
I'm at risk of getting a little carried away with myself again. Head in the game Anthony, your new family isn't going to find itself!
Once I arrive at the lake I make my way around to the pheromone trail, my antennae tippy tapping along the edge of the water.
The usual collection of monsters has gathered again, eyeing each other off and getting a good drink of sweet, sweet mana juice.
If I look at the water it appears more agitated than it did before. The strange formations within the lake are moving more rapidly and intensely than before, I swear the lake is also brighter. Ever since I arrived in this world things have been getting brighter...
Is this a seasonal thing? Are we coming out of underground winter and moving into underground summer?
Well, there's nothing I can think of to answer that mystery other than wait and see what happens.
Excitedly I pick up the trail and start following it away from the lake.
It seems like the trail has become a little weaker over the last day or so, which means no ants have come through here and reinforced it for the last while. In some ways I'm glad because it means that none of them have shown up here when I wasn't watching, which would have been depressing.
Even if the chemical signal is a bit weaker than before, it's still strong enough to be fairly simple to follow into the forest. This feels a bit exciting now, moving into new, unexplored territory!
The weird plant life in the forest continues to perplex me. I'm finding shorter trees in this area, probably only a few metres high but shaped like an inverted Christmas tree, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. As I watch the different levels of foliage appear to be swaying in the breeze, but each level sways in a different direction.
Weird.
I then realise there is no breeze.
Out of curiosity I flip a rock at the tree and I swear the branches twitch to knock it away.
Ok then, staying away from that tree in future!
I have enough trouble with them more regular monsters, I don't feel any need to start tangling with the plants!
By relying on my stealth I'm able to avoid a few groups of monsters and stay on the trail as it winds through the forest. The trail doesn't follow a straight line but bends and curves, laid down in whatever path the first scout to come through here took as they wandered about.
Suddenly a powerful roar explodes in the forest not far away from where I am, the heavy impact of monster combat rings in the air immediately afterwards.
Yikes! Some monsters are getting serious over there!
I decide to investigate whilst keeping my distance, I don't want to be dragged into what sounds like a battle of the big boys.
Sure enough, when I creep close enough to see the action, two monsters I'm still unwilling to tangle with are laying right into each other.
First is the Titan-Croc, possibly the same one from the lake and second monster is the massive bat-faced gorilla looking creature I'd seen before at the lake.
Although this particular gorilla is significantly larger than that one was.
He's absolutely huge. The Bat-Gorilla king?!
The Titan Croc has stood up on its hind legs, the smaller and thicker mid-section arms looking slightly silly waggling in the air not able to do much. The Croc is still huge when standing, easily four to five metres tall, matching the Bat-Gorilla in height easily.
This is a battle of the freaking giants this is! I refuse to believe this massive things have evolved once, as I have. Surely this size is the result of at least two, maybe three evolutions. How could it fair otherwise? Eh Gandalf?!
The Croc is much slower on its hide legs but is able to swing its massive claws in devastating, wide swings, raking the sword like edges with tremendous force.
The Bat-Gorilla is far more nimble, ducking forward and back to avoid the swings but it doesn't look nearly as solid defensively, the Crocs' thick hide nullifying its blows.
BOOM.
In a fit of rage the Ape smashes both fists into the ground and roars will all of its colossal might, veins bulging under its skin. Electrical energy starts flashing, first around the shoulders and then streaming down the dark arms, faster and faster.
Those massive fists start to glow with the accumulated energy until loud crackling sounds are emanating from both of the clenched hands.
That. Looks. Awesome!
The dreaded lightning fist!
The incredible light show is dazzling, what on earth am I going to see next?!
The Ape bellows once again and runs forward, massive fists crashing into the earth before leaping high, bringing both hands above its head for a massive two fist sledgehammer attack!
The Titan-Croc stands its ground, coldly watching the ape approach before crouching, titanic energy amassing in its chest to be released from between those dreadful jaws in the form of a searing ball of fire!
With a shattering explosion the ape tanks the fireball with its leathery bat face before the sheer momentum carries it forward, bringing both fists down with the strength of a lightning bolt, discharging the rippling lightning through the body of the Croc.
Both combatants stagger back after this incredible exchange and I remember to start breathing again.
Holy moly!
That was hella impressive! At what point am I going to be able to do totally sweet moves like that Gandalf?
Launching fireballs out of the mouth? Channelling lightning into the fists? Maybe after my next evolution?
The two monsters eye each other with baleful glares. These two seem to seriously hate each other's guts. Something tells me these two may have fought before. After the last exchange the damage to both monsters seems to be equal and they continue their standoff, chests heaving.
Some might think I would take advantage of this moment to pounce on the injured monsters, peppering them with acid to take advantage of their weakened state and reap a fortune in experience and Biomass.
To those I would say: You must be out of your mind!
I am not going anywhere near these guys! Are you even seeing this?!
Wait a second....
What is that?
My eyes detect a flicker of movement on the other side of the titanic clash and I desperately turn my head to try and confirm what it was I saw.
I swear I just saw... Antennae.
There it is again!
What I see next causes my heart to leap with joy.
First one, then another, then ten more ants emerge from the trees, antennae furiously waving this way and that as they move around each other.
My people! My tribe! My clan!
I can tell from their colouring that these are definitely Formica ants! Just like me! I have found the colony at last!
Each of the ants is roughly my size though most are slightly smaller. I can also see a few hatchlings, just like I used to be, mixed in with them. Must be a group out of the colony to visit the lake, absorbing the mana to try and condense their mana cores. Good you guys! Give it all for the colony!
What I see next causes my heart to sink into a pit of despair.
The ants skitter back and forth for a moment, before as one, they raise their abdomens high and begin to blast the two massive combatants with acid.
YOU DID WHAT?!
-x-X-x-
I can't believe my hundreds of tiny eyes. What are the heck are you guys doing?! Sure there are more than ten of you but those guys are freaking massive! The Titan-Croc by itself could snap all of you up it two minutes!!
Before I can even think, my feet are moving. I don't understand exactly why but I cannot let these ants get killed, not now, not after I've been searching for so long.
I will not them die today!
Before the two massive monsters can react properly to the new threat I have charged forward, out of my cover and into the open. Digging in my feet I spin quickly to point by back at the two creatures.
Let me introduce you monsters to what is affectionately known as my business district!
POW! POW! POW!
I fire off three quick shots without aiming too much, all I want is the beasts to turn their attention to me, hopefully that way my colony mates won't be instantly crushed to pieces.
The three sizzling jets of acid streak through the air, impacting on the two massive beasts and immediately adhering to them, burning into their flesh.
Thankfully these guys are so large I don't have to aim too much in order to hit them, but it would have better if I had been able to target my restrictive acid more carefully, hitting their joints would have reduced their ability to fight even if only a little.
My gambit pays off enough though, the two huge beasts turn their back on the approaching ant force and face this new threat with primeval fury burning in their eyes.
Uh...
Hey guys!
Any chance you two are pacifists?
These two monsters look like the absolute alphas of this place, I still remember how the Titan-Croc smashed an adult centipede into bits with a single swipe of its claws. Why on Pangera did my ant brethren decide to take on these things?
I seriously hope my ant brothers and sisters are not also suffering from an immensely low Cunning stat, because I deeply question the wisdom of this current course of action!
POW! POW!
[Improved acid shot has reached level 4]
Before they can charge at me I fire off two more quick shots, both aimed at the Ape. Hopefully the extra acid will restrict its movement somewhat since it is by far the faster of the two.
Practically all of my ranged ammunition has been expended now, I have only one shot remaining. Acid is a damage over time sort of effect however, hopefully we can all survive long enough to see the effects start to kick in!
My fellow ant kind are still bombarding with their acid, firing spray after spray, I seriously don't want them to draw the aggro so I'm going to have to do something I'll quickly regret.
I charge!
Witness me!
With the two brooding monstrosities looming over me I dash forward directly toward them. These two giants are seriously ticked off, drenched in stinging acid, some of it hardening and sticking to them, they are ready to pound these offending insects into a paste.
When they see me running at them they both react aggressively.
The ape responds first, its superior reflexes and speed on full display as it dashes forward to meet my charge. The ground thunders in response to the sheer bulk of the creature as its fists pound into the rock.
With its leathery bat face growing larger and larger in my vision I can really see with far more detail than I'd like the massive curved fangs protruding from the monsters maw. Suddenly the Ape gathers its strength and leaps high into the air!
I've seen this before!
With every ounce of strength in my body I hurl myself to the side just as those massive fists impact, shattering the ground with the sheer kinetic force of the strike. Every ounce of my being is shivering after witnessing that force up close.
Even the spray of rock and dirt from the impact is almost enough to damage me.
Just how strong are you, damn ape?!
Just as I 'm congratulating myself for my narrow escape I can see something flaring up in my peripheral vision. Is that....
Jump!
Springing out with all of the energy I can pump into my legs I feel a searing heat begin burn into me before a catastrophic explosion rocks the ground just beneath my feet.
That damned Croc launched a fireball at me when I dodged the ape!
Since when is your teamwork so good?! Are you the new Colossal Brothers Duo?
That one nearly cooked me, if I'd been one second slower I'd be roast ant at this point. Even though I was able to dodge I've still taken some damage and one of my legs is fairly wrecked, it was closest to the ground when the explosion went off.
I curse my bad luck, I can't afford to lose mobility!
I don't have much choice. I activate my regenerative healing gland.
Immediately an icy sensation explodes deep with my body before creeping down my veins and spreading throughout my entire frame. Yeeouch! That feels so weird! Almost as if my guts had been put in a deep freeze!
This must be the healing fluid I'd read about. In the span of a few seconds the freezing, numb sensation has swept through me entirely and as it recedes I can tell I feel better than I did before. Dings in my carapace have started closing over and my leg is almost back to full function after being a roasted entrée just a minute ago.
Checking my status I can see that I've regained five HP from what I had before.
It was a shame to have to blow it so early in the fight but the regenerative properties of this new organ are impressive. I'm very satisfied with this purchase!
All said and done I've only managed to buy about thirty seconds so far. I hope that acid is doing some work, otherwise we're all dead!
The two gigantic monsters almost seem surprised to see their much smaller opponent still alive after their combined assault. I suppose these guys don't usually have much trouble hunting in this place, I haven't seen anything else that remotely approaches their strength.
My fellow ants are still are still firing acid from above but some of them are starting to descend to enter into melee combat.
Are you guys frikken serious? You'll be torn to shreds!
Seeing several of the ants approach the two monsters turn to face them.
I can't let that happen.
My leg is as good as its going to get. Gogogogogo!
With my two enemies distracted and facing away I charge with all of my speed. Dammit, I should have taken that dash skill ages ago! I need to be faster.
Running up behind the ape I spring high with all of my legs, mandibles glowing brilliantly white.
Crushing Bite!
My mandibles close on the wrist of the Ape with audible *crunch*. If I can disable his hand it will be a huge reduction to its ability to fight!
The beast reacts with incredible swiftness, rapidly swinging its arm and flinging me off into the air. Fortunately I've had some practice with this lately. Tuck the legs aaand roll!
As I hit the ground I land onto my back, the hard carapace absorbing the impact and then I roll over and over, dispersing the impact and protecting my vulnerable legs.
When I slow down I get back onto my feet and charge straight back into the fight. I can't afford to let up for a second!
A few of my allies have reached the fight now, rushing forward suicidally to bite and latch onto the gigantic creatures, heedless of their own lives.
You idiots!
The Titan-Croc draws back one of its enormous hands, preparing to swipe down with its fierce claws.
Dammit!
Noooo!
Desperate to save my allies I turn on the spot and pray I have something still left in the tank.
POW!
Once again the sizzling acid streaks through the air. By some miracle my hastily aimed shot is right on the money, splashing into the Titan-Crocs face and then immediately begins to show its restrictive properties, turning sticky as it solidifies in an instant.
The Croc bellows in rage as it swings out with its prepared claw but thanks to its vision being impeded the swing goes slightly wide.
One ant is still caught directly in its mid -section and is instantly killed, torn to pieces by those terrible claws.
The survivors close in and start chomping at the Crocs legs, some of them even climbing up the monsters body to attack other places.
Why did I never think of that?!
The two massive monsters are still fighting fit however and I can't be everywhere at once, I've done everything I can for the ants taking on the Croc, I have to hope that they can survive on their own for a while. All I can hope to do is take this Ape out of the fight.
My bite seems to have had some effect on the monster, its hideous bat features are twisted in range and pain. Its dark fur, now almost completely matted with burning acid is slowly being stripped away and the creature is carrying its right wrist, not willing to place its full weight on the limb.
This is my chance!
I run at the Ape posturing and snapping my mandibles, the monster equivalent of shouting 'one v one me bro!'
The creature screams, different from before, this high pitched shriek seems to wobble my insides and penetrate my mind, dizzying me and everyone else in range. This feels like some crazy echolation attack! The soundwaves are so strong I can feel my whole body vibrating. After releasing this insane stunning effect the monster once again leaps high, looking to squash me flat whilst I suffer from the effect of the scream.
But. Its. Not enough!
Before he can land I leap once more, this time in a direction he couldn't expect, directly onto his body! Grip skill can also be used like this monkey brain! As the Ape comes down with shattering force I leap straight at him, clutching onto his upper leg with all of the strength my tiny claws can muster.
With my newly improved Might stat it's just enough to hold when the monster crashes to the ground.
Thankfully I didn't neglect to toughen up my inner resistance when I raised my toughness, otherwise I might not have been able to resist the effect as well as I did. If I hadn't shaken off that stun I'd be ant paste right now. Hopefully the other ants were able to manage ok, I don't have time to check on them.
Don't waste any time, bite!
I can feel the energy mounting in my mandibles as they glow brighter and brighter before a bring them closed with tremendous force!
Crushing bite!
[Crushing Bite has reached level three]
The Ape shrieks in pain and immediately starts slapping at itself to try and squash me or knock me off, much like a human dealing with a mosquito, but I'm already gone. Crawling around on the creatures other leg, preparing to deal another bite!
*Chomp*
How do you like that?
Not very much apparently as the monster has intensified its efforts to shake me off, but I won't go, I'm holding on with everything I can muster!
[Grip has reached level five, upgrade available]
Perfect!
[Grip -> Enhanced Grip, your feet become more resistant to effects that will limit their ability to grip, such as water, momentum].
I'll take it!
My claws into the Apes furry skin even tighter as I skitter around on his body trying to avoid the deadly slaps of his meaty hands.
Eventually I clamber up to his neck and before he can react I dig in for a massive bite!
[Chomp has reached level 4]
So many levels! This is probably the effect of battling such a large monster.
The massive monster shrieks once again in pain and hunches its shoulders against my mandibles. Then I feel something strange building up on the Ape, my feet are, almost tingling.
Wait a sec....
JUMP!
ZZZZAP!
The tremendous electrical discharge flashes all over the Apes body, crackling loudly and blinding my eyes briefly.
Holy hell!
He turned himself into an electric bug zapper!
Arrghh. He fried two of my legs! That seriously hurts... I won't stop though, this Bat Gorilla is going to get it!
Thanks to my amazing peripheral vision I can sort of make out what is happening with the Croc, I think he's been pulled to the ground for the moment, reinforcements might have come judging by the number of moving shapes I can see.
I can't let myself be distracted though, if the two massive creatures where to join forces we'd all be toasted insects.
By this point the bat faced monster is seriously suffering. Drenched in burning acid he has very visible burns and wounds that must be excruciating. It should also be mentioned that the Ape isn't a bug type monster, shielded by a hard carapace or even like the lizards or Crocs, protected by a layer of scales. This Ape has dense fur for protection but under that is skin and muscle, my crushing bites have been able to inflict significant damage.
He must be teetering on the edge by now, he must be!
The ants here are my relatives, born from the same Queen as me, my brothers and sisters! I never had much of a family on Earth, rarely saw my parents and I had no siblings to speak of. Perhaps that is the reason why I want to protect these monsters.
Maybe I'm just silly, but I don't want my idiot ant siblings to die.
Which means it's you and me Ape... Only one of us is walking out of here alive!
Red foam is dripping from the gaping maw of the wounded beast, mad fury burning in its eyes. You've got no chill ape, that's your problem.
My legs are still a bit shaky, that electricity zapped me fairly well, I don't think my regeneration gland has anything left in the tank. If I survive this fight I'm going to upgrade the heck out of that thing! Still no acid either, going to have to finish it with the mandibles.
Steadying my feet beneath me I begin to move towards the ape, circling around to side of its injured hand. The next move will decide the battle, I watch the monster like a hawk as it glares back, almost mad with pain and rage.
Come on you big dumb bat faced piece of Biomass. You've got a face not even your mother could love, come over here and let me tear it off.
Suddenly my injured legs give way beneath me and I stumble, my poor face crashing in the dirt.
The ape howls in glee and dashes forward maniacally!
You really are stupid...
Just as it reaches me, looming over with its massive frame, both arms raised for the final strike I propel myself with my legs and roll directly under it, dodging the deadly blow by inches!
Now!
I spring up next to the creatures legs and charge up my mandibles for a massive strike!
CHOMP!
Just beneath the creatures knee I rip into his leg, the crushing bite audibly crunching the muscle and bone as the chomp passive helps my jaws puncture through the defences.
The ape howls in pain and swats at me awkwardly, landing a glancing blow on my abdomen, but I'm not letting go.
Bite! Bite! Bite!
Slowly at first, my jaws begin to close further and further before they finally snap shut with a massive snap!
I've bitten clean through the leg!
My foe totters before completely losing its balance and falling to the ground with a crash. As it does so it lashing out with its injured hand, crashing a fist down directly on top of my midsection.
My vision instantly blurs as the impact rattles through my entire body. Even off balance and with an injured hand this monster is still so damn strong! I can feel my carapace crack in places as it absorbs the impact.
I hold onto consciousness desperately, I won't die now!
I still can't see clearly but I throw myself forward, hopefully at the monsters head. All you have to do is bite Anthony! Don't think of anything else just bite!
Chomp! Chomp!
I can feel my body being rocked by blows and my eyes get darker and darker but still I hold on.
Chomp! Chomp!
I'm not even sure where I am anymore, not even sure what I'm doing. For some reason though I know I just have to keep biting.
Chomp!
[You have slain level 13 .....]
Black.
-x-X-x-
The origins of the Deep Legion are though lost to history. What is known is thought to have more basis in myth than in reality. Partially this is due to the lack of records that survived the great Cataclysm, particularly here in the Tiberial Confederation.
What is agreed is that at some point during that world shattering event, where monsters from the deepest reaches of the Dungeon roamed free on the surface, causing destruction everywhere they went, a group of individuals gathered to found the Deep Legion.
The organisation grew rapidly, recruiting from the populace and was able to strike effectively and well against the monsters on the surface as well as counter attack into the Dungeon. Nobody can explain why they were so successful where other human forces were not.
To this day, some three thousand years later the Legion persists as independent military organisation that regularly monitor and explore the Dungeon, in some places they are still trusted with a regulatory role, overseeing access to the Dungeon in their customary strict fashion.
'On the origins of post Rending powers, Chapter 4 The Deep Legion' by Resselan the scholar.
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Tribune Aurillia stared hard at the captive Mercenaries, bound hand and foot sitting on the ground before her. Two Legionaries stood guard on either side of the ragtag group, hands resting on blades, ready to execute their duty at any moment.
"So you are trying to tell me that a small acid spraying monster ambushed you, destroying your shield as you raided the lake and then followed you back to your camp, stealing a number of monster cores by digging under your wards".
Nystina, the mage, nodded vigorously.
"That's right, I never even managed to see the little bastard."
Aurillia massaged her temples. "For some reason I'm not even that surprised to hear about mercs getting outsmarted by a monster".
"Hey, screw you!" one of the larger men in the group shouted, "who ever heard of a monster that smart here in the first expanse?"
He did have a point, usually monsters in this area had exceptionally low cunning. There were a few evolutions that made for large and relatively dangerous foes but almost all of those sacrificed other stats to enable that size and strength.
"Putting that aside, you should have received the notification to vacate the Dungeon we sent days ago, why is your party still operating in the Forest Expanse against Legion instructions?"
The group immediately started shifting their posture and avoiding looking the domineering Tribune in the eye.
Aurillia cursed at them internally, what you guys children?
"Uh, I think our communication crystal malfunctioned" the mage finally offered, "we didn't receive any message".
"And when you noticed that every other hunting party had vacated the area you didn't find that strange? Or were you too distracted by the profits you could make having the entire expanse to yourselves?" Aurillia said sarcastically.
She turned to one of the Legionaries standing guard and nodded curtly.
The soldier immediately stepped forward, crouched and punched the mage viciously across the face before turning to the largest of the fighters and kicking him directly in the chest. The man fell backwards, gasping for air as he lay in the in the dirt.
"You can't treat us this way" another of the fighters protested, "we're registered members of the Mercenary Union".
"Noooo" Aurillia drawled, "you're idiot Merc scum who got greedy and are going to pay the price".
She turned to a Centurion awaiting instructions behind her. "Seize any materials from the Dungeon in their possession and confiscate their licences. Children who can't play the rules don't get to play at all."
Having passed her judgement she stared at each of the mercenaries in turn. "If they complain too much feel free to give them a little more Legion 'hospitality'".
Shaking her head the Tribune walked away. The mercenaries had been found a few hours earlier, retreating to their camp after farming cores at the lake. It wasn't unusual for the local mercs to try and push the Legions authority to the limit, in recent years the Legion had been making a special point of pushing back.
Of course, as soon as they did the Mercenary Union started crying foul to the Queen about the Legion abusing its authority. Just another thing for the commander to have to worry about.
She found Titus yelling at the trainees and directing them to the makeshift training yard they had established as part of their camp. The exhausted trainees began pairing up and sparring whilst the commander watched them sternly, barking out instructions when he noticed a mistake.
Aurillia joined him and explained the strange testimony she had received from the mercenaries.
"Doesn't this sound weird to you? Why would there be such an intelligent member of this species so high up in the Dungeon? Do you think this might be the same one the trainees saw close to the surface?"
Titus stood silent for a moment, chewing over the facts in his own slow and methodical way.
"I think it is" he said finally, "it seems like too much of a coincidence that there would be two of them. If we agree it's the same one, then how in the hells did this one ant survive our sweep of the tunnels to make its way here and then survive the monsters once it arrived. This monster has shown almost human levels of intelligence".
The Tribune nodded in agreement, "for a creature as unevolved as this to show such a high level of Cunning is unheard of. Should we consult Alberton on this?"
The commander grunted, "he'd love to study a specimen like this but we don't have the time to waste. We need to clear out as much of the Expanse as we can and then locate the nest of these creatures. If our little smart ant has made it this far then there is a chance we'll find him there and we can exterminate him at the same time as the rest".
He paused to bellow further criticism at his trainees before continuing. "We've seen monsters with close to human intelligence before. Judging by the number of offspring in the area we should surmise that old prick Garralosh has been around here at some point recently. Make sure the hunting parties are on alert, he shouldn't be able to show his fat face this high up in the Dungeon but some his higher level offspring might".
Garralosh and the commander had run into each other a few times deep under the ground, the titanic and ancient creature was known to be the oldest and most powerful monster under Liria. Monsters that old and strong were unable to come this high up in the Dungeon due the mana up here being too thin to support their incredibly dense and powerful cores. Creatures like that were so old and had evolved so many times they had effectively received a name from the system itself.
There were a number of scars on the beasts thick hide from the very axe resting on Titus' shoulder at that moment. The old croc was clever though, and extremely cautious, slipping out of the traps they prepared for him without taking fatal damage.
"Something feels wrong" Titus disrupted his tribunes' wandering thoughts.
"Wrong, commander?"
He turned and nodded towards the forest below them. "I don't think I've ever seen the forest look this bright. Spawn points are spitting out monsters almost as fast as we kill them and the wave still hasn't broken. It doesn't feel like it usually does".
Aurillia reluctantly agreed, "it does seem to be building in intensity faster than usual. What do you think it means?"
Titus shook his head. "I'm not sure. I just know I don't like it. This wave is going to be a big one. We'd best be prepared for the worst".
-x-X-x-
I can feel something under my head. It's solid, like, a rock? My legs are so heavy as well, how long have I been asleep? I try to stretch my arms out and can't for some reason.... Where the heck are my arms?
Wait...
I don't have arms anymore! Then it all comes flooding back. The fight, the ants, the ape! What the heck happened? Am I alive?
I try to spring up to my feet but a solid force is holding me down. What the heck?! Am I still under attack?
My vision swings wildly before finally settling and I can see an enormous monster above me, pressing me down with one large leg.
Wha!? What is this thing? Don't eat me! I'm not delicious!
It takes a moment for my head to settle down. I haven't been harmed I don't think? The force on my back is pressing me down but not harming me in anyway. I quickly check my status. I'm at about half HP? I remember being next to dead...
Err.. Where did these levels come from?
I've gained three whole levels? Is this from the Bat-Gorilla? I don't really remember how that fight ended...
And as I look closer as this massive monster above me... isn't it an ant?
Like, a massive ant?
Hang on a second? The QUEEN?
A truly enormous monstrous ant, easily four times my size is standing over me, pressing me down to the ground and watching me as I wake up. Slowly she leans forward and her antennae begin to glow brightly.
When those antennae touch mine I can feel a surge of icy energy sweep through my body. I'm shocked at first but then it reminds of something, my regeneration gland! Is she healing me?
Checking my status I can see that I've gained another ten HP. This is a bit of a surprise, the Queen knows healing magic?
Suddenly the pressure from my back is gone and I can stand up. The Queen turns away from me to pick something up in her mandibles and turns back, dropping a huge chunk of monster in front of me. I think this is... the apes arm?!
After dropping off some food for me the massive Queen chirps in a friendly manner before turning and wandering off around a corner, leaving me in a small dirt chamber on my own.
Ok Anthony, lets cool down and think about this.
*growl*
My stomach is seriously rumbling. Why the heck am I so hungry?! Let's think as we eat then.
[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Pugnus Fulgur Simiae, you are awarded one Biomass]
[Basic profile of the Pugnus Fulgur Simiae unlocked]
[Pugnus Fulgur Simiae: Lightning Fist Ape, Brutally powerful but severely lacking in Cunning this monster has a strong affinity to lightning and can channel mana into electricity]
Not wrong about those electrical attacks, yeeouch! Quite the formidable monster but I do have to agree, it was very stupid. I would hate to run into a monster that powerful with some semblance of smarts, unable to trick it I'd be quickly defeated.
[You have gained one Biomass]
[You have gained one Biomass]
Two whole Biomass just from eating one arm? That is unheard of? Is it because it's an advanced creature of some kind? Possibly I was right and it was double mutated, so it provides more Biomass? It certainly gave me a heap of Xp, enough to level three times even after I evolved.
Although the pain of hunting them is real the benefits cannot be denied. If I was able to get a whole one to myself....
Whoa, snap out of it Anthony, you almost died fighting this one! No need to go planning to throw your life away already!
So, how did I end up here anyway? And where exactly is here?!
Since the Queen is here then that can mean only one thing! I'm in the nest! Since I passed out when battling, my allies must have dragged me back here to be healed when they brought the food back also, which means the Titan-Croc should have also bit the dust...
Go team!
I'm not sure how I feel... I've been through a lot and risked my life multiple times to try and get back to the nest of my colony. Almost everything I've seen since I awoke in this place has been trying to kill me, I just wanted to be somewhere I wouldn't have to be so cautious, so afraid.
Now I'm here! I'm pumped up to check it out!
Just as I'm about to rush out of the small dirt chamber I notice something else glowing softly on the ground.
What is this? A monster core? As far as cores go this one is massive! Easily the biggest I've seen.
I move closer.
[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute a monster?]
Is this the core of the Ape? Did the colony leave it here for me? That seems... a little odd for a group of monstrous ants to do... was it the Queen? She does seem a little smarter than the others, did she leave this here for me as a reward?
You know, I've wondered what the reconstitute a monster option does. Reinforcing my core is hugely important since it will allow to increase my ability further when I evolve but, I really would like to know what the heck this option does...
Maybe I can just check it out without consuming the core...
[Would you like to reconstitute the monster?]
.... Sure?
[Manual Reconstitution is locked since requisite skills have not been acquired. Reconstituting monster]
Wait! No!
Before my eyes the precious core begins to glow brighter and brighter before it melts into a bright liquid that gradually reshapes itself. When the process is finished and the light recedes a small monkey looking creature is sitting on the ground looking up at me with its large eyes.
What. The heck. Is this...
The little simian has dark grey skin and tiny bat-like features as well as soft black fur growing all over its body. As I stare the small chimp starts to look curiously around the room, eventually standing up and slowly waddling around with an awkward gate, as if it hadn't quite worked out how to walk.
So my precious ape core is gone and reconstituting the monster literally brings it back to life as an infant, what is the point of that?! I could have used that core to reinforce my own, possibly getting some sort of bonus since it was a such a large one!
I'm lamenting, seriously lamenting here Gandalf!
Ignorant to my pain the chimp is still waddling about scratching at the walls before it eventually walks over to me
What do you want chimp? Wha- hey!
After hesitating for the moment the tiny monster smiles and clumsily starts to clamber up my abdomen, eventually succeeding and happily sitting on my back, hooting to itself in delight.
It looks so cheerful up there I decide to leave it alone. It isn't like he can do much harm. Perhaps he has some sort of loyalty to me since I reconstituted him? Gandalf didn't have much to say on the matter... although I can apparently learn skills to make the process manual? What does that entail?
The more I learn about this crazy system the stranger it seems to me.
With my new passenger on board I decide to go and explore the nest of my colony! Hopefully the other ants won't eat him...
Walking out of the small dirt chamber I enter a narrow tunnel that winds around some rock protrusions before joining up to a another slightly larger tunnel.
A few ants are making their way back and forth, moving up and down the tunnel, looking super busy. At first I react with shock, seeing a monster up close usually means a fight is about to happen, but these ants completely ignore me, hurrying about their business. It looks like they are able to recognise that I'm the same species and from the same colony as them?
It's kind of strange to think that his is my first chance to see what I myself look like. These ants really are just very large wood ants. Normally wood ants would create a large mound rather than digging into the dirt but I suppose their options are limited down here in these tunnels. Maybe they could make a mound in the huge cavern I was in before?
About half of the ants I see are still hatchlings, significantly smaller than I am, looking almost adorable as they rush past, their six legs almost a blur.
It seems safe, thankfully. Time to keep exploring!
I decide to head down and I see two more chambers, connected to this main tunnel by narrow paths. For whatever reason these chambers are mostly empty, just a few workers resting in them.
Further down however the action is really happening.