I climbed up the bed she created for me, and I laid down comfortably. I closed my eyes filled with anticipation for the next day. I will become strong.

...

... ...

The harmonious sound of chirpings from the outside brought me back from the restful embrace of sleep. I started to wriggle and stretch my arms and legs within the cozy bed that Elizabeth made for me. This stuff sure is great to sleep on. My eyes were still half-closed as I surveyed my surroundings.

'Where's Eli?' I wondered as I noticed her presence missing inside the room. I sluggishly stood up on all fours and dragged my body towards the outside. I pulled on the doorknob and opened it.

A gentle cool breeze tickled my whiskers as it greeted me when I opened the door. Melodious chirping came from the tops of the canopy above. Golden rays of sunshine slipped through the canopy and illuminated the Stoney path that led into the forest.

'What a beautiful morning, it is,' I thought to myself as I proceeded to exit the house following the stone path. As I was about to enter the overgrowth, a hulking beast came out of the end of the stone path holding a huge boulder.

"You're awake, Sir Vaeden." Elizabeth nodded her head and put down the boulder she was carrying on her shoulder.

"Good Morning, Eli." I greeted, wondering why she was carrying a boulder around, "What's the big rock for?" I asked.

She tapped the boulder she was sitting on, which was half as big as her and spoke, "I need to clog a stray stream towards that direction," she pointed her fingers behind the hill, "Some nasty crab-like beasts have been digging towards my territory in that area, better clog it up before they trespass."

I was curious what beasts she was referring to, but I have a plan of my own. "Good luck to you then, Eli." I waved my tail at her, hinting at my exit.

"Stay safe, Sir Vaeden." She bid goodbye lifting the huge boulder she was sitting on and continuing on her way. I began to walk towards the forest with a goal in mind. I must learn to hunt by myself.

I entered the forest and began my journey to the edge of Elizabeth's territory. As I walked aimlessly in one direction, I encountered different types of beasts that would stare at me as I walked passed and if I looked back at them, they would run and hide. It seems like these guys are passive creatures that don't mean any harm to me.

The information she gave me was very vague. What did she mean if I saw something other than greenery, then I'd be at the edge. I've already been walking for an hour, and I don't see anything different! I ranted to myself. I should have asked for more details. Just how big is her territory?

SkkkrshhhSkrrrshhh

My ears perked up towards the sound of the rustling. It was coming from behind me. It's probably one of those fearful critters that get scared when I look at them. I stopped for a moment and glanced over my shoulder, and noticed the bush shaking. Looks like my guess was correct.

Snik. Snik. Snik.

As I took a step forward, I heard odd clicking noises behind me. I turned towards where it was coming from and raised my tail. The bush from earlier began to shake even more until it stopped for a few moments.

It began to rustle unnaturally as the leaves' color began to change from evergreen to ash gray. My body trembled in anticipation as I poised the tip of my tail towards the bush. It seems like my guess was wrong. It wasn't a fearful beast.

The rustling stopped once more, and the ash-gray leaves began to wither and fall, revealing an armored insect of some sort.

「Identifying...」

Its head, triangular in shape, sported two black horns and four antennas waving at the air, trying to sense something only it could feel. Menacing verdant green mandibles protruded from its face, slowly opened and closed, creating the odd clicking sound I was hearing. Found in between its two mandibles was a hose-like organ pointed at the front of its face giving it a strange look.

Its cyan compound eyes found on each side of its head glistened with the morning light. Thousands of little hexagons dotted the surface of its compound eyes, and I knew every single one was an individual eye. I can't help but feel all of them were staring at me.

It had a black sleek, elongated body similar to a centipede. Each segment sporting two pairs of bright orange legs. I couldn't judge how long it was as it was loosely coiled around the branches of the bush it was hiding in.

「Identification Complete. Showing Results...」

「Beastiary Entry #89022: Milliucrus Venenumede (Juvenile Hundred-legged Acrid)」

「Basic Profile Acquired!」

「Milliucrus Venenumede (Juvenile Hundred-legged Acrid) - An elusive creature that is seldomly seen in the first strata. The Hundred-legged Acrid is a solitary insect-type beast that hunts its prey using its slowing toxin. They are known for feeding on toxic creatures to strengthen their venom.」

「Hunt down 20 more to gain access to the intermediate profile.」

「Beastiary Completion Rating:

Ugh. I'm not too fond of bugs. I looked at the Acrid with disgust. I don't have good memories of insects as a child. Those creepy crawlies could end up anywhere on you if you don't keep an eye on them, I say! Especially ants! Damned ants!

I shook my head vigorously. Now's not the time to complain about that. I stared at the exposed Acrid as it eerily remained still. The thousands of eyes present in its compound eyes were staring back at me. I felt shivers travel down my back.

Its head twitched and slowly turned towards my direction. Its mandibles began to open and shut, gradually becoming faster and faster. I couldn't help but feel uneasy. It began to unravel itself from the branches it wrapped its body around and slithered towards the ground.

SNIK.

It snapped its mandibles shut with force, creating a loud clack, and slowly opened them. Now that I can see its entire length, it was twice the size of me. I gulped.

PSSSSSSHTT PSSSHT

Two shots of a purple-colored substance were suddenly shot towards my direction from the hose on its face in rapid succession. I quickly backed away, successfully avoiding it. It would be bad if I got hit by those.

PSSSSHT PSSHT PSSHT PSSHT PSSSHTT

It began to spit more of the same substance randomly. Where is it aiming at? I wondered. None of its shots were hitting me, and most of them were even fired far from me.

PSSSHT PSSSSHT PSSSHT PSHT PSHT PSHT PSHT PSHT

Its shots began to gradually hasten, but something was off. Except for the first two spits, none of the succeeding shots were aimed at me. I observed the area around me, and my eyes widened in realization.

Snik. Snik. Snik.

It clicked, seemingly satisfied with what it did. Large puddles of the purple-colored substance surrounded me, making it hard for me to even approach it or run away from it. This is bad. I played right into its hands.

The acrid began to slither towards me, casually walking over the puddles it created and coating itself with it. Its black exoskeleton gleamed a purple hue as the substance infused itself with its body. Its bright-orange legs began to change into a red color. I instinctively took a step back.

Splish...

Huh? I quickly glanced behind me and noticed a small puddle. It was already too late as I stepped on it. I didn't feel anything different, but it felt heavy when I tried to move the leg that stepped on it. Not this again!

「Caution! Your right leg has been afflicted by a slowing toxin. Your movement has declined by 15%」

As I panicked, I didn't notice that the Acrid skittered too close already. Shit! I cursed at myself. I hastily moved my vision from my leg towards the acrid, but it was too late. The acrid, which was already in the striking distance, quickly wrapped its body around me, effectively incapacitating my movement. It's too fast!

I maneuvered my tail and kept stabbing the Acrid coiled around me. Still, its exoskeleton was too tough for my tail to penetrate into. Its legs began to dig through my skin, directly injecting its venom into my body. My entire body began to stiffen as the toxin circulated.

「You have been paralyzed. Your body is not able to move until the toxin has been fully dissolved from your bloodstream. Remaining time: 00:59 seconds.」

The acrid unwinded itself from my body and began to slither towards my face. Slowing toxin began to leak out of its hose-like mouth and patter all over my face. I looked at it with my eyes filled with terror as it began to slither around my body, looking for a place to feast on.

「Remaining time: 00:56 seconds.」