[Status - Level 3 - Species: Alate Ant (Camponotus)

Skills:

Digging level 2; Acid Spray level 3; Cushing Bite level 1; Grip level 4; Grappling level 1; Scent Tracking level 3;

Mutations:

Antennae +1; Crop +3; Legs +1; Mandibles +2; Exoskeleton +2; Acid Gland +2

Skill Points: 0

Biomass: 0]

The scent of the creature washed over my antennae as I continued onward. A new scent of dampness. Within 15 meters, the creature sprung forth and sprinted at me as fast as it could. Compared to an object moving thousands of meters per second it was not.

Timing steps to provide optimal response, I kept my momentum constant. The feline monster scrunched up. It dashed to within 3 meters and pounced with its claws out..

Propping myself up to bring my gaster to bare as well as allow me to follow up the [Acid Spay] with a [Crushing Bite], and then applying [Grappling] to alter the momentum with my own as I twisted back around on myself. The tiger digs in its claws as its head slams into the ground.

Taking advantage of its stunned state, I untangled myself and went for its throat.

[You have defeated a level 1 Ombre Tigre.

You have gained Experience.

Grappling has reached level 2.]

My antennae twitches. These monsters are either simple kills or impossible odds. This creature was smarter than the other weaker ones. I calculate depth and cunning correlate.

Two biomass for the shadow tiger together. Without pausing, I continue back down the way I came.

As I go, I attempt various skill related actions that should in theory be possible in combat situations to begin working out the mechanics of each against imagined opponents.

An energy beam launching at my head, I am too low to the ground to duck and would receive wounds in the thorax and gaster. Best to drop one side and slide to the side, minimal distance travel time required to render strike a miss.

Another hour passed as I dodged, dashed, and used [Crushing Bite] through an imaginary combat course training program. In general, I calculate greater proficiency with my mobility potential and damage avoidance tactics.

Once more back at the medium sized tunnel, I approach carefully and apply [Scent Tracking] for every ounce of support in this objective. Three scents become clear as I approach, two are fading, but one is far too strong to be a trail. One is the shadow tiger and the second heads down left.

The last one seems to have come from there and hints of biomass reek alongside its scent. Speculation unneeded.

[Scent Tracking has reached level 4.]

I double down this milestone by spending the 2 biomass on +2 antennae.

[Would like to upgrade your antennae to +2? This will cost 2 biomass.]

Confirm. I back away a meter to let the mutation reach its sparky conclusion. Shaking the remaining tingle out of the antennae and giving them a clean again to be sure, I resume [Scent Tracking].

The improved sensitivity combined with better understanding of scent propagation in the tunnels, further confirms my initial findings with higher degree of probability. Clever.

I dig out a rock with my mandibles, make a sprint towards the exit, and then stop a meter short of the exit to let the rock roll on in my place. A black tentacle slams down from above and snakes around the rock and drags it upward.

Having observed its attack style and calculated the most likely center of mass location, I backed up several meters. Slanting towards the wall, I sprint as fast as I can and then us [Grip] to run the wall. I reached the end of the tunnel as I reached the top of the wall, pulling myself off the lip of the exit to run off into the air.

Twisting to give my gaster an easier firing solution, I unleash [Acid Spray]. The black tentacle is already flying my way, aiming for my midsection. It smacks into me, reduced with having to chase me further out. Still enough to jar my processing before slamming me into the ground for a much more solid disruption to processing.

Instead of snaring me further to phase two, the creature screeches from a very small head, bracketed by normal sized eyes, on a very thin long body, and atop very long jointed legs that were a bit thicker at one point. For arms, it had two tentacles that apparently could whip out, stun, and hold prey at an amazing speed.

Message to system: rebalancing patch requested, priority 1.

Why was I not born with this shadow flesh? I came from the shadow area same as these creatures, but yet do not have any similar features. Solve for spawn displacement.

Finally able to get motor control systems to respond properly, I get sensory input in order as I dash forward blindly. In milliseconds I have sensory inputs making sense again.

BOOM!

A tentacle slams into the ground where I was a moment before. Apparently unfazed by my spray or insufficient amounts were applied to be effective. I was now going up the wall that was across from the side tunnel. Not ideal.

Whipping one arm out the side, then yanking in a blink in my direction.

BOOM!

My step falters on the wall as the impact shakes a claw loose, but I focus harder on [Grip] and go for the ceiling. Fortune being, it is more rounded than flat. Again with the wave of its arm, but this time it throws it downward, then flings it up at me.

With a practiced shuffle step from my drills, I managed to only be showered by dirt and rock chips. The impact shook the nearest leg off its hold. A hair rattling screech showed its displeasure.

Crossing the apex of the tunnel and heading towards the creature, it drops to the ground. The creature’s feet resemble a chicken’s, but black flesh and dark red claws. The large yellow eyes lining me up for another shot.

As its arm whipped outward, I let go with my rear legs and stepped with just four legs. I let go with mid, then front legs. Just as I let go, the whip hurled at me and slammed into the ceiling where my gaster had been.

I have had enough whipping for today.

Getting my gaster to flip forward and up, I used [Acid Spray] blindy. I fell on the creature’s back as it was trying to duck forward to avoid me. It failed. It flailed. It bit. I bit.

Finally able to get my mandible to get a good angle, I give it all the [Crushing Bite] and sheer effort I can. Twisting and shaking my head.

It screeches, going stiff as my mandible sunk in another few millimeters.. Its head held up, long neck exposed. Taking this chance, I go for the thinnest portion of its neck.

[You have defeated a level 7 Flagellum Ender.

You have gained experience.

You have reached level 4, one skill point awarded.

Crushing Bite has reached level 2.]

Each breath hurts, I am sure I am leaking. I hate leaking.

I feast upon this creature’s shadow flesh, enjoying its hearty flavor. If only I could have repaired myself this easily before by eating. However, I still miss my droids.

[Flagellum Ender: Commonly known as the Praying Ender, these shadow monsters utilize high speed whip attacks and ambush tactics.]

The difficulty and combat potential of these shadow flesh monsters is a higher threat level then those in the light area. These creatures have branching evolution choices. The changes are subtle, but clear.

The profile and mass gain me another 4 biomass together. Holding off on spending for the time being, I set off further down the tunnel. This medium tunnel seems quite active for some reason. The encounter rates here are quite high and traffic all flows up it.

I resume my imagined combat course, adding in surprise attacks requiring millisecond tight reactions. The results were not up to standard, but showed progress. The quality of skill knowledge granted is far richer than learned application.

Continuing up the tunnel, it quickly levels off and curves slowly away from the small light tunnel I explored. After nearly a kilometer of travel, I came across the exit. The floor now ramps downward more steeply while the walls fanned outward into blue and brown blurs. The ceiling vanished into the same blurry haze.

The area before me seems lush with brilliant colored canopy while the undergrowth is cloaked in that same shadowy haze. At the wall, it does not appear to reach more than a quarter meter, but likely deeper depending on the terrain under it.

There are massive trees here and the air is thick with humidity. The strange trees are not thick and soaking in light, but unnaturally sparse. Black lines run up their sides, fading randomly into the plated bark.

The scale of the cave is beyond my ability to see and it impresses upon me the need for well rounded upgrades. Every advantage must be afforded. My legs kick into action to carry me into the shadow fog. I keep low and let my antennae do the sensing.

A wet sounding thud sound came from my right leg hairs, giving away the approach of a monster that had vanished below the shadow before anything more than a blur was noticed. A flicker in the air gave me the only warning of an attack.

I dropped and rolled away from the attacker, catching a glimpse of a sharp point before losing sight in the thick fog against the ground. After a single roll, I righted myself and sprinted as hard as I could for the nearest tree. I dug in hard with [Grip] and scrambled around to the back as I went up.

THUNK!

I could not see it, but something small had hit the tree rather hard. Only when I reached the first set of branches did I pause to look down again. Large four toed hands that seemed on backwards reached out from the shadow fog and grasped onto the tree, hauling up a black frog as big as me.

High probability of weak shadow flesh, devastating surprise attacks. I climb higher into the tree to gain a few more moments to consider combat options. Always trying to keep the trunk and some branches between us.

Once it reaches the lowest branch, its slow climb becomes a faster swing and leap method. Time is up. I take off around the trunk of the tree, aiming to disrupt any line of sight for ranged fire. However, I nearly ran headlong into the sharp point of its dart weapon.

Instead, it pierced into my thorax, sending a gut wrenching stab of pain through me. As it began being pulled, I turned my head to chomp at with my mandibles. Earning a painful gulp from the frog and losing its grip on the branch it was holding.

I charged forward, ignoring the pain, climbing up to the nearest branch in range of the frog. It manages to get a swing going and makes it to another branch before I can use [Crushing Bite] further. The wound continues to hiss and burn, revealing the dart was coated in a poison or acid.

A very cunning hunter. Appearing clumsy, it is actually quite deft in the tree. Feeling far enough, the creature turns while inflating with air, then releasing a wad of shadow flesh tipped by the dart-like claw. Just as the inflation stops, I dart under a large branch just in front of me, and flip around to come up the other side and scramble higher up the trunk.

The thunk from its dart was far louder. The legs on my right side would twitch randomly, but in growing frequency as I scaled the tree. Not long now, my HP can’t take any more direct hits with its poison effect.

Reaching the thinner upper branches, I got town with [Crushing Bite], sending them tumbling back down toward the frog. Finding one just thick enough, I gave a few angled bites to give it a pointed tip, another to weaken it further down, and then broke it off my mandibles so it pointed downward.

[Grip has reached level 5, upgrade available.]

I spotted the frog shoving the pile of branches caught in the lower ones so it could inflate and hit me. I shoved off hard from the trunk to get me far enough, but I managed to bring the wood stake down into the inflating frog. A satisfying pop is felt, then a snapping noise as I crash through a few branches before the tangle stops the short fall.

[You have defeated a level 4 Arvore Sapombra.

You have gained experience.]

Monitoring my depleting HP, I begin eating the popped remains. The profile and mass gets me 3 points together. These shadow monsters are definitely more profitable in biomass, but their threat potential scales far higher. The dropping HP halts, then climbs slightly.

I have been alone for a very long time. This is far more interesting than monitoring the white noise of the universe. Violent, full of unknown variables, and the ability to eat!

Gazing out over this alien environment, I want to explore this place and discover its secrets. I will lay ten thousand children and burn all who stand in my way.