[Status - Level 4 - Species: Alate Ant (Camponotus)

Skills:

Digging level 3; Acid Spray level 3; Cushing Bite level 3; Grip level 5; Grappling level 2; Scent Tracking level 3;

Mutations:

Antennae +2; Deep Crop +5; Legs +1; Mandibles +2; Exoskeleton +2; Acid Gland +2

Skill Points: 1

Biomass: 0]

It does not take me long to come across the first intersection. The path split into two, the left one was level and the right path continued upward, but straightened out. Upwards might be the best way to gain some distance.

I take the right path and start scanning it for sent trails. Several scent trails seemed to pass to and from these side tunnels, but only the boar has gone downward that I can detect. I calculate these monsters stay near where they spawned.

Following the trails along the tunnel, letting the blue pulses light the path ahead. Perhaps it might be best to mutate my eyes to make them more useful. They serve no purpose in the dark. Antennae as well could open up many options as well.

As I climbed up the tunnel’s rise, a distant roar became audible slowly between the scrapes of my claws on the ceiling. The humidity rose steadily, and the walls grew darker. After coming within sight of an exit to this tunnel, the roar became identifiable as a lot of water falling.

With caution, I crawled out of the tunnel and up along the wall of the cave. It was a fraction of the size of the jungle cavern. Mosses and fern-like plants covered the entire space. A large waterfall poured from the ceiling near a far corner, forming a small lake. From there, a river of water snakes across the cave floor and out of a small tunnel, only peaking above the river’s surface.

Around the small lake was a collection of random monsters that ranged from tiny blurs to larger furred monsters that might not fit the tunnels if they grew further. The far wall was just a hazy blur, but it seemed visible, if that is what I am seeing.

I went along the wall towards the right, heading towards the lake. While I travelled, I noticed there was not a single conflict occurring nearing the water. Each one sits mostly still before eventually wandering off.

It cannot be this easy.

The falling water rushes a slight angle outward before drilling into the lake below it. This must have been like this for a very long time, yet there is no sign of flooding. Does the water reach the magma layer and boil out through a steam vent? If so, this could be a source of a great deal of power.

There were three monsters near the wall along the shore. Each was several meters apart from one another. I descended slowly, watching their reactions as I approached the water. The scent trails in this area overwhelmed me. Many monsters have come here over the last many days.

The nearest monster emits a low growl but does not move. With a low threat assessment, I proceed down to the water’s edge. The water is cold and sends sparks of power out from my throat and stomachs in a small dose. The combination causes small twitches as I am stunned by the sensation.

After a short time I can shake myself out of the last bit of mental fog. What a fascinating sensation. It felt like drinking liquid electricity. There must be special properties to this water that these creatures are taking advantage of.

I take a bigger gulp of water and try to watch my HP. With a powerful surge, the tingles arc all across my body. That is enough of that.

No monster will start a fight here, as if there was some unspoken agreement formed out of stunned monsters, unable to respond swiftly. Any violence might break the spell and cause a brawl.

With enough distance to the beach monsters, I headed away from the wall, looking for the trail of the small green monster I saw leaving as I approached. I was not sure how far from the wall it was, but I found a fresh, musky trail to follow.

I keep low and move forward. I follow the trail among the sweet ferns and hearty moss. These ferns smell so good. Perhaps I should make sure they grow near my nest. It would be nice to have a garden from which I can sample various scents.

The scent of my target grows strong and has spread out more. It slowed down.

[Scent Tracking has reached level 4.]

More refined knowledge for me to process with, excellent. While I find this hack a massive security vulnerability, it does have benefits. Taking care to move quietly, I do my best to maintain a good pace.

I slow as a shifting mass appears in front of me. It has spines sticking out of its back and thick skin. I might need to go for its belly. Before I could prepare my attack, another long, thin monster struck out from the sides. The new monster bites into the reptile and coils around it, away from the spines.

The lizard thrashes and screeches before collapsing onto its side. The moment it stopped, I ran out from my cover and rushed the attacker. As it reared up, the dozens of legs flexed in waves. Centipede.

Just as I neared what should be its attack range, I jumped to my right to throw it off. It lunges straight for where I was and hits nothing but dirt. Quickly, I turn and snap [Crushing Bite] into the joint between segments. With a hiss, the centipede coils up on itself and thrashes wildly in pain.

I take the moment to rush the lizard and give it a [Crushing Bite] to finish it off.

[You have defeated a level 1 Spinetta Lacertos.]

My experience! I faced the centipede again in time to see it lunging towards me with all its horrid legs clawing the air for me. I opened my mandibles in time to catch part of it, but it wrapped itself around me.

As I unleashed [Crushing Bite] to split the centipede in two, I could feel the carapace on the back being penetrated by fangs. After an agonizing moment, the fangs retracted. Now fully split in two, the centipede is again thrashing on the ground.

A fog of weakness seeps from the holes in my shell and then ignites in searing pain. That is not good.

Transferring all the pain into rage, I focus on [Crushing Bite] and try to end the writhing offender. I miss biting it as my thorax cramps in a stab of pain. I really dislike these things.

With the full weight of my will, I shunt aside the pain signals and aim my mandibles to end the slithering insect for good.

[You have defeated Level 3 Unguibus Scolopendra.

You have reached level 5, one skill point awarded.

You have reached the level cap, evolution menu available.]

The pain still throbbed. Its death is not my cure. I drag the parts of the centipede into some ferns and grab the small lizard as well. Once mostly concealed, I ate. Checking my HP, it occasionally ticks down as the pain remains, but gaining overall as I eat.

Evolution menu, so there is a way to grow stronger. My stats have not changed since I spawned, but I have improved parts of myself. Would it be better to get all my mutations for each part before I evolve?

I tap the ground with one of my legs as I mentally debate, waiting while I finish the last of the lizard. One each for new profiles and one each for their mass. I think this time I will do my eyes, but I can only do +2.

[Would you like to upgrade your Eyes to Eyes +2? This will cost 3 biomass.]

Yes. The surge and tingles go up into my eyes and I flail my antennae for a few moments until it passes. I sag slightly, but then try to notice a difference in vision. Things are clearer, but still unfocused and becoming hazy slightly further .

Before I evolve, I should probably find a place to hide. I aim for the nearest wall and head that way while keeping an antenna and an eye out for encounters. Though, the way was clear despite the many scent trails passing to and from the beach.

I climbed up the wall and got some height to look around now with new eyes. The far side was more visible, but still too hazy to identify anything that was moving. In the ferns, there were many monsters wandering around. They were too short to be seen at ground level, but easy to spot from here.

Along the wall, a furred monster headed my way. Its appearance resembled that of the fox cubs. As we neared, it was eyeing me and judging the wall. I was over two meters up the wall.

It moved away from the wall several meters and then turned to face me squarely. Foxes cannot climb walls, can they? I bent so I could look at the wall, but there were no obvious footings for it. By the time I noticed it was running, it was already leaping up the wall.

Unprepared for this event, I could not react. It grabbed hold of one of my legs and pulled hard. With the weight of it falling back down as well as pushing against the wall, it yanked me down.

The fox let go and twisted to rebound off the ground. I kicked off the wall, causing me to spin. It was not enough to get me upright, so my left side impacted the floor before I rolled half a meter on my back. The constant pain and struggle to draw breath filled my processor with alerts.

Before I could get to my feet, the fox was back and going for my throat. Unable to move out of the way, I brought my gaster up towards my face and turned into the fox. As its mouth opened to bite, I gave it a full [Acid Spay].

Its teeth tear at my shell, but it pulls back. Shaking its head to ease the pain, I finished getting on my feet and pointed my gaster in its face. Eat acid.

[Acid Spray has reached level 4.]

I spin back around and clack my mandibles in celebration of the skill. You are a hundred years too young to kill this ant. The fox paws at its face, having fallen to the ground. I approached to finish it off while I could.

Just as my mandibles opened, it lunged blindly at me. I met its bite with my own [Crushing Bite]. Its lower fangs found purchase at the edge of my carapace and dug in, letting the top ones slip. Checkmate.

[You have defeated level 4 Rubrum Vulpe.

You have gained experience.]

The pressure from its bite abated and the fox slumped. I let it drop to the ground. This fox has forced me to re-evaluate their threat potential. I am underestimating them. I will need to reflect on this more.

I searched around for a suitable spot to dig out a resting place. I settled on an area of dirt where large boulders had fallen a long time ago. They sit buried in dirt and made a welcoming area for a nest.

I dug out a small chamber, trying to spread the moved dirt out around my hole to hide it better. Once there was enough room, I dragged the fresh biomass inside and sealed up the entrance. After gaining one more biomass, I determined to test what evolution would bring this time first.

Well, let me see my choices.

[Congratulations on reaching the maximum level for your current species. Evolution will allow you to change your form and increase your stats as a monster.

Warning: evolving will make securing experience and biomass more difficult as they give fewer rewards for preying on creatures less evolved than yourself.

Your evolution options are:

- Mature Alate Ant (Camponotus)

- Condense Monster Core]

Please explain the options, I must know more.

[Mature Alate Ant (Camponotus) is the larger form of the Alate. Completes the first growth towards becoming a queen.

A Monster Core is formed by condensing mana within the monster. The core allows monsters to store and utilise MP, and is used to empower custom evolution. 100% of mana required achieved.]

Mature alate is an extension of my current species. Calculations indicate that each evolution might chain into the next or fork into different more specialized lines. Are these options set for the beginning or are they influenced by my choices?

The option to customize my evolution is the most pressing factor to consider. Customization of an evolution brings more variables into the mix. Considering the changes between related monsters, it would not be improbable that mutations influence options in some form.

Using magic and maximizing my potential cannot be denied. Condense my core.

[Would you like to spend this evolution to Condense your Monster Core?]

Yes! With that, the world faded to blackness.