Exhausted and panting, I found myself skulking in the winding caverns of the dungeon once again. My wings buzzed fretfully against my body, echoing through the hollow corridors with an eerie melody. With each step I took, the strange glow of fungi and bioluminescent insects illuminated my path, casting grotesque shadows on the cold walls around me.

A crevice caught my attention, not far from the path I was threading. It was small, unobtrusive, almost like a whisper in stone within the vast network of tunnels. Seclusion was a luxury rarely found in these hauntingly beautiful depths, a place to reconcile my thoughts and observe the intricacies of my new existence without interference.

Squeezing myself into the stone cavity with meticulous care, I felt the rough texture against my leathery skin. The darkness within was profound, consuming what little light dared to infiltrate its confines. And as I settled into this pocket, I pondered over the strange numbers and skills that marked my status. With a thought a screen appeared and floated before me. I needed to understand what each part meant and how it could help me survive in this inhospitable place.

[Name: Asher]

[Level: 1]

[Species: Stirge]

[HP: 5, MP: N/A]

[Stats:]

[Strength: 1, Agility: 5, Constitution: 1, Intelligence: 10, Perception: 6, Willpower: 5]

[Skills: Limited Flight, Feed]

[Shards: N/A]

[EXP: 25 BP:1]

I focused on the numbers, trying to decipher their significance. My health points were low, which made sense given my fragile form. The lack of magical prowess was disappointing but not surprising for a creature like myself. But why was my intelligence higher than my other stats?

"Skills: Limited Flight, Feed." The words brought a bitter taste to my mouth, reminding me of the hunger gnawing at my insides. My survival depended on feeding, but the thought of killing another living being repulsed me. I squeezed my eyes shut, pushing back the tears threatening to fall. The stirge sibling I had to kill was at the forefront of my mind. It was out of necessity but still what kind of monster had I become, was I no different than any other creature of the dungeon?

I kept looking through my sheet."Shards: N/A." I couldn't glean any information from this category, leaving me with even more questions. Then, two new entries caught my eye: "EXP: 25" and "BP: 1." Experience? BP? Focusing on the second number brought up a little more information: [Bloodpool] but even that did little to relieve my confusion.

I shook my head, clearing the screen away. It was all overwhelming, yet fascinating in its own right. I tried to shake off the melancholy that threatened to overwhelm me and nudged myself out of the crevice.

Emerging from my stone nook, I continued my awkward flight, glide, and waddle through the dungeon, heedless of the abundance of dangers. The hunger was a constant reminder of my fragile existence, gnawing at my insides like a relentless beast. Every beat of my wings echoed through my frail body with an intensity that was impossible to ignore.

I was abruptly brought to a halt by a sharp pull on my wing. Turning my head in alarm, I looked down at the silvery strand ensnared around it. With a sinking feeling, I twisted around and found myself surrounded by a vast web of the same shimmering thread. Panic coursed through my body as I struggled in vain to free my wing from the sticky strands. Despite my frantic efforts to break free, the threads only seemed to tighten around me, trapping me further.

I glanced around to see if there was anything I could use or anyway I could escape, what met my eyes however chilled me, trapped within the were countless figures like me: insects, small animals, all wrapped tightly in silk shrouds, unmoving . The stillness of their forms gave a chilling testament to their fate. Above those silk coffins was something even more terrifying, a monstrous creature, its massive body dangled effortlessly from the ceiling, eight elongated legs splayed out like menacing tendrils. Each leg is covered in a dark, thick, coarse hair, giving the impression of jagged shadows against the cavern's rocky surface. From its bulbous abdomen, delicate silk threads cascade down, forming intricate patterns that glisten in the faint light. Its eight beady eyes glinted like cold stars in the dim light, watching my every move with intense focus. The thought of being trapped in its web sent shivers down my spine.

A spike of fear rushed through me, my wings fluttered erratically as I continued my futile struggle. I could see the creature slowly descending, its monstrous form a brooding silhouette against the cave's roof. Its fangs glistened like daggers in the dim light, dripping with what I assumed was poison. My heart raced in my chest, pulse pounding so loudly it drowned out all other sounds from the dungeon. The beast moved swiftly despite its size, making its way towards me. Time seemed to stretch, each second a boundless eternity as my impending doom approached. I frantically beat, bit, and tore at the web desperate to escape, but to no avail.

In that moment of immense panic, when I was about to lose all hope, a flash of light blinded me. Heat. Intense, wild heat engulfed the cavern, filling it with a cacophony of crackles and hisses. I squinted against the sudden glare, barely managing to focus on the scene unfolding before me. The spider was wreathed in flames, its once black carapace now an incandescent orange as flame licked at its fur. It howled, a screeching sound similar to the wailing wind of a storm, making my skin prickle with unease. The spider turned on its attacker, letting out another deafening roar, its many eyes shimmering with a savage fury that made my stomach churn. It moved with an uncanny agility despite being enveloped in flames, lunging toward an unseen foe.

The once fine threads of its exquisite web now crackled and blackened under the angry onslaught of the flame. A rain of burning embers cascaded down, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. As each thread caught fire, it sparked brighter than the last, igniting the entire web in a rapid chain reaction. It was like watching a drawing come to life on a canvas of pure destruction.

Through the consuming inferno, the spider fought desperately for survival. Every movement it made was lit dramatically by the flickering flames that clung to its body. Its once sleek and deadly fangs now gleamed with an unholy light as they gnashed in fury and pain.

In the chaos, the web holding me captive burned away, and the sudden lack of restraint caused me to fall back onto the dungeon floor. I quickly righted myself and regained my bearings. My gaze was briefly drawn back to the monstrous spider engulfed in fire. Its horrific shrieks reverberated through the cavern as it fought. Four figures silhouetted by flames stood tall against it. I somehow instinctively knew that those four were something far more dangerous than the spider had ever been. My attention was drawn to several unmoving forms still ensnared within the fiery web, prey that hadn't been fortunate enough to escape. I hesitated for a moment, the pains in my stomach still an ever present reminder of my hunger. I considered for a moment attempting to steal a quick meal from one of the unmoving forms. But a quick glance back at the fight still raging on the other side of the chamber convinced me otherwise.

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Ignoring the gnawing emptiness in my gut, I chose flight over fight and fled from the scene, skittering against the rough cavern floor, my form barely visible in the flickering firelight. Behind me, the monstrous spider’s thunderous screeches echoed hauntingly, serving as a reminder of the merciless world I had been thrust into.

The air was heavy with the scent of burnt flesh and charred silk, a pungent mixture that made my senses reel. But as I distanced myself from the gruesome sight, the rank odor gave way to a damp, musty smell that was synonymous with the dungeon's corridors.

Exhaustion began to set in as adrenaline began to wane, making it more difficult to move with every passing moment. The echoes from the battle had long since faded, now replaced by the rhythmic tap-tap of my claws against stone. All around me, eerie blue mushrooms cast an otherworldly glow against the oppressive darkness. Their soft light bounced off droplets of moisture trickling down the cavern walls, casting long wavering shadows that danced and swayed like twisted apparitions.

My body was growing weaker as the need for sustenance kept growing, I no longer cared what I ate as long as I could eat something, anything, yet I could still find nothing. I was beginning to lose hope, when I stumbled upon a gruesome, yet welcome, sight: two small creatures, a boar with a thick leathery hide and a large rabbit-like creature with a single large horn on its head, their lifeless bodies entwined in a macabre dance of death. It appeared as though they had killed each other in combat, their final moments spent locked in mortal struggle.

The hunger that had been gnawing at me all this time suddenly roared to life, an uncontrollable thirst that demanded to be quenched. My hesitation vanished in an instant, replaced by a single-minded determination to survive.

With trembling pincers, I approached the corpses, my proboscis quivering with anticipation. The scent of blood filled the air, intoxicating in its potency. As I plunged my needle-like appendage into the flesh of the boar creature, I felt a surge of vitality course through me, the rich sustenance invigorating my weakened body. I felt the strength surge through me like a flood after a storm.

My feeding was interrupted by an earth-shaking grunt. I pulled my proboscis out of the boar and turned towards the source of the sound, my eyes widening in horror as they met the monstrosity before me. It was huge, easily thrice the size of the boar I had just been feeding on, and it was covered in serpentine scales that glistened eerily under the dim glow of the cavern's luminescent fungi.

The mutant boar snorted again, a deep guttural sound that echoed ominously in the narrow corridor. Its beady eyes glowed with a menacing red light as it lowered its head, its sharp tusks gleaming dangerously. A shiver ran down my spine as I realized that it was preparing to charge.

At that moment, time seemed to slow down. My thoughts raced as the beast flexed its powerful hind legs, muscles rippling beneath its scaly hide. My body reacted instinctively, trying to flit away from the incoming danger.

But I hadn't fed enough; I hadn't regained my full strength. My movements were sluggish and uncoordinated. Before I could get far enough away, the giant mutated boar launched itself forward with a thunderous snort, slamming into me with brutal force.

I was thrown across the corridor, crashing into the cold stone wall on the opposite side. Pain flared up my body as my back cracked under the impact and my wings crumpled beneath me. As I tried to right myself, still disoriented from the sudden onslaught, I saw through blurred vision the boar stand almost protectively over the dead morsels.

I took a moment to steady myself, feeling the sting of my injury and the throb of my hunger. The gnawing emptiness within me was a stark reminder of my fight for survival. I had to feed, and this brute stood between me and the nourishment I needed.

A low growl echoed in the narrow confines of the cavern, rippling with both threat and promise. The boar’s scales rustled, a living shroud of serpentine armor as it positioned itself before me once more. Its deep red eyes bored into mine, rose-tinted fire in the gloom. It was a predator, much like myself, albeit one that could crush me under its weight or gore me with those gleaming tusks.

With an unexpected grace for such a bulky creature, it began to pace before me, its feet thudding against the stone floor. Each step accompanied by the rattle of scales and the drip of saliva from its gnashing maw. The boar eyed me warily as I hovered above the ground, grunting softly as it readied itself for another charge. I watched its every movement closely, analyzing its behavior. It was larger and stronger than me, its scales acting as an impenetrable armor against my proboscis.

I flitted to the side as it launched forward again, smashing its snout into the spot where I had been just moments before. The brute force of the impact shook the floor beneath me and caused a few rocks from the ceiling to fall down. Seeing the interaction, I was struck with an idea. I flew past the beast and landed softly on top of the horned rabbit, waiting.

The boar, now enraged, sent a threatening glare my way . Its eyes glowing ominously in the dimly lit cave, a low growl humming in its throat. The echoing sound of its anger bounced off the walls of the cavern. It pawed the earth beneath it, a cloud of dust rising up, as it prepared to charge again.

I watched as its muscles tensed, and then with an explosive roar, it came barreling towards me again. This time however, I was ready. As the beast closed in, instead of flitting out of the way as I had before, I darted upwards. Its elongated tusks whistled through the air beneath me, missing me by mere inches.

With a thunderous crash, the boar rammed into the wall behind where I had been moments before. The force of the impact sent tremors through the stone that echoed back to us. Cracks began to spiderweb across its surface before chunks of rock collapsed onto the dazed beast.

A shower of stones rained down on the boar from above, pinning it to the ground. The remnant vibration caused a few pebbles to roll down from higher places while dust filled the air around us. The stone floor beneath me shook as I landed lightly next to the collapsed stone.

I circled around, my rapid heartbeat pulsating in my ears as I glanced back at the beast now trapped under the pile of rocks. Its angry growl echoed through the cavern, bouncing off the walls and sending smaller pebbles skittering across the floor. The boar thrashed and writhed, but the mass of stone held it pinned in place. Despite its strength, it couldn't free itself and its struggles only served to further injure it.

I moved closer, taking in the sight before me. The boar's scales were scraped raw from its futile attempts to escape, blood pooling beneath it and staining the stones a dark shade of crimson. Its eyes were wild with fear and pain, glittering with a desperate ferocity that sent a chill down my spine. Between the scent of blood in the air, the hunger still present in my chest, and the anger I felt welling up, I could no longer resist the urge.

Taking in a sharp breath, I leapt onto the boar's face, and latched onto it with my claws digging into the small gaps between its scales. I closed my eyes and drove my proboscis deep into the creature's eye. The boar roared with pain as it convulsed and writhed in agony, frantically whipping its head around in an effort to dislodge me. But I held firm.

I could feel the life pulsating beneath me, the rhythmic beat of the boar's heart echoing throughout its body. The taste overwhelmed my senses, a profound richness that drowned out the coppery tang of blood. It surged into me, warmth spreading from my proboscis to the rest of my body, dulling the constant ache of hunger in my belly.

Every heartbeat fed more of its essence into me, sending tremors through my form as strength returned and coursed through my veins. Each draught brought with it a rush of emotions, the sensation was exquisite and terrible all at once. I could feel its fear and confusion, its instincts crying out for release even as its strength waned. Yet there was also a resignation there, an acceptance that its end was near. It didn't fight as fiercely now, its movements growing weaker with every passing moment.

Gradually, the lifeblood seeping into me began to diminish until only a weak trickle remained. My feeding had drained much of the creature's vitality and it lay panting heavily beneath me. Its scales no longer shimmered with potency but were dull and faded, mirroring the life rapidly draining from its body. A mere husk of withered flesh. I disengaged from the boar, stepped back and saw its dying moments.

Its eyes were clouded over now, a far cry from the fierce gleam that had once resided within them. I felt an odd sense of melancholy wash over me as I watched this once robust creature reduced to such a state by my actions.

[Level 1 Scaled Boar Slain, +75 Exp +1 BP]