You ever have someone shoving you from behind as you run at your top speed, but feel like they're still shoving you faster than you can move?
After heading up a long gradual incline out of the Safe Zone I passed through a set of doors and it hit me: that weird feeling as if I shouldn't be here and should not even know "here" exists.
After running twenty minutes at top speed I finally reached an intersection and passing though it– relieved me of the maddening feeling.
But it's not the only thing I pass through, the new thing bringing its own panic as I scramble to get out of a dry spiderweb crossing the path.
I'll say I was lucky, trying to stop the moment the panic went away after entering the intersection, because otherwise I'd be VERY deep in webbing.
Looking once I backed up into the intersection the forward path is filled, top to bottom, with spiderwebs.
For the most part I've never had a problem with spiders. I mean- just look at a peacock spider and try to say it's not cute! Admittedly, that's not the kind of spiders I'm used to seeing: the largest of that spot is dominated by wolf spiders. Never have had a problem with them around. The "scariest" spider I'd have to say was Black Widows, and that's only from knowing how strong their venom is: they're pretty small and relatively harmless to a human.
But right now I am neither a human, nor an equally sized creature. A two inch spider to a human is nothing, but compared to my current size? Comparably imagine something the size of a beachball that thinks you're delicious.
It's just my luck the thing looking back at me appears strikingly similar to a Black Widow. Considering I saw these before I know they absolutely love the taste of rat.
So long as the spider doesn't come closer I've got time to plan my next move.
I'm going to guess the intersecting path is a loop like the other side of the Safe Zone, so there's no point in going that way. And if that's true, then the only direction I can go is forward. This may not be a problem for a group of adventures, but if my past guess of them doing a minimum of two points of damage- one point per bite and at least one point from venom- then five of these can take down a rat VERY quickly. Even at my "giant rat" size that is still only eight bites- and I doubt they'd only bite once each.
Perhaps I've sat here thinking too long as the spider has started creeping closer.
'Sorry, but I know what an ambush looks like.' I think and blast a weak Firelight attack in front of me. It stops advancing and slightly leans away, but doesn't back off- both to my surprise and dismay.
'Crap, why didn't I grab a stick or something?' I panic a little as I stare down the arachnid; I might have some magic now, but I really don't want to get in close combat with anything that can poison me and I'd have to revert back to my base Mimic form before I can shift into one with a long range attack. I haven't had to think about that till now, but it hasn't been a problem till now either.
I blast another weak Firelight attack into their air, the spider shifting around its legs but showing no other reaction.
'OK, breakdown: Armored Rat has basic bite and claw attacks, plus Firelight- which doesn't seem to scare it, and probably won't really hurt it. Do I have anything in my Gut I can use?'
With a quick mental prompt I open the Gluttonous Gut menu, Disgorging a tiny Limestone Rock into my hands. It's much smaller than I remembered, but I wind up and chuck it at the spider anyways. It sails towards the arachnid far too high and the spider easily avoids the stone.
'OK, second try.' I think and Disgorge a Medium Limestone Rock. It's weight is much better and the stone sails true, hitting the spider head on with a loud crack.
As a red tint enters my vision I look at what I expected to just be a very angry spider, instead finding the front half of the arachnid crushed beneath a stone.
"There's no way I can throw that hard." I state out loud. 'Or do my Stat changes affect my creature forms? I thought I get the animals stats as is and those were just for my base form and inanimate things.'
I summon the windows to open for details.
Your attack against a [Venomous Spider] was a success!
Force damage has decreased its health by [One] point! [02/03]
Mana Flesh has empowered your attack and inflicted additional damage of [Two] points, decreasing its health to zero. [00/03]
Congratulations-You have defeated an opponent!
You have gained [Zero] Victory Points!
'One point minimum damage again, so I doubt my stat increase made a difference. I didn't expect thrown objects to get the Mana Flesh bonus though.'
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
I cautiously move forward to collect the spiders body, keeping my eyes open for more attacks. 'Waste not want not' after all.
As the spiders body is vacuumed into my Gut I'm struck with a realization: 'Wait, why didn't I get a Victory Point?!'
Rereading the last message I note it says "an opponent". 'Isn't it supposed to be "a stronger foe"?' Does this mean I won't get anything defeating these guys?
'Wait, when I skipped levels from the Crystal- does that mean I missed getting higher Stat points in the process?
'So I should be stronger, or faster, or something at this level as a monster, yet I'm not. But at the same time thanks to Mana Flesh I AM stronger and more resilient than I would be-weah!'
I let out a ratty shriek of surprise when something lands on my back and pierces my arm. As a red tint fills my vision I twitch and flop around in an attempt to dislodge the attacker. Once freed I stand up and face the uninvited guest, finding a new spider in front of me.
"You brat!" I shout as I emit a weak Firelight attack right in its face. The fire engulfs it for only a second but seems enough to cause it to flail before curling its legs in on itself.
Being a little more cautious this time I drag the spider into the center of the intersection before sucking it down my Gut. Trying to be more careful I open the notifications up while frequently looking around them for safety.
You have been attacked by a [Venomous Spider] for [One] piercing damage plus [One] point for a Surprise Attack. Damage Resistance has reduced the damage by [One] point. Mana Flesh has negated remaining damage of [One] point. [16/16]
Warning: You have been poisoned for [one] point of damage per minute for three minutes!
Warning: Your health has been reduced by [one] point due to poison damage! [15/16]
Your attack against a [Venomous Spider] was a success!
Force damage has decreased its health by [One] point! [03/04]
Mana Flesh has empowered your attack and inflicted additional damage of [Two] points. [01/03]
Fire damage has decreased its health by [One] point, reducing its health to zero. [00/03]
Congratulations-You have defeated an opponent!
You have gained [Zero] Victory Points!
Warning: Your health has been reduced by [one] point due to poison damage! [14/16]
'Their bite isn't much, but their venom packs a punch. Get a few together and they can bite and wait out their opponent.'
I open the Gluttonous Gut menu, finding the two spiders listed within- one in a (Damaged) condition, the other mostly fine.
As there's only one way forward, and currently lacking the firepower to burn my way through, I Absorb the whole spider and Devour the crushed one.
At the prompt I allow the Menu to open
Consume and Devour
You have consumed a [Venomous Spider]. Please select one of the following:
Skills:
* Advantageous Attack: You deal extra damage when you catch an opponent prone, incapacitated, or surprised.
Racial Trait:
* Venomous: you produce a [weak] venom that damages your opponent.
* Spider Silk: You produce a material that you can walk on, catch pray with, and detect motion through.
* Wallwalker: You are capable of easily moving along any horizontal or vertical surfaces.
Language: NA
Class: NA
'I can't believe Mimics don't have that. ' I think as I acquire the Advantageous Attack Skill. 'Yea, someone missed the mark there.'
Warning: Your health has been reduced by [One] point due to poison damage! [13/16]
Oof; I knew it was coming, but it still hits hard. Can't help but wonder if the system is actually slowing down the effect or is creating it.
Now that that's done, I might as well get on with it.
Checking to be sure there are no more surprises around I shift to my newly acquired form, wondering if I can come up with some changes later so I'm less vulnerable in my base form during the process.
After adjusting my legs and lifting my central mass up I wait a moment to mentally shiver at my new body, but find a surprising lack of disgust. 'Is it because I'm a Mimic, or because it's now my body instead of some foreign thing I'm observing?'
'Come to think about it, I didn't feel weird as an Iron Pill Bug, despite their freaky leg setup. No– their legs are still creepy compared to a spiders, but a spiders mouth trumps theirs.'
If I keep thinking like this I might manage to psych myself out, so instead I begin moving forward under, over and between the webs.
One thing I've not figured out is if I actually "smell" like whatever I become. Even if I can tell I have the right scent organs, does my flesh become that of the creature, or am I just imitating its organs and structure? Am I technically that creature or just a close approximation, and can others tell?
I know I've heard of spiders that physically look like ants and live inside an anthill, all the while being a predator– some because those ants actually provide it protection, other because the ants are its food.
'So- even if I'm not considered an actual spider, can they tell?'
I feel like luck is on my side as I exit the covered area without another encounter, quite surprised at just how thick the twenty feet of webbed area was. 'I could be wrong on adventures getting through that unscathed.'
Calmly reaching the next bend in the path I make sure it's safe before getting out of sight of the webbing, releasing the mental breath I was holding before taking a peek back around the corner.
'... I wonder if I could ambush a spider while disguised as one?'
'... nope. Nope. Not gonna try.' I resolve, turning away before marching down the path forward.