There's only so long you can stare down an empty hallway before the boredom gets to you, and only a short time after you can keep yourself awake. I'm not even sure I fell asleep, more like half asleep? Not having eyelids makes it a little hard to be sure, but after I got still I kind of zoned out and by the time I realized it I've nearly healed up. Man, I've lost time like that before, but never what– two weeks? I'm at full health, so it's definitely been a while, allowing me to regrow the two missing legs and get underway.

I realize I'm not the only one moving about, seeing a few roaches beneath me dining on a dead rat. I Disgorge and fire off a few arrows, taking them down with ease. They may not be worth much individually, but at my level it should still add up.

Consuming the bits of infused silk I use as a bow I drop down and, after double checking my surroundings, shift back to my Mimic form and Consume the lot; even if I'm big for a spider it's not something I can really do with a tiny spider mouth.

Shifting again I take the Giant Armored Rat form and waddle forward.

The next bend brings more dead rats, one's not yet found by other scavengers. Amongst the bodies is one especially large rat, coming in near my own size. I pause a moment before deciding to modify my form, widening the corners of my mouth to reach my jaw and extending the lower jaw. Like a snake I begin to engulf its head in my mouth, the end of my nose reaching its back before the body begins to be sucked into my Gut. It's an awkward moment as I realize I need to further adjust my mouth and upper throat for its hips to fit through.

After consuming the other rats I take a moment to fix the change before continuing; I'd hate to need to bite something in a fight and find I lack the muscle structure to do so too late.

I don't bother to open the Gut menu and choose to Consume the large one, allowing the Consume and Devour Menu open instead.

Consume and Devour

You have consumed a [Giant Rat]. Please select one of the following:

Skills: NA

Racial Trait:

* Darkvision: You can see up to 60 feet in the dark as if it was well lit and an additional 60 feet as if in dim light. Vision is limited to the form of objects.

Language: NA

Class: NA

'I had hoped it was a special variant and had a handy ability.' I think with a disappointed sigh. I close the menu and opt to Absorb the four regular rats, their combined six pounds of mass effectively doubling my available size. I lazily walk to the next corner and take a peek around, instantly freezing before backing up.

'I knew something had to kill those rats, of course it's still around.' In the next section of hallway, eating one of several rats, stands a very large dog. Or a jackal? Never saw one of those in person. Whatever this is, it's mostly hairless and has long spikes along its spine. 'OK, so not a dog, but still some kind of canine.' I think, hearing the creature chewing on another rat.

My form may be called a giant, but I'm still small compared to this thing, and despite having a little more advantage than the dead "Giant Rat", the damage to its body tells me it didn't do well in the fight.

As I debate what to do next a form extends past the corner above me: a head as large as my body followed by its muscular neck. As it looks for the now missing corpses it immediately catches sight of me as it turns and lunges, it's teeth filling my vision.

My thought is to run before my mind is filled with fear as my body not only ignores my intent, but curls down on itself in a fetal position. Every muscle in my body tightens as I mentally prepare for teeth to tear through my flesh, a red tint visible behind my eyelids as I feel it's jaws begin to press against my form.

But the pressure only lasts for a second as the beast yelps in surprise. I open my eyes to see it backing up as it stares down at me in confusion, a notification window informing me of what it is and what happened.

Warning: You have been attacked by a [Chupacabra].

Notice: [Chupacabra] has suffered [One] point of self inflicted injury from your Defense! [32/39]

[Mana Flesh] has dealt an additional [Two] Damage! [30/39]]

I read it's HP in shock as I realize why I had instinctively curled into a ball. 'The armor paid off, but if it knocks me around it might be able to get past it.' Even if I created my current form I don't know if I could last until it gets bored and leaves.

The monsters lips curl up, a deep growl filling the air as it bares its fangs and begins to stalk forward. Faced with something twice my height and three times my size I decide to do the most logical thing: I blast a full strength Firelight in its face and run like hell.

As the blast blinds the beast I turn around the corner and activate Skitter, rocketing away at a high speed. The red tint suggests it hit but the low damage does little to deter it from chasing me, the Chupacabras long legs helping it close the distance as my claws clatter across the floor.

I can feel its breath as it nips at me, my scales perhaps dissuading it from actually biting again. My mind races as I try to find a better solution, knowing I likely can't run long enough for a second use of Skitter and only have one more leveled use of Firelight. 'Dammit, no attack power as a rat, not strong enough to fight it. Can't change to another form. Anything in my Gut? What can I do? Wait!'

With a sudden realization I jerk to the side and grab the wall to come to a quick stop, causing the canine to pass me by as it turns around. In that moment I blast my last Firelight attack, forcing the beast to jump back.

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I quickly Disgorge the Fire Crystal and grab it in my hands, launching another leveled Firelight using the gem to fuel the spell. Each time it lunges for me I cast the spell to make it back up, bringing the confrontation to a standstill.

'OK, step one, done.' I think as I prep my next step: Growing a nasal passage –inside– my tongue, a straight tube of bone to create a small blowgun.

After releasing a level Firelight attack I Disgorge a spider sized arrow into the tube, take aim, and blow hard.

The Chupacabra yelps in surprise as the near invisible projectile pierces its skin, the damage amplified by the effect of Mana Flesh. 'Lung power counts; good to know!'

I flash another leveled Firelight as it attempts to lunge forward before launching another arrow, allowing the Notifications to show as it hits.

Your attack against a [Chupacabra] was a success!

Piercing damage has decreased its health by one point! [29/39]

Mana Flesh has empowered your attack and inflicted additional damage of [Two] points [27/39]

Notice: [Chupacabra] has been poisoned for [one] point of damage per minute for three minutes!

Notice: [Chupacabra]s health has been reduced by [one] point due to poison damage! [26/39]

Piercing damage has decreased its health by one point! [25/39]

Mana Flesh has empowered your attack and inflicted additional damage of [Two] points [23/39]

Notice: [Chupacabra] has been poisoned for [one] additional point of damage per minute for three minutes!

Notice: [Chupacabra]s health has been reduced by [one] point due to poison damage! [22/39]

I cast another leveled Firelight and watch in horror as pain fueled rage fills its eyes and it ignores my attack, lunging through the spell to snap down on my back as I reflexively curl into a ball. The Chupacabra sinks its fangs into me as it violently shakes its head, ignoring any damage it's delt in the process before throwing me into the nearby wall.

Your attack against a [Chupacabra] was a success!

Fire damage has decreased its health by [three] points! [19/39]

Notice: [Chupacabra] has suffered [One] point of self inflicted injury from your Defense! [18/39]

[Mana Flesh] has dealt an additional [Two] Damage! [16/39]]

Piercing damage has decreased your health by [six] points!

– Damage Resistance has reduced Piercing Damage by [One] point. Mana Flesh has reduced Piercing Damage by [Two] points! [14/17]

Your Blood has been consumed for [Four] points of damage! [10/17]

You have been injured by Environmental Damage [Force] for [Two] points.

– Damage Resistance has reduced Force Damage by [One] point. [09/17]

'Oh fuck!' I think as my vision swirls from the pain. I can't pay much attention to the notifications, but a glance at our respective health doesn't look good: one more hit like that and I'm dead. 'And it doesn't care about the-' My thoughts pause a moment as I make sure I've still got a death grip on the fire crystal. 'The fire isn't enough to stop it anyways, unless I can find a better way to hurt it.'

Notice: [Chupacabra]s health has been reduced by [two] points due to poison damage! [14/39]

The monster had been growling at me, then seemed to go cross-eyed a moment before shaking its head and refocusing on me with more madness in its eyes.

I fire off more Firelight attacks, but its already starting to ignore them and getting bolder with each step. 'Dammit, If I could just keep its mouth shut!' I think, a moment of dreadful premonition as the beast snaps its jaws around my body in a fiery leap forward.

As my flesh is pierced and my sight is filled with fangs I scream in pain, fueling a mindless rage.

"FINE, EAT THIS!" I scream as I flood my flesh with intent. My hip splits as each leg unnaturally bends, thickens and extends around the offending jaws, sharp fangs emerging from their sides as they wrap around each section of jaw and flex, preventing its teeth from digging deeper into my body.

As the Chupacabra begins to thrash its head trying to dislodge my body my muzzle crunches into itself, looking as if it had been bitten off. At the same time it emerges from the center of my back- skinless muscle and bone facing down the throat of the beast.

Clutching the crystal I activate a leveled Firelight attack straight into its throat- the burst forcing its way into the creatures body.

As it begins to chock it sticks its paw against my body, desperately pressing hard as it forces me out of its mouth, the teeth in my legs shredding its muzzle in the process.

Your attack against a [Chupacabra] was a success!

Fire damage has decreased its health by [three] points! [11/39]

Notice: [Chupacabra] has suffered [One] point of self inflicted injury from your Defense! [10/39]

[Mana Flesh] has dealt an additional [Two] Damage! [08/39]

Piercing damage has decreased your health by [six] points!

– Damage Resistance has reduced Piercing Damage by [One] point. Mana Flesh has reduced Piercing Damage by [Two] points! [06/17]

Your Blood has been consumed for [Four] points of damage! [2/17]

Notice: [Chupacabra] has suffered [One] point of Piercing Damage! [07/39]

[Mana Flesh] has dealt an additional [Two] Damage! [05/39]]

Fire damage has decreased its health by [three] points! [02/39]

NOTICE: [Chupacabra] has suffered internal injuries due to [Fire] damage!

Notice: [Chupacabra] has suffered [One] point of Slashing Damage! [01/39]

You have been injured by Environmental Damage [Force] for [One] points.

– Damage Resistance has negated Force Damage by [One] point. [02/17]

Bitten and broken I desperately clutch the Mana Crystal as I watch the Chupacabra hack and cough, blood splattering the floor in the process.

Notice: [Chupacabra] is suffering from [Suffocation] caused by Internal Injuries! [00/39]

Congratulations-You have defeated a stronger foe!