10: World Dungeon Fire Urchin [1]

* A large gray Urchin like insect

* Size: 22 inches

* – Slashing Resistance +1

* Damage: Poisonous Iron Spines [+1 piercing, +3 DoT poison]

* Skills: Archery, Explosive [Fire]

* Racial Traits: Ranged poisoned Spines, Amphibious,

* Display Information:

* – Description: a spike covered iron bug.

* – Detailed Description: A bug with poisonous iron spikes capable of long range attacks

*

'Well, I guess if a normal one is a "Sea Urchin", using "World Dungeon" to define this one makes sense. Wish I could be a little smaller, but that's out of my control. Only +1 Slashing Resistance is a bit of a bummer though. And it's amphibious? Hua, guess I'm a little more urchin-like than expected. I wonder why it gets +2 piercing damage when everything else is +1?'

Out of curiosity I expand the list for the other forms, finding their base damage for physical attacks have all increased to "+2"!

'Wait, was this from my stats? Did going to "12" give me an additional point in damage? Do I get another point for each two points over ten?'

My mind is filled with the idea of getting tons of points and becoming overpowered just long enough to be disappointed when I realize leveling also causes diminished returns. 'OK, So I can't become super strong, but I kind of see why even a roach would attempt to fight stronger things.'

So far it seems you get more "Victory Points" based on how much stronger your foe is to you- which also means you get next to nothing if they're weaker. I'm not sure how you get more "Leveling Points", but the way it's displayed makes me assume you can get more than one per level. Still not sure how leveling the class goes, but haven't really had a chance to use those skills yet.

Making sure nothing is around I shift back to my base form then immediately shift to Fire Urchin form, then check my surroundings again, seemingly still unknown to anything nearby.

I flex my body and explore it, getting a sense of how it functions. 'Overall, it's pretty much like the Iron Pill Bug, but all the Spines are weird: they're like having your back covered with single digit fingers you can move independently.' It is interesting just how much damage this could do: if anything tries to attack me I can focus dozens of spines directly into their mouth or paw for maximum penetration. The [Explosion] magic effect is tempting to try out, but my senses are telling me it'll attract attention so I'd better not use it unless necessary.

'Now, let's see what this place has to offer!' I think and activate Disguise and Stealth, a faint green tint coloring my body followed by a slight blurriness around my form. 'Oh man: I bet I look like a walking clump of grass!' Not that I want to be seen, but still, it's amusing.

With a lighter mood I walk towards the forest, taking note how much the trees vary in size; some are short and skinny while others are several hundred feet tall. I can't help but to be in awe; It makes me think of the trees in the Redwood National Park I saw in pictures!

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If not for the screams of battle earlier I'd think this place is deserted: though my pace is slow I expected to see something by now, but after an hour of walking I haven't seen a single beast. Growing bored despite the majestic surroundings I've started looking for something else: a new form to mimic!

It's a bit annoying: my body wants to sit and wait for things to come to it. It's understandable and appropriate for an ambush predator, but just sitting still and doing nothing drives me crazy. Wiggling my feet, bouncing my legs: some part of my body is constantly moving, so to just sit and do nothing? Nope! Not me! But the mental itch of instincts demands to be scratched, so I figure if I have some objects to turn into while I sleep hopefully that'll fill the desire.

The faint sound of a twig snapping draws my attention and I freeze, every spine on my body sticking straight out until the source of the noise comes into view: a deer! A buck to be precise, with an impressive ten points on each antler.

'It must be shedding the velvet off them.' I assume, seeing red blood covering the tips. As it moves closer however I reconsider, the deer having many cut wounds covering its body, including a set of four clearly made by large claws.

'Man, that looks bad; whatever it fought clearly had the upper hand.' I think, momentarily feeling sorry for the creature before another idea creeps into my mind.

'... I wonder how weakened it is?'

I mentally dissect the creature, figuring I could cut it up to eat it. 'I mean, it's not that weird; people hunt and eat deer all the time. And it's half dead already, I'd just be finishing it off.'

Another snapped twig draws my attention nearby where a second buck comes into view, this one a strange mix of excessive muscles on an emaciated frame.

The first deer notices it and makes a loud grunting noise, followed by pointing its rack towards the newcomer. The newcomer postures as well a moment before the two run at each other, their horns locking in combat once they reach each other.

They seem evenly matched before the new deer twists its head sideways, causing the first to fall to the ground. For a moment I'm a little impressed it managed to keep its antlers locked in when it fell– until the second deer movers its body over the first, puts its front hoof on the downed deers chest, raises its head–

And pulls.

The fallen deer screams, it's eyes wide in fear and pain as its opponent, rack still locked in its own, pulls its head away with a slow, methodical force. The downed deer thrashes in pain as the muscles in its neck begin to tear, the sinew snapping off their connected bones before the deers throat and spine gives way, silencing the area with its death.

A sickly wave rolls across the victors' flesh; the skin around its face thins and its fur turns black with wet crimson patches. Loud snaps and cracks fill the air as its body distorts, limbs and waist elongate, it's fur stretching tight as if too small for its frame.

The creature stands up on its hind legs, a pair of humanoid hands forming as its eyes turn solid white. The large beast raises its head up and brays with rage. As it's lips part the edge spreads past the natural point of a deers, sharp canine like teeth filling its mouth.

The monster leans down and rips chunks of flesh out of its prey, swallowing them without chewing, blood coating the bone white flesh of its face in the process.

The area becomes thick with fog as it continues to consume the flesh of the deer. When little more than skin and bone is left it stands and looks around before walking away, vanishing into the fog.

The severed head of the deer still locked in its antlers.