Gluttonous Gut

Additions:

(12) Rock Fish [1,2,3]

(08) Copper Fish [1,2,3]

(03) Silver Fish [1,2,3]

(01) Gold Fish [1,2,3]

(01) Lightening Eel [1,2,3]

After using a leveled casting on the first test I tried with a cantrip version, the spine only going five feet away under water. Certainly not as impressive, and still makes a lot of "noise", but it's enough to kill a fish at close range.

The second thing I caught was a Rock Fish. I hate these things: they perfectly blend in with the ground and hit you with a rock from behind, trying to push you forward into their waiting teeth. And it's clear they packed their evolution for that sole action: they hit quite hard. They kind of look like a mix between a piranha and flounder and they're everywhere down here.

In addition to the silver fish there are copper and gold scaled fish, their rarity matching their scale type. I only found the gold fish because of the Lightening Eel, and that did exactly what you'd expect. I'm not sure if it's ability is natural or magical though: I didn't want to risk getting close and used a Leveled attack to hit it from a distance, then a few cantrips once it got close enough.

Thats also when I experienced what happens when I get low on Spines: after missing the Eel with a few cantrip packed attacks I didn't have any forward facing spined left, but I naturally knew I could quickly resupply them- by sacrificing some of my own health to do it. Not too pleased with that considering I'm still drained from the Death Aura.

Thank goodness it was fast enough to kill the Eel. Still think it's weird the eel was guarding the Gold Fish. Or maybe it was saving it for later, like a treat?

'Eh, it doesn't matter.' I decide as I leave the water. My primary goal was to catch bait, and that's been achieved. I'll have to see if a "fishing lure" idea I had will work, but that can wait till later. For now I travel deeper through the forest, still sticking near the river while considering my next move.

'First, the eel.' I think and opt to Absorb it from my Gluttonous Gut. Pulling up the Mimic Modification Menu I delve into the creatures details, thankful to find its electrical abilities are natural instead of magical.

'Next, a Copper Fish.' I pick and Absorb one, slightly disappointed with the result. 'So they do have Copper in their scales, similar to the Iron in my bug forms, but it's so little it might just be useful for fancy clothing accessories, unless you catch a ton and smelt the scales.' After Absorbing a Silver Fish I confirm they don't seem to have any special abilities.

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'And of course a stupid rock fish.' I complain, begrudgingly Absorbing one. 'Oh look, it has Earth magic. What a surprise.'

I feel my contempt for the creature is valid: the stupid things kept popping up stones to punch me with, but since it didn't actually hurt me they rarely revealed themselves to try to finish the job.

'Laziest predators ever.'

Speaking of lazy: I am feeling kind of beat up after everything today, and a bit tired. I'm not entirely sure I need sleep; either I haven't been here as long as I think or I can go a long time without it, but in any case its easier to catch some shut eye when you've been smacked around.

'And it looks like we have a winner!' I mentally shout seeing a fallen tree ahead. 'With the size of monsters I've seen, you'd think there'd be more busted trees around.'

The tree isn't big: maybe sixteen inches wide, uprooted and broken into several pieces. Based on the damage to the ground around it I'd say something big had a crash landing. 'Too bad that thing isn't still aro- no, good thing it isn't.' I correct myself. 'Not exactly a good time to try fighting some big bad monster.'

Stepping next to the tree I look around, then shift back to my base form before consuming the trunk and a couple of sections nearby. Taking a peek in the Gut menu its listed as "Stonebark Tree".

'Stonebark?' I wonder and move next to a broken section, tapping the extremely hard surface with my tongue. 'Is that why almost no trees are broken? Geeze, and considering how big they are, imagine how heavy they must be! Just how hard did something have to hit the tree to break it?'

With some added concern I double check my surroundings, then proceed to consume as much of the tree as I can: you never know when it may come in handy.

With excess in storage I choose to Absorb the trunk of the tree– finding the wood is so dense it seems to break the system: my maximum weight jumps from 11 pounds to 210 pounds before a window pops up saying [Updating… Update Complete], and now the Menu includes "Two square feet" next to my max weight.

'Is that normal? Would that have happened if I absorbed a block of metal?' Not that I actually expect an answer.

As a test I let "the system" design my new Mimic form and shifting to the "Stonebark Stump" I'm rather disappointed: 'It's like there was no thought to it. They just slapped a mouth on the side and that's it?

You call that a design? And the roots! They're just splayed out around it, as if that's not obviously weird?'

I guess "no effort" is appropriate for something automated, so I return to my base form and add a few changes.

To start: teeth on top! SO many teeth! With my mouth in the center of the top it's almost like a version of the pit shape. I add in bug eyes around the body, slightly hidden inside the bark edges so they don't stand out, and the pinnacle of the design: mix in a fragment of the Rock Fish to get its Earth Magic in the mix!

I take on the new and improved "Stonebark Treant" form and Disgorge the Earth crystal before holding it underneath me. Pulling the Earth mana into my body I focus it inside my base and roots, shifting the dirt so it looks like I'm planted in the spot. But that's not all: I extend the roots out, stretching them into the area around me and create a few snare traps and root spikes just beneath the surface.

'If you're going to sit still, at least make getting to you a challenge!' I beam with pride at the design before realizing normal Mimics WANT things to get close to them.

'Well, whatever.' I mentally yawn as my thoughts grow sluggish and I lose focus on the world around me.