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Ch28: Mystery Meat

I drag seven partially crushed and pierced rabbits towards my body, lifting them up and dropping them into my mouth. Next I move over to the first chewed up rabbit and, after a moments hesitation, scoop it up and drop the muddy mess down my throat.

'I should be glad I beat them, and I am, but it doesn't feel right.' I mentally sigh and look over the area, the ground full of pit holes, ripped up earth, and blood. 'That wasn't even the worst fight I've been in: other things have hurt me far more, pushed me close to death. So why was this so… frustrating?'

Yea, that feels right; I'm frustrated.

Because even though they weren't a threat individually, I underestimated them and put myself in danger. I fell into trying to fight them all at once, which is probably what they wanted.

"Basically: I screwed up. I'm not used to fighting, let alone against a group."

I take a slow deep breath, the mental tension letting up a little. 'Yea, attempting to fight a group when you're outnumbered is a mistake. Especially when you have no experience doing so.'

My decision to fight may have been necessary, but only because I failed to plan properly: while I expected potentially large creatures, I didn't consider being overwhelmed by a small group, which seems more obvious in hindsight.

I take another deep breath, the center of my form swelling outward a little in the process.

I lift what appears to be a piece of bark in front of an eye, turning it around to expose the flesh on one side. As an experiment I place it over where it was torn off, but nothing happens. 'So, I can't absorb separated parts back into my body.' It was a long shot, but something I didn't expect to actually have a chance to test out. I briefly consider eating it, but I already know from other things it wouldn't be enough of a body to provide anything.

I take a moment to change to spider form and climb a nearby tree, getting about 25 feet above the ground, then open my Gut menu and Mimic Modification Menu.

I select the least damaged rabbit and Absorb it, then a second to correct the damaged sections, providing a "perfect" body reference and five pound increase.

Next I choose to Devour one and check the C&D menu:

Consume and Devour

You have consumed a [Horned Rabbit]. Please select one of the following:

Skills:

* Dash: double your movement for six seconds. [Cooldown time: One minute]

Racial Trait:

* Carnivorous: your body has adapted to eating meat.

* Pack Tactics: you are more likely to critically affect a foe while an ally is within five feet of your target.

Language: NA

Class: NA

'Hua, it's actually called "dash"? I just called it that because 'skitter' sounds very bug specific. And I wonder if they would have failed to rip my bark off without Pack Tactics?'

First I choose to take Pack Tactics: even though I don't expect to travel with a group it's hard to pass up something so effective given the chance. And since I've got a few rabbits I also take Dash, thinking I can use it and Skitter back to back but get a new notification in the process.

Notice: new Skill "Dash" matches existing skill "Skitter".

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Updating… Update Complete.

New Skill "Dash" will be combined with existing skill "Skitter" with the following changes:

Dash [1]: Double your move speed for six seconds. [Cool down time: 30 Seconds]

"I think my idea is better." I complain, but have hope since it now seems available to level up.

'Not that I've been using it.' I realize. I had only thought of it as an escape tool, but after seeing these rabbits I definitely need to reconsider.

To test an idea I attempt to take Dash again, but get a message "This Skill has already been acquired."

I leave the normal and remaining two horned rabbits in my Gut and swap to the main Menu, the horned rabbits having been worth their weight in points.

'Wait, does that expression still work?'

I put six into Dex, bringing it from six to twelve, and drop the remaining one and level point into Constitution, bringing it to 12 and giving a +1HP in addition to the +1 given by the level up.

Health: 20/20

Strength: 12 [12]

Dexterity: 12 [12]

Constitution:12 [12]

Wisdom: 14

Intelligence: 16

Charisma: 00 [00]

Available Points: 00

'My stats are finally getting up there.' I observe. I'm able to survive better, but I'm certain I'm far from the top of the food chain.

'Actually, I don't even want to imagine what's at the top of the chain here.'

Leveling up done I climb to the top of the tree and look across the "valley", only to find the end still isn't visible through the trees. 'Too bad the wind is blowing this way; I could've tried making a parachute and float through the air.'

I look up at the "stars", watching several "wink out" in paths as something flies by.

'Or maybe not.'

With a mental sigh I walk back down, pleased at my new speed. I hadn't even realized just how SLOW I was! It's no wonder I got beat up by rab–

'No. NO. That was my fault. Don't underestimate something just because it's cute and… adorable….'

Maybe it's the Mimic in me, but the idea of BEING underestimated is appealing.

And drives home the point I shouldn't underestimate things.

I take on the Armored Dire Rat form and continue on my way, playing with a few form ideas as I activate the Perception skill, hopeful it may help me spot danger.

-

In a large room sit animals and monsters alike - all stuffed, mounted, and posed. One could never tell which ones were whole creatures formed from a single body and which were made from a patchwork of parts cut from different bodies of the same species. The work in either case was that of a master; not only someone who knew every part of every creature– but had created most of them.

A Satyr, a being with short horns and a goat like body from the waist down- but with the looks of one of the most handsome men alive from the waist up and a physique to match, stands over a marble table in the center of the room. Within his hands are a scalpel and forceps, expertly utilized as they dissect one of several creatures on the table.

This would be a common sight for anyone who visits regularly- if anyone did, at least.

Pan, the God of Beasts and Monsters, takes great pride in his work, and the work of his worshipers. The first offerings of each species are collected and organized in preparation for when a complete new figure can be put on display. This building itself only houses a small number of them, as most Monsters have long been completed and few adventures get far enough to challenge the largest and strongest ones left.

The small creatures currently on the table, however, were the first of their species to be sent. This not only surprised him– but angered him as well: someone is bringing Monsters he didn't create into the Dungeon and they're crossing his Domain to do so.

The act is a veritable slap in his face.

But before he confronts the other God's with this fact he needs to know which one is doing it– and how they're bypassing his Domain to do so.

He'll watch the Regional Dungeons closely, and have to figure out a way to spy in the World Dungeon– Heavenly Accord be damned.