The world is filled with screams and explosions.
My heartbeat quickens as I desperately search around, my attention swapping between my eight bug-like eyes as each region changes from a peripheral view to focused details. That deep cut is a painful reminder this is all real and now something else is here and I can't find the cut where was I cut?!
My tongue quickly presses over areas of my skin where I'm certain it is, expecting a stabbing pain when I inevitably press against it because for some reason it doesn't hurt and i think I'm in shock because why else wouldn't it hurt.
That's VERY bad but whatever I just heard screaming at me has to be close.
I try to focus entirely on what's around me, seeking out motion or further sounds. The focus swap between my eyes slow down as no new motion is seen nor sounds heard, taking a moment of doing so before realizing I'd not only stopped searching for the cut, but wasn't experiencing any sort of total body numbness I've previously felt from being in shock.
I wait a minute in the still silence before considering I may be, for the moment, safe. 'Maybe it wasn't as deep as I thought? Like maybe the cut was just enough to pass through skin but not enough to seriously hurt me?
'... no, it definitely drew blood. And hurt, bad. Wait, that Menu- it had Health in it, so if i'm injured it should tell me how bad? '
I take one last look around the room before opening the Menu, slightly wincing in surprise as several additional windows appear uninvited
You have successfully hidden from being observed by a foe.
Skill: Stealth has increased by one [2]
Skill: Disguise has increased by one [2]
You have been injured by a [Common Roach]!
Piercing damage has decreased your health by two points! [02/04]
Your attack against a [Common Roach] was a success!
Piercing damage has decreased its health by two points! [00/02]
'That took half of my health in one bite.
'... I almost died to a roach. A freaking roach- that has almost as much health as I do.'
I take a deep breath and mentally sigh before dismissing these windows and moving on to the next.
Congratulations-You have defeated an opponent!
You have leveled up!
You have gained [One] leveling point in addition to [Zero] Victory Points!
Your health has been reset and all injuries healed!
Congratulations on making your first kill!
You are now officially recognized as a denizen of the World Dungeon!
As you battle your fellow denizens you will grow stronger! And the stronger they are, the stronger you will become: each successful battle with a stronger opponent will fuel your growth through your Stats, with a greater reward given for your difference in level!
For your first kill, you will be given a bonus of [Five] points in addition to the [Zero] Victory Points!
'Oooh, so the screaming and explosions were those celebration sounds I heard when I first entered the dungeon.
'So I leveled up and was healed. Plus between that and killing the roach I got a total of seven Stat points?
'Speaking of the roach, my Gut confirms one detail:
You have consumed a [CommonRoach], which has been deposited into your Gluttonous Gut for storage.
The idea of eating it is disgusting, but considering I'd have to put it back in my mouth to Disgorge it… I'll deal with that later. For now:'
My thoughts pause as I dismiss these windows and focus on the main Menu.
MENU°
Name: @#$%=÷
Species: Mimic [Limestone Rock]
Level: Juvenile [1]
Size: Tiny
Weight: 0.5 ounces [ ]
Title:
Health: 05/05
Strength: 02 [02]
Dexterity: 01 [01]
Constitution:01 [01]
Wisdom: 14
Intelligence: 16
Charisma: 00 [00]
Available Points: 6
Languages Known: None
Class: None
Skills: Stealth [2], Disguise [2]
Attack methods: Bite, Acid Spit, Tongue Lashing
Species Traits: Darkvision, Gluttonous Gut, Mimicry
$%^&* Trait: Consume and Devour
'So I got one extra point of health, which is… well, an improvement at least. I think Constitution has to do with my health and… sturdiness? That's likely the best place to start with the points.'
I focus on Constitution and mentally commit one point to it, taking note my health increases to [06/06]. I repeat the action bringing Constitution to [03], but get no additional change. Taking a risk I add another point to bring it to [04], sighing in relief as my health increases to [07/07].
'So two points in Con for one point of health. Not a great conversation rate, but at least I won't die from a couple of roach bites as easy. Thats half my points though. I don't know how exactly they'll effect things, but if the others only have an effect on even numbers too…'
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I mentally commit two points to Strength, bringing it to [04] and one to Dexterity, bringing it to [02].
MENU°
Health: 07/07
Strength: 04 [04]
Dexterity: 02 [02]
Constitution:04 [04]
Wisdom: 14
Intelligence: 16
Charisma: 00 [00]
Available Points: 0
Wish I could say I can feel the difference, but nothing evident comes across from the changes. I do however notice my stomach hurting, bringing my attention to my next required action.
I summon the Gluttonous Gut menu.
Gluttonous Gut
You may choose to do the following at your convenience:
1: Devour items for Nutrients
2: Disgorge items
3: Absorb items for use in Mimicry [Increases maximum size and mass]
Choosing any option will cause the item to no longer be eligible for other options.
Items available:
(10) Tiny Limestone Rock [2,3]
(10) Breath of Air [2]
(07) Stomach Acid [2]
(01) Chewed Roach [1,3]
The choice of either Disgorging it and tasting it again, or Devouring it and hopefully feeling full, isn't as hard of a decision to make as I wish it was. While I find it interesting it seems to indicate I could use the roach in Mimicry, I reluctantly male my selection and choose to Devour the roach.
After doing so, "Chewed Roach" is removed from the list, and my hunger only eases down to the 'constant' I'm used to.
'I guess it would be weird to finally know what not being hungry is like now. '
My thoughts linger on this only for a moment as my attention is strangely drawn back to the main Menu, where focusing on the $%^&* "Consume and Devour" Trait pulls up a new window.
Consume and Devour
You have consumed a [CommonRoach].
Please select one of the following:
Racial Trait:
* Compound Eyes: 2000 hexagonal lenses per eye provide vision in pitch black environments, color in dark environments, and enhanced detail at variable depts.
* Antenna: sensors that aid in scent and pressure changes in the environment.
* Cerci: Hair like adapters that let you detect slight air movement and vibrations.
Language: NA
Skills:
* Skitter: double your move speed for six seconds. [Cool down time: One minute]
* "What doesn't kill you…" You can survive anything that doesn't outright kill you. Health regenerates 10% per day.
Class: NA
'Wow, ok, didn't expect roaches to have so much. Racial Traits aren't a big surprise, but those Skills: "Skitter" explains how it rushed me so fast. But that second one, "What doesn't kill you…", THAT is impressive. I mean, roaches can survive an atomic bomb, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised?
'I guess which I pick isn't up for debate now.' I think and select "What doesn't kill you…", the window closing and the selection now appearing under the Skill list.
'Now that that's all done,' I think, my attention returning to my surroundings 'it's time for the prize!'
I decide to first shift my form, converting two bug eyes to mammal style orbs-in-sockets. While having a 360 degree vision is handy, not being able to rotate your eyes to look in a direction out of habit is kind of distracting.
With an abundance of caution I approach the bag from the side, getting as close as I can and start to punch it with my tongue.
I am delighted to discover the addition to Dex seems to have increased my reach, allowing my tongue to extend four inches long now, instead of three.
Receiving no response from my attacks I collect Sticky Spit on my tongue tip and use it to lift the bag upside down, shaking it to release its contents. Once done I swallow the bag itself, figuring that since it's leather it might be usable as food in a pinch.
Looking down I'm presented with my first experience of "Money from Another World": three copper, two silver, and one gold coin.
"An actual Gold Coin." I say out loud. It's fair to say most people in my old world have never held a real gold coin in their life. Myself included.
Both sides of it looks like a maze, surprising me with its lack of information. Coins can tell you a few things about the world as most tend to have their ruler depicted on them and their country name. Seeing one like this, even made of gold, is rather disappointing.
The next coin, made of Silver, matches it with a maze pattern.
The other silver coin however, rewards me with something new! Depicted upon its front is a man's face; one with a strong jawline, short but styled hair, and a modest Crown with a name in an unknown language around him. The detail is amazing, comparable to the ones from my old world. In my opinion the King looks stong, but the crown design suggests a fair ruler.
Turning it over my eyes are delivered another feast of details, this side depicting what I can only assume to be a dragon, posed as if it's crawling on top of the coin. Whatever this kingdom is, they certainly chose the right artist to make their coins!
Turning to the first copper I'm somewhat surprised, but only because it depicts what I originally expected: a different king, but one with an overly ornate crown depicted on his head, the image mirrored on both sides. This coin has seen much more use than the silvers or gold, with most of its details smoothed out.
The second copper matches the maze pattern, but I find the third matches the Dragon backed Silver from before, though also with smoothed details from use.
'So, that tells me there's at least two kingdoms nearby, and one likely more benevolent than the other.'
I pause in my observation, taking a moment for a different consideration before tossing all the coins into my mouth and swallowing. Opening the Gluttonous Gut menu to find the coins are listed separately based on material, I take note they're all marked for Absorption.
Activating the option on a copper the number decreased by one, down to two left.
I close the Gut menu and open the Mimic Modification Menu, pleasantly surprised to find my curiosity answered.
Species: Mimic Modification Menu
Available Forms
1: Mimic [Default]
2: Limestone Rock
3: Copper Coin
* Material:+0 Damage Resistance
* Options
* Maze Faced Coin
Material Options
1: Limestone Rock
2: Copper
Form Options:
A: Rock
B: Coin
'So coins aren't separated by image in my Gut, but are options for Mimicry. I guess either I don't have enough material for "Damage Resistance", or I can't make it thick enough to get it at that size. I also wonder if this will still be an option if I get bigger. Oh!'
Remembering the other effect of Absorbing items, I check the main Menu and find my weight increased to 0.88 ounces.
I swap between windows and consume the remaining copper coins, seeing my weight increase to 1.64 ounces and surprisingly detailed Mimicry options
3: Copper Coin
* Material:+0 Damage Resistance
* Options
* Maze Faced Coin
* Kingdom of Altros
* - King Altros II
* Kingdom of Dragoon
* - King William
'Didn't expect to get information like this. So the two (likely nearby) Kingdoms are Altros and Dragoon. Pretty sure I can guess which coin has which face on it.'
Having my hunger mostly sated and no real reason to rush, I decide to see how flexible Mimicry is:
I turn into the Altros copper and adjust the scale of King Altros the 2nd's face on both sides of the coin, making it smaller and larger, creating "eyes" where his are and splitting half of the coin as I open "his" mouth and sticking out my tongue. Despite the coins details themself being smooth, I can sharpen the edges based on what I think is right and adjust how shiny the surface looks. I can tell I am, by default, slightly thicker than a real copper, but can fake being 3 copper stuck together for a thicker form.
I decide to hold off Absorbing the other coins as there doesn't seem to be any benefit beyond adding weight.
I do however, decide to further experiment with a new form.
I combine two copper sandwiching a rock, with bug eyes around the exterior face and a ring of them near the coins on the inside, with my mouth on the center rock.
Sitting still the four sets of eyes overlapping views gives me a full 360 view of my environment. Some areas are still blurry near the coin edges, even when I focus my attention there.
Sticking my tongue out I use it like a leg (or arm?), pushing myself away from the spot and allowing me to roll, repeating the action to maintain momentum. My vision immediately spins in the process, but I can maintain a sense of sight by keeping myself focused "forward", automatically swapping focus between eyes.
I snicker at my own joke, openly garbaling "Transformers, roll out!"