'Well, that didn't last long.' I think, having returned to walking on my tongue. Not all ideas are good ones; I didn't get any motion sickness from it, I could manage to keep watch where I was heading, but the process had built up a massive headache.

'I guess I should be glad having so many eyes isn't a problem in itself, but constantly swapping focus between one of eight eyes, multiplied by four sets, is too much.'

I got to the end of the current section of hallway before switching back to inchworm mode, though I don't know where I'm going. Or why I ended up picking this direction; It's not like I have a goal or anything, outside of getting away from that room. I don't like aimless wandering, but having nothing to go by is-

"... I am such an idiot."

Sometimes you have to look at yourself and wonder how you could miss so many obvious things, like having recognized an area was well traveled compared to another AND choosing to go that way. Or finding a coin purse that clearly had to have been carried by someone. I mean sure, I could attribute the well traveled path to Goblins or such, but the purse? That should have rung a few bells.

'And since the purse was barely chewed on by that roach, that means it couldn't have been there for long. Ergo, some people had to have come through here quite recently.'

Perhaps that as well is why I haven't really encountered anything; I'm literally following in their footsteps and everything has already been slain. If that's true, all the better it is for me; I'd rather be safe than sorry. But that does leave a couple of questions:

First off, are they going deeper into the dungeon, or leaving it? Unless I happen to find something they drop indicating a direction there's no way for me to find out. I could get lucky either way if they've built some kind of "safe zone" they're heading for.

Second issue: I'm a monster. Perhaps a very tiny one, but still not human. I could possibly pretend to be a coin and get picked up, but that'd put me at risk of being squashed by accident. Or dropped down a well, or who knows what else. I could see if they have a "monster tamer"; I'm not above being someones pet, but that'd be a 50/50 chance of getting a good person who treats me well or being enslaved to a bastard. This is all assuming I'm not killed on site: kinda hard to convince someone you're harmless when you're dead.

'Speaking of monsters.' I think as I detect a small object moving in the distance: a roach. That is, of course, already coming in my direction. 'No chance of stealth this time. And I know how quick they can dash. So perhaps set up a trap, and see if I can take it out in advance?'

Mentally nodding to myself I Disgorge and Spit four of the stored wads of Stomach Acid, creating a wide "V" shape in front of me, only open in the center. I hope the roach either sees them as obstacles and speeds down the middle or slips on them and can't stop beside me.

Next I Disgorge one of the smaller stones and position it between my lips in an "o" shape to use as a projectile. I inhale a deep breath, and at the moment I begin to exhale with force to launch the stone I Disgorge a "Breath of Air", doubling the pressure.

'Yes!' I give a mental fist pump as the stone sails quickly through the air in a near straight line, touching down on the ground ten inches away and rolls to a stop six inches further.

Preparing another stone in my mouth and a Breath in mind I play the waiting game, gurgling "come on!" and similar out loud whenever the roach pauses and waives it's antennae at me. 'Wait, didn't the Menu say they smell with their antenna? So it's actually sniffing me out when it does that.

'... what do I smell like? And is that something I can change? It'd suck disguising myself as something but smell like a rotting bag of trash.'

I wait a few more minutes as it approaches. It's normal walking speed isn't great… but much faster than myself.

'I can't believe I feel jealous of a roach.' I think as it nears. 'Well, won't be jealous for long.'

"Come on you stupid bug!" I shout, a hint of red entering the edge of my sight as its attention seems to better focus on me.

As it reaches the ten inch mark I fire, the pebble flying quicker than the roach can respond, impacting it in the split second its body begins to tense up.

The hit to the roaches head causes the front of its body to flinch upwards as its Skill activates, its legs launching it up more than forward.

But its legs are still moving, meaning I didn't kill the bugger.

'Can't hold back now.' I think as the roach lands six inches away, Disgorging another stone after taking a deep breath.

This time as I begin to forcibly exhale I add three Breaths, feeling my own body pushed backwards and air forced out of my nasal passage as the volume of pressure far exceeds the space, launching the stone at an unbelievable speed.

I grin in victory as I hear a crack fill the air upon impact, the roaches body knocked back an inch. But my smile fades as I realize it's mandables are locked onto the sides of the stone.

I watch as it sets the stone down as if it were nothing, and wait for its next move: if that stone didn't have enough power behind it, there's no point in doing another. 'If I'm lucky I can try to impale it before it can bite me, but…'

For a long drawn out minute It doesn't move; it just stands there, staring at me with the stone in its jaws as I stare back, ready to attack once it gets close.

It takes a moment longer before my focus moves from its face, scanning the rest of its body.

I prep another stone and a single Breath, cautiously launching it as I expect retaliation. Unlike the others my aim is off, the stone landing slightly to the side of the roach, knocking two of its legs on one side out from under it before rolling past. It's body rocks a bit in response before the rear leg on the same side splays out, the back end of its body collapsing to the ground at an angle to the stone in front of its mouth.

Keeping my eyes on the roach I cautiously open the previous alerts, eyes quickly glancing between them and the bug before finally reaching the last one.

Congratulations-You have defeated an opponent!

You have gained [Zero] Victory Points!

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

I remain cautious as I inchworm forward, giving it a wide berth; the window may say it's dead, but I want to verify it myself.

Getting to the side of it, I realize where I thought it had caught the rock was simply coincidence: the front of its face was crushed in, the force pulling the pincers into their current position.

I take a slow deep breath, letting the tension I was holding escape while reviewing the other windows I had ignored.

NOTICE: An attempt to use a skill that does not exist has been made. Associated skill will be created at Level Zero:

Skill: Taunt [0]

NOTICE: Taunt is a specialized Fighter Class Skill the user is not affiliated with and will level at ¼ rate.

'And how do I GET a Class, oh omniscient menu?' I grumble, not surprised at the lack of response. Whatever this menu system is seems to add effects to whatever you're doing but is too dumb to actually help you learn from it. '... or I'm the fool and have somehow missed figuring out how to get a Class. Well, moving on:'

Your attack against a [Common Roach] was a success!

Force damage has decreased its health by one point! [02/03]

Your attack against a [Common Roach] was a success!

Force damage has inflicted excessive damage of four points, decreasing its health to zero. [00/03]

'Ooh, now THAT is nice! Four points in one attack! Yea, I know it's against a roach, but still!'

A bit of tension builds in my stomach as I move towards the dead bug, knowing what I have to do next. I may have had to eat the last one because it was stuck, but this time it's entirely by choice. While the idea of it is gross, something has been stuck in my mind since the last one that I cannot resist trying.

I move to eat… 'no, let's stick to calling it "Consume". Common words make me want to vomit thinking about it, even if I can't actually do it.'

I close my eyes to avoid looking at it in the process, only to be reminded the six bug eyes make doing so pointless, so I mentally debate which end to start with before deciding neither is a better choice.

I pick up the pebble from between its pincers and swallow it, revealing the crushed face previously hidden. I had honestly expected a big mess, and while most of the heads exoskeleton was shattered, it's still attached and hiding everything I'd rather not see.

I flex my tongue and as quickly as I can stretch and maneuver it under the front half of the bug, opening wide and pushing it back against my throat. While this one is larger than the last, once it touches the back of my mouth the rest of its length practically gets sucked in behind it, disappearing in its entirety. 'And thankfully without having to taste it.'

With the worst part over I open the Gluttonous Gut menu, confirming the

Items Available list now includes

"(01) Partially crushed Roach [1,3]".

While still tempted to save it for Nutrients, I choose to absorb it for Mimicry and watch the entry disappear.

Swapping to the Species Menu I confirm my newest addition:

Species: Mimic Modification Menu

Available Forms

1: Mimic [Default]

2: Limestone Rock

3: Copper Coin

4: Deformed Roach

* – Appearance: A common roach with a shattered face carapace.

* – Drawback: due to Damage pincers are nonfunctional.

* Description: "A Roach."

* – Detailed Description: "A common but strangely deformed roach.."

* – Identify Spell: Juvenile Mimic

Material Options

1: Limestone Rock

2: Copper

Form Options:

A: Rock

B: Coin

C : Roach (Damaged)

'Hua, that description seems out of place. Isn't that going to make people more curious if they read that?'

Also interesting, "Roach" is listed under form options, but not materials. I would imagine some body parts of monsters could be used as materials, but maybe they'd require processing to be used as such? Or it could just be an issue with the Mimicry system, which I am still surprised a bug is an optional form for a creature that's known for imitating inanimate objects. I wasn't entirely sure if it'd work either, considering it was about three inches long, but it's body is mostly flat compared to my round self. 'Well– current round self, but not for long.'

I select the Roach form and activate it, my vision decreasing as eight eyes reduce to two, yet feel awkward excitement as six legs sprout out of my body, three on each side, and lift my body off the ground.

I move each leg individually, realizing I instinctively know how to move them and walk without having to guess. I don't know how much faster I'll be able to move, but anything will be an improvement!

First however, I need to experiment. I grow a bug eye on the end of a front leg and hold it up, providing an outside view of my face– and all the cracks in the carapace caused by the rock, in addition to the big dent they're in. I attempt to move the pincers but find those muscles do not function.

'That's interesting; it seems I can only copy things based on the state they're in when consumed? I know how it should look, but can't force the shape to correct itself. But can I really not fix it?'

I begin to create a new form using the roach as a base, inflating the shattered section by mixing in my core Mimic form. I mix in a section of leg at the base of each pincer and slightly enlarge the pincers themselves, allowing them to move slightly more than naturally possible. I replace the partially crushed Roach eyes with two of my original bug eyes, adding a third between them on the front and three small ones ringing the top of my rear end, giving a half dome view of my surroundings.

I'm physically reminded bugs don't have lungs- their breath passing through tubes in the thorax and abdomen, which would make me lose one of my newest weapons in this form. Rather than accept this I mix in parts of my own form, creating a pseudo-lung as a fillable air bladder in the center of my body with tight muscles around it for compression. I have to do a few other modifications to allow my body to expand with air, but none of them change my appearance when deflated.

I DO however, increase my maximum size to its newest weight limit- the roach adding its 0.8 ounces, bringing me up to 2.44 ounces total. My size practically doubles, making me far more formidable to any normal roach I meet next.

Out of curiosity I open the Mimic menu, finding it updated itself to a new description:

Species: Mimic Modification Menu

4: Bullet Roach

* – Description: "A Bullet Roach."

* – Detailed Description: "A large roach capable of firing small projectiles."

* – Identify Spell: Juvenile Mimic

'Wait, did that already exist? Am… Am I being influenced by this place? Were the changes I made guided to match something already here? Or is it just making up a name to match what I did?

'I hope it's the latter, because if not I've been super lucky so far.'

I summon a pebble, now comparably smaller to my form than before, and push it out to hold between my pincers and against my mouth, ready to fire it when needed. Flexing my six legs I move forward, finally able to walk properly again, hopefully ready for whatever I may encounter.