“So you don't actually believe he's a noble, right?” Torra asked.
“Oh of course not,” Aldrina answered. She looked back at Michael over her shoulder. He was shuffling, drenched in sweat, and at some point, he took off his strange-looking pants. Disgusting.
“Why is he covered in sweat? He has resistance to the heat.” She asked inward.
“Probably Because he's so fat!” Torra exclaimed.
“You know that's not nice Torra.” she said as she hid a laugh.
They continued their march through the desert. The sun was high in the sky, beating them with unbearable heat. The only relief was when a floating island passed under the sun, providing shade. When Michael first saw a floating island a few Hours pass he was excited, nearly falling backward in awe. While he was still happy to see them he was just too exhausted to care.
Aldrina stopped suddenly. “Whats u-?” Michael asked just before getting cut off with Aldrina raising her hand. Her long ears started to twitch, and then she smiled
“Michael,” she said suddenly. “We were being followed. Time to Show me what you got.” She moved to a rock and sat down.
Before Michael could respond a small whirlpool of sand formed and a large scorpion-like creature crawled out. It had a sandy color and was armed with two rather large stingers. To Michael’s surprise, it started to speak.
“You! YOU! AtE mY ChilDrEn!” “Its voice was gravelly and deep. By reflex, Michael activated his [Dragon's Sight].
[Name: Scorthion]
[Level: 7]
[HP: 375]
“Have fun, ‘young master’” Aldrina said as she waved from her rock.”I'll jump in if it's too rough for you. But I want to see your skills”
As Michael was looking at Aldrina the large scorthion charged at him and smacked him with its tails. The blow caught Michael off guard, sending him stumbling backward. Pain shot through his body as the scorpion's stingers left a deep scratch across his side. Gritting his teeth, he regained his footing, determined not to show any weakness.
“FUCK! THAT HURT!” Michael shouted. Michael looked at his HP. It was at 24 out Of 31. “shit” he cursed. His rage filled him as he readied his sword and charged at the monster. Once he is close he swings his sword, hoping to slash it. However, the scorthion caught the blade in its pincer. “NIcE Try HumAN.” it said in its horrible voice. “OH, i canT WaiT To Melt YOur InNarDs anD SliRp ThE Goo ThAt WiLl seeP Out. IT wilL bE DeliciOuS. LiKe a plump juiCy graPe.
Michael shivered in fear as it edged closer to his face. He knew he should have let go of the sword and ran but the fear paralyzed him.
[Status effect: Feared]
“Michael! You need to run!” he heard Embora shout at him, but he was too scared to move. Suddenly Aldrina slammed into the scorthion’s side with her shield. This causes Michael to snap out of his fear.
[Status effect: Feared removed]
The Scorthion recoiled from Aldrina’s powerful shield bash, its pincers releasing Michael's sword with a sharp clang. It screeched in frustration, its segmented body writhing as it tried to regain its balance.
“Wha? What happe-” Michael started but was interrupted.
“You alright? Good. I Can't let you die. You're going to pay me first.”. Said Aldrina.
He wasn't happy that she put pit him in this situation but it wasn't the time to dwell on it. She looked at her, she was wearing the armor that she dragged around, a large Shield that anyone would mistake for a fridge, and an equally ridiculously large sword in her other hand.
“NoT fAir! NoT FAir! You inteRruPted My mEal!” the Scorthion screeched in its gravelly, disjointed voice. Its rage was palpable, the creature’s segmented body quivering with anger as it thrashed about. Michael barely had time to react as the beast reared back, its pincers raised high, before slamming them into the ground with a thunderous crash.
The impact sent tremors through the sand, shaking the ground beneath Michael’s feet. He stumbled, struggling to maintain his balance as the vibrations grew more intense. Aldrina, standing a few paces away, narrowed her eyes as she observed the creature’s strange behavior.
The Scorthion’s pincers remained embedded in the sand, its body trembling violently as it began to emit a low, ominous hum. Michael could feel the vibrations reverberating through the air, growing stronger and more erratic with each passing second. It was as if the very earth beneath them was alive, reacting to the creature’s fury.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Suddenly, the sand around the Scorthion began to churn and shift once more, but this time, it wasn’t just the ground that was moving. From the swirling sands, smaller versions of the Scorthion began to emerge—tiny, scuttling horrors that crawled out from the depths. Their exoskeletons glistened in the harsh sunlight, and their pincers clicked menacingly as they surrounded Michael and Aldrina.
“NoW mY cHiLdReN WiLL FeaSt On yOu!” the Scorthion roared, its voice a twisted symphony of rage and malice.
Michael’s eyes widened in horror as the swarm of smaller Scorthions closed in, their numbers growing by the second. Each one was about the size of a large dog, their pincers snapping hungrily as they moved in perfect unison, directed by the larger Scorthion’s will. The sand beneath their feet seemed to pulse with life, responding to the creatures’ every movement.
Aldrina stood her ground, her shield raised, ready to fend off the oncoming horde.
“Michael, stay close! I wasn't expecting reinforcements,” she shouted.
The smaller Scorthions lunged at them, their pincers snapping viciously. Aldrina’s shield became a blur of motion as she blocked and bashed the incoming creatures, but the sheer number of them was overwhelming. Despite her best efforts, a few of the smaller Scorthions managed to slip past her defenses, scuttling towards Michael with alarming speed.
Michael's eyes widened as the creatures closed in on him. His heart raced, and his grip tightened on his sword. He swung wildly at the nearest Scorthion, managing to slice one in half, but two more leaped at him from different angles.
“Michael, watch out!” Aldrina called, her voice urgent as she struggled to keep the horde at bay.
Thinking quickly, Aldrina hurled her heavy shield at the advancing creatures. The shield slammed into one of the Scorthions, crushing it with a sickening crunch. But there was still one left, and it was already in mid-air, lunging straight for Michael.
In a panic, Michael flinched and raised his sword defensively, pointing it outward. The Scorthion had too much momentum to stop, and it impaled itself on the blade. Michael felt the weight of the creature pressing down as it writhed in its death throes before going still and sliding off his sword, collapsing lifelessly at his feet.
Michael stood frozen, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He couldn’t believe he’d actually survived the attack. His hands trembled, still clutching the hilt of his sword as golden-green lights trickled into him.
[You have reached level ‘3’]
[‘10’ stat points gained]
[‘20’ unspent stat points]
[Would you like to spend your points now?]
>[Yes] [No]
“Michael! You need to spend your points! It will help you in this fight!” Embora shouted from a distance, her voice tinged with urgency.
“Wh-What should I spend them on?” Michael asked, still shaken from the attack and unsure of what to do.
“You’re a fighter, Michael. I'd recommend putting them into Strength,” Embora advised her tone firm.
With trembling hands, Michael opened his stat sheet.
[Level 3]
[Strength: 15]
[Dexterity: 13]
[Constitution: 14]
[Intelligence: 11]
[Wisdom: 12]
[Perception: 10]
[‘20’ unspent points]
Michael hesitated for a moment, then made his decision. He put all his points into Strength, watching as the number climbed from 15 to 35.
Almost immediately, his muscles began to ripple and shift, growing denser and more defined. It was an unsettling sensation as if his body was being molded from the inside out.
[You have unread skill notifications.]
[Would you like to read notifications?]
>[Yes] [no]
“Yes!” Michael shouted.
[You have gained the skill ‘Flamethrower’]
[Warning: this is a-
“Oh hell yeah! I can breathe fire!?” Michael closed his screen and started running at the mother Scorthion.
“What are you doing Michael?”
“I Have a plan,” he said internally to Embora.
“Hey! Aldrina! I have a plan, hold the smaller ones back for me!” Michael shouted as he ran passed her.
Seeing the large Scorthion not moving much Michael jumps onto the creature and tries to hold her down. “Alright strength, don’t fail me now!” he cries out with his newfound strength proving to be too much for the creature as she gets pinned down.
“WhAt ArE yOu DoIng?! GeT OFf Of mE!” it shouted and struggled.
With his free hand, Michael grabbed the creature’s jaw and pried it open. “You ready? Because I’m about to spit some hot fire at ya! That sounded way better in my head. Whatever. [Flamethrower!]”
“No! Wait, Michael!” Embora’s voice shouted in panic, but it was too late.
Instead of a blazing torrent of fire, Michael felt an intense, burning sensation in his chest, like the worst acid reflux he had ever experienced. Thick, white-hot goo began to ooze from his mouth, searing his tongue and throat.
“WHaT ARe YoU dOiNg?! StOp THis!” the Scorthion commanded, its voice strained with pain and irritation.
A giant glob of burning goo plopped into the creature’s mouth. The Scorthion thrashed violently, desperately trying to spit out the searing substance. The goo bubbled and hissed, creating an acrid stench that filled the air. The creature’s mouth was engulfed in flames, its eyes began to pop and sizzle, and it was slowly melting under the intense heat.
[You killed’ Mother Scorthion]
More gold-green sparks flew into Michael.
[You have reached level ‘5’]
[‘20’ stat points gained]
This was the last thing Michael saw before passing out.