It wasn't long before I heard another solider millipede heading my way. I sighed in frustration. I'd been searching the ground as I went for any more glow worms to eat but I hadn't found any yet. I was getting seriously tired of the hollow feeling in my stomach. Something about leveling meant you didn't have to eat for a while after it happened, but that didn't make it pleasant. Unlike the little millipedes before I had yet to find a perfect strategy to deal with the members of the solider caste. Instead, I just kneeled with hands in my lap and waited. As soon as it came range of my advanced dark vision I took deep breaths to steady myself, succeeding in a certain extent in letting go of my worry- I had done this before after all.

Skill unlocked:

Meditation I

Able to enter a mediative state that calms emotions

10% increased regen rates

If this also effected health I had just won the skills lottery. Not wanting to die mid-fight because the system told me I had gained a level in some rare 'drunken boxing' skill I disabled notification till just after I was finished killing this thing, learning from previous mistakes of not receiving important updates for an embarrassing amount of time. Prepared as I could be in a tunnel underground with no weapons fighting a large dog sized millipede, I remained still as I waited for the inevitable lunge. After a moment the bug reached lunging distance paused, and did exactly what I expected it too. Leaning forward I grabbed it's pincers and forced them down to earth accepting the pain incoming from sliced fingers. Shoving it's mandibles into the dirt I met it's forward lunge with a vicious lunge of my own. My headbutt fractured it's skull to great extent and partially stunned the insect leaving it limp in front of me. However, because I was kneeling down when I met the bugs rush the blowback from my headbutt sent me falling backwards to sprawl on the floor.

Panicking I tired to use my slightly bleeding hands to hoist myself up so I could drag my legs under me. Unfortunately the temporary stupor my heabutt had brought on had faded and now the millipede looked on with malevolence in it's beady eyes. Wishing for a way to defend myself I realized I already had one. I glared at the bugs beady eye with rage as I thought about all the times I'd been covered in blood and goopy brain matter In these fights, I felt liquid swell in my mouth as I did so. As soon as it felt there was enough I spit towards the bugs eye with as much force as I could muster, surprisingly the homemade projectile shot out like a baseball pitch and nailed my gloating foe right in it's cruelty filled eye. It released a sharp hiss of pain and reared up dramatically, giving me enough time to get myself facing in the right direction as it slammed back down again. It paused to glare at me with it's still good eye, Which of course was all the window I needed. I launched myself forward off all fours leading with my hard head. This time I hit the front of it's face just above it's mouth eliminating it's other eye. It's skull shattered causing fatal damage to the brain. It began to thrash about violently as it perished, provoking me to smash it's brain with my fist. I was grateful these things weren't fully sentient thinking opponents as otherwise, I would definitely be dead.Lesson learnt about siting like a samurai preparing for battle, I set off forward down the tunnel.

Finally not long after I had crawled over dead behemoth number 2, I came to a fork in the tunnel. Laughing excitedly at the fact I was making actual visible progress toward the exit I picked the right path figuring it would lead deeper into the hive.

It was almost eerie to crawl through the empty tunnels. There were multiple forking paths and intersections and I passed many rooms full of empty eggs and cocoons. I didn't know what the life cycle of an earth millipede was but the creepy caves of hanging burst cocoons told me it was probably different from this freakishly large colony. Every time there were multiple routes to take I chose the path that sloped down the most hoping it would lead me to the centre of the hive. Any time I found where the designated toilet caves were or the insect graveyards, I turned around and went back to turn the other way. I only met one more solider millipede and it was when I was leaving one of these bathroom caves. There was an awkward pause between us as he was caught going to the toilet cave and I was caught leaving it before ,of course, battle ensued. This time it didn't last long with me launching myself to meet his lunge straight away and using the moment it was stunned to kill it. After a couple hours of searching passed, I turned down a tunnel that dramatically sloped down.

I slid down on my belly slowly cautiously coming to an awkward stop in front of the entrance to the hives throne room. There was actual light coming from within the main chamber and as excited as I was to see properly for the first time I wasn't excited to see what the light revealed.

Two massive solider millipedes sat curled upon themselves, almost reaching the chambers elevated ceiling. The roof of the tunnel I was in sloped up to a grand height, leaving enough room for me to have a human ladder three people long and still not reach the ceiling. They easily surpassed a height of 18 feet. I was confused as to why the room was so massively oversized but I didn't have time to ponder insect architecture right now. Sweat ran down my skin in rivulets as the bloody queens guard slowly lowered themselves to the floor. They were no less intimidating on the ground than they were towered over me.

Their legs were thicker then my forearm and ended in points that glinted with the fiery light coming from within the throne room they guarded. Their black carapace shifted with each movement perfectly covering their massive bear sized bodies. They had two mandibles curved round from each side of the mouth with the second set slightly smaller in order to better scoop their prey inwards. I could actually see their mouths lined with stake teeth chattering in expectation and hunger. The width of the mouth was terrifying as I could easily be fully encompassed by it's cavernous depth. In-fact they were both so wide I would need to take at least three steps in one direction to get around them. So to put it simply, I was doomed. I couldn't fight these beasts. But, did I really need to be the one fighting them?

A plan ready, I conjured up images of not only when I was covered in the disgusting insides of these bugs but also when I had been struck with searing pains as they tried to literally eat me. My mouth once again filled with the mana mixture and this time when I spat at the millipede it traveled with the speed of a bullet. Unfortunately my aim was off and I shot just above the eye hitting the bugs left antenna and shearing it off. In response It remained completely silent rushing towards me with the frightening speed millions of legs granted it. Once again, I pictured all the times the monsters' pincers had dug into me and as soon as my mouth was filled I took careful aim at the insects left eye and spat out the mana at bullet speeds again. This time I managed to hit the apple sized orb and mentally cheered as the bug briefly staggered.

The leftmost bug I had targeted was still in the lead spurred on by it's rage with it's friend lagging behind. I couldn't help but smile as my plan came together. The left member of the queens guards' pincers were now within touching distance forcing me to move. I took a step and dove to the left side of it’s body leaving it to narrowly snap at empty air. Now on the left side of the creature I ran forward as it began to turn towards me in confusion. I had efficiently blinded it on this side and that reason was the only one I wasn't dead right now. However, I had in all my apparent brilliance not thought passed what to do once I reached this point.

My slow circling of the millipede was cut uncomfortably short as it suddenly froze up, causing me to do the same. I heard it's weight shift and felt more then saw my impending death looming ahead of me. All thoughts in my brain vanished. Only one instinct filled my mind- jump. Choosing to trust my monkey brain impulses I chose to jump with all the power my 40 points of strength, emaciated body could muster. I leaped straight up tucking legs into my torso as the millipede slightly lifted a huge portion portion of it's body off the ground and slammed it into the dirt wall, causing the entire hive to shake dramatically. I landed on top of it's shell and almost fell from the aftershock of the impact. Lifting my hand of the shell where I was steadying myself I ran up the insect as it stirred. Reaching the end of the flat top of the bug I jumped off of my leading foot while I still had decent footing towards the head of the opposing millipede. It was in the process of turning around it's self destructive sibling as I flew toward it's antenna. I admired the novelty of being able to jump the height of a bear easily and run across a shifting surface to snag a alien antenna one handed stopping your flight and landing on another shifting surface and not fall over- albeit snapping the antenna in the process. Swiftly reaching out to grab the still connected antenna I leaned forward and conjured images of being mauled by these hideous beings. I spat down onto this ones right eye the projectile traveling the small distance at baseball speeds this time due to the rushed nature of the action. The mana compound slowly sizzled it's way into the millipedes eye making my presence very much known to the right guard. It reared it's head back before slamming it back down at an angle flinging me to the side with the second broken antenna in hand.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The coordination between the two organisms I thought to be previously lacking was apparently still very much there. I felt this strongly as the previously stunned left member of the guards's pincers tore through the waist of my body shearing clean through what was assuredly some vital organs and a rib. This time the rage came easy. I simply focussed on the immense agony ripping through me and spit into the almost completely blind right creatures only functioning eye.Then I rolled to the side screaming in pain.

I was taking a calculated risk. I was assuming that by completely blinding the right millipede and ripping out it's sensory antenna it would become enraged. I was also assuming based of it's brothers display of maneuverability it was actually able to lunge forward unlike I previously thought and in fact was able to do so over a lager distance than it's smaller brethren. I was then hoping that if I was able to get it mad enough it would result to the same base instinct all these stupid bugs seemed to share which was lunge forward and try to eat me.

Thankfully, I was right. The blinded guard jumped toward my rolling and screaming body to sink arm deep into the armoured body of his friend. If I hadn’t started to cough up blood aggressively I would of burst out laughing. Instead I simply stared up at the ceiling with tears in my eyes as I listened to the bugs repeatedly slam into one another and the sounds of their pincers carving up each other’s bodies. Eventually the noises stilled, with the remaining millipede collapsing at my feet, too spent to finish me off. I was starting to think it was finally the end until the insect in front of me stopped breathing.

Level up level 9 0/2500 3 free points +1 strength +1 constitution

Rare skill evoltion

Spite spit

Very rare skill:

Spit mana at blazing speeds doing 14-18 damage. Damage modified by Hatred

Seeing a slim chance for survival I dumped all three points into constitution and dived into meditation. I honestly never spent still moments within the confines of my own mind, surrounding myself with books and assorted media at every opportunity. But, when your life is on the line, it becomes very easy to just focus on breathing and nothing else.

Fighting through the pain I noticed the upgrade to constitution was already making it easier to breathe. The longer I spent in the darkness of meditation the haler I felt. After a long while I felt the place where I had lost part of my torso and was surprised to find fresh sensitive skin there- not fully filled in by any means but defiantly an improvement from gaping wound. Just to make sure I waited another while longer before getting up. I winced as I got to my feet but chose to keep moving anyways, not willing to push my luck any longer. As soon as the system was sure I would notice it's notifications it gave me the following news:

skill leveled:

meditation III

20% regen rates increase

skill unlocked:

pain resistance I

2.5% of pain isn't felt

It was strange how the system was adapting to suit my notification needs without my instruction. Although, it was a living construct that dwelled inside of my brain, so maybe it wasn't that strange.

Wondering through the entry way to the throne room the dimensions of the space suddenly doubled the ones of the entry way I just left. Bored of millipede grand designs I spared a monetary glance to confirm it was dirt just like everything else- it was. I trained my eyes on the actual interesting part of the room, the massive glowing balloon slightly buried dead centre of the room.

The ballooned belly belonged to the millipede queen and the swelled stomach was filled with orange light. The queen was laid diagonally on a ramp of dirt with her face extended on a long neck that ended with a insect face with dark red eyes, literal flaming eye brows and long drooping antenna that curved graciously down from the ceiling. five white millipedes surrounded her pulling cocoons up from the bottom of the pit and handing them of to smaller regular millipedes who helped lift them to the ceiling. The size of the cocoons were huge, needing two white attendants each and as many mini millipedes as could reach to move them toward the massive ceiling. The last white millipede remained down in the pit, presumably to pull the next one out. The white millipedes intrigued me as although they were dog sized they were only as long as I was tall and had rubbery pincers designed to grab the pupating monsters without damaging them.

Deciding I had left this uppity monarch long enough to prepare new things to kill me, I rushed forward to meet it. It glared at me as it let out an ear piercing shriek causing everything in the room to rush into a frenzy, the cocoons to shoot up towards the ceiling and all unoccupied enemies to rush towards me in a tide. taking it in my stride I simply leapt for the free spaces in the hoard whenever they opened, crunching into the varied sizes of carapace more often than not. I fell over twice. Each time my body was covered in small cuts and bruises. But overall they could barley pierce my hardened skin- if they could break through at all- and I scrambled back to my feet pretty quickly. As I got a couple of strides away from the queen she broke off the intense stare she was giving me to shoot two streamers of fire toward the ceiling. The flames entered into the interior of the cocoons and filled them with the same orange of the queens belly, causing them to writhe and swing almost instantly. My foot hit the ground and I powered myself forward in another long stride. As my foot hit the floor again the cocoons burst open with the millipedes inside unfurling down to the ground like sinister living tapestries- their tales remaining up on the ceiling.

I kept going despite the numerous distractions and my next stride led me to the lip of the pit the queen was half submerged in. I fixed my eyes on a part of the dirt ramp she was laid on that she wasn't occupying and jumped towards it. It was at this moment of course the fifth midwife millipede decided to make an appearance. I felt the rubbery pincers close around my shoe from below, causing me to slam into the bottom of the pit. Cringing, I was bought face to face with the quivering reality of insect birth. It was unpleasant to say the least.

Sparing a moment to headbutt the creature responsible for showing me this I wiped its blood from my face before scrabbling up the ramp. I shoved down my feelings of disgust and grabbed the swollen belly of the queen as handholds when necessary.

Almost over, Almost over. I consoled myself with this mantra as I grabbed fistfuls of bug royalty in place of ladder rungs. Finally I reached eye level with miss flaming eye brows and paused to say 'hi'. Confused by this strange invaders actions the queens look of rage briefly changed to surprise. Of course that was a very brief moment and as soon as I tried to to climb further upwards on the queens body she lunged for my neck. Meeting her head on I headbutted her like I had headbutted countless others of her children. Her stubby pincers didn't even reach me before my headbutt caused her to kick the bucket. Her skull was caved in and her eyebrows guttered out.

'Well that was easy'.

I rolled the dead queen of the ramp and walked to the top of it with my hands on my hips. I stood there confidently and surveyed the serfs of my now dead mortal foe. 'So err, where do we go from here?'. A little shiver went down my spine as a thousands of beady eyes turned to glare at me. 'come on guys we can talk this out right?'. One of the bear sized former queens guards hissed loudly to draw my attention. He took a few undulating steps forward his body dipping up and down slowly. He hissed once more, then switched to a bum rush towards me. I sighed in disappointment, this time I was dead. I looked down towards the body of the ex-monarch to console myself. I had ended this community of evil, I could at least take solace in that.

However, the queens body was not how I remembered it. It had landed face up towards me and I could clearly see it was devoid of all life, and yet it's entire body was lit up like a christmas tree. As I saw the bright expanding fiery corpse one word came to mind, bomb.

I once again found myself flying through the air, except this time I was headed as vertical as I could away from the danger. As soon as I hit the ground I rolled and got up, before continuing running. I didn't get as far as I hoped before the queen exploded.

I was the farthest thing from the blast and trusting movie logic I jumped into the air dramatically, hoping the shock wave would help me forward. The entire room was engulfed in flame. I felt like I was boiling within my hardened skin as the flames lingered for the most excruciating second of my life. I was hit in the back by three flaming corpses and went flying into an uncontrolled tumble that ended with me smashing into a wall. I rolled onto my side and started coughing to try to get the feeling of fire burning my throat out. I desperately fought against my agony to enter into meditation, feeling an instant change in the burning sensation I was experiencing. My pain resistance definitely leveled throughout the process. As my burned skin and frazzled nerves slowly repaired I could feel dirt rain fall on to me, irritating me.

I opened my bleary brow-less eyes and stood up amongst the earthen downpour. I picked my way through the smoldering corpses toward the hole opened up in the roof. I kicked a solid round disk while wiping my aching eyes and paused in bewilderment. I was looking at some sort of rounded trap door with an iron handle. Shocked I instantly dropped onto my belly to the floor pulling millipede corpses closer to me and piling dirt on my back in an attempt to camouflage. My patience was rewarded as after a few minutes of waiting I saw a grey long eared face pop over the empty space above. 'Nik Nak?' it chittered. It appeared that after all this time I had actually found civilization, Goblin civilization. I sighed in resignment. 'Please let them be intelligent' I whispered.