Chapter 21
(the Bobbit)
It was now time for Jarow to confront the boss. As she looked down the final tunnel, her heart fluttering with a mix of nerves and determination, she psyched herself up. She'd managed to handle the other Thu'kri in this dungeon quite well, thanks to her ever-refining strategies.
"The boss is probably just a supersized version of the rest of these bugs," she reassured herself.
Spotting the boss room was a breeze; it was the only spot in the dungeon that was illuminated. It lay at the end of a short tunnel, covered up by moss like a curtain dividing one room from another. She supposed it was to keep the light from spilling out of the room and disturbing the other residents, but that was just speculation on her part.
As Jarow approached, her Thermovision dimmed, and she found a concealed spot behind a rocky outcrop to observe without being easily noticed.
However, upon peeking into the boss room, Jarow realized her assumptions were probably wrong. This chamber was unlike anything she'd seen before. What drew her gaze first was the peculiar honeycomb lining the walls. Crafted from an eerie, translucent substance, it seemed to pulse with life, its colors shifting and swirling.
Slithering cautiously into the room, Jarow sensed the honeycomb reacting to her presence. The cells glowed brighter, their hues intensifying. A strange sensation tingled along her scales, as though she were wrapped in a comforting warmth.
Curiosity overcoming caution, Jarow reached out to touch one of the hexagonal cells. It felt soft and yielding, pulsing beneath her fingertips. A surge of energy coursed through her, causing her to recoil with a gasp.
Surveying the room, Jarow noticed that the honeycomb wasn't confined to the walls; it adorned the floor and ceiling as well. It was as if the entire chamber was woven from this living, breathing substance.
Jarow moved further into the room, but swiftly darted behind a low wall positioned to the left of the entrance. From this vantage point, she could see the entire room and intended to seize the opportunity to observe its occupants from this safer viewpoint before making any moves.
The Thu'kri inhabiting this space differed slightly from those she had encountered thus far. Shorter in stature, they sported a distinct red stripe running down their backs. Unlike their counterparts, they wielded only a single blade, while the arm that would have held a second blade instead bore another of their peculiar three-pronged hands.
From the cells lining the walls, the Thu'kri scurried forth, each carrying a viscous, milky substance in their prongs. This peculiar concoction was offered to a gathering of large, bulbous creatures occupying the room. These round, yellowish slug-like creatures eagerly lapped up the offering, utilizing their small, vestigial arms and grubby, elongated fingers to ensure not a drop was wasted as it disappeared into their toothless mouths.
The squat yellow creatures formed a semi-circle around a much larger being, towering on four spindly legs, each leg easily ten meters long with a single bend in the middle. The legs extended upwards before folding almost back on themselves to support the creature's bulk.
The boss creature itself was equally peculiar in appearance, with a long, thin body pointing horizontally towards a large, spade-shaped head crowned by a pair of glowing red eyes. Its skin bore a mottled green and brown hue, adorned with a thick coating of spines running down its abdomen.
It was evident that the red-striped Thu'kri attended to the smaller bulbous creatures, offering them the milky substance as sustenance. Their movements were careful and deliberate, as if handling something fragile.
As for the larger creature, it exuded authority among the group, towering over the others and commanding respect. The red-striped Thu'kri deferred to it, while the bulbous creatures cowered in its presence, indicating its role as the undisputed leader.
As Jarow observed, one of the yellow blobs rolled backward, emitting a grating and inhuman scream. Its lower end widened, and a large green ovum slid out from the slime-covered orifice.
After the screaming ceased, the fat yellow creature began to make another strange sound, almost like a bird's cooing, but accompanied by the clicking of mandibles and occasional wheezing grunts.
The large, spiky boss monster turned its gaze downward at the sound, as if assessing the smaller creature's new noises. Then, raising up on its long legs and angling away from the wheezing creature, a long, spiky protrusion violently emerged from its underside, piercing into the still-open orifice of the yellow blob that had just laid the egg.
The bulbous yellow creature emitted another scream which echoed through the room. This new cry resembled the first cry, when the egg had nearly torn open the creature's cloaca. The small round creature was then penetrated by the boss's reproductive appendage, lifted from the ground, and vibrated with its movements until it finally withdrew. The yellow blob fell to the floor and sighed, as if relieved to be finished with the torturous act just perpetrated by the larger being.
While the large spiky monster was preoccupied with ejecting another load of fertilizer into the fat yellow creature, the red-striped Thu’kri collected the recently laid egg and transported it away, adding it to a sizable pile of green eggs near the back wall.
After firmly placing the egg, the Thu'kri turned its back to it and emitted a strange, clear sticky substance from its rear end. Using its own glue-like secretion, it secured the egg in its position on the pile.
The entire process had only lasted about a minute, but the memory of this disturbing scene would haunt Jarow forever. She felt her stomach muscles spasm, but the retching never came.
“This... This is disgusting. Are you seeing this?” she asked Xinpo.
“I am sorry, suzerain. My aura does not extend to take in the entire scene. From what I can observe, we are dealing with a feeding and egg-laying situation. I can sense there is a larger creature there as well, but it is just beyond my range.”
“Be glad you can’t see what’s going on. It’s disgusting. And we have to kill this thing?” Jarow's stomach clenched again.
“If you wish for the loot from this dungeon, then yes, suzerain. I suggest watching for a while longer to see if you can determine any weaknesses or vulnerable spots that you can take advantage of,” Xinpo advised Jarow.
----------------------------------------
Jarow watched for another five minutes, witnessing the unchanging routine, only a switch in partners. The rape and removal of the eggs happened three more times during those five minutes. The speed at which these things could reproduce was incredible. Finally, unable to bear the revolting sight any longer, she turned away.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Nope, I can’t watch anymore. I am going to puke up my own stomach if I have to watch another egg slide out of those things' buttholes,” Jarow declared with a quick head shake. “It’s time to make these things dead.”
Inside Jarow’s mind, Xinpo’s laughter could be felt. She felt a little used and upset, but had to admit she would have done the same if the situation were reversed and made Xinpo watch the disturbing sight.
Before initiating the large fight, Jarow had the presence of mind to cast Identify on the creatures in the room. She hoped that any additional information she could gather about them would prove useful.
The red-striped Thu’kri revealed nothing significantly different from the ones she had encountered throughout the dungeon, except for being identified as Caretaker Thu’kri. Next, she focused her attention on identifying the yellow blob monsters.
Thu’kri Breeding Chattel: This unfortunate creature is the only female of the Thu’kri species. Their role is to propagate.
While disturbing, the description didn’t really provide any useful information. Jarow was really hoping for some stats or abilities; something she could use to assist in her upcoming battle.
Without much hope of any better information she redirected her Identify skill onto the large, pokey-pecker looking boss.
Thu’kri Kenthrophallate (BOSS): The Thu’kri Kenthrophallate may look like a strangely rigid phallus with large “spikes for her pleasure”, but it can be quite dangerous as well.
Level: 24
HP: 104 - MP: 44 - SP: 104
"What in the…” Jarow thought to herself and copied the text just in case Xinpo had a different description. As she dismissed the window and glanced at the monster again, she noticed a red HP bar floating in a semi-circle above its head.
"Can you see that too, Xinpo?" she inquired.
"Indeed, suzerain, the HP bar should prove to be very helpful," Xinpo confirmed.
The HP bar wasn’t what she was talking about so pasted the text into a new window, but as last time the text was completely different when pasted.
Thu’kri Kenthrophallate (BOSS): The Thu’kri Kenthrophallate is a dangerous enemy with thick skin and dangerous spikes.
Level: 24
HP: 104 - MP: 44 - SP: 104
"Of course," Jarow thought to herself. She had the feeling that would be the case whenever she attempted to copy the personalized text.
"Are you ready to try this? Do you have any ideas on how to better defeat these guys?" Jarow asked Xinpo, choosing not to bring up the text issue right now.
"While there are other strategies we could attempt, I believe the Zombie Hands and subsequent attack spells and swordplay will remain the best option," Xinpo replied after a brief thought.
"Well, if I die, I'll see you when I get back. Good luck," Jarow said with determination.
"It is I who should be wishing good fortune upon you, suzerain," Xinpo responded.
Jarow smiled and focused. She knew this was going to be a tough battle. While she was grateful to see the boss's HP bar, she wished she had noticed any additional weak spots to exploit or come up with a better strategy. She hadn’t really learned anything of import while watching the continual rape and egg-laying of these pitiful creatures.
She positioned the semi-translucent targeting circle for the Zombie Hands spell where it could ensnare all six of the yellow egg-popper creatures, as well as the front two legs of the boss monster. In doing so, she discovered that there was a limited range available for placing the targeting circle. She extended it as far as possible to get it into position.
Uncertain if the smaller Thu’kri with the stripes would attack in the same manner as the others, she deemed them a lesser threat in this scenario. She planned to pick them off one by one while the boss was occupied with the Zombie Hands.
She hated giving up her element of surprise in this way, but with the numerous enemies scattered so far apart, this battle would inevitably escalate into an all-out brawl, so removing the fodder was the best strategy in her opinion.
"Here goesss nothing," she whispered.
Skeletal hands burst from the ground, reaching out to grasp anything within reach. It was the first time she had witnessed the spell in action under her own eyesight. Surprisingly, the hands were not as gruesome as she had imagined, for which she was grateful.
All of the yellow blob creatures were immediately ensnared by the skeletal hands, eliciting screams akin to those they emitted during egg-laying. The cacophony of all six of them screaming simultaneously was almost deafening.
She had to act though, so Jarow emerged from behind the wall and summoned her first Ice Bullet, aiming it at the closest Caretaker Thu'kri.
However, before she could release it, movement from an unexpected direction drew her attention back to the center of the room. The boss, Ken’s-phallus or whatever, showed no signs of being hindered by the Zombie Hands and was charging straight toward her.
"Uh oh," she heard herself say.
She swiftly redirected her Ice Bullet and aimed it at the charging boss monster. It struck directly in the center mass. And did nothing.
"Ssshit!" she exclaimed, opting to cast Weapon Whirlpool instead of another Ice Bullet, hoping the floating weapons might aid in defending her against something so large.
Within seconds, the enormous spiky-weiner was within striking distance. Not her striking distance unfortunately, but it’s own.
The boss monster lifted up, balancing on its three remaining spindly legs, and shot out the fourth leg at lightning speed toward Jarow’s chest.
Using Dash, Jarow narrowly dodged the incoming attack. However, she didn’t escape unscathed; the appendage, which she now realized had a serrated edge running along its back, sliced deep into her right arm as it withdrew.
Although the quick movement placed her several feet to the side, the leg pulled back as swiftly as it had shot forward, leaving Jarow with no chance to strike back before it was gone.
"This is bad," she thought.
"Frozen Moment?" Xinpo suggested.
Jarow shook her head. She needed to maneuver the creature into a position where she could inflict real damage. It was still too far away. “Ice isn’t effective, so how about fire?” Jarow thought while still moving to evade the creature's attacks. She cast Spontaneous Combustion.
A large burst of flame erupted around the boss monster's midsection. It began to shake, or rather vibrate. The vibrations coursed through its long body until the flames were extinguished. A small scorch mark was left along the shaft, but no real damage was visible in its HP bar.
Now it was the Kenthrophallate’s turn to attack. Instead of using its leg as a spear like before, a long, flexible but rigid pole-like weapon emerged from underneath the monster. It elongated and began waving back and forth, its end adorned with large two-inch spikes dripping with what Jarow could only assume was its baby-making-juice.
This was the same part of the boss's body it used to impregnate the Breeding Chattel. The organ launched outward in a lance-like stab, and Jarow easily dodged the spear, but apparently, the monster wasn’t going for a stab and the organ swung sideways before Jarow realized what was happening.
Xinpo screamed a warning in Jarow’s mind, but it was too late. The spiked club slammed into Jarow’s side, its momentum carrying her ten feet to the side until she was stopped by the honeycombed wall.
The slight flexibility of the wall actually worked in Jarow’s favor. Instead of suffering impact damage against a solid wall, she bounced off lightly and quickly regained her senses.
“Ewww!” she screamed, feeling the slimy substance from the spiked mace covering her side. The pain from the spikes covering the pecker-club was intense, so Jarow cast Minor Heal on herself.
The wound had taken almost a third of her HP, and while the Minor Heal spell barely moved her bar upward, it did soothe the pain and close the skin.
A simple plan popped into Jarow’s head. She didn’t have high hopes of it working, but she knew she had to act quickly to survive.
The schlong-boss didn’t pause, quickly moving to follow Jarow to where it had thrown her. It looked like it was about to strike once again. The spiked polearm, which it must keep up inside its shaft of a body, began to wave in anticipation.
“Complete Cleanse!” she all but screamed inside her head. Closing her eyes, she felt the burst of bright white light shoot out from the sword in her hand. She had moved her sword forward and coiled her body back against the wall.
The light of Complete Cleanse washed over both Jarow and the Kenthrophallate. Since Jarow had her eyes closed, she was unaffected by its blinding brightness. Opening her eyes to check if the light had affected the boss monster, she saw that it had staggered back. Quickly, she braced herself against the wall.
“Frozen Moment!” she telepathically screamed out as she propelled herself off the wall like a spring, activating Dash in the same instant.
The effect was more dramatic than even she had anticipated. The bright flash had caused the boss monster to close its large bulbous eyes from pain. It also had the bonus side effect of cleaning the slimy goo from her as-of-yet unclad skin.
With the monster stunned, Jarow had Xinpo freeze time and launched herself from the wall. The spring action from her coiled-up tail and the added speed from Dash shot Jarow forward like a rocket.
Similarly to how the Thu'kri threw themselves like spears with their blades held forward, Jarow launched herself at the midsection of the imposing, shaft-like body. Instead of keeping her blades pointed forward, she crossed them into a scissor-like formation, reminiscent of how she had divided the Thu’kri in the tunnel earlier.
As she made contact with the spiky, thick carapace, she braced her arms and then wrenched them to either side. Jarow transformed herself into a large pair of scissors, and her swords, Xinpo and Shiarra, easily sliced through the hard skin of the Kenthrophallate. They bit deep into the flesh, and the forward momentum and scissor-like movement easily carved through the meat, tendons, and organs of the insectoid creature.
Jarow's movement slowed, but she carried enough forward momentum to land with a thud on the now bloody stump of the monster's body. Her stomach stayed planted atop the lower half of the creature, balancing with her tail stretched out behind.
She watched as the still frozen upper half of the beast floated in mid-air for the last two seconds of the Frozen Moment ability's duration. Then time began again, and she could see the huge eyes atop the shaft looking down at its lower half, which remained standing while its head and upper half fell limply to the ground.
The look of surprise in its huge eyes was priceless, and Jarow couldn't help but smile and wave at the head of the boss while still lying on the stump of its bisected body.
With a whoosh and then a thud, the top half of the Kenthroplallate landed on the floor of the large honeycombed chamber while Jarow looked onward as the Caretaker Thu'kri began to get their wits about them.