Hatchling Red had no wings. If she was a hatchling, then wouldn’t that imply she was a bird? Or could at least grow some later? She held onto this thought as she hid amongst the living foliage, throwing her hood over her face as she hacked a few off and created a makeshift ghillie suit.

Not that it granted any bonuses, or any advantage as she figured that the giant, looming Cave Mosquito was blind just like the wolves. Her evidence?

A giant patch of moss could be found tucked away between two boulders. It shivered as a tinge of red bled through the green. If one didn’t look closely enough, then they’d believe it to be an oversized slug, or a mysterious patch of moss.

This, however, was none other than the infallible Hatchling Red! Two tiny hands protruded from the front as she shaped them into binoculars, observing her blind, buzzing enemy from roughly 50 meters away.

I thought lots of air makes bugs bigger. Do levels do the same? Is that why I’m getting bigger too?

She grated her teeth wondering how she was supposed to take down a flying creature with a rapier-like nose. A couple thoughts came to mind, like wrapping the green glowworms around the handle of her blade like a rope dart. Unfortunately for her, the glowworms were a colony of many, rather than a few super long worms.

This was perhaps the only time she tolerated the creepy crawlies.

At least they didn’t have any legs.

Enhance…

She curled her hands, ‘zooming’ in with her binoculars as she calmly observed the giant mosquito. It was an eyeless, smooth beast shaped like a giant prawn, with 6 stick-like legs that stuck out like blades. They lacked joints, causing it to appear like a giant spike trap waiting to drop on an unsuspecting prey.

However…

… it can retract its legs into its body.

Indeed. The greenish, reflective Mosquito was able to conceal its legs. The purpose confused her, and she wondered if it was to do with its speed? Maneuverability? Creepiness factor?

Why the heck are bugs so gross!? Status!

LEVEL : 10

Giant Cave Mosquito

ORIGIN : Insect HP : 50

ATT : 250

MAG ATT : 0 AGI : 35

Stolen story; please report.

Deducting the total ATT from her ATT DEF stats, it could shave off nearly half of her HP. In theory, she could survive two direct hits as long as it didn’t hit her head, which would immediately kill her as it would undoubtedly count as a Critical Strike.

But she was not going to take her chances. Not until she figured something out. For now, she was wedged between a rock and hard place. On one hand, one good swipe could kill it, but that applied to the Giant Cave Mosquito as well.

Who comes up with these names by the way? Voice? Message prompt thing? Do you know?

< Unknown >

It flashed this before her, causing her brows to furrow.

Huh? Hey. Hey. Heeeeey? Can you speak to me normally? I’m pretty sure I heard you or someone talking to me while I was out. Is it because you sound like a clock?

The Giant Cave Mosquito hovered along the ridges high above, its eyeless, smooth head pointing in the direction of various, inconspicuous rocks littered around the vast chamber. She felt like she had seen them before.

Suddenly, the Mosquito landed beside one of these rocks, using its legs to anchor it into place. Its head twitched, tilted curiously as its proboscis tapped on the surface in search of something.

The rock didn’t move, but there was something about it that piqued the interest of the bug. Its spear-like proboscis tapped on the rock several times before its transparent wings fluttered, preparing to leave.

What was that all about? Does it hunt with touch? It can’t be sound because it would’ve already heard me. Weird.

And just as it was about to lift off, its head unexpectedly reared back before it plunged its proboscis into the rock, and to her shock – the rock bled. Crimson fluids and chunks of meat were syphoned through its hollow tube, entering the head of the Mosquito as Hatchling Red realized that those rocks were in fact Rock Bugs.

She rapidly exhaled at the realization, and to her horror –

– The Mosquito jolted, turning its head in her direction, its eyeless gaze drilling into her soul.

She instinctively sealed her mouth shut and immediately slithered away, her fur boots concealing her movements as the giant Mosquito curiously flew towards her last location. Her heart raced as she kept close to the many pillars and glowworms, eventually making enough space where she could confidentially observe the insect again.

Did it hear my breath?

Her mind screamed ‘no’. For what reason did it react to her breath then? It poked its proboscis into the space between the boulders, rummaging around in hopes of finding a meal. When it seemed like it would give up, it instead began patrolling the nearby area, its head raised to the sky.

Could it be my breath that’s attracting it?

She backed up against the cavern walls, rocks sifting beneath her boots and yet the insect did not respond, confirming her suspicions. With her blade in hand, she moved around the various Rock Bugs that littered the edge of the cavern. They curiously turned to her, snapping their jaws near her ankles.

Don’t you dare!

She leaped away, assuming a defensive stance as she wondered what had come over the Rock Bugs. They waddled over a small patch of green glowworms that had dropped from her coat and began feasting on it.

Do you think I’m a giant green glowworm? Dumb Rock Bugs…! Tch –!

The sudden spike of activity lured the Giant Mosquito towards them, and this time, it fiercely lunged itself forward. It miraculously missed the glowing satellites, approaching like a speeding bullet as she threw herself to the side, watching it just barely graze her before it impaled its proboscis into the mass of Rock Bugs.

Dust exploded, as did the poor insects.

It was terrifyingly fast. The sluggish movements it once exhibited were replaced with brisk, twitch-like movements that made it unpredictable and frankly, too dangerous for her to immediately charge in.

She considered it. This was an opportune moment to strike. However, her instincts demanded that she exercise caution. Her body was spring loaded, primed to lunge forward and finish it off, for its proboscis was jammed within the rocks.

However, before she could even blink, it had ripped itself free, replacing the proboscis with a fresh, slime-coated one.

… so that’s why its legs were so weird. It has replacement parts. Ammunition.

And it was pointed right at her as it now took to the skies with five legs.

“But that’s bound to be depleted. Fine then. Bring it on, you five-legged freak!”