As my nanites inched forwards, I threw myself to the side, hefting my bat. The first aliens to reach me were the seven model threes, which clawed and bit at me. I set about them with my bat as my nanites climbed the back wall of the cavern. I was able to splat two of them before the model six arrived, at which point I knew I was in deep shit. It was slower than the model threes and fours, but as I ducked out of the way of its claw swipe, I was nearly entangled by a model four. Then a model three clamped its jaws onto my calf, and I went down hard.

From my place on the floor of the cave, I could see my nanites were in position, so I gave them the command. Several hundred pounds of nanoscopic machines then fell from the ceiling of the cave and crashed hard onto the Antithesis surrounding me, flattening most of the smaller models and staggering the model six. I swung my bat at the model three still attached to my leg and mashed its plant brains, then shakily got to my feet. There was still a model four and two model threes that had escaped the crush, as well as the model six to deal with. I commanded my flesh eating nanites to go after the model six, hoping they would be able to soften up the armor a little for me.

I sent the bulk of my nanites after the model threes and four, but my tiny robots were not fast enough to catch them now that surprise was no longer on my side. The model six came at me again, and I was barely able to stay ahead of it, narrowly dodging its claws and teeth. After one claw swipe, it paused for a moment, and I took advantage of the hesitation to bring my bat down on its head as hard as I could.

That was a mistake, as it felt like I had just hit a steel wall, my hands and arms vibrating painfully from the impact. luckily, it seemed to daze the model six slightly as well, as it took a step back, shaking its head. I shook out my hands and caught sight of a model three charging towards me out of the corner of my eye. I turned and met it with a swing from my bat, relishing the satisfying THWACK as it was sent tumbling. Then I turned back to the model six, only to see it collapse in a slump. I didn't have enough time to celebrate though, as the remaining model three and four had caught up to me.

I swung my bat at the three, but it jumped backward out of the way, and I felt the model four's tentacles wrap around my right leg, which happened to be the one that had gotten bitten earlier. With a cry of pain my leg gave out and I was pulled to the ground. Then the model three was on top of me and I just managed to get my bat in the way of its jaws before they clamped around my neck. I tried to shove it off of me, but it was heavier than I expected and dug its claws into my torso and I was unable to budge it.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

Then a blue and silver wave crested over me , and I felt the wave lift the model three off me, pulverizing it against the wall. Then it was the model four's turn, my nanites mashing it against the floor before it could let go and get away. I lay there for a few moments, breath heaving, blood trickling out of my cuts. Luckily, none of them was very deep and I was able to heal them up with a nanite injection.

"That was a little too close for comfort. If the model six hadn't collapsed, I would probably have been done for."

I took the liberty of piloting the nanites, as you seemed occupied. The flesh eating nanites ate their way into the model six's brain through its eye and chewed it up, killing it. I recommend staying here or retreating up the tunnel to rest and recuperate until all the antithesis biomass is broken down.

"Sounds good. By the way, how many points do I have?"

Current point total: 299

"Great. Is there a more permanent solution I can get for healing? Buying a nano-regen whatever every time I get injured seems like an annoying, expensive solution."

There is a nano-regenerative auto factory that can be placed within your body, like a new organ. It sits just below the stomach and turns some of the food you eat into regenerative nanites. It won't be a permanent solution, but it will work until you increase your tier and can get something better.

"Okay, and how much would it be to get tier 2 nanite stuff?"

Class II Applied Nanites costs 500 points.

"Okay, I'll be saving up for that. How much for the nanite organ?"

50 points, since you have the Class I Applied Nanites catalog.

"Okay, let's do that."

New Purchase: Class I Internal Regenerative Nanite Factory

New point total: 249

I suddenly felt a weight in my stomach, as if I had swallowed a golf ball.

The discomfort should fade as your body gets used to its new addition.

"Makes sense. The other thing I really need is more firepower. I'm barely able to get by with my bat and the nanites as they are. Is there anything I can get to be able to kill more Antithesis easier?"

There is a solar laser module for your nanites, but the class I version uses quite a lot of power, so you would need to leave the solar panel in the sun for a few hours every day to recharge.

"How much would it cost? And would it be able to take down things like that model 6?"

100 points, and yes, it could take down a model 6 if you hit the right spot and focused it long enough.

"Okay good enough for me."

New Purchase: Class I Solar Laser Nanite Module

New point total:149

Another tube appeared in my hand, this time filled with a vibrant red liquid. I poured it over a portion of the nanites, and they became the same shade of red. I pointed the laser at the slowly dissolving corpse of the model six and fired. A bright red beam of energy slammed into it, and when I turned it off, there was a sizable burn on the model six's flesh. I grinned. This was going to be fun.