Ethan pumped his fist in the air with excitement, quickly getting to his feet. He walked over to the taser and used the crystal knife to inscribe the rune onto the metal. Taking a deep breath, he focused his thoughts on electricity while placing his finger on the rune. That strange sensation of energy leaving through his finger surrounded him, leaving him feeling exhausted once it was finished.
With a sigh, he picked up the taser, pointed it away from himself, and commanded it to come alive. Lightning surged between the prongs, crackling with a menacing energy, and a wide grin spread across his face. This would definitely get the job done.
He leaned the stick taser against the workbench and sat down on the bed. Securing his boots tightly, he then took his wand in one hand and the stick taser in the other, ready to venture outside.
As he unlocked the door, a wave of nervous energy washed over him. He had prepared for this moment, but now that it had arrived, fear began to creep in. However, he knew there was no other choice. If he wanted to survive, he needed to find supplies.
Reluctantly, he opened the door slowly and immediately heard a chittering sound. Activating his wand, a beam of light illuminated the spacious cavern beyond. When he caught sight of the creatures making the noise, his heart nearly stopped. They were insect-like beings, about knee-high, with long bodies resembling giant centipedes.
As the light struck them, the creatures screeched and hesitated, causing Ethan to freeze in the doorway. There were five of these vile creatures, and he had never felt such fear in his entire life.
One of the centipedes recovered from the shock and charged at him again, moving deceptively fast. It was almost upon him when he activated his stick taser. The crackling lightning erupted in the cavern as he aimed it at the monstrous insect.
Upon contact, the lightning coursed through the centipede, eliciting another screech of pain. To his surprise, the electrical current jumped to the next creature, and then the next, until all five of them were writhing in agony.
Ethan kept the taser activated, refusing to give the creatures a chance to attack him. But one by one, they dropped to the ground, smoke rising from their lifeless bodies. Finally, he cut off the enchantment.
He stared at the motionless monsters, feeling a wave of sickness wash over him. Despite their grotesque appearance and their apparent desire to devour him, he couldn't shake off a twinge of guilt. He had never taken a life before, and even though they were threats, he did feel a little bad about it
Notice:
Rewards
You have killed 5 Crevice Stalkers
5 Essence points (EP)
Ethan stepped back into the workshop, but as he felt something approaching, he quickly moved out of the way and retched. After a while, he leaned against the wall, purposefully ignoring the centipedes.
"They were trying to kill me... There's no shame in defending yourself," he reassured himself, steeling his nerves. He still needed to find supplies, but the thought of being forced to eat those creatures was less than appealing.
Holding out his wand, Ethan surveyed his surroundings. He found himself in a vast cavern, seemingly with only one entrance. Walking towards the nearest cave wall, he placed his hand against it, confirming its dampness, and a smile crept across his face. He had an idea for obtaining water, but he wanted to explore a bit further first.
Ignoring some glowing mushrooms that he wanted nothing to do with, he ventured deeper into the cave, heading towards the sole visible opening.
Peering out of the large hole, he discovered a long, narrow passage. Taking a deep breath and holding his stick taser at the ready, he began his descent. The tunnel inclined slightly downward, and the damp, slippery floor made for treacherous footing.
Arriving at a junction, Ethan glanced left and right, only to find more tunnel. "Hmm... Maybe it's best to wait," he whispered to himself. "I need something to drink and perhaps a way to mark my progress."
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He didn't want to get lost in these caves. With no knowledge of their depth or the presence of an exit, he decided to backtrack and return to the workshop. He stripped the remaining sheets from the bed, then went back to the cave wall.
Pressing the fabric against the wall, he allowed it to absorb the moisture. It was a time-consuming process, but after a while, the fabric was soaked. He walked back to the workshop, twisted the fabric, and let the water flow into the metal bucket he had found. The amount of water collected was meager, so he repeated the process several times until he was satisfied.
Placing the cloth over the bucket, he poured the water through it into another smaller container. This served to strain out larger impurities in the water. Once finished, he shook out the bucket and poured the water back through the cloth, allowing any remaining smaller impurities to settle at the bottom. He planned to filter the water again before finally boiling it in the forge.
Next, he went outside to examine the centipedes. He couldn't simply leave them lying around, so he decided to bring them into the workshop. In the worst case, he could burn them, but he suspected that their carapaces might prove useful. Though extracting the tough chitin from the creatures was unpleasant to contemplate, he found himself in a desperate situation and couldn't afford to waste any opportunities.
After relocating all the carcasses to the forge room, he went to the workbench and picked up the crystal knife, noting its sharpness. With a nauseated grimace, he began cutting into the first centipede, carefully removing its head and setting it aside. Nasty fluids oozed from the cuts, filling the air with a putrid odor.
One by one, he removed the chitinous plates, slicing through the tough outer layer and prying them off. Each plate, with its intricate patterns and glossy appearance, revealed the softer flesh beneath.
As he worked, Ethan couldn't help but notice the resemblance between the centipede meat and crab meat. Reluctantly, he set aside a portion of the meat, intending to cook it later and assess its edibility.
Continuing his task, he focused on separating the various body segments. With precise cuts, he carefully divided the centipede into more manageable sections, each unveiling its own unique arrangement of muscle and tissue. He stored the segmented pieces separately, considering their potential uses.
Throughout the process, Ethan remained cautious, always mindful of the centipede's numerous legs and sharp appendages. He was determined to avoid any accidental pricks or cuts that might jeopardize his safety.
With the butchering complete, he took a moment to survey his work. Piles of chitinous plates and neatly arranged centipede segments lay before him, evoking a sense of grim satisfaction.
He stood and returned to the workshop, picking up the bucket and straining the water one final time. Taking it into the forge room, he lit a small fire and hung the bucket over it. As the water began to heat, he placed the chitin on the worktable, leaving them there.
Ethan had just one more thing he wanted to try, he picked up a piece of centipede meat, skewered a few pieces onto a stick, and held it over the fire.
As Ethan stood there cooking the monster meat, he contemplated his next moves. "First, I need nourishment and rest. After that, I have some options. That chitin could be fashioned into basic armor, which would be incredibly useful. It's about time I had something more substantial than a sheet and a leather apron for protection," he mused.
The meat started to change color, turning white like crabmeat, with a few charred spots. Its enticing aroma filled the air, tempting his hunger. Maybe it was just his empty stomach, but he couldn't help but find the smell irresistible. He yearned to sink his teeth into it. The water had reached a boiling point, so he removed the meat from the fire, setting it aside, and used tongs to take the bucket off the heat.
Allowing the water to cool, he picked up his monster kebab and studied it for a moment. After contemplating, he took a tentative bite. To his amazement, it tasted delicious—reminiscent of crab but with a slightly gamier flavor. He savored a sizable piece but decided to hold off on eating the rest. He wanted to ensure he wouldn't get sick before indulging further, so he exercised caution and opted to wait.
Ethan fetched a clean jar, placed it in the still-warm water, and poured himself a cupful. As he took a small sip, he felt the liquid soothing his parched throat and filling his stomach. The sensation was extraordinary after enduring thirst for so long. He drank two full cups before exerting self-control. He needed to ascertain the water's safety and conserve it as well.
Lying back on the floor, Ethan took stock of his situation. He had food, water, and shelter. It wasn't an ideal circumstance by any means, but he felt a sense of accomplishment in what he had managed so far. He was surviving, having even acquired magical abilities, and he found it oddly comforting.
Despite the potential for homesickness or nervousness in his current predicament, he felt none of that. The workshop felt secure, and he had no immediate family to worry about. His parents had been traveling the world since he moved out, seemingly content with their own lives and disregarding him.
Ethan slowly rose from the floor and made his way to the now sheetless bed. He lay down, closed his eyes, and prepared to rest. He would take some time to plan his next steps; there was no need to rush. After all, he had no obligations tying him to this place and could relish in the freedom of the experience.
As sleep started to claim him, thoughts of awe-inspiring magic, dragons, and monsters danced through his mind. A small smile formed on his face as he finally succumbed to sleep, eager for the adventures that awaited him.