The ants are approaching quickly! I'm gonna have to think up a plan, fast. A war is solved with strategy, right?! If I don't have one, how will I survive this battle? Okay. There are about a thousand of them and one of me. I have the advantage in strength, but not in numbers. Okay, think. My best bet would be to use attacks that deal damage to a wide range, but I don't have any of those! With my current stats, I'll have to take them on one by one, and they won't let that happen..
Wait, I still have 2 Skill Points. Mabye there's something I can buy with those...
[Prompt: Would you like to view the Skill Menu?]
Yes, please!
A list longer than the one I got for the skill upgrades came up. Uugh. Too many! I frantically searched through it for something that would help with defeating the ants. Haste... Stealth... Nope. I need something that deals damage, as well as in an area! I can't use magic yet.. Uuhh.. Tail Swipe? It's AOE, but is it effective enough? I'll get it just in case. Please, please work!
In my scrambling to get a skill to help me, the ants have traveled almost all the way to me. I have probably about one more minute. I can't find anything else, but I know that one skill isn't enough! No time, no time! I confirm I want Tail Swipe and get ready for battle!
From what I can see, there are 3 bigger ones and a ton of smaller ones. They must be the generals. Tactics wise, my best option would be to take out the little ones then deal with the bigger ones after I clear them out so as to take less damage. Okay, I have a useful skill and a strategy! Let's try and put it into action!
The ants arrive in a circular formation. Looks like the big guys are protecting the little ones while still allowing them to attack. The ants ready and aim their abdomens at me, ready to fire. I get a whiff of something that was most likely a command, because as soon as it was put into the air, a rain of acid came down on me. I moved out of the area of fire for the first attack, but by the time I had moved they were aiming and ready to fire again! Smart little insects!
I had small time gaps to get out of the way of the attacks. They fired rains of bullets 4 times before they switched to melee mode. Finally, my chance! I try to go around the big ones to attack the smaller ones, but they move to block my way yet again! How am I supposed to deal with these bugs?! If I try to take on the big ones, the little ones will pile on me and deal major damage! And if I try to attack the little ones, the big ones will force me to attack them instead! These tactics are so damn annoying, but effective!
I slither one way and then swerve the other way to catch them off guard. I go for a quick bite on the rightmost general, and my fangs meet with the bug's exoskeleton. It's tough and hard to get through, but with my upgrades from attacking the giant monsters at the forest, I was still able to puncture it! The big bug let out a loud screech as it tried to get me off it. Since bugs had no circulatory system, the venom worked fast and killed the general within seconds. Yeesh!
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
[Level Up: Cycotus has leveled up LV4 >> LV5.]
[Evolution: Cycotus LV5 can now evo-
NOT NOW, DAMNIT!
The good thing; I killed a general. A problem, though. My fangs were curved and hooked onto the tough exoskeleton! Without the puncturing power on the edges, I was left flailing right next to a dead general. And next to it is right under a bunch of soldiers! They started gnashing at me with their mandibles, leaving nasty cuts where my underdeveloped scales couldn't protect my body. What do I do right now?!
[Acquired: Mental Haste LV1 has been gained.]
After getting that notification, the world seemed to slow down for my mind. It was only a little but still enough for me to be able to maintain composure. Right now, it's life or death! I quickly used Appraisal and thought of what I could do.
[Status appraised.
Snake (Cycotus) LV5
Name: (unnamed)
HP: 14/20
MP: 0/0 (98% Crystallized)
STA: 18/20
Stat Chart < STR:7 FOR:5 (Developing) INT: 60 DEX: 10 >
Enhance Points: 5
Skill Points: 2
Enhancements: Eyes <2>
Skills: {Knowledge LV1} {Appraisal LV1} {Mental Haste LV1} {Raging Bite LV1} {Fang LV4} {Constriction LV1} {Detection LV1} {Grip LV1} {Tail Swipe LV1} {Hunger Resistance LV2}
Appraisal end.]
Tail Swipe? I wanted it for the small guys, and it looks like they're where I need them to be! I used Tail Swipe in a circular motion, shaking off the ants crawling on me and hitting others getting close. Bonus, it loosened my fangs and I was able to push myself out! I was back in action!
[Level Up: Fang has leveled up LV4 >> LV5, upg-
Jeez, can't you tell now's not the time?!
One of the generals let out a wail akin to a war cry, except when the ant had opened its mouth, I dashed in and readied my Venom Shot! I aimed for its mouth and fired! I didn't have the best accuracy and hit half inside it's mouth and half on it's carapace. Apparently it was enough, though. The general was put out of action almost immediately, however it would probably take a lot more time for it to die.
That leaves one general remaining! After the war cry which had probably boosted their stats, the ants had renewed their vigor. They charged at me, all primed for the kill. I didn't have the time to attack then, so I backed off and readied a Tail Swipe. I aimed for the small ones and the general's legs. On impact, the small ones were knocked away and the general had lost it's balance. As soon as it did, I dashed in for a quick bite!
Now, all I had to deal with were the little ones! But, once again, my fangs had become stuck! I tried doing a circular Tail Swipe to free myself, but this time it was too deep! The small ants were starting to pile on and I was running out of stamina, Tail Swipe really takes a lot more than I thought! What do I do with low stamina and lots of enemies?! If I kept using Tail Swipe I would run out of stamina even before I would kill half of them! I'm already tired...
[Level Up: Mental Haste has leveled up LV1 >> LV2.]
No, I still have to fight! I don't care if I'm tired or weak, these monsters are weak too!
[Complete: Mana Crystal has successfully been completed. Mana can now be stored. Due to Mana gained from a reservoir before crystallization, potential has been increased.]
[Acquired: (0) Base Magic LV1 has been gained due to crystallization.]
[Additive: Heredity of species has resulted in (X) Glacial Magic LVMAX being acquired.]
Magic..?
Ack, I need to remember I don't have time right now!
How am I going to get out of this situation?!