Sensation returned to the cockroach after some unknown time—first, the pressure of the air, light intensity, and the myriad of other sensations it was normally used to. The cockroach snapped around as it realized where it was, taking to the air in an instant as it scanned its surroundings. Memories of how it died streamed into its consciousness, and it bolted away from the spot it came back into being, too afraid of succumbing to something like that again.
It zipped past the strange moss and went even further down into the dark cave, ignoring the spots where it picked up even a whiff of life. It was starting to realize that this environment was very hostile, unlike the places it was used to. The cockroach already knew this, but after experiencing so many deaths and horrible sensations, it finally sank in. It also realized that it was very weak and defenseless. The only thing it managed to kill was that strange creature near the riverbank, and it wasn’t planning on going back there anytime soon; the river was much more dangerous than it initially realized.
The cockroach fondly recalled the days when it wasn’t so weak, when it was the apex predator of the entire void it grew to call home. Back then, it didn’t have much intellect, but it still dominated the place. Any ant that encroached on its domain would be ruthlessly eaten or crushed. They would appear out of nowhere sometimes, but free food was free food, and it wasn’t one to complain about where it came from. It eventually found out where, but the cockroach still didn’t care.
It wanted to thank the strange massive creature at the end for making it stronger, but it wasn’t meant to be. The creature had misinterpreted its gesture of thanks as hostile and thus had its strange glowing tools kill it.
And now it found itself in a place teeming with enigmatic entities—peculiar beings much mightier than itself. The situation was both exhilarating and daunting. Emotions, a novelty for the cockroach, surged within. Since the occurrence of that "Level up" blue screen, it had undergone a transformation. It had become more intricate in ways that eluded clear expression, yet the change wasn't negative.
The cockroach was abruptly jolted out of its contemplation by a sudden shift in the environment and air pressure. Reacting with agility, it executed a swift downward dive, narrowly evading a mass of something that shot past its initial position a fraction of a second later. Its senses went haywire as its compound eyes detected a massive number of moving masses and popping within its detection range. Before it could comprehend the situation, its body was torn apart by hundreds of tiny masses.
You have died [☠️]
Skill: Piercing resistance (Common)(1/100) unlocked
Skill: Piercing resistance (Common)(1-100) level up!
Piercing resistance (Common)(1/100) is now Piercing resistance (Common)(5/100)
The cockroach came back into existence just in time to feel a tingle pass through its body, changing it in more unseen ways before the blue screen faded away. The cockroach wasn’t even surprised it died this time, as it had already come to the conclusion that everything was trying to eat it in this world, an unwelcome realization.
The sudden manner of its demise caught the cockroach off guard. Swift-moving blurs materialized seemingly out of thin air, not registering in its sensory range just a few seconds earlier. Perhaps it had overlooked them while engrossed in its thoughts. Now, the cockroach found itself in a quandary, uncertain of where to go. The environment proved to be undeniably hostile, and the cockroach couldn't help but be grateful for its inability to die, as it had led to its continued existence in this precarious situation.
The popping up of blue boxes now and then was also a mystery it aimed to solve, what did they mean? They mostly appeared when it died but they appeared before, the first time being when it just came to this strange new world. The cockroach felt different every time they popped up after each death and when it ate that strange creature, it somehow got stronger in every way, it also doubled in size, somehow, all because of the blue screens.
They were its only hope in this new world, it needed to figure out how to use them, by any means possible. Death wasn’t an issue and the cockroach felt like it had all the time in the world. The insect cleared its thoughts and tried calling for the blue screens, nothing happened. It kept on trying, each time focusing a little harder.
On its 10th attempt something brushed on its awareness, vaguely hinting at its existence, something empirical and elusive drained from it and the cockroach suddenly felt very tired and sleepy.
Stat unlocked! Willpower!
Skill unlocked: Willpower Manipulation (Common)(1-100)
Manipulation skill detected, Manipulation aspect tree unlocked.
The utterly exhausted cockroach scarcely glimpsed the words before sweet sleep enveloped it. In its dream, the cockroach indulged in feasts of succulent ants, arranged on trays crafted from the bodies of its tiny prey. It was served meticulously prepared ants, expertly cooked by exclusive roach chefs, each dish a delectable masterpiece. In this dream, the cockroach reigned as a regal queen over a magnificent kingdom constructed from the bones of ants, presiding as a nurturing matriarch for her offspring, the cockroaches, in a realm teeming with opulence and grandeur.
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In its dream, the cockroach's kingdom sprawled across the world, an awe-inspiring realm where everyone recognized her and her progeny. It was a breathtaking vision—a world where ants teetered on the brink of extinction, meticulously preserved by specialized roach tenders in the lush gardens of her dominion.
A crushing sensation jolted the cockroach from its slumber, snapping it awake. As it prepared to take flight, it realized it was ensnared—its entire body coated in a sticky substance. Thrashing around proved futile as a sense of impending doom settled in. Moments later, a many-legged creature emerged from the shadows, gradually entering its range of perception. The cockroach strained to focus, attempting to discern the nature of the approaching entity.
cave spider (Stalker) (5) [🕷️]
As if sensing its willpower, the spider suddenly snapped and dashed up to the cockroach, its many legs carrying it with unnatural speed, there was a wet splash and the sizzling of something then the cockroach knew no more.
You have died [☠️]
Skill unlocked: Acid resistance (Common) (5/100)
The world spun back into existence as the cockroach returned to the land of the living once more. A tingling sensation washed over its entire body, leaving behind a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of difference. Its compound eyes keenly detected movements in its sensory range, and a new, distinct pheromone filled the air as something agile and swift circled around it. The scent was familiar, triggering a swift recollection of the many-legged creature that had abruptly ended its life just moments before. In a sudden realization, the cockroach took to the air, wings beating frantically against the unseen force. However, it proved a second too late. Something, with a powerful whoosh, tore into its delicate wing, leaving behind a searing burn that sent the insect hurtling toward the unforgiving ground.
Level up! [✨] Skill: Acid resistance (Common) (5/100) is now Acid resistance (Common) (10/100)
The searing sensation diminished slightly, yet pain still radiated throughout its body. Something voraciously devoured into its form, but the sudden appearance of a blue screen provided a fleeting respite. Strangely, this brief intermission granted the cockroach a moment to counteract. Swiftly, it lunged towards one of the assailant's many legs, sinking its mandibles into the appendage before succumbing to oblivion as something liquefied its face.
You have died [☠️]
The world materialized once more as the cockroach returned to life, its compound eyes and antennae scanning rapidly for any signs of life in the environment. It didn't take long before it detected movement, but this time it was prepared. With a burst of speed and agility, it took to the air, narrowly avoiding the moving mass of burning liquid that flew past it, mere inches away from its recent position.
Skill unlocked: dodge(Common) (1/100)
General skill detected! General aspect tree unlocked!
A modest stream of insights popped up in its mind, guiding the cockroach on slight evasive maneuvers and improved agility. The surge of information caught it off guard as another surge of scalding liquid splashed onto its form, burning its delicate wings and most of its body in the process, propelling it downward to the cave floor.
Level up! [✨] Skill: Acid resistance (Common) is now level (13)
Another tingling sensation ran through its body, momentarily drowning out the horrible pain it was feeling. The burn lessened slightly but it was still devouring its body, soon nothing remained.
You have died [☠️]
The world materialized as the suffocating darkness of death reluctantly peeled itself off its compound eyes. It took to the air, soaring to unexpected heights, only to collide with the razor-sharp ceiling of the cave. Jagged rocks ruthlessly slashed into its resilient chitinous exoskeleton, sealing the cockroach's fate before it could comprehend its fatal error.
Level up! [✨]
Skill: Piercing resistance (Common)(5/100) is now Piercing resistance (Common)(10/100)
For the first time since it could remember, the cockroach felt a new emotion creeping into its developing mind: rage. It seethed with anger at its own perceived weakness and resentment towards the cave spider. Since its arrival in this strange place, the cockroach had faced nothing but misery and pain—death after death with little improvement. It found the experience frustrating and intended to change the narrative with the demise of this troublesome spider.
Its numerous eyes locked onto the spider the moment it started moving towards the cockroach. Familiar with the creature's fighting pattern, the cockroach effortlessly dodged when the spider spat blobs of burning liquid—acid, as the blue screen had called it.
Level up! [✨] Skill: dodge(Common) (1/100) is now dodge(Common) (5/100)
When within reach of the spider, it accelerated significantly, targeting the bitten leg and tearing into it with its mandibles, cleanly ripping it off. The spider swiftly turned, spewing the largest blob of acid the cockroach had ever seen, covering its entire body in an instant. The cockroach's world became a chaotic mix of green and red as the acid consumed its body, mingling with its white blood. It thrashed wildly as pain overwhelmed it, and after what felt like an eternity, it succumbed to death.
You have died [☠️]
Level up! [✨] skill: Acid resistance (Common) is now level (20)
A potent sensation engulfed its body as awareness surged back, and the cockroach discerned its form undergoing swift alterations before the sensation waned. Swiftly surveying its surroundings, it located the troublesome spider. Yet, the spider exhibited a different behavior this time; rather than advancing aggressively, it was now in a state of distress, bleeding out and hobbling toward a specific direction.
The cockroach, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction, relished the scene unfolding before its multifaceted eyes. Tormented by the spider for too long, the arachnid's demise seemed only fitting. The air buzzed with anticipation as the cockroach took to the air, swiftly closing the distance to the retreating spider before gracefully landing on its arachnid adversary. To its surprise, the spider unleashed a sudden burst of lethal aggression, ejecting a corrosive blob of acid directly at its face. A wave of astonishment rippled through the cockroach as the acid burned through its chitinous exoskeleton. Yet, the pain was notably less intense than before, the corrosive substance still gnawing at its exterior but at a more gradual pace.
Mandibles splayed wide, the cockroach clamped down on the spider's face, fervently tearing and ripping at it before the acid could consume the rest of its body. When the onslaught concluded, the spider's visage resembled a chaotic swirl of red, acidic blood seeping from the mutilated features. Soon after, death embraced the cockroach as the corrosive acid devoured it.
Hatchling cave spider (Stalker) (5) [🕷️] killed!
Level up! [✨]
Level up! [✨]
Stats upgraded
A wave of power surged through the cockroach.