The situation was far from ideal. Definitely not. Marshmallow and the Goat Horse looked around, trying to figure out a way to escape the mess they were in. In an instant, they had been severely challenged, and the relentless assault of the Evolveroaches had turned their advantageous position into a distressing and claustrophobic predicament. They suddenly felt overwhelmed by an unstoppable force.
"Oh man, how many are there?!" the Goat Horse neighed. Meanwhile, Marshmallow kept racking his brain for a plan. The major Evolveroaches were a whole different ball game than the minor ones. He had seen them once before and that was enough. They were different beasts, much bigger and more aggressive insects, and ten times worse. Around them, a dozen of those monsters waited for just one false move.
Marshmallow gripped his knife even tighter in his right hand, a cold sweat beginning to trickle down his forehead.
"Any ideas? Can’t you use that purple trick again?" Marshmallow asked the Goat Horse, casting frantic glances around. The Evolveroaches were circling them, and it was clear that the tension was mounting with each passing second. Their sounds and cries were cacophonous and distressing as if they were the very definition of disgust.
"It would be great, but it's impossible," the Goat Horse blurted out. "We have to reach the queen to use it again. We have no choice but to fight with what we've got."
The Goat Horse was unexpectedly serious and had lost his quirky way of speaking as if the situation had triggered a new personality in him. Although he was just a cluster of data, the programmers had written in his code to survive at all costs, just like a normal player of the Survivor Game.
Marshmallow tried to attack the Evolveroaches with his knife as they continued to circle with their shrill cries. They were moving in an unpredictable trajectory, and Marshmallow, try as he might, couldn’t catch even one with his knife.
Damn it! My stats are too low to take down these pieces of crap! What can I do?
Seeing this, the Goat Horse sighed. In a moment, he crouched down in a fetal position. Marshmallow, witnessing this, thought the Goat Horse had bugged out.
"What the heck are you doing? Give me a hand, you idiot! If you don't help me, how am I supposed to get out of this mess?" He yelled while continuing to try and stab the Evolveroaches in vain.
"I have no choice but to use it... I must be bold!" declared the Goat Horse with a resolute tone. Suddenly, he began to neigh like mad.
Marshmallow couldn't figure out what was happening. "What's with the sudden change? Is this a new technique?" he asked in amazement and apprehension.
The Goat Horse was transforming. His muscles altered. His arms started to thicken, and slowly he grew larger.
What in the world is happening?
A grotesque transformation process of the Goat Horse began before his eyes. His humanoid arms started to enlarge, muscles visibly expanding, bone structure altering. He grew taller, his shoulders widened, and his neck lengthened, taking on the proportions and features of a horse. His skin changed, turning into a shiny, muscular coat.
Marshmallow was astounded by what he was witnessing. He had seen some weird stuff in this death game, but this, perhaps, was the most grotesque. In a few seconds, the being that was once a humanoid hybrid had transformed into a pure and majestic horse, with lively eyes and a regal bearing. The transformation was complete. And it was a mix between a horse and a goat. The musculature and bearing were that of a warhorse, but the goat-like features made it truly unique. It had long, curved horns towering over its head, and a long, thick beard adding a touch of wild nobility to its appearance.
Now the Goat Horse was really the Goat Horse! It had shifted from humanoid form to equine form. Was this its original version?
"Come on, you could transform like this and you said nothing?" Marshmallow exclaimed, mixing surprise and irritation in a tone of disbelief. "Why the heck didn’t you mention this before?" His expression was a perfect picture of shock and annoyance as he stared at the transformed Goat Horse.
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"I'll distract them! You focus on the Kingroach!” The Goat Horse neighed again, now in full equine form. He charged his muscles and with a lethal push, began to gallop around the cave, darting like lightning. He was trying to lure the major Evolveroaches away from the situation, and they, confused, took the bait and began to follow him in a frantic chase.
Marshmallow, watching the scene, seized the opportunity. While the major Evolveroaches chased the Goat Horse in a frenetic race, he found himself facing the Kingroach, a wounded and blind giant. His previous attacks had hit the monster's vital points: the eyes and joints. This had left the Kingroach in a state of vulnerability and confusion.
I have a significant advantage. I can do this!
With the knife gripped in his hand, Marshmallow assessed his adversary. Despite its imposing size, the Kingroach was clearly weakened. Marshmallow, still unharmed, felt a mix of excitement and tension. It was an epic battle, like one of those scenes from movies where the hero faces the final monster.
Then Marshmallow lunged while keeping his eyes fixed on the Kingroach. Every move was calculated, aiming for the exposed joints and eyes of the gigantic opponent. The monster, now blind and disoriented, flailed wildly, and Marshmallow had no trouble dodging the Kingroach's desperate attacks, quickly striking with his knife. It was a dangerous dance, a game of speed and precision, with Marshmallow using every advantage to weaken his formidable enemy further.
On the other side, the Goat Horse continued to keep the Evolveroaches at bay. They were chasing him.
"Stranger! Look, I can’t hold them off for long! I can last at most a minute before they all come down on me! And I definitely can’t go back to normal! They’d surround me and eat me alive!”
“My name’s Marshmallow!” He yelled back.
In the heart of the battle, Marshmallow moved deftly, evading the fierce attacks of the Kingroach. In a moment of clarity between strikes and dodges, he noticed something unusual: the Kingroach writhed to protect its abdomen with each attack. This observation sparked a realization in Marshmallow. With eyes gleaming with insight, he understood he had found the weak point of his gigantic opponent. It was an opening, a hope, an opportunity.
My chance, here it is!
Marshmallow, with a keen eye, watched every move of the Kingroach. When the monster tried to defend itself, its attention instinctively focused on its abdomen, as if to protect something vital.
So, you're vulnerable there, huh?
Marshmallow, now with a clear objective, prepared to exploit this new discovery to his advantage. It was time to take action.
Quickly reorganizing his thoughts, Marshmallow developed a plan. He needed to lure the Kingroach into a position that allowed him to strike the abdomen. He decided to use swift and unpredictable movements to confuse the giant, creating an opening.
If I can make it lower its guard, I can hit where it hurts most.
His strategy was clear: be fast, cunning, and take advantage of every slight distraction of the Kingroach to deliver a decisive blow to its weak point.
Marshmallow, aware that every second counted, put his strategic maneuver into action. With agile and rapid movements, he began circling the Kingroach, forcing it to continuously turn to keep an eye on him. Every step of Marshmallow was a deception aimed at disorienting the gigantic opponent. His goal was clear: find the perfect moment to slip under the large beast and strike its exposed abdomen. It was a game of cunning, where each of Marshmallow's movements was calculated to create the necessary opening for the decisive attack.
In the crucial moment, Marshmallow sprang into action. Taking advantage of a momentary distraction of the Kingroach, he swiftly dived under the giant, avoiding a potentially fatal attack. With a quick and decisive movement, he raised his knife and plunged it into the exposed abdomen of the Kingroach. The blow was precise and penetrating, hitting the discovered weak spot. The Kingroach screamed in pain, a reaction that confirmed to Marshmallow he had struck true.
Marshmallow's attack had a devastating effect. The Kingroach, hit in the abdomen, writhed in agony. The knife had reached its target, inflicting a deep wound. The beast flailed, emitting heartrending sounds that echoed throughout the cave. Marshmallow, observing the result of his attack, realized he had finally significantly weakened his formidable enemy. The gigantic cockroach, now severely injured, lost some of its aggressiveness, giving Marshmallow an even more pronounced advantage in the battle.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, the Goat Horse, in the form of a mighty equine, was leading the major Evolveroaches in a frenetic chase. He jumped and ran through the cave, keeping the enemies at bay with cunning and speed. His movements were swift and graceful, showing surprising endurance. But even in his strength, it was evident he was beginning to tire. His neighs were mixed with challenge and urgency, a signal that time was running out.
The danger for the Goat Horse lurked. Despite being a mass of data, he didn't want to die. He was fervently hoping that Marshmallow would kill the Kingroach as soon as possible.