Chapter 37
I climb back up into a tree and hide amongst the foliage whilst I formulate my next moves . Making things more difficult was my fat abdomen but after some sustained effort I got up there .
Ok then, the first thing to worry about is what to do with my skill point . I could upgrade Digging immediately, or I could wait, hold onto the skill point in case I buy something interesting once Mana Manipulation reaches level five .
After considering for a while I decide to ahead and upgrade Digging . After all, what sort of ant doesn't prioritise being able to dig!
[Digging -> Excavating . cost 1 sp: Increases the ability to shift large amounts of material in a shorter span of time]
Purchase!
If I need to save a skill point I can always keep the next one . I don't think I'll be able to max out Mana Manipulation before I level up again, after all, I'm going to keep on hunting centipedes until I get it .
Once I've evolved I'll feel a lot more confident following the trail back to the colony . Not to mention I can go and absorb those hidden monster cores .
Now the Biomass… Four is such an awkward number! Just one more and I'd be able to take my acid to +5! But using it all now and I could upgrade my mandibles to +4…
Arggh!
In the end I decide to upgrade my mandibles right away . That last fight wasn't so one sided that feel completely confident going into the next one without any real improvement to my fighting ability .
[Do you wish to improve Mandibles to +4? This will cost 4 Biomass]
Go ahead Gandalf!
My face is immediately on fire .
Just … . Why?
When the mutation is finally done my mandibles have become slightly larger and more menacing looking . These chompers are getting more and more potent all the time!
What sort of upgrade will I be able to get at +5? I can hardly wait . With my Biomass spent and my skill points used I'm almost ready for action . All I need to do is what for my digestion to kick in so I don't look like I'm dragging an expanded sack behind me as I move .
Whilst I wait I practice my Mana Manipulation a few more times, leaving myself gasping with something of a headache . I feel like it's getting a little easier to move my mana about but not much .
Since I'm already fairly well hidden up here I may as well take a quick nap to get myself back to full fighting shape .
I awake several hours later, ready for round two .
I carefully make my way back to the centipede mound and once again take up my scouting position high in my tree . If I spend any more time up trees I'm going to into a weaver ant . Those ants bend leaves and stick them together to create a nest .
I'll stick to digging .
For now though I play the waiting game . There doesn't seem to be much action, certainly no response that would suggest the members of this colony are upset that four of their number have gone missing . I would guess that it isn't unusual that occasionally a hunting group would disappear, never to return .
After waiting patiently for several hours and watching a few groups leave and a few others return another contingent of four departs the mound and makes their way towards the lake .
Oh ho!
Going for drink of that sweet, sweet mana water eh? I hope you enjoy that drink . For it shall be your last!
After the four targets have moved a good distance away I follow along behind them . I'm not too worried about keeping close to this group, since they are only heading to the lake I don't need to worry about them being killed hunting .
I'll set up an ambush and take on this group when they leave the lake .
Following along the trail I choose a large tree with a good view of the path the centipedes have taken, I want to see them coming, and I prepare to lie in wait .
Whilst I wait I decide to take a look at the intermediate profile of the Claw Centipede . Perhaps it has some useful information?
[Unguibus Scolopendra : Claw centipede, has strong claws and a venomous spike in its tail .
Might: 11
Toughness: 14
Cunning: 8
Will: 7]
Huh, so those are the base stats of the centipede? The might and the toughness are quite similar to mine but the cunning and the will are completely in the tank . I shouldn't be too surprised I suppose . I doubt every hatchling ant has a cunning as high as 25 . My guess is that my high cunning stat is the system assigning a value to my human intellect .
This is my real trump card . Without my ability to reason and make planned decisions I would have been dead long ago . Not to mention I can easily exploit other monsters with extremely poor smarts .
About an hour later my patience is rewarded, the four centipedes are returning, once again moving in single file .
Ah, another visitor? Stay awhile! Stay FOREVER!
POW!
With my steady position and aim bonus there is no way I would miss a long centipede moving in a straight line . The arcing stream of acid lands accurately along the targets back . A perfect hit .
The centipedes are immediately enraged, posturing fiercely around their thrashing comrade .
POW!
Another direct hit! One more centipede is sent thrashing on the ground as they experience the terrible burning of my potent acid .
With two shots discharged I make my position known to the remaining healthy centipedes . Fiercely clacking my mandibles and waving my antennae at them provocatively .
Just like before, the horrible crawlers are completely provoked, rushing forward to consume this pesky ant .
As they reach the trunk of the tree they grasp hold with their many legs and start climbing, directly into my third shot!
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