If I see even one centipede, I may call the whole trip off…
The tunnel we’re following is slightly narrow, most likely not a major one. I can feel monsters gestating in the walls, so apparently the wave is still not over but they don’t seem to be coming out at all? To my senses, they seem to be developing less rapidly than the monsters in the Dungeon we encountered during the wave. Those guys had popped out after a dozen minutes or so, like corn kernels in a microwave.
When I flip on my Mana Sense, I can see a more powerful reaction from these sleeping beasts. It seems the monsters here might be slightly stronger or more complex. Requiring more Mana for the Dungeon to form them. Or is the wave receding and the Mana isn’t sufficient to pump out the monsters as quickly as before?
Bit of a head scratcher.
The workforce already invaded this section of tunnel and cleaned it out when the queen took up residence, so we’ll have to push a little deeper if we want to sate our hunger. With Tiny in the lead, we eagerly search left and right for something to fight. After five minutes or so I notice something off.
Isn’t it… quite green in here?
Contrary to my normal Dungeon experience, the stone here seems to have actual vines growing on it. And is that a flower I detect? Since when the hell have there been colourful flowers like this about?
The flower in question is poking out of the rock on the wall, about halfway up, looking offensively harmless. Bright red in colour and with vivacious petals that really give a refreshing feeling of spring…
I didn’t come down here to admire the flowers! I came for food!
However, as if mocking my expectations, the vegetation only grows thicker and more vibrant as we descend, until the tunnel widens out, and we find ourselves in a place that looks rather less like the Dungeon and more like a scene straight from a rainforest. I expect singing bears and man cubs to walk around the corner at any minute. Not only do I not get any sweet rhythms, I also don’t see any monsters around here.
Vines string across the tunnel, dangling moss in our faces and the rock walls are barely visible beneath layers of leaves and shrubs. Here and there are truly massive flowers and ferns that sway with the breeze.
Hang on… we’re underground. There is no breeze!
The lightbulb goes on in my head just as the many plants and vines start shifting and moving, almost unfolding as they reveal hideous plant mouths laced with razor-sharp teeth.
Goddammit Seymour, not this crap again!
[“Watch out for the plants, they’re monsters!”]
Tiny was already into it before I spoke. Roaring with excitement, the giant ape leaps forward to grab one of the… plants? By the… throat? Before beginning to pummel it in the face with his massive fists, rocking it from side to side with devastating hooks.
All around vines begin to whip through the air as they try to latch onto me, or simply lash with their suddenly razor-sharp leaves. Some fire magic would surely go down well right about now!
I’ll have to settle for implementing my newly minted jaws with the advanced—
Splintering Chomp!
Pouring forth my vital energy, the mandibles of light manifest themselves. When I use the Shattering Bite, the ethereal mandibles look like wide, rusty saw blades that close like a vice, tearing and compressing. For the more armour penetrating chomp attack, they manifest as blades studded with long, pointed spikes.
Ripping my mandibles closed, they slam shut cutting vines and stabbing wide holes in fleshy plants. They only extend about a metre in front of my face, but as I Level up the skill they’ll get larger and more potent, at least that is how it’s worked with the Shattering Bite skill.
With vines and leaves falling around me like rain it’s time to employ another new skill I purchased, Dash!
HIYAH!
[Dash: Increases speed over short distances but increases stamina drain.]
With a burst of movement, I motor across the room faster than I’ve ever moved before. Vibrant is clinging to my head whilst cackling madly, and even Crinis has extended extra tentacles as her main body is sliding back.
Geez! Even at Level one the increase is close to 30% of my max speed! Although I can feel the corresponding stamina drain is vastly increased, I’m actually extremely impressed with this skill so far.
Rushing toward the nearest plant, I sprint through the vines, ignoring those that smash into me, trusting my defences to deflect the damage. Above me a giant, somehow angry looking plant is looming, mouth agape and ready to devour me whole.
Not today buddy!
Shattering Bite!
I bring my jaws down on the stem of the plant. It’s time to mow this lawn.
53. Combine Harvester
Having severed the stem, the huge flower on top topples to one side, its comically oversized mouth thrashing about, trying to bite me until the final bit of energy leaks out of its body.
[You have defeated a Level 6 Flos Fame.]
[You have gained XP.]
Muahahaha! After smashing through the kingdom Animalia, it’s time to reap Biomass from Plantae!
There are dozens of plants scattered about the tunnel engaged in this battle. Some attack with vines, trying to cut and control their prey and bring them to their cavernous mouths. Towards the back is a completely different looking plant. A long tube-like flower head sits atop a bulbous base, and the tube on top seems to be rotating as if tracking the action. All of a sudden, a huge jet of liquid erupts from the flower, gushing straight at me!
LEAP!
Pushing hard with all legs, I jump up and to the right, narrowly dodging the spray. Some of the fluid splashes over the creature I’d just killed and begins to eat away at the body at a ferocious pace. That is some serious acid!
The damned plant is aiming at me again. Quickly legs, Dash!
[“Hold on tight back there!”] I shout at my passengers just as my legs fire into top gear, moving so quickly they completely blur out of sight.
“Wheeeeeee!” giggles Vibrant. The air pressure has her clinging onto my carapace with only a few claws, the rest of her legs dangling behind her in the air.
I thought I said hold on, you moron!
Checking on my other passenger, Crinis has also extended a few extra tentacles to let them be blown backward by the wind. At least she was sensible enough to not let go with any of her other limbs…
I can’t wait until these troublemakers are too large to ride on my back. Not long now, Anthony, hold on a little more!
But this blasted tube plant is able to track my movement and fires several short bursts of acid as I race toward it, forcing me to zig and zag to throw off its aim. I can almost smell the fear of this aggressive vegetable as I close in, mandibles opening wide!
Splintering Chomp!
Being careful to only penetrate the plant with my ethereal mandibles and not my own physical ones, I crunch savagely on the bulging sack at the base of the plant. As expected, the moment my jaws puncture through the soft flesh, massive gouts of acid spray out everywhere as the internal pressure forces the fluid through these new outlets.
The plant sways violently like a drunk as its precious acid leaks away, but it hasn’t taken any fatal damage. Aiming another shot from point-blank range, I can almost feel the plant screaming at me, “Damned meat bag! Take this!”
I’ve already raced away. The usual jet of fluid doesn’t materialise, instead a rather sad dribble of acid pours out of the tube. Without sufficient pressure, this particular flowery foe has lost its bite.