NOVEL WEB 17th | Breakthrough | Part 2
Day 18
I've made up my mind, I'm going to hunt the ants. The question is, how should I make my approach. Before I can even begin to start scheming, the buggy smell of ant pheromones sharply intensifies, and I hear a loud *clack* sound behind me.
I quickly turn around only to see an ant running away from me, towards the nest, laying a trail of pheromones the whole way. Even if I can smell pheromones, I can't tell what they mean. Even if you can hear someone speaking, that doesn’t mean you automatically know what they're saying. Even being able to tell that they're talking to each other at all is much better than what other people would be able to do.
Though I don't really need an interpreter. It probably just marked me as a predator. The question now is, should I follow it, or let them come to me? Already a cluster of ant’s is approaching my location.
Alright, I'll wait for them to come to me. I'll find out how strong they are, then plan my strategy from there. If they're strong, I'll just keep baiting out groups until they're numbers are whittled down. If they're weak, I'll just dive straight into the cave.
The group is arriving near me now. I pull back three arrows and fire them all. I begin moving to a different position, before I notice the three ants I had just struck.. Were dead.
Huh? There's no way it's that easy. I check my notifications just in case.
< lv8 Latin Soldier Slain 40 XP acquired>
< lv5 Latin Soldier Slain x2 50 XP acquired>
Wow. That's just disappointing.
There were only four ants, so I just went ahead and finished off the last one. Same type, 35xp.
Well, guess I'll just dive straight in.
I start running towards the deep hole, about five hundred feet away from me. Now that I'm closer, I notice in the distance the terrain becomes noticeably more mountainous, to the far left there's this huge gash in the wall. Actually, it's not a mountain, but a huge plateau.
That's good to know, in case I need to escape. I can probably use that cave in the plateau to sleep in tonight, depending on how long this raid will take. The sun is only just now starting to fall into dusk.
Once I'm only fifty or so feet away from the entrance, huge swaths of ants start streaming out of the entrance. The cave mouth would probably look like a bottomless pit to most, but I can see pretty far back there. And it is huge.
Before the ants get too close, I began firing off as many arrows as I can. It's been a while since I've had to shoot this fast. I don't know if it's an effect of some kill, but as time winds on, I start firing faster and faster. This situation must really be power-leveling my archery skills.
I had thought they looked Latin mostly as a joke, due to the strange symbols covering the ants chitin. I guess the system was desperate for a name for them. Even if I don't actively name something, if I just offhandedly describe it in some way the system will add that name to the bestiary. Which is another tab the main status has. It has every beast I've named and encountered, along with a list of abilities that I mentally identified.
I don't get status notifications in fights, but that just means I don't get alerted when something happens. That doesn't mean the level up is stalled or anything, I just don't find out about it until later. I can still check the notification log manually, which I do. I've gotten good enough at multitasking that I can check my status and fire my bow at the same time! Even though my aim suffers a lot, it doesn't matter since it's impossible to miss with this many ants.
<[Multishot] Experience threshold Reached. Lv6 -> Lv8>
<[Targeting] Experience threshold Reached. Lv6 -> Lv7>
Class - Survivor | lv 24/25 | 1084/2400 xp *
Race - Modular Human m
Achievements- The Special | Self indulgent | (+3)
Name - Maximilian | Condition- Curse of Soul Fray
Hp- 2000/4000 (1/2)
SkP- 1 Stp- 3 Souls- 29 12 0
Stats - (+9 phys)(+3A)
Strength 39
Speed 40 (+5A)
Stamina 37
Dexterity 56 (+35)
Intellect 36
Sense 64.4 (x2.3)(+10)
Vitality 20 (1/2)
Charm 11 {locked}
Special Skills -
Existential Empower ||| lv6/20
Death Resistance \ lv2/99
Corruption Resistance ||| lv1/20
Class Skills -
Desperate endurance | lv2
Schematica 2/3 | lv1
High Hound | lv2
Defense Orientation | lv4
Passive Skills -
Complex Crafting ||| lv1/20
Multishot || lv8/10
Tracing || lv7/10
Int Dismantling || lv10/10
Grinding || lv5/10
Greater Deft || lv7/10
Toxicology || lv6/10
Targeting | lv7/10
Long Strider | lv5/10
Body Reinforcement || lv3/10
Acrobatics | lv3/5
Regeneration | lv3/5
Terrain Sense | lv5/5
Stitching | lv1/5
Dodge | lv1/5
Active Skills -
Rapid Dash || lv5/10
Leap | lv ⅗
Power Shot | lv3/5
Meditation | lv3/5
Pierce | lv1/5
Resistances -
Greater Pain res || lv5/10
Shadow res | lv1/5
Modularity- Special: Assimilation
Nervous 200% | Immune 200% | Integumentary 200% | Muscular- 200% | Absorbing Skeletal- 200% || Circulatory 200% | Reproductive 200% | Assimilating Digestive 200% ||
Brain 200% | Heart 200% | Lungs 200% | Stomach 200% | Intestines 200% | Muscles 200% | Bone marrow 200% | Arteries 200% | Veins 200% |
I keep striding backwards in order to keep away from the ants, but no matter how many I kill, they just keep coming, there's no sign of the flow ever ceasing. I realize with a spike of dread that I'm running out of regular arrows.
C'mon, I must have killed at least a hundred of them by now right?
< lv1-10 Latin Soldier Slain x84 1765 XP acquired>
< lv5-14 Generalis Major Slain x8 395 XP acquired>
< lv1-16 Cisternina Soldier Slain x15 560 XP acquired>
< you have leveled up! LV24 -> Lv25 | +1 SkP +3 StP>
< Congratulations! You have reached max level! +1 bonus SkP >
? Is that it? Where's my class up-
A massive ant lunges at me. My split attention does me in, as large white jaws of light close around my torso. I barely dodge out of the way, using [Leap] in the process. Shit! I forgot monsters can use skills too. Actually no, I knew they could use magic, not skills! I guess that confirms my theory that monsters have a status too.
Alright screw this! Melee time! I'm almost out of arrows anyway, by the feel of it I have less than a dozen.
I take my hexsidian knife out of my fancy leather holster, and begin cleaving down ants left and right. I put my dodge skill to use as I weave between all sorts of biting attacks. I only see those white translucent jaws three more times.
I stab into an ant that was about to unleash the jaw skill, before I remember my most recent modification. Slightly reluctantly, I bight into its flesh. Chewing the vile substance moderately before swallowing. I wonder how long it takes-
< Generalis Major absorbed! Part: head muscle. Processing… complete! +3 strength added to stocks! >
Stocks? Uh, activate? Use my stocks!!
< Temporarily applying all stocks. +3 strength! Duration: 3 mins. >
< Note: Assimilation duration is dictated by the amount of the chosen part eaten. The amount of stats given, or strength of skills given depends on the quality of the eaten part. Different parts can also determine the quantity of stats gained. >
I feel my arm muscles ripple, and thicken slightly. I punch an ant that rushes me, and it flys into a wall, painting it green from the impact. I continue slicing and dicing. I even started duel wielding with my throwing knives. If I put 1 between each finger, they become pretty decent claws. Plus I can use them at range if I'm in a pickle, though I only have eight.
About half an hour later, and I'm still getting bombarded by ants. Even though I've moved hundreds of feet away from their hole by this point, they seem hell bent on destroying me. I spend my stocks whenever I have the chance to get any. Eating helps restore my stamina slightly, but I'm getting very tired.
While I have gotten a vast wealth of xp, and even some new skills, the tide of ants is unceasing. I need to retreat. I see those jaws of light again, and before the ant can even twitch, I whirl around and bite into its body.
< Generalis Major absorbed! Part: Majority thorax. Processing… complete! +5 strength | +4 Stamina | added to stocks! >
< Warning! Stamina has fallen below 20% rest is advised! >
Apply stocks.
Noticing that the next wave of ants was a few seconds away, I tear off a plate of chitin on the major's head, before biting into its brain. Its unbelievably gross, but ill put up with it.
< Generalis Major absorbed! Part: Brain. Processing… complete! +1 Intellect | added to stocks! Skill- [Crushing Bite] lv2 has been stocked!>
The ants fall upon me once again. I decide to test out this new skill.
“ CRUSHING BITE!!”
My teeth begin to glow that bright ethereal white. Suddenly a ghostly shape erupts outward, forming into large jaws of light about a foot away from my face. Rather than looking like ant mandibles like I expected, it was instead shaped like a jaw, looking more like a bear trap than anything else. The ghostly jaw followed my movements with only a slight delay.
When another ant jumped me, (they love doing that for some reason) I quickly turned around and shut my teeth in its direction. The jaws turned around right when I closed my teeth. It closed instantly around the ant's head, crushing it into paste.
Dang, what a strong skill! Unfortunately this is my limit. I'm going to retreat to that crack in the plateau I saw earlier. [Dash]!
And I raced off, the river of ants still following me. Do these guys really have nothing better to do?
I get into the cave and start rushing within. I look around wildly for something I could use to block the entrance, but I have no luck. I can pick up their legs tapping on the stone, they will be here soon. I go back as far as possible, until I get into a large circular cavern.
I jump down into the cave, the tunnel entrance sitting about thirty feet above the cave's floor. I brace my feet for the impact, and the system pings me with a skill gain notification. It's at this time I remember the huge flood of notifications I probably have.
< lv1-10 Latin Soldier Slain x334 2115 XP acquired>
< lv1-20 Generalis Major Slain x56 3690 XP acquired>
< lv3-16 Cisternina Soldier Slain x27 560 XP acquired>
< lv7-18 Ruunt Hunter Slain x23 745 XP acquired>
< Acquired Skill: Melee >
< Acquired Active Skill: Smash >
< Acquired Skill: Feather Foot >
<[Dodge] Experience threshold Reached. Lv1 -> Lv5>
<[Body Reinforcement] Experience threshold Reached. Lv3 -> Lv7>
<[Regeneration] Experience threshold Reached. Lv3 -> Lv4>
<[Long Strider] Experience threshold Reached. Lv5 -> Lv6>
<[Power Shot] Experience threshold Reached. Lv3 -> Lv5>
Class - Survivor | lv 25/25 | 8514 xp *
Race - Modular Human m
Achievements- The Special | Self indulgent | (+3)
Name - Maximilian | Condition- Curse of Soul Fray
Hp- 1780/4400 (1/2)
SkP- 3 Stp- 6 Souls- 113 35 0
Assimilation Bonus: +5 str | +4 stm | +1 int
Stats - (+13 phys)(+3A)
Strength 48
Speed 44 (+5A)
Stamina 45
Dexterity 56 (+35)
Intellect 37
Sense 64.4 (x2.3)(+10)
Vitality 22 (1/2)
Charm 11 {locked}
Special Skills -
Existential Empower ||| lv6/20
Death Resistance \ lv2/99
Corruption Resistance ||| lv1/20
Class Skills -
Desperate endurance | lv2
Schematica 2/3 | lv1
High Hound | lv2
Defense Orientation | lv4
Passive Skills -
Complex Crafting ||| lv1/20
Multishot || lv8/10
Tracing || lv7/10
Int Dismantling || lv10/10
Grinding || lv5/10
Greater Deft || lv7/10
Toxicology || lv6/10
Targeting | lv7/10
Long Strider | lv6/10
Body Reinforcement || lv7/10
Acrobatics | lv3/5
Regeneration | lv4/5
Terrain Sense | lv5/5
Stitching | lv1/5
Dodge | lv5/5
Melee | lv1/5
Feather Foot | lv1/5
Active Skills -
Rapid Dash || lv5/10
Leap | lv 3/5
Power Shot | lv5/5
Meditation | lv3/5
Pierce | lv1/5
Smash | lv1/5
Resistances -
Greater Pain res || lv5/10
Shadow res | lv1/5
Stocks-
Modularity- Special: Assimilation
Nervous 200% | Immune 200% | Integumentary 200% | Muscular- 200% | Absorbing Skeletal- 200% || Circulatory 200% | Reproductive 200% | Assimilating Digestive 200% ||
Brain 200% | Heart 200% | Lungs 200% | Stomach 200% | Intestines 200% | Muscles 200% | Bone marrow 200% | Arteries 200% | Veins 200% |
< Melee- An all purpose close combat fighting skill that doesn't focus on any one weapon or style. >
< Smash- Increases damage and destructive force of the next blunt attack by 100% | 3 min cooldown. >
< Feather Foot- Decreases damage taken from falls, also makes your steps quieter. >
What skills can I rank up right now?
< [Int dismantling] | [Terrain Sense] | [Dodge] | [Power Shot] >
I can hear the clacking of the ants' legs on the stone. Actually scratch that, I can hear the echo of thousands of legs. They must have entered the cave. They'll be here in less than a minute.
Hmmm, what skills can help me right now? [Dodge] and [Power shot]. Interesting thing about power shot, is that despite the name, the skill applies to anything. The way I leveled it up so much without using my bow was by applying it to my fist and punching the shit out of the ants. Oh and my knife too I guess. That's probably how I got the [Smash] Skill.
< [1st] Tier [Dodge] Has ranked up into [2nd] tier: [Evasion]- Allows the user to continually dodge attacks, while also setting up for counterstrikes.>
< [1st] Tier [Power shot] Has ranked up into [2nd] tier: [Power Boost]- increases the speed and power of the next attack by 300%. 5 min cooldown.>
Another thing I need to do is modify my teeth. I check my status, only to find there's no option for teeth. What? Do I just need to enhance the mouth then?
< Purchase {Teeth} option for one small soul?
Oh, that explains some of the missing stuff. Like the urinary system and the esophagus. Among others I can't think of right now.
Condition- Curse of Soul Frey | Stress (lesser) | Weariness
Yeah, that sounds about right. Ok, purchase {Teeth} and.. Ok this one!
Splintering {Teeth}- Increases ability to chew and break down hard substances and natural armor, like scales and bone.
I don't need to reinforce it first, since I have a free modification slot for all my parts. As soon as I hit the button, I start running up into the tunnel, using [Leap] to get up there in one bound. My face goes numb presumably from the modification process, and I can feel my teeth shaking. Despite that, I begin winding up one of my master arrows.
I can see the shifting shadows of a truly obscene number of ants, the front of which is only twenty five or so feet away from me.
“Pierce!”
The red light covers my arrow in waves, but I don't wait, as soon as the energy turns into a point at the tip of my arrow, I fire. It whooshes through the air, before multiple loud cracks ring out from the impact. I watch my status as I load another master arrow. The kills slow down, until it finally stops at sixteen deaths.
“Power boost..”
Bright, orange flame quickly covers both my bow and the arrow. Actually, it covers my hands as well, making bright orange gauntlets. This time I shift to the left slightly before firing off yet another arrow. This one racks up only ten kills.
I didn’t come into this cave thoughtlessly. I know it may look like I've screwed myself over by getting trapped in here, but this is where I make my final stand. These ants are hellbent on killing me. If they were going to give up, they would have done so half an hour ago. My stamina may be high, but I have to rest eventually. These ants are like drones, doing their tasks unceasingly until they run out of power. If I climbed up the mountain, they would have followed me. They can climb much better than most animals, after all, they were made for it. If I climbed up a tree to sleep they would find and kill me. If I go up the mountain, they would climb much faster, catch up and kill me.
If I don't kill them now, I'm done for. The tunnel serves as a good choke point, limiting how much they can overwhelm me. They also won't be able to surround me, and arrows will be much more effective in this straight tunnel like this.
As I'm thinking, I continuously fire every arrow in my arsenal. When an ant gets close, I [Smash] them into the ground. I hold them in the cave until I run out of arrows. Then, I fall back, taking some exoskeleton to munch on.
My modification finishes, and feeling returns to my mouth. I glance at my new skill explanations again as I recover and wait for the ants to climb down. I have no way to attack them from here after all.
< [Smash]- increases attack damage and destructive force by 100% for the next physical attack. 1 min cooldown, uses stamina. >
< [Melee]- An all purpose close range attack style that doesn't focus on any one weapon or technique. Street fighting. >
< [Feather Foot]- Decreases fall damage taken, slightly increases jump height, and makes your steps quieter. >
< Cisterna Soldier absorbed! Part: Exoskeleton. Processing… complete! +3 Defense | added to stocks! >
Defense? I didn't know that was a thing. System, give me the definition. The ants have finished clamoring down to the cavern floor, and are beginning to rush towards me. The information absorbs into my mind as I use my stocks.
< Defense- Increases natural defenses, internal and external, against physical force. High stat values can completely ignore damage. Includes both a flat and percentile damage reduction. >
Assimilation Bonus: Def +3
Ok. I can do this, I can do this. Just breathe..
Purchase skill: [Cut]. Put all stat points into stamina.
Stamina 47
Ok, now I just have to pray that it will last me. As [body reinforcement] levels up, my stamina will also increase. [Regeneration] doesn’t regenerate stamina, only hp. Even if those skills got maxed, I can't rank them up. I have to use [Long Strider] to the best of my ability and reduce my stamina use. I'll use both [Evasion] and [Melee] simultaneously. I'll only use my skills when necessary. [Dash] is still on cooldown, but it's almost up. There are cliffs on the walls, but I have to wait for [Leap]’s cooldown before I can escape to those. So I have to hold out for.. Three and a half minutes. Okay. I can do this. I can do this. Just breathe…
I activate [Melee] feeling it infuse my muscles with foreign memories. I know how to make every punch a little stronger. A little faster. I know how to save just a little stamina, how to move with that little extra percent of efficiency. I activate [Evasion] and for the first time in a long time, I feel the skills resonate. They begin vibrating, working together to strengthen me even more.
The ants are upon me, but now I'm ready. Predictably, they start jumping at me. Maybe instead of latin ants, I should call them jumping ants instead? I unsheath my knife, and cleave the diving ant’s head in half. Many of the ants go around to flank me, so I set my feet into a flexible stance, and begin dancing around the cavern.
An ant jumps from my right, my increased field of vision lets me know, and I whirl around to stab into its brain. The others take the opportunity to bite at my ankles. I use my new [Cut] skill, and quickly cleave through all three of them. One of the tank ants runs up with multiple smaller ants clinging to its armored body. I twirl around and make a deep cut in the right side of its head, destroying its armor but not killing it.
The ant rears back with those ghostly white jaws, though these ones look a bit different. Unlike the standard one, this one has a few ridges within its bite, like spears. I had already set my stance, so I fluidly dodged to the side of the monster, and stabbed it in the head. The other ants began jumping at me, but not before I slip a chunk of its brain into my mouth. Having my sense of taste above eleven does not help the taste,
I chew on the squish substance, using much of my will to not spit it out immediately. As soon as I swallow, I get the absorption notification. One intellect and one defense, as well as another stocked skill; [Piercing Chomp].
I'll save that one until another tank comes through. I hack and slash, conserving my stamina as much as possible. The intense melee continues on for another fifteen minutes, with no sign of ending. My muscles are burning, my back is sore and my arms are tired. I need a break. I break through the ant encirclement and [Leap] onto a high up ledge. My jump sends me higher than expected. I wonder how much my skills leveled up? Once I get up, I sit down and lean on the wall, doing my best not to move and meditating to calm my nerves. I open the status, and the information floods my mind without me having to open my eyes. I listen to the pitter patter of ant legs, until I feel the platform lurch slightly from new weight. I guess my rest is over.
<[Long Strider] Experience threshold Reached. Lv6 -> Lv8>
<[Body Reinforcement] Experience threshold Reached. Lv7 -> Lv10 | +3 phys>
<[Regeneration] Experience threshold Reached. Lv4 -> Lv5>
<[Leap] Experience threshold Reached. Lv3 -> Lv4>
<[Evasion] Experience threshold Reached. Lv1 -> Lv4>
<[Melee] Experience threshold Reached. Lv1 -> Lv4>
<[Power Boost] Experience threshold Reached. L1v -> Lv2>
<[Pierce] Experience threshold Reached. Lv1 -> Lv2>
<[Smash] Experience threshold Reached. Lv1 -> Lv3>
<[Cut] Experience threshold Reached. Lv1 -> Lv3>
<[Existential Empower] Experience threshold Reached. L6v -> Lv8>
<[Death Resistance] Experience threshold Reached. Lv2 -> Lv3>
< Acquired skill: [Force resistance] >
< A vast amount of experience has been earned. Notifications suppressed >
< +14891 xp | +376 Small souls | +64 Medium Souls >
Class - Survivor | lv 25/25 | 23405 xp *
Race - Modular Human m
Achievements- The Special | Self indulgent | (+3)
Name - Maximilian | Condition- Curse of Soul Fray | Exhaustion (Greater)
Hp- 1260/4700 (1/2) | St- 247/5000
SkP- 0 Stp- 0 Souls- 489 99 0
Assimilation Bonus: 1 Int | 1 Def
Stats - (+16 phys)(+3A)
Strength 46
Speed 47 (+5A)
Stamina 50
Dexterity 56 (+35)
Intellect 37
Sense 64.4 (x2.3)(+10)
Vitality 23.5 (1/2)
Charm 11 {locked}
Special Skills -
Existential Empower ||| lv8/20
Death Resistance \ lv3/99
Corruption Resistance ||| lv1/20
Class Skills -
Desperate endurance | lv2
Schematica 2/3 | lv1
High Hound | lv2
Defense Orientation | lv4
Passive Skills -
Complex Crafting ||| lv1/20
Multishot || lv8/10
Tracing || lv7/10
Int Dismantling || lv10/10
Grinding || lv5/10
Greater Deft || lv7/10
Toxicology || lv6/10
Targeting | lv7/10
Long Strider | lv8/10
Body Reinforcement || lv10/10
Acrobatics | lv3/5
Regeneration | lv5/5
Terrain Sense | lv5/5
Stitching | lv1/5
Evasion || lv4/10
Melee | lv4/5
Feather Foot | lv1/5
Active Skills -
Rapid Dash || lv5/10
Leap | lv ⅘
Power Boost || lv2/10
Meditation | lv3/5
Pierce | lv2/5
Smash | lv3/5
Cut | lv3/5
Resistances -
Greater Pain res || lv5/10
Shadow res | lv1/5
Force Res | lv1/5
Stocks-
Piercing chomp lv1-2 x2
Crushing Bite lv1-3 x4
Ripping Snap lv2-4 x3
Modularity- Special: Assimilation
Nervous 200% | Immune 200% | Integumentary 200% | Muscular- 200% | Absorbing Skeletal- 200% || Circulatory 200% | Reproductive 200% | Assimilating Digestive 200% ||
Brain 200% | Heart 200% | Lungs 200% | Stomach 200% | Intestines 200% | Muscles 200% | Bone marrow 200% | Arteries 200% | Veins 200% | Splintering Teeth 100% ||
My stamina is at its limit. I'll probably wear myself out in the next five minutes. An ant scuttles up to me, and before it can jump, I [smash] it so hard it explodes against the far away cavern wall.
I jump down onto the cavern floor again, my body only yelling for rest instead of screaming like a few minutes ago. There are like five hundred ants down here, but the amount coming in through the cave has slowed to a trickle. This is my last chance.
I go into a stance and decide that if there was ever a time to use my trump card, it's now. I activate [Existential empowerment] and channel its energy into my body. The cool river of power washes through me, enhancing my stats even more than before.
< [Existential Empower] Activated. Target: [Body reinforcement]. Targeted skill is already at the max level. Skill will temporarily break through to the next rank.
My body explodes with power, all of my physical stats increased by +10. Though my stamina begins diminishing even faster. I bulldoze through the horde of ants, using every skill to its fullest. The battle winds on. I hack and slash, pulverizing every being that gets in my way. I start losing feeling in my appendages. My hands and feet become numb, and my movements sloppy. The bright clear energy of [Existential Empowering] fades from my body, as hundreds of ants start tearing me apart.
Hp- 423/4700 (1/2) | St- 10/5000
Hp- 423
Hp- 349
Hp- 241
My weary body falls to the ground. Flesh tears as pain takes over. Every ounce of my body begs for sleep.
Wouldn’t it be easier if I just give up? I tried my best…. And this is where It got me. I'm not being pessimistic. My stamina is gone, my hp is nothing. Hell, even without the system I can tell I'm spent. There's nothing left. I have no more resources, no more options.
Did I really live my whole life just for this? To die in this foreign world, stripped of everything. My life. My belongings. My family. My future! They…. They took everything from me!! I… I…!
I can't give up here. What would my dad think if I died in some dirty hole? What would my mom do without me to annoy her? What would my brother do without me to talk to him? What would my friends do without me to joke around with them?
Hah… yeah no. I… refuse. I'm not dying here. It's not going to happen. I thought I had lost everything but no, I have everything to lose.
My body, beaten and broken, began to rise from the pile of violent bugs. My flesh, barely clinging to my exposed bones, began coiling around me. My face, ravaged and worn, knit itself back together. My body, once screaming in regret, began shouting in victory.
“ I'm not going to fall here. I have too much to lose. Far too much! Death can suck my nuts, I refuse! “
My skin began to crack, filled with ceaseless power. Channels of white light dug into my flesh, or what was left of it. As if my body was a broken mirror, cracks snaked across skin, as I felt myself touched by ceaseless strength.
My mind reformed, submerged with infinite designs. Cool floods of power submerged my brain with the ice cold touch of clarity.
My soul surged anew, unified once and for all. I felt it again, Unity. My every atom screamed in unison, as I ascended into the air.
My heart quaked, life pulsed through every fiber. My flesh grew and rippled as though possessed, wrapping onto my bones and coiling along my marrow with fresh longevity.
My fist clenched as my body burned in remembrance. Every inch of me was submerged in power. Confidence. Vitality. Will. I felt touched by the sky, a connection to ceaselessness.
My everything surged. Born anew, I alone weave the threads of fate. Understanding permeated my soul, as I looked the celestials in the eyes. With a mighty grin of ceaseless joy, I shattered my imperceptible restraints.
Breakthrough!!!
And with that, everything exploded.
Rich, golden energy blanketed my form, as I floated in the air, breaking through the living mound that rent my flesh not a moment before. I crossed my arms, and wrapped myself into a ball. Endless energy converged and compressed, until I met my limit. I burst outward, and so too did the energy in a huge dome shaped shock wave.
Every ant in a fifty foot radius was eviscerated, leaving nothing but ash that quickly disintegrated. I still levitated in the air, though I was slowly descending. My body was still clad in thick interwoven gold energy. It flowed like layered silk in waves across my body. I could feel myself. Even though it coated my face, I could see just fine.
The ants quickly recovered and began rushing at me once more. I had an odd feeling. As if they were so far beneath me I shouldn’t waste my time on beings like them. With a thought, I vanished and reappeared in front of one of the hunter ants. I smashed down with careless force, creating cracks and a mini crater in the ground. I didn’t bother checking my status, somehow I knew instinctively that my stats were all well over one hundred.
I blinked over to my short sword, I had dropped it when I got dog piled. I picked it up, and the golden energy instantly covered the length of the blade, before extending past it. It easily tripled the length of the knife. The ants began rushing me, even with their depleted numbers, there were still roughly two hundred of them.
I swang the golden glowing sword, cleaving dozens of them in half. Ope, 150 now.
I tried to use dash, but came to find I was already using it. Mysteriously, there was no time limit. I began to slash away, I had to stop punching because the vibrations were making the cavern unstable.
I was almost disappointed when the ants stopped coming. With only a few left, I leapt into the cave mouth and began cleaning it out of any stragglers. With no end in sight to this new power up, I decided to take out the queen.
It was darkening to night when I erupted out of the cave, though the lack of light didn’t affect me in the slightest. I blinked over to the cave, using [high hound] to sense the queen's body heat. Apparently I made a wrong turn and came upon the brood chamber. I mercilessly began cutting down every egg in sight.
It's a dog eat dog world out there after all.
I found the queen, before the monster could even twitch a leg I executed all of its massive guards. I raised my blade, and began gathering all the excess, liquidy gold energy onto my sword, lengthening it to over ten feet. I smashed it into the ground, the energy wobbling as it hit the floor. It began rushing toward the queen like a wave, bouncing around the ground in an unstoppable tide of energy, cleanly bisecting the queen in half.
At that, I felt the energy begin to ebb. I quickly escaped far away, using the last of my energy to climb into a tall tree. Shadow covered my eyes as I finally allowed my body to rest. I was then engulfed in a black tide of well earned sleep, soon to awaken to a bright, new day.