Antvance into the Unknown

27. Live Evil, Part 2

My body is… strange. Certainly far from ideal for my purposes. I still possess the normal senses one would expect: sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. Perhaps even better than I’d experienced as a human, but the configuration of my physical form… not so much. As far as I can tell, I’m a legless, fleshy blob with two deceptively powerful arms that emerge on either side of my fanged mouth.

My body also appears to be covered in a black, tar-like substance that is quite difficult for my claws to penetrate. Essentially a slug with arms and a mouth covered in a defensive coating. Unpleasant, but I can deal with it.

Constantly shifting my body, I swing my limbs to turn my attention on my surroundings. Conditioning myself and my reflexes to this new reality will be key to my survival. There’s a vague sense of dysmorphia rising at having my consciousness transplanted into this rather horrific form—one I squash ruthlessly. Anything that will impede my ability to survive cannot be tolerated. Any instinct that works against this goal must be expunged.

That familiar mindset rolls over me like a cloud. It was always like this when I was on a job. I had to be cold, calculated, make the right move at the right time and with the perfect execution. When the game is life and death, there is no other way to play. Even here and now, in this new body and in this new world, that thrill is bubbling beneath my surface thoughts. If I could only find something to fight, something to hunt. That would scratch my itch!

The environment is hot. Overwhelmingly hot. The rock around me radiates heat to an absurd degree, and not far away, there are open pools of lava that flow into places unknown whilst lighting up the area. Everything else is blasted, black rock.

Except something just moved.

A flicker of motion captures my attention and I react instantly, using my two powerful limbs to drag my fleshy body into cover to gain a better vantage point. Like a panther, I prowl—a flabby, meat sack of a panther, but a predator no less. Around the jagged, burning stones, I go until I find what I’d seen.

One of my own kind, a disgusting blob of dark flesh, was dragging itself along by its arms. What it’s doing, I don’t know. From what I can tell, it is freshly born, much as I am, emerging from the rock. In fact, yes, I can see it, a patch of ground not far from where my fellow larva is now, loose stone and the indentation in the ground indicating where it liberated itself from the heated stone.

I now have a choice. Should I attempt to befriend this creature and forge an alliance? Strength does exist in numbers, this is something I know well. Two might survive where one would fail. Then there’s the other choice…

And Odin only follows one way.

After reaching the creature’s blind spot, I soundlessly fling myself from the rock and sail through the air, claws and fangs at the ready. Strength in numbers is the policy of the sheep. I have always been a predator! Let others cower and huddle in fear, that has never been my path.

Besides, my information is incomplete. If I reveal myself to the creature and it attacks, I will have thrown away the advantage of surprise for nothing, putting me into an essentially even battle for no gain. Better that I silence the thing now than take any risks. And I do believe there will be much to learn from this creature…

My claws strike with deadly precision, my steady aim being unchanged, though my body has greatly diverged from what I know. With this angle, my mouth falls in the perfect position and I sink my teeth into the tough hide of the beast, and it screeches with pain.

This style of fighting lacks the grace and elegance of my usual performance, but I must admit, there is a certain visceral satisfaction in it, being this up close and personal.

Latched onto its back, the creature thrashes and tries to dislodge me but, I hold on with my teeth while raking at it with my claws over and over again. The wounds pile up and my foe’s struggles grow weaker over time.

[Demon Claw has reached Level 4.]

Interesting… Once again, the strange voice speaks to me of these game elements. As I continue to attack my prey, I notice that I appear to be doing more damage than before, even if the difference is only slight. These Skills could help me improve at actions in this world? Fascinating…

After a little more struggle, my victim finally collapses and I release my grip, only to find the voice speaking into my mind.

[You have defeated a Level 1 Initial Demon Larva.]

[You have gained XP.]

I was right. This world will reward me, much as a game would, if I defeat enemies. If I have a Level, that means I can Level up. If I can accrue experience by fighting, improving my Skills and gaining Levels, then that is what I will do. I need to amass power, and fast. Which leads me to my other path of inquiry. It’s sitting right there in my status: Biomass.

Biomass means food, it means matter, and I don’t see anything else to eat around here except this thing.

Jaws open wide, I rip into the meat without delay, unwilling to waste any time and uncaring of what it might taste like. For the record, it’s disgusting. But the voice speaks, sharpening my mind.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Initial Demon Larva. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Initial Demon Larva unlocked.]

Yet more information. Perfect.