The Antventure Begins

15. How to Last Hit

This world contains a bizarrely game-like system. The information I need most is exactly how this system functions. For example, how does the system award XP when a monster dies?

Is it divided evenly amongst everything that caused damage? Or is all of the experience awarded to the one who deals the final blow? I’ve never received a system announcement awarding experience during combat, only after the prey has expired.

I can assume that only when something dies is XP awarded for it.

Let’s test a few theories then.

Drawing near, the sounds of combat are growing louder and louder. Sticking to the shadows, I peer around the rock crevices to identify the combatants.

Locked in furious battle are four of the filthy Claw Centipedes and a croca-beast.

By the shining beard of Gandalf, I hate those stupid centipedes. They think they’re so great! The four crawling monstrosities have surrounded the much larger, hulking, walking croc, advancing and retreating to distract their foe and create chances for the others.

The croca-beast is doing its best to watch each opponent, but they’re simply too slippery. Always moving, circling and fainting. The beast’s already been wounded in several places and is leaking green ichor. It isn’t going down without a fight though. A fifth centipede lies twitching at the croca-beast’s feet, completely torn in half.

Slash!

Bite!

The monster’s whirl in deadly combat, swinging claws and chomping fangs.

It’s all quite thrilling.

Despite the excitement, I try to keep an eye on my surroundings. The last thing I want is one of those stupid slugs to slide up and eat me when I’m not looking. Surprisingly, most monsters are giving this fight a wide berth, unwilling to get dragged into a fight between such dangerous opponents.

I’m happy to chip in, however.

The croca is snapping its jaws towards one centipede while using its claws to ward off the others. Its tail swings furiously, trying to defend its vulnerable back as it turns. Suddenly it coils up, crouching low.

This is it!

I hurriedly turn and take aim, and as the croca launches itself at one of its tormentors, I fire a blast at one of the centipedes, drenching the foul thing in my acid.

As quickly as I can, I re-aim and fire another shot at the croca itself, splashing the burning liquid down its left side.

The giant croc has already clamped its jaws shut on its victim. Swinging its massive head from side to side, it snaps repeatedly down, audibly crunching the exoskeleton of the centipede writhing and twisting madly in a death grip.

However, in striking so boldly, the croca has left itself open to retaliation. The remaining three centipedes, including the victim of my sneak attack, leapt forth, unwilling to let this chance slip. Taking advantage of the certain death of their comrade they plunge with wriggling glee, sinking fangs and claws into their larger foe, tearing away at their prey.

One of the centipedes rears up the end of its body, displaying a spike which it flips forward and drives into the croca’s back, surely injecting some form of poison.

The larger monster roars in rage and with a massive swing of its head snaps the centipede in half, flinging pieces away into the darkness before turning on the remaining pests. And with my acid burning it and the poison in its system, it’s moving slower and slower.

The three surrounding centipedes withdraw, circling at range, waiting for the poison and damage already done to wear down their prey. The target of my attack has withdrawn farther than the others, playing extra defensive while it hisses and clacks at the surroundings, unsure where the hidden foe lies.

Gwehehehe. Over here!

I fire a burst at that centipede, splashing it squarely on the tail. The creature shrieks and squirms, clacking fiercely as it attempts to locate my hiding place with its beady eyes.

No such luck, pinchy!

I normally wouldn’t act so brazenly, but with their hunt almost successful and the threat of surrounding monsters joining in, I doubt the centipedes would be so foolish as to abandon their prey to hunt for me.

So once again I nestle into the shadows and prepare to watch how things play out from the safety of the ceiling.

The croca-beast is heavily wounded, air rasps between its massive jaws as it labours to breathe. Although the eyes of the beast are still alive with fury, and the centipedes give due respect to their monstrous opponent, continuing to wait it out, retreating slightly every time it steps forward.

My victim is moving slower now, clearly wounded. It refuses to back too far away from the croca-beast, but also remains close enough to claim its stake, unwilling to relinquish its share of the prize.

The croca is close to finished now, unable to put up much of a fight. Every breath is an effort. Its blurry eyes lock onto its final target, the wounded centipede I attacked.

Dash!

With the last of its strength the monster hurls itself forward, desperate to bring down just one more enemy before it goes. The wounded centipede darts to one side as the others close in on the beast from behind, but the acid has burned away for too long.

The waiting game the centipedes played has weakened the croca significantly, working nicely in my favour to allow my acid to accrue damage.

It’s just enough of a hindrance that the beast can land a vicious swipe with its claws.

Slash!

The centipede reels back from the blow but doesn’t fall. Combined with the acid attacks from earlier, the unfortunate monster no longer has enough power behind its strikes. This was the final burst of strength from the wounded croca. After the furious attack, it collapses to the floor, having spent all of its energy.

My heart pounds in my tiny ant thorax, this is perfect!

Once the unharmed centipedes close in on their prey to deliver the finishing blow, I take aim. This is the last of my acid for the time being. This shot has to count.

Pow!

My acid fires true, straight onto the wounded centipede.

My victim contorts its body as the hateful acid burns through it.

For some reason I have very little sympathy for these clawed centipedes. Hopefully not just because they look so hideous. I like to think I’m not that shallow.

The two healthy centipedes turn to inspect their heavily wounded comrade before turning back to the now collapsed croca-beast and finishing it off. As the large monster breathes its last breath, I tense—

No system announcement.

I didn’t receive any XP, even though I damaged it. This means that being part of a successful fight isn’t enough, only the last blow matters.

[You have defeated a Level 3 Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 3. One Skill Point awarded.]

Speaking of which, now the injured centipede has succumbed to its wounds. Even though the fearsome blow from the croca-beast surely dealt 80% of the damage to the centipede, I am the one who reaps the reward as my acid has claimed the final hit!

Muahahaha!

The final two centipedes seem scarcely bothered by the loss of another ally. One of them scuttles towards a nearby wall and darts into a side tunnel as the other centipede circles the beast carcass, clacking and hissing at the surroundings, defending the Biomass.

It isn’t long before another five centipedes burst into the main tunnel and surround the prize. One centipede even crawls over and seizes the remains of the one I defeated and starts dragging it back towards their nest!

Oi!

You dirty thief, I curse your father! Wriggling chitinous worm that he is. I glare down at them from my hiding place on the roof.

[Stealth has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

Oh ho! The great Gandalf has bestowed his wisdom upon my head. So supple his facial hair, so aggressive his eyebrows.

I’ll have to investigate this upgrade a little later. For now, I must monitor this situation.

The centipedes move quickly to secure their hard-won Biomass, dragging away the croca-beast and the body of the first centipede to perish in the battle. They really don’t intend to waste anything. Even to the point of consuming their own kind…

This isn’t really that odd if we consider normal insect behaviour. Some species will consume their own dead rather than let those precious nutrients go to waste. This Dungeon is a highly competitive environment after all, I can’t really blame them.

Still… As expected of these gross monsters.

They run a very slick operation though, I have to give them that. It doesn’t take long for them to get their precious Biomass back into their side tunnel, safe from jealous eyes and the predations of their competition.

However…

If I had a proper mouth, I would be grinning the sly grin of a Cheshire cat. Foolish centipedes. Not as clever as you think you are! Chuckling smugly within my mind, I snake my way down a stone pillar towards the remains of the centipede tossed away by the croca during the fight.

The final prize is mine!