The Antventure Begins

74. Dead…er?

This darned rabbit is one nasty customer! Standing next to it will cause damage and apparently biting into it also causes damage.

What the hell.

In the end I still have to finish it off as fast as possible. As the regenerative fluid flows through my body, I keep the Mana pouring out of my core and into my mandibles, preparing to take the damage and continue to chomp!

Shockingly, this half-dead looking rabbit is still able to use the limb I attacked, despite a good chunk in the middle of it being crushed to bits. Since the rabbit is twice my size, it looms over me when it manages to get its feet under it.

Tiny continues his rampage, thrashing the rabbit on its back, punching and tearing at it, inflicting whatever damage he can. This is a completely new Tiny I’m witnessing here today. What happened to your chill, little guy?

The rabbit lashes at my carapace with a paw swipe, claws dripping yellow, virulent looking fluid emerging from between the toes. I don’t yield to this! Trust in the Diamond Carapace! Rather than dodging I brace for the blow and prepare my counterattack. I need to deal decisive damage, lest all of these damage over time effects drag me down!

BAM!

The paw smashes into my side. Man, those claws are sharp! Sparks fly as those disgusting claws rake across my hide, gouging into the carapace but failing to break through.

Phew! Now receive this bite.

My mandibles, charged full of Mana roaring out of my core, are ready to clamp down. I just need to maximise my damage potential.

Instead of trying to attempt anything fancy, like reaching for the neck, I lunge before the rabbit can recover its balance, aiming directly for its midsection. This is going to hurt…

Crushing Bite!

CRUNCH!

With all my strength I rip directly into the creature’s torso, shredding muscle and bone. That disgusting ooze erupts again, coating my head and jaws, but I don’t stop.

Bite!

CRUNCH!

The fetid flesh parts so easily under my assault, I’m not even sure I need to use my Infused Mandibles to inflict serious damage, but I won’t turn it off. This thing needs to go. I can’t even see Tiny now. My vision is blocked by this acidic fluid and the monster itself.

One drawback of having to attack with your face, is there is extremely little distance between my eyes and the enemy’s body. I’m basically getting an eyeful of suppurating rabbit flesh and fur. If it weren’t for my compound eyes giving such a broad range of vision, I’d be super disoriented doing this.

Bite more and die, you damn rabbit!

CRASH!

A tremendous force smacks me into the ground, causing my legs to splay as the rabbit brings both fists down on my back in a hammer blow. The sheer mass of the creature adds force to the strike, knocking the wind out of me.

Guh… That one stung.

I hastily check my HP. Thirty left! With this acidic fluid on me, my Health pool is rapidly shrinking. I need to finish the fight.

Shaking off my dizziness, I push myself back up before the rabbit prepares its next strike and dive forward once again. You. Will. Get. Bitten!

CHOMP!

Utilising the Piercing Chomp this time, my mandibles rip into the wound I’ve already carved, the pointed edge of my mandibles tearing deep into the rabbit’s chest, destroying it internally.

Under my assault, the rabbit finally shudders and grows still. I hastily withdraw my face and retreat in time to see the foe slump to the ground defeated.

My face is still burning. I’ve never fought a monster that was more of a disgusting pain in the butt than this thing.

At least… I got the… experience?

Tiny is standing astride its back, his right fist plunged deep into the monster’s back, his arm crackling with blue electrical energy.

He slowly withdraws his hand, the flashing and arcing electricity fading. There’s a satisfied look on his bat face as he shakes his limbs out as if just finishing a draining workout.

I look from Tiny to the monster and back to Tiny. The monster is clearly dead. Did you kill-steal me, you cheeky ape? Unbelievable!

I’ve not heard the voice of Gandalf. This can only mean one thing. I didn’t get the last hit!

Tiny jumps off the monster’s back and runs towards me, his face shining with a pleased light. He honestly looks like a puppy. A bat faced, ape-puppy.

You’re lucky I like you, cheeky ape!

I can’t be mad at him. I reach up with one of my legs and give him a pat on the head. You did good, little guy, even if you stole my XP and delayed my evolution, I’m not mad. Oh, whoops, my claw might have been a little tight there on your head. Sorry, buddy.

Well, what do we do with all of the Biomass? Is this stuff even edible?

After the burning of my face has faded, I check my HP to ensure my Health isn’t still going down. Thankfully it isn’t. Whatever was causing that constant Health loss is clearly no longer in effect now that the monster is dead.

Remembering that nauseating feeling of biting into the creature, I gingerly approach it. Hoarf! The smell is terrible. Like someone had a pet rat that died, was left in the cage for a week and then flushed down the toilet after dropping a possessed deuce. This here, this is a new low in the realm of smell.

Are you just gonna let the Biomass sit there, Anthony? You have to at least try it, man!

Ok, ok, ok. Here it goes…

Oh, my word. Oh heck. HURK!

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Quantum Mors Labor Tabes. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Quantum Mors Labor Tabes unlocked.]

Gasp! Just… just let me breathe for a sec. Phew. So, monsters can throw up.

I mean, the taste was very similar to the smell, so I shouldn’t be too shocked, but holy moly. That was next level.

Let’s check this profile.

[Quantum Mors Labor Tabes: Decaying Death Rabbit. Evolved from the Blood Tooth Rabbit, this monster has adapted the shadow affinity of the base creature into a fearsome death affinity that manifests in a malicious aura that drains life from all around it, causing the monster to lead a very solitary life indeed. The body of this monster is filled with death energy at all times which will have several effects.]

You don’t say? You know what, if I was to describe the taste of a body filled with death energy this would likely be it. Was this some form of zombie rabbit? Is that what you’re trying to tell me, huh? Zombie rabbits now?

There is no way I’m eating the rest of this thing.

Even Tiny is looking at me as if I’m insane for trying it. Are you the smart guy now, eh! Just because you’ve grown a bit and can fight, you’re going to get all uppity with me?

What a waste. I’ll guess I’ll just have to wait and hope this place will reclaim this mess. I don’t think I have to worry about monsters being attracted by the smell. Rather than the juicy allure of food, this is more the horrific stench of the damned.

In fact, this thing might even discourage monsters from entering this area and make all three of my traps useless! Please just disappear, you horrid mess!

While I’m waiting, I’ll return to digging. Too many developments are happening here, I need to clear my mind. The body of the Death Rabbit melts into the soil and vanishes about half an hour later, taking that reeking stench with it. A pleasant surprise is that after all the remains have faded, a small round gem is left lying innocently in the dirt.

A core!

Since I don’t have a particular use for it, I’ll leave it partially buried in the wall of my underground tunnel for now where it won’t be disturbed. I’ll definitely come back and experiment with this later.

I reset the trap, minus bait, and return to Excavating.

About an hour later I received a pleasant surprise.

[Excavation (II) has reached Level 5.]

[Tunnel Sense has reached Level 5. Upgrade available.]

Oooo. Tunnel Sense must have been Levelling as I tried to aim this tunnel at the nest while digging. This is nice, I haven’t been able to upgrade a skill for some time.

[Tunnel Sense (I) [?] Tunnel Map (II): Cost 1 SP. This upgrade improves the sense of underground direction with a powerful memory aid, allowing for the full recall of tunnel layout.]

Sounds nice. I’ll take it!