Upping The Ante

100. Contact

The marsh Expanse is teeming with monstrous life. Monsters creep out of connected tunnels, making their way deeper into the recesses in order to meet up with whatever is compelling their behaviour. Even without the steady trickle of captive beasts, there is plenty of stuff to fight around us.

The ever present, ever hungry flora dot the mounds and regularly rise out of the waters. The plants don’t seem to want to eat each other much, but they are always waiting for a juicy meal to wander past, ready to fall into their clutches.

Then there’s the crocs.

Lounging here and there, yawning mightily with their enormous jaws, the croca-beasts, titan-crocs and beyond can be seen almost everywhere. Never too many in one place, just little posses of three or four, wading through the waters or lying on the raised earth.

I think there’s more of them here than the last time we came. Maybe they’re gathering on this side since we’d raised a ruckus.

At any rate, they don’t seem to have spotted us.

I think the best course of action is to lure them into the tunnel group by group, keeping the combat out of sight so we don’t draw the lot of them down on our heads at once. Nice and steady, that’s the play.

So why is Tiny over there punching a titan-croc in the face?

DAMMIT!

[“Let’s go! Move quickly to support Tiny! Crinis, don’t let him get surrounded and try not to get flame-throwered!”] I cry as I rush forward.

This stupid ape! How could I forget his habits so quickly? Last time we were here I was pleased by his self-control and ability to control his seemingly endless hunger for battle. The reality is he was unsettled, even a little intimidated, by the oppressive aura hanging over this Expanse.

How did I expect a maniacal, famously thick battle addict to react to his first taste of fear? An emotion he probably hadn’t felt in his entire life. After taking out his frustration on smaller, weaker, unsatisfying foes and getting a power buff from actually increasing the Level of his skills, not to mention the massive boost he received from finally mutating to over +5, he’s pumped.

He’s back, large and in charge, and couldn’t wait to punch some face in.

So, he didn’t!

The second he laid eyes on a croca, the urge to redeem himself in a battle of old-fashioned fisticuffs must have been irresistible.

He didn’t get far. The closest group of croca-beasts was within a hundred metres. When they saw the giant ape eagerly flinging himself forward, swinging from tree branches like a demented, overweight Tarzan, they roused themselves to fight. Claws out and jaws agape, they met Tiny’s charge with all the fury they could muster.

Fists ablaze with light, Tiny smashed their faces within ten seconds and stood pounding his chest as he roared out a challenge to the Expanse as a whole.

Because… of course he would.

When we rush up to his side, Tiny is still bellowing his challenge, and it’s safe to say he’s drawn a fair bit of attention.

All around us small gangs of crocs are staring with undisguised hostility at us. I’m quietly confident even the plants are giving us a full dose of the stink eye, even though they don’t have eyes.

I think I’m feeling a headache coming on…

Actually. You know what? Who cares! Instead of chipping away at the enemy tactically over an extended period of time, this stratagem has a little more chest hair! I’m with you, Tiny, bring it on!

I immediately kick my sub-brains into gear and get them weaving up a Water Transformation Construct. It shouldn’t take long for them to get it set up and pumping out water attributed Mana. If any of these monsters decide to start spitting flames at us, I want to be ready.

[“Get ready, folks, they’re coming in!”]

Four small groups of crocas advance, curiously untouched by local plant monsters. Counting rapidly, I size up our opponents. Ten croca-beasts and two titan-crocs. Not even a warm-up!

These low tiered monsters can’t hope to hold a candle to us. It’s what will come next that worries me.

Come on, brains, get kicking!

The monsters swagger closer, their toothy grins and grasping claws screaming confidence. It’s almost strange. I’m starting to think these guys haven’t been challenged in this marsh for some time. Have they become the local bully boys? Leathery skinned, super ugly Mafioso?

Gonna get a rude awakening!

[Crinis, eat!]

[Of course, Master!]

With her Tremor Sense, Crinis is able to detect the subtle vibrations of movement through the ground and air. As the crocs flex, eagerly anticipating the meal to come, Crinis lifts herself from my back on thin tendrils and drifts forward.

Such an innocent looking little ball of endless despair. Who could possibly imagine that this tennis ball sized black orb would contain so much terror?

Certainly not the crocs.

[Tiny, leave it to Crinis, you’ve had some fun already.]

In response to my order, Tiny frowns sadly and kicks the dirt. He hasn’t had nearly enough fighting yet, but I know his games. It isn’t possible for him to get enough fighting in the first place.

[There’ll be more soon, bud. Keep that engine warmed up.]

The big ape nods, still looking sad, but the fire in his eyes is burning bright.

Some of the crocs approach through the water, their long tails sinuously trailing behind as they adeptly swim, whilst others move from island to island, gradually closing the distance at a slow walk. The smaller croca-beasts lead from the front whilst the two titan-crocs follow from behind, dwarfing their lesser evolved allies.

As soon as one scaly foot lands close enough to Crinis, she acts.

Unfurling herself with blinding speed, tentacles lash out in all directions, peeling out of her body endlessly until there are dozens of them grasping the closest foes. By the time the croca-beast realises what’s happening, it’s already too late. Once the first tentacle latches onto its leg, its fate is sealed.

More tentacles lash out, slashing through the air like whips and striking the beast, coiling tightly around it. Snarling viciously, the monster tries to resist, pulling and slashing at the inky black Shadow Flesh with its claws but it is to no avail. Razor-sharp barbs emerge from the tentacles and begin their dark work.

Knowing what Crinis’ upgrades can do, I’m not entirely sure I’m prepared to watch what’s about to happen…

[Stay away from Master, you vile beast!] Crinis roars.

Then she engages her Ripping Spines.

Where once her barbs would dig and tear into her victim, now they move, shifting back and forth at high speeds over a distance of a few inches.

In effect, I guess you could say it’s like a chainsaw.

Slack-jawed with fear, the other croca-beasts watch as their struggling compatriot undergoes what can only be described as the ‘Crinis Experience.’ She’ll probably get a few more Levels of Dismembering from this.

When it’s all said and done, her main body inflates and unfolds to reveal her cavernous maw. The no longer struggling croca is unceremoniously dropped within, and as a ghastly crunch emerges from her main body, those inky black tentacles begin reaching out for more.