The trail continued to wind through the fields, leading towards the valley side. The knife edge of its peak was visible as it tapered down towards the flat plains beyond, leading to the mouth of the valley. The trail had become more broken, and the cart was no longer a smooth ride, SJ being jostled and bouncing as it travelled over the ruts.
"I think I am going to stop here," SJ said, pulling the cart up to the side of a tree just off the path. Leading Humberto off the main trail, she led him, pulling the cart until it was behind the tree by some bushes, and although not hidden well, it was not as obvious. Unhitching Humberto, she stroked his mane and led him towards the tree before tying him off. She didn't want him wandering away while she continued to the caves.
"I hope Humberto will be ok leaving him here," SJ said.
"I haven't seen anything around the area large enough to attack a horse yet."
"Yet. Sounds ominous."
"You never know what could be wandering."
Looking towards the valley side, she was probably still a few hundred metres from it. She quickly checked her inventory again to ensure she had everything she needed. Torches, Flint and Steel, Rations, Waterskin, the basket from Grewlas and the healing potions and anti-poison. Having left all the other items from the cart at the cottage would at least mean nothing could be stolen. It was annoying that such a small item as her Flint and Steel took up a full slot in her inventory.
"I really should have got a new belt with some pouches to carry the smaller items."
"It would have been helpful," Dave replied.
"You think," SJ replied sarcastically.
She closed her inventory, happy she had what she needed but frustrated that she had only two free slots for other items apart from her tailoring slots.
"Let's go," she said, transforming into her miniature form. Taking off almost instantly, she flew along the trail. Her speed was much faster than the cart had been travelling at, and it wasn't long before the landscape changed and the slope of the wall began. Flying made travel so much easier, not having to walk up inclines. She increased her height and surveyed ahead. Being very wary of checking the skies for any sign of hungry birds.
In the rock face that presented itself, she could see several dark openings dotted along its face. At the distance, she still was, none of them seemed to have any distinguishing features to identify them apart from their position. Heading towards the nearest opening, she came to land by the entrance. The cave opening was large enough for a bear or similar to fit inside, and she had the sudden urge to inquire about them.
"Do bears live in caves?"
"Why bears?"
"Oh. No specific reason it was always a thing back on Earth that they did."
"Bears live wherever they please. Some live in caves, others don't. The territory or region normally plays a large part, and it is warm here, so they do no need to find shelter."
"What can live in caves then?"
"All sorts. Spiders, sometimes Wolves have dens, Puma, various insects, and anything else could set up a home in one."
"Well, that isn't great then, is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I could be about to walk into someone's home, but they may not wish for guests."
"You worry too much. You are quite able to defend yourself if there is anything."
"I am still only level 7 and still haven't got my second Martial Arts skill yet."
"You have already proven your ability on multiple occasions. You need to start having more confidence in what you can do."
SJ was shocked at Dave's frank and positive comment and smiled, taking strength and confidence from his words.
"Thanks."
Dave didn't respond, so SJ took out a torch, her flint, and steel and began the process of lighting it. Doing it in miniature form meant that the torch would give off very little light, but at least if she grew it, it would provide light, knowing what it had been like inside the cave from the cocoon visit.
Once it was lit and burning well, she approached the entrance. The air in the cave's entrance smelt damp and stale. Slowly flying inside, she took her time and proceeded cautiously. Keeping her eyes and ears primed for any sound. There was nothing unusual, and she hoped she wouldn't come face to face with anything wanting to eat her. The cave entrance went back quite a distance before opening into a cavern. She could not see the roof with the pitiful light cast from her miniature torch and could hear the sound of water dripping from the ceiling above and landing in a pool somewhere in the dark.
Her senses were calm, and she could feel no other presence or any unusual sensations that her senses had started to show since her symbiosis. Flying around the chamber close to the floor, looking for any mushrooms that could be blue-coloured, she found nothing. Eventually, she completed a full circle and found nothing of interest. She flew back up to the entrance, the bright light of the sun streaming into the cave mouth. Squinting as she flew back out into the sunlight.
"One down," she said, looking further down the cliff face of the valley. There were several, and she proceeded to the next, a couple of hundred feet further away. The torch was quite awkward to fly with outside the mild breeze blowing the thin smoke it let off back towards her, and she had to hold it out to the side to prevent it from going in her eyes as she flew.
The next cave entrance was much smaller, and looking at it, she was not sure if a normal person could have fitted inside, even though she still took the time to enter and search. It was even shorter than the first cave, and it suddenly came to an abrupt end, only being a mere tunnel rather than entering a cavern at its end. Turning, she left again.
"This could take some time," she sighed.
"You have enough," Dave replied.
She spent the next hour flitting from one cave to the next with no sign of mushrooms. When she reached the seventh cave, her hopes began to rise. A cold breeze seemed to emanate from the cave mouth, and it was the first she had come across that had a breeze inside. Hoping that a different environment would be what she needed to find them. Entering the mouth of the cave large enough to drive a coach into it, it began to fall away sharply on a steep incline. Flying meant that she had no concerns with moving down the passage. The tunnel wove into the Earth until it eventually came into an open cavern. She had not seen any signs of mushrooms in the tunnel, but as soon as she reached the cavern, she saw a blue-coloured mushroom at the tunnel entrance.
"Yes," she said excitedly.
"Looks like you have found some at last," Dave replied.
The mushroom was probably half her size in miniature form, and she could not do anything unless she grew. Landing by its side, she began to grow. Once she had the torchlight cast into the chamber and covering the floor were clusters of blue mushrooms. Smiling, she bent down and plucked the mushroom from the loose Earth on the cavern's floor. The ground was moist and damp, and the walls had a sheen from the constant moisture. Removing the basket from her inventory, she placed it on the ground and began to walk around the cavern, collecting more of the blue mushrooms and slowly filling it.
She had been doing it for several minutes when her senses were triggered. Stopping and looking around her, she scanned the interior of the cavern. She had not even gotten more than several feet from the tunnel entrance; there were so many mushrooms.
"I can sense something," SJ whispered.
"I haven't seen anything. Then again, the light isn't great. You should really invest in a lantern at some point. They provide much better light than torches."
Rolling her eyes, not replying, she focused on the cavern's darkness. Her senses triggering was her warning sign, and she shrunk down to her miniature size. The torchlight was now nothing more than a match's head in the darkness—visible but casting no light apart from just around her. The basket was on the floor by her side, now towering over her.
Standing still, she could hear a scraping sound. It wasn't nearby but coming from deeper into the cave.
"There is something there," she whispered.
"I can hear it too, but can't see anything," Dave replied.
The sound stopped, and silence returned to the cavern, the only break being the occasional drop of water landing on the cavern floor. SJ's nerves were tingling at the unknown, and she felt a trickle of sweat run down her back. The cold sensation made her senses flare. There was something there; she knew it but had no idea what.
The basket suddenly moved, and SJ nearly had a heart attack as it rocked sideways slightly. A thick black feeler suddenly appeared over the top of it. Looking upwards, SJ was met with the open jaws of a huge insect.
"Ahh," she squealed, dropping the torch in fright. The sound made the creature recoil from the basket. "What's that?" she cried.
"A Giant Crepar. They have a toxic bite, so don't let it nip you."
Flying backwards across the cavern, she looked at where the basket was. The tiny torch provides a minuscule amount of illumination. SJ watched as the insect, which she thought looked like a massive centipede, again hit the basket and began to dig into its contents, removing one of the blue mushrooms. SJ watched as it picked it up in its mandibles and bit into it.
"It's stealing my mushrooms. Why doesn't it just eat the ones in the cavern?" SJ exclaimed, her initial fear now being replaced with annoyance. The creature was not paying her miniature form any attention as it grabbed another and began devouring it. Looking at the creature, she identified it.
Giant Crepar
Level: 10
Hit Points: 65
Mana Points: 0
Armour Class: 25
Attacks: Bite/Slash
Special: Toxin
"It has a high armour class," SJ said.
"Its chitinous body provides it with natural armour."
"Do you know what it's toxin does?"
"Two seconds."
Silence.
"It attacks your cells, preventing healing," Dave replied after more than a few seconds.
"So, stay away from its bite then," SJ replied.
Flying sideways away from the creature, eating another of her precious collection, she moved around to the creature's side. It was difficult to make it out in the near pitch black with the tiny torch light. She could at least tell where it was, with its movement being heard easily. She approached its side. Looking at it in miniature form, it had several pairs of legs, and its body looked like it was plated armour. It was difficult to determine its true size while she was only small, so she noticed that the underside did not seem as well protected as its top.
She grew, equipping her claws and, on immediately reaching her full height, drove them into its softer sides. Her claws scraped against the chitinous armour that still covered its body but aimed as low as she had, and with the element of surprise, they managed to penetrate its soft flesh. The Crepar let out a hissing sound, and its body curled back on itself. Its head suddenly hit SJ on her side, throwing her off balance and making her fall sideways.
Jumping back to her feet, she could see the shadowy form in the cave's dark and moved to attack. As she did, her legs went from under her. She had not seen how long the creature's body was, and it had moved to hit her from behind. It obviously had the freedom to move its parts independently.
"I need light," she stammered as she again regained her footing. The creature went to strike her again with its mandibles open. Seeing the movement late in the darkness, she only managed to move aside, and the creature's head missed her by millimetres. She ran to the basket, shrinking as she did. As soon as she did, she grabbed the torch and grew again, still moving away from the Crepar. Another hiss and scuttling sounded behind her. With the brighter torchlight, she could see better and headed straight for the entrance tunnel.
The Crepar gave chase as she did. Running up the steep incline, she could hear the scraping and scratching of its feet on the tunnel's surface and glanced backwards to see it wasn't very far behind her. Her legs were pumping as fast as she could. She needed to make daylight, if possible, and fight it in the open.
"Attacking a creature in the dark is never a good idea; at least you can draw it into the light now," Dave said.
"You think!" SJ growled as she continued to run.
Turning a corner in the tunnel, she saw the bright light of day ahead; her muscles were burning from running up the incline, and she wished she had flown but needed the creature to follow, and she wasn't sure it would have bothered if she was small. She broke into the light of day, being momentarily blinded, and continued from the cave mouth, turning to see the creature appear behind her. Dropping the torch, she turned and waited.
The Crepar's deep brown colour seemed to absorb the sun's light in the light of day. Its large head and mandibles snapped as it moved towards her on its unnatural legs. With its armoured body, it reminded her of a millipede. She stood ready as it neared, rearing up the front part of its long body before striking down at her.
She dove sideways out of its way, rolling across the rocky surface, wincing slightly from the pain of the motion. Thankfully, she had only received minor damage when the creature hit her. She jumped up immediately, turning back towards it and moving in to attack its weaker sides. Where she had cut it in the cave, she could see a green substance leaking from the wound, and its health was down to 42 hit points after the initial strike.
That was poor considering what her blades had done against others, but knowing the creature's armour class, it did not overtly surprise her. Striking with precision and swiftness from her training with Lorna, she used her claws as extensions of her fists, striking the creature's side as it twisted its head to strike at her again. This time, being ready and aware it could strike from both sides, SJ watched its head move and brought her claws around in defence. Its large mandibles met her blades, sounding like swords clashing as it clacked and hissed at her.
Stepping back as it drew back from her, she struck out at its side again and noticed its rear moving to try and sweep her again. Seeing it coming this time, she jumped and managed to get high enough for its rear portion to miss her. Landing, she turned again to strike, lashing out with a sweeping claw towards its legs rather than its armoured body. Her claws cut into its legs much easier, and it hissed, pulling away, leaving several of its lower limbs behind.
Its health was now down to 33, and slicing into its multitude of legs was easier and more effective with her claws rather than trying to penetrate its armour. It struck at her again, its mandibles clacking and tying itself in a knot almost as it twisted towards her. SJ tried to parry the blow away, but its strength overcame her defensive pose, and one of its mandibles dug deeply into her shoulder.
Grunting in pain from the hit, and her health reduced by another six, she attacked again. The creature was much faster than others she had fought, and it turned on the eye of a needle. Its body positioning was so versatile that its rear portion moved either in synchronicity or independently. It reminded SJ of a friend's pet corn snake she had held as a child, slithering around her hand as she held it. She was completely terrified at the time.
"Keep taking its legs out," Dave yelled at her.
"I am trying," SJ grimaced as she deflected another strike from its head. It had caught her again, this time at her side. Thankfully, it had not been able to bite her yet but had sliced into her with its sharp weapons. Swinging her claws rapidly again, she severed more of its lower limbs. Hissing in pain, it withdrew again, her display triggered.
Congratulations! Bleed effect inflicted.
The Crepar was now down to fifty percent health, and as it turned again to face her, she saw it tick down by another point. "I need another couple of strikes to land," she said, panting slightly from the exertion. The fight was one of her longest so far, with the amount of dodging and weaving they were both performing. Standing with her hands high and claws extended, she ushered at the Crepar to come at her again.
"You know it has no idea what you are doing, right," Dave said.
Growling, SJ moved towards it as it moved at her. Ducking under its head, she drew her claws down the underside of its exposed abdomen. They cut into the softer armour, and SJ was suddenly jerked backwards as the Crepar kept moving. Her claws got caught as she was dragged unceremoniously underneath it. The abdominal strike had been effective until her claws had caught, and its health had reduced to under a quarter.
She panicked, crying out in shock, not expecting the sudden change in circumstances.
"Remove them," Dave screamed.
Trying to avoid the creature's numerous feet as it dragged her over the rocky surface of the valley, SJ removed her claws. Suddenly, her arm was released, and she felt the pain in her shoulder from where she had been dragged. She immediately recalled her claws and found only her left hand was equipped. Glancing at where the Crepar had moved, her other glove was still hanging underneath it.
"Damn," she cursed. Climbing to her feet, it again turned on her. Screaming in pain and fury at the horrendous abomination of a creature, she ran at it. She wasn't going to give it the room it needed to turn; closing the distance quickly, she punched out towards its head with her right. Catching it squarely did little damage, but it gave her the opening she sought, driving her left hand up and into the underside of its jaws. The ferocity of her strike with her claws easily pierced this time, and her blades stuck upwards into its mouth where its clacking mandibles were and its very sharp-looking teeth.
The bleed effect was still working, and she struggled to hold it pierced on her claws. It shook its head, trying to free itself as its health slowly ticked down.
"Hold it," Dave cried.
"I am trying," SJ hissed, as she was drawn with the head's movement. She continued to punch it with her right, her blows ineffective with no claws. Her shoulder screamed at her with every punch she threw, but she was determined to defeat the mushroom thief. Its health continued to fall until it eventually reached zero, and its body weight fell forward towards her. Not ready for the sudden weight shift, she was forced down to her knees before she managed to pull her claws free and roughly push its head to one side.
Sitting heavily on the ground, she let out a cry of victory, and anger, frustration, and rage left her instantly.
"Well done," Dave said cheerily.
"Well done! I lost one of my claws, have torn my shoulder, never mind the pierced shoulder and side."
"You are alive, though, which is always a bonus, and didn't get bitten."
Forcing herself to her feet, she moved to where her claws were still embedded in its body and pried them free. Thankfully, The blades were undamaged, having just caught a much harder substance than she had expected, returning them to her hands before removing them. Pulling one of the lesser healing potions from her inventory, she uncorked the vial and drank it greedily. She hadn't received too much damage. It was more the pain in her shoulder she wanted to subdue. Allowing the warmth of the potion to seep through her body, removing the aches and pains and clearing her mind.
SJ bent forward and looted the corpse.
Congratulations! You killed a level 10 Giant Crepar 110xp, gained
5 x Chitinous Armour Plates
"All because of some damn mushrooms," SJ huffed, turning to walk back to the cave.
The trail continued to wind through the fields, leading towards the valley side. The knife edge of its peak was visible as it tapered down towards the flat plains beyond, leading to the mouth of the valley. The trail had become more broken, and the cart was no longer a smooth ride, SJ being jostled and bouncing as it travelled over the ruts.
"I think I am going to stop here," SJ said, pulling the cart up to the side of a tree just off the path. Leading Humberto off the main trail, she led him, pulling the cart until it was behind the tree by some bushes, and although not hidden well, it was not as obvious. Unhitching Humberto, she stroked his mane and led him towards the tree before tying him off. She didn't want him wandering away while she continued to the caves.
"I hope Humberto will be ok leaving him here," SJ said.
"I haven't seen anything around the area large enough to attack a horse yet."
"Yet. Sounds ominous."
"You never know what could be wandering."
Looking towards the valley side, she was probably still a few hundred metres from it. She quickly checked her inventory again to ensure she had everything she needed. Torches, Flint and Steel, Rations, Waterskin, the basket from Grewlas and the healing potions and anti-poison. Having left all the other items from the cart at the cottage would at least mean nothing could be stolen. It was annoying that such a small item as her Flint and Steel took up a full slot in her inventory.
"I really should have got a new belt with some pouches to carry the smaller items."
"It would have been helpful," Dave replied.
"You think," SJ replied sarcastically.
She closed her inventory, happy she had what she needed but frustrated that she had only two free slots for other items apart from her tailoring slots.
"Let's go," she said, transforming into her miniature form. Taking off almost instantly, she flew along the trail. Her speed was much faster than the cart had been travelling at, and it wasn't long before the landscape changed and the slope of the wall began. Flying made travel so much easier, not having to walk up inclines. She increased her height and surveyed ahead. Being very wary of checking the skies for any sign of hungry birds.
In the rock face that presented itself, she could see several dark openings dotted along its face. At the distance, she still was, none of them seemed to have any distinguishing features to identify them apart from their position. Heading towards the nearest opening, she came to land by the entrance. The cave opening was large enough for a bear or similar to fit inside, and she had the sudden urge to inquire about them.
"Do bears live in caves?"
"Why bears?"
"Oh. No specific reason it was always a thing back on Earth that they did."
"Bears live wherever they please. Some live in caves, others don't. The territory or region normally plays a large part, and it is warm here, so they do no need to find shelter."
"What can live in caves then?"
"All sorts. Spiders, sometimes Wolves have dens, Puma, various insects, and anything else could set up a home in one."
"Well, that isn't great then, is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I could be about to walk into someone's home, but they may not wish for guests."
"You worry too much. You are quite able to defend yourself if there is anything."
"I am still only level 7 and still haven't got my second Martial Arts skill yet."
"You have already proven your ability on multiple occasions. You need to start having more confidence in what you can do."
SJ was shocked at Dave's frank and positive comment and smiled, taking strength and confidence from his words.
"Thanks."
Dave didn't respond, so SJ took out a torch, her flint, and steel and began the process of lighting it. Doing it in miniature form meant that the torch would give off very little light, but at least if she grew it, it would provide light, knowing what it had been like inside the cave from the cocoon visit.
Once it was lit and burning well, she approached the entrance. The air in the cave's entrance smelt damp and stale. Slowly flying inside, she took her time and proceeded cautiously. Keeping her eyes and ears primed for any sound. There was nothing unusual, and she hoped she wouldn't come face to face with anything wanting to eat her. The cave entrance went back quite a distance before opening into a cavern. She could not see the roof with the pitiful light cast from her miniature torch and could hear the sound of water dripping from the ceiling above and landing in a pool somewhere in the dark.
Her senses were calm, and she could feel no other presence or any unusual sensations that her senses had started to show since her symbiosis. Flying around the chamber close to the floor, looking for any mushrooms that could be blue-coloured, she found nothing. Eventually, she completed a full circle and found nothing of interest. She flew back up to the entrance, the bright light of the sun streaming into the cave mouth. Squinting as she flew back out into the sunlight.
"One down," she said, looking further down the cliff face of the valley. There were several, and she proceeded to the next, a couple of hundred feet further away. The torch was quite awkward to fly with outside the mild breeze blowing the thin smoke it let off back towards her, and she had to hold it out to the side to prevent it from going in her eyes as she flew.
The next cave entrance was much smaller, and looking at it, she was not sure if a normal person could have fitted inside, even though she still took the time to enter and search. It was even shorter than the first cave, and it suddenly came to an abrupt end, only being a mere tunnel rather than entering a cavern at its end. Turning, she left again.
"This could take some time," she sighed.
"You have enough," Dave replied.
She spent the next hour flitting from one cave to the next with no sign of mushrooms. When she reached the seventh cave, her hopes began to rise. A cold breeze seemed to emanate from the cave mouth, and it was the first she had come across that had a breeze inside. Hoping that a different environment would be what she needed to find them. Entering the mouth of the cave large enough to drive a coach into it, it began to fall away sharply on a steep incline. Flying meant that she had no concerns with moving down the passage. The tunnel wove into the Earth until it eventually came into an open cavern. She had not seen any signs of mushrooms in the tunnel, but as soon as she reached the cavern, she saw a blue-coloured mushroom at the tunnel entrance.
"Yes," she said excitedly.
"Looks like you have found some at last," Dave replied.
The mushroom was probably half her size in miniature form, and she could not do anything unless she grew. Landing by its side, she began to grow. Once she had the torchlight cast into the chamber and covering the floor were clusters of blue mushrooms. Smiling, she bent down and plucked the mushroom from the loose Earth on the cavern's floor. The ground was moist and damp, and the walls had a sheen from the constant moisture. Removing the basket from her inventory, she placed it on the ground and began to walk around the cavern, collecting more of the blue mushrooms and slowly filling it.
She had been doing it for several minutes when her senses were triggered. Stopping and looking around her, she scanned the interior of the cavern. She had not even gotten more than several feet from the tunnel entrance; there were so many mushrooms.
"I can sense something," SJ whispered.
"I haven't seen anything. Then again, the light isn't great. You should really invest in a lantern at some point. They provide much better light than torches."
Rolling her eyes, not replying, she focused on the cavern's darkness. Her senses triggering was her warning sign, and she shrunk down to her miniature size. The torchlight was now nothing more than a match's head in the darkness—visible but casting no light apart from just around her. The basket was on the floor by her side, now towering over her.
Standing still, she could hear a scraping sound. It wasn't nearby but coming from deeper into the cave.
"There is something there," she whispered.
"I can hear it too, but can't see anything," Dave replied.
The sound stopped, and silence returned to the cavern, the only break being the occasional drop of water landing on the cavern floor. SJ's nerves were tingling at the unknown, and she felt a trickle of sweat run down her back. The cold sensation made her senses flare. There was something there; she knew it but had no idea what.
The basket suddenly moved, and SJ nearly had a heart attack as it rocked sideways slightly. A thick black feeler suddenly appeared over the top of it. Looking upwards, SJ was met with the open jaws of a huge insect.
"Ahh," she squealed, dropping the torch in fright. The sound made the creature recoil from the basket. "What's that?" she cried.
"A Giant Crepar. They have a toxic bite, so don't let it nip you."
Flying backwards across the cavern, she looked at where the basket was. The tiny torch provides a minuscule amount of illumination. SJ watched as the insect, which she thought looked like a massive centipede, again hit the basket and began to dig into its contents, removing one of the blue mushrooms. SJ watched as it picked it up in its mandibles and bit into it.
"It's stealing my mushrooms. Why doesn't it just eat the ones in the cavern?" SJ exclaimed, her initial fear now being replaced with annoyance. The creature was not paying her miniature form any attention as it grabbed another and began devouring it. Looking at the creature, she identified it.
Giant Crepar
Level: 10
Hit Points: 65
Mana Points: 0
Armour Class: 25
Attacks: Bite/Slash
Special: Toxin
"It has a high armour class," SJ said.
"Its chitinous body provides it with natural armour."
"Do you know what it's toxin does?"
"Two seconds."
Silence.
"It attacks your cells, preventing healing," Dave replied after more than a few seconds.
"So, stay away from its bite then," SJ replied.
Flying sideways away from the creature, eating another of her precious collection, she moved around to the creature's side. It was difficult to make it out in the near pitch black with the tiny torch light. She could at least tell where it was, with its movement being heard easily. She approached its side. Looking at it in miniature form, it had several pairs of legs, and its body looked like it was plated armour. It was difficult to determine its true size while she was only small, so she noticed that the underside did not seem as well protected as its top.
She grew, equipping her claws and, on immediately reaching her full height, drove them into its softer sides. Her claws scraped against the chitinous armour that still covered its body but aimed as low as she had, and with the element of surprise, they managed to penetrate its soft flesh. The Crepar let out a hissing sound, and its body curled back on itself. Its head suddenly hit SJ on her side, throwing her off balance and making her fall sideways.
Jumping back to her feet, she could see the shadowy form in the cave's dark and moved to attack. As she did, her legs went from under her. She had not seen how long the creature's body was, and it had moved to hit her from behind. It obviously had the freedom to move its parts independently.
"I need light," she stammered as she again regained her footing. The creature went to strike her again with its mandibles open. Seeing the movement late in the darkness, she only managed to move aside, and the creature's head missed her by millimetres. She ran to the basket, shrinking as she did. As soon as she did, she grabbed the torch and grew again, still moving away from the Crepar. Another hiss and scuttling sounded behind her. With the brighter torchlight, she could see better and headed straight for the entrance tunnel.
The Crepar gave chase as she did. Running up the steep incline, she could hear the scraping and scratching of its feet on the tunnel's surface and glanced backwards to see it wasn't very far behind her. Her legs were pumping as fast as she could. She needed to make daylight, if possible, and fight it in the open.
"Attacking a creature in the dark is never a good idea; at least you can draw it into the light now," Dave said.
"You think!" SJ growled as she continued to run.
Turning a corner in the tunnel, she saw the bright light of day ahead; her muscles were burning from running up the incline, and she wished she had flown but needed the creature to follow, and she wasn't sure it would have bothered if she was small. She broke into the light of day, being momentarily blinded, and continued from the cave mouth, turning to see the creature appear behind her. Dropping the torch, she turned and waited.
The Crepar's deep brown colour seemed to absorb the sun's light in the light of day. Its large head and mandibles snapped as it moved towards her on its unnatural legs. With its armoured body, it reminded her of a millipede. She stood ready as it neared, rearing up the front part of its long body before striking down at her.
She dove sideways out of its way, rolling across the rocky surface, wincing slightly from the pain of the motion. Thankfully, she had only received minor damage when the creature hit her. She jumped up immediately, turning back towards it and moving in to attack its weaker sides. Where she had cut it in the cave, she could see a green substance leaking from the wound, and its health was down to 42 hit points after the initial strike.
That was poor considering what her blades had done against others, but knowing the creature's armour class, it did not overtly surprise her. Striking with precision and swiftness from her training with Lorna, she used her claws as extensions of her fists, striking the creature's side as it twisted its head to strike at her again. This time, being ready and aware it could strike from both sides, SJ watched its head move and brought her claws around in defence. Its large mandibles met her blades, sounding like swords clashing as it clacked and hissed at her.
Stepping back as it drew back from her, she struck out at its side again and noticed its rear moving to try and sweep her again. Seeing it coming this time, she jumped and managed to get high enough for its rear portion to miss her. Landing, she turned again to strike, lashing out with a sweeping claw towards its legs rather than its armoured body. Her claws cut into its legs much easier, and it hissed, pulling away, leaving several of its lower limbs behind.
Its health was now down to 33, and slicing into its multitude of legs was easier and more effective with her claws rather than trying to penetrate its armour. It struck at her again, its mandibles clacking and tying itself in a knot almost as it twisted towards her. SJ tried to parry the blow away, but its strength overcame her defensive pose, and one of its mandibles dug deeply into her shoulder.
Grunting in pain from the hit, and her health reduced by another six, she attacked again. The creature was much faster than others she had fought, and it turned on the eye of a needle. Its body positioning was so versatile that its rear portion moved either in synchronicity or independently. It reminded SJ of a friend's pet corn snake she had held as a child, slithering around her hand as she held it. She was completely terrified at the time.
"Keep taking its legs out," Dave yelled at her.
"I am trying," SJ grimaced as she deflected another strike from its head. It had caught her again, this time at her side. Thankfully, it had not been able to bite her yet but had sliced into her with its sharp weapons. Swinging her claws rapidly again, she severed more of its lower limbs. Hissing in pain, it withdrew again, her display triggered.
Congratulations! Bleed effect inflicted.
The Crepar was now down to fifty percent health, and as it turned again to face her, she saw it tick down by another point. "I need another couple of strikes to land," she said, panting slightly from the exertion. The fight was one of her longest so far, with the amount of dodging and weaving they were both performing. Standing with her hands high and claws extended, she ushered at the Crepar to come at her again.
"You know it has no idea what you are doing, right," Dave said.
Growling, SJ moved towards it as it moved at her. Ducking under its head, she drew her claws down the underside of its exposed abdomen. They cut into the softer armour, and SJ was suddenly jerked backwards as the Crepar kept moving. Her claws got caught as she was dragged unceremoniously underneath it. The abdominal strike had been effective until her claws had caught, and its health had reduced to under a quarter.
She panicked, crying out in shock, not expecting the sudden change in circumstances.
"Remove them," Dave screamed.
Trying to avoid the creature's numerous feet as it dragged her over the rocky surface of the valley, SJ removed her claws. Suddenly, her arm was released, and she felt the pain in her shoulder from where she had been dragged. She immediately recalled her claws and found only her left hand was equipped. Glancing at where the Crepar had moved, her other glove was still hanging underneath it.
"Damn," she cursed. Climbing to her feet, it again turned on her. Screaming in pain and fury at the horrendous abomination of a creature, she ran at it. She wasn't going to give it the room it needed to turn; closing the distance quickly, she punched out towards its head with her right. Catching it squarely did little damage, but it gave her the opening she sought, driving her left hand up and into the underside of its jaws. The ferocity of her strike with her claws easily pierced this time, and her blades stuck upwards into its mouth where its clacking mandibles were and its very sharp-looking teeth.
The bleed effect was still working, and she struggled to hold it pierced on her claws. It shook its head, trying to free itself as its health slowly ticked down.
"Hold it," Dave cried.
"I am trying," SJ hissed, as she was drawn with the head's movement. She continued to punch it with her right, her blows ineffective with no claws. Her shoulder screamed at her with every punch she threw, but she was determined to defeat the mushroom thief. Its health continued to fall until it eventually reached zero, and its body weight fell forward towards her. Not ready for the sudden weight shift, she was forced down to her knees before she managed to pull her claws free and roughly push its head to one side.
Sitting heavily on the ground, she let out a cry of victory, and anger, frustration, and rage left her instantly.
"Well done," Dave said cheerily.
"Well done! I lost one of my claws, have torn my shoulder, never mind the pierced shoulder and side."
"You are alive, though, which is always a bonus, and didn't get bitten."
Forcing herself to her feet, she moved to where her claws were still embedded in its body and pried them free. Thankfully, The blades were undamaged, having just caught a much harder substance than she had expected, returning them to her hands before removing them. Pulling one of the lesser healing potions from her inventory, she uncorked the vial and drank it greedily. She hadn't received too much damage. It was more the pain in her shoulder she wanted to subdue. Allowing the warmth of the potion to seep through her body, removing the aches and pains and clearing her mind.
SJ bent forward and looted the corpse.
Congratulations! You killed a level 10 Giant Crepar 110xp, gained
5 x Chitinous Armour Plates
"All because of some damn mushrooms," SJ huffed, turning to walk back to the cave.
