Chapter 71 Too effective? (1/2)
The second trap is almost halfway done when I hear another cras.h.i.+ng thud, followed by a furious roar.
Once again a visitor has decided to grace my humble hotel! Welcome dear guest! Manuel, take their bags! Gweheheh.
Chortling to myself I crawl out of my second pitfall and rush to the first. Tiny is standing up in his tree abode, excitedly staring down at the hapless monster caught in the pit. The little ape is practically drooling, he's become so hungry.
I get that you're hungry little guy but really?! Try to maintain a little dignity.
As much as I try to ignore it my stomach is also growling. After all of this work digging I've worked up quite the appet.i.te.
Approaching the side of my trap I peer down to see exactly what monster I've managed to reel in this time.
Greeting me from the bottom of the pit is a particularly furious looking giant centipede. The centipede very quickly begins to right itself after falling into the pit, a mess of sticks and foliage tangling in its legs.
This guy again huh.
Where once upon a time I felt hugely threatened by the ma.s.sive centipedes, I just can't muster the same kind of fear for them anymore. They might be much larger than the original claw centipedes but they remain fairly stupid with limited ways to attack. In fact, due to its increased size and reduced mobility, the most threatening weapon of the claw centipede, its poison spike, is rendered almost completely useless against me.
POW!
I dispense justice in the form of acid from my business zone down onto my prey before leaping directly into the pit to do battle.
There were several reasons why I thought pitfalls would be a safer way to hunt in the current forest, one of which was the ability to isolate the battle somewhere the sound and scent of the battle would be somewhat muted. Combined with the natural advantage of battling against a monster after it has fallen and become entangled this method seemed promising to my mind.
So far it has proven to be effective. I'll be very interested to see if I can finish this battle quickly enough without drawing any further monsters from the surrounds.
Just as the centipede is able to right itself my acid rains down, once again entangling legs that had only moments ago become free. Hissing furiously the centipede writhes and twists in knots as the pain and discomfort mounts. At this time I land directly onto the carapace of my prey, gripping tightly with my claws, pus.h.i.+ng my grip skill to the limit.
Take this you lively b.u.g.g.e.r!
Piercing Chomp!
CRUNCH!
My mandibles pierce into the carapace like a hot knife into a refrigerated spread of some kind, savaging the internals of the centipede.
The monster shrieks in agony and attempts to use its body to slam me into the wall of the pitfall.
Slam!
Ouch! d.a.m.n centipede, receive my bite of truth!
CRUNCH!
My diamond carapace absorbed almost all of the impact so I received very little actual damage from that desperate manoeuvre, what I am concerned about is the noise attracting more monsters to the scene! So I quickly retaliate with another bite.
This time, having already punctured the enemies defences I utilise the Crus.h.i.+ng Bite to inflict maximum damage, my mandibles ripping deep into muscle and organs of the centipede.
After this bite the centipede has lost most of its fight, unable to properly move the latter half of its body there is little it can do to avoid fatal damage.
[You have slain level 6 Adult Claw Centipede]
[You have gained experience]
Nice!
Quick as a flash I move to secure the Bioma.s.s, dragging it into my prepared side tunnel and out of sight. Then I crawl out of the pitfall to reset the majority of my screen, covering the hole in the ground except for one small section. I'm hoping that this will prevent the smell from escaping too much and also make my hiding place a little harder to find. Claws crossed it works out.
Having taken these measures I retreat back into the trap, bringing Tiny down with me so we can finally sate our hunger. Down in the dark tunnel the offshoots the pitfall we greedily chow down on the centipede, Tiny in particular showing his vastly increased appet.i.te after going hungry for too long.
Yes. Eat my young ape, eat and grow strong. You'll pay me back in labour eventually, I'll work you like a slave! An adorable chimp slave!
After completing our meal I've gained two Bioma.s.s, which brings my current total to four. Just one more and I'll be able to upgrade yet another body part to +5. I'm quite excited to see what sort of upgrades I'll be able to choose from for the regeneration gland!