Chapter Twenty Eight

Bob dove immediately back into the room, his singular eye widened in absolute horror. Every bit of him screaming in unison that there was absolutely no way he could fight the monster at the end of the hallway.

Or outrun it.

Or hide from it, even; given its differing reaction to the end of a ‘call to arms’.

He briefly wondered why on earth his ‘Danger Sense’ seemed to be rating it on the same level as the crabs it – obviously – wasn’t having much trouble with; before quickly casting the subject aside. Now not exactly being the time for speculation.

He charged towards his only possible hope; almost leaping upon the blackened object abandoned at the back of the room. Something which looked like it might have been a small candelabra, once upon a time.

And also something which, while not overly large, Bob quickly realized would not fit inside even his ridiculously malleable mouth.

He whipped his injured tongue out, rapidly wrapping it around the corroded lifeline even as he cast his mind back along the hallway; hoping to find that the octopus had encountered some other distraction on its way to brutally murder him.

And here, he was shocked to find at least a touch of hope. Loyalty amongst crustaceans apparently being higher than he’d previously assumed; with what appeared to be the last of the trio of larger crabs in the midst of combat with the raging cephalopod.

Though, as its ‘threat level’ actively dimmed before his mind’s eye, Bob doubted it would be terribly successful in the attempt.

Still, it would at least take the octopus time to tear off all of its opponent’s limbs. Time Bob didn’t intend to waste.

His tongue suddenly compressed, sending a slight metallic shrieking noise to echo through the water. What was once an artifact from a potentially lost civilization quickly being mashed and bent into an indistinguishable lump of tarnished silver.

A lump of tarnished silver which Bob quickly tossed into the hollow confines of his body; mind simultaneously witnessing the aura of his last crustacean defender disappear from existence.

Ding!

Congratulations!

You have acquired a weight of silver equal to (15.38) Silver coins!

Ding!

Species Level Increase!

4 – 5

Next Level: 24.26/32 SP

New Skill Slot opened!

New Species Trait Available!

He felt himself nearly vibrating with tension as the windows seemed to take achingly long to appear in front of him. Bob mentally spamming the ‘Species Trait’ button as soon as it came into view. Well aware that he had perhaps seconds before an unbeatable enemy was upon him.

Congratulations!

For elevating yourself to Species Level (5) you are awarded (1) additional Species Trait!

Please choose carefully!

Treasure’s Allure (F)

Grants the mimic an air of innocence and temptation

Gains further access to (Mind Control) Path traits/skills

Willpower + 5

Entrancing Eye (E)

Enhances the Mimic’s jeweled eye, allowing it the ability to stun or paralyze weaker creatures

Gains further access to (Ocular) Path traits/skills

Perception + 10

Empty Vault (F)

Grants the mimic increased storage area in which to hold their Hoard.

Gains further access to (Spatial) Path traits/skills

Intelligence + 5

Stolen novel; please report.

Armored Safe (F)

Grants the Mimic armored plates/materials along the surface of their bag/chest

Gains further access to (Armored Defense) Path traits/skills

Constitution + 5