An old uncle friend of mine once said that the best defense is a good offense. At the time I believed him blindly as he was way more experienced than me and I was a newbie who had just left home. Unfortunately my belief didn't last long as two weeks later he was killed when he met a dragon while hunting wolfs, making me add some exceptions to the rule.
I still think that attack is the best defense but one needs to be prepared to attack! You can't just blindly attack a dragon with an iron sword and expect to slay it. Go back to town, find the best blacksmith, make a dragon slayer sword, contract a party of experienced mercenaries that have at least two mages, prepare some potions for healing and elemental resistance, and finally, prepare a last will. Great, now that you are ready, go ahead and sneak attack it or prepare an ambush. No matter what, dont attack it directly after announcing to the whole world your name and intent, that's simply asking for a Dragon Breath!
So, where was I? Oh, yes, the bugs problem!
To hunt giant bugs, the best weapon is... Magic! No sword, spear, hammer or ax can compare! Bugs have strong shells that make slash attacks useless, piercing attacks get reflected and only strong blunt attacks are effective. There are also techniques like aiming for the joints, but bugs move too fast, its impossible to rely on your aim, you can just count on your luck!
As for Magic? Magic is just the best! Due to their low resistance, even low level magic can do plenty of damage in them and effects like burning, stun and freeze seem to work more frequently. I bet any of those mage apprentices who just got out of the mage's academy would be able to deal with these Giant Centipedes, even I would...if I knew magic...
But life is never that easy. Unfortunately I was never taught magic, I tried to enter the academy but I had no talent, so I could only make do with traps and other less effective means.
This time the enemy is multiple Giant Centipedes. They have strong fangs, can spit poison, and can bind us with their bodies like snakes, and if such a thing happen, that's the end.
Summoning more muddies would be useless, they can only deal with Centipede babies and due to being made out of mud they cant even serve as bait... That's it bait! Let's find something to use as bait and prepare a trap!
"Summon!"
[Understood!]
...
"Show me what creatures I have the resource to summon and could be used as bait for Giant Centipede."
[Searching...]
...
[Complete!]
[Goblin Thief]
[Rank: E]
[Type: Defense Force]
[Consumption: 10u/d]
[Diet: Omnivorous]
[Size: Small]
[Description: Goblin thieves are experts in sneak attacks and stealing items from adventurers. They have an obsession for shinny things and are natural kleptomaniacs, targeting allies and enemies alike.]
[Resources required:]
-Diamond, 7 gems
-Mana, 50u
[Summon it now?]
"What the hell? Just one!?"
7 Diamonds for a single goblin...this doesn't sound fair at all!
Wait, 7? Wasn't it 5?? What is going on??
"Whatever, let's just get him before the price goes up again..."
I draw the summoning circle, and make the call.
"Summon!"
The light appears, the items disappear and a goblin jumps out.
"Massster! Ruyk here, at your service!"
The goblin says as he does a deep bow.
As the goblin Ruyk spies his new master, his face is suddenly drained of all blood.
"Oh no! Ruyk was summoned by a pervert! This is even worse than the prison before!"
I couldn't help but hear the goblin's grumble. My face goes red and I hit him on top of his head screaming.
"How the hell is a pervert!? Shut up!"
But Ruyk eyes were enough to answer.
Following his gaze I couldn't help but notice my naked self. Oh! So, that's what he is talking about...
"Well, it couldn't be helped. I was born like this, there was no clothes lying around, the Dungeon's temperature is always the same, there is not even wind here to make me feel cold, there was also no one who cared about this until now and I have been naked for so long that most of the time I even forgot about it."
"As expected of Master, a true pervert!"
Bang! "Shut up! I will summon some clothes soon. For now, stay quiet as I finish getting ready."
After sending the goblin to the wall, I start drawing the summoning circle again and put some iron inside it.
"Summon Iron War Hammer!"
[Understoood!]
...
"Summon Iron Helmet!"
[Understoood!]
...
"Summon Iron Breastplate!"
[Understoood!]
...
"Summon Iron Leggings!"
[Understoood!]
...
"Summon Iron Gloves!"
[Understoood!]
...
"Summon Iron Boots!"
[Understoood!]
...
And that's the end of it!
Actually I wanted to summon some underwear as well, but... it was impossible, so I had to give up.
Unfortunately the amount of iron I used could make 5 times more than I got, this felt like a really bad business but it could't be helped as it was an emergency.... and I didn't want to be called a pervert again.
Now that I had used most of my iron, I don't think I will need to summon the blacksmith anytime soon, so, at least this would save a bit of Mana...
Finally fully equipped, it was time to hunt some Giant Centipedes.
"Ruyk, follow me!"
"Yes master!"