[??? unlocked: 98/100 progress.]
A fast thrust to a skittering multipod left it completely lifeless. The next target was partly hidden by reeds but clearly not hidden enough as it ended up turning into a shellfish-kebab.
[??? unlocked: 99/100 progress.]
Spear Mastery had leveled up once again during his crab hunting grind, bringing it up to level 4. The difference between levels seemed exponential instead of linear as level 4 greatly increased Oliver's proficiency in using his spider leg weapon.
With a quick swish that flung off leftover bits of gore, he stabbed the spear directly downwards and impaled a dark green multipod that was about to clamp its mouth on his boots.
[??? unlocked: 100/100 progress.]
[Conditions met for {???}. Commencement of hidden event will begin shortly.]
Oliver readied his spear to take on the rest of the multipods that crawled from the depths but realized the remaining crabs were crawling back into the pond at a leisurely pace. In fact, they all seemed to be heading towards the center of the pond.
With a quick look around to ensure that he was no longer in danger, Oliver checked his status to see his current condition.
[Oliver Plante]
[Level 5 Scavenger, Level 2 Fisherman]
[Current Scavenger experience: 6395/14000.]
[Current Fisherman experience: 120/300.]
[Health: 81/102]
He had taken a few scratches during the fight and had suffered a rather deep cut on his calf when one of the stealthier crabs got behind him and bit the back of his leg. However his level up during the fight had allowed him to remain rather unhurt and mildly healed his wound. The experience required for level 6 seemed to increase at quite a ridiculous pace. He had killed over a hundred of crabs ranging between level 1-3 and he was not even halfway!
It might seem a little hopeless but he knew that killing higher level creatures would award higher amounts of experience. Something also told him he would most likely find additional ways to earn the exp, he just had to keep searching.
Breaking out of his daze he saw there were no multipods left anywhere on the nearby shore and in the shallows. There was some kind of bubbling occurring in the middle of the lake instead, the same direction where the multipods retreated to. The bubbles seemed to be increasing in intensity and size as if something was growing under the surface. Oliver just stared and gripped his spear, unsure whether he was expecting this outcome for the kill quest.
As soon as the bubbles had started they petered out and faded, white foam being the only residual of any strange happenings.
"Humph." Oliver frowned and scratched the side of his head, smudging a bit of crab gut in his hair by accident. "Seems a bit anti-climactic."
He turned around to observe the pile of dead multipods he had created by flinging the carcasses over his shoulder. There was no way he was going to eat this many multi-pods, maybe he should leave some out for the cat creature that seemed to be stalking him? It was the only creature so far that didn't actively attack him, the closest thing to a friend he had around here.
He pondered what to do with this amount of seafood when he suddenly heard a massive explosion in the middle of the lake. Oliver's eyes went wide as he was showered with a wave of water that completely soaked his back. He turned around in a fighting stance as he saw a massive set of pincers emerge from the middle of the lake.
[The Pond King has successfully been summoned.]
[Emergency Quest acquired: Defeat The Pond King.]
[Failure to comply will most likely result in death.]
Red text flashed in front of Oliver's face as more and more pincers emerged out of the water. A total of 6 segmented legs each toting a chair sized weapon emerged out of the middle of the pond. It was at this point water ran off what someone could easily confuse as a boulder, revealing the main body of this boss monster.
The multipods resembled average rocks that one could find on the beach if they were immobile. They had numerous legs that were arranged in a circular motion around their centered mouth, the total of which was quite nightmare inducing but not exactly difficult to smash given Oliver's levels.
The Pond King on the other hand, was a creature that was taken straight out of an H. P. Lovecraft book. Its calcified body was adorned with thick gleaming spikes and its mouth was a collection of pedipalps much like the giant spider Oliver recently fought. All six pincers were connected to to the side of its head, the rest of its body resembled an armored lobster more than a crab or hermit crab. Its eyes were attached to arm-thick stalks and stared intently at the one who had summoned him. An unnerving red glow behind the eyes gave the horrific creature an equally terrifying look, a look that seemed to scream run or be eaten.
The only sounds that could be heard were the soft dribbles of water as they slide off the carapace of the pond monarch and the waves lapping against the shore due to its emergence. Oliver stared unblinking at this creature, unsure whether he could take on such a fearsome foe. The King decided to come out of the pond since his opponent was too chicken to step in.
A myriad of splashes propulsed the creature towards Oliver, its many legs working together to make it dash towards the nearby shore. Its pincers fanned out, ready to catch anything that tried to get away from it. It was huge, perhaps 7 meters across from pincer to pincer, and built like a tank. There was no way Oliver would be able to dodge out of its way in time given its speed.
Oliver steeled himself as he came to the realization that he would not be able to escape if he tried running. This thing could probably snap trees in half with its claws even if he ran into the forest. Those pincers would most likely turn him into minced meat if he even got slightly caught by them.
He would most likely be left completely vulnerable if he tried to defend himself as well. Two clawed appendages were enough for most crustaceans, why did this giant need 6?
He swallowed and gripped his spear in both hands, retreated further from the pond to give himself a bit more room to work with. The Pond King was now halfway up the shore, the legs under it fully visible as well as the elongated carapace that hosted them. Its charge continued as it neared Oliver.
A fool will often choose to place themselves in hopeless situations, but only an idiot would do nothing to get themselves out. Those were words that carried an extra slice of realness in this cavern biome, sadly, Oliver had no time to think about which wise philosopher had spoken this cryptic message. What he did do, was follow their advice.
With white knuckles gripping his spear, he ran forwards with the tip pointing up at the giant crab's face. For increased courage and mostly to convince himself he was not about to die, Oliver cried a loud war cry as he faced down the lovecraftian decapod. His footing was sure and he accelerated as much as he could, arriving directly in front of the creature in mere seconds.
Time slowed down as the pincers began to move towards him and close to try and rip him apart. The monster loomed in front of him, shiny from the still wet carapace that surrounded its entire body. Oliver yelled one last shout and then planted his spear directly into the ground in front of him and flung himself high into the air.
Claws reached for him and shut on nothing but air as he vaulted himself over the crab's head. He held on to his spear even as he left the ground, wrenching it free from the sand and gravel. This caused him to veer slightly off his wanted trajectory, his arm passed by one of the crustaceans spikes and a gash opened up the length of his forearm. It barely hurt as adrenaline pumped in Oliver's bloodstream and forced him to continue the fight for survival.
Time sped up again as Oliver rearranged himself mid air with a flying spin. He pulled his feet over his head in a sort of back flip and placed the spear vertical to the ground, his body hanging off of it like some Norse legend attacking a god. The back of the creature began to approach rapidly as Oliver's altitude descended, the extra momentum fed into a downward lunge that was spear-headed by the spider's leg spike. He hoped this creature's carapace was softer than the spider he had previously fought as his spear had a hard time penetrating the arachnid's chitin.
The spear zoomed towards the space between two plates located on the mid line of the creature. The normal carapace would no doubt hold up to a direct hit but the connective tissue seemed like the best area to attack.
The spider leg spike plunged deep into the joint with a crunch and a gurgling sound as the soft interior meat was easily sliced up. The Pond King spasmed as it felt itself be wounded from the inside and the claws attempted to reach its back. However, Oliver knew the pincers had limited range of motion and were optimal for front face assaults, not for defending its back.
Oliver pulled out the spear, tendons and white crab flesh dragged out with it, and immediately plunged the spear in the next joint higher up the giant lobster's back. The creature began to shake and wiggle as it tried to shake off its attacker. The tail raised up and smashed on the ground, but Oliver held tight to the embedded spear.
This fight had seemed ridiculously difficult, but a bit of luck and a clever strategy turned out to be more than enough to even the odds. He repeatedly plunged the spear deep into the Pond King's back, the movements of the tail growing weaker and weaker until most of the legs and the main body dragged on the ground paralyzed. Oliver began to feel bad as he paralyzed the last segment leading up to the head section, one of the three pairs of pincers falling limp after an onslaught of swishing and stabbing eviscerated the crabs abdomen.
Only two feeble legs clawed at the ground in a hopeless attempt to move the Pond King's body. Its own mass played against it as the weight rendered the creature immobile. Oliver climbed off the body, careful of all the spikes that covered the exterior. He had received a few slashes on his legs by not being careful as he climbed the back, but nothing major. The crab tried to extend its pincers to grab him as he could see Oliver on it's side, but the locking joints made it so it was a useless endeavor.
He examined the carapace from the side and saw the connective tissue that relayed the head to the rest of the body, a narrow slit on either side of the head. he stabbed the spear in and slashed inside, The pincers on the left side of the creature fell limp as their nerves were severed. Oliver pushed one last time as deep as he could, coating almost all the spear's shaft in crab body fluids until he finally heard a very wet gush. The Lobster-Crab and former Pond King stopped moving all together and shook as its life went out.
[Level 15 Pond King defeated. 2500 experience gained.]
[Emergency quest rewards will now be rewarded.]
"Huh, what beautiful green text." Thought Oliver as white light began to shine directly in front of where he stood.