"We, the Guardians, take up our mantle with unwavering resolve in the face of the ever-looming threat that lies within the dungeon. Infused with the power of Mana, we push ourselves beyond our limits, fearlessly confronting the darkness that emerges. Our duty is clear - to protect our world from the horrors that lurk within.
With our weapons at the ready and our courage ablaze, we stand as a formidable force, resolute in our commitment to safeguard our lands. Sacrifices may be inevitable, but we press forward, our resolve unshakable. We fight with valor, drawing upon the wellspring of strength that flows within us, determined to uphold our oath as Guardians.
Through the darkest of times, we hold fast to our mission, fueled by our belief in the righteousness of our cause. We know that every step we take, every blow we deliver, is a crucial act of defense, safeguarding the lives of countless others. Our unwavering dedication to our world and its inhabitants spurs us onward, even when faced with insurmountable challenges.
As Guardians, we embody the spirit of selflessness and bravery, pouring Mana into our bodies to transcend our limitations. We stand tall, fearlessly confronting the dungeon's horrors, for we understand the grave responsibility that rests upon our shoulders. We are the protectors, the defenders, the champions of our world, and we will not falter in our resolve.
For as long as the dungeon remains a threat, we will continue to rise, to fight, and to protect with all our might. We are the Guardians, bound by our duty, fueled by Mana, and resolute in our unwavering commitment to safeguard our world from the darkness that lurks within."
-The Pledge of the Guardians
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'That was unexpected' Gerald thought to himself as he slowly stirred, waking up from his nap. 'It would've been dangerous if I did that outside, but that was a nice nap'
He stretched his body and decided to check his stats first. Gerald looked at the panel that appeared before him.
[Level: 3
Might: 16
Toughness: 14
Cunning: 33
Will: 17
HP: 28/28
MP: 27/27
Skills: Bite (Level 2)
Mutations: Electric Mandibles +1, Exoskeleton +2
Biomass: 0
Skill Points: 2]
'Oh, I almost forgot about these skill points. Better spend them now' Gerald thought as he looked through the list of skills available to him.
'There are a lot of skills here, huh?' Gerald mused as he went through the options one by one. He picked four skills that caught his eye, but then realized he only had two skill points to spend.
'These four skills will be quite useful, but I only have two skill points' Gerald thought to himself.
[Dash (Cost 1 SP): Gives you a short burst of speed]
[Electric Magic (Cost 1 SP): Gives you the ability to use Electric Magic]
[Stealth (Cost 1 SP): Makes you harder to be noticed by creatures]
[Swarm (Cost 1 SP): Allows you to control a few of your fellow creatures]
'Swarm is a definite skill to buy, and among the other three skills, Electric Magic seems like the best choice' Gerald decided.
He confirmed his choice and felt a wave of strength wash over him. 'Ahhh, I love that feeling! I'll look forward to feeling that again'
'I should test these skills and then scout the surroundings again' Gerald thought as he walked towards a group of centipedes. He used his new skill, [Swarm], and the centipedes stopped moving, looking at him as if awaiting his commands.
'So that's how it works, but how do I command them? Telepathy?' Gerald wondered.
{Greetings, my fellow hungry kind!} Gerald tried communicating with them telepathically and waited for their replies. He knew that they could communicate, as he could understand their pheromones for some reason, although as far as he could understand, they can only do some basic communications. A few seconds had passed, the centipedes hadn't replied to him yet.
{Can y'all understand me?} Gerald asked again, and finally, he got a reply.
{Yes....}
{Great! Let's go hunt something.} Gerald led the centipedes outside, and the view still amazed him, even though it wasn't his first time seeing it. {Let's go towards the lake first.} The centipedes started walking towards the lake.
As their group arrived at the lake, the monsters drinking there backed out a bit, wary of the approaching centipedes. Gerald drank from the lake, looking around, and spotted a boar creature with big tusks. 'Seems like we have our target for today.'
He watched as the boar finished drinking and headed towards a forested area. Gerald decided to follow it. {Let's go! We're going to have a barbecue today.} The centipedes were confused but still followed Gerald nonetheless.
They cautiously followed the boar as it snuffled and rooted around in the fallen fruits. Gerald surveyed their surroundings and spotted a nearby cave. He looked at the two centipedes with him. {You two, go and lure that pig towards that cave over there} he commanded.
The centipedes exchanged glances then looked back towards Gerald, {Oh, these dumb shits, just go attack it} Gerald muttered to himself then the centipedes scuttled towards the boar.
The centipedes charged at the boar, hoping to sink their venomous fangs into its tough hide. The boar noticed their approach and stopped eating, glaring at them with its sharp tusks ready for defense.
{Go!} Gerald shouted, urging the centipedes on. They jumped at the boar, but it swiftly charged past them, sending them flying. The boar turned around to face them again.
{Go! Run towards the cave!} Gerald yelled, and the centipedes, recovering quickly, obeyed his command, scampering towards the cave. The boar, thinking the centipedes were fleeing in fear, chased after them.
Once the centipedes reached the safety of the cave, they stopped and turned to face the boar. The boar sensed something was amiss and hesitated at the entrance of the cave. That's when Gerald and the other centipedes emerged from hiding. {HAHAHA GOOD! GOOD! HOLD IT DOWN!} Gerald exclaimed, feeling a surge of satisfaction and control.
The other centipedes quickly charged towards the Boar and the battle between the centipedes and the boar intensified. The centipedes swarmed the boar, biting and stinging relentlessly, while the boar thrashed and tried to shake them off. Despite its size and strength, the boar couldn't overcome the swarm of centipedes, and it grew tired after a prolonged struggle.
Gerald approached the boar cautiously, mindful of its remaining strength. He remembered not to be too arrogant, as it had cost him his life once before. He crawled towards the boar slowly, and as it weakened, he seized the opportunity to bite its neck, delivering a fatal blow.
The boar screamed in pain and thrashed one last time, but it was too weak to escape. Gerald bit its neck again, and the boar succumbed to its wounds, finally dying.
Gerald's bite reached Level 3, but he was surprised to find that he didn't level up this time. 'Hmmm? No level up this time? I guess the level of that boar is quite low' he mused, looking at the lifeless body of the Level 4 Ironsnout Boar. The other centipedes crawled towards the boar, eagerly anticipating their share.
{Go and eat! You all earned it} Gerald said to the centipedes, and they became excited, devouring the boar. Gerald also joined in, filling his hungry stomach. 'I should hunt more and practice that electric magic soon, but for now, I'll eat' he thought to himself, planning his next moves.