The ants finally left the scene, then suddenly Asumi came out from a hole behind the tree. He sighed in relief, muttering, "That was close. I was almost a goner."
"Well, I'm not dumb enough to create a maze and not create an emergency exit for times like this," Asumi muttered to himself, feeling proud.
As the maze came crashing down, Asumi went into the hidden exit, placed behind a wall at the center of the maze.
Asumi built the maze on top of four major pillars, each in the form of cardinal points: north, south, east, and west. In order to survive against the ants, he had to destroy the masterpiece he created, breaking the four major pillars.
"How? I didn't think it would work so well," then the system prompted.
[System: Host has survived a near-death experience against the ants in the second attack.]
[System: Host has gained the title Ghost Enemy of the ant colony.]
[Details: All stats will double when a sneak attack is performed on an Ant enemy.]
[System: Host has leveled up, host body will now increase in size.]
Asumi's body slowly grew 0.5% bigger than its previous size.
Asumi, looking at the system notifications, muttered, "Ah, sweet. Tonight was really fun. Can't wait to shock Gooper with how big I've grown overnight. Speaking of which, I'll go there right now."
As he came out from behind the tree and approached Gooper's hole, upon getting into proximity, Asumi looked down the hole and saw small, leg footprints.
Asumi's facial expression immediately changed into something more serious. He mused, "I know Gooper's legs aren't fully developed, so why are there footprints here? And why are they going down the hole?"
Asumi's antennae twitched with anticipation and unease as he went down the hole.
Inside the hole was the usual square apartment Gooper liked to build with enough headroom, but then where is Gooper, Asumi mused.
He turned his gaze and saw his body at the right corner, dark orange in color, going through his pupation only to have several bite marks all over his body.
Asumi yelled, "Gooper!" He rushed to his corner to meet him. Gooper was bleeding seriously, some parts of his abdomen and chest bitten. Asumi muttered, "Those bastards, they were even eating him." Gooper was in critical condition.
Asumi shook his head in disbelief. He muttered, "I don't understand. Why did they come after you?" Asumi was almost at the verge of tears.
Then the system prompted: [System: Quest Name: The Level UP. 3/3 Details: level up and become a true insect.
Task: [consume an insect]
Reward: A new skill]
Although Asumi had slain a few ants with his mandibles, he had never eaten an insect before. This was a hard decision.
Asumi, looking at the system, muttered, "No, I can't. Why now? He needs my help. I'm not going to betray him when he needs me the most."
Gooper, holding onto life by a thread, slowly turned his head to look at Asumi, slowly uttering, "A-S-U-M-I."
Asumi turned his face and looked at Gooper, saying, "Gooper, you're alive. Please try to hang on. I'll figure out something, I promise, Gooper."
Gooper shook his head, signaling Asumi to give up. Asumi snapped his mandibles in frustration, muttering, "Give up? Why are you telling me to do that? You are the only friend I have."
Gooper managed to utter slowly, "It's okay." Gooper, to his last breath, died, his body laying lifeless.
Then Asumi felt rage boiling up inside him, but he managed to contain it. Then he muttered, "It's okay. Rest in peace, friend. I promise your death will not be in vain."
Then Asumi started the consumption process. Once he was done, the system prompted.
[System: Host has completed the quest: The Level Up. Reward: A new skill claim]
[Yes] [No]
Asumi's tears started falling out of his eyes as he muttered "Yes." The system prompted:
[System: Host has gained the unique skill trait extraction level 1] [Details: Any insect host consumes within ten minutes, host has the ability to take one of the traits.
[System: Will host like to extract one of the traits from his fallen comrade Gooper]
[Yes] [No]
Asumi sighed and said with conviction in his eyes, "Yes."
Then suddenly Asumi's body glowed blue, and the system prompted:
[System: Host has gained the trait Rhinoceros Beetle Exoskeleton (S)]
Wait, Gooper was a Rhinoceros beetle? Asumi mused in confusion. Then Asumi's body began to morph. Two horns grew out of his head, the second horn smaller and inverted. Then his legs grew bigger with small spikes, his abdomen expanded.
After his transformation was done, Asumi opened up his eyes, seriousness etched on his face. He muttered, "No matter what, I must get stronger and defeat the ant colony, even if it's the last thing I do."
Asumi's current stats:
[System: loading...]
------------------------------------
| STATUS WINDOW |
-------------------------------------
| Name: Asumi Tora
| level: 7
| Experience points: 43/100
| Mana capacity: 6/10
| Health: 100/100
| Hunger Level: 100/100
| Beetle Type: Rhinoceros
| Current Stage: Adult
|-------------------------------------|
| Abilities:
| - Advanced movement
| - Advanced feeding
| - Appraisal
| - Flight
| - Traits Extraction (Unique)
|-------------------------------------|
| Attributes:
| - Strength: 8/100
| - Speed: 2/10
-------------------------------------
| Free Stat Point: 0.4
```