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nPerhaps it wasn't the best idea to fight and eat here, directly on the path the entire centipede nest takes to get the lake.

nBefore my despairing eyes another five centipedes are approaching, wriggling along in single file through the forest on their way to the lake.

nWhen they see me, mouth full of dead centipede, they don't even break stride and immediately charge.

nHey! Let's take it easy fellas! Any chance we can discuss this? A peaceful resolution is always the best way forward, yes?

nWe can agree that I have eaten those of your kind, those are the facts. But can't we also agree that we are part of the circle of life? That all things are both predator, and prey?

nDidn't think so.

nRun!

nI turn and fire off a quick acid shot, spraying across the leading centipedes' hideous maw before I bolt into the forest. How the heck am I going to deal with five centipedes? I've only recovered about half my HP! This isn't good, not good at all!

nAny help Gandalf?

n…

nDamn you and your incredible pipe smoking skills Gandalf!

nI could potentially make a break for the lake, it's possible they wouldn't fight me there, but being as injured as I am there isn't any guarantee that I'd be able to outpace them.

nI'll have to fight this one out, and there is no way I can fight fair!

nAs I run through the forest I look around frantically for something I can use. Eventually I see a large tree with a wide trunk.

nBefore my opponents can gain on my I run around the back of the trunk, breaking their line of sight and haul myself up the tree as fast as I can.

nGogogogo Anthony pump those little ant legs!

nNot far behind me the five centipedes arrive at the tree, the one I'd hit with acid lagging a little behind. They immediately start to climb after me.

nI climb as fast as I can and then out onto the thickest branch I can find still low to the ground,

nbefore I turn and wait to see what the enemy will do.

nWhen the centipedes see where I am they continue to charge out onto the branch, one of them crawling along the bottom the bough and the other on the top.

nJust before they reach me I let go, throwing myself down to the ground.

nLanding with a thud, I push myself back up and quickly check on the centipede response.

nUnwilling to jump after me they start to backtrack and climb back down.

nThe centipede closest to the ground, far behind his allies is the one I've hit with acid. As soon as his head is in reach I dash forward and bite!

nYou have defeated a level 3 Claw Centipede

nYou have gained XP

nOne down.

nNow run!

nAs the rest of the centipedes make their down the tree I flee, trying to obscure my fleeing form by running through foliage and behind trees.

nWhen I find a particularly dense area of vegetation I dive into and then remain perfectly still. My best chance now is to let my advanced stealth do some work!

nThe rest of the centipedes aren't far behind me, but they haven't been able to see where I went.

nThe four of them move past me in a group, their own antennae patting about on the ground and their claws snapping angrily as they move.

nA centipede has drawn within five metres of me but I don't dare to move. I barely breathe. If they spot me I'll get ripped to shreds! Please centipedes… stay stupid!

nWithout any sign of me they split up, scouting around to try and find me. One scurries off to my left, another to my right and one heads back towards the tree. One centipede remains here, scratching around trying to get my scent or some sign of my passage.

nIn a one on one battle I don't fear these monsters at all!

nThe clueless creature continues to search the area, turning this way and that as it attempts to locate me.

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nOnce it turns its back to me I start to creep out of my hiding place.

nMoving closer.

nAnd closer.

nAnd then I strike! Suddenly leaping forward I deliver a ferocious bite to the tail! I have to remove the chance of getting stung with this damn thing!

nThe centipede reacts slowly and I deliver a second bite to the tail, shattering the carapace and rendering it useless.

nChomp has reached level 3

nHolding onto the tail I drag the centipede toward me, keeping away from its claws to deliver another bite behind the head, finishing it off.

nYou have slain level 1 Claw Centipede

nYou have gained XP

nStill not level five?! Argh!

nStill, from five centipedes down to three!

nDesperate to regenerate my health I start eating as quickly as I can. Rather than being weighed down with Biomass my precipitously low HP is of far more concern.

nThankfully I'm not interrupted before finishing off the meal.

nYou have gained Biomass

nQuickly checking I see my health has recovered to 16. Better than nothing!

nWith the centipedes split up and their numbers diminishing I feel a lot more confident. If possible I want to finish them all off, I might gain enough XP to reach level five and finally evolve.

nI've managed to regenerate possibly two acid shots whilst eating, increasing my options. You want to try and hunt me? You foolish centipedes… you will all be my prey!

nChuckling to myself I head towards the left of my previous hiding place and it isn't long before I encounter the monster who had headed that way returning after a fruitless search.

nLooking for me pal? I was here all along!

nAs soon as the beast gains sight of me it hisses, clacking its claws in rage before it charges, directly into my b-zone!

nBAM!

nAcid directly into the face!

nThe creature releases a horrible shriek of pain but I won't let it off, pouncing directly into its claws to deliver the finishing bites.

nYou have defeated level 4 Claw Centipede

nYou have gained XP

nThe voice of Gandalf is still ringing in my head when I pause for a moment.

nDid I see somethi-

nOh heck!

nIn a very un-antlike move I hurl myself to the side and roll as a vicious tail spike plunges through the air where I'd just been. Another of the centipedes returned whilst I tangled with the my foe!

nWith its surprise attack having failed though there is no hope for this monster. Regaining my feet I charge directly forward, not giving it a chance to position its tail for another strike. Leveraging my larger mandibles I go directly for the head, chomping down twice to finish it off.

nYou have defeated level 2 Claw Centipede

nYou have gained XP

nYou have reached level 5

nYou have reached the level cap, evolution menu available

nOh yeeeeeeeeees!

nIt's finally here!

nOnce again I do the best happy dance an ant can manage. Mind you, with six legs I can really get some moves going.

nCalm down Anthony! Not in the clear yet.

nI have to get my head back in the game. Celebrate once I make it into a safe nest and not before!

nLooking around I see no sign off the final centipede. Not wanting to waste the resource I chow down on the centipede.

nYou have gained Biomass.

nThankfully all this fighting has really greased my digestive process. Now that I have four Biomass I really want that one more so I can improve my acid to 5. I'll have to go back to the tree that I jumped out of, hopefully the centipede I defeated there is still available.

nI sneak through the forest back to the large tree. There still isn't any sign of the last surviving centipede but the remains of the one I defeated are still here.

nThank goodness!

nYou have gained Biomass

nOk. Let me just say this, if I never have to eat one of these disgusting bugs again I'll be a happy ant. After stuffing myself with the horrible things I am completely sick of them.

nI don't even bother going back to look for last two bodies. I'm completely stuffed anyway. It looks like that last centipede has successfully made an escape. Lucky thing!

nI move back to the lake, making sure to stay on the Titan-Croca side of the water and scout around to locate my old hiding chamber.

nI'm so excited to evolve I'm practically shaking! I'm pumped for this. It really feels amazing to have finally achieved this goal.

nWhen I find my old hidey hole I widen up the opening and expand the chamber a little bit. It's possible that I may be larger after I've evolved and I don't want to squish myself to death underground during the process.

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nRenovations complete I hop down into the chamber and seal the entrance.

nTime for some serious changes.

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