Chapter 5: Red Knights

To reach the bed of stones across, Eon climbed and used a wood log to move across the river, and bridged between gray stones scattered throughout. While traveling, his eyes darted around, looking for any danger or prey. His wriggling body moved in the direction of the tall grasses, hiding in a steady motion.

His brown, thick, and long body was hidden by the thick dried leaves on the ground as he traveled, making little to no sound. He crawled toward the riverbank, just beside the flowing water, and followed its trail to remember his way back home.

As he discovered creatures swimming in the river, Eon's gooey eyes narrowed. Black long creatures were throwing water at each other in the deep part of the river when they noticed Eon's gooey eyes as he passed by with his body covered in leaves.

***

Race: Gerolak Tadpole [Level: 1/10].

***

HP: 10/10

MP: 10/10

Top Speed: 2 km/h

Defense: 0

***

Stats:

Strength: 1

Agility: 1

Intelligence: 1

***

Damaging Active Skills:

Water Ball [MP Cost: 1] [Level: 1/20].

**

Non-damaging Active Skills:

Long Jump [MP Cost: 1]

**

Passive Skills:

***

The Gerolak Tadpoles were five in number, and each of their almost transparent red eyes was following the gooey eyes as they passed through the dried leaves. Their bodies were almost entirely black, with the exception of their stomachs, which revealed their red intestines. They were swimming smoothly in the clear water, swinging their long fish-like tails. They were newly hatched and curious about everything; they were seen watching everything go by, chasing after fish, and playing with their siblings by splashing water on each other with their tails.

Eon purposefully ignored them, not only because they were unreachable for him while in the water, but also because there was a group of them with five members of the same level as him. He continued traveling while attempting to avoid the Gerolak Tadpoles' attention; however, his retractable, gooey eyes were so noticeable that the Gerolak Tadpoles couldn't ignore them even if they tried.

After a few seconds of watching, a splash of water was thrown toward Eon by violently waving their tails. Which he avoided by running away from the Gerolak Tadpoles' range. Some of the droplets hit him, but they did no harm; they were simply a warning that he would no longer be able to use this route in the future.

Eon continued his journey, ignoring the hostility directed at him. Dealing with monsters in greater numbers than himself was not something he desired.

He continued his search for any lone creature, but he came up empty-handed. Which was ironic given that he didn't have a hand.

After a few hours of searching, he came across several creatures, but none of them were alone or weaker than him, as would be expected given his level.

As he scouted the creatures in the distance, Eon's eyes rose from the cover of the leaves of a small plant.

***

Race: Slug [Level: 2/10].

***

HP: 20/20

MP: 20/20

Top Speed: 4 km/h

Defense: 0

***

Stats:

Strength: 2

Agility: 2

Intelligence: 2

***

Damaging Active Skills:

Mud Ball [MP Cost: 5] [Level: 5/20].

**

Non-damaging Active Skills:

Body Mucus [MP Cost: 1]

**

Passive Skills:

***

A group of five Slugs, one of whom was level 2 and the other four of whom were level 1. Eon had been watching them for a while, waiting for one of them to break away from the group. He settled for this and waited for any opportunity while keeping a close eye on their every move because he couldn't find any lone creature in this area that he could defeat one on one.

The five Slugs were simply feeding on algae that were stuck in the stones and wood. All of their eyes were scanning the area for any signs of danger. Their gooey eyes darted at Eon from time to time, but none of them saw him as a threat because he was a Slug like them.

Eon had no problem approaching them, even eating algae a few meters away while observing their movements. However, he couldn't get any closer because the group's strongest member became aggressive when he tried to approach any member of the group more than he was allowed to. And every member was clinging to each other, not letting go for a second. If he tried anything in front of any of the members, he would be swarmed and would have no chance of winning.

It was a difficult challenge, one he had yet to overcome.

The sun gradually faded and the afternoon arrived, and before he could do anything to eliminate any of the Slugs, Eon was already stuffed from his constant consumption of algae. His body became bloated, and he eventually lost interest in eliminating one of the Slugs; he waited, but received no opportunity.

While pushing his bloated body, Eon decided to begin his journey back to his home while the sun was still up, where he would be safe before the night and the night dwellers took over. However, before he could take a single step, his eyes, which could see and smell at the same time, rose in response to the arrival of unknown monsters.

Traveling with an army toward their location, aiming to capture them all.

***

One of the most common inhabitants of Kegali's great forest, and one of the most dangerous. From their red gripping mandible to their circular red stomach, they were 16 centimeters long. Their antennae were moving so quickly that their black dot-like eyes were moving around with their sharp oblong head. Their six legs moved in unison as they moved in the same direction, toward their six prey. They resembled ants, but they were far more powerful and relentless.

Although they were not as large as the other prime predators of this forest, in fact, they were the smallest of them, their size was not the reason they were dangerous; it was their overwhelming number, which was so dense that each of them was considered a disposable pawn that could be easily replaced.

Thirty of them deviated from their main line in an attempt to find prey lurking far from their main routes, and they were successful in finding not one, but six vulnerable prey. They could see the heat signatures of all nearby creatures thanks to their racial exclusive skill, Sensory Antennae; whether their prey were hiding in the trees, mud, or stones, nothing could escape their sight as long as it could be reached by their eyes. This was also how they identified their allies. An efficient army born to hunt and defeat more powerful enemies with their numbers, even if it means dying in the process.

The primary inhabitants of this section of the forest. They would destroy everything and leave a trail of death in their wake. Charging like red knights, their powerful mandibles closing and opening with ferocity.

***

The incoming army was accompanied by the sound of dried leaves and the sudden movements of tall grasses. The group of five Slugs began to move, but it was too late because the incoming vicious predators had their full attention on them.

Eon began to move as a result of his instincts acting up, crawling in the direction he had come from. Their assailant, on the other hand, was scattered in almost every direction, including the one he was aiming for, with the exception of the opposite direction from which they had come. Giving their target little to no room to move.

The charging troop was finally revealed when the leader of the attack rose from the pile of stones. Its powerful mandibles closed and opened, its eyes darted to its newfound prey.

***

Race: Peasant [Level: 2/10].

***

HP: 20/20

MP: 14/20

Top Speed: 4 km/h

Defense: 0

***

Stats:

Strength: 2

Agility: 2

Intelligence: 2

***

Damaging Active Skills:

Savage Bite [MP Cost: 5] [Level: 5/20].

**

Non-damaging Active Skills:

Sensory Antennae [MP Cost: 1]

**

Passive Skills:

***

Then the other 29 appeared, encircling the area with their gaze fixed on the five Slugs and Eon, who was crawling away from the five other Slugs. Except for the Peasant who led their group, who was level 2, the other 29 were all level 1. Perhaps a disposable army that could be easily replaced, but a versatile one. With such a large number, even a much more powerful foe could be overwhelmed.

The highest-leveled Peasant raised its mandibles and shook its antennae, giving everyone a visual signal to begin the onslaught. The 29 Peasants all moved at the same time, with perfect synchronicity and terrifying ferocity.

The five Slugs who were about to face an overwhelming number of Peasants began to congregate and would do anything to defend their very own lives, fully aware that there was no way out and that fighting until the end was the only option.

Eon, on the other hand, crawled and fled in the direction where there was no Peasant to be found. Trying to flee was his main and only option at the time. Standing up and fighting meant committing suicide.

The massacre would begin. Eon, who had just been given a second chance in life, would he be able to escape the grasping mandibles of death, or would he lose it right at the start of his journey?