Loplops and Lopworms

Jiwan engaged the nearest Loplop. He was always fast and athletic, and the fights against longclaws awakened his inner potential. After fighting a demon, the crab-looking Loplop, a monster the size of a small dog, with pincer-like pedipalps and eight legs, didn't look threatening at all.

He motioned to punch the Loplop, but it opened the mouth and pincer pedipalps in a defensive position. Jiwan hesitated. The monster ran backward with ease, putting some distance between them.

"Don't be afraid!" The Class Rep caught up from behind, passing the Loplop. She kicked it back. Jiwan grit his teeth, nailing it down with a killing punch.

His fist cracked the Loplop's outer shell, piercing inside, filling itself with an unknown clear liquid, "GROSS!"

The body of the dead monster fell. Jiwan thumbed up.

"It's just a Loplop, fool," I facepalmed.

"This crab-looking thing, can't we eat it?" Jiwan asked, holding his grumbling stomach.

I shook my head, "No. They are mostly liquid inside the shell, but it is harmful to humans. Monsters might eat them though."

"That's quite an ability you have there if you know that much…" The Class Rep smiled.

Heh. I knew she would be suspicious, but it was not like the truth made more sense. This was my second life? As if anyone would believe me. I smiled, "Keep going. More at 2 o'clock."

"What? How do you know?!" Jiwan furred his brows.

"New Qi isn't only useful to attack, buddy. Didn't you watch Martial Arts movies?"

"You mean you can feel them? That far?"

"Yes. After the world merges, we will get even more info out of the system."

"That means we don't need to worry about getting caught unaware by enemies, right?"

"Well… you need to concentrate to feel New Qi. Not all things have it. I told you about MaQi, right? Besides that, some have innate stealth abilities, some are very good at hiding their own Qi, like me, and some use different energy. If you rely too much on Qi Sense…" I made the universal death sign crossing my neck with a finger.

My failure with Ben came to mind. I couldn't screw up like that again.

Jiwan and the Class Rep nodded. We resumed our hunting party. Loplops were an easy target, so I took time to correct their NOEA style, teaching them a thing or two about combat.

"Nice kick," the Class Rep finished one of them with a powerful kick. Her physique seemed to have improved. Her breathing was steady. Definitely a quick learner. As for Jiwan…

Damn, this bastard would have surpassed me by far if we had the same starting point. He was a natural at anything athletic. How envious.

"I kind of feel bad for hunting all those things. We're not even eating them," the Class Rep said.

She had a point if we considered the world from the past, but I have left those worries behind so we could survive. When I was about to remind them they were monsters, a shiver crossed my spine. Jiwan was about to finish another Loplop. My instincts told me something was wrong.

I expanded my senses, feeling minor tremors underground getting stronger. I shouted, "JUMP BACK!"

Jiwan became used to my commands after all we have been through, and so he jumped back right away, not even finishing his punch. The ground opened, and an enormous mouth with dozens of teeth ate the Loplop whole, burying itself back after the meal.

"What the f*!" It scared Jiwan shitless.

"MONSTER WORM. FOLLOW ME!" I ran. They followed me right away, and this time we saw the ground moving behind us in a trail.

"What do we do, what do we do, what do we do?!" The Class Rep shouted. Jiwan and I looked at each other in surprise. It was the first time she looked this worried since this apocalypse shit started.

"Just follow me!"

I searched for harder ground. Lopworms were monster worms capable of eating the sand-like mineral, but not the hardened soil of the same mineral, "Here!"

After escaping, we stood in a safe spot. I turned back. As expected, the monster stopped a few meters back, burying itself even deeper in the ground.

Jiwan and the Class Rep panted.

"I hate worms…." The Class Rep made a disgusted face.

"Didn't you sense it? It can't come here?" Jiwan asked.

"It's hard to feel things on the ground, too much environmental Qi. Normal Lopworms can't dig through this soil."

Jiwan looked down, "Isn't it the same soil?"

"It looks almost the same, but it's much harder. Not sure why. This isn't over."

"Huh? Can't we go the other way?"

"Go the other way? And leave this juicy exp behind?" I smirked.

"What? Can you kill it?"

"Me? Easily. But I'm not doing it. You two are."

"How are we going to hit a gigantic mouth on the ground without a gun?"

"I'm going to lure it out, of course. Then you kill it. It is strong, so don't hesitate, or you will regret it."

"Isn't it too risky?" The Class Rep asked me with a worried look.

"It is, but we need to do it. Not only for the experience but also for the materials. Their teeth and bones are good enough to use as weapons. It will make hunting much safer."

"Wait, bones? Worms are invertebrates!" The Class Rep said.

"Heh, you are still using knowledge from our world. That is going to get you killed here. Assume nothing."

"Oh," she understood, nodding, "But how are we going to lure it out?"

"Leave that part to me. Focus on hitting the hardest you can," I stretched, circling New Qi inside my body. "By the way, after we start, don't stay in the same spot. It bites worse than a shark."

I saw them swallow their saliva and look at each other. Of course, it can't bite through my Def Up. Probably.

I sure as hell would not be the one to test it.