Meeting An Old Friend

As the first light of dawn bathed the forest in a soft golden glow, Asumi emerged from the depths of the centipede's hole, his body coated in a mixture of sweat and grime from the night's ordeal.

Casting a critical eye over the huge size of the tunnel, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer size of the creature's lair. "Impressive, it's hard to believe there is a centipede that could grow that big," he murmured to himself, a sense of awe mingling with the exhaustion that still weighed heavily upon him.

Despite the weariness that clung to his bones, Asumi couldn't suppress a small surge of satisfaction as he reflected on last night's events. "Thanks to the centipede's flesh, trait extraction was able to charge up to 40%," he muttered, looking at the system window.

With a sense of purpose, Asumi set off once more, his path guided by the map feature that the system had provided him. With each step, he retraced his steps back to Gooper's hole, his heart heavy with the weight of grief and loss.

As he reached the familiar entrance to his fallen friend's abode, Asumi paused, his gaze lingering on the empty hole that had once been Gooper's sanctuary. "Farewell, friend," he whispered softly, his voice tinged with sorrow. "I wish I could bury you properly, but there's nothing left."

With a heavy heart, Asumi bid his final farewell to Gooper, his thoughts turning to the challenges that lay ahead.

Asumi then made his way towards the tranquil waters of the lake. Arriving at the water's edge, he gazed upon his reflection, only to be met with a startling sight, his appearance slightly altered. His body had turned silver like steel. His eyes glowed a vivid shade of red, while a green, poisonous substance slipped out from his mouth. "Wow," he muttered, his voice tinged with awe. "So this is what it's like to be a poisonous insect."

But even as he stared at his reflection on the lake, Asumi knew that this was not the time for distractions. With a shake of his head, he pushed aside his curiosity and focused on the task at hand. "No time for distractions," he reminded himself sternly, snapping his mandibles together in a show of resolve.

Summoning his courage, Asumi called out into the stillness of the lake, his voice carried across the water. "Lisa!" he called, his tone urgent yet hopeful.

After patiently waiting, a figure emerged from the depths of the water, her form larger and more imposing than he remembered. Asumi's eyes widened in surprise as he took in the sight of Lisa's transformed appearance. "Wow," he exclaimed, unable to hide his astonishment. "You've grown bigger since last time."

[Appraisal: Water beetle

| Level: 12

| Swim, strength:??

| Current body length 20cm]

Lisa regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Is there something you need?" she inquired.

Asumi wasted no time in getting to the point. "Yes," he replied, his voice earnest. "I need you to join me in starting a village."

To his surprise, Lisa's expression shifted, her features clouded with doubt. "Wait, you're serious?" she questioned, her disbelief evident. "Why me?"

Asumi's heart sank at her refusal. "Your strength would be of much help," he explained, his tone pleading.

But Lisa shook her head, still in disagreement. "I'm sorry, Asumi," she replied, her voice firm. "I can't. It's not cut out to stay on land for too long. Besides, don't you have a friend?"

Asumi's mandibles snapped in frustration as he sighed heavily. "He's dead," he admitted, his voice heavy with sorrow. "There's no one else."

Shocked by the news of Gooper's death, Lisa's expression softened with sympathy. "What happened?" she inquired, her voice laced with concern.

Asumi's mandibles clicked in frustration as he explained the tragic events that had unfolded. "Those ant bastards," he spat, his voice tinged with bitterness. "They ambushed him while his body was still developing."

With a heartfelt apology, Lisa expressed her sorrow for his loss. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, her eyes reflecting genuine empathy.

Asumi's resolve hardened as he explained his urgent need for allies. "That's why I need your help," he implored. "With you and a few others, we can start something new that supports and protects us beetles. I don't want the same thing to happen again."

Though still skeptical, Lisa hesitated, her thoughts in doubt. "I don't know," she muttered uncertainly. "But what I do know is, there's this guy, Huge, way bigger than me. You could ask him, though I doubt he'll agree."

Asumi asked to know the location of this potential ally. "Well, could you tell me where he lives?"

But Lisa's directions were muddled. "Um, this way," she pointed to the north, "no, that way," she corrected, indicating to the east. "Ugh, I can't remember."

Her uncertainty frustrated Asumi's patience. With an exasperated sigh, he urged her to focus. "Just tell me where he is," he insisted, his antennae twitching in annoyance.

Finally, with a more confident gesture, Lisa pointed eastward, indicating a massive tree log as the landmark for the beetle's dwelling. Asumi thanked her and set off in that direction, moving past small pebbles and fallen tree branches. He finally saw the landmark.

Arriving at the towering tree log, Asumi's eyes widened in awe at its sheer size. "Wow," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "This thing is huge, even for a tree. I can't imagine who is inside."

With a mixture of anticipation and readiness, he steeled himself for the encounter that awaited him within. "Whoever is inside this thing, with him on my side, I'll be one step closer to taking down the ant colony."