Shadow crab mage

Well, life fucking sucks huh? A ton can happen in three days. I can only hope none of my fears have come true in my absence. Well let's go explore some. Man, I really hope this doesn't happen anymore. It's a pretty big hindrance.

Everything said I decide to take a route I've already explored, namely the shadow crab route. I'm interested in how I hold up against the stronger monsters like the centipedes of course, but I don't feel like I could handle one of those right now. I'm not quite adjusted to my new form, and the shadow crabs aren't strong enough to murder me, but they still prove a small challenge, at least I hope. On the way I test my dirt cycling abilities to find out if they still exist. Spoiler, they do, just no improvement. I'm not hung up about it though; if I'm right, my new combat prowess will more than make up for any losses.

Not long after I head out I realize a slight problem, or boon depending on how you think about it. You see, I made these tunnels when I was way fucking smaller, and I don't know why it didn't occur to me that I'd have to widen the tunnels if only to use them later. On the bright side I get some time to acclimate to my body, allowing me to use it with almost as much familiarity as my old worm shell, or even my previous human body. I actually quite like this new form too. It allows for much more than the old me, and I can feel myself brimming with power and potential. It won't take long for me to be on the level of that snake that was beating the centipedes right before my evolution. Oh boy, just thinking about it gets me excited.

All right let me drag myself out of my thoughts. I'm here so I better get prepared to fight me some crabs. I'm going to get me some delectable crab meat for tonight! Well as delectable as the raw meat of a giant shadow monster can get. I'm not picky. Anymore anyway.

Ooh, a crab! This one isn't all that big, but my new vision can see right through it. It is as strong as the other crab I fought, if not stronger albeit slightly. This may actually be fun! I'm still not quite used to the new senses and perks my void organ grants me, but damn this shit is fine! The crab still hasn't noticed me yet, so I continue to observe as it comes closer. If I had lips to lick I sure as hell would! I didn't notice it earlier, but I may be a little hungry. Just a little, totally not starving. Yup, just a little bit of hunger.

The crab is close enough now, let's get this party started. I burst out of the wall and slam my body into the side of the crab, instantly crippling its two front legs. Speaking of, this has to be based on a king crab, it's one of the only crab variants of crab with only four legs. Oh, I better not think of that right now. The crab is clearly agitated; it waves its pincers quite erratically. Having regained my senses from the blunt collision I wasn't quite prepared for, I ready myself for another attack, wanting to get the advantage over the crab before it strikes back.

I'm a lot stronger and faster than I anticipated, so I ended up bluntly ramming myself into the crab unlike eating the legs as I planned. Oh well. Before I could get a second attack in, the crab somehow scuttles out of the way and preps its own attack, wanting to stab me with a pincer. Ha, like I'd let you! I may not have been able to get a second attack in before you attacked, but you are nonetheless not my match! I contort my body as only a worm can and the crab's pincer misses and ends up digging up some of the floor. Now that may not seem like much but that floor is pretty damn hard. I guess I should never underestimate a crab, no matter how dumb or weak.

Deciding it was time to go before I get swarmed, I drill my mouth into the main carapace of the shadow crab, spinning my teeth and eating straight through it, dismembering it in a very gory way. Seriously, I literally made its limbs fly in all directions. I even caught a piece and ate it. It was disgusting, but crab is crab, so I'm not complaining. As I was eating it I accidentally swallowed a dense ball as well. Hmm.

[Level 18 Shadow Crab Mage defeated]

[4 life matter acquired.]

[Core consumed, one mp gained]

[Congratulations user for completing a hidden quest: Magician's folly!]

Eh?!