Title: A Centipede Wants to Live Peacefully.
Summary: I always wished to escape reality, believing in fairy tales, and immersing myself in books to distract myself from the duties of an adult. I wished to live in a cottage somewhere in a forest, free from the bustle of the city. I could never imagine that I would lose my life and then be reincarnated as a monster. Is my wish possible?
Note: Again, I want to thank my readers for being so patient and helpful with me and to the commenters who pointed out the Timeline error. I spent ALL DAY writing this + editing the previous chapter. I had to change up some stuff but it wasn't difficult since it was information I had already written down. I just want to say that the HARDEST part of this chapter was writing the fight scenes. I spent a lot of time typing then erasing it because it didn't flow right to me. So, I hope this chapter is satisfactory for you guys.
Also, do you guys actually keep track of the skill list and stats at the bottom of the chapter because I want to know if I can remove it? Cause if you guys don't really check for it I can just leave it out in future chapters and just use it to keep track personally.
The Flowering Empress and the Hero Part 2
.
I could feel them the moment they entered the forest. If I closed my eyes and focused hard enough I could feel everything in the vast forest that surrounded me down to the tiniest insect beneath a rotting log. I know was connected to nature but it never felt this way in my previous form. I was deeply connected to nature in a way that made me feel like I was the forest itself. It was similar to the detection skill in a way but instinctual.
I focused my attention on the group traveling through the forest that was closer and closer to my glade. It was like my fate to meet humans whenever we are in proximity of each other. The predicting + high-speed processing skills working in conjunction together made predicting their actions much easier. The anger in me was simmering at the bottom of my stomach was a testament to my desperate plea for them not to attack me.
They had reached the edge of the forest and using the detection skill I could sense their magical output. There were at least five mages among them and another one among them that was truly strong but was it enough to compare to my new evolution? I watch as the trees were cut down using light magic and my eyes turned cold instantly at the disrespect they had for nature.
I felt a pain deep in my heart at such heartlessness. The trees desperately screamed for mercy when they cut them down like dogs.
"Don't worry, they will pay for that." I grimaced.
They stepped into the glade as if they owned it and I couldn't help but laugh at their audacity. The one leading them seemed arrogant in his shining silver armor. He was looking at me like I was nothing but a filthy monster. The sudden urge to capture him and devour him filled my entire body.
He was looking quite delicious, I thought and I unconsciously licked my lips at the sight of the other males. My second mouth opened and closed in anticipation as sensing my hunger. Maybe this time I would give it to my baser instincts and eat them all. I hungrily looked over their glorious forms that called to me until my eyes landed on a tiny figure standing alone. I suppressed my natural instincts, noticing he was wearing fancier armor than the others which made him stand out.
"What was a child doing among these soldiers?" I questioned, wondering if he was special that he needed to be there.
I appraise all of them, checking their stats and skills, noting that Captain Reinhart was the most competent of them all but not strong enough. I then appraised the child to see what made him so special that he had to accompany the soldiers. Could he be a prince? I thought he looked regal for his age to be a regular child.
Name: Julius Zagan Analeit
Type: Hero
Species: Human
Level: 6
HP:200/200
MP:250/250
SP:250/250
Offense: 240
Defense: 249
Magic Power: 256
Resistance: 245
Speed: 250
[Magic Power Perception LV10, Precise Magic Power Operation LV1, Magic Warfare LV5, Magic Power Conferment LV6, Magic Power Super-Attack LV1, MP Rapid Recovery LV1, MP Minimized Consumption LV1, Swordsmanship LV7, Destruction Enhancement LV6, Cutting Enhancement LV2, Impact Enhancement LV1, Mental Warfare LV4, Energy Conferment LV2, Concentration LV9, Hit LV3, Evasion LV3, Light Magic LV8, Vision Enhancement LV5, Auditory Enhancement LV4, Olfactory Enhancement LV6, Taste Enhancement LV2, Tactile Enhancement LV5, Life LV4, Magic Hoard LV1, Instantaneous LV3, Endurance LV3, Strength LV3, Solidity LV5, Monk LV2, Talisman LV1, Running LV4, Hero LV1.]
"Hero?" I questioned, looking at his type and seeing it again in his skills. I thought about the novels I read and wondered if he was the hero of this world. If he is the hero then he will most likely fight against the Demon Lord in the future. But his stats were nothing to write home about and I promptly ignored him, focusing on the captain instead.
I could hear the captain's discussion about me and I frown. "He's right that I'm not responsible for the massacre that happened in the village but he still wants to attack me?" I thought in disbelief, angry rising once more at the unfairness.
He ordered the mages to surround me and I followed their movements closely but choosing not to retaliate yet. They launched fireballs at me, coming from different directions, and I could feel the heat lick at my skin as they near me. I didn't move an inch, realizing the magical power behind them was weak, and simply erected my shield.
"Flower Shield." The flower petals from the glade converged around me in a swirling motion the moment the fireballs impacted.
BOOM!
I could feel the heat from the flames and could only see fire surrounding me for a few moments. If I was an ordinary plant monster I would've probably been burnt to a crisp but with my flower shield and fire resistance, the magical attack barely scratched me.
I flipped my hair back, closing my eyes for a moment. The sunlight caressed my skin, and my roots sucked the water from the earth to heal recover the HP I lost, and it felt amazing. I smiled inwardly, my plant power skill was working as it should. I could see the confusion on the faces of the soldiers, but they didn't know they already sparked my anger.
"Burn the field!" Reinhart ordered and I narrowed my eyes at him. "He wouldn't dare burn my glade," I said to myself, wondering if they would actually do it. I saw the young boy, Julius, saying something to him and quickly formed a telepathic link with him just as Reinhart replied to him.
"I'm sorry." I heard the apology he said to me.
"No, I'm sorry," I replied coldly, shocking him.
The mages started chanting, preparing to cast a stronger fire spell. Fury overtook me, and I crossed my arms, before spreading them open so my palms were facing the heavens. Spheres of pure water formed in the air, covering the glade, before falling with the help of gravity. I soaked the entire field, preventing them from burning it.
"The monster soaked the field, Captain!"
"Launch more fireballs!" Reinhart roared.
I predicted their next move and attacked before the mages could. Several vines that were imbued wind magic shot towards the mages, the wind magic increasing their speed. The vines latched onto the mages' arms and feet, curling around them tightly, and started to pull them towards me.
"Cut the-!" Reinhart started but stopped the moment he saw the situation.
"Captain!"
"We have to save them!"
His soldiers screamed for him to allow them to help but he didn't let them move.
"It's too late!" I thought viciously as I raised the mages into the air, watching as they struggle against my power. I glanced at Reinhart who wore a furious expression but he had yet to make another move. The vines got tighter around their limbs.
SNAP!
Multiple snapping sounds could be heard, followed by screams of anguish. I dropped the broken mages in front of my second mouth which opened greedily like it had a mind of its own. The retractable mandible in its mouth which was connected to a tongue-like appendage shot out – snapping its jaws around the neck of one a mage – dragging him inside the maw filled with rows of teeth and digestive fluids.
"HELP US!" The other four mages screamed out in terror as they watched their companion be eaten by a large bulb.
Reinhart growled and said something to Julius before staring at me with hate-filled eyes. "Attack!"
I already predicted this and already had the four mages wrapped up in vines once again. Imbuing them with wind magic once more, the vines swung around rapidly before throwing the mages at the incoming soldiers. The mages hit the ground, hard, before barreling into the soldiers and knocking some of them off of their feet. Reinhart and four more soldiers who managed to evade dashed towards me with their swords drawn.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Prediction LV1] has now become [Prediction LV2]
"Light Slash!" Reinhart shouted, slicing his sword in an upward motion, releasing a pillar of blinding light towards me.
"Flower Shield!" I quickly erected my shield and closed my eyes as light crashed into it. I could feel the burning pain from the light, followed by more consecutive flashes of across my body pain but my pain resistance and flower shield reduced the pain considerably.
When the light disappeared, my torso was covered in multiple wounds that were bleeding red. I was slightly shocked at how fast they moved to be able to cut my body like this. I looked down at my bleeding chest, touching my blood. I raised my head and coldly look a the soldiers who injured me.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Flower Shield LV1] has now become [Flower Shield LV2]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Cutting Resistance LV1] has now become [Cutting Resistance LV2]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Plant Power LV1] has now become [Plant Power LV2]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Wind Magic LV1] has now become [Wind Magic LV2]
Skill proficiency reached. Acquired skill. [Light Resistance LV1]
I suddenly coughed up blood but I wasn't worried because my wounds were already healing slowly thanks to my plant power. I locked my eyes onto Reinhart who was ordered soldiers to keep their distance from me before they attack again.
"Mother, are you alright?!"
"Mother, we're coming out to fight!"
"How dare they hurt you, Mother!"
I could feel their impatience and anger at wanting to defend me but I acted fast. "No!" I ordered quickly, "I'll deal with these men myself. Do not leave." I didn't want to reveal them as they were now my trump card and surprise factor. I didn't need them to fight these men.
"We...we will follow your orders, Mother." They replied reluctantly.
"That blinding attack worked, Captain!" A soldier cried out in happiness.
"So they think using his skills to blind me and then attack will work a second time?" I thought with an amused smile. "Solar Synthesis!"
The wounds they inflicted on me started sizzling and closing up quickly, recovering all of the HP I had lost from the attack. I was still getting used to this body and its abilities so they managed to get me. Although I predicted his attack, I couldn't move my body like I used to, and the blinding light was a smart move. That was the only compliment they would get out of me.
"It healed its wounds!" One soldier cried out in horror.
"Next time, aim for its neck," Reinhart ordered as he prepared for another attack.
What they didn't know is that I lived the majority of my time practically blind in that god-forsaken labyrinth. I closed my eyes I could see all of their positions using detection and being one with nature. They attacked again but this time I was ready.
"Flower Shield!" I erected my shield again, defending against the pillar of light, waiting for the four soldiers who attacked me before to get closer.
I flexed the appendages on my back, preparing them for an attack as if it was natural. I imbued them both wind and plant magic. Combined with all three of my enhancement skills and wind attack, the velocity and power increased tenfold, making them silent super-powered spears.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Plant Enhancement LV1] has now become [Plant Enhancement LV2]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Wind Enhancement LV1] has now become [Wind Enhancement LV2]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Wind Attack LV1] has now become [Wind Attack LV2]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Magic Conferment LV1] has now become [Magic Conferment LV2]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Silence LV1] has now become [Silence LV2]
They extended from my back without making a sound, aiming directly for the soldiers who were in the air ready to strike again. The appendages penetrated the chest plates of the soldiers before they knew what was happening, blowing their chests open, and blood spouting from them like rain. When the light disappeared, screams of the other soldiers filled the glade at the horrifying sight of their fallen comrades.
Experience points have reached a certain point. Individual, Flowering Brood Empress, Mai Yumehiro LV1 has become LV2
THUD!
They landed on the ground, the gaping holes through their chest becoming a terrifying sight. The expressions etched on the faces of the dead were of shock. They died without a sound, and without anyone seeing their deaths. My vines unconsciously crept towards the fallen soldiers, wrapping around their ankles and dragging them towards my second mouth, starting to eat the body of a soldier, armor included.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Satiation LV4] has now become [Satiation LV5]
I opened my eyes, smiling maddeningly at Reinhart. There were only 11 of them left including the child who was looking at me with terrified eyes. I tilted my head, connecting with him telepathically.
"Run," I told him, not wanting him to see any more bloodshed, which was kind enough as it is but he was frozen in the spot.
"Retreat!" Reinhart ordered, turning tail and running towards the forest.
"You're not leaving!" I sneered inwardly and spread my arms out. "Green Surge!" The trees, bush, and shrubs at the forest's edge thickened and grew rapidly, preventing their escape.
"We're trapped, Cap-" A soldier started but screamed as vines wrapped around his feet.
"Captain!"
"Help us, Captain!"
I caught the remaining nine soldiers by their feet, leaving only Reinhart and Julius together, watching helplessly as I drag them screaming across the glade. The soldiers tried to cut through the vines but I thickened the vines by imbuing them with plant magic making them harder to cut. I lifted the soldiers in the air by their feet, dangling them in the air.
"What have I done." Reinhart breathed out, realizing there was no escape, and he made a mistake in taking on a monster pretty much unknown to him.
"You should have left me alone." I turned to the first soldier, looking him in the eye with glowing pink eyes. "Charming Evil Eye!" His body went limp immediately, his lips turning up into a smile.
I turned to the second soldier, glancing at Reinhart and Julius. "Charming Evil Eye!" He too fell limp, a smile appearing on his face.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Charming Evil EyeLV1] has now become [Charming Evil Eye LV2]
"I love you!"
"I will die for you!"
The two soldiers suddenly yelled out, startling the remaining soldiers. They started crying and begging me for mercy. I wore an expression of annoyance, glaring at them. "Mercy, huh?" I grinned, lost in my blood lust, my six appendages extending from my back ready to kill them one by one.
"You fucking mons-" A soldier started, cut off by my appendage penetrating his throat. He gargled, staring at me with wide eyes and drowning in his own blood. I retracted it and turned to the next soldier.
"STOP!"
I turned to the voice, seeing the little boy, Julius run towards me with watery eyes. "Please, don't kill them! I know you can understand me!"
"Come back, Young Julius!" Reinhart dropped his sword, running after him.
"Please, I'm sorry!" Julius tearfully screamed, his tiny body running and falling while coming to me, "Have mercy I beg you!"
His tear-stained face did something to me and I dropped the soldiers on the ground who crawled away from me while the two charmed ones stayed, looking up at me with loving eyes.
I ignored them and cursed inwardly, knowing I had a weak spot for children, and couldn't help but heed his request to stop. I connected to him telepathically and asked, "Why should I have mercy when your group attacked me first and try to burn me with their flames?"
"I-I...we didn't mean to attack you!" He replied, looking up at me, tears running down his face.
"What are you doing, Julius?!" Reinhart admonished, trying to lead Julius away but he fought against him, "You're the prince and shouldn't put yourself in danger. That monster cannot understand you!"
"She can understand me!" Julius shot back angrily.
I turned to Reinhart, connecting with him too. "He is right, I can understand you all too well, Captain Reinhart!" I snarled, making him jump in fright. He was looking at me with wide eyes filled with disbelief.
"H-How...how are you able to understand me?!" Reinhart stumbled back in shock.
"It doesn't matter how I can understand you. You came into my glade and attack me just because I'm a monster. There was no real reason for you to attack me." I angrily told him.
"I-I…" He wore a pained look on his face, unable to answer me.
"Remember that the child next to you, saved your life today," I snarled, "Several of your men are dead because of your actions!"
"I...I...apologize." Reinhart got on his knees, bowing his head.
"Captain!" A soldier called out, watching his captain bow his head.
"What are you doing, Captain?!"
"SHUT UP!" Reinhart snapped, sending a glare at his men before looking at me.
"We can't bring back the dead but we can move forward from here," I told him, my lips forming a smile, "Let's make a deal."
Reinhart got up from his knees and looked at me with curiosity but I could see fear there also. "What kind of deal?"
"I will tell you who destroyed the village and who was involved in it all. In exchange, you keep my existence a secret," I looked down at the two men still caught in my charm, "and leave those two here with me temporarily, and then you can have them back."
Reinhart looked at his men that were charmed by her. "What are you going to do with them?" He asked with a frown. Those were still his men and he cared about them.
"I'm not going to kill or eat them. I have a different purpose for them." I shrugged, "So do we have a deal?"
Reinhart had reluctance written all over his face but gave in. "We have a deal."
I clapped my hands happily. "I hope you're a man of your word." I smiled, "The ones that destroyed the village were the elves. They attacked at night and decimated the village. Their purpose for attacking? I do not know."
"The elves?! Impossible!" Reinhart's eye's widened in shock.
"It was definitely the elves because I buried the villagers and buried the elves elsewhere," I admitted and told him the location of the remains.
Reinhart gritted his teeth, still reeling from the news of the elves' involvement. They would never believe him if he told them that a monster gave him this information. He was still trying to process that a monster spared this life and those of his men.
"You said there was someone involved?" Reinhart asked me.
"Yuno Azvelt, the leader of the guild. I don't know if he is dead or alive." I crossed my arms.
Reinhart nodded his head, his lips pressed into a line. "I-..Thank you." He gave a curt nod before turning to Julius to take him away.
"Captain, we're leaving just like that?!" A soldier cried out. "It killed our men!"
Reinhart glared at him and said, "It has shown us mercy. We attacked first, on my orders, so I will take responsibility for our men."
"What about those two?" Another soldier asked, pointing at the two soldiers that were charmed by me.
"Let them go, they have another mission." Reinhart replied tersely, "We got some valuable information. We have some work to do. Everything that happened here today will not leave here. Leave everything to me."
"Y-Yes, Captain!"
I ignored the men and looked at Julius who was looking at me with watery eyes. "Thank you." He told me through our link.
I managed to reply with a smile. "No, thank you, little one." I was angry because they attacked me, angry because of D, and just angry. This young boy, the hero, reminded me of my humanity and I was a little grateful for it. I watch him go, wondering if I would meet him again someday.
I raised my palm towards the trees at the edge of the glade, returning them to their normal size and allowing the soldiers to leave and take the dead with them. I looked down at the two charmed soldiers and smiled. The charming effect should be wearing just about now.
The loving look faded away from their face and was replaced by a look of confusion, then terror. I wrapped them up in vines before they could run away. Their screams were so loud that they hurt my ears and connected to them telepathically.
"Shut up!" I snapped at them, earning silence from them both, "Your captain left you here with me temporarily. I'm not going to kill you!"
"It can talk!"
"It can talk!"
Both men looked at each other and exclaimed with fear in their eyes.
I rolled my eyes. "I can't talk but I can speak to you telepathically now shut up for a moment."
"Y-Yes!" They stuttered.
"What are your names?" I asked them, placing them back down on the ground.
"I-I'm Timothy!"
"You can c-call m-me, Fredrick!"
"Great," I turned to Fredrick, "Where is the nearest village south from here?"
"T-that would be Falkirk, ma'am!" He squeaked, still scared of me.
"I need you both to go there and deliver a message for me to-" I paused because I didn't exactly know what Hayate and Naofumi looked like and I forgot that about the child I had sent to watch them and he didn't report anything new. I told Fredrick what I wanted when he got there. "-when you get there just ask around for someone called, 'Hayate'. Afterward, you can rejoin your army."
Fredrick nodded frantically.
"What did it say, Fredrick?!" Timothy harshly whispered, watching me warily.
Fredrick grabbed Timothy by the arm and dragged him away. "Let's just go!" He quickly said before they both ran out of the glade.
When they left I re-connected with my children. "You guys can come out now," I told them and the effect was immediate. They swarmed from underground in a tizzy, crawling all over me, and I could feel their happiness radiating with a tinge of sadness. The entire glade and surrounding forest were filled with me and sometimes I couldn't believe they were all mine.
"Mother, why didn't you let us fight?!"
"I wanted to fight the humans!"
"Mother, you're a meanie!"
I rolled my eyes, they were getting rowdier and rowdier by the day. Before they barely had a personality but now they're complaining. "Why don't you guys bring out all of the perfect apples from the storage so you can eat." I suggested before adding, "maybe we can plant some apple trees here in the glade."
"We'll do as you say, Mother!" Some of them chorused and the foragers went back into the burrow.
I looked up at the sky, noting it was late in the afternoon. I thought about the battle that took place and went through my skill list once more. I realized I could've ended the battle sooner than I thought but in my anger, I just wanted to hurt them. I was able to get used to my new body, figure out how my skills worked and I earned some level ups so it still worked out in the end.
However, this incident made me realize I couldn't rest yet. I needed to plan for the Queen Taratect and not just a plan thought up on the fly. I started planning, checking to see what skills I could buy with my points, predicting many possible ways the Demon Lord could attack, and consulting with my children for the first time.
I needed a sure-kill plan.
A plan that kills the queen in one shot.
I placed this here instead of placing it in the chapter because I didn't want to force it in. So these are the increased stats for her level up.
Mai Level Up Stats Increase:
HP:6,025/6,025 +150
MP:6,015/6,015 +200
SP:6,015/6,015 (6,015/6,015) +150
Offense: 8105 +200
Defense: 6600 +100
Magic Power: 14,194 +500
Resistance: 5604 +100
Speed: 0
Name: Mai Yumehiro
Type: Insect/Plant
Species: Flowering Brood Empress
Level: 2
HP:6,175/6,0175
MP:6,215/6,215
SP:6,015/6,165 (6,015/6,165)
Offense: 8305
Defense: 6700
Magic Power: 14,694
Resistance: 5704
Speed: 0
Stat Skills:
Herculean Strength LV4, MP Lessened Consumption LV3, SP Lessened Consumption LV3, Plant Power LV2
Attack Skills:
Wind Attack LV2
Enhancement Skills:
Piercing Enhancement LV6, Plant Enhancement LV2, Wind Enhancement LV2
Active Skills:
Expel LV10, Herbalism LV1, Magic Warfare LV1, Mental Warfare LV1, Magic Conferment LV2, Solar Synthesis LV1, Flower Shield LV2
Leadership Skills:
Fartalk LV10, Flower Seed-Laying LV1, Cooperation LV10, Leadership LV7
Perception Skills:
Detection LV10, High-Speed Processing LV1, Prediction LV2
Magic Skills:
Magic Power Operation LV9, Heretic Magic LV6, Harvest Magic LV1, Pure Water Magic LV8, Wind Magic LV2, Plant Magic LV10
Evil Eyes Skills:
Paralyzing Evil Eye LV5, Charming Evil Eye LV2
Resistance Skills:
Status Condition Nullification, Acid Resistance LV3, Heresy Nullification, Rot Resistance LV2, Fear Resistance LV2, Fire Resistance LV8, Cutting Resistance LV2, Pain Resistance LV6, Faint Resistance LV6, Destruction Resistance LV5, Pain Mitigation LV5, Piercing Resistance LV1, Light Resistance LV1
Passive Skills:
Stealth LV10, Concealment LV2, Heatless LV1, Silence LV2
Other Skills:
Taboo LV7, n% I = W, As One, Appraisal LV10, Fertile Nature, Pollen Release, Satiation LV5, Shelter LV6
Titles:
Foul Feeder, Assassin, Kin Eater, Hedge Witch, Poison Technique User, Commander