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?
"You've finally come!" I thought.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Fear Resistance LV4] has now become [Fear Resistance LV5]
The fear that I try to hide away was slowly starting to disappear little by little. I tensed, waiting for them to make their move. There were only two enemies the Queen brought with her and I sensed them moving towards me very fast. The Queen nor the Arch Taratect had yet moved, seemingly waiting for me to tire myself out, I predict. The enemies burst into the glade and I quickly appraised them while attacking.
Name: Puppet Taratect
Type: Insect/Earth
Species: Puppet Taratect
Level: 4
HP:9,100/9,100
MP:9,150/9,150
SP:9,200/9,200
Offense: 9,879
Defense: 8,867
Magic Power: 9,123
Resistance: 8,345
Speed: 9,000
My children swarmed from underground, forming a cluster at the base of my bulb where the vines protected them from further harm. The appendages on my back shot out at the puppets, sparks flying as the puppets parried the attack, pivoting on their feet and going in opposite directions to flank me. They moved like a ninja, upon me in a flash with their bladed arms at the ready.
"Flower Shield!" I cursed, summoning petals to reduce the damage from the attack. Their bladed arms sliced across my back and stomach before they flipped over my head, landing on the opposite side. Their stats were even higher than mine and those attacks hurt a lot even though I reduced the damage. I cooperated with my children, threw my hands out summoning a wave of earthen spikes from the ground. The puppets flipped backward before slicing the spikes with their blades.
While the puppets were busy, I quickly healed myself. "Activate magic and mental warfare to boost our stats! Then use cooperation wind magic and plant magic!" I told my children, activating the skills, and feeling power rush into my body as it boosted our stats. There was something wrong with the puppets and I could sense a tiny speck of life in its chest area using my connection to nature and detection skills.
"Yes, Mother!"
The wind started to swirl around us -leaves joining the party - forming a fast spinning sphere. The puppets moved again, dashing towards me and shooting threads at me but I already predicted their attack and released the sphere outward before I could be trapped by their webs. The spinning sphere crashed into the puppets – the sharp leaves caught up in the wind creating sparks as it hit their bodies – forming a swirling tornado of wind that moved upwards, sending them into the air. My appendages were already upon them, driving them into their chests and sparks flew once again but this time I was able to get through, piercing the tiny spiders in their chests. The puppets fell to the ground lifelessly.
[Experience points have reached a certain point. Individual, Flowering Brood Empress, Mai Yumehiro LV4 has become LV6]
I had no time to relax because the Arch Taratect was already behind me with its jaws open. I could see its shadow looming over me, going for one of the major weak points I have.
My back.
However, I was already prepared for such a possibility. The leafy protrusions on my back shot out, pushing back the monstrous spider. I gritted my teeth, looking back at it as we push against each other, but my strength level was higher than its own. Its poison was useless against me, its heretic magic was also useless so it had no choice but to use its strength or webs. It shot out webs, like a predicted, aiming to cover me completely.
My children moved in tandem, summoning an earth wall to block the webs from hitting me. They quickly swarmed onto the Arch Taratect, using cooperation magic to assist me, using their mandibles boosted with wind magic to pierce the hard body of the spider.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Magic Warfare LV5] has now become [Magic Warfare LV6]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Mental Warfare LV6] has now become [Mental Warfare LV7]
I was proud that my children acted on their own and summoned vines from the trees above. Thick vines shot downward, wrapping around the legs of the spider. Quickly, the arch vanished, using spatial magic to escape the vines and my children. Sensing space distorting above me, I launched a large air bullet in that direction, that hit the arch taratect head-on.
SWOOSH!
The air bullet exploded, knocking it upwards, stunning it. I controlled large vines once more from the trees, capturing it midair like I originally planned. "I got you now!" I had it trapped directly above, all of its legs caught. The appendages shot like high-speed bullets towards its head. I was met with some resistance due to its piercing resistance but I pushed harder, forcing them through.
[Experience points have reached a certain point. Individual, Flowering Brood Empress, Mai Yumehiro LV6 has become LV8]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [MP Lessened Consumption LV5] has now become [MP Lessened Consumption LV6]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [SP Lessened Consumption LV5] has now become [SP Lessened Consumption LV6]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Piercing Enhancement LV6] has now become [Piercing Enhancement LV7]
Pull. Push. Pull. Push. Pull. Push.
I kept stabbing it over and over, my eyes wild with fear and murder. Its blood rained down on me, coating my entire body red. I breathed deeply, my pale skin slick with purple blood, my hair sickeningly sticking to my skin. So much blood coated the earth that my roots started to absorb it. I sighed quietly, looking in the direction of the Queen Taratect. There was only her left.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Fear Resistance LV5] has now become [Fear Resistance LV6]
"It's only you and me now, Queen!" I said, trying to sound confident but in my heart, I knew there was a possibility I could die here. The plan I had to kill the queen had failed as she tired me out first. I never thought she would send an army. Nonetheless, I started to gather dead bodies to eat, even eating those of my dead children. I needed the stamina to continue this battle.
Suddenly, the air shifted as a great build-up of magic power came from the direction of the Queen Taratect. I felt chills down my spine, my eyes widening in fear. I could see the magic particles in the air flowing rapidly towards the Queen Taratect. The birds of the forest started flying away, escaping into the air. I could sense every animal of the forest taking cover. This told me that the Queen wanted to get rid of me and she was going kill me with a pure beam of magic power.
She was trying to kill me in one shot.
I screamed in my mind, slamming my palms together, silently begging the forest to protect me. As if sensing my distress my children joined me in casting the magic spell. I summoned thick and hard vines imbued with earth magic, connecting them all throughout the forest, forming a web of vines. In my desperation, I cast spell after spell, summoning thick earth walls, spears, growing flowers, and shrubs into larger versions..….then… all was quiet
BOOM!
An explosive sound surged forth in blinding light coming towards me. I could hear the trees being torn apart, their cries echoing in my mind. The earth was being torn apart from the ferocious powers behind the attack.
"Damnit!" I screamed in my mind.
"MOTHER!"
"NO, EVERYONE FLOWER SHIELD!" I screamed, my heart thundering in my chest. A mass of flower petals and leaves were summoned, swirling around me and forming a thick veil of petals. I closed my eyes, feeling the pure magic heat emanating from the attack.
"I LOVE YOU, MOTHER!"
"SOLAR SYNTHESIS!" I screamed the spell just before the attack hit me.
I let out a silent scream, the explosive sound deafening me. I used every spell that could assist me at this moment but the pain was too much. I felt myself being uprooted from the ground, the pain radiating throughout my entire body so excruciating that I felt like fainting.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Pain Resistance LV7] has now become [Pain Resistance LV10]
Maximum skill proficiency reached. Acquired skill. [Pain Nullification]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Faint Resistance LV6] has now become [Faint Resistance LV8]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Destruction Resistance LV5] has now become [Destruction Resistance LV7]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Pain Mitigation LV6] has now become [Pain Mitigation LV8]
The pain completely disappeared, I couldn't feel it anymore but the feeling of fainting still existed. When the light disappeared, I was on my back, barely alive and barely breathing. I wheezed, coughing up blood, lifting my head slightly to look at the condition of my body, and I could only cry at the sight of where my left arm used to be and I couldn't bear to look at the rest of the damage or see how I looked.
Name: Mai Yumehiro
Type: Insect/Plant
Species: Flowering Brood Empress
Level: 8
HP:50/7,285
MP:100/7,325
SP:600/7,375 (0/7,375)
"What-" I cried seeing that I only survive with that much HP. I sensed the Queen Taratect moving quickly towards me, most likely to finish me off. "It's over….I lost. I tried my best." I wept hard, using my only hand to cover my face.
"M-Mother…" A single voice whispered in my mind.
"My child!" I turned my head, seeing him slowly crawling towards me, half of his body gone. I slowly rolled over sobbing, crawling towards my last surviving child, dragging what was left of my roots and body with me.
"I'm coming!" I screamed, digging fingers into the ground, trying to pull myself will all my strength. I could psychically feel pain but the mental anguish was killing me.
"Mother.."
"No, you can't die!" I tried to move faster, ignoring the thundering steps behind me. "I love you so much!" I sobbed, "you guys saved my life….you're my most precious children…."
"Mo-"
I finally reached him, covering his body with mine, crying hysterically. I used the last of my magic power, healing him with my pure water magic, only managing to give him back some more health. I pressed my face against him, feeling the Queen Taratect looming over me.
"You must live." I breathed out sadly, crying fresh tears, "You can't let them win…..you're my last Hope." I said with a smile, finally naming him using the Naming skill. "Your name is Hope."
I pushed him away, watching as he barely moved. "Go!" I shouted tearfully.
Forced Evolution. Individuals, Flowering Prince, evolve into Gaia Ferect King.
"YOU HURT MOTHER!"
My eyes widened, the child I named Hope, rapidly growing in size right before my eyes – his size matching the Queen Taratact – and tackling the Queen with its now humongous body. I look up in awe at the two monsters fighting each other at equal strength. My eyes trailed down the length of Hope's body and I could see grass, trees, flowers, and shrubs growing down the length of his back, creating a large forest. The rest of his body was brown like the earth, his many legs, jagged like the rocks on the side of a cliff.
"Hope?" I said hesitantly, still in disbelief.
"I'll protect you, Mother. Even if I have to give my life!" Hope roared, lashing at the Queen Taratect with its tail, pushing her backward and away from me. Despite his huge size, he was still as fast as he was, even more so.
I didn't know the naming skill had such power. The naming skill either improves the monster or its stats. Could improvement part of the description means it can make it evolve? I shook my head, it wouldn't be that easy. If anyone could force an evolution then everyone would be doing it. I quickly appraised him, wanting to see it for it myself.
Name: Hope
Type: Insect/Plant
Species: Gaia Ferect King
Level: 1
HP:11,000/11,000
MP:7,000/7,000
SP:11,000/11,000 (11,000/11,000)
Offense: 14,000
Defense: 9,000
Magic Power: 6,000
Resistance: 9,000
Speed: 11,000
"How?!" I was shocked at the stats and how easily he surpassed me, even the Queen Taratect was no match for him.
Hope opened his mouth, releasing a large gale of wind from his mouth just as the Queen released her own magic-powered beam. The attacks clashed, resulting in a huge explosion. I covered my face with my hand, blocking the blinding light before it quickly disappeared. I gasped, watching as Hope wrapped himself around the Queen, refusing to let her go as he sink his massive mandibles into her head, tearing it off in one go. She thrashed around even with her head gone, their massive sizes destroying everything around them. Hope didn't stop there and started tearing off her legs, removing anything he could get on her body.
[Experience points have reached a certain point. Individual, Flowering Brood Empress, Mai Yumehiro LV8 has become LV11]
Skill proficiency reached. Acquired Title. [Monster Calamity]
[Herculean Strength LV8] becomes [Fortitude LV1]
Acquired Skills. [Stronghold LV1]
"Was it so easy?" I thought as my body automatically healed itself thanks to the level up. My roots immediately dug into the ground, lifting me to an upright position as they found their perch underground. I was finally healed but my worry was completely on Hope who was eating the Queen's body. "Hope?!"
I attempted to speak to him but I didn't hear a reply nor could I hear its thoughts. After killing the Queen so easily, he was shooting huge blasts of wind randomly, destroying the forest and landscape. I was too shocked to even comprehend what was going on.
"Hope?!" I screamed once more, watching as he rampaged mindlessly. He was moving further away from me and I looked down at my body frustratingly. Why did I have to be stuck like this?! I felt fear in my heart, watching him go in the distance.
Second Army of Oht's Kingdom
There was a rumor going around about a certain forest growing overnight. However, I couldn't be more wrong as it wasn't a rumor but true. The war against Sariella was currently happening and the Oht's Kingdom was rounding up what was left of its guard and army to investigate the strange happenings in the forest since it was their territory. There were about two hundred of us soldiers were placed on this task due to the scouts reporting of a large-scale monster battle happening.
We marched towards the strange forest from the Oht's Kingdom, leaving before dawn to get there by morning. When we got there the dead bodies of spider monsters and weird plant centipede monsters were littered across the forest floor. The most frightening part was seeing the large spiders fighting against something that we couldn't see from our position. We were told to hold our position, waiting for the monsters to kill each other.
One of the monsters was the legendary Queen Taratect that no human had ever managed to kill. The captain of our squadron was adamant that we don't make a move until the Queen is gone. However, we never expected another monster to emerge out of nowhere, battling the queen on equal footing and eventually overpowering her. We stood there in awe but it all changed when the giant centipede monster killed Queen Taratect so easily. However, our awe shifted to terror as the rampaging monster turned in our direction, moving quickly.
"RUN!" the captain ordered.
That was how an army of two hundred soldiers lost sight of their task and scattered in fear of being killed.
I ran, breathing hard, my heart pounding in my chest. The screams of my companions did little to deter my escape as trees crashed down behind me, crushing anyone under its weight. I looked back, seeing a tree falling fast.
"FUCK FUCK FUCK!" I screamed, jumping to the side, dodging it. I rolled back to my feet, throwing my sword away, and helmet to make myself lighter.
I could see the forest exit coming just ahead. I could almost taste freedom. Suddenly, I was launched in the air like a rag doll. Blood spouted from my mouth, every bone in my body crushed. I spun rapidly, seeing the sky, the rampaging monster, the forest, then the ground finally, my vision completely dark.
My name is, Oscar Dunman, a random soldier of the Oht's Kingdom army, this is how I lost my life along with my companions.
The Village of Falkirk
That morning started out just like any other; feeding Naofumi, making breakfast for myself, making sure everything was cleaned and that Naofumi had everything he needed. Robin, the woman who has been helping me ever since I showed up to this village, showed up early to watch Naofumi for me as I headed to work. Work was, as usual, doing patrols around the village, making sure the villagers were satisfied. I was in the quarters of the main guard building when it happened.
BOOM!
A loud roar sent shivers down my back, followed by the screams of the people. I was out of the building before anyone else with my sword drawn. I skidded to a stop, looking at the huge centipede monster going on a rampage. I knew only one monster that could control centipedes yet this one was destroying the village.
"NAOFUMI!" I ran in the direction of my home, forgetting the people of the village. I threw my sword to the wind, jumping into shadows and reappearing to get there faster. I was lucky that my home was on the far side of the village as I wanted to avoid the hustle and bustle.
"HELP US!" A woman ran up to make, gripping me by my shoulders but I quickly knocked her to the ground, dashing towards my home. When I got there I already saw Robin outside with Naofumi crying in her hands, I ran up to her silently thanking the gods that they were both alright.
"Hayate, we have to leave now!" Robin said with a scared tone as I took Naofumi from her, holding him tightly in my arms.
"Let's go-" I was cut off by a deafening explosion.
"Look out!" Robin screamed, pointing at the sky.
I looked up, seeing a rain of rocks coming down towards them. I quickly grabbed Robin's hand, pulling her along as we ran towards the exit of the village. The rocks rained down on us, luckily, none did any life-threatening damage to us as we managed to getaway. Suddenly, large vines shot out from the ground in front of us, blocking the west gate, and we turned to run through a back alley.
"What do we do now, Hayate?!" Robin cried, panting as she tried to keep close to me.
"We just have to worry about escaping!" I answered quickly, holding her hand tightly. I was thinking so many things but my mind was on the giant centipede rampaging, wondering would she would do this. Why would Mai do this?!
We exited the alley and ran into a crowd of people trying to escape.
"OH MY GOD!"
"IT'S COMING!"
"Hayate!" Robin's cry echoed in my ears as we were torn from each other. I looked back at her, seeing her get lost in the crowd.
"Robin!" I cursed inwardly, holding Naofumi closer to me so he wouldn't be crushed. I did the only thing I could think of and sunk into the shadows using my shadow magic. I could only bring one person with me into the shadows. If I could have done it with more than one person I would've brought Robin with me. I reemerged in another alley and quickly hopped over the village wall.
I looked down at the crying baby in my arms. "Don't worry, Naofumi. I'll go back for, Robin!" I promised, rushing towards the village gate to see if the crowd made it out. Suddenly, the giant centipede roared, a mass of vines shooting from its back and down into the village.
I stopped in my tracks, watching as villagers were taken up and thrown into its mouth. However, what made me stop was that Robin was one of those people being taken up.
"NO! ROBIN!" I screamed and started running, my eyes never leaving her. This couldn't be happening.
No.
Not her.
Our eyes met, her sending me a tearful smile. She mouthed something at me before she met her end. I forget to move, to breathe, and to think. I could easily read her lips, and knowing what she said hurt my heart even more.
"I like you, Hayate. Now run."
I bit my lip, hard, turning away and running as fast as I could. I had to get away from the village. I ran away, leaving the screams behind. Trying to leave the image of her being gone but it was already burned in my mind. I felt hatred, a dark hatred towards her.
She had to be the one who did this.
She did this to us.
Mai.
[Experience points have reached the maximum point. Individual, Flowering Brood Empress, Mai Yumehiro LV11 has become LV20. Every basic ability rose, skill proficiency level up bonus acquired, skill points gained. Currently, you have 10,000 skill points remaining. Requirements met for individuals, Flowering Brood Empress, Mai Yumehiro to evolve.]
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Taboo LV7] has now become [Taboo LV8]
Skill proficiency reached. Acquired Title. [Human Calamity]
[Human Calamity: A title awarded to those who defeated a large number of humans. A large increase in damage when the opponent is a human.]
Acquired Title. [Merciless]
[Merciless: A title awarded to merciless individuals. Negates any feelings of guilt]
I could hear the system going off in my head constantly. I wanted to ignore it, shut it off, to do anything to stop it from giving me those notifications. I was in denial, complete and utter denial of the implications of my rapid increase in level. I tried to connect to Hope for the umpteenth time but it didn't work. The command skill was supposed to allow me to be able to control stronger minions but it wasn't working with Hope.
"No, this is not happening..." I said, wrapping my arms around myself. "He's not doing this. He's just…."
My body shook uncontrollably, the roaring in the distance haunting me. I looked down at my own body, cursing my inability to move and stop him myself but how could I do that? I thought about the fact there was a possibility of him attacking another village. I was no better than the elves who destroyed that village.
Then it hit me.
"Hayate!" I connected to him telepathically and waited for a response but didn't receive any. "Answer me, please!"
I was desperate and connected to Naofumi. "Naofumi, can you hear me?!"
"You-" A tiny voice echoed in my head.
"Naofumi!" I cried in relief but it was short-lived.
"You're a monster!" He screamed in my mind.
I was too stunned to reply before catching myself. "Naofumi, what do you-"
"Don't talk to me!" He shouted hysterically.
I slumped over, my hair covering my face as I silently sobbed. I had difficulty breathing, swallowing even. I vehemently denied it in my head. I shook my head in denial, muttering to myself that it wasn't true. The worst part about this all is that I felt no guilt. I didn't feel sorry about what happened. The tears were coming but my heart was calm like the surface of a lake.
"To think you would actually survive." A familiar voice said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I raised my head. It was him. Güliedistodiez.
"You actually beat the Queen Taratect," He said, his red eyes narrowing at me, "I know the Demon Lord must be angry at losing one of her kin. She lost against you. and you won, but at what cost? You have destroyed countless lives already. I don't like anomalies messing with the order of this world. I should destroy you, right now."
"I...I didn't know the naming skill would do something like this?!" I answered fearfully and truthfully.
He took in my words before answering, "Not many know this but that skill is very powerful. What makes it so powerful? It's the intent behind the naming process. Your emotions, your purpose, your….desperation...it all plays a part in the power of that skill."
"Then what-"
"You were too weak to control a monster of that power." He cut me off, "We're lucky that it didn't evolve into that."
I lowered my head, remaining silent, his words cutting me over and over. I was too weak to control, Hope? I looked at him once more. "Then what can I do to stop him?"
"Nothing." Came his harsh reply.
"Then help me!" I snapped, glaring at him.
"I can kill the monster for you easily but…" He trailed off.
"I will do anything!" I told him, "PLEASE!"
He nods to himself as if making a decision. "You shall remain in this forest for the rest of your days as a punishment and assist me when needed."
"Punishment?!" I questioned.
"Yes, punishment." He doubled down on what he said.
I bit my lip, hearing his conditions, thinking it was unfair but what choice did I have. "What if humans come here?" A tinge of worry in my voice.
"That won't be a problem," He looked behind him at the destruction left because of the battle. "I suspect the humans will do some...renovations." He raised his hand into the air, snapping his fingers.
"W-what did you do?"
"Humans will lose all interest if they come close to this part of the forest and have the urge to go in the opposite direction. As for you, you won't be able to leave here if you tried."
"So, I'm a…...prisoner?" I whispered to him in my mind.
"Don't you think this is a fair judgment for someone who slaughters humans, hmm?" His sharp tongue cut me open, and it did so deeply.
I didn't feel guilty but my mind was telling me otherwise. This was my punishment and he was the only one who could kill Hope before he kills any more people. "I accept your conditions."
Güliedistodiez smirks at me before drawing something on the ground. He draws a strange sigil and it glows brightly when he completes it. "This rune will transport you directly to the upper level of the labyrinth in case you want some entertainment. Consider it a gift for killing the Queen Taratect, now they are only four of them left in the world."
He vanishes from my sight, leaving me helplessly. How did it get to this point? How did I become so pathetic? I closed my eyes, connecting to my child one last time. It was the only thing I could do that wouldn't make me feel so helpless.
"I'm so sorry, Hope," I said softly, feeling it when he died.
My hope died that day.
I didn't feel anything.
There goes the end of this arc. She managed to defeat the queen through luck but the consequences of it were dire. We'll have a time skip afterward as we go deeper into Mai's story and her role now that she will be partially working for Kuro. For timeline purposes, both Mai's battle and the war against Sariella took place around the same time. The good side is that Mai can explore the Labyrinth MORE now. So we'll get some time in the labyrinth and some other fun stuff.
Name: Mai Yumehiro
Type: Insect/Plant
Species: Flowering Brood Empress
Level: 20
HP:9,295/9,295
MP:9,335/9,335
SP:9,875/9,875 (9,875/9,875)
Offense: 10,805
Defense: 9,200
Magic Power: 21,194
Resistance: 9,304
Speed: 0
Stat Skills:
Fortitude LV1, Stronghold LV1, MP Lessened Consumption LV6, SP Lessened Consumption LV6, Plant Power LV4, Longevity LV1, Magic Hoard LV1
Attack Skills:
Wind Attack LV7
Enhancement Skills:
Piercing Enhancement LV7, Plant Enhancement LV5, Wind Enhancement LV6
Active Skills:
Expel LV10, Herbalism LV1, Magic Warfare LV6, Mental Warfare LV7, Magic Conferment LV6, Solar Synthesis LV3, Flower Shield LV6
Leadership Skills:
Fartalk LV10, Flower Seed-Laying LV1, Cooperation LV10, Leadership LV10, Command LV1, Naming
Perception Skills:
Detection LV10, High-Speed Processing LV4, Prediction LV3
Magic Skills:
Magic Power Operation LV10, Precise Magic Power Operation LV1, Heretic Magic LV6, Harvest Magic LV1, Pure Water Magic LV8, Wind Magic LV7, Plant Magic LV10, Earth Magic LV6, Spatial Magic LV1
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 LV6, Fire Resistance LV8, Cutting Resistance LV2, Pain Nullification, Faint Resistance LV8, Destruction Resistance LV7, Pain Mitigation LV8, Piercing Resistance LV1, Light Resistance LV1
Passive Skills:
Stealth LV10, Concealment LV2, Heatless LV3, Silence LV5
Other Skills:
Taboo LV7, n% I = W, As One, Appraisal LV10, Fertile Nature, Pollen Release, Satiation LV7, Shelter LV6
Titles:
Foul Feeder, Assassin, Kin Eater, Hedge Witch, Poison Technique User, Commander, Monster Calamity, Human Calamity, Merciless