REWRITE
-Chapter 1-
-Where The Hell Am I ?-
Black. Everything was black and silent. I couldn't feel anything. Then my senses started returning. First a rush of noise like a water fall. Subsiding and returning. Subsiding and Returning in a gentle tempo. Was it waves from the ocean? As I became more aware I felt the heat from above and warmth from below. Bathing my skin in its gentle heat warming my skin. The sensation of hot sand shifting below my body. The calling of sea gulls flying over head. Blinking, my eyes were flooded with bright light. Blinking in slight pain from the shining sun illuminating everything.
"Ow!"
My head felt like it was splitting. Covering my face and rolling onto my side I curled up into a ball on what I assumed was sand. The throbbing in my head slowly subsided. Peeking through my fingers I saw the bright sky above. The blue wall of nothingness clear as crystal. Not a cloud in sight. The bird calls got louder as the flapping of wings nearby got closer sounding like they landed around me. Turning my head I saw two sea gulls a few feet away looking at me. It was then I felt the hunger in my stomach. The hunger the hunger. Damn was I starving? I can't remember the last time I ever felt this hungry. When was the last time I ate? For a moment I froze realizing I can't remember anything.
"Who am I? Better yet why can't I remember anything. I know what's all around me. Rocks, sand the sky. I think I'm on a island or the coastline because of the stupid tasty looking sea gulls."
As I was thinking one of the gulls took a few cautious steps closer pecking at my feet. I can't take the hunger any longer and decide to make that bird my meal.
"Yeah that's it just a little closer."
The gull walks around to my back pecking me. My stomach growls so loudly it spooks the gull making it jump back.
"Stupid stomach you want to be full or not. Shut up!"
The second gull walked around to my line of sight with the first slowly getting closer, pecking at my back again.
"Guess they think I'm dead or something?"
The second gull got closer leering at me with its head lowered just out of my reach. The first gull pecked at my back again starting to cause pain. Remaining silent I keep still, enduring the annoying pecking. Then the second gull got closer and closer now in my reach. It points its beak right at my eyes as if to peek them.
In a instant my hand whipped out grabbing the birds neck. Snap! The gulls body goes limp as I feel its bones break in my grip. The other gull squawks in fright and fly's off, but in a flash I roll onto my feet I dash towards the bird and leap at it before it gets too high. Clasping my hands together I feel the satisfying feeling of feathers and squeeze feeling a crunch as the seagulls wings then neck breaks in my hands.
Falling back onto the sandy beach I stare at the dead bird in my hands. With a satisfied smile I glance over to the other dead gull laying on the sand then glance back to the one in my hands.
"Finally some food."
Opening my mouth I take a big feather filled bite out of the bird. Coughing I spit out the disgusting feathers not liking their taste one bit.
"Ugh I better de-feather it first. Where did I remember that from? Hunting shows? What are shows?"
A flood of memories about TV hunting shows hits me along with a splitting headache. After a few moments it quickly goes away.
"Ow! Ok try and not think to much. Ow!"
Minutes later I'm done removing the birds feathers and bite into it's raw flesh.
"Ugh I should cook this."
The headache hits me again as memories of fire, camping and cooking return to me.
"Ok I don't have anything to help make a fire. May as well bare it until I do. Damn I'm hungry."
With a slightly disgusted expression I bit into the birds tearing flesh and breaking bones as I chew and bite. Minutes later I'm done with the first bird and feel a wave of information flow into my mind and body. I can't make out most of it but I feel stronger if only a little.
"Well that was... interesting? Time to eat the other one!"
Reaching over I find the second seagull gone.
"Huh! what the hell. Where?"
Looking around I quickly spot a large basketball sized crab hulling ass with my Seagull in its pinchers.
"Oh hell no! That's my bird you bastard!"
Dashing over to the slow crab I raise a foot and bring it down on it's shell with a loud thud.
"That's my bird you damn living rock!"
The crab seemingly unharmed casually lifts one of its fist sized pincers clamping onto my ankle.
"Ow! son of a bitch!"
Repeatedly I lift my foot the crab and bird slamming them down on the loose sand. But the crabs shell looks just fine.
"Damn your shells hard."
Looking around I quickly spot a few rocks by some palm trees.
"Idea!"
Hobbling over to the rocks with the crab still clamped on my ankle I lift my leg dropping it onto one of the knee height rocks. I reach down picking up a smaller rock with a big grin on my face. Repeatedly I slam the stone on the crab cracking it open as it goes limp. With blood leaking through its shell I pick up both the crab and seagulls bodies.
"More for me!"
A little while later I feel like shit as my stomach gurgles and churns feeling like its doing spinning cart wheels.
"Ugh maybe it was the crab but I feel sick?"
Looking around for shelter to digest my meal I find a area along the beach covered with plenty of shady palm trees. Laying down between them I feel tired and weak from my stomach pain. As I drift off to sleep a question comes to my lips.
"Where the hell am I. And who am I for that matter?"
My name, identity and past are the only information that didn't come to me easily.
A day passes as I lay there digesting my birds and crab. When I wake the next day the pain is gone and I again feel better. I also remember that a bunch of information flowed into my head again when I ate that crab. But less from the second bird. Wonder why?
"Yawn."
Stretching out a bit I stand up. I'm not hungry. At least not as much as yesterday before I ate the birds and crab. But I'm bored and it looks like I'm on a white sand beach. I walk out to the edge of the water. The sea sparkles from the waves and light reflections.
"Definitely a island or coastline. Wonder if it's small sea or a vast ocean. No must be a tropical island around the equator given the animals and weather. Maybe?"
Looking around I spot dozens of tiny crabs scuttling along the beach making regular patterns in the sand with balls of processed sand they make and drop as they wonder around taking in the sand and filtering it for organic minerals and microbes. Their a lot smaller then the large crab I ate yesterday. Must be different types. Looking farther along the beach I spot larger objects moving in the distance. For the fun I sprint over kicking up sand as I run. My long hair flittering in the wind. Getting closer I recognize the shapes as the same type of large crab I ate before only there's a dozen of them.
With a smile I run up to one and kick it sending it flying into a palm tree that had grown horizontally across the beach like a limbo bar.
"Goal!" I yell.
Stopping I wonder why I sad that? Then the headaches hit me again along with a wave of information about Football(American) and Foot-Ball(soccer).
"Ow!" rubs head. "I have a feeling I'm going to have a splitting headache every time I remember something aren't I."
Scooping the injured crab off the sand I smash it against some rocks and eat it while sitting on the horizontal tree. Again I receive less of that odd information as I got the first time.
"Wonder what's that about?"
Instantly regretting my own curiosity my splitting headache returns along with a flood of new information.
[Ability: Essence Absorption: Devour Genetic Essence of life forms to evolve, adapt and gain their biological abilities and traits.]
"What the what? Who said that?"
[I am the announcer. I announce when you gain a new ability or evolve]
"Uh... Ok?. Hey announcer lady, or-chan. They say that honorific for girls in japan right?" Another headache. "Ow! Uh can you tell me who I am and why I'm naked on the beach and why I have this Essence absorption ability?"
Silence.
"Welp it was worth a try. So I can absorb the biological abilities of creatures I eat huh?"
Focusing a little I extend by arms and try to remember the crabs shells trying to grow them.
[Rapid growth of armored carapace impossible. Do not have required rapid cell growth ability.]
"Ok thanks for the info Announcer-chan. I just need to find a animal that can rapidly grow new parts?"
Again I'm hit with a migraine from hell as new information flows into my mind. I learn about or remember various animals that can regrow body parts and bacteria with rapid growth potential.
"Ok a starfish or bacteria. Don't know where to find a microbe like that so I'll search for a starfish. I would like both but beggars can't be choosers."
Diving into the sea the salty water quickly stings my eyes for a few minutes. The pain subsides eventually as I feel a transparent film grow over my eyes. I blink feeling the transparent eye lid close and open like a new eye lid.
"Is that another of my abilities?"
Another headache.
[Ability: Rapid Evolution: Adapt to extreme environmental hazards and damage types]
"How many of these abilities do I have?"
Another headache.
[One other ability. Essence Weaving: Can alter and weave essence/genetics/DNA creating new life forms and altering your own body and essence to evolve new and greater forms, abilities and traits.]
"Ok that's pretty good. Not complaining. Wait isn't there a alien race with those abilities?"
Pain.
[Two races. The Tyranid's and Zerg.]
Getting over the unwanted info dump and splitting migraine I sigh and think. I still can't breath underwater and have to hold my breath so I can only dive for a few minutes before needing air again. Returning to the beach I sit down and think.
"I need to be able to breath underwater but I can't catch any fish. Their too fast in the water?"
I consider the situation reaching the conclusion I need a tool. Headache. I learn about fishing tools. A fishing pole or spear?
"Definitely not finding a fishing pole around here."
Looking back to the trees along the beach a thought comes to me.
"Yeah a spear will do."
Running off to the forest I go searching for any fallen tree limbs that could be used for spearing fish. Picking up a contender I examine it.
"Man I could use a metal knife."
Glancing around I spot a few rocks. Examining them for shape and sharpness I pick out a few that look right for the job and carry them back to the beach. I go back and forth between the beach and forest creating a pile of materials, also dragging vines from trees deeper in the forest adding them to the pile as well.
"Ok a few of these have to work."
I get to work experimenting with the rocks, dried dead limbs and vines eventually cobbling together a make shift spear with a semi sharp tip. Improving it further I add six more arrow shaped stones and pointed sticks held in place with tied vines. Lifting the wide multi-headed spear up I examine it making sure the spikes are secure.
"I hope this works?"
Walking along the beach I find a shallow area where a few fish are swimming about. Slowly getting into position I keep quiet as the fish swim around me. Patiently I wait for them to get closer until their right at my feet. Thrusting the spear down I impale one trapping it between the split tips of the spear and sand.
"Dinner is served."
Back on the beach I examine the catch. Remembering the seagulls and their feathers I use the spear stones to scrap off the fish scales or pick them off. I take a bit of the now de-scaled fish savoring the taste. Its not too bad as I chew and swallow. As I eat the fish I feel another surge of information in my mind and body. As the information flows into me I look for the parts of the genetic make up of the fish that's responsible for the gills. Instantly I feel a odd sensation flowing all over my body. I feel weak for a moment as the skin around my neck feels like its crawling. I feel my heart rate and blood flow increase as the change continues. Then the feeling moves into my throat and down the inside of my neck.
Feeling along my neck I feel three raised bulges and slits on both sides.
"So are these gills? Can I breath in the water and dive deeper now?"
Giddy at my new ability I quickly jump into the water to test them out. I stay submerged a few minutes without feeling like I'm suffocating and the gills work filtering oxygen from the salty ocean water. Ecstatic at my new water breathing ability I swim farther and deeper. Entering a coral reef filled with countless fish, eels, starfish and other ocean life.
"There you are."
Spotting a group of starfish I swim down scooping a few up in my hands.
"Down the hatch."
Munching on the starfish I feel their essence being infused into my own being as the feeling is much stronger then the others times.
[Regeneration, lesser-gained]
[Redundant Organ System-gained]
I smile at the new abilities feeling my body shift and change on the inside as it under goes a transformation. Flesh and bone shift around as several of my organs split into smaller clusters.
"That was intense. I feel woozy. Better get back to land before."
Turning my head to look around I instantly swim back as a giant par of jaws snaps down on me.
"What the hell? Was that a great white shark!"
A red color drifts through the water into my sight line as the shark swims away. Looking closer my eyes trace the trail of blood to the bloody stump of my missing left arm.
"Shit!"
Swimming as fast as I can I make a beeline for the beach. Glancing back a brief moment I see the great shark coming right at me. I start swimming more vigorously about to panic. My legs and arm move as fast as they can while the shark closes the distance. At the last moment I dive out of the way only to feel the damn sharks jaws clamp down on my right leg. Looking at the bastard he's got my leg in his jaws with trails of blood escaping through the holes made by it's teeth digging into my skin.
"Damn this hurts. Get the hell off me bastard!"
I vigorously kick the sharks teeth as he drags me through the water. I silently scream in pain as I feel my leg pulling out of its joint. The bone is broken and the speed of the shark is now tearing my leg off. I don't even know how I'm enduring the pain.
[Pain resistance, lesser-gained]
"Good to know. But not helping!"
The shark drags me around in circles through the water before it starts trashing its head about in quick left right movements. The shearing forces put even more stress on the skin and muscles holding my leg together. Then the shark starts chomping rapidly opening and closing its jaws. Its razor sharp teeth shredding my leg muscles and skin even more until its completely severed. Gritting my teeth in pain, but finally free, I stabilize and reorient my self swimming for my life towards the surface with my remaining limbs.
"Fuck me."
Having finally reached the surface I crawl onto the beach and rest gasping for air. Bloody and wounded as the dorsal fin of that damn shark cuts around through the water nearby.
"FUCK YOU!"
I flip him the bird before collapsing on my back. My leg and arm stumps continue bleeding. I just lay there in the oppressive sun light doing my best to keep from losing consciousness. I feel delirious and cough blood up several times. After what seems like a hour I get the strength to look over at my arm stump finding it had stopped bleeding and grown a layer of skin over the wound. I laugh.
"Heh. Guess that was a trade. I hope my limbs can regrow soon. Guess I should eat then to help it along."
-The next day-
My eyes shoot open with the annoying squawking of seagulls along with the slight pain of several of those large crabs pinching my skin drawing blood.
"Ah like hell my foods going to eat me!"
Thrashing about I grab one seagulls neck breaking it. Ah so nostalgic. I throw it scaring the rest of the birds off. The crabs are still hanging on as I smash them into each other. Picking one up and throwing it against a rock. It was then I realized I was standing with two arms and two legs.
"Hah! My limbs are back. Guess it took all night for them to regrow."
Hungry Gurgling.
"And I'm hungry again. Guess I'm eating sea gull and crabs today."
After munching on the gull and crabs that dared to try and eat me I decided to explore the island more since that giant shark and more like it were prowling the water. I also need to find out what kind of place I'm in. So far I've only been on this beach, the forest by the beach, the shallows and that reef where the shark attacked me. Picking up the new the multi-pointed spear I made to replace the one I lost I make my way deeper into the forest more then before.
Hiking through the dense trees the many and varied songs of different bird species fill the forest. Their songs make the jog more enjoyable. Getting more headaches I remember that a number of large primates and big cats live on islands and keep my wits about me. A hour later I finally reach a fresh water spring with a stream trailing down the hill. I drink and drink filling my self up on the clean water. Having slaked my thirst I Look back down the hill. I spot the beach at the edge of the island below me. Looking farther into the distance I spot several more islands along the distant horizon.
"I wonder if there are any people on any of these islands. Or anymore monsters like that shark."
A gentle but cold wind blows making me shake in discomfort.
"Burr! I really need to get some clothes. Its not all bad being naked but I would rather have some protection."
Turning to the pool of crystal clear water I look into its reflective surface seeing a young blue haired girl with red eyes staring back.
"Are those colors normal?"
Silence.
Sighing I figure the question is too vague to trigger my headaches and memories. Or there's another reason? I jump in enjoying cool water. The wind and water may be a bit cold but the tropical sun is hot and oppressive. After cooling off I resume my search. I spend another hour searching around the island interior encountering many many lizards, snakes and small insects but mostly birds. And trees. Lots of trees and bugs.
"Man is there nothing else on the island? Oh wait aren't spiders poisonous. That could be useful."
Looking around a bit I find a few small spider webs in the underbrush and in several fallen logs. Grabbing as many of them as I can I munch on the small spiders devouring them whole.
"Odd? I feel like this should freak me out more?" shrug.
I consider the fact I'm munching so liberally on all these creatures without a care about how creepy or dangerous they are.
"Well I'm doing it to get stronger and survive so. Yeah worth it. Though I did lose a literal arm and leg for the regeneration and redundant organ abilities. I need to be less reckless for now on."
[Poison Generation lesser-gained]
The essence of the spiders joins my own and I feel their poison glands forming in my mouth and k9 teeth. Placing a finger up to one of my K-9s I push some out and look at the liquid on my fingertip.
"Wonder if I'm immune to my own venom?"
I lick my finger swallowing the poison. Instantly I feel bad as the lethal liquid enters my system.
"Well. I hope my adaptation can handle it?"
I keep eating my own poison several times for almost a hour and get seriously sick before recovering and finally getting the adaptation.
[Poison Resistance, lesser-gained]
"That will help. Don't like spiders that much but their poison and silk will help out a lot."
It seems I can only gain a few abilities per creature I eat which forced me to roam the forest again looking for more spiders. It's probably based on how powerful they are or something like that?
[Silk Generation-gained.]
[Spider Walk-gained]
"Sweet. Now I can make clothes and walk on walls."
Using the new web spinners in my arms I started practicing weaving webs and silk into useful items. As I train the sun starts drifting lower and lower as I get the the- hang of the technique. By sun down I'm relaxing in a warm silk hammock hanging high in the canopy between two trees. Looking up at the blue sky as it transitions from day to complete night.
Yawn.
"Man the past few days have been tough. I have so many questions and few answers. But at least I got these awesome powers to keep me alive."
I pull the thick silk blanket over my self as the cold night sets in.
-Next morning-
I descend a silk rope to the forest floor. Returning to the beach I hunt for more crabs and fish before returning to the forest to hunt for more creatures with useful abilities. I lay some web traps around my hammock and wander around a bit exploring. It seems I've been on a small peninsula extending off from the main island' which has a mountain at its center.
The main part of the island is past the mountain but after spending a whole day going back and forth from one side of the peninsula and mountain. It seems there's only the ocean and sheer cliffs on both sides. Meaning in order to reach the main island I'm going to have to either climb the mountain or swim.
"I could use my webs and climb over the steep cliffs. But it's getting close to sun down and wandering around at night is a bad idea without knowing what creatures lives on this island."
Returning to my Hammock I sleep for the night. The next morning I return to the cliffs and start making a silk rope path along the near vertical cliffs. Hours later I'm tired and the silk spinners on my arms are dry and spent and what's worse I'm only one third of the way across. Reexamining the situation I decide to abandon the silk road plan for now and just swim it. But I'll need more essence. Time to go fishing.
Later...
[Fins/Scales-gained]
I look at my reflection in the water.
"Now I look like a fish person. Whatever, I'll be better at swimming now."
Remaining close to the cliffs I swim across the mile or two wide gap to the main part of the island. If any big sharks show up I can just climb onto the cliffs and escape. My journey across the expanse of water mostly went uninterrupted. Then the loud shriek of a bird drew my attention to the sky.
Looking farther out to sea and up I quickly spot a giant bird swooping down like a bullet. Flapping its enormous wings it slowed down gliding just over the waters surface. Impossibly the giant bird lowered its legs and with its talons grabbing something large just under the surface. With several strong flaps it lifted one of those giant sharks out of the water and ascended higher into the air. Watching intently the bird flew towards the mountain and over my head.
"Shit! Does it have a nest on top of the mountain?"
As I wondered if I should just have stayed on my side of the island the bird with its prey landed on a outcropping of rock several hundred meters above me. Luckily the rocks must have camouflage me or the bird that huge doesn't take me as food since I'm so small.
"I wonder if this island and the surrounding sea are is its hunting ground. Did it make its nest around here just because of the large sharks?"
Wondering my life away wont help me so I resume my exploration of the island. Finally reaching the main part of the island I rest a bit before making a house of silk and tree branch's in the upper canopy but just below the tops of the trees. Don't want that giant bird seeing that a new neighbour has moved in and risk it attacking.
A day passed as I hung out in the canopy not going far from my silk tree house. I want to go slowly and take my time and explore as there's no need to rush things. If I did I just might find my self running into a predator as big and powerful as that Osprey. Not a pleasant thought. As I wait around killing time I weave a simple silk dress. It hangs over my shoulders down to my knees. Adding some underwear to match. I also re-tool my spear removing the vines tying the stick and rocks together and replace them with my own silk which is much stronger.
-Next Morning-
Since first encountering that big bird yesterday I've seen it coming and going at least ten times from its nest up on the mountain. It hunts for about half the day then fly's around the mountain or rests in its nest. Anyway I want that birds ability to fly. I could easily hunt and travel anywhere. Though I would also stick out like a sore thumb. But only if I fly to close to the ground. Thinking I realize that the smaller seagulls must not be able to give me the ability to fly because of their size.
Walking through the jungle I search for some food. Finding some I leap onto my pray.
"Got ya!"
Picking up the fairly large lizard my mouth salivates.
Chewing crunching noises.
"Ah. That hit the spot."
Having sated my hunger I keep walking around taking care to keep my makeshift spear on hand and my head on a swivel. Thanks to the minor sensory adaptations from my food I've developed shaper sense's that lead me to a odd sound coming from a cave.
Looking into the large deep cave I strain my eyes hearing sounds like bats squeaking.
"Bats huh? Might also be some new types of spiders in there."
Tying a silk rope to a tree next to the opening, I descend into the cave straining my eyes to see in the darkness. The rocks are slick but not too slippery. But since the cave is almost near vertical It would be stupid to climb down without a safety line.
"Ok this should be just right."
Looking up I can still see light from the caves entrance. Deciding that this is the perfect spot I place a layer of my webs all along the edges of the cave in a ring shape and return to the surface. I pick around the forest for dead limbs and sticks returning to the cave and using them to make a small rest platform of shorts that rings around the spot I stopped at. Eventually after a whole day of working a thick ring of webs and sticks form into a large trap around the platform. This cave is enormous. There must be all kinds of creatures down there. Maybe?
-One Week Later-
A week passed and I've constructed a web path across the cliffs to and from my little private beach camouflaging it with rocks, sticks. It seems it works since that giant Osprey hasn't tried attacking it. Stepping out of my new hut on the private beach on the back of the island I brandish my new stone spear. Thrusting it forwards testing my technique.
"Not bad."
I examine the newly sharpened edge. Carved by beating stone on to stone at a angle until it cracked and chipped into a sharper edge. Its rough and still nothing compared to a metal blade but still more effective then what I had before at least.
Placing the new spear down I pick up a stone knife I had also shaped to be sharp. Placing it in the silk sheath on my leg I pick up the spear and move out making my way to the shallow part of the beach.
"Time to get some revenge."
I push a bunch of large logs into the water and tie them end to end together with my silk forming a square platform. Swimming back to the beach I secure them to a boulder with a long piece of silk threading and wait passing the time with some fishing. Placing the fish in a bucket made of sticks and webbing.
"Damn where the hell is that shark? Isn't there some kind of bait I can use to lure it out?"
Pain. With another headache comes knowledge about how sensitive Sharks are to the smell of blood in the water.
"Ugh. Wish I knew that sooner."
Taking the stone knife I slice up some of the fish spilling their blood and bits into the water around my floating platform. I wait a few hours slowly dropping a mutilated fish in every ten or so minutes until finally I catch sight of a shark fin in the distance.
"Wonder if its the same bastard that ate my arm and leg?"
The dorsal fin slices through the water quickly approaching me. I kick the bucket of chum in the water staining the water a deep crimson. Giblets float around as the fin zooms over to the food. As the shark swims under my platform I get a good look.
"Nope. Not the same one."
It's a bit smaller then the one I'm after and a different shape and color. Still essence is essence. Just as the shark chomps on the fish bits I spring my trap. Pulling a large silk string I retract several threads hanging under the platform like a giant net pulling them up and ensnaring the shark in them. It struggles as it gets webbed in.
The sticky threads keeping the shark in place. Once I was confident it couldn't destroy the trap I grabbed my spear and jumped on top the shark impaling it right through the back of its head. Blood flowed staining me as I can feel the shark weakening under me. It continues to thrash about but my silk is unyielding. Pulling the stone knife out I stab it in both eye's.
It's struggling slows and stops as the water turns almost completely red. Pulling it closer to the platform I proceed to cut and rip it into smaller more easily manageable pieces before hauling them to the beach. The main body is too large and heavy for me so I leave it in the water. With any luck It will attract the Shark I'm really after.
Having made a basic camp in front of my hut I carve pieces of dried trees and limbs onto a flat stone in a fire pit ringed with stones. Taking a strong straight stick I make a simple fire starting bow kit and get to work spinning it. The small dry kindling dust and the friction heat of the bows rotation creates smoke and sparks. Placing more small dried twigs on the wood shavings I feed the little fire gently stoking it until a proper fire is going strong.
"I've finally created fire. Time to taste some cooked shark."
Skewering some pieces of meat onto sticks I place them over the fire. After their properly cooked I take a bite savoring the taste of cooked shark flesh. It's taster then raw that's for sure. Unfortunately being cooked destroys the essence in the flesh so I still have to eat the rest raw if I want any abilities. I keep the fire going while eating the raw flesh until I get what I want.
[Serrated Teeth-gained]
[Teeth Regrowth-gained]
I smile having finally gained a sharp pair of teeth better for ripping and the ability to quickly regrow them. I return to the sharks body for the fifth time only to find it gone and my webbing that was holding it ripped to shreds.
"Good to know that that bastard is still around. I doubt a smaller shark could have done this."
-The next day-
Yelping in pain I rip out one of my own teeth placing it in the pile with the others.
"Ow!" another pops out. "I hope the pain is worth it." I rub my cheeks as blood leaks from my mouth.
With the pain subsiding I look through the pile of my own razor sharp teeth examining them before attaching them to the tips of straight thin sticks and fixing bird feathers onto them making primitive arrows. So now I have a stone spear, knife and now a bow with some arrows.
"I got a whole cave man arsenal now." I grin fixing the bow over my shoulder, picking up the spear. "All that pain from the headaches is worth in If I learn how to make this kind of useful stuff."
Making my way back to the main part of the island I cross over the camouflage walking path along the cliffs keeping a eye out for the giant bird. Returning to the cave I climb on the top of the entrance and create a series of hanging sticky threads and leave. Back at my canopy house I wait passing the time by catching birds making traps for them and making more arrows from my teeth their feathers and sticks.
-Next Morning-
First thing in the morning I return to the cave to find several large bats hanging limply on my thread traps. Some having broken their wings others their necks as they must have thrashed about trying to escape. Not wanting to waste time I eat them right there making sure to pull their hair off first. My new sharp teeth make short work of their flesh and my jaws crush their bones as I chew.
[Echo Location Lesser-gained]
[Night Vision Lesser -gained]
I almost gag on the bat meat. They taste terrible. But at least I got their abilities so now I can see/sense what's going on around me in the dark. Giving the cave entrance one last glance I climb down to the base structure and test my new senses. The night vision slightly increases my vison in the cave while the echolocation gives me a kind of sixth sense that forms shapes in my mind based on the return echo's of sound.
Having adapted to the new senses I descend deeper in going about a hundred feet deeper until reaching pitch black rock bottom. I can still see a path deeper in thanks to my new senses. Unfortunately I know what's covering the bottom of the bat infested cave. Bat shit. Not wanting to walk on that even with boots. If I had any. I op to make my way along the celling and walls. After another hundred meters or so I pass through a long curving tunnel eventually arriving at a giant hollow chamber deep in the mountain.
"Wow?"
As my voice echo's I detect that the chambers roughly circular with stalactites hanging from ceiling. I proceed slowly making my way along the cave walls until arriving at a outcropping of rocks where I make a tent of silk and sticks. Feeling weak from making so much silk without eating I camp there and snack on a bit of cooked shark meat and take a nap.
Minutes later a unnerving noise wakes me. Looking out my tent I sense a large creature moving in the distance at the bottom of the cave. It's freaking huge. So much so it's movements cause the cave to vibrate and shack with each of it's steps. The large mass in the distant shadows slowly moves around the dark chamber closer to my location. Fearing it attacking I move back to the entrance of the chamber. As the giant creature gets closer I finally recognize it as a spider. A giant one. It moves right to the outcropping where my tent still is and I hear a loud impact noise followed by a crash of stone hitting the bottom of the chamber.
"Did it destroy the out-cropping of rock because I slept there?"
I leave returning to the surface having seen enough for now.
"Man that was scary. A giant spider huh? Well that's three targets on my hit list. The giant shark, the giant bird and now the giant spider."
Returning to my canopy house I brain storm a strategy to eliminate my competition/threats while carving mock pictures of them on the tree.
"The shark should go first. I could get a better version of my swimming ability and any other abilities sharks have. And then the Osprey should be the next target. My silk webs are probably too weak but if I can lay a trap at its nest then maybe I can get the drop on the bird. Who knows what abilities it has besides it's flight. And as for the spider? Some fire would help. Or larger spear. Maybe a trap with heavy rocks maybe?"
-Two weeks later-
Knowing heavy combat would be inevitable I started training and making simple training tools for strengthening my body. Rock weights for weight lifting. Leg harnesses for sit ups and pull ups as well as upside down crunches to build my abdomen. I dragged large rocks attached to silk ropes along the beach and ran along the beach every day building my physical abilities. I worked on improving my self all day everyday even swimming the gap between the rear and main parts of the island to develop my swimming skill. And the effort showed as my strength, speed and stamina grew and the exercises became easier every day so I kept increasing the difficulty to maintain the gains.
Delicately I wrapped my normal silk around the body of a large flat but thick wood club. The serrated teeth secured into carved out sockets along its flat edge and held in place with my sticky silk made the wood implement look like a saw made from teeth. Which it was. I secured the tooth bladed weapon on my back with a silk strap that held a hook on my back, allowing it to slot into a hollow ring on the sawtooth swords hand guard.
I then picked up the spear now enhanced with my own teeth as well and made my way to the beach. My fishing platform was now rebuilt and reinforced with four small trees tied into a four sided pyramid with a four sided hollow pyramid scaffolding with a thick strand of my normal silk hanging from its apex.
Grabbing the chum bait and food I released the plate-forms silk anchor allowing it to drift out to sea. I kept a extra long thread of silk attached that I lengthened as needed to keep the platform secured to the island so it doesn't drift too far out to sea.
Hours passed as I drifted farther away from the island. As I waited I saw all kinds of sea life swimming around below me including a massive manta ray easily the size of a small house from wing tip to wing tip. It and others like it gracefully swam in groups around the coral reefs below me eating smaller fish. I really wanted it's abilities but what was more important was finding better weapons. Which I found on a fish resembling a Barracuda. Its slightly long teeth were like small spears and razor sharp. Diving into the water I swam quickly to the closest one and speared its side before wrapping a silk net over it. Quickly I hauled it back up to the raft and ate it.
[Sharp Teeth-gained]
After feeling my body change I broke off some of my new teeth. I saw that they now came to a finer sharped point like a blade. I smashed the tooth against the raft at an angle to test its strength, disappointed however that it easily broke. Sharp but weak. The serrated edges helped with slicing through stuff and the long shape made them better for piercing. I spend some time upgrading some arrows and the spear with my new teeth along with the saw tooth sword and after words fish a few hours.
Then finally my prey arrived. Spotting its large dorsal fin gliding through the waters surface a distance away, I leaped into action. Grabbing the spear I tied the back of it's shaft to the rafts pyramid scaffolding with my extra strong silk threads. Moments later the giant shark glided closer ramming into the raft. A moment before it struck I leaped into the water.
Landing in the water right beside the giant white shark I thrust my spear into its side and pulled my dagger out. The backwards angled teeth in my spear acted like hooks securing it in place. I used the spear as a brace pulling my self closer enough to stab the shark in the eye.
Thrashing about fiercely the Shark pulled away from my raft as I repeatedly stabbed him over and over until my stone dagger broke. With half my dagger gone I dropped the handle and pulled out my sawtooth sword. Pushing through the water resistance I landed blow after blow on the sharks side slicing and rending its flesh and drawing wispy spurts of blood.
I attacked again and again as the shark thrashed around swimming around violently as I ripped and tore it's body apart over and over. But no matter how much it tried the threads attaching the spear to the raft kept the shark from going too far and the serrated teeth in the spear kept in firmly secured in the sharks body. Despite my arms getting weaker I kept at it hacking and slashing.
Eventually whole chunks of the beasts flesh fell off and attracted smaller predators. I was worried another great white shark would come around attracted by the blood. I could only hope they don't live that close to one another like other sharks.
As both predator and prey struggled all strength was about to leave my arms when I felt the shark slow down. It eventually stopped as I started getting cramps in my arms. We both drifted down so far we reached the end of the threads pulling the raft downwards slightly. As we reached the end of the silk attached to the spear the sharks body rotated the shark onto its side. A moment later as the full weight of the shark pulled on the spear the already stressed teeth that had hooked into its flesh finally gave and broke freeing the shark.
Fragments of my teeth came out the sharks wound along with the spear tip letting the shark drift down. The backwards hooked teeth along the spears sides were gone but the tip was still intact. In a swift motion I plucked the spear up cut its silk line with the saw sword and turned to the shark. In a burst of adrenaline the shark had regained its vigor and swam off a distance only to come back at me head on. I figured it knew it was going to be easy prey for the other predators at this point so it may as well kill me too. I had other plans.
Calmly I wrapped some sticky silk behind the blade tip and stood my ground. With its wide jaws open the shark charged me head on. I was prepared for any tricks and I was right to be cautious. Just before it reached me the shark swerved to the side and turned on me again trying to flank me. In a swift counter I leaned backwards as the beasts jaws clamped down on my torso. I gasped in pain releasing air bubbles as I felt my ribs break and many razor sharp teeth piercing into my side. But I was in the position I wanted.
I didn't have much time to act so I immediately pulled my spear up plunging into into the sharks last eye blinding it. Blood poured from the wound as the shark bit down harder. I felt like I was going to be crushed as my vision started blurring. Gritting my teeth I continued my attacks. Pulling the spear out I started plunging it into the sharks hide over and over along with arrows from the quiver on my back. The giant shark blindly swam around munching on me as I stabbed it. Soon however the giant sharks energy left it just as swiftly as it's own blood.
"About time the poison kicked in." I gasped feeling the sharks bit loosen.
The venom I had coated all my weapons in had finally started working and all life seemed to finally drain away from the beasts eyes. It had taken time to work because of the sear size of the shark and the water diluting it. I had intended to hull the body to shore with the raft but in hind sight that was probably a pip dream. If I had a mechanical winch or something it may have worked but not in this situation. Cursing I retrieve my arrows and spear before gutting the shark and began gorging on its body right there. Just minutes later smaller scavengers and predators arrived swimming around the body and taking small nibbles off it. Not that I mind but I need to eat enough to gain whatever abilities this shark has.
My gills help remove the water from my mouth as I take big bites. I bite, chew, bite, chomp and chew and swallow over and over until my stomach feels like bursting. And then I feel the information enter me as my body begins changing.
[Serrated Teeth Lesser replaced by Serrated Teeth Mid]
[Strong Teeth Lesser-gained]
[Adrenaline Surge Mid-gained]
Breathing a sigh of relief I return to the raft on the surface. Laying on my back I breath deeply resting from the ordeal.
"Damn. My redundant organs and regeneration really saved me."
Feeling my chest I confirm my ribs and redundant clusters of organs have healed. Eating that sharks flesh really helped to. After resting I returned to shore and for the first time took stock of my abilities. I had improved my Serrated teeth ability and gained Adrenaline Surge Mid from the giant shark. So better versions of my abilities are out there and I can still keep evolving. Plus I gained the strong teeth ability. Hopefully my teeth will become stronger and harder to break.
-Three days later-
After days of exploring the sea around my beach using the raft I gained Greater swim ability from eating those giant mantas and Hard shell from a large sea born version of those big beach crabs that lived deeper in the sea. But I still couldn't generate them easily because of a lack of a rapid growth ability. My Teeth regrowth and regeneration abilities are something along those lines but aren't really the same. I suppose I should explore that mountain now. Time to take out that Giant Osprey.
Trekking back to the other side of the island I once again stand below the giant Ospreys nest. Looking up at the mountain with my new gear newly reworked and improved I take my first step. Tropical birds calls echo in the distance as I sweat from the noon day sun beating down on me. The canopy becoming more spread out the farther up the mountain I go so it doesn't protect me from the scorching sun as well and there's lots of big rocks scattered about the mountain taking up space.
"Damn. How much father up do I have to go?"
Taking a breather at the base of a tree I relax and let the cool wind blow over me. That's one saving grace of being at a high altitude I guess. The wind constantly blows. Now with my second wind I resume my journey. I spent hours slowly searching the mountains peak finding no other nests other then the one over looking the cliffs. Having satisfied my cautious worries that there weren't anymore of the Giant Osprey's around I finally make my way over to it. Quietly I creeped upon the nest, weapons ready. I made sure to put a extra helping of poison on them and since were not in the water the poison should work even better then on the shark.
Closer and closer I creeped, finally catching sight with the nest. Inside were two big eggs each nearly as big as me with no sign of the mother. Or father? I really hope I haven't been miss observing them. One of those giant birds would be enough trouble for me to deal with let alone two. Hiding in a nearby brush I lay low and wait. After what seemed like a hour the mommy Osprey returned sitting down on the eggs. I just observe with no intention to attack for now.
-One day later-
A whole day had passed and I'm still here. After observing the mommy bird I rethink my strategy. The damn birds always on alert and rarely lets its guard down. It just wont sleep for any lengthy amount of time though it does take multiple quick naps during the day. When it does sleep for longer periods at night it's eyes don't even close and really freaks me out as it just stares un blinkingly. I could try using my bow and arrows but unless I have absolute certainty of a kill shot I can't risk it. Having decided to abandon the bird hunt for now I move on to the spider in the cave.
"What the heck does that thing eat anyway? It's so big."
Wanting to answer that question I return to the giant cave chamber underground. Bringing along two spears this time I climb through the cave returning to the chamber where had I first encountered it. Looking around the chamber I meet silence. Keeping my head on a swivel I look in every direction making sure as not to miss it.
"Looks all clear? I don't hear anything moving."
Having confirmed the absence of the giant spider I move deeper in crawling up to the ceiling in and moving between the stalactites. Once I arrive at the middle of the ceiling I begin creating a C shaped pocket connected to the ceiling by a series of short thick silk threads. Returning to the surface I begin collecting rocks of sufficient size across the island and wrap them in sacks of my silk webbing, placing them at the cave entrance.
I keep this up night and day until I have a large pile of these rock filled shacks, and then begin moving them into the cave one by one, placing them into the C shaped pocket at the middle of the ceiling. One by one I weave them together into a single large silk and rock boulder held up by the silk pocket, now sagging from the weight. I then weave a really thick braided thread and attach one end to one side of the boulder and the other to the ceiling close to the wall. I then selectively cut a few of the threads holding the silk pocket up just enough to weaken its supports but not bring it crashing down.
"Well that's one well built trap. I only got one shot though."
Making final adjustments and calculating its projected point of impact I make a few markers to designate the impact point zone. Since my poison will probably not work on the spider and I don't have any really good weapons I'm forced to use tactics like this. Then again using something big and heavy to squish a bug is a time honored tradition isn't it.
I wait and wait. Hours and hours pass and finally the giant spider returned from where ever it was, crawling up from the lower half of the giant chamber. I think there's a cave network running through the mountain but without taking out that giant spider I can't search it safely. As the shadowed form of the spider creeps up the wall I remain completely still at the target point of the boulder. I wonder how that spider can see me. Maybe some kind of thermal or smell related sense, but for whatever reason it makes a bee line straight for me creepily remaining silent as a ghost despite its bulky size unlike last time. I ready my weapons as it approaches drawing my bow and poison arrows.
The huge thing creeps closer ever so slowly making not but a whisper. Despite the size difference I know I can win so long as that thing doesn't pull a OP ability out of it's hat. Taking aim I loose a arrow striking one of its many eyes. A wailing shriek echoes through the chamber as the the spider brushes its thick legs over its head trying to remove the arrow.
Notching another arrow I fire striking another of the over sized targets that is it's its eyes. Then another and another piercing two more eyes with careful aim. My night vision and echo location senses greatly helping out. But when the targets are that big and close it's hard to miss.
I loose the bow string again sending the fifth arrow flying straight for the spiders eyes. But its deflected by one of the spiders front arms as it finally defends from my ranged attacks. With two legs up guarding it's head the giant spider resumes its charge at me. I fire two more arrows as the spider gets right up on me. It's massive tank sized body barreling down on me. I jump out of the way as one of the giant hairy leg crash's down smashing the stone wall where I stood a moment ago. Stone fragments crumble and fall down to the bottom of the chamber making faint splashing noises while others echo off hard stone floor.
"See yah looser!"
Jumping off the wall I swing away using the thread tied around my waist. The same thread also pulls at a complicated interconnected system of silk threads and my own razor sharp teeth cutting through the few threads at the front of the C shaped pocket suspending the boulder and triggering the trap. As I swing through the air the threads holding the boulder up are cut in quick succession to the point of collapse from the weight they held.
Like pulling out the threads holding a pocket together the webbing holding he boulder suspended fails. I turn back to watch as the boulder swung downwards crushing two of the spiders legs with a loud smack against the wall. The spider shrieked in pain as its two crushed legs hung limply and uselessly.
"Damn missed! Oh well I can still make this work."
Climbing to the ceiling I swing from a pre-placed silk thread to the wall right above the spider. With a hop I land on its back. The giant spider instantly goes berserk thrashing about before charging along the wall. Holding on to the hairs on its body I slowly climb the beast to its head. Pulling out my saw-tooth blade I start swinging cutting out three more of its eyes. In panic or pain the spider spins around plants a thread on the wall and leaps repelling down to the bottom of the cave. I leap off landing on the wall just a few dozen meters above it. Shrieking in anger now the spider turns around to face me opening its fanged maw eager to sat its hunger for revenge and my flesh.
Acting without thought I leap away as a stream of acid spews out of the spiders mouth. The bubbling boiling liquid melting the stone easily like ice in a hot water bath.
"Yeesh! Good thing I'm expecting weird attacks like that."
My feet and arms move as fast as they can propelling me up the walls as I retreat. The spider quickly giving chase. Clamoring back onto the wall the creature opens it's maw spewing more acid. I leap away as streams of acid hit where I was mere seconds before. The rock steams and melts as I land hard on the stone floor ducking into a roll but still feeling the impact.
"Definitely don't want to get hit by that!"
The giant spider turned around leaping at me. Bending my legs I pull my second short spear out. The monster spider crashes to the ground bringing up one of its legs to smash me. I dodge roll under the creature as its leg crashes down on the floor. My spear draws blood piercing a weak point between the joints slashing at the delicate flesh between its exoskeleton's segments. Pulling the blade out I roll away circling around the creature. It limps around but still charges at me. The bottom of the chamber is surprisingly flat like stone construction allowing me to run circles around the giant spider while drawing my bow. For a brief moment I wonder if the thing is a artificial structure before dodging another stream of acid.
Rolling away I turn to face the spider head on drawing my bow and loosing the arrow. It fly's straight at the spiders few remaining eyes but misses as the spider blocks with its legs again.
"Learning then are you."
Shrieking with malicious intent the spider charges at me. I run away putting my bow and arrows away. Reaching the wall I climb up it as fast as I can swiftly making my way up to the hanging boulder. The enraged spider follows charging up the wall after me getting closer thanks to its longer stride. It starts closing on me as I increase my speed as much as I can without making a mistake. The thumping legs as thick as a tree pulling the giant horror closer send vibrations through the wall.
The threat of death and the exertion from the fight triggers my Adrenaline Surge boosting my speed and strength. In a burst of speed I pull away from the giant spider, my limbs pushing me further with greater speed then before and my exhaustion fading temporarily. With time to spare I reach the boulder a step ahead and pull my sawtooth knife out. I turn to the braided thread glancing down for a moment making sure every things lined up properly before I swing my blade with all my strength.
With the sharpness if my sawtooth dagger and my boosted strength the braided thread holding the boulder snaps in three strokes of my blade the sharp teeth ripping into the braided threads with each swing. For a moment everything freezes as the boulder hits the spider. But gravity and mass wont be denied and the brief moment of the spiders struggling against the boulder and gravity ends with the rock and gravity winning. The boulder and the spider fall and few scant seconds later I hear a loud crash and crunch from below. Looking down I see the spider crushed under the boulder. I watch for a few moments as the spiders legs twitch a bit.
"Damn that was close."
Descending I hop off the wall next to the spiders crushed corpse. It seems dead but I put a few arrows into it's remaining eyes just for good measure. Making sure its dead I start cutting into the boulders webbing slowly removing each of the smaller silk bags of rocks from off Spider. After removing all of the rocks from off the spider I start munching on it's soft inner flesh. The boulder having completely caved in its central torso where all the legs extend from along with its head.
"Ah! That's nasty."
Gritting and bearing the spiders rancid taste I continue munching down on its flesh cringing the whole time and wondering why I even do this.
[Poison lesser replaced by Poison mid]
[Silk Generation lesser replaced with Strong Silk generation-mid]
[Acid Spit-lesser-gained]
[Fungal Parasite Resistance-mid gained]
After my body adapts the new abilities I spit a bit of acid watching as it sizzles on the floor.
"Sweet. Now I can spit acid. The stronger silk and poison helps too. What's this fungal Parasite resistance? Eh bonus I guess."
Taking a moment to rest I observe the chambers bottom more closely. It's definitely artificial and was definitely carved into the mountain by someone. But the cave that leads here doesn't seem artificial at all. Maybe this chamber was created as a extension of the above cave and this spider came here from somewhere else. Also what the hell did this thing eat? The bats wouldn't provide enough nutrients. Walking around I find a part of the chambers wall covered in a large patch of red mold and fungus growing along the wall. I gag and move on finding a part of the floor leading to a stair case that connects to a flooded tunnel.
"I wonder if this leads back to the ocean?"
Taking note to explore that later I resume exploring the cave and find a large stone doorway along the wall. It looks to have a lock of some kind recessed into the floor in front of it. I spend a hour checking around the door before giving up and returning to the moon pool. Diving in I swim through the flooded tunnel eventually finding a moonpool along the side of the ceiling. Surfacing cautiously I arrive in another cave with some bioluminescent moss along the ceiling. Cautiously I climb out of the water and look about. The cave seems natural but the clear as day pile of human bodies along the back walls puts my guard up.
"The hell?" I say with more curiosity then fear.
Pulling my spear out I poke at one of the bodies. It doesn't move. With my guard still up I role it over coming face to face with a blood colored mold covering the corpse. The same mold/ Fungus from the spiders cave seemingly devoured their flesh and left nothing but bones and dried flesh.
"Well that's unfortunate."
Getting a headache I recognize the clothes appear to be from the 1800s era from earth. Although there are a few differences like the mid-evil style weapons a few of them are holding. While the others have more pirate style weapons like a cutlass and a Flintlock pistol.
I spend a few minutes thinking over what this means for the world I'm on before shrugging and moving on. Having a thought I experiment drawing my sawtooth dagger and slitting my wrist. I let my blood spill onto the mold. Near instantly the mold absorbed my blood and grew explosively completely covering the body.
"Jackpot! This must be the thing that spider ate. Well if that thing can eat it then so can I. That must be from it's parasite resistance ability. These guys must have been infected and the fungus ate them from the inside out." Shiver goes down my spine. "Not a pleasant way to go."
Headache.
"Ow! Reminds me of The last of us. At least they didn't turn into zombies."
Testing my resilience to the fungus I pick a tiny bit of it off the main mass and eat it.
"Mm. Not that bad really. A little spongy and dull in terms of taste. Kind of like popcorn. Cook it up and add some butter it would make a decent meal."
I wait in the cave for a hour examining the peoples remains and gear. Most of their stuff is rusted and ruined by the damp environment except for a silver colored short sword and long sword. It seems they were a pair and on another body I find a bow. The arrows shafts are rotten but the metal tips are fine like the swords. I wonder if the metal is special or something since its in good condition compared to everything else. Whatever I got some actually good gear now.
Happy at my hull and at the fact I can eat the fungus without dying I eat more of it completely stripping all the bodies.
[Rapid Growth Lesser-gained]
"Finally. Now I can start developing more abilities."
Diving back into the water I make my way out the flooded cave tunnel eventually arriving at a beach I had never been to before. I look around 360 degrees to get my bearings finding a 1800's style galleon shipwrecked along the beach.
"Ok that's new. Wonder if that's where the bodies from the cave came from?"
I swim to the beach examining the wreck. From a closer examination the ship looks to have been here a while. Walking around it I spot a large hole in its side and walk in. Inside I find the interior partly flooded with sand covering a lot of damaged box's and barrels. I rummage through the ships cargo hold finding lots of spoiled food and wine along with rusty tools and of course a few corpses of the crew.
"Strange? There aren't enough bodies to account for the crew of a ship this big?"
Wondering where the rest of the crew went or died at, I come to a few conclusions. They must have not died and been rescued on the island or at sea. Or died at sea and the ship drifted here. Examining the bodies I discover various cut marks on the bones indicating they were attacked and killed so pirates? Betrayal?
After giving the bodies a proper burial on the beach I give them a moment of respectful silence. Not knowing who they were or why they died I can't really judge them.
"Well that's enough of that. Time to see if there's anything in the captains cabin."
Climbing up to the ships upper deck I enter the captains quarters. With a loud smash I kick in the half rotted door and enter. The slightly tilted ship makes the perspective awkward but thanks to my spider climbing ability I manage. The place looks trashed and just as bad as the rest of the ship. But considering the condition of the hold and the fact the captains cabin door was locked no one had looted the place since it wrecked. At least except for the weather and crabs.
The room had several interesting things. Book shelves. A busted globe of the world so I would say the state of the worlds level of advancement is around the 1800s level also accounting for the ship and the weapons on the bodies in the cave. The beautiful windows in back of the room were smashed along with a skeleton of a large fish that must have hung from the ceiling given the ropes. The rooms a wreck like the rest of the ship.
"Geeze anything of value here. I got better stuff from the bodies in the cave. Speaking of which I need to bury them too, but later."
As I look around a little more thoroughly I notice the captains desk smashed against the wall. Giving it a look I pull it back onto its feet and opened the drawers finding junk in most except the one that was locked. My interest peeked I produce a little drop of acid dripping it onto the lock. With a satisfying steaming sizzling noise the lock broke. Opening the drawer I find several things of note. Two books and a gold and silver medallion with a large inlayed crystal made of a seemingly valuable gem. Both books are written in a language I can't read but looks similar to German. At least I think so from the examples I remember from TV.
Headache!
"Yep kind of looks like German. Still can't read it."
But it could be extremely valuable for all I know.
Weaving a larger silk bag I place the three items in for safe keeping. I can't go back through the caves the water would destroy the books so I trek through the forest. As I make my way back home I encounter several species of birds in the trees and even cross paths with a large boar. It runs off. Not feeling really hungry at the moment I just continue on my way home.
Later...
Hanging in a newly woven hammock swaying in the breeze between two trees next to my hut in the trees I flip through the books. Their in surprisingly good condition for being in that ship for who knows how long.
One must be a log book written by the captain of that ship given its style and the other book has all kinds of pictures of oddly shaped diagrams, crystals, various types of plants and animals. Some look like fantasy creatures including Goblins, Unicorns Beast-kin-people, Wyverns. And there's even a Alraune depicted. In the back of the book I find what looks like rituals and even a bunch of magic circles with complex formulas?
"Is this a magic book? Am I in a fantasy world? That would be interesting and all but It's trope that's a bit over played. But hey it's not like I could change it even if I wanted to."
Looking back to the magic book I look through it more extensively front to back finding a red fungus that looks like the same kind I had found in the spiders cave and on those corpses. There's a picture of it growing over a corpse and another showing the fungus being given blood and growing in three sizes. The last image showed it as big as a house with a persons image beside it for scale.
"I'm guessing this fungus feeds on blood and flesh then? Blood fungus? Flesh mold? It sure does grow fast. Well that helps me in my plans. Now I can move onto the next stage of my plans. (Yawn) But for now bed."
-Next day-
I return to the caves and bring the bodies that I found in there to the surface and give them a proper burial with the others. Returning to the beach I woke up on I catch a few dozen fish including one or two of the large mantas bringing them to the spiders cave. It takes half the day before the sun starts going down but I finish gathering the ingredients. In the cave I gather the fish and crabs around the rotting but mostly intact corpse of the giant spider.
"Ok this should be enough. Time to use the Essence Weaving skill. I know exactly what I'm going to create with the blood fungus."
I sit down legs crossed and start to focus. Moments later a inner world projects into my mental land scape like a simulation. I then focus on the Fungus essence and my own summoning images of our spiral DNA structures side by side. I focus on mine first and surprisingly I instinctively understand its structure and function of mostly all the genes and their alignments patterns and functions, dominant and recessive. All information regarding my own genetic structure I understand and know.
"I wonder if this is a part of the Essence weaving ability?"
Considering I pretty much learn how to use my abilities as soon as I get them the answer could be a yes. Is it because of the animals memories? Do I absorb them too? Still I need to experiment to learn how to control this ability considering I only just now started using it.
-One Week later-
"Eureka!"
Grinning ear to ear I watch as the fungus now a gray purple carpet of writhing living flesh grows over the pile of corpses breaking them down and building their organic minerals into a nutrient protein structure much more energy dense then before. I still got a lot of kinks to work out but I've finally created a basis for my army. My swarm. A army marches on it's stomach and without Creep to feed it there is no Zerg swarm.
Why Zerg. My primary abilities. Rapid Evolution, Essence Absorption and Essence Weaving. All three are abilities that Zerg have. I don't know how I got these abilities just like I don't know why I have a mind full of memories about another world called Earth. Or why I always get splitting headaches when I remember stuff. But the shoe fits so I'm putting it on.
"Now I can create creep the food source of the swarm."
I don't really know why I fixated on the Zerg over all the other monsters I remember. The Tyranids from Warhammer 40k come close but the Zerg are just more... compelling. Maybe because I don't feel like massacring whole planets which is why I like them more. The Tyranids are powerful and all, more so then the Zerg by just scale. But they also seem more like a instinctive reactive mob more then a sentient race like the Zerg. Maybe that's why.
Gleefully I watch the creep absorb the flesh and bone of the bodies and then stop growing as soon as it reached my feet. Control is useful and makes the Creep a tool as opposed to a world ending weapon like a grey-goo. Limiting the creeps growth and behavior through control methods makes it all the more useful. I spend the day controlling the creeps growth along the chamber. It quickly replaces all the spider webs and covers the whole cave. But seeing that as a waste I cut it off from the walls and concentrate it all on the bottom of the chamber conserving energy and materials by having it grow into large towers covered in bulbus sacs filled in nutrients. Essence from plants allowed me to harden its cellular structure into a type of creep-tree that's perfect for storing organic materials efficiently in a vertical structure.
Looking pleased at my creations I smile.
"This is just the beginning. Still I need to start creating some spawning structures. Insect essence should suffice."
A week passes by while I hunt around the island for bugs of all kinds gathering their essence. Ants and more specifically ant queens provided me with the essence I needed to create a hatchery. It took yet another week of experimentation to create the desired result and spawn Larvae. And longer to create a form for the Larvae to morph into which was also based on ants.
Standing in front of the small car sized prototype hatchery I watch the cocoon of the first Larvae. After several hours the cocoon finally hatched revealing the dog sized centipede. Unfortunately it died after just a few hours. I pulled its body back to the creep to be recycled.
"Well it's a start. I need more time with experimentation to perfect them."
-Another week Passed-
The latest experiment hatched from its cocoon of hardened creep. The roughly dog shaped giant ant stood up on its six thick legs looking around in a daze, twitching its antenna and flexing its mandibles.
"Not bad. Were getting closer to a proper Zergling. But there's still a lot of work to do."
It's at that moment I realize I have a major problem as the ant bits my wrist nearly severing my hand. Cursing in pain I rapidly grow Creep over my free hand and harden it into a armored shell of chitin and in a single blow smash in the ants head.
"Ow son of a bitch! Why did? Oh right the hive mind. Damn I don't have any psionics and I'm pretty sure no one else on this world does either."
Feeling stupid I think while holding my wrist together letting it regenerate. Still hurts like a bitch though. Remembering the magic book I wonder if its real or just some occult trash. But then again if magic does exist on this world perhaps a version of it could be used for my purposes.
"Maybe? I need to get off this island and find civilization though?"
My thoughts instantly focused on that giant Osprey on the mountain.
"Guess it's time to kill it. I need the ability to fly if I'm to find the mainland in a timely manor. I can swim but I won't be able to see vary far and could miss a coastal town or city or even a ship on the ocean."
-Chapter End-