Von creeps closer to the trapped mantis to gauge the situation. The mantis is approximately twice the size of Von when down on all six of its legs, it stares back and Von and clicks it’s mandibles, daring him to come closer. The web is wrapped around the front left of the mantis, constricting the front two left legs and the left scythe. As Von circles around the mantis, it struggles to turn and keep watching him. Sensing an opening Von jumps forward with his fangs extended, aiming for the exposed left side. The mantis whips around, trying to skewer Von in the air but the web heavily restricts its movements. Despite being constrained the mantis still grazes Von, severing the lower section of one of his legs, ignoring the burst of pain Von sinks his fangs deep into the soft sides of the larger insect causing it to shriek and flail around, sending Von tumbling away. Waiting for his extra biomass to replace the missing segment of his leg Von watches the mantis, waiting to see its reaction to his venom. The dark grey insect seems to weaken but not significantly so. Von realizes that straight up combat is not the way to go, he’s going to be constantly fighting creatures larger and stronger than him and if he can’t beat them in a contest of strength he has to be able to outsmart them. Von comes up with a plan and gets to work.

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Carrying the newly created weaving of spider silk Von once again draws near to the trapped mantis. Dragging the thick strand of silk higher up the wall Von climbs upside down onto the ceiling and hangs above the hissing predator. Gripping the heavy cord of silk Von cuts the line holding him to the ceiling and plummets towards the waiting mantis. With a hiss it stretches up on its entangles hind legs and prepares its unimpeded scythe to slash through the falling spider. At the last possible second, Von detached himself from the falling web and shifts into a fly, interrupting his free fall towards the oncoming scythe. The heavy cord of webbing however, continues its downward descent towards the waiting insect and catches it around the throat before carrying onwards towards the ground. For a moment it looks as if nothing was going to happen but that quickly fades as the entangled front legs snap and the large insect tumbles backward towards the net beneath it. The thick cord of silk also gets tangled in the web thoroughly trapping the struggling mantis. Von drops back down to the ground and changes back into his spider form before inspecting his handiwork. The struggling insect now lays on its back with its legs in the air, it’s neck is firmly pinned to the webbing beneath it and it’s left scythe is still wrapped firmly in the sticky silk. Judging the battle decisively won Von approaches his prey. It’s remaining scythe swings weakly towards him but with its current position, it poses no threat to him. Spinning more threads of silk Von firmly wraps the remaining legs and scythe before climbing onto the insects belly. Sinking his fangs deep into its underside Von injects his venom and watches as the fight slowly leaves the mantis.

You have killed a level 9 Tiny Rock Mantis! +38 EXP

100% Biomass gained for killing a critter class creature!

50% skill levels gained for killing a critter class creature!

Camouflage skill leveled up from level 0 to level 5!

Congratulations! You have gained the Tiny Rock Mantis mutation!

Chittering happily to himself Von crawls off the dissipating corpse and onto the rocky outcropping. Mentally focusing on the new statue he shifts into a dark grey mantis identical to the one he had just killed. Von gives his new scythes a few test swings and is surprised by just how fast and strong they seem to be for their size. After testing his new form for a while Von realizes there’s still some small forms tangled in his web, mostly concentrated around his bloody mishap earlier. Changing back to a spider to navigates his web and easily kills the small insects. Most are just more flys but he does gain a new form in the shape of a common firefly. Von finishes up, satisfied with the couple extra levels in aerial maneuvering and bonus EXP. Von focuses on his EXP, trying to find meaning in the so far useless numbers. Thoughts not his own once again invade his head as he looks at meaningless symbols.

Level 1 EXP 82/100

While trying to puzzle through the meaning of those shapes they suddenly disappear and are replaced with a mostly filled box. Though Von doesn’t know what happens if the box is filled he intends to find out.

Slipping into his mantis form he crawls onto the wall and watches as his body seamlessly shifts to blend in with the dark rocky colors of the stone under him. Smiling with savage glee Von starts down the wall. It’s time to hunt.