The King of Worms (Ch. 3)

CHAPTER THREE

Ekkel is slithering through the forest at his highest speed possible.

Ekkel = Where did Emily go? The best I can do is try to retrace my steps to that tree and go in the general direction of that noise I heard earlier today. (Ekkel hears something running behind him) That might be someone from that village, if I hide for a bit and follow behind them, they should lead me to that Hupnik Bear and Emily. (Ekkel quickly slithers begins a tree and peaks his head out) Ah, there they are. (Two male humans fully clothed are running past Ekkel, they are both holding a torch) What is with the torch? It is completely bright- ah ... that’s right, my [Awareness of Area] also gives me the ability to see at night as if it was the day. Well, time to follow those guys.

Ekkel slithers away from the tree, and follows after the two humans. Ekkel tried to [Consume] what he can on the way, but noticed that he is not fast enough to [Consume] and follow, so he soon stops. After 32 minutes of following the two humans, they stop. So does Ekkel, as he starts to [Consume] into a hole in the ground.

Human 1 : This is the spot where the Hupnik Bear attacked the guards, right?

Human 2 : It should be, look, there are big cracks in the ground, this has to be where it happened.

Human 1 : Yeah, but if this is it, then where is everyone? Shouldn’t Emily even be here right now?

Ekkel = Hm, they are right, I can see the signs of battle from a Hupnik Bear right there, and yet I see no one around at all, not even Emily or these guards. I wonder where- (Ekkel notices something in the tree shake, looking up he sees Emily)

Emily : Hey! Get away now, the Hupnik Bear is still around!

Human 1 : What?! Emily, that Bear is still around? I don’t see it, and where is everyone else?!

Emily : I don’t know, everyone was gone when I got here, and then that Bear showed up again, I quickly got up this tree- (A roar can be heard very close)

The two humans, Emily, and Ekkel turn towards the roar, to see the Hupnik Bear. Slowly crawling over to the two humans. The two humans quickly turn around and start running back the way they came. The Bear then changes his direction to the tree that Emily was in.

Ekkel = Ah, dang it! This might get a bit tough right now. [Inspect]! (A menu pops up in front of Ekkel, giving him the information of the Hupnik Bear) Ok, lets see- wait ... this makes no sense, the Bear is only level 2? But ... it clearly has 7 flowers attached to its back!

Ekkel * A quick recap, the Hupnik Bears are Hunter monsters that usually reside in flower fields of some kind. These Bears grow flowers on their back and they use those flowers for their strength. Every three of five levels a Hupnik Bear gains, earns that Bear another flower. This means that the Hupnik Bear in front of me should be around level 22 to 36. Yet when I see his information, it says-

Ekkel = His level is 2?! This Bear is just a baby! Why is it so- (Emily jumps off of the tree as the Hupnik Bear attacks the tree, completely demolishing it) Ah, I should worry about that another time. For now I have to just get rid of it! But ... eating it would greatly help me!

Ekkel * Each flower a Hupnik Bear possesses, is of great medicinal purposes. A Hupnik Flower, as they are called, contains healing properties if it is Green. Sleeping properties if it is Yellow, harming properties is red or purple. And enhances taste if it is blue, but most importantly for me, each flower holds around 200 Mana!

Ekkel = This is a jackpot in disguise! (Ekkel slithers our of his hole, and after the Hupnik Bear who happens to have his back turned to Ekkel, due to it attempting to chase after Emily. When Ekkel got close enough, he jumped at the Bears back and-) [Consume]! (Ekkel used [Consume] on one Yellow Hupnik Flower) [Consume][Consume] [Consume]! (Ekkel just ate two Red Hupnik Flowers, and one Blue Hupnik Flower) [Cons- (The Hupnik Bear grabbed onto Ekkel’s mid section, and threw Ekkel right at Emily.)

Emily : Ah! (Ekkel hits Emily and they both fall down) Ugh! (Disoriented, Emily slowly looks on top of her to see Ekkel) wait ... are you ... you are that serpent from earlier! (Emily quickly lifts her upper body up from the ground, and pushes Ekkel off of her)

Ekkel = Oof! (Ekkel hits the ground) Yeah yeah, I am from earl- oh wait, she can’t hear me. Darn, got to finish this a bit quicker. (Ekkel turns around to look at the Bear) Ok, so ... two Green flowers left, and another Yellow flower, I will leave that for Emily and her village, they will be needing those for the injured. Besides, I got enough Mana necessary to finally kill this Bear. (Ekkel quickly slithers up to the Bear, and the Bear gets ready to attack, but before he could, Ekkel uses-) [Wind Slash]! (Ekkel quickly brings his lower body over in front of him, and flicks his tail end horizontally aiming at the Bear’s head, while flicking the tail, a small torrent of wind follows through the strike and slashed through the Bear’s Head, decapitating the Bear from its Head.)

Ekkel * There are multiple varieties of the magic skill [Slash]. Each variety is usually related to an element, and the severity of that element. [Wind Slash] is just a simple magic skill that uses the Air element. When using the [Slash] you need to move a part of you that is connected somehow, and a blast from that [Slash] will follow through it. This magic skill costs around 100 Mana.

Ekkel = (sigh) That took a bit of my Mana, well at least it is-

Emily : Did you just use a Wind Element?!

Ekkel = Oh my god, she is going to annoy me with her being constantly surprised. I hope she isn’t expecting me to say something right now? I don’t have my vocal co- oh! I think I have enough to add those actually. [Alter Body]. (Ekkel focusing the world out of his conscience and pays his attention to only his body, and begins to describe what he wishes to Alter in his body.)

Ekkel * [Alter Body] is a leaf from the Alteration skills. As it says, it can allow one person to Alter their own body. I have used this skill to get around places not as a monster, but as a possible species. And it really makes things easier. It took me a very long time to get this skill, and it has a very hefty cost of Mana, 1500 for simple Alterations, and the cost goes up the more complicated or vast the alteration becomes.

Ekkel = Wait a minute! How was I able to use this skill? I shouldn’t have had enough Mana right now?! [Self-Inspect]! (Nothing happens.) ... don’t tell me I ran out of Mana right now?

Emily : Oh, that’s right, you don’t have the Pimer Ball right now-

Ekkel : Ah, it’s ok. I have vocal cords now.

Emily : (shocked, looks at Ekkel for a few seconds) Did you just talk?

Ekkel : (sigh) Don’t be surprised, but I used an Alteration skill to give me vocal cords.

Emily : (even more shocked) You uses an Alteration skill?! What kind of serpentine monster are you?!

Ekkel : Ok listen, I will answer your questions, or some of them anyways. When we get back to your house, I am not so keen on talking in a forest. Besides, that isn’t the only Hupnik Bear here.

Ekkel = That is a lie, I just want to get out of this forest fast, I am out of Mana so if anything attacks, I am not able to defend myself and Emily at the same time.

Emily : Oh! Um, ok! Let’s get out of here. (Emily stands up, and turns around, Ekkel wraps his tail around Emily’s hand, pulling her back a bit.)

Ekkel : Do you mind helping me drag this Bear back to your village? It would be a complete waste to leave him and his flowers here.

Emily : Oh ... uh ... sorry, I am not that strong to actually drag that Bear anywhere.

Ekkel : Its ok, I will drag, you just tell me if there is a tree in my way, and tell me what direction I go to avoid it.

Emily : (Confused) What do you mean?

Ekkel quickly slither to the Bear, and slithers underneath it. The Bear is slightly lifted up, and is soon beginning to move.

Emily : (Confused) ... How are you doing that?

Ekkel : With a lot of practice, now let’s get going please.

Ekkel then begins his small journey back to Emily’s Village. Along the way, Emily is telling Ekkel to turn left or right to avoid trees and other obstacles. Ekkel bumps into some due to Emily not being precise enough. After an hour and 7 minutes, they finally get to the village.

Ekkel : Finally! (Ekkel lets the Bear down, and slithers out from under it.) So, now it is ti-

Woman : EMILY! There you are! I was so worried bout you!

A woman has appeared out of nowhere and is running to Ekkel and Emily.

Emily : Oh no, hey serpent? Just get into my house right now, I will take care of her and the Bear. I will be there in a second, go now before she actually sees you.

Ekkel : Ok, I will be going, see you soon. (Ekkel slithers away from Emily, towards her house.)

Ekkel opens the door once again, and starts to slither into the kitchen area as he did earlier today. As he was just about to pass the table, he suddenly hears.

Man : What the?

Ekkel quickly turns his head to see a Male Human, in the kitchen, with his arm in bandages, along with his head. And he was looking right at Ekkel

Ekkel = Ah dang it!

End of Chapter Three

Ekkel’s Profile
Height: Depends on how he moves
Width: 3 feet
Length: 20 feet
Eating Power: 64
Eating Resistance: Currently Unknown
Mana: 12
Appearance: Very long, Black,
Serpent-like
Mood: Slightly worried

Emily’s Profile
Height: 5 feet 2 inches
Width: 2 feet
Length: 10 inches
Eating Power: 42
Eating Resistance: 32 +9
Mana: 5600/5600 (2000 mpm*)
Appearance: Female, Long brown hair
Green robe, staff
Mood: Surprised, Shocked,
slightly worried