The Last Primal
Chapter 4 - 4 - Bug Life (Part 1)

'Before I leave this cave and venture forward, I should check my status and see what I need to do to master my new Mushroom Bug form.' I thought.

'You know, I never imagined that I will be an insect in my next life. I wonder…. did I make some mistakes in my past life and now is this my repentance.' I lamented, half-jokingly. I know it's just a temporary stop in my journey, and I was looking forward to the future, but it was still frustrating that after arriving to this world, I'm forced to spend time as a small insect that's only goal in life is to chew on mushrooms far away from everything in the world.

[Don't look down on these little survivors too much Aiden. Mushroom Bugs are a very reclusive species, and while they are small, they are natural born survivors. While they can be considered very primitive, the survival instincts and skills they are born with is something that will be very helpful for you. Just look at your Evolution Status window and focus on your tasks and you will slowly learn everything you need to know.]

While I still had my concerns about this situation, I refocused and checked my new Evolution Status.

[Evolution Status

Current form: Mushroom Bug (Tier 1)

Mastery: 1%

Tasks:

Use your mandibles to crush various objects (0/5)

Climb 10 meters vertically, and jump down (0/10)

Consume mushroom (0%)

Spend at least 6 hours in your current form (0/6)

*LOCKED*]

Most of the tasks are pretty self explanatory, I have expected most of them. I also saw that I'm forced to spend time in the form itself as well. However the last task was hidden, and that confused me.

'Why can't I see the last task? How will I complete it, if I don't even know what I need to do?' I asked Enya, hoping to get some clarification.

[The last task is not available currently because your current understanding of the species is very limited. Once you get to know your traits and unique abilities more, it will unlock and you will be able to read it. I would suggest that instead of worrying, you should get to know your current form and get used to it.]

She was right. Instead of worrying about something I have no control over, I should just do what I can. Bring out the best of the situation. I closed my eyes, took a moment to clear my mind and started feeling around. First, I wanted to see the differences in my movement, now that I had legs, my means of travel should have increased considerably. I could move my 3 pair of legs separately from each other, and I could also synchronize their movements, greatly increasing my speed. I spent a while scurrying around the cave, enjoying this new yet familiar sensation.

After some rounds of going around randomly, I arrived next to a wall. I picked a section where there was a bit more vegetation around the ground as well, not to hurt myself too much.

'So from what I see, the small bristles on my legs should be able to give me enough grip to be able to cross almost any type of surface. I looked up checking out the rocky height that seemingly went all the way up to the 'heavens'. Well, at least from my miniature standpoint. I tried picking a section that had more ridges then normal, hoping that they would assist me more in the matter. I know it's an unfounded notion, but I just couldn't help it. The fact that the entire cave was very damp, bothered me a bit, but considering that these types of bugs lived in these types of environments, I hoped that my biology was prepared to handle this type of surface. The slightly slippery surface shouldn't be an issue.

'Here we go…' with these thoughts I put my frontal legs on the wall, pulling my body up, and using my middle pair of legs to grip another section of the wall as they came in close contact. It felt easier than I expected in my mind, it was a natural action. Before I realized it, I was already climbing, no, running up the wall without bothering about anything at all. I was playing close attention to my System's screen, checking when the prompt showed I climbed high enough.

In no time I reached my goal of 10 meters, so I took a quick stop. I checked my notification once again, just to be sure that I do need to take a leap of faith.

[- Climb 10 meters vertically, and jump down (10/10)]

The prompt showed I climbed high enough, but it was not completed, confirming that I was still missing one final task.

'I should be fine right? I'm an insect, falling from higher places, should be an everyday occurrence. If nothing else, my shell itself should protect me. Probably. I do not have any bones that could be crushed anyways. What am I even afraid of?' Hyping myself up, I took one last moment, then pushed my legs against the wall and leaped off.

I was prepared for the incoming pain and my loss of ability to move, or for something even worse happening, but other than feeling my shell bumping against the surface, there was literally no pain. For a second I even thought that I just imagined jumping off, and I was still on the wall, but the updated notification brought me back to reality.

[Climb 10 meters vertically, and jump down (10/10 - Completed)]

I also received a second set of notifications, which got me really excited. I wasn't prepared for it, so it took me by surprise.

[Hidden Requirement Completed!

Physical Resistance (level 1) gained!

Fall Resistance (level 1) gained!

Water Resistance (level 1) gained!]

[Aiden these are your species' natural abilities. Since you completed the prerequisites and reached a new milestone in mastering your new form, the system unlocked these abilities for you.] Enya proactively answered my incoming question.

'Huh, this is awesome! I checked my main status screen, to confirm the newly gained effects, and they were indeed there now:

[Effects:

Blessing of Ioris (-),

Physical Resistance (level 1)

Fall Resistance (level 1)

Water Resistance (level 1)]

The new gains quickly increased my motivation and with the lingering effects of my increased adrenaline boosted my confidence and increased my creativity.

'I could combine the next 2 tasks. I need to chomp down these big mushrooms anyway, as I need to eat them. I'm not sure if the other bugs would attack me if I would try to invade their mealtime, so I think I should look for another cluster, with less customers present.'

I checked around looking for a smaller cluster, as I wouldn't want to compete with others, at least not until I'm confident in my abilities. After replaceing my target of 2 solidary mushrooms a short distance away from me, I quickly made my way there. Along the way I tried using my mandibles, to see the range of motions I could do with them. Unfortunately, they seemed to be 'wired' to only be able to do a chomping, scissor-like snapping action.

Arriving in front of my target, I looked up the grey colored stalk all the way to the snow-white gills of the mushroom. I placed my mandibles around it's stalk, and using the previously exercised motion, I snapped them shut.

To my surprise, I snapped the entire stalk in two without feeling any resistance at all. I expected some sort of resistance, but it felt like I was cutting through the air, it was really just that smooth. The upper half fell to the ground, bringing the supposedly tasty part of the mushroom, its gills within reach. I moved next to it, burying my head into the gills. I started chewing on it, without any hesitation. I haven't felt any real taste, just that my body craved this type of substance, and without realizing it, I lost myself absolving nearly the entire cap in minutes.

I haven't felt hunger, or in this case, 'being full', instead I was refreshed, full of energy. I consumed easily 3 times the amount of my current body weight, but as if it was nothing, I was already eyeing the other mushroom. This one was one of the few different looking one.

Most of the mushrooms inside the cave had a grey cap and stalk with snow-white gills standing proudly in the ground. They were probably around 20 centimeters in height, but to me they were like giant trees towering all the way to the sky. The second type of mushrooms and the one in front of me, was slightly different. They were still around the same height, but their cap had a slightly reddish hue, and the gills were darker as well. I would describe it as light grey, or you could say it was a 'dirty white'. Whichever you prefer, the end result is, they weren't snow-white like the other one.

I looked at my next victim, I still had a task to complete, and the feeling of suddenly feeling energized was really addicting, I wanted to experience it more. This one gave off a different vibe, but I just couldn't wrap myself around it. Looking to the far corner I could see the other bugs eating all kinds of mushrooms even this type, so I quickly shooed away my negative thoughts.

Aligning myself like the previous time, I repeated the snapping process, and quickly dived into my meal once again. This time, I gained less energy, then the previous time, I felt nothing different.

At least until I received a new notification, that would make my jaws drop if I would be capable of such motion...

[Hidden Requirement Completed!

Poison Resistance (level 1) gained!]