Chrysalis

This world contains a bizarrely game-like system. The information I’m in need of most is exactly how this system functions, for example, how does the system award XP when a monster dies?

Is it divided evenly amongst everything that caused damage? Or is all of the experience awarded to the one who deals the final blow? I’ve never received a system announcement awarding experience during combat, only after the prey has expired.

So I can assume that only when something dies is XP awarded for it.

Let’s test a few theories then.

As I draw near the sounds of combat are growing louder and louder. Sticking to the shadows I peer around the rock crevices to identify the combatants.

Locked in furious battle I see four of the filthy claw centipedes and a croca-beast.

By the shining beard of Gandalf I hate those stupid centipedes, they think they’re so great! The four crawling monstrosities have surrounded the much larger, hulking, walking croc, advancing and retreating to distract their foe and create chances for the others.

The croca-beast is doing its best to watch all of its opponents but they are simply too slippery, always moving, circling and feinting. The beast has already been wounded in several places, green ichor can be seen leaking from wounds on the creature. It isn’t going down without a fight though, one centipede already lies twitching at its feet, completely torn in half.

Slash!

Bite!

The monsters whirl in deadly combat, swinging claws and chomping fangs!

This is quite thrilling!

I try to keep an eye on my surroundings however. The last thing I want is one of those stupid slugs to slide up and eat me when I’m not looking. Surprisingly, it seems as though most monsters are giving this fight a wide berth, unwilling to get dragged in to a fight between such dangerous opponents.

I’m happy to chip in however.

The croca is snapping its jaws towards one centipede whilst using its claws ward of the others. Its tail swings furiously behind it, trying to defend its vulnerable back as it turns. Suddenly it coils up, crouching low.

This is it!

I hurriedly turn and begin to take aim and as the croca launches itself forward at one of its tormentors, I fire a blast at one of the centipedes, drenching the foul thing in my acid.

As quickly as I can I re-aim and fire another shot at the croca itself, splashing the burning liquid down its left side.

side to

retaliation, the remaining three centipedes, including the victim of my sneak attack, heave leapt forth, unwilling to let this chance slip. By taking advantage of the certain death of their comrade they plunge forward with wriggling glee, sinking fangs and claws into the croca beast, tearing away at

a spike which it flips forward and drives into the croca’s back, surely

into the darkness, before turning on the remaining pests. However with my acid burning it and

target of my attack has withdrawn further that the others, playing extra defensive at it hisses and clacks

Gweheheheh.

Over here!

creature shrieks and squirms about,

No such luck, pinchy!

successful and the threat of surrounding monsters joining in, I doubt the centipedes would be so foolish as to abandon their prey to try and hunt

to

alive with fury however and the centipedes give due respect to their monstrous opponent

now, clearly wounded. It refuses to back too far away from the

of a fight. Every breath is a labour at this point. Its blurry eyes lock onto its final

Dash!

wounded centipede

but it has also worked in my favour, allowing my acid to

is able

Slash!

the blow but doesn’t fall. Combine with the acid attacks

burst of strength from the wounded croca, immediately after the furious attack, it collapses to the floor, spent of

heart pounds in my tiny ant

unharmed centipedes close in on their prey to deliver the finishing blow I once again take aim. This is the

Pow!

true, straight onto

hateful acid

little sympathy for these clawed centipedes. Hopefully not just because they

to inspect their heavily wounded comrade before turning back to the now collapsed croca beast and finishing it off. As the large monster

...

No system announcement.

any XP, even though I damaged it. This means that being part

defeated Level

[You have gained XP]