Chrysalis

Being thrown into the mouth of oblivion isn't exactly what I had planned for myself in my second life but I guess things don't exactly turn out according to plan all the time.

For instance I was reborn as ant rather than a human, but hey, no use in complaining.

As the tentacles part before me to reveal the cavernous, impossibly wide mouth of the Jellymaw a tingle of fear shivers through my carapace.

The inside of this monster is simply, black. I can't see a throat or anything! Long curved fangs emerge from pure darkness and outline a gaping void, empty of any trace of the creatures I'd seen consumed before.

What. The. Heck.

I don't have much time to admire the scenery! Let him have it!

Opening my mouth wide I unleash the tightly packed mana I had concealed in my throat. Like a tightly packed explosive given a tiny outlet the pure force of energy roars out of my mouth in a focused beam of destruction. Idly I wonder why my teeth don't get shattered by the blast as it canons out of me but I may just have to put that down to my perfect aim and control.

….

The moment I unleash my strike the world flickers before my eyes, the mass of tentacles that is the Jellymaw vanishes from before me as my vision is filled with a flurry of hooked appendages and cascading dirt as the kinetic force of my blast slams into the far wall of the chamber, obliterating the other monster who happened to be skulking there.

[You have slain level 2 Lesser Imp]

[You have gained experience]

…

Sorry buddy. That wasn't on purpose.

Finally my feet hit the ground and I can tell I'm a sorry sight. Three of my legs are busted from the pressure the tentacles applied as they constricted me. Thankfully not all on one side so I can still walk somewhat well. Numerous punctures and scratches mar my carapace after the barbs tore into me as best they could.

internally, still not topped off. I could activate it immediately but instinct tells me the effect will be

need to

snapped legs trailing in the dirt behind me and firing hot lances of pain directly into my mind. I don't think I'll ever get used to having so many broken legs, although I can't really recall what is was like to have only two. I think I heard somewhere that the

a long time. I mean, do you really need them? Mandibles seem to work out just

a coiled heap at the edge of the chamber, looking for like a tangled

from Gandalf yet, not going to fall for

power

survive my shout. At the very last second the beast reacted by bringing every tentacle it could in front of its face to block as much energy

was barely enough. Most of those fearsome appendages have been destroyed or heavily damaged, they twitch and flop

core of the Jellymaw wasn't able to escape my strike, half the core is a molten mess, sagging and weeping

with one of the injured limbs and suddenly I sense danger! The several tentacles whip through the air towards me! The core unfolds itself once more to reveal a that mouth, missing half of

body of the monster into the air as

not

IDIOT!

to outsmart the great Anthony!? Only in the dreams in which you yourself are dreaming of outsmarting

I retreated as quickly as I could, admittedly

about, attempting to seek its foe even as the creature breaths heavily,

to settle down

And become my food!

Shattering Bite!

bringing them down with

by my mandibles the beast has no choice but to

level

[You have gained experience]

I'm…. So tired!

wake of my triumph I wobble on my three remaining good legs, my vision fuzzing to black before I manage