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.

I can't help but curse internally, still not topped off. I could activate it immediately but instinct tells me the effect will be exponentially better if I can hold off until the gland is full. I'll have to

whilst I can, I need to get something out of this to

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 human mind is capable of adapting to a new environment in only two weeks. It's been significantly longer than that for me here and already it feels as if some aspects of being a human are

Mandibles seem to work out just

the edge of the chamber, looking for like a tangled

still alive, I haven't heard the announcement from Gandalf yet, not going to fall for

The power of

last second the beast reacted by bringing every tentacle it could in front of its face to block as much energy as it could, angling the

been destroyed or heavily damaged, they twitch and

the core is a molten mess, sagging and weeping what I assume is blood from its collapsed head. The mouth is

again, coming into contact with one of the injured limbs and suddenly I sense danger! The several tentacles whip through the air towards me! The core unfolds

the monster into the air as it

I'm not there

IDIOT!

Anthony!? Only in the dreams in which you yourself are dreaming

extreme I retreated as quickly as I could, admittedly not very quick,

find anything, the tentacles flopping about, attempting to seek its foe even

need to settle

And become my food!

Shattering Bite!

bringing them down with the force of

by my mandibles the beast has no choice but to

level 4

[You have gained experience]

I'm…. So tired!

on my three remaining good legs, my