Epic of Caterpillar

As we marched forwards, I checked the new Skills I got leisurely.

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[Divine Element Embodiment: Lv1]

A powerful Skill that only entities that have managed to meld their divine souls with their bodies and take upon the embodiment of their divine element can acquire. Enhances the ability to embody the divine element of the user\'s soul and physical body into one mass of endless shapeshifting possibilities. However, it drains MP constantly, so it cannot be kept up for too long in normal circumstances.

While in this form, all Stats increase by 100% with an additional +20% with each Skill Level. Elemental Damage of the selected Elemental Divinity is increased by +100% with an additional +20% with each Skill Level, and the user can easily Drain HP from foes by standing next to them. A natural Aura of Intimidation is set with melds with a Divine Domain, causing several status effects to those that cannot protect themselves against them.

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[Awakened Divine Elemental Deity: Lv1]

A Title Skill that only entities that have awakened their innate Divine Elemental Embodiment can acquire. Enhances their Divinity (invisible boost) by +50% with an additional +20% with each Skill Level. Additionally the power of related skills is enhanced by +30% with each Skill Level. Required EXP to level up is reduced based on Skill Level.

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[Chaos Absorption: Lv--]

Grants the ability to absorb Chaos Element, restoring HP and MP instead of receiving damage.

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[Eldritch Authority: Lv1]

A Title Skill that can only be acquired by those who have awakened their innate Eldritch Existence. It generates a powerful Aura around the user that distorts space and time to an extent and can generate illusions and status effects on those that take a glance at it on the user\'s truest of forms.

While in their true form, this title is activated and enhances their stats by +50%, with an additional +5% with each Skill Level. All Magic and Skills cost half the MP and several Status effects can be inflicted no foes that are not strong enough to resist them. Being an eldritch being also makes you grow faster than others, passively, you gain more EXP, which increases based in the title skill level.

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[Intimidating Chaotic Aura: Lv1]

Generate a powerful Intimidating Chaotic Aura whenever you desire, inflicting Fear, Paralysis, Confusion, Madness, Illusion, and more into any foe around you. Allies wont be affected but might still suffer if they lack resistance. While this Aura is activated, intimidated foes have their Stats reduced by -20%, with an additional -5% with each Skill Level.

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Okay, damn, they\'re pretty awesome. With this I get more EXP and also can level up faster! Kind of reminds me of my early days back in Genesis where I was getting titles that enhanced EXP earned and also reduced necessary EXP to level up. I guess as we were back to square one some time ago, we are going through the same, but it now feels oddly refreshing to me.

Also the Intimidation Skill is pretty nice at rising Resistances to status effects on allies. Maybe I should abuse it and make everyone tremble in horror so they can get more resistances leveled up. Wouldn\'t it be convenient?

Yeah, I won\'t do that for now though, I am not that much of an impulsive person…

"Say, Kireina, what the heck did you do before?" Wondered Luminous. "And you said you can help us do this too? Can I… take such a divine form myself?"

"Totally, you need to just listen to what I say and imitate my movements." I said, but Luminous didn\'t liked the idea.

"Hmmm… I would rather find out myself than receive your teachings, I think you\'ll trick me or something." He sighed.

"What?! Okay, I might sometimes be a bit playful but I don\'t want to make you have a bad time or something, don\'t be so grumpy now!" I said. "It would also help me if you guys could grow stronger so there\'s no problem with me about this…"

"Hm, we\'ll think about it." Said Luminous.

"I don\'t think I have that much power though?" Wondered Fiere.

"Hmm… You totally have, you\'ve leveled so much you\'ve grown overly strong, Fiere." I sighed.

"Perhaps I could try doing it later." Sol said.

As we walked across the mountains, Brunhild guided us while explaining the scenery to us. We were currently surrounded by a vast and arid valley where enormous bony spikes erected one after the other, resembling spears coming right out of the ground to impale anything that gets closer while flying.

"This is the Spike Valley; this area has a lot of bone rocks in the shape of sharp spikes. I can\'t sense any danger nearby so it seems there might be no monsters this time around… For now." Brunhild said, guiding us across the mountains.

We have already crossed two other areas of the mountains and we were getting closer to the end of the mountains, which is in the shape of the spine of a gigantic humanoid skeleton. At the tail of the mountains there should be the place where Elfina might be, and the Genie, most likely.

However, although Brunhild\'s searching ability is good, it is subpar compared to mine. She cannot sense any monsters nearby, but I can. Oh yes, I can smell them. They\'re slowly crawling towards here. Digging across the mountain, hundreds of them. And in the depths of a nearby cave, there\'s a big and fat bag of EXP, their Queen.

"I wonder if this place is safe from Wyverns, seeing how there are spikes everywhere, wouldn\'t it be hard for the to land from the sky?" Wondered Ariant.

"Yeah, this place is known for being safe from wyverns." Said Brunhild. "But there are other dangers. My father always says there\'s a massive colony of Stink Bugs here… I don\'t know what Stink Bugs are though."

"Brunhild the Stink Bugs are the things we\'ve been fighting this whole time!" Said Fiere.

"Eh?"

BBBBZZZZZZZ….!

And just as I expected, the sound of bug wings flapping around echoed around our surroundings.