Test
Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Strengthening
Centipede-like but not a centipede, Benben. Caterpillar-like but not a caterpillar, Benben. When asked what it is: Onychophora, Onychophora, Onychophora~♪
Just kidding.
Anyway, the creature known as Onychophora, or "velvet worm," belongs to the same evolutionary branch as the Tardigrade, famous for its near-immortality.
And, it looks like a pretty gruesome creature. It sometimes appears as an enemy character in games for its unsettling appearance.
Those found on Earth live in rainforests and are carnivorous like centipedes. But instead of pouncing, they immobilize their prey by spewing slime from glands near their mouth before eating, like a trap hunter.
Its appearance may seem like a blend of centipede and caterpillar, but biologically, it’s somewhere between a centipede and an earthworm.
“Whoa, is that so?”
“Ugh… thinking about it gives me goosebumps again…!”
“From what I've heard, the boss-class monster you encountered is likely the species Onychophora, known in Japan as the ‘Velvet Worm.’”
“I see. Are Velvet Worms on Earth really that big?”
“No, the ones on Earth are only about 30 cm long. Hearing about one over 8 meters shocked me. Must have been terrifying, huh?”
“If the slime hadn’t blocked my escape, I would have totally run away~~!!”
Seira-san rubs her arms, shivering at the memory.
“I see, so you had no choice but to fight it.”
“Yeah. Just when we thought the creature had snuck up silently, suddenly it sprayed white slime everywhere. Scared me to death…”
“Anyway, it’s great that none of you got hurt.”
“Oh, that’s thanks to the cricket who distracted it.”
“Ah, the giant cricket…”
Now that I recall, after it was converted to a card, Ruu liked the design and asked to use it as a bookmark. Who’d have thought that cricket would come in handy here.
“Hey, so here’s the drop item we got from the giant velvet worm. Watch this, Egetsu-san…”
Saying this, Seira-san holds a claw as long as a finger and slashes through a sheet of paper twice.
“…Hmm. The second slash seems sharper. So, if you channel magic?”
“Exactly! The blade gets sharper with magic. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Oh, that’s impressive. If we align several of these on the base of the giant red scorpion, we could make something like a saw.”
“That’s a great idea! How about attaching it to my arm for a claw chop?”
“Hm, sounds fun. Let’s try it.”
“Yes! Please make it attachable to my arm!”
Alright, I have around 60 claws from the giant velvet worm. Let’s arrange them neatly in various sizes...
『(Fwooooosh...)』
“…There, a prototype is ready. I think it doesn’t look too bad.”
I’ve used about six claws, arranging them in an arch resembling a circular saw. Mounted it on the base of the giant red scorpion, so it can be attached to the arm at any moment.
“See, I also modified the arm of the Queen Suit. If all the claws rise when you channel magic, it’s a success.”
“Wow… Amazing! Can I try it?”
“Go ahead, but start slowly since it’s a test.”
“Alright. Here I go…!”
Seira-san, wearing only the arm section of the Fly Queen Suit, focuses her magic into the arm.
[(Woooosh… Click!!)]
“Oh, success! All the claws lifted perfectly.”
“Wow, so cool! Can you put it on my other arm too?!”
“That’s great. Then for me, I’d like it attached to my shins.”
“Haha, with [Fast Legs], you’re better off with it on your legs than arms.”
“Um… Coach, where will you attach yours?”
“Me? Well, since I sometimes cling to walls and ceilings with slime, I’ll install claws on both hands and feet as a precaution.”
“Oh, that’s like a ninja’s claw!”
“Exactly, just like that.”
“Then, may I have the same setup?”
“Sure. Then Ruu, you and I will match.”
“Yes!”
“Oh, come on!”
“Right, you two, stop showing off!”
“Oh, sorry, haha… Alright, everyone, let’s join forces and get these modifications done quickly.”
“““Yes!”””
Yep, with such strong teamwork, modifications like these become a breeze.
No comments:
Post a Comment