WorldCrafter - Building My Underground Kingdom

Ben's teeth clenched so hard they nearly cracked. That son of a bitch. It's using the Ravagers to evolve.

It was a stroke of genius. Killing two birds with one stone—or rather, feeding itself while keeping him busy. The battlefield wasn't just a fight anymore. It was a goddamn feeding frenzy.

Ben's eyes gleamed, his adaptive muscles coiling like a predator ready to pounce. So that's your game, huh? Using them as both a shield and a feast to evolve mid-fight? His lips curled into a sharp grin. "Two can play that game."

He moved. A Brute ravager come tackling him from behind—his scythe shot forward, slipping cleanly between the gaps in its armor. The creature shrieked, thrashing in pain.

Venom saw the opening, moving to devour it, but Ben was faster. His free hand twisted, morphing into a gaping maw. "CONSUME!"

CHOMP.

The Ravager disappeared into his flesh, devoured in an instant.

[Brute Ravager Consumed. Acquired 55 Biomass.]

Venom's head snapped toward him. Ben smirked, eyes flashing with amusement. "What's wrong? Didn't like that?" He didn't wait. His scythe flashed again, slicing through another Ravager's throat.

Instead of letting the corpse drop, Ben kicked it into the air— his monstrous jaw snapping open wide.

"CONSUME!"

[Ravager Consumed. Acquired 55 Biomass.]

Venom growled. Its mandibles twitched in frustration. It was pissed.

Ben grinned even further seeing this, 'Good.'

The creature's muscles tensed, pulsing with energy. Then, without warning—SHOOMP! Venom spat a glob of searing green liquid into the air.

Ben's eyes sharpened, 'The hell is it planning?'

BOOM!

The venom detonated midair, bursting into a sickly green mist that rained down over the battlefield.

The second it made contact HISSSSSSSSS!

The massive mushroom trees melted, their thick stems dissolving like wax under a blowtorch. The ground itself sizzled, darkening as the poison ate through it. Even the Ravagers weren't spared—screams filled the air as their bodies began to bubble and burn.

The weaker ones froze in place, their limbs locking up from sheer pain. Only the Brutes kept moving, though even they staggered, their bulky frames sluggish under the caustic assault.

Ben cursed, as he also feel the pain "Bastard!" His muscles flexed, senses shifting to filter out the venom's burning stench. He had no time to hesitate. The Brutes were coming.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

Four of them. They moved in unison, surrounding him, cutting off his escape. The first charged, massive claw swinging—Ben ducked under one, scythe flashing upward as he carved through its exposed throat.

The second swung from behind. Ben twisted, letting its claw graze past his side before driving his scythe-hand into its ribcage.

The third and fourth came at once—one from the left, one from the right. Ben grinned.

His adaptive muscles coiled. He shot forward, slipping right between them at the last second. Before they could react, his arms morphed into spears.

SHHK!

Both Brutes impaled mid-stride. They staggered, choking, limbs twitching— but Ben didn't stop. His arms twisted, transforming into monstrous jaws. "CONSUME!"

CHOMP.

[Brute Ravager Brute Consumed. Acquired 82 Biomass.]

[Brute Ravager Brute Consumed. Acquired 88 Biomass.]

[Brute Ravager Brute Consumed. Acquired 71 Biomass.]

[Brute Ravager Brute Consumed. Acquired 95 Biomass.]

But this is what Venom waiting for. The moment Ben finished off the last Brute, it was already too late.

A blur of green carved through the battlefield, a streak of death moving at impossible speeds.

By the time Ben turned Venom was done.

The entire area was empty. Not a single Ravager remained. The battlefield, once filled with chaos, was now a wasteland of melting terrain and toxic fumes. The stench of acid and decay hung heavy in the air.

Only two remained. Ben and Venom.

A low, wet sound echoed through the silence flesh shifting, bones rearranging. The transformation was happening again.

Venom's form condensed, the bulk of its muscular body shrinking down—becoming leaner, sleeker, faster. The once-large limbs tightened, refining into a perfect blend of power and agility. Its tail split further into eight. Each one razor-sharp, writhing like hungry serpents.

Its arm shorter now, segmented with layered exoskeleton ended in jagged talons, each one curved and wickedly sharp. Even its legs had changed—becoming more humanoid, more predatory.

The hissing of its breath filled the air. Then it grinned. Venom's six glowing eyes locked onto Ben filled with amusement.

"ROARRR" The roar barely faded before Venom vanished.

Ben's instincts screamed.

A blur

He barely twisted in time. A claw lashed out, carving straight through where his head had been a second ago.

Ben countered, scythes slicing forward—but he hit nothing. Venom wasn't there anymore. It reappeared above him, tail appendages lancing downward like spears.

Ben jumped back—but the moment his feet hit the ground, Venom was already behind him. 'Fast—too fast.'

A razor claw tore through his side, cutting deep before he could react. Ben gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. His adaptive muscles kicked in, but HIS BODY WASN'T HEALING. His eyes widened. The wound burned. The flesh around it was blackening, rotting.

Venom clicked its mandibles, watching him. Mocking him.

Ben's fingers twitched. The poison wasn't just a neurotoxin—it was some kind of corrosive magic that actively halted regeneration. 'Bastard evolved again.'

Venom blurred again closing the distance instantly. Ben didn't dodge. Instead, he shifted forward.

The sudden movement caught Venom off guard. It dashed past him and that was all the opening Ben needed.

SHRRK!

His pickaxe sank into Venom's shoulder. Venom hissed in surprise, but then its body flickered.

Venom twisted unnaturally, its entire torso bending sideways to avoid further damage. It retaliated, using its split tail to lash out from three different angles.

Ben ducked. Twisting his body in mid-air, he grabbed one of the tails—and ripped it off.

Venom shrieked. But instead of retreating, it face Ben head on. Ben barely had time to react before a second claw tore through his stomach, forcing him to cough blood. He retaliated on instinct—his pickaxe swinging straight for Venom's skull.

Venom caught it. Ben's eyes widened. A second later, Venom's grin widened too.