Chương 34: Chapter Thirty Three

Bob didn't waste time. After a brief glance at 'Treasure Sense' showed him that the floor was now empty and the denizens of the others nowhere near their respective stairways, he quickly made his way towards the ever-more beckoning sensation coming from the now-cleared room. He reached it in a matter of seconds, his large Dexterity score blending well with 'Surefooted', before pausing right in front of the entryway. Feeling an almost Christmas-Eve level of anticipation as he slowly pushed the doors inwards.

He noticed the first and least enticing of the room's 'treasures' right away. A massive copper chandelier which sat like a patinaed ship-anchor not six feet past the doorway. Each of its six long, reaching arms likely to weigh at least a dozen or so pounds individually. Which wasn't even mentioning the once-elaborate centerpiece. A corroded mass larger than your average toddler. Were it any other situation, Bob probably would have found the item hard to move past.

At least a moment or two guaranteed to be lost in lamentation for his small size and the massive object's relative lack of value. The 'mimic' part of his brain demanding nothing less. In the current situation, however, it was as if the chandelier didn't even exist. He briefly noticed the open balcony as he rounded the lump of black-green metal. A small part of him wondering if that's how the crabs had gotten in, before he then cast it and any other thoughts from his mind.

Moving as swiftly as he was able towards what looked to be a mostly barren corner at the end of the room. A mostly barren corner that was giving off so much 'sunlight' that Bob could almost feel it against the fine-grain of his body. A sensation which seemed to be erupting from a small pile of debris partially hidden under a scattering of sand. A small pile of debris he was literally unable to tear his eye from. His feet almost unconsciously slowed as he came closer.

A slight sense of near-reverence coming over him as he was able to slowly make out what he was looking at. Its glinting, near-untarnished state confirming his greatest hopes. Rings, necklaces, what appeared to be multiple versions of some strange badge of office, all piled up together in what Bob guessed was once the location of a safe or strongbox. And all of them glinting a delicious, unmistakable, golden shimmer in the dim light of his surroundings. A portion of Bob was briefly stunned.

Feeling almost unsure of what to do when staring down a glut of such unimaginable riches. Luckily, another part of him was not so constrained. The lump of crumpled silver filling most of his form was expelled like a spent bullet casing. The tarnished bit of metal sent sailing through the water with nothing but a flex of his nonexistent muscles. It hadn't even hit the ground before his tongue had already scooped up every last glimmering object littering the floor beneath him. Ding! Congratulations!

You have found (7) Treasures! You have acquired (3) ' Golden Badge of Azcoran Citizenship (C)'! Value is appraised at: 20 (60) Gold Pieces! Next Level: 6, 014/32 Silver Pieces You have acquired a ' Signet Ring of the Cursed Ancestors' (C) Value is appraised at: 15 Gold Pieces! Next Level: 7, 514/32 Silver Pieces You have acquired a ' Lesser Masterwork Golden Pendant' (D) Value is appraised at: 8 Gold Pieces!

Next Level: 8, 314/32 Silver Pieces You have acquired a ' Lesser Masterwork Sapphire Pendant' (D) Value is appraised at: 5 Gold Pieces! Next Level: 8, 814/32 Silver Pieces You have acquired a ' Lesser Masterwork Diamond Ring' (D) Value is appraised at: 3 Gold Pieces! Next Level: 9, 114/32 Silver Pieces Ding! Species Level Increase! 5 – 14 Constitution + 36 Dexterity + 27 Willpower + 18 Intelligence + 9 Next Level: 91. 14/163. 84 GP New Skill Slot opened! New Species Trait Available! Ding!

'Treasure Hunter' Unique experience gain activated 910 Experience gained for ' Treasure Hunter' (B) Congratulations!' Treasure Hunter (B)' is now level 11! Perception + 40 Dexterity + 32 Willpower + 24 Ding!

'Treasure Sense' Has reached its first Evolution! Evolve Now? Normally, Bob would have greeted the numerous windows appearing before him with a sense of awe and triumph. It was by far his greatest increase in power and ability since his arrival here. Top that off with a new Trait and an evolution for what might be his most important ability and he should be ecstatic. Unfortunately, he simply wasn't able to be. Because it was just too much. His mind screamed in silent agony as he felt himself be remade.

The numb, mildly tingly sensation which had followed every other level increase now gone. Replaced by a rush of energy so vast and potent that his entire existence began to fragment under the weight of its power. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. It was too much for his wooden form to take. The strain of multiple attributes near-tripling themselves destroying his physical body.

A burning, electrical agony running through him before he was suddenly cut adrift from all feeling and sensation. His body not altered, but rather erased in the rush and seemingly replaced wholecloth. He had no idea how long he lingered in this form of half-existence, but eventually, he snapped out of it. Popping back to consciousness as if he'd just escaped a horrible bout of sleep paralysis. Only now, the world he opened his eye to appeared very, very, different.

At Bob's prior Perception of thirty, he was already seeing things better than he ever had before. His previous, mildly myopic, biological eyes blown out of the water by artificial excellence. Capable of seeing farther, clearer, and in much greater detail than at any time during his past life. Now, there was simply no comparison. The water seemed to shimmer in its own radiance. Bob's jeweled eye picking up spectrums of color he wasn't sure he'd ever seen, previously. It also seemed to move more… slowly.

Or perhaps predictably. He felt more 'aware' of his surroundings than he ever had before. Almost able to sense every ebb and flow in the water around him before they happened. It took him a few moments to break out of the strange state he'd fallen into. Constantly being distracted by how much firmer he felt. By how quickly each part of his body wanted to move. By the almost gelatinous quality the water around him seemed to take on as he tried to step forward.

His every motion now feeling much more bound and constrained by the force pressing against him. Or rather, his lack of force pushing back. With a mild frown, Bob opened his status page. Name: Bob Species: Thousand-Foot Mimic (E) + Species Level: 14 - 91. 14/163.

84 GP Title: Hard to Swallow (D) + Class: Treasure Hunter (B) 11 – E/NA Blessings: + Health: - 78/78 Mana: - 62/62 Strength: - 14 Dexterity: - 109 Constitution: -78 Intelligence: - 62 Perception: - 70 Willpower: - 93 Species Traits: + Eyes Like Jewels (F) Creeping Horde (F) Taste for Gold (F) Treasure's Allure (F) Articulated Undercarriage (E) Obtained Skills: + Toothless Grasp (E) Dodge (E) Taunt (E) Lesser Crushing Tongue (E) Lesser Weapon Mastery: Rope (F) Class Skills: + Treasure Sense (B) Alert!

Unchosen Species Trait! Alert! Unevolved Class Skill! That… was a lot. And also, a pretty massive attribute disparity. No wonder taking a step forward felt like walking through Jello, his Dexterity was nearly eight times his Strength stat. In fact, Bob realized that with the additional size and weight caused by both the level ups and his massive increase in Constitution, he was probably going to be moving slower than he had been previously.

His larger form simply unable to push through the water as easily as it had before. A part of him wanted to chastise himself over choosing both a Class and Species bereft of Strength bonuses, but the rest of him quickly smothered the complaints. He doubted he would have survived even his first encounter with the crabs without his current mobility. While his lack of strength was certainly a big issue – and one which grew ever larger as he did – it was also one he was going to have to find other avenues to correct.

And until then, perhaps the boost he'd get from a new 'Species Trait' would help to narrow the gap. Ding! Congratulations! For elevating yourself to Species Level (10) you are awarded (1) additional Species Trait! Please choose carefully!

Thrice Binding Greed (E) Grants the mimic an additional two prehensile limbs Gains further access to 'Prehensile Limb' Path traits/skills Strength + 5 Dexterity + 5 Entrancing Eye (E) Enhances the Mimic's jeweled eye, allowing it the ability to stun or paralyze weaker creatures Gains further access to 'Ocular' Path traits/skills Perception + 10 Empty Vault (F) Grants the mimic increased storage area in which to hold their Hoard.

Gains further access to (Spatial) Path traits/skills Intelligence + 5 Whispered Temptation (E) Allows the mimic to create illusory sounds to draw a victim near Gains further access to (Mind Control) Path traits/skills Willpower + 5 Intelligence + 5 Bob felt himself go through a myriad of emotions as he read his options over. His immediate lust for 'Thrice Binding Greed' almost causing another accidental selection. Something he felt desperately happy didn't occur when he finally arrived at 'Whispered Temptation'.

The implications of the Trait hitting him like a half-brick in a sock.

'Would this… actually allow me to speak?' Time almost seemed to stop for a second as he considered the possibility. The potential for him to engage in real conversation with an actual human being causing his brain to mildly short circuit. So many long hours spent pushing such thoughts away that their sudden resurgence left him a bit bewildered. He stared at the Trait for an almost aggressively long period of time. Daydreams about managing to slowly ingratiate himself into some local community filling his head.

Of being something of a beloved mascot to a small town; protected from others by a quick conversation and a display of a pacifistic nature. A life which would certainly grow old quickly, but felt like heaven compared to his current situation. Of course, that was the rub, wasn't it. His current situation. Bob gazed at his preferred choice for a moment more, before then also casting a gaze towards 'Thrice Binding Greed'. Imagining how powerful he would be with 'Lesser Crushing Tongue' tripling its damage output.

Alas. It also wasn't to be. Bob finally, begrudgingly, making the necessary decision. Ding! You have Chosen the Trait ' Empty Vault (F)' + 5 Intelligence Passive Ability (Expanded Space) acquired! Expanded Space (F) Moderately increases the mimic's inner volume As soon as he selected his choice, Bob was beset by the strangest sensation. It began with feeling Mana form up within him. Only the energy wasn't his, and it acted in no way like his did when using 'Lifeless Disguise'.

Replacing the quick dissipating burst which left him mildly emotionally spent, Bob instead felt the Mana inside him slowly begin to expand. Something which appeared to be affecting him on more than just the 'mystical' level. A pressure almost like the need to burp building up from deep within him. A pressure which only continued to mount. One swiftly edging towards pain as his whole body started to feel like it was being torn apart by some inner expanding force.

Bob's thoughts beginning to race as he tried to stare down at his body; searching for any forming cracks. Before the swelling sensation almost… folded over on itself. And then again. Continuing to dissipate until he really felt no different than he had before choosing the trait. Except, perhaps a bit… emptier.

Bob took a few moments to compose himself, the previous sensation bringing him closer to panic than he would've liked, before then deciding to see if he could figure out exactly how much extra space a 'moderate' increase actually meant. And briefly drawing a blank on how to do so. Truly seeing how 'large' he had become was sadly impossible. The Manor having no surviving mirrors – at least, none that he'd yet found – and Bob no longer being in possession of an extendable eyeball.

Still, he realized a moment later, just because one sense was off the table, didn't mean all of them were. It felt strangely awkward to send his 'tongue' back inside himself; it usually just yanking things inside before almost seeming to… dissipate. Bob soldiered through, however. Reaching out with his sole appendage in an attempt to get an idea of how extreme the change was. And, as his tongue continued to travel further and further within, Bob couldn't help but think the answer was: 'pretty extreme'.

Not that he was in anyway upset with this result. In fact, one of his biggest worries had been that the trait would only double or triple his available space. Something which would have made his choice feel like a bad bargain. Losing out on two amazing looking Traits without really receiving anything of value. Unfortunately, he hadn't really had another option. At least, not if he wanted any chance of evolving past where he currently was. Over nine thousand. He'd just collected over nine thousand silver coins.

Almost One Million copper. And it had only gotten him up to level fourteen. With another near-million copper left to go to get to the next one. As long as he could find enough gold – or, better yet, Treasures – Bob imagined he could have gained another two or so levels without too much trouble. The size of his Body had more than doubled; looking far more like a treasure chest now than an oversized jewelry box. After that though, it would simply be impossible.

A quick bit of calculation, something he'd previously avoided in an attempt not to crush his own spirits, showing that the final level of this evolution would cost him over five thousand gold. And that's only if it stopped at level twenty. A little over fifty times the value of the massive haul he'd just pulled in. Just for six additional levels.

'Man. I never thought I'd say this, but exponential growth can go fuck itself.' It didn't take much longer until he was finished investigating his new 'breadth'. Coming to the happy conclusion, after doing some rough measurements of his tongue's new length, that he actually had something around a six-by-six-by-nine-foot square now existing inside his body. Though, oddly enough, that wasn't even the most interesting part. The most interesting part was that the entire six-by-six-by-nine-foot space was bone dry.

It had taken him more than a few moments to notice, given that his 'tongue' wasn't exactly the most sensitive of extremities. But eventually the 'freedom' of movement he felt while swinging it around made him realize what the space inside him, rather thankfully, lacked. Very thankfully, actually. As he hadn't really considered how much however-many-times his mass in water would actually weigh. He wasn't sure what was keeping it out every time he opened his mouth, but he sure hoped it kept working.

Luckily, it seemed content to do so; his form remaining empty despite ample opportunities for water to seep in. Well, empty except for the scattering of jewelry and two silver bars taking up a near-negligible amount of space in one corner. Space which was made even more lonely as he cast out the two silver bars. Ignoring the mimic bit of himself as it sent shocks of anxiety through his brain at the act. There was no point in them. They were pennies now, and he needed fat stacks of bills.

Something which the comparably 'tame' treasure signals above him didn't seem likely to assist with. Though, to be fair, he wouldn't know for sure until he'd managed to get himself a bit closer.

'Treasure Sense' seeming to work better the shorter the distance. Although, he realized moments later, reminded by a blinking alert in the corner of his screen, that might actually be an issue he could do something about.