Chương 35: The Iron Anvil

Recap: You broke the ledge, dropping three cultists. The Mage survived and is charging a spell. You voted to SLAM DOWN (FINISH HIM). Gravity is free. Momentum is cheap. And I was heavy. The mage's staff glowed brighter. Green energy crackled around the tip. He was aiming right at my lid. If that bolt hit, my 10 HP wouldn't just vanish; I'd be splintered kindling. Not today, I thought. Today, I'm a hammer. I shifted to the edge of the broken ledge. Ten feet below, the mage looked up, eyes wide with realization.

He wasn't expecting the furniture to fight back. I leaned forward. I let go. SYSTEM NOTIFICATION Skill Used: Slam Attack Cost: 5 Stamina Current SP: 2/22 Effect: Body Launch + Impact Damage I fell. My 120-pound Ironband form accelerated. I didn't try to aim my teeth; I aimed my base. The iron bands were the weapon. The mage tried to dodge. He was wounded. He was slow. CRUNCH. I landed squarely on his chest.

SYSTEM NOTIFICATION Damage Calculation: Slam (Strength 7) + Fall (10ft) Base Damage: 12 HP Defense Bypassed (Blunt Force)Target HP: 0 (Instant Kill) XP Gained: 20 XP Current XP: 90/120 (Level 2) There was a wet snapping sound. Ribs. Sternum. Lungs. The staff flew from his hand, clattering across the stone floor. The green energy fizzled out. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I lay there for a second. Catching my breath. (Metaphorically).

SYSTEM NOTIFICATION Fall Damage Taken: 0 HP Defense Applied: -11 DR (Negated Fall Damage) Current HP: 10/17 My Ironband Defense was worth every ounce of evolution pain. I felt fine. Except for the stamina. 2 SP left. I was running on fumes. I slid off the corpse. The mage was… flattened. Not a pretty sight. But loot was loot. I looked at the staff. Wood shaft. Iron cap. Green crystal (similar to Squee's, but darker). I looked at the cages. The prisoners were staring at me. Three humans. Ragged clothes.

Collars around their necks.

"You… you killed him," one whispered. A woman. Young. Scar on her cheek. I creaked my lid. Click. Best greeting I could manage.

"He's a mimic," a man in the next cage said.

"A good one."

"Or a demon," the third muttered. I didn't have time for debate. The noise of the impact had echoed through the cavern. My tremorsense pinged. Thump. Thump. Thump. More footsteps. Coming from the tunnel entrance. The rest of the cult group. They'd heard their friends die. They'd be here in minutes. I had 2 Stamina. I couldn't fight a squad. I couldn't run far. But I had a staff. I had prisoners. And I had a corpse. The woman in the cage rattled her bars.

"Keys… on his belt… Please…" If I freed them, they might help. Or they might run and leave me to the cultists. If I ate the mage… I'd heal. I'd get closer to Level 3. If I took the staff… I'd have a weapon. But how does a chest wield a staff? The footsteps were getting louder. Torches flickered at the tunnel entrance. Current Stats (Level 2 - Ironband Mimic): HP: 10/17 (Unchanged) Mana: 6/12 (Undead Flesh Penalty Active) Stamina: 2/22 (Critical) Inventory: 2 Pebbles, Metal Items (Fused).

Mage Staff (Loot Available). Status: Exhausted, Cultist Reinforcements Approaching, Prisoners Freeable. What do you do? A) EAT THE MAGE (HEAL/LEVEL) Consume the corpse immediately. Gain HP and XP. Get closer to Level 3 (Taunt Unlock). (Cost: 2 SP. Gain: +5 HP, +XP. Risk: Reinforcements arrive while eating.) B) FREE THE PRISONERS (ALLIES) Use your strength to break the cage locks. Give them the weapons. Fight together. (Cost: 2 SP. Gain: 3 Allies. Risk: They might be weak/scared.) C) TAKE THE STAFF (WEAPON) Swallow the staff. It's metal/wood. Maybe you can regurgitate it as a projectile later? (Cost: 2 SP. Gain: Ranged Option. Risk: No immediate HP gain.) D) BARRICADE (DEFEND) Push the corpses into the tunnel entrance. Block the path. Hide behind the cages. (Cost: 1 SP. Gain: Time. Risk: Trapped if they break through.) VOTING CLOSES IN 24 HOURS. Reply with A, B, C, or D. Most votes wins. [Author Note] Thanks for voting on Chapter 34! Option A (Slam) was a success!

You killed the Mage and took no fall damage thanks to Ironband Defense! But you're at Critical Stamina (2/22)!