5 Chapter 5

The trees in the forest were huge beyond measure. I did not know to what species they belonged but their gigantism intrigued me greatly. 

The giant size of the these trees allowed me to stand without fear of a branch being unable to support my weight. 

I glanced down at the forest floor. Objects in my vision could be magnified at will. I focused my attention on an ant crawling across a footprint left behind by a fleeing deer. 

Safe to say that the deer did not succeed in its escape. 

I had spent 3 days adapting to my new form. Just controlling my strength so as not to crush everything I touched had taken me several hours. 

The thick carapace that protected my internal organs was extremely heavy. For this reason the density of my muscles was forced to dramatically increase. This in turn also increased my weight. 

I estimated that I now weighed as much as a ton. 

However my agility had not diminished in the slightest, in fact my speed had received a modest increase. My larger body required more energy to move, but this was a small consequence in exchange for far greater strength and defense. Additionally, thanks to the red energy's ability to convert and store biomass, I did not have to worry about going hungry. 

I had tested the durability of my carapace against every predator in the forest. Only a bear's claws, empowered by its tyrannical strength, could leave a shallow mark. 

My physical strength exceeded a bear's by roughly half. Although I would suffer some internal damage if I repeatedly allowed it to land blows against my carapace, the bear had no way to deliver a lethal blow. 

Hunting the black bear in my previous wolfman form was a precarious endeavor that lasted several days. Now it would take me less than a minute. 

"I am strong." I announced to the forest.

My voice sounded like the buzzing of an insect's wings. 

I turned my head to the east. 

The remains of the battle between the humans and the monsters lay in that direction. 

While a part of me remained cautious towards the unknown combat strength of the monsters that had slain the merchant combat, in my heart I was eager to test myself against a new foe. 

The calm and steady nature of the beetle had merged with the ferocity of a wolf to create a bloodlust so cold that it could be felt by the creatures of the forest when released. 

I had an idea in mind of the beasts I intended to face. 

Monsters were common in the world of the Witcher. I mused that perhaps I too was now among them. The hasty and limited description of the monsters faced by the merchant convoy was not enough to identify them, however I had in mind a monster that made its den in dark areas and if allowed to gather in large numbers, made for a dangerous opponent. 

The Nekker. 

I decided to attack while the sun was still shining brightly. If the beasts were indeed a large group of Nekkers, famed for their cunning and deadly sneak attacks, then their ability to hide themselves would be severely hampered by the sunlight. 

Walking to the edge of the branch, I casually stepped off into the open air. 

Immediately I began to fall. 

Leaves and branches swatted against my carapace but were incapable of causing any damage. 

The forest shook as I hit the floor heavily. 

I paused and looked up at the branch several meters above. My body had absorbed the kinetic energy of my descent with ease, I was not even required to bend my knees before landing. 

'East.' 

Stepping out of the pit that my landing had caused, I began my journey east. 

My legs were long and curved backwards at the knee. The closest example I could think of was that of a mantis.

Relying upon DNA integrated from a grasshopper, I was able to leap between tree trunks with ease. Due to the large size and weight of my body, a shrill whistling noise was produced as I traversed the complex terrain. 

The journey lasted several hours. But at last I arrived at the final resting place of the merchant convoy. 

Deep scratches in the trees in this area reflected the fierce struggle that had taken place. I noted solemnly that every tree bearing distinct claw marks, had formed a swollen and mishappen growth around the injury. 

One of the body's immediate responses to an injury was inflammation. The same had evidently taken place in the huge trees.

It was clear that the wounds left behind by the unknown creature posed significant danger. 

I expected myself to feel afraid but instead all I felt was....

"Hungry." 

I could smell a pungent rotting stench nearby. The odor was so foul that the red energy secreted with my heartbeat actively begun to detoxify the air breathed in across my carapace. 

I started to advance in the direction of the smell. 

The rays of sunshine that successfully made it through the thick canopy were apparently still too strong for the Nekkers to leave their burrow, but I could feel vibrations underfoot as I walked. 

I came to a halt above where the vibrations were most frantic and considered what to do. 

The Nekkers were obviously hiding underground, but I was double their size and attempting to navigate their complex winding tunnels was a moronic notion. 

I decided to take a simpler route. 

BOOM! 

My forearms smashed against the earth with the force of a speeding car. Leaves scattered like rain from the trees above and the earth beneath my feet crumbled into nothing. 

I fell deeper into the earth until my feet once again landed on solid ground. 

Dozens of pairs of red eyes stared at me in shock. 

'Nekkers.' I thought to myself, pleased to have been correct in my deductions. 

The monsters stared at me in silent astonishment for several seconds. Their small brains seemed completely unable to process what was happening. 

I chose to strike first. 

I became a blur as I leaped towards a startled Nekker. The creature had no time to react before my open palm collided with its head. 

Foul smelling brains, bone and blood spurted out from the headless Nekker. The force contained within my strike had separated its head from its body. 

At last, perhaps stimulated by the smell of blood, the other Nekkers began to act. 

Sharp claws encrusted with blood swung towards my face. Even in their semi-stunned states, the Nekkers knew to target vulnerable areas on their opponents. 

The Nekkers were the size of skinny teenagers, their long pustule covered arms hung down to their ankles and the foul smelling black liquid oozing from their claws showed that they relied more on poison than strength to kill. 

I dodged between Nekkers with relative ease. Their attacks lacked coordination and my wide range of vision allowed me to see their movements far in advance. 

Another two Nekkers swiftly died to my open palm strikes. Flicking my hand to rid it of the Nekker's black blood, I noticed that the black liquid was sizzling against my carapace. 

Unfortunately for the Nekkers, the damage caused by their usually potent venom was no more than a few whisps of white smoke. 

The number of Nekkers in the nest was approximately 70. After 10 or so had died at my hands, their tiny brains apparently realized that their suicidal attack strategy was ineffective. 

It was at this moment I saw a Nekker taller and broader than the rest of his kin, carrying a femur with a skull attached to the tip, emerge from behind one of his companions. 

The unusual Nekker stared at me silently while his companions hissed and spat, circling around me with their claws outstretched. 

I detected more than mindless bloodlust in the large Nekker's eyes as we observed each other. This Nekker was clearly superior to the rest of his brood. 

For a moment I contemplated sparing it. 

Then the thought left my mind. 

Although the fearful Nekkers no longer approached me, I had no such hesitancy in approaching them. 

The usual precision and cunning of the wolf was replaced by the wild abaddon with which a bear might wield its unmatched strength. 

Submerging myself in the wildness within my heart I allowed instinct to take over my actions. 

An insectoid cry rang out through the trees as I gleefully slaughtered my opponents. The satisfying crunch as I cracked their skulls delighted me every time. 

Sadly after only a quarter of an hour, my fun was ended as I ran out of skulls to crush. 

I twirled the Nekker chief's head atop one of my claws. His eyes still held the same malice they had in life. 

Looking at the whirlwind of destruction I had caused, I smiled. 

Then I began to collect my spoils. 

Although their lives were forever ended, their genes would live on in me for eternity. 

The powerful poison that usually allowed the Nekkers to kill enemies far larger than themselves was useless against my carapace. However this did not mean to say that it was weak. 

I brought my mouth down on the Nekker chief's cheek and tore off a strip of grey flesh. The taste was like rotten eggs left in a sewer and I immediately gave up the thought of eating any more. 

I closed my eyes and called out to the red energy. 

Swiftly, slender red tentacles squirmed out from my mouth and crawled across the ground towards the badly damaged corpses. The red tentacles were too weak to use in combat but they hungrily devoured their meal. 

A surge of energy bloomed in my chest. Each corpse was worth more than ten large deer and the influx of new genetic material delighted me. 

"You fought well." 

I surveyed the destroyed underground nest chambers and checked for any flesh I might've missed. Unsurprisingly there was none. 

The sun was finally beginning to descend and I decided to return to my nest. 

Thus I began the journey home.