Setting the Path: Crimson Tooth Giant Centipede
Crimson Tooth Giant Centipede. Superior species to the Red Tooth King Centipede. It has the epithet "red fangs," but to be precise, they're not "poison fangs" but "poison claws." Getting stabbed by those fang-like red poison claws brings excruciating pain. Ordinary centipedes' venom just causes intense agony without being lethal, but this dangerous monster is different. Once it injects that acidic poison, your body melts into a gooey puddle.
The beast tamer Melchi had once seen a Giant Centipede melt and devour an entire elephant.
"Hahaha!"
Melchi burst into loud laughter.
"Those cowards."
The Runka tribe warriors turned pale white at the sight of the Giant Centipede. It was understandable. Taming monsters is an extremely difficult task to begin with. Even raising wolves or ostriches wasn't easy—goblins died from wolf bites at least once a month. Attempting to tame something more dangerous was tantamount to suicide.
And Melchi had survived such a suicide attempt. He'd tamed one of the most dangerous monsters in the Palamu Rainforest: the Giant Centipede.
A year ago, when he returned to the Crock tribe with the obedient Giant Centipede, everyone was shocked. That day was the greatest day of Melchi's goblin life.
Skinny Melchi, who couldn't become a warrior. Ugly Melchi, who had no popularity. But once he could control the Giant Centipede like a limb, he became an executive in the Crock tribe. He even earned the epithet "Beast Tamer."
How had Melchi tamed that Giant Centipede? It only listened to Melchi. That fact became clear only after several goblins became centipede food. Everyone wanted to know his taming method. If it was simple and universal, Melchi's value would vanish again. Knowing that, Melchi kept his mouth shut desperately—even when beaten by Crock.
A year later, Melchi was still the only Giant Centipede tamer.
'Not sure how much longer that'll last.'
The coat he hadn't taken off even while sleeping since a year ago. He was always careful not to let the oversized coat—ill-suited to his scrawny frame—slip off.
Melchi shouted in his shrill voice.
"Centipede!"
The Giant Centipede reacted to his voice.
"Kill all those Runka goblins!"
The Giant Centipede didn't obey immediately and just stayed still. Melchi clicked his tongue. Contrary to its appearance, the centipede wasn't that aggressive.
"Right nooow!"
With a dignified shout, the Giant Centipede finally began to move.
Body length of 9 meters, weight of 500kg. Its hard carapace could withstand a steel axe strike with just a scratch. Legs: 42 pairs. Eighty-four in total. Each pointed leg was like a dagger. In other words, it was equipped with 84 deadly weapons. Even without using its poison claws, its physical charge was murderous.
The Runka goblins scattered in an instant.
"Spread out! Spread out far apart! Don't clump together!"
Nanaruk bellowed her commands.
If they stayed clumped and got trampled, it was over. Hobgoblin warriors or not, they'd be crushed flat.
"Aaaagh!"
"Waaah!"
Even the brave warriors leaped back in horror. The centipede's charge kicked up massive clouds of dust. Perhaps from constantly smashing rocks and digging earth, the fine particles made it hard to breathe. Visibility blurred.
In Nanaruk's sight, her younger sibling Kadiram appeared. And above Kadiram, the centipede's black shadow loomed.
"Kadiram!"
Nanaruk shoved Kadiram aside and charged out. The centipede's massive head thrust forward. Along with its bright red poison claws.
Clang!
The poison claws snapped past Nanaruk's nose. She barely saved her life by jerking her head back. She swung the axe in her hand.
Kang!
Sparks flew as it struck the centipede's carapace. Nanaruk stared at her axe in bewilderment. The blade was chipped. Meanwhile, the carapace was unscathed. Meaning even she had to precisely hit the joints to damage it. But against a living, moving centipede? Impossible.
"Fight defensively," she had been ordered. The order came from the snake itself. It was trustworthy.
"Hm?"
In this dire situation, Nanaruk tilted her head. How had she understood the snake's command? She had always been good at understanding her snake friend's words, but lately it had intensified. She could grasp its meaning just from a few tail wags. This time too.
Don't fight the centipede too hard—retreat while defending. I'll handle it meanwhile.
She understood immediately. How? Her mind felt ticklish somehow.
Runka tribe's greatest warrior Nanaruk. It's been a year since she stopped leveling up.
After something began sprouting in her body and mind, having reached the peak realm possible for a hobgoblin at her young age.
But she herself wasn't fully aware of the change.
Besides, now wasn't the time to worry about such trivialities. The centipede charged again.
Kwaaang!
Nanaruk leaped high. She landed not elsewhere but atop the centipede's back. She started running along it. The centipede's body undulated, flinging her into the air. Other goblins caught her.
Nanaruk grinned, brushing back her hair. No casualties in the Runka tribe yet. The Crock tribe warriors couldn't do much with the rampaging Giant Centipede. They could only cheer from afar.
Yet one hobgoblin, Nanaruk, was single-handedly drawing its attention.
"What the hell is she doing...?"
"Ugh, so frustrating!"
Even the centipede seemed unmotivated. Frustrated gazes turned to Melchi.
"Do something!"
"Why's the centipede slacking like that!"
Melchi's anger flared. How dare they raise their voices at him—an executive, the beast tamer Melchi.
'If I were Ayutar, would they dare yell like that?'
A stuffy sense of inferiority and rage welled up.
"Centipede! Fight properly, or else...!"
The moment Melchi tried to threaten the Giant Centipede.
Whoooosh!
A sudden whirlwind blew. No wind before—why now? The environment was thick with white dust mixed with dirt particles. The blinding gust made it impossible to open eyes. Melchi quickly covered his with his arm.
"Agh!"
"Urk!"
Screams echoed around. Making such a fuss over sand in eyes. They acted tough but were pathetic. Thinking that, Melchi tried to force his eyes open. When he did, bloodshot, he saw all the surrounding goblins collapsed. Clutching their throats, gasping.
And then. A sharp sting at his ankle. Looking down, a snake had raised its head. It had bitten his ankle. A viper maybe. Something flashed in Melchi's mind.
'Heart-Eater Snake.'
He'd dismissed it as loser's nonsense at first, but not anymore. Even the mighty Ayutar had died to the Heart-Eater Snake, they said.
'Run...'
He tried to flee, but his body stiffened.
Thud!
Melchi slammed his head into the ground and fell. The snake crawled onto his body.
'Ah.'
So this is how it eats the heart. The snake gaped its mouth wide. With that sight as his last, Melchi died of poisoning.
Your level has increased.
What? You scared me.
Why so weak?
My lethal poison is a very efficient skill. Against weak foes, it wields the might of Lu Bu. Of course, if it doesn't bite, it's useless, and if they have strong poison resistance, they might shrug it off. I thought this executive-looking guy would hold out, but he died before I could even eat his heart.
No matter. I wasn't planning to eat this scrawny goblin anyway. I opened my mouth and tore into him. His coat, that is. Beneath the large coat, his emaciated body was revealed. And there they were. Tiny centipedes.
Hey, babies.
No wonder. A Giant Centipede with the Gentle trait wasn't fighting us willingly. And it clearly didn't want to.
The goblins didn't notice, but as a fellow monster, I saw it right away. It was following orders against its will.
【Traits】
[Gentleness], [Mother]...
The one controlling the Giant Centipede was surprisingly not a hobgoblin, but a plain goblin. Curious what ability it had, I focused my eyes. That's when I saw the baby centipede peeking from its skinny ankle.
【Traits】
[Baby], [Cuteness]
Not the goblin's status window, but the baby centipede's. The puzzle clicked. I punished this absurd goblin kidnapper. Come here, cute babies. Oh, tied up. There were three centipedes. Strings bound around their necks connected to the goblin's body. I chewed through the strings with my teeth.
Hey, behave. Still larvae, they were small, with translucent, yellowish carapaces. No longer than a human forearm, these clever baby centipedes climbed from the goblin's body to mine. Time to go home. To your mom.
Kwaaang!
The Giant Centipede—possibly unaware I'd saved her babies—was still rampaging with thunderous roars. Wait. How do I stop her? Wish I could shout. But luckily, the babies called for mom.
"Kkekekeke."
"Kkeeee, kkekeke."
"Kke—"
So cute how they cry.
The Giant Centipede halted abruptly. Her tiny eyes, small for her massive body, gazed at me intently. Yes, now. I bowed my head politely.
Silence fell. The Giant Centipede bowed back to me. Phew. Relief. The babies on my body dropped off. They crawled onto their upright mother and clung to her belly. She wrapped a pair of legs gently around them. Vowing to protect them now, no matter what.
Ah, so touching—tears welling up. Reminded me of my late Medusa Mom. Though ours turned disobedient kids into bloody pulp. Wonder where Dad is. Want to meet him someday.
‘Centipede's Friend’
Huh!
Second achievement after killing the Guard Captain (tragic accident).
I checked immediately.
【Centipede's Friend】
You have formed a friendly relationship with the fearsome and cruel monster centipedes.
Centipede-type monsters will hold goodwill toward you.
Fearsome and cruel? Total misunderstanding.
Anyway, I want to get along with centipedes from now on. As I thought, they're gentle creatures. She no longer saw us as enemies. Just roaring skyward with her babies in embrace.
"Kkeeeeeeeek!"
Roar away, Giant Centipede. After a refreshing bellow, she charged. Toward dead Melchi and the Crock warriors.
Screams erupted. Splaaat! Melchi's corpse became unrecognizable meat paste. The Crock warriors who dared charge without fleeing met the same fate. The earnest Giant Centipede was terrifyingly strong. Piercing with poison claws, crushing with her massive body. Meaning the Crock tribe's defenses were shattered.
"White... ululululu!"
Charging Nanaruk. I naturally hopped onto her shoulder.
"Let's catch Crock! Everyone, follow the centipede!"
With Centipede Sis scattering the enemy, things got much easier. Runka warriors easily finished off the fleeing Crock goblins. We soon reached the excavation site. Under Elephant Rock. A punched-through hole and traces of artificial structures. Narrow passage barely for one or two people. Among dozens of holes, we found the one Crock entered.
Nanaruk picked a few elite hobgoblins to accompany and ordered the rest to stay.
"Guard this entrance. If they don't come out after a while or something happens, withdraw from the rock!"
Meanwhile, I looked up at the structure.
📍 Dungeon 123, storing magic stones.
Finally here.
-The rat bastard's already inside. Hurry and chase!
Pellelian said that. In my mind, I muttered the line I'd heard endlessly in Dungeon 8.
'Monster intrusion detected. Activating intercept snakes.'
A field of corpses stretched out. All from dungeon traps.
'How many traps did you even set?'
-The more traps, the better. TrapsGood. Fair. But really, tons of goblins dead. Early on, mostly elders. Clearly used as meat shields. Arrows, spears, fire, falls—varied causes. Next, goblins covered in dust powder. Pickaxes scattered around—excavation workers. Finally, burly hobgoblins. Crock's guarding warriors.
Crock had sacrificed even his protectors. We met that tremendous tyrant soon enough. A suspicious cavern opened, with an iron door ahead. Clearly the true final entrance. Same decorations as before.
-That, that worm...!
Crock clung to the door. Nanaruk gritted her teeth and shouted.
"Crock!"
Crock's face was splattered with blood. I blocked Nanaruk from charging. She looked puzzled; Crock licked his lips regretfully.
"Heh heh heh, you idiots."
Half-mad, laughing to himself.
"Came all this way to die. Too bad."
I used mana detection. Ceiling, walls, floor. Everything glowed red.
"One more step and you'd be done for."
Definitely. This dungeon's security was overwhelmingly superior to what I'd broken through.
"Come catch me if you can! Hahaha!"
How'd that bastard cross? There must be a safe path through the traps. But Nanaruk and the goblins couldn't dream of crossing the cavern. Midway, mangled corpses stuck to walls and ceiling.
"Uh-hahaha!"
Shut up with that laugh.
"Tch..."
Nanaruk fumed. Don't worry. I'll show you the path myself.
'Pellnavigation, guide the way.'
-Insolent brat. With the dungeon's actual designer by my side, Pellelian silently began guiding.