Chương 73: Chapter 71 - Panem et circenses

*(mood song: "Guns N' Roses – Welcome To The Jungle")

Erik ran through the tunnels back to the village as fast as he could as the sounds keep getting closer, his avatar body was already tired from earlier though and he was pushing it to the limit.

Luckily or unluckily he saw a young adult crabmen ahead, there was no time for mercy as he pushed past him, knocking him over, it wouldn't earn him much time but it should be a sufficient delay.

He finally was reaching the village cavern, there were guards but they were more focused on the sounds behind him so he threw the guts to the ground, and once inside he started to climb to a safe vantage point, finding a ledge on the tall cave wall.

It was a good place so he set his last camera and hid the square making a hole in the wall with his claw and sealing it with some rocks.

*AAAHHGHHH* *gurgle munch munch*

coming close to the cliff edge he could see the tribe chief and lots of warriors, armed with weapons and surrounding a strange being, it had no eyes and a circular head full of teeth, it then had multiple tentacle-like appendages, that wasn't the most horrifying though, it was the moving bulges in its lower part, as it apparently ate its prey alive, dissolving them slowly over time.

It was currently eating another crabmen as a struggling bulge was visibly traveling down its throat and into its stomach where it joined the other struggling bulges inside.

Another 2 of these monsters then came from the sides, these with moving bulges inside them too, Erik couldn't help but wonder 'Who did those two catch? the bait crabmen with the female? I hope not... they still have work for me to do as rebels'

He saw the crabmen were starting to panic but then the chief stepped forward with a big lance, the size of a pole, and stabbed it through the beast's head.

*SKREEE....*

The beast couldn't react properly as its previous meals were dragging it down and it was easily killed as it was impaled, it twitched a bit more and then died, 'well, he's not the tribal chief for nothing I guess'.

The kill brought back the morale of the other crabmen who came forward and stabbed the other 2 beasts to death, having 3 more casualties as the beasts slammed their tentacles around.

The victory was followed by a loud cheer as they all celebrated 'damn, i might have helped the tribal chief establish his prestige..., now if he offers to eat all together and saves those inside then they will be even more united'

The tribal chief didn't disappoint though as in its greed said "carry them all to my tent!".

All crabmen including Erik were surprised as there were quickly voices of dissent "but chief, what about our brothers inside?"

Trutk seemed to snort at the question "they are already dead, their organs will dissolve slowly after receiving a Rock Crackers poison, they are better eaten by me and becoming part of my strength! the stronger I am! the better!"

Looks of resentment appeared on the crabmen as they carried the 3 carcasses with their struggling brothers still inside to the tribal chief's tent, Erik from his vantage point could see the tribal chief's eyes squinting with greed, Erik was cheering for him on his mind 'woohoo that's the way to go chief! plant that hate and water it until it blooms into the precious flower of rebellion! now there's a mob of scared and hungry people down there...' Erik squinted his eyes happily as he schemed, he remembered his warfare trainer's words from his time on earth "find your enemies enemies, if he doesn't have..., then make them!"

The crabmen were angrily and nervously pacing around the tribe, most of the males deciding to take it out on the slaves, some being crabwomen from other tribes as there were some darker and smaller ones between them, most of them losing most of their legs and being raped by the stressed and hungry meatheads.

Then they all smelled something in the water and paused... it smelled like food, like the glow worms they all used to eat, they then saw the traitor Rukud coming while he dragged dozens of glow worms on his back, what greed to have so much food for himself when they were hungry! they all instantly surrounded him with angry expressions, ready to kill him and get his prey, then it happened something that left them dumbfounded.

Erik, being surrounded by them just smiled, taking the prey out of his back he just threw them around to the masses, as it was said during roman times *Panem et circenses (Bread and circuses)*, to keep the masses happy you need to feed and entertain them, Trutk had just taken their food, and while there were the slaves for entertainment, Trutk kept most of them, him giving them food now would earn the favor of the masses.

As Erik elevated his claws, the noisy crowd quieted down as he started talking "Trutk has stolen from you and ate your brothers alive once more, right this instant he could be opening them up and eating them, and the worst thing of all, a wretched taboo... HE WASTES FOOD!"

--- that earned a gasp from the crowd, as he had found it was taboo to waste food for the crab people --- "I saw it with my own eyes! there inside his tent, he has dozens of corpses of all kinds, he's a picky eater only eating the parts that he likes while we remain HUNGRY!" -- lots of crabmen faces got serious at this point -- "Why should we allow such felony?! what he can't or won't eat should be given to the rest of us! it's ours, and he's stealing our property!" --nods of assent were appearing on the surrounding crabmen-- "today... I bring you all food, while he just stole the prey you just caught with the sacrifice of your brothers and friends! so I just ask you one thing... FOLLOW ME TO HIS TENT TO SEE THE TRUTH! if he doesn't allow us inside that will only prove my words as the truth!"

The crabmen around were rallied up as they let him through, following as he slowly walked to the chief's tent, not all went as some were the chief's descendants, but most of the others were following him.

[what's the plan? you will probably die if you go now]

Erik: [it doesn't matter if I win or die, I will win both ways]

[...what do you mean?]

Erik chuckled: [if I win I would become the next chief and have lots of chances indeed, but if I die I will become a symbol, a martyr...]

[...that doesn't seem like it would work...]

Erik: [it's been proven multiple times through human history, people love hero's and martyrs, as long as you inspire them, then they will follow after you, that's all it's needed and I just did that, now I need a memorable moment, a fight with Trutk will work just fine kekeke~]

[... ( ' - ' )...]

The angry mob followed him as he reached the Chief's tend, with the hulking crabman soon coming out after hearing the approaching commotion.

Trutk was confused, seeing Rukud at the front he became elated though "I see you captured the traitor! good good! he will too become part of my strength soon!"

Rukud (Erik) smiled to that 'that's it Trutk, you are playing your part beautifully!' his face was serious though as he said "really? and will you eat me completely or just my head? we know you have been wasting food Trutk! i saw it with my own eyes, do you admit to that?!"

Trutk was confused, and could only lightly deny it "that's nonsens-"

Erik cut him though "as you can see, he's trying to deny us passage! that's proof of his guilt!" inside thinking 'that's it, come on now meathead, get angry~'

As a good meathead not used to words or to being challenged, Trutk instantly resolved to violence, being too stupid to even understand what was happening, he struck the floor with his claws, *THUMP!* creating a loud thud that resonated all around, followed by a roar "ALL OF YOU SHUT UP! WHAT IF I EAT MORE OR LESS, WHAT IF I KILL YOU OR WHATEVER! YOU ARE ALL WEAKER THAN ME! YOU BELONG TO ME! AND YOU WILL DO WHAT I SAY, OR I WILL DEVOUR YOU ALL!!!"

Erik felt the need to start clapping that instant 'what a good partner you are Trutk, you even managed to exceeded my expectations~' "did you see that people?! if we don't stop him now his cruelty will continue! you could be the next to die! charge him!"

The result was totally out of Trutk's expectations as dozens of crabmen charged at him, he was instantly enraged though, easily crushing the first 2 that got closer, and more soon as the desperate crabmen launched themselves forward, the chiefs roars accompanied by plumes of pheromones he constantly spit into the water to mark his dominance.

Erik could have helped at any point but he was waiting for the perfect moment and it soon came when all the crabmen that came with him were corpses on the ground or their pieces floated around.

The RockCrab Chief (Trutk) turned to Erik triumphally "well well Rukud, what now? you thought you could defeat me with just this? you obviously killed the other guard to eat him but saw the others coming and ran away, even dared to come back and steal from me, you are a traitor and still, you came back again, or maybe you are colluding with another tribe huh? who are they? the shadow spike tribe? I ate their chief's daughter some time ago after all..." he saw Rukud not answering and continued "well, it doesn't really matter, your little rebellion is over, just tell me now and I might let you have a quick death Rukud, what will it be?"

Erik was thinking 'I'm really sorry but the reality is much worse, an alien from another part of the galaxy has replaced your subordinates brain with a nanobot neuron computer and is controlling him remotely... hehe the look on his face would be~ priceless... wait... their faces don't have much expression but I can still tell at a glance... oh well I don't care anymore' his face widely smiled and charged at the panting chief.

He avoided 1 claw and saw one of the chiefs front legs unprotected 'keke~ take this old ma-'

[avoid- too late...]

He never saw the chiefs right claw coming from the side as it went through his side puncturing his organs, it was a mortal wound, the tank sized Trutk using it to bring him to his face, and saying "I don't know how you got those mutations, but I will just get them after I eat you- huh?" he noticed Rukuds pincer clamp his left shoulder and start to make noises "heh? you think you can damage my perfect-"

* BRRRRZZZ! CRACK! *

The chainsaw then started running fast in an overclocking mode, as he applied pressure, it cut through and cut Trutk's left arm to the ground, splitting the flesh and exoskeleton.

"kukuku~ what about that old crab?" said Erik as the overclocked chainsaw overheated and cooked his own claw's flesh, getting jammed from it, his insides were also hurting a lot as his eyes were bloodshot 'i need to make a pain dial option for the next one'

Trutk on his part just froze as he really wasn't expecting it, that a weakling had actually managed to hurt him. Seeing his confused face Erik just laughed and shouted, going for a second hit "WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE! OLD MA-!" his world went black though, as Trutk tore him apart and beat his corpse to paste in anger.

--- Back at the base ---

Erik's body spasmed as the pain of being torn apart had been transmitted, then he took deep breaths and started laughing out loud "Jajaja JAJAJA TAKE THAT YOU FUCKING CRAB!" he panted a bit after having vented his emotions. Only then did he start feeling his human body, he felt super heavy as he looked down and his eyes almost popped out "INKY!!!!!!!!! DAMMIT!!!!!!" His belly was inflated enough that 2 basketballs could fit inside, a wonder how he was even still alive!.

Inky that had been about to go in for another round of egg nutting, heard his enraged roar and swiftly ran away.

[kukuku~ would you look at that~~~ (๑´ڡ`๑)]

Erik: [shut up, damn I need to stand up...]

He stood up on trembling legs "what?.." but the floor was slippery and he fell to the floor.

[jajajaja so funny jajaja! (≧▽≦)]

Erik didn't even answer back as he stood there on the semen and egg covered floor, blankly looking at the ceiling, then looking down as eggs started to come out of himself, then looking at all the mess around, 'She's gonna clean this mess herself even if it has to cost me my life I VOW TO THAT!'