ã€ŠRe: Spiderlingã€‹


 Prologue: Creation

    ¡°Ugh... Am I.... Am I dead?!¡°

    A vast expanse of darkness stretched on before my eyes, filling my horizon with its profound emptiness; prompting a groan followed by a question doubting my very existence.

    ''What is this? Where the hell am I?! I can''t be dead, can I!?'', I began to panick in the bottomless chasm that hold me in its gaping maw.

    My heart began racing as the only conclusion that came to mind kicked in. ''This couldn''t be real, right? I... I need to remember!''

    There... There was this guy. Suspicious, straight out of a criminal movie even. Face covered behind a deep hanging cowl. Skin tight bomber jacket and a large black cinch bag clinging to his shoulders. Yes... yes! I remember!

    We had lunch break when that guy stormed into the cafeteria, mumbling incoherent mumbo jumbo with frothing spittle hanging from his face. The door wide open, sunlight invading into the somewhat dimly illuminated room. Even with sunglasses on I could still see the bloodshot eyes of the man, cold and mad he glared us down.

    I felt the danger, I knew..., -Who am I kidding?- we all knew what was about to happen but we choose not to intervene. We clung onto a false hope. ''Someone would come, someone will help us! There is now ay this can be happening...'', but it did happen...

    The first shot signalled the unfolding bloodshed. The madman took out some kind of rifle, I was never one that was particulary fond of weapons, and began the mass-shooting; he began to execute us! Without mercy he pointed this instrument of death into the crowd made of living flesh.

    Hot lead smashed through skin, bones and will. Seconds passed when the first salvo was fired, when the first humans turned into masses of unrecognizable muscle and tissue. Broken laughter, insane cackles, mixed with the wondrous ra-ta-ta, captivating us, us lost lambs, in its bloody dissonance.

    *BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!* A thick two barrled shotgun claimed the next few lives. -The grim reaper didn''t come at us with a scythe, he came in the form of human ingenuity-. Thick slugs tore open the throng of students. The thunderous bangs echoed through our heads, literal thunderclaps left us stunned and pinned to the ground. Why is this happening to us? Why God, oh why?!

    *BANG! BANG! BANG!*

    I wrestled with the terror that festered deep inside, but the tides of battle were in favor of the chilling angst. I would die, I was certain of it.

    Crouched behind a toppled table I watched with keen eyes, eyes that didn''t belong to me anymore but to the darkness in my heart, how the man marched over lifeless heaps of flesh, people I have once called friends. Fear pervaded through to my very core; my body wouldn''t move to my will anymore.

    A gloved hand reached for a bed of blonde hair. Pulled by the golden strands the frail body stood up on weak legs and trembling knees, I continued to gawk in disgust.

    ¡°Let me go! LET ME GO!¡°, I heard the scream, resonating in my rattled brain. ¡°PLEASE! GOD! SOMEONE, HELP ME!¡°, the girl screamed, a dark nuzzle pressed against her head, thin wisps of smoke trailing into the air. ¡°Hmph!¡°, a dissatisfied grunt escaped the man.

    ¡°NOOOOOOO-!!!!¡° *Click. BOOOOOM!*

    Red sprayed through the air, once more, sprinkling us shivering humans in vermillion magnificience.

    With callous eyes, mechanical, the man kicked the corpse into a corner. Unwavering he walked towards his next victim.

    I was no hero, I was one of those people that looked, watched on with horror rooted in their marrow, their sights anchored to the brutal spectacle that was unfolding. ''Someone has to stop him! Where is the fucking police?!'', I cursed, I cried inside my mind. Was there no God? We were goddamn students only! We had so much to live for!

    ¡°Please... Please don''t.¡°. *BOOM!*.

    ¡°Have mercy.¡°. *BOOM!*.

    ¡°Father, mother!¡°. *BOOM!*

    ¡°Ellias, I always loved you...¡°. *BOOM!*

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    No...... There is no God, there was never a God in this world, in this playground for the devil.

    Reality cared little for the innocent, the weak, the unfortunate. In life there was no thread that led you towards the path you seek. There was nothing like that. Human lives matter little if one thinks about it, its not like we contributed much to the universe, to anything really. In the face of creation we are nothing more than a short blink.Such philosophical non-sense did not drift through my mind. All I was thinking about was my family and friends.

    Death was the humans'' last destination, it always was and will be. But it doesn''t mean that you can''t curse this fact. I hated the idea of death, I hated it since I could think. I don''t want to die, I don''t want anyone else to die.

    You would never see these people again, NEVER! And neither would they see you. All that was left behind would be sadness. Your future, gone, your life, gone, memories, gone, emotions... gone. Death was absolute, it would take everything from you. That''s why I feared it so much.

    *Thud. Thud. Thud.*

    ¡°Hahahah... hahahahahhaHAHAHAAHAH!¡°, I don''t know why but I was the only one left alive, hiding behind thin wood riddled with fine holes and smeared with crimson blood. It was a wonder that I had yet to die.

    I laughed manically. What else should I do in the face of despair and death? I wanted to cry, I really wanted to, but to no avail.

    The tears wouldn''t come out, the sadness overwhelming and yet I couldn''t show it.

    ¡°Hehehehehe! HEHEHEHAHAHAHAAHAH!¡°, the man chimed in with his feverish laughter, the black rod that killed so many of my friends pointed between my eyes.

    ¡°Someone who understands...¡°, the man mumbled, his face sporting a crocked grin. ¡°Come with me! Let''s show them all the humans'' depravity!¡°, the madman actually thought I shared his sentiments. He reached for me with his bloodstained hands

    ¡°HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH!¡°, I couldn''t hold it in, my stomach cramped and I keeled to the side, swatting his hand aside with my own. ¡°Fuck you!.... HAHAHAHAHA!¡°, with middlefinger raised, fostering a wide grin, I waited for the click.

    ¡°Bastard!¡°, a final whisper, insult, reached my ears. *Click. BOOM!*

    A searing hot pain assaulted my mind before the cold grip of death pulled me into the abyss.

    ¡°I-I am dead... ain''t I?¡°, who was I even asking? I had no answer to this question. I was simply curious about my conscious death-state in this perpetual darkness. Some explanation came to my mind. Maybe I wasn''t dead and just inside a deep coma, but then I had to ask myself. Would I rather live for who knows how long inside a husk that was once human or simply accept my fate, my death? I was inclined towards the second choice.

    What is beyond death, I always asked this myself. I could come up with many theories but this infinite scape of darkness certainly baffled me.

    ¡°Yes... You are dead.¡°, all around me the darkness answered my question. The voice was neither pleasant nor unpleasant, young nor old, calm nor impatient. It was the perfect equilibrium of light and dark.

    Before I had the chance to ask for the whos'', whats'' and whys'' the everlasting view of blackness was exchanged by a wide room of unblemished white.

    A sudden pull brought me hard onto the marbled ground. *Argh!*

    It definetly hurt.

    I rubbed my behind, the graveness of the situation yet to catch up to my mind. Leisurely I stood up from the cold ground. My body felt weak, breathing was hard and my chest ached.

    I rubbed the sore spot with my fleshen hands. Whatever I did the aching did not stop, it only got worse, it hurt extremely! When i couldn''t endure it anymore, when I knelt onto the ground from pain I got a quick glimpse of what was supposed to be my chest.

    A large, gaping hole existed where once my chest was. The edges were rough, the flesh bursted apart, and the bones were visible, sticking out and hungry for fresh air.

    ¡°What the fuck!?¡°, I screamed and rolled around on the ground, whatever that was keeping the pain bearable suddenly turned off.

    My limbs flailed around on their own volition, their movements dictated by the seething pain that was threatening to split apart my own self. I cried and shouted as the blood trickled onto the white underground, painted a gruesome picture of a lost fight against death.

    ¡°Enough.¡°, the voice boomed through my head once again and brought with it a freshening gust of air. The pain stopped and suprisingly the wound also disappeared.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    I wiped the snot, tears and spittle from my face with my dirty sleeve, I didn''t notice that I was still in my school uniform. My legs shivered, if the pain were to return I didn''t know how long I would be able to endure.

    The question that plagued my mind was finally voiced out after I recollected my wits.

    ¡°Where am I? Who are you?¡°, brazenly I directed my gaze into the giant though empty white room.

    ¡°You are merely inside me, inside my domain, my kingdom. And who am I? I wonder. Maybe if you rack your brain you will come to an answer?¡°, the voice asked back.

    ¡°God?¡°, I asked more than answered.

    ¡°You humans certainly see me like that. But as for myself? I don''t know either. Maybe there is something bigger, something wiser above me. Though it matters not for now.¡°

    So... Right now I was talking to God. Unbelievable! Impossible!

    ¡°You don''t believe me?¡°, the room began quaking and space distorted. My senses weren''t quick enough to notice the massive giant that stood now before me. I tripped and fell back when the titan made itself noticeable with a light stomp.

    It was a bizarre creature. Four arms, four legs, neither male nor female with a face that was no face and yet all faces at the same time. My brain was unable to keep up with the devine might this being emanated.

    ¡°You-You are God?¡°, I asked with trembling voice. Something about this creature made my soul shudder.

    ¡°Indeed, I am.¡°, the giant answered while staying unmoving.

    As I raised my voice to speak out again I was interrupted by God.

    ¡°Stop. I already know what you want to ask.¡°, the eight-limbed being continued on.

    ¡°There are indeed other beings in the universe. You were not the only ones I created, merely the weakest I created. As saddening as it may sound your species was in reality only a mean to keep me entertained. Because you were the weakest it was the most fun to see you guys grow, evolve beyond your original capabilities. I really enjoyed it. As for why you die and are born... That way things are kept fresh for me, new people, new adventures. Simple as that. And now your final question. Yes, you are certainly dead and will soon be reincarnated.¡°

    What?

    The cyclopean human began moving, kneeling down to face me with his expressionless head. Each movement exuded power beyond comprehension. It was ineffable power that nothing on earth could compare to.

    This couldn''t be real. I didn''t really die, did I? Next second I know it I would wake up in my snug little appartement complex, relax on my couch, play some videogames, get bored, meet up with friends for the night and get drunk, get back home, laugh it all off and go to sleep. Yeah, this was just a dream, none of this was real. This CAN''T be real!

    ¡°Hohoho... But it is. This is as real as it gets. Ever heard of the 21 grams? The weight of the soul. This is what you are right now, just a soul. Nothing of this is real as in having a solid form but real as in reality.¡°, the giant tilted its head to the side.

    ¡°Since the human race entertained me sufficiently I will grant you reincarnation into a world of your desires. And no, you are not the only one being reincarnated but the chance that you will see old friends, family or acquaintances is slim. The reason being that I will create a world for you guys from scratch. How does that sound? A world just for you, everything you want at your beck and call.¡°, the offer was tempting, too tempting in fact but right now my mind was a mess. I couldn''t think clearly much less make a choice that will decide my next life.

    What the hell was really going on?!

    ¡°Just tell me a few keywords and I will create the world fit to your wishes. I won''t even read your mind to make things more interesting. Let me help you.¡°

    While I was still wracking my brain over an answer my vision was covered by the giant''s hand, only a finger to be exact. Gently I felt God''s touch upon my head, a cold whilst warm sensation ran through my veins, my flesh, my skin. I felt reinvigorated, alive, and most of all the haze clouding my judgement was lifted.

    ¡°Now, tell me what you want.¡°, God spoke softly. It was such an harmonious voice, I could listen to it forever.

    ¡°Women, power, love, whatever you want, I will give it to you.¡°, again, the offer was literally the offer of my lifetime. This choice was what would decide my future. There were so many possibilities. I could just recreate my own earth, live my life as I did before. But who would want that?

    Life on earth was lacking, that''s how most people see it but for me it was plainly boring. I wouldn''t mind to continue on with my life on earth, but... all the possibilities!

    I could become a God even, a God in my own world, suited to my wishes. But then again, would it be boring? Can a life filled solely by happiness be considered a happy life, without the contrast of sadness? I wouldn''t know what happiness is, take it for granted and life would turn out like it did on earth.

    ¡°God...¡°, wow, I really thought I had more pep behind my voice.

    ¡°Can you reincarnate me in an already existing world?¡°, what I wanted was adventure. As much as I would like to deny it, the childish thrist for the unknown still prevailed inside me, and I believe it does so in others as well.

    ¡°I can already imagine it, many people of your era choose this option. Reincarnation into a fantasy world, a nice idea, ordinary but good nonetheless.¡°

    This is what I wanted, what many people dreamt off.

    ¡°Could you give me some kind of power that makes me stand out from the masses? Something unique.¡°

    ¡°Certainly, cerntainly. The best chocie would be the ''Interface''. Much like in games on Earth you will be equipped with an interface that allows you quick overview of your status and, most of all, unlimited potential through ''level-ups''. What do you say?¡°

    Interesting..... But will I be satisfied with something like that? Dammit, the choices are to much for me!

    Maybe... Maybe I should choose to stay on earth... keep on living from day to day. Should I? No. This is the only chance I get, I think, to get the life I always wished for! Only a fool would turn his back to such an offer.

    ¡°I want things to be more interesting, to make my life a daily battle for survival, I want the power of evolution on my side. You said that humans evolved beyond their actual capabilities, I will show you that we can do even so much more!¡°, I don''t know where this newfound enthusiasm originated from but right now I was pumped for a life of battle, blood and survival.

    ¡°Heeee.... Good choice.¡°, I believed to see the smallest of smiles on the face of God.

    ¡°I guess you don''t wanna start your new journey as human?¡°

    Naturally I shook my head.

    ¡°Hum... I guess creating a new species from scratch is fun as well.¡°, God contemplated and all of a sudden a tune was hummed from his lip-less face. I waited only for a few instants before a blue light blinded my sights.

    A screen appeared before me, a 3D model of the creature I will be born into was churning inside the blue light. It was a bizarre creature, a mix between spiders and nightmares. It looked somewhat like a spider but when one saw the jagged legs, the pitchblack carapace, the mass of spines protruding from the thorax and abdomen, the twin fangs dripping with sizzling poison and the two grotesque eyes that starred straight into your soul one would have a heartattack for sure.

    ¡°Let''s call it... Hum... Terrantula?¡° yeah... the name was certainly fitting. But... really, God? Terror and tarantula? That''s all you got?

    ¡°Something more scientific would sound better. Ophitula for example. Snake poison and tarantula.¡°, God nodded to my words. Then I realized: ''What was I actually doing?''

    I was discussing the name for some kind of demonic spider I will be born into with no one less than the creator of the universe itself. This situation was... was... I don''t even fucking know. How did it come to this?

    ¡°Ophitula... Hum... That lacks this certain... Wham!... You know?¡°, I would have never believed that God would be so chummy with me. This is derailing into something inconceivable.

    I liked the spider idea very much, alone to control its body would be a challenge, even more so my cannibalistic siblings and mother nature wanting me in its earthen embrace. This life would be far from boring.

    ¡°Your memories will be kept or else you won''t be able to keep your promise. To show me what humans are truly capable off. I am trembling in excitement already.¡°, God gave me a little nudge in the side, pushing me into a dark hole waiting on the ground.

    ¡°When did yo-!¡°, I was cut short as the void suffocated me.

    That''s it then... off to my new life! I wonder where all my pessimism, sadness and anxiousness went. God''s doing? Humph... whatever.

 Chapter 001: Reborn; Yuk!

    (Next chapter I will go voer the actual numerical values of the stats and how they come to be. Beware! A bit of math will be lurking in the next chapter. I warned you! Enjoy it anyway, though its pretty short. :D )

    ''So... That''s that then?'', I contemplated in the everlasting darkness.

    Once again I was back in this strangely familiar yet foreign plane of existence, where I was neither real nor fake, where the only truth was darkness.

    Minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, YEARS, passed -or maybe just a few seconds really- before a noticeable change took place.

    It was nothing less than a quaking ripping apart the fundamentals of reality, a tremor gripping my soul and shaking it about violently. It was a chaotic upheaval of enormous magnitude, and to be honest I was quite scared.

    Listlessly yet terrified I waited for what was about to come, the unknown. World-shaking tremors were exchanged by a malcious vortex that threatened to tear me apart. My body convulsed, whatever my body was at the moment, baulking against the voracious current that pulled me deep into a second void. In instants my body felt limp, mentally tired I gave in to the temptation, to the force that washed me away.

    My eyes closed as another form of darkness took over me.

    Heavy and tired, the first emotions that came to mind when I pryed open my heavy eyelids. It was still dark, exceptionally dark like inside a sealed off room without exit, a revolting thought. Being imprisoned without escape, I would not wish for that.

    It took me a good minute to realize that I was inside something, in a whole lot of different meanings. I was inside a BODY and this body was inside something else that was keeping me confined.

    I nearly laughed when I remembered the conversation with God. I was a baby spider for pete''s sake! Why did I realize it only now?!

    And most certainly, it felt extraordinarily disgusting. Though I willed them not to my four other apendages began to explore the sticky inside of the egg on their own. Curious they, well... I, pressed my legs against the squishy membrane covering the shell, endulging in the springy texture of the tissue and the sense of touch. I really missed that inside the... let''s call it... ''True Darkness''.

    What I needed to do was already planned, listed and orderly arrayed inside my incredibly small yet potent brain, no I am not a bird brain! Why am I so relaxed?

    Anyway, I began to put some force behind my limbs, not only trying to feel the interior but to actually rend it open with all my might! Commencing with light pokes and continuing on with some jabs against the shell I got a wonderful *Crack* sound as response after a few minutes of probing and poking.

    It was a crisp clear sound, the first sound I listened to in this foreign and dangerous world. When abominations like me could exist there would be without a doubt even more dangerous creatures out there. This was my first step, a delightful one filled with promises of riches and adventure.

    Now, onward!

    I charged the eggshell heroically, zeal fueling my every move. It was not the time to hesitate! Freedom awaits!

    *BAM!* My small body proprelled against the pallisade of calcite like a mighty battering ram. *BAM!* The heaven defying structure was wavering, the smallest of indentations making itself clear to my tender touch. *BAM!* A crushing blow breached a hole through the wall, but it was not big enough for my hulking physique. *BAM!* Splinters ricocheted everywhere, the unfortunate poleaxed by the sharp smithereens.... What am I doing?

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Back to being serious.

    I was so close to opening this damned shell but as I am still a small critter, newly born even, my stamina is not so... ehhhhh... adequate? Yeah, let''s leave it at that.

    Exhausted mentally and physically, by my insane endeavour, I slumped back into the warm and cozy intestines of my first home in this world. Arbitraily my thoughts wandered towards my old life, what happened to me and the talk with the actual God. It was absolutely fantastic, impossible! But here I am, drifting off into sleep inside the shell of a newborn spider. Was this some kind of wicked game which purpose I had yet to figure out?

    ''A game! Right!'', thunderstruck the sally of genius left me with wide open mouth... ehm... fangs.

    God told me about the interface. It surely had to be... No way...

    ''I...Interface?'', I meekly asked, not daring to make a fool out of myself. No response.

    ''Status?'' *SCHOOM!*

    Startled I flinched back. ''Those panels are to damn fast!'', though I was complaining my eyes were still glued onto the bluish window covering my sights.

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td>Name:</td><td>None</td><td>Level:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Race:</td><td>Ophitula Hatchling</td><td>Age:</td><td>19 years</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>BODY</td><td colspan=''2''>MIND</td></tr><tr><td>HP:</td><td>10/10</td><td>MP:</td><td>220/220</td></tr><tr><td>Vitality:</td><td>1</td><td>Intelligence:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Strength:</td><td>1</td><td>Wisdom:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina:</td><td>1</td><td>Willpower:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Agility:</td><td>10</td><td>Tenacity:</td><td>1.5%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>NEUTRAL</td></tr><tr><td>Damage:</td><td>2</td><td>Charm:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Defense:</td><td>1</td><td>Charisma:</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table>

    This was an actual, actual, actual game!

    But... what are those weak-ass stats? Goddamn! -Please God, forgive me.-

    I was not even considered a glasscanon or something like that, I was a piece of bread at most! 2 Damage? That couldn''t be good. 1 strength? Could I only lift a pebble or what?

    At that time I was kinda oblivious to the fact that I was a newborn spider and had no way to actually know the value of insects, or even humanoids for that matter, in this world. I would have been a hella lot more jubilant had I known that. But at that moment? I was... sad, as if somebody has ripped off my wings that formed the path towards happiness and awesomeness all together. Those stats were, yuk! I don''t even want to think about it! Intelligence my ass, where are my OP abilties, racial traits, unqiue titles? Where are they?! Dammit....

    Tomorrow first thing in the morning, break free from your shackles. Next step, eat and grow stronger! Bam! That''s a plan!

 Chapter 002: Woah!

    (This chapter is really short! Most of it consists of tables so only a few paragraphs worth of text are here. I still hope you enjoy this little chapter, no need for you guys to do the math, I will do it anyway :/ Enjoy! :D ) +Mistakes will be corrected some other time.

    ''Wait a minute.'', I halfway cracked through the shell before halting my advance. Was there all to this info sheet? To this oh so unqiue ability? No way.

    ''There has to be something more....'', I mused and lolled my many limbs, falling back into the wonderful squishiness.

    ''Status!'', I called out. *SCHOOM!*. The obnoxious noise rang through my head like a steam roller.

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td>Name:</td><td>None</td><td>Level:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Race:</td><td>Ophitula Hatchling</td><td>Age:</td><td>19 years</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>BODY</td><td colspan=''2''>MIND</td></tr><tr><td>HP:</td><td>10/10</td><td>MP:</td><td>220/220</td></tr><tr><td>Vitality:</td><td>1</td><td>Intelligence:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Strength:</td><td>1</td><td>Wisdom:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina:</td><td>1</td><td>Willpower:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Agility:</td><td>10</td><td>Tenacity:</td><td>1.5%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>NEUTRAL</td></tr><tr><td>Damage:</td><td>2</td><td>Charm:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Defense:</td><td>1</td><td>Charisma:</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table>

    Hum.... There had to be something else. This short summary of my stats couldn''t be all, right? Yes... Let''s try this.

    ''Stats?'', I waited... welp, nothing.

    ''Uhm....Name!'' *SCHOOM!*. Goodness gracious! This jumpscare would kill me someday.

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>NAME:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>The name of a creature is not a mere tag, a word, a subriquet, it is much much more.

    It is a guide, a pointer, towards fate and destiny; to uncover its meaning is your true purpose.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Choose your name?</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>YES</td><td colspan=''2''>NO</td></tr></tbody></table>

    ''Wait, what? My name is unknown...so... I got no name? Why? Why do I need a name? I already have one. My name is.... uhm... my name is... uhhhh... I think it was something with H... or J? .... What was my name again?! I-I can''t fucking remember!''

    I didn''t realize what was happening to me at that time, the toll weighing on my mind, the burden left behind by the process of reincarnation.

    For now I was simply panicking, worrying about my loss of identity. For 19 years I had the same name, I knew it since I could remember; a memento of my parents. And right now? It was gone, vanished from my few memories and left me with a yawning void deep inside my heart. I won''t see my family again but at least I had a name that would keep their brilliant faces alight but now that this fire is gone I wonder how much longer it would take for me to lose more than just my name. Where was my precious keepsake?

    In the limited space of the shell I began pacing around, what should I do? Would the name give me certain advantages? Would I someday remember and regret what I had done, to run around with a different name, shaming my family. I was frightened witless that I would forget about my past self, my name being the only focal point that connected to the old world. What should I do?!

    I searched for answeres inside my staggered mind, dug through my old grey matter, before deciding to postpone this important decision for a later date. It had great importance, but right now survival and information where the topmost tasks I had to fulfill.

    ''No.'', I thought out aloud and the panel vanished. For a moment I thought I lost my chance to rename myself but after cheking once I got the same window pop up again. Lucky.

    Skimming through the different stats I got notices like these:

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Intelligence:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>The ability to store mana and cast spells. A must have for any magician.

    1 Intelligence equals 4 MP.

    (1 Int= 4 MP)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Vitality:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>The essence of life; the more vitality the harder it is to go down.

    1 Vitality equals 8 HP.

    (1 Vit= 8 HP)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Strength:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>You wanna tear your enemies apart with bare hands? Wrestle with dragons and Gods?

    Choose this!

    1 Strength equals 1 Damage.

    (1 Str= 1 Dmg)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Wisdom:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Wisdom facilitates memorization, strategic thinking, lowers cooldowns and heightens MP regeneration.

    (A tomato is a fruit, it would be wise to NOT add it to your fruitsalad.)

    1 Wisdom equals 0.1% cooldown reduction, to a maximum cap of 50% without items or buffs AND 2 MP regeneration per minute.

    (1 Wis= 0.1% Cdr + 2 MP regen per minute)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Stamina:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Jump into the fray or sound the retreat, stamina is indispensable.

    1 Stamina equals 1 Defense AND 1 HP regeneration per minute.

    (1 Sta= 1 Def + 1 HP regen per minute)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Willpower:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>With a strong mind you will not falter, will not be stopped, WILL NOT LOSE!

    1 Willpower decreases duration of mind focused crowd controls by 0.1% to a maximum cap of 99.9%

    (1 Wil= 0.1% decreased duration of fear, taunt, charm, mind control, confusion and paralysis.)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Agility:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>As light as a feather and as fast as a thunderbolt.

    Agility gives you higher movement speed, reaction time and precision -Non-numerical value-, as well as reducing physical focused crowd control by 0.1% to a maximum cap of 99.9%

    (1 Agi= 0.1% decreased duration of stun and root and potency of slows)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Tenacity:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Body and mind are one, a whole, two sides of the same coin. Ying and Yang.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.1% Tenacity equals a 1% chance to resist crowd control of any kind.

    (1% Ten= 1% chance of cc resistance)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    Those were the important stats, not gonna explain charm and charisma, or are you that dumb?

    Anyway, those stats didn''t add up.

    If Vitality gives me 8 HP, why do I have 10 HP instead? The same goes with Intelligence.

    It should give me 4 MP each, so that would give me a total of 200, but instead I have 220. Its not that I don''t appreciate it but I am rather curious about those small boosts that are added up.

    Let''s investigate!

    ''Health.'' *SCHOOM!*

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Health:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Health, or HP, is a numerical value describing your life force. Once it runs out you will die.

    1 Vitality equals 8 HP, added to it is X Strength + X Stamina = X additional HP divided by a factor 1 with a 0.1 increase for each 50 Points of Agility. (Caping at the factor 2.)</td></tr></tbody></table>

    That was pretty acurate, but really God? Variables? I have had enough of curve sketching already! All those X''s and Y''s, *Shiver*, a nightmare in navy ink.

    So, if my health has these kinds of hidden values and summations then my mana will surely have some as well. Though I would love to see my regen. stats from the bat instead of calculating them myself.

    *DING!* *SCHOOM!*

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Do you want to add HP and MP regen. to your statboard?</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>YES</td><td colspan=''2''>NO</td></tr></tbody></table>

    Well... that makes it a whole lot easier to keep my stats in check. ''Yes! I''d love to!'', hope the last part won''t mess up this whole system.

    *DING!* *SCHOOM!*

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>UPDATE NOTICE!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td>Name:</td><td>None</td><td>Level:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Race:</td><td>Ophitula Hatchling</td><td>Age:</td><td>19 years</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>BODY</td><td colspan=''2''>MIND</td></tr><tr><td>HP:</td><td>10/10</td><td>MP:</td><td>220/220</td></tr><tr><td>HP regen.:</td><td>1/min</td><td>MP regen.:</td><td>100/min</td></tr><tr><td>Vitality:</td><td>1</td><td>Intelligence:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Strength:</td><td>1</td><td>Wisdom:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina:</td><td>1</td><td>Willpower:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Agility:</td><td>10</td><td>Tenacity:</td><td>1.5%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>NEUTRAL</td></tr><tr><td>Damage:</td><td>2</td><td>Charm:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Defense:</td><td>1</td><td>Charisma:</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table>

    Nice.

    But that was not what I intended to do at first. ''Ahem! Mana!''

    *SCHOOM!*

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>Mana:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Mana, also known as MP, is the essence of miracles. With it one can perform mind boggling actions, defying logic and common sense, a truly wondrous energy; basal yet so refined.

    1 Intelligence equals 4 MP, added to it is X Wisdom divided by the factor 2.5, lowered to the factor 1.5 at level 50 and to 0.5 at level 100.</td></tr></tbody></table>

    ''Woah!'', that means at level 100 I get to my intelligence twice the amount of wisdom added up! The ratio of health to mana seems kind low though, which means... Magic has to be overpowered! Now I really need to hurry, I need to leave soonest!

    *RUMBLE. RUMBLE. RUMBLE.*

    Jesus.... this doesn''t sound good.

    I... need... to... leave!

    *CRACK!* *SMASH!*

    My efforts paid out as I flopped face first onto a cold and hard surface, my mandibles cracked and my limbs, made visible by naught but my night vision, bend into weird angles. Did... Did I just cripple myself? First thing in the morning?

    Fortunately it seems my body is more resilient than I thought and soon enough I was able to entangle my weird new limbs. Next thing I realized was my non-existent training with these bizarre... stilts? Inside the egg it was so cozy, always being rocked back and forth by its slimy innards, but right now? No chance! Gravity and this unbalanced body did their utmost best to keep me from standing up.

    Its already hard enough to coordinate four limbs, but eight?! Did I truly make the right decision, couldn''t I have just chosen the reincarnation as a... hum, I don''t know, motherfucking Dragongod maybe?! I and my fucking ego, who am I even trying to impress? God? Nah...

    Enough about my pitiful rant.

    And so I tried for minutes to stand up only to fall down again and repeat the same process over and over and over and over and over again. I can''t say it felt good to trip and smash my head into the ground repeatedly. At one point I could even detect a slight nick of 1 HP in my health. All this tripping made me outright dizzy and queasy.

    *RUMBLE! RUMBLE!*, oh! There it was again, louder and more intense this time.

    I really thought my senses were better, after all I could see my legs in this dim lighting -completely oblivious to the fact of the hundreds of spiderlings skittering about- but I got proven wrong as the source of the noise picked me up although it should still be a few yards apart from my struggling body.

    ''Please... don''t kill me whatever you are.'', I prayed while inside the iron grip of whatever it was that held me up into the air.

    *DING!* *SCHOOM!*

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>The skill ''Detection'' was automatically added to your skilltree!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Detection: The ability to detect and analyse structure, components and whole organisms.</td></tr><tr><td>Mastery:</td><td>0.1/100%</td><td>Level:</td><td>Beginner</td></tr></tbody></table>

    *Gulp* ''..... Detect?....''

    *DING!*

    [table=#800000]<tr><td colspan=''4''>Broodmother Arachnee </td></tr><tr><td>Level: </td><td> Unknown </td><td> Difficulty: </td><td> Unknown </td></tr>[/table]

    Oh holy motherfucking moly! That can''t be good...

 Chapter 003: Just a nibble

    (Not much in this chapter. The broodmother will come back in the next one. I still hope you will enjoy this chapter and I apologize for it being so late. I had a great idea for another fiction and you will probably see it soon enough on this site.)

    ''What to do now?''

    At the moment I was gripped vice-like by something, or rather someone, called Broodmother Arachnee. A foreboding name emphasized by the crimson red panel that popped up, black letters spelling my certain doom.

    I was surprised, afraid, nervous and tense. Right now my life hung by a single thread, by the whim of something greater than me, maybe even greater than most things on Earth. I could certainly believe that some creatures existed with the fire power of not one but many hydrogenic bombs. Take a dragon for example, hadn''t seen one in person but I guessed some must wander these lands.

    It was a moving fortress of death. A force of nature be it wind, fire, earth or water, this world was nothing but a playground to such creatures. An even better example was no one less than God himself. I felt his/her/its might, something impalpable, unimaginable to humans and anything else in existence. This world was danger in itself.

    And right now, although I doubt this creature''s might, one such being stood before me, one that could squash me, silt me into dust with a mere flick. I was shaking in my figurative boots right then and there.

    I realized, struggling would either infuriate this... uhm... well, I doubt its human, so I will continue calling it creature. So, struggling would either infuriate this creature with the result of a flatened spider patty glued to the ground, or I would actually manage to flee, fall down onto the ground, get crippled and slowly wither away as an invalid. Both choices were, let''s say not what I wished for, they didn''t really appeal to me.

    The squirming stopped and I let my body go limp, maybe this creature will find mercy in its savage heart and spare my puny life? Who knows. By God I was right!

    When I stopped struggling the pressure around me lessened considerably, not enough for me to get out of this cramped situation but enough to give me a long and needed breather.

    I could only feel it -as my sight was pretty bad, I realized- the face that came closer towards my dangling body. It was a beautiful face, I just have to admit, with fine features, beautiful I dare say, yes, gorgeous even. Sparkling purple eyes, but not just two but eight, focused onto me, locked on with predatory precision. Cautious and curious I was examined, the glaring purple hue exuded by the eyes making clear that another fit would have consequences.

    Having nothing to do I did the same, watching the beautiful lady with not so innocently inquisit eyes but rather with lustful ones. Mind you, I was a healthy adult once and am merely inside a spider''s body. Yeah, so relatable.

    The staredown continued on for a few minutes, the woman picking me up soetimes by the legs to look at my belly, I presume it was my belly, couldn''t really see what she looked at. Through the glossy eyes though I got a good picture of myself, those giant beady mirrors reflected my baleful form.

    What can I say? I looked........ disgusting.

    I am not even joking! In God''s realm, when I first saw the design for this creature, it actually looked somewhat decent, it looked badass for the lack of a better word. But right now?! What is this.... this.... this ABOMINATION?!

    Unlike the first image I saw this form of mine was palid, painted in a corpsed-coloured grey with bough thin legs oozing a viscous sludgy substance, or maybe that was just the residue slime of the egg. My abdomen was swollen, the jet-black skin pulsing as dark veins wheeled beneath like thick worms in a grave. At the same time my two wonderfully raven eyes turned into a menacing red with even more sanguine veins eating through to the middle. And if that was not enough, my should-be black marble fangs were wrinkled stumps drooping with nasty acid.

    By God I looked like the ugliest creature alive! I never really liked spiders, neither hated them, but this right here?! I hardly stopped myself from retching out my non-existent lunch.

    I just wanted to hide myself, hide in a steep hole where no one will ever see me again. Alas, the spider-human-hybrid, or whatever the broodmother''s species was, continued to goggle at my shameful form with intense interest and not so mild curiosity anymore. The more she gazed at me the hotter her breath, the more rabid her trembling became.

    She began whispering incoherent words, I could barely understand a single sound that was ushered forth from her violet lips. Though the language was unknown to me, completely foreign, I could somehow hear out a mixture of surprise and joy from her words.

    Gently, unlike the vice-like grip from before, I was placed on the ground. The tremble of the broodmother''s steps echoed through the cavern -I was pretty sure this was a one- as she left leaving me behind with more questions than answers.

    I stumbled for the next few steps, this was just my first day outside the egg and yet I feel that something extraordinary is facing my way. It may be dangerous or helpful for future endeavours but nonetheless the anxiousness inside my heart could not be quelled. The broodmother''s mumbles had something foreboding to them.

    Something nudged me at my sides while I was preoccupied with my thoughts, it was a light push followed up by a high-pitched hiss. My sights ventured down towards the nuisance that kept bumping into me, squeaking at the same time.

    It was nothing other than a teensy-weensy spider with leathery and grey skin. Its eight beady eyes, glowing in a soft red, cumulated onto my body. An instant later it bared its fangs and pounced onto my still dazed figure.

    I nearly laughed when the small critter lounged forward, its body dwarved several times by my own, bringing me to the realization that I was pretty big for a newly born creature, in all likeliness.

    If this creature had vaguely resembled a human I might have doubts in killing it but right now my mind couldn''t care less about this insect that wanted to attack and kill me at best.

    As I was still somewhat clumsy with this new body of mine I used my bigger physique to simply squash the puny spider beneath me. With my hindlegs I heaved my front up, the spiderling missing my head and plummeting to the ground. Without mercy I let myself fall forward, the impact amplified by gravity and smashing the insect apart into scattered fragments.

    A sickening squelch rang in my ears -I wonder where spiders have their ears- followed by a wet sensation around my stomach.

    It took a moment before I realized I had just killed one of my own brethren, maybe even my direct brother or sister, in cold blood. Though with the creature''s resemblance of a mere insect my self-loathing thoughts quickly vanished. I was not a merciless killer, far from it, but even on earth I had no qualms in killing a spider, or have you? Right now, as long as they didn''t take on a humanoid form and could display some kind of emotion other than: Kill! Eat! Hate!, I had no concerns in killing them. Survival of the fittest my friends.

    I moved from the moist and sticky spot, strings of viscous green slime clinging to my body.

    While I gazed at the caved in remains of the small spider, so innocent but simply oblivious to the danger I posed, a hot feeling spread, no, swamped my entire body. It was an raging inferno of emotions that took control of my following actions.

    Slowly I approached the carcass, feverish clicks reveberating through the cold stone. My mandibles openned, were pryed apart, to reveal my crimson maw. As this all transpired my own self was pushed on the backseat, conscious but unable to control my body I watched the gruesome spectacle.

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    *SCHICK!* My whole body sprinted forward and into the cadaver, two of my legs and claws used as cleavers to tear the body apart in a firework of gore. In glee I plunged my face into the sticky mud, slurping the bitter innards in pure bliss and delight. If I had a human face it would be flushed from the sheer joy that lifted my spirits.

    It took a few moments, a few licks over the cold stone ground here and there to savour the last morsels of taste and a second to collect my wits.

    ''Just now.... Did I eat someone of my own family? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!'', the innards glued to my mouth only strengthened the disgust inside of me.

    *DING!* *SCHOOM!*

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>NOTICE!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>By killing and devouring one of your own kind you have unlocked a new title: Cannibal</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>Title unlocked: Cannibal</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Only the wicked can seek and find pleasure in the death of their own kind.

    As one such vile creature that not only ended the life of its own ilk but continued to defile its sacred corpse with voracious hunger you were granted the title: Cannibal.

    5% increase in damage against the title holder''s own species.</td></tr></tbody></table>

    ''Wow... even this system deplores my actions....'', before I could ramble on another notice popped up.

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>NOTICE!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Through unlocking a title the ''Title screen'' was unlocked.</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>UPDATE NOTICE!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td>Name:</td><td>None</td><td>Level:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Race:</td><td>Ophitula Hatchling</td><td>Age:</td><td>19 years</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>BODY</td><td colspan=''2''>MIND</td></tr><tr><td>HP:</td><td>10/10</td><td>MP:</td><td>220/220</td></tr><tr><td>HP regen.:</td><td>1/min</td><td>MP regen.:</td><td>100/min</td></tr><tr><td>Vitality:</td><td>1</td><td>Intelligence:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Strength:</td><td>1</td><td>Wisdom:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina:</td><td>1</td><td>Willpower:</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Agility:</td><td>10</td><td>Tenacity:</td><td>1.5%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>NEUTRAL</td></tr><tr><td>Damage:</td><td>2</td><td>Charm:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Defense:</td><td>1</td><td>Charisma:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>TITLE/S:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Cannibal</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>NOTICE!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>You killed one ''Common spider Hatchling''</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>+2 exp</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>NOTICE!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>You gained 1 Level up and 10 stat points (SP).</td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>NOTICE!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Through specific regulations all skill points will be allocated evenly into each stat until level 10.</td></tr></tbody></table>

    ''AH!!!! Sooooooo many new notice windows! Fuck off!'', I screamed and squirmed likewise as the light blue pannels bombarded me in their noxiousness.

    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>UPDATE NOTICE!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td>Name:</td><td>None</td><td>Level:</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Race:</td><td>Ophitula Hatchling</td><td>Age:</td><td>19 years</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>BODY</td><td colspan=''2''>MIND</td></tr><tr><td>HP:</td><td>29/29</td><td>MP:</td><td>224/224</td></tr><tr><td>HP regen.:</td><td>3/min</td><td>MP regen.:</td><td>102/min</td></tr><tr><td>Vitality:</td><td>3</td><td>Intelligence:</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><td>Strength:</td><td>3</td><td>Wisdom:</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina:</td><td>2</td><td>Willpower:</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><td>Agility:</td><td>11</td><td>Tenacity:</td><td>1.6%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>NEUTRAL</td></tr><tr><td>Damage:</td><td>3</td><td>Charm:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Defense:</td><td>2</td><td>Charisma:</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>TITLE/S:</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Cannibal</td></tr></tbody></table>

    (I rounded the Mana points from 224.4 to simply 224. Charm and Charisma cannot be grinded through level ups.)

    ''So... that was my first kill in this world. Anticlimactic, huh....'', I thought, relaxed and with a belly full with spider slushy I let myself be embraced by a spoon full of sleep. I just hope that nothing bad will happen while I am asleep. Yeah... better get drowsy in a spider infested cave, what is the worst that can happen?